Velvet Iris

This is actually pretty close although I would say a little creamier and not as complex (specifically the woodier aspects), but that's nitpicking as the difference isn't drastic. The real reason we like DHI is the iris note and it's pretty spot on with VI. Considering I bought this when there was a discount going on (I think I got the 60ml for 45 bucks or something) and the fact that the real thing is almost 3 times that, makes me happy to have purchased this. That being said, there are some cons, mainly that what you get in the opening you get in the dry down, there's very little change. DHI changes in stages, and that's missing in this interpretation. So if your favorite part of the fragrance is Iris, you will be happy with VI, BUT if you get easily bored with a profile this one won't likely be for you.

The Dior Homme Intense inspired, this isn't as sweet and pretty at the beginning, although It's not as sweet at the beginning as its inspiration, that may actually appeal to some men. Then it turns out really nice, A very similar Iris scent to DHI but this is much longer lasting. So the opening, not as nice, but superior drydown imho

My first from Alexandria... I have Dior Homme Intense batch circa 2014. Never tried any other Dior Homme flanker. Velvet Iris is not harsh at all. But there seems to be NO opening. Dior Homme Intense has a sweeter, cacao-ish, waxy, lavender blast with the first sprays. Velvet Iris is muted. During the first hour, VI starts shining. It emits a very powdery glow. It is NOT a powerhouse nor a "loud" fragrance. Like DHI, this is a very subtle, discreet scent. It is there during 2-3+ hours, but not intrusive at all. I do get the pear and powdery iris the whole time. The musk is NOT animalic, not "cat smell", not "ambergris". It is a very pleasant and quiet musk supporting the pear and iris. Notable differences: I did let VI macerate for 2-3 weeks. VI has no opening, except for a cosmetic feeling. When others say "harsh", I get the scent of a hand lotion, a faint perfumer's alcohol. It does not bother me. But VI leaves a light oily residue on the skin that I do not feel on DHI. On the plus side, DHI gives some nose fatigue. Is there a synth note here like Iso E Super? Both fragrances give me a smoldering sensation which reminds me of Fahrenheit. Is it full bottle worthy? VI 55 mL can be bought for +/-40 USD. The DHI equivalent is twice or more. And Dior Homme Parfum is either hard to find or at crazy prices. So? VI and DHI are very similar, those 80-90% claims from others sound true. But like buying a well made replica, it does feel like a bootleg if you compare them in detail.

context of this review: I applied Velvet Iris to my left arm and Dior Homme Intense to my right arm. Dior Homme Intense simply has a sweet, woody & somewhat musky scent profile that dries into a more woody and powdery aroma as time goes on. The vetiver, ambrette and cedar come through rather quickly - while the iris lowers in intensity. And as time goes on this fragrance will become more subdued, projecting much less. Velvet Iris is an extrait concentration version of this, so it lasts longer....but it is heavy on the iris and lavender and pear. There's a sharper sweetness to it that lacks the woodiness and muskiness that DHI has which takes away from the depth. I would compare the opening to the synthetic opening Afnan's 9PM has (Ultra Male dupe/clone). Once it dries down the lavender and pear really peak and give off a baby powder scent - a sweeter & fresher take, which differs from the powdery-woody-muskiness of DHI. Long story short, if you want the very beginning of DHI's opening without the dry down, Velvet Iris is the pick. But if you are getting this expecting a clone that has that same opening to base evolution through its wear, you aren't getting that. They are probably 75% similar when it's all said and done.

I've been really impressed with Alexandria Fragrances lately, and I'm so used to their ability to clone a fragrance, and the ability to tweak it to make it a bit more wearable. This however, is a bit hard for me to pull off. The opening lasts about an hour, and someone said that it was a bit harsh, which is true. However the next 5 hours or so was quite good. Nothing impressive here, just like DHI, but that opening kinda sucks for me. On a positive note, it is very long lasting. I sprayed 2 sprays, on my neck and my chest, and was projecting at about a 3 foot scent radius for 3 hours. Then it comes to about 6 inches off from the skin, and stays in this state basically for the rest of the life of the fragrance. Definitely listen to the other reviews on Alexandria Fragrances regarding how fresh the juice is. It might be a good idea to let them sit for a little while to allow the oils to mix better? I do not know, but it definitely allows the fragrance to mellow down and be properly good.