Sybaris

I bought a sample of Sybaris based on the reviews here and it arrived today. So blown away was I that I paid £150 for 125mls edt that will be sent from Spain as it is so rare from what I could see. This is by very very far the most I have ever spent on a fragrance. It is just so deep, so complex, so multi layered, subtle and beautiful that I had to have it. It is sophistication and mystery encapsulated in a genius formulation of fragrance. It has a hint of vintage Quorum sitting in the background overlayed with beautiful, fresh , orangy sweetness. But not too much sweetness. Just the right amount to contribute to a deep enticing whisper for you to follow down the corridor to a dimly lit chamber of sensuality. And so much else. So enigmatic. I have all the big hitters from Antaeus to Kouros, Paco Rabanne por homme (the vintage versions to me is king of men's fragrance) to Fahrenheit, vintage eau sauvage. Sybaris sits right there on front row. But it is discontinued and rare. So unless you get very very lucky expect to pay the premium.

It opens with a blast of aldehydes, supported by cumin and cinnamon. The aldehydes and cumin will tone down in the heart, to let appear a nice sandalwood note, supported by patchouli. The base is all about an moss and incense. A beautiful chypre, possibly the most refined and interesting one in its category (Montana PdH, Aramis Havana, Balenciaga Ho-Hang Club to cite just a few...). Highly recommended assuming a good price can be found, but keep in mind that it is pretty much redundant with the previous ones I cited, as well as a few others of that time. As for the comparisons with Kouros and Balenciaga pour Homme, it is only a remote facet for each of these, at a certain stage of development. In a nutshell: the similarities are very remote, but none of these two came to my mind when I wore Sybaris, tbh. (unlike the other 3) Even if lacking a bit of originality, this is definitely a solid chypre, made as it is expected to be made.

This is one of those unbelievably superb men's chypres from the 1970s-1980s-early 1990s that reminds you of how excellent and complex the art of perfumery can be. I can pick out so many notes I love: cloves, cumin, leather, juniper, incense, vetiver. There are also aldehydes, lemon and juniper to lighten this so its much less of a heavy statement than (beloved) similar scents from the era, but it is just as excellent: I would put it alongside Vendetta per Uomo, Maxim's Pour Homme, Red by Giorgio of Beverly Hills and Giorgio for Men from the same house. That means I'd rate it among the very best elegant men's scents of all time.

This is absolutely STUNNING. From the opening to its last traces on the skin, Sybaris is a phenomenal experience punctuated with notes that accentuate the animal magic of man's (or woman's) chemistry: cumin, cloves, cinnamon, artemisia—a bewitching concoction. So many textures resulting in a brilliant synergy: supple, sexy, erotic, pulsating with all the divine smells of the earth: animal, vegetable, and mineral. There is a roundness however, that sets it apart from other shape-shifting chypres, no spikes that reach out an accost the nose; it's all smooth and sauve, with a wink suggesting a naughty side.

I had the chance to buy this perfume a few weeks ago--it's a gift set containing a 25 ml. EDT bottle + a 30 gr. soap bar, for around $13. When first applied on skin, Sybaris smells very animalic, which might seem a little unpleasant at the beginning, but then it evolves into a woody earthy scent that is really nice. It smells like a softer, more casual version of Dior Jules. I've learned that it is no longer produced, which makes it a very appealing collector's piece. I may buy the gift set in a few days (I hope it is still for sale) as Sybaris is a great representative of 80s male fragrances. Cheers!