After Hours

Anecdote Fragrances is an interesting brand. It is owned by Belcam (not Maison Martin Margelia), known for their Classic Match line of clones (including the Polo line, Drakkar Noir, and Obsession), Geau and the flankers (all copying Acqua di Gio) and countless other clones. The boxes are designed like the Maison Martin Margiela Replica line (which is where Fragrantica got the confusion with the house) with the name, notes and explanation and an explanation of the brand. The bottles are nice and have some heft to them. That said the fragrances are clones. Rather interesting I must say. I have seen the Anecdote fragrances in Walmart for some time. I didn't buy any for about a year or two, until I saw that all five Anecdote Fragrances were discounted in Walmart back in October. I picked up the two masculine leaning ones based on the notes listed (and also the two being discounted under $10), After Hours and Havana Lounge. After Hours was about $7.00 while Havana was under $6. After Hours' box reads "The night is young... pounding bass, a crowded dance floor, neon lights and flashy cocktails. After Hours is wild evenings remembered." This sounds like 212 VIP Men's feel don't it? After Hours has notes of citrus, tonic (water), mint leaf, cardamom and amber. The open is very much citrus and tonic which gives some 212 VIP Men vibes minus the fruitiness from the passionfruit but also Sean John 3AM, which I also compared to 212 VIP Men due to marketing. After Hours then has a touches of the mint leaf, cardamom and amber which both fragrances have. Upon wearing on March 3rd, I noticed far more of a cardmom note. It is as noticable as the citrus and tonic water. After Hours doesn't perform all that great. It performs in line with 3AM so 4 hours of performance and quickly becomes a skin scent. Now let me explain, that Belcam does actually make good and long lasting clones. Havana Lounge on my skin is as is their Classic Match Oud (Polo Supreme Oud clone.) This just wasn't one of them. Now it isn't horrible, but it is one that would get YouTubers to complain if this was from a major designer brand. After Hours is slight enough to be a work scent. It is also works for me chilling out. I wouldn't wear it on dates based on how subtle it is and it wont work clubbing despite the name. Now if it did perform like 212 VIP Men, I would give that endorsement, but it is more 3AM than 212 VIP Men. I feel it works best in spring, summer and fall and works as both a day and night scent. Anecdote has an interesting take for clones and it is admirable that a clone house tried to go Replica. I have to give them credit for that. I am not sure how it did, but if it got discounted, it likely didn't sell all that well. After Hours gets an "at least you tried award." I don't hate it, it just isn't memorable compared to Havana Lounge. For this, I give After Hours a 6.4 out of 10. I do give 3 AM crap, but that performs better than After Hours and also has a better atomizer. That said upon additional wearings I have gotten to enjoy it better.

I only like the drydown on this. The start is very sharp and somewhat loud in the beginning, but the amber note is really nice and lasts awhile. It has decent lasting power. Definitely for going out. Not your office fragrance.