Desire for a Man

Update 3/2/24: Initially, my new bottle smelled nothing like my original. I wore it everyday for a couple of months before swapping out with something else but after a longing nostalgia decided to revisit it one day. Looking back, I’m surprised at my old review. It smells like the juice had matured with time and is more reminiscent of what it once was. Projection varies on weather and temperature. The scent lasts about 4 to 5 hours so far as I can tell, but others have picked up on it long after I’ve lost it. Since my last review I have picked up two more bottles, just to have one extra. Given my original bottle was only worn for special occasions, it had plenty of time to breathe on the shelf. Perhaps this was the case with the newer bottle. I love the opening blast of citrus over powering the rose, teak, patchouli, vanilla and musk. After about 10-15minutes the sharp citrus softens allowing the rose, teak wood and patchouli to shine through with just a subtle hint of vanilla creeping in. A beautiful transition, I find this fragrance extremely comforting and uplifting. Worn best in warmer spring and early autumn. Doesn’t seem to project well in cold/dry weather. Warmer, slightly humid weather is best in my opinion, but it doesn’t stop me from wearing it when I need a pick me up. This review compared to my previous one is a sharp reminder we should not be quick to judging fragrances or new bottles. Like a fine wine, sometimes thing become better with age. Previous review: 3/21/21 I have to agree with Jellyroll66, I ran out of my old bottle and purchased another at my local fragrance shop but was saddened at how flat it was. I should have seen it coming when I saw the bottle. My old bottle had the name printed on the bottle running upward along the thin side of the bottle, the underside of the bottle had a transparent sticker and the box had stripes. The only print on the new bottle is "dunhill" on the bottom front of the outside curve. The underside of the bottle has a silver/chrome placard with the frag name and batch number imprinted, the box was foil red. It smells identical, just flat. It does not perform as I remember. Maybe a reformulation?I used to get compliments with this fragrance all the time. Like Jollyroll66 I've given this batch some time and gone back to some disappointment. However, I still enjoy this fragrance and it still projects well. 5-6 sprays on pulse points and chest will push through half the day. Skin scent after that. Incase you are wondering the batch on my current bottle is 7312.

Desire for a Man stands as a testament to the artistry of perfumery, an olfactory masterpiece that transcends comparisons with synthetic counterparts from the latest niche perfumery releases in pumpkin-colored bottles. Free from the constraints of design and marketing campaigns, this fragrance is a true gem in the realm of scents. The top notes open with a symphony of freshness, where the crispness of apple intertwines with the zesty dance of lemon, bergamot, and the delicate sweetness of orange blossom. This initial burst creates an invigorating and inviting atmosphere, setting the stage for the journey ahead. As the fragrance evolves, the heart notes unfold, revealing the complex layers of Desire for a Man. The subtle embrace of rose, the woody depth of teak wood, and the earthy richness of patchouli intertwine seamlessly, adding sophistication and depth to the composition. The journey culminates in the base notes, where the warmth of vanilla and the sensuality of musk leave an enduring impression. This well-crafted blend exudes a magnetic allure, making Desire for a Man a fragrance that captivates and lingers in the memory. It's refreshing to experience a fragrance that doesn't rely on synthetic elements but instead embraces the natural complexity of its ingredients. Desire for a Man is a celebration of authenticity, a scent that speaks for itself without the need for extravagant marketing gimmicks. In conclusion, Desire for a Man is a true olfactory masterpiece, a symphony of notes that harmonize to create a captivating and sophisticated fragrance experience. It stands tall in its own right, unaffected by comparisons with synthetic counterparts, showcasing the timeless artistry of perfumery. As Katie Puckrick was saying, I am Nicolas, and I smell!

I’m going to give you a short but cool story here. I bought a 50ml bottle of the stuff as I wanted Cuba Oranage Cologne and settleled for this one instead. If you look up Cuba Orange, apparently this one was the closest to it. I sprayed it a few times and although it smelled a little orangey, it wasn’t want I thought it was going to be. Fast forward to today I sprayed this stuff on my chest, hands, neck, and a few pumps on my beard at 9am.. I then went about my business and moved on with my day. I stopped at a Tim’s hortons coffee shop an hour later and a woman working there said I smelled incredible and wanted to know what I was wearing. Another hour later I stopped at my doctors office for an appointment and the secretary signed me in and then came around the desk and approached and said my my scent was amazing. This was about 11:30am. Around 2:30 I stopped at my car dealership to pick up my car that was getting serviced and when I’m there, the manager compliments what I’m wearing, and then I got swarmed by a group of 3 other employees that work at the dealership also demanding to know what I am wearing. I literally had to pull out my phone and search Fragrantica.com to search for the name of this cologne to help them out. It’s amaing that after 5 to 6 hours this stuff is radiating just strong as when I first sprayed at 9am. Upon writing this it’s now 4pm and I’m still projecting this scent. I’m so impressed because I have bottles that are 100 to 180$ and most don’t project like this one. To me, this smells like orange chocolate, but chocolate isn’t on the list. Upon reading the comments someone said this smells like orange toilet bowl cleaner. I think whoever said that is on drugs, because this is incredible. 8/10

Dunhill Desire for a Man, Batch #7300 Another elegant bottle from Dunhill: This one is is red glass with a silver tip and cap, shaped like a flask. This starts out with a big shot of apple and citrus (maybe bergamot) which is very refreshing. In the mid stages which occur after about 5 minutes, the rose accord becomes prominent, and remains the strongest note to my nose for the remainder of its life. After the dry down period, what is left is a distinct rose/citrus/musk blend. Well, this one is very unusual, in my opinion, so much so that at first, I was put off by it. I have never smelled anything quite like it. However, after applying it several more times over the next two weeks, the rose/musk/citrus combination began to grow on me. Now, it is one of my favorites, for fall and winter. It is very long-lasting, (6 hours or so) with a medium projection, and a moderate sillage. Rose scent for a man? Well, it isn't a tea rose accord, (not sweet) but it qualifies as a bright, woody-oriental, and I would add that it is very mysterious. Certainly not all men can/should wear it. However, because it first came out in 2000, it is quite reasonably priced these days, and if one is the adventurous type this may a worth a try. Besides, the bottle would look good on anyone's dresser!

This is one of my all time favorites. Just a beautiful fragrance that’s fairly versatile as well, even though I personally wouldn’t wear this during the summer months. It’s clean, warm, sweet, & almost fresh at the same time. If you’ve tried Bond Lafayette Street, these two are similar & share a lot of the same characteristics, although Desire has slight undertones of spices, yet not in a peppery way, whereas Lafayette Street leans more fruity. Let’s not even compare prices here. It’s not even close & I honestly still prefer Desire believe it or not. This stuff still has solid performance. It lasts me all day. I’m not sure what some people here consider to be long lasting from some of the reviews I read here, but I haven’t had any issues. I think if you consider the price, it’s hard for me to see how this wouldn’t exceed expectations. You can see they’ve gone just a bit cheaper on the bottle than what it used to be, but still, the juice inside still works & that’s what really matters to me. If you’re looking for something inexpensive & kind of different, give this a shot. Every time I throw it on it brings back so many memories, but at the same time stays relevant without being dated. To me this is just a timeless classic.

Iv Had this frag since it originally came out back in 2000 is was a box with 100ml edt 50ml aftershave and a stick deoderant. it was my signature smelly back then. I still love it now after all these years. i still have the deoderant stick and almost finished my 1st backup bottle.. and i do have a 2rd backup I got from USA about 8 years ago so should be using it when i push up the daisys lol maybe ask to have some sprinkled on the bonfire just before the final curtain :) So the Frag which to me is synthetic citrus rose combination, very linear and stays a long time. I put it on 7am this morning and its now 5:45pm and still getting it floating around me quite strong. yes no need to squash your nose against your arm to get a wiff its very present. i guess this could be overpowering to some people and especially if you dont like rose. I love rose frags! I dont use it often these days but when i do it takes me back to my younger years. I first use this 22 years ago and still love it. Oh and im a true red white&blue Dunhill lover. I wonder what the desire extreme is like ? i may check out that one ?

Don't listen to the nonsense that this is for young men only. One reviewer said you'll be creepy if you wear this and you're over 40. Ridiculous! If somebody's going to judge you by your cologne they are the creepy ones. Dunhill Desire is for men of ANY age. Wear this with confidence, be a gentlemen, dress appropriately, have a friendly demeanor, and women of ANY age will love this fragrance on you. Give it a try don't let the negative reviews make you avoid this amazing and very affordable fragrance. Best in the fall and winter. Any occasion casual or formal. Sweet but the woods in this makes it masculine. Sure, it's synthetic, but in a good way! Reminds me of original Thallium with added cinnamon and apple. Whereas Thallium is more "blue" for the summer and Desire is more red spicy for the fall. Above average longevity on skin and literally all day on clothes. Update: My wife tried this on herself and it smells so good on her. On female skin this takes a whole new vibe. I'm not much into unisex scents but woman can definitely pull this one off! Hmmm ;)

I liked this one from the start, but didn't love it at first. I actually didn't pull it out for a while, and partly because I thought it leaned a little on the sweet side and hadn't had days I wanted to wear a sweet fragrance. Which is weird, since the main notes wouldn't say "sweet", but time went by and it's not as sweet as I thought at first, and is really more fresh and fresh-spicy than I had noted at first. Still a little sweet, but that doesn't stay long and isn't overbearing at all now. Maybe just needed to sit a little, and/or maybe my nose adjusted some. Now, I really enjoy this one. It's one that I'll be grabbing more often than before, although still not in my top-top favs, but really glad I kept this one. Also, not saying the note breakdown is wrong by any means, but I just don't get the vibe of a lot of them that are listed. This one really is a fresh-spicy to me, not so much citrusy like a couple listed, and a bit of sweet in it. Overall seems pretty well balanced, which is sometimes the reason why the notes are not all obvious to me.

RUSTIC APPLE (PIE) with Meadow Breezes. Opens with a burst of apple supported by lemon, multi-faceted bergamot & orange-blossom with tart, fresh, citrus, green & fresh-spicy nuances. That all deepens into a rose-patchouli-teak heart with velvety, powdery, musky, woody & floral tones. all resting on a vanilla-musk base. Overall there is a faint "apple-pie" vibe in the drydown, with reminders of Layton Parfums de Marly but this isn't a dupe. This has a softer, muskier, ozonic feel overall, doesn't have the sharper aromatics in the top notes, and leans slightly more masculine IMHO, although I would consider this unisex leaning masculine. Once the vanilla ages in the bottle, the similarities to Layton PDM are more obvious. If Layton PDM is a drive-thru apple-pie, then this is more of a rustic, homemade apple-pie with breezes blowing across a meadow through an open window. It's a love for me. Enjoy!

A very nice fragrance. It smells a bit like candied apple with a citrus note in the background. The bottle is like a little glass hip flask which is sort of fun. On my skin longevity and projection are average/moderate. I found I needed to spray this a bit more than my usual 3 sprays to really smell this one. It does permeate clothes very well and certainly performs better than on skin. Overall my body chemistry seems to agree with this fragrance and it smells great for a wide range of settings and even at work in the office. I think this works well on many age groups, although maybe better on 20 to 40 years (I’m mid 50s). Some women could wear this as I think it is between unisex and male in character. I think it’s an “interesting” scent rather than. “sexy” one. There’s something friendly and inviting about it. Overall I do like it lot.

Rating: 7.5/10 I recently had the pleasure of blind buying Dunhill Desire at a Ross in Salt Lake City for $20, and I must say, it exceeded my expectations! This fragrance is truly amazing, and it captivated my senses and left a lasting impression. There’s an alluring blend of fruity and aromatic notes that instantly intrigued me. What truly sets Dunhill Desire apart is its longevity. This fragrance also has exceptional staying power, lingering for hours. The bottle design is a sleek, red glass that is the embodiment of the sophistication of the fragrance itself. It is a perfect addition to any fragrance collection. I highly recommend to anyone who loves a captivating and long-lasting scent. It’s refreshing, and is combined with excellent longevity, making it an absolute steal, and dare I say, a BEAST!

I blind bought this and I didn't expect much, but wow I am so glad I did. Opening is a citrus/candied apple bomb, transformation is a rose bed and settles down to a vanilla with rose and slighty patchouli undertone. I can understand those that say this is a "feminine scent", however I prefer to call it different. People are so use to men fragrances being aromatic or woody that when they smell something close to rose it's automatically labeled feminine. I highly enjoy the change of pace, however I will say that this is not an everyday scent. I would only put this on for a night out or social event. If you want something different at a fair price I recommend giving this fragrance a try, but it is not for everyone 6 / 10.

Sad to see a fragrance with many synthetics like this still get neutered over the years and give people the impression that any of the 'this fragrance reminds me of' comparisons are better. They're not (except for the fact that Nikos was the precursor to Desire, both by Michel Almairac). My original bottle from 2000 is about half full still and just as potent as ever. I have a bottle of Desire that I bought recently and it smells faint and far less complex. Michel Almairac is a great perfumer and this fragrance when it came out is one of the many testaments to that. What you can get now is not, but is still a pleasant cheepie.

I don't get the reviews and maybe it's just my nose. I bought this a few years ago and sprayed it in the air and thought it smelled kind of synthetic. FF to today and it's one of those days you are just going to sit at home anyway so I dug it out and threw it on. In the air it's still a bit synthetic but as soon as it hit my skin absolute magic! I couldn't believe it was the same fragrance. Its like the coziest slightly sweet fruity vanilla fabric softener you can get your hands on. Something about it is just comforting. I'll definitely start putting this in the rotation

I have worn this since it first came out I love this fragrance I’m not sure how many bottles I have had but 2 to 3 for sure. Starts out citrus and sweet then you get some rose which tags along to the sweet woody vanilla dry down. This is a timeless fragrance and could be unisex but any confident man can pull it off. Women love it and complements come all the time. I feel this is very versatile. Maybe in the warmer months better as an evening cologne. Anyway I will always have a bottle of this!

Talk about longevity! Smelling it on my skin at 10:45 WHEN i applied a small amount yesterday at about 23:00, and my skin is bad for longevity. This is instant pleasantness from the opening to the drydown, very linear and honest. Smells like childhood and candy wrapper to be truthful, but still somehow masculine and sexy. How did they pull that off? There's an eighties/nineties vibe in there, and it reminds me of Joop but much more safe. I really like it but have to test more. Exciting stuff.

Great underrated scent. Michel Almairac is a legend in incorporating florals like Rose into fragrances and it definitely stands out in this one. The initial spray is heavy on the citrus but it quickly develops into great vanilla rose scent that isn't too clawingly sweet. I think it's quite versatile as the rose and vanilla are do not completely take over the fragrance and there's still a hint of freshness from the citruses and neroli that's constantly in the background. 8/10

This is my first Dunhill fragrance and I was very pleasantly surprised by this. I am a big lover of the Apple Vanilla combination and this fragrance has that yet it is not a gourmand fragrance. It is a very fresh floral fragrance, it is beautiful. I am very pleased with this fragrance I would recommend this most for the fall / spring however it is fresh enough for spring time as well. I can't see anyone hating this fragrance, this is a very safe blind buy for the price.

I was in college when this came out, in 2000. A guy I was dating introduced this to me and I was HOOKED! This is my absolute FAVORITE men's cologne to date! NOTHING beats this smell, even the $300.00 heavy hitters can't match this unique and seductive fragrance. It is so mysterious, seductive and alluring and it smells different than your average cologne. This is the the kind of scent that you'd just have to stop a stranger in the street and ask "what are you wearing?"

This was one of my favourites, bought a tester 100ml in 2002 in a local store. At that time & til today, to me the smell is unique = sweet, spicy, smokey and powdery in an elegant/sexy way as long don't over spray it. NOW DON'T BLIND BUY IT, because the new reformulation makes the drydown so synthetic, sometimes remind me of mothballs and gives you a headache!!! That's is why never finish off a fragrance that you luv cos you nvr know THEY will reformulate it.

There is so much warmth and sexiness in Dunhill Desire. My lady loves this on me. Right off the first spray it is a delight. It is sweet and linear - I get the rose, vanilla and musk quite prominently. I'm surprised it isn't rated higher. This, along with London, are my favourites from the Dunhill House. Best worn on colder days; this will warm you up nicely. Have a happy Monday, my good people😎 Stay blessed, safe, healthy, peaceful and in love💖

I got a sample of this for my boyfriend and I immediately fell in love with it. The apple and vanilla notes give it a wonderfully delicious sweet overtone while the rest of the notes blend together to keep the fragrance masculine. My boyfriend thinks it has a smell similar to soap but I don't really get that from it. It also has great longevity and sillage. As a bonus it is relatively inexpensive. All in all, I love this fragrance.

This was my go-to during my clubbing days about a million years ago. Apple, rose, teak wood, a not-so-sweet vanilla note, and musk. What’s not to love? As far as cheapies go this is probably my favorite. Bought a new bottle summer 2020 and was disgusted by how faint and flat it smelled. I almost threw it out. Interestingly enough, I went to spray it again today, several months later, and was amazed! It’s as good as I remember.

More iconic that Icon. This is a classic immortal scent, I bought it to remind myself and I just love this. I have memories of sitting at my aunts that smokes. I bet this would compliment an outdoor event at mid summer night where people smoke and drink. This is iconic of that bold 90/2000 style that is not popular anymore. Along the lines of Picasso Minotaur and Nikos Sculpture. Killer strength for an edt. 10/10

A MUST HAVE FOR ANY MAN OF ANY AGE. Great amalgam of classic citrus and neroli with modern green apple. Does it's best in spring and fall. A bit too balmy for hot weather. My favorite part is the way rose has been used to add it's inviting and delicate charm without taking away from the masculine nature of the smell. One of the best in it's price range. scent:8/10 sillage:7.5/10 Lasting power:7/10

The top note is different, but the drydown is the same as Cuba Orange. I prefer the orange-scented Cuba Orange as a top note. The highlight of Desire Red is of course the drydown...it's fascinating. After using Cuba Gold Orange Prestige Gold, I realized how outstanding Cuba perfume makers are. If you like Desire Red's dry down, buy Cuba Orange. It's much cheaper and has the same scent.

Okay, I got this as a blind buy for $12 and when I got in my truck I sprayed it. At first I was worried. But oh my gosh, the DRY DOWN IS AMAZING. I cannot believe this fragrance is only $12-$15. The initial opening grew on be more as I used it, but the dry down is INCREDIBLE. 100% would recommend. It's a little different than what I usually wear, but I'm a huuuggeee fan

Hot, sugary rose water with a touch of spice! I don't get apple at all, I get rose! It lasts on my skin a long time.. which for my skin, with all other fragrances, is the opposite! It's really really good!, its delicious!, but borderline feminine. I wanted a rose fragrance, but this one I'm questioning is it too feminine for me

This fragrance is absolutely gorgeous. Sweet apple, rose, and vanilla are prominent for sure. This stuff is quite sexual. Nice bottle. This is worth price for sure! Only complaint is longevity isnt the best but still decent and applying to clothes helps too. If you are considering blind buying - get this, you won't regret it.

I gave this to my husband because there is something in it that just turns my crank...2 years later, I bought some b&b bodyworks pump soap called Citrus Blossom. THAT is what is in Desire that I adore! Daytime, my man wears either Vetiver or woodsy types, but at night, it has got to be Desire red...it works if you kwim*..

Definitely unisex. I sprayed it on my arm and just loved it. It's refreshing and warming at the same time, can be worn year around. I bought it for my husband, but keeping it for myself, he doesn't mind. It's not overpowering but I can smell it, even though not bringing my lower arm to my nose. Great for layering.

The opening of this one is a mixture between freshman with sweetness inside the freshness. I would say it’s a really good fragrance for indoors for a 20 c degree with cloudy sunny weather for youth. But in the night wearing this, you would be an adult man if you’re going out, I mean you would look like a Dad bod.

My very first fragrance, too many memories with this beautiful scent, it fits the "everyday-every occasion" criteria perfectly, combined with Dior's Midnight charm , it gives a perfect sweet touch to it and it fills out the lack of depth it has, I've always had this combo and will keep using it❤️

I had this one in my much younger days and it was a nightclubbing frag only. It was like sex in a bottle, born to rock with a great shirt and jeans. I smelt a recent bottle and could not believe how rough and unpleasant the reformulation was. Glad I had a bottle in its prime.

One of my favourite fragrances in the naughties, it can out just about the time I started my first career as a cabin crew. I was great, keeping me smelling great all day. Only like Desire Red though, both the Blue and the black versions are lacking something.

This perfume has been around for 25 years and is still beautiful and modern... The scent of memories, apples with lemon, musk and vanilla give this perfume beauty. I advise everyone to buy it, but the performance is average in terms of sillage and durability.

To those that say they were not jnoressed with scent or longevity, what you are smelling is a cheap $20 reformulated and watered down liquid. Find yourselves the SCANNON bottles this is Vintage Desire! Then come back and post an update!

The best perfume if your balance is low, when you smell it, you will know that it is Dunhill Desire, a very beautiful but familiar fragrance that is useful for daily use and not for occasions, and it smells also nice on the skin.

This is an iconic perfume and quite famous among men. The opening gives kind of citrus scent and then more to vanilla and powdery along the time. I think it this perfume cant last longer since it's a soft perfume.

20 years ago my (super hot) ex-girlfriend LOVED this on me. Her younger brother and all the kids on the block made their parents buy it for them. It does lean younger but it’s a unique scent that smells good.

Can anyone tell me the closest thing to this without alcohol. It isn’t the same strong, it’s just nauseating alcohol. What happened to this classic?! I want that dry down with hint of rose, Vanilla woody musk

Crisp and really sweet. Apple is very present. Floral and vanilla notes are also there. A safe bet to wear. Can start to smell generic overtime so should not be over-worn. 7.5/10

It smells heaven to me. It has that deep heavenly impact on my mind. I am not an expert and can't put it in words but, to me it smells better than any niche fragrances. ❤

A sweet, sour & fruity delight! Love it to bits. Absolutely my taste. a great signature scent also. Amazing price vs quality ration also. One of my favourite smells ever!

Great scent for everyday use—3 to 5 sprays are enough to project, and it works for most occasions. Very comfortable to wear. Overall, I’d give it 7/10.

I may be new to fragrance world, I've tried quite few Fragrances, but this is the best one I've tried so far, it is my signature fragrance now.

Its calm, light. Like a sweet iced tea. Truly a masterpiece. Once you've smelled this you will think of it often; its invocative of happiness.

This fragrance works for me. It gets better in warmer season. I probably will buy another bottle for keepsake. Just love them!

I do not know what does this fragrance do to women. When it was a hit , many girls in university stopped me to ask about it .

I get a Layton vibe from this one especially in the drydown minus the mint. Pleasant and office friendly if working in AC.