Portfolio Portrait Sandal

This has taken me a while to realise that this may indeed be a dupe of Louis Vuitton’s ‘Ombré Nomade’. The dry, atmospheric, sandalwood nuance is the same. It lasts well but I tend to get nose-blind to it after the first hour. I didn’t even think I still had it on until about 6 hours later when a woman in a shop asked me what I was wearing (and we were socially distanced). It’s my favourite from the Portfolio range. The heavy bottle and its faux leather and high gloss black presentation case is pleasing.

dusty, just another piece of non-inventive smooth sandalwood on the market .. don ́t waste your money, glad i only sampled it

It is basically Égoïste (1990 original, NOT 1993 platinum) by Chanel. I am still able to get current-version Égoïste here in South America for some reason — love it. It actually sells cheaper here than this fragrance. That said, I am not upset. If the notes listed here are correct, I am guessing the Cypriol oil and/or neroli are standing in for and acting as a pleasingly stronger version of the coriander seed in Égoïste. It makes the fragrance punch a little harder, shout just a touch louder. Doing a side by side — This perfume has a more rose / carnation aspect that it carries inside of it (common in Al Haramain — I have many and personally like this aspect, it’s fresh and lends lightness) versus Chanel’s fatter heavier rounder denser spice notes. Otherwise you could easily mistake the one for the other IMO. I would call the Chanel deeper age more refined but only upon direct comparison. I am happy with the purchase as it perhaps improves upon the recipe and perhaps screws it up with a little bit of the cheap pink rose/ maybe carnation vibe Al Haramain cheapies can bring. But this is mainly in the opening. In drydown the good elements it takes from Egoiste lasts longer — assuming you can even get égoïste in the first place — and gives a fabulous woody sandal and a somewhat stronger ambergris. And directly compared to an Egoiste dry down (one on each wrist), it stays “Egoiste” much longer than Egoiste stays Egoiste. By the drydown, original Egoiste is a soft of warm spice cookie gourmand (kind of like how Jicky becomes), this one still retain that coriander seed etc and major character elements of opening and middle. Dry down here also delivers a touch of the very nice and substantial sanded wood smell of Al Haramain Oudh 36 mixed with that steady and high quality Egoiste de Chanel that simply lasts longer — closes in on Beastmode, far more than original. For me this one is a winner — modified but in some ways improved version of the classic. Higher price but a worthy sub-in to either get you this scent when you can’t get it or to move it closer to Beastmode if you can. If you can’t get Egoiste this is a worthy substitute imo. Romantic yet masculine and will likely buy again. Or switch between this and Égoïste.

For me this is a less refined 1001 Nobile 1942. Strong papyrus note, lots of woods and sandalwood, something zesty...not getting the cinnamon everyone is talking about. Voted accordingly which has rearranged the notes. I love Al Haramain, but i find most of their scents a little on the cheap smelling side, apart from a few gems. Unfortunately this one is not one of them.

This is an expensive dupe of santal royal - Guerlain. I've got both of them