Manly

This was quite a surprise given the secondary status it has been granted among the ALD fanboys. Sure, it is not War and Peace, Oud Zhen, or Antiquity, but it is completely awesome! I have all three of the aforementioned releases but also have a broader collection and to me this resembles Kilian's Smoking Hot (which also has a strong oak moss note) most closely, although it is WAY better (smoother, more natural and complex). I have more ALD fragrances than from any other brand with Xerjoff #2 and Kilian #3, so I have solid reference points. It is not a pure tobacco like Herod or Bortnikoff's Tabac Dore, and more of a tobacco gourmand like Smoking Hot or Roja's Manhattan EDP or Enigma Parfum (which I also have both). It is like a super high quality version of Smoking Hot without the apple and for that reason it is a real banger. If there was a Kilian Smoking Hot Leather and Oud special blend, it would smell like this. Better than Manhattan, better than Smoking Hot, at least as good as Enigma/Creation E Parfum (which has cognac, where this has real oud)....while I still prefer his core collection, Russian Adam should do this more often, because in Manly he beats Kilian and Roja at their own game. A true winner!

As you can tell from the other reviews, this scent was met with extreme expectations & polarizing opinions. In a decade of collecting, it's hard to think of another entry in the market that would face such scrutiny due to introducing a new perfumer under the ALD brand. Well, you can just forget all that because this is a truly excellent scent. I'm late to speak on it but if you're debating a purchase or trade because it appeals to you, I say go for it. If this had been a Slumberhouse release, for example, it would be rated through the roof. That's not a comment on Slumberhouse; it's a comment on the oddball that was Manly. Although it's a similar type of deep & rich, no doubt about that. Ultimately I look back on the release & kinda laugh at our "concerns" or whatever you want to call them. It's a really satisfying scent, IMO. Evenings & cold weather, it's actually pretty tough to beat. While some mention the "hype", I feel it's actually underrated & I'm glad I got a 30ml.

Manly is a gem from ALD. It is far lighter than some of the bests like Antiquity or Koh i Noor or War and Peace.Nevertheless, what makes it a gem is the blend of notes. The patchouli is strong but it is not overly dominating. The tobacco is certainly a player but it is not trying to crowd out Cinnamon or Indian Oud or the leather. In fact the fruity notes are a great addition. We have a rich array of notes that play off one another in ways that I have not detected in any other fragrance I have tried. In other words, if you are looking for something that will help out stand out, then this is one you might search.for. This one is sophisticated and could be worn in the evenings mostl in cool or cold weather. It leans male but some might think it unisex. It is quite chilly where I am am while writing this review and I just love the way this fragrance unfolds over time, taking me on a journey that is full, refined, and unique. ALD made this one a subtle sensation.

I have collected hand made tobacco pipes for years. I keep them in an antique bookcase my father gave me that he had used in his law office for forty years. The smell of that case is what I've been looking for in a tobacco fragrance, of which I have sampled or purchased dozens, and never quite been satisfied. I think I finally found it. There is a realistic pipe tobacco note in this. The smoky aspect others have noted smells like a used pipe: the ash and smoke that lingers behind in the bowl of a briar pipe. The oud and sandalwood smell like an antique book case. The vanilla and spices blend together just as they do when you have a variety of flavored tobaccos in that bookcase with your pipes. Underneath, or beside, that is definitely a noticeable suede smell, which just classes it up and makes it smell like a fragrance meant to be worn. I am probably going to have to buy the 30 oz bottle.

Very different from the typical vintage-based ALD releases. This is more of a modern smell that evokes comfort in the wintertime. I get a boozy, spiced eggnog opening which, after a while, becomes clean and fresh like detergent mixed with a cloud of air-filled tobacco smoke similar to the style of Amouage's smoke. The boozy accord is still there but becomes sweeter and fruitier. Towards the end of the scent, it becomes dusty and leathery which falls more in line with the common ALD releases. I bought the atomizer travel size but should have gotten the big bottle because of how expensive the shipping cost was at 45 USD.

When I first sprayed this I wanted to get a reaction from my wife and with immediacy she said, ooh that's spicy! Interestingly the spiceness wasn't as prominent as she mentioned, but was there. To me, this is certainly a heavier fragrance that sits close to you. Woody and mossy aspects seem to be more prominent throughout the life with a deep leather tinge. The Oud is there, but for me it is not as out there that it will be offensive. . It indeed is one to try before you invest if you can. I do love it.

dabearjew82 - I decant them! I'm a ALD Retailer! No BS!!!

An adults' fragrance... and I don't mean "mature" or "dated"... some may get those vibes from the abounding oakmoss which most fraggers associate with perfumes of the past... though ALD does center its compositions around the aesthetic of the past, this one feels (debatably) the most modern of the lot. Testing this beside another great leathery scent today (Garut Leatheroud by Ucca)... they aren't similar though they have some similar notes. And only really share an undeniable leathery backbone (among other small things)... I only mention this because I attempted to compare the two as part of a little case study I'm doing to add focus to my collection... I say that to say while doing my comparison, and smelling deeply into my arm where Manly was sprayed I could not help but feel.....I guess...... it's "manliness". It's undeterrably masculine, polished, and full grown...taco meat on full display, and doesn't have a F*ck to give. When compared to Garut Leatheroud (which is without a doubt great)... feels juvenile compared to Manly... but would not be seen that way in any other test or situation... its a beast in its own right, but Manly...is not to be f*cked with... I started the day thinking I was going to put Manly to the test to see if it still belonged in my collections... but ended up being told to shut up and go to my room.... while Manly shaved, smoked, and sipped some nondescript booze; and later, explained to me why it isn't a good idea to test adults.............. I learned.

If you want compliments, then this is not the one for you. The opening of the perfume should be called Old man instead of manly, because it reminded of my grandfather's bookshelf with that dusty, moldy old books smelling scent. Mid notes ligger for quite a while, and the tobacco kicks in and if you have smelled tobacco blaze by Rasassi, it kinda reminds me of that added with vanilla / poor man's vanilla which is tonka bean. The oud here is super tamed and not challenging at all, and its a result of a very well blend. During the dry down, the vanilla, leather and oud is so well blended that you wont be able to point out the notes and it just smells nice. If if this was someone else other than Russian Adam (I hope you are doing well brother), this would be very under the radar, it was Brother Adam who probably lifted this up. Overall its a good fragrance, but not to get overhyped about it.

A nice mildly sweet tobacco and leather scent with a little bit of a chocolatey patchouli going on are the main notes for me. Comes across a little bit amber and nutty leather. Like it, but don't love it. It isn't exactly the same but I get a similar vibe from this as I do from Kilian's Royal Leather. I would also if you are looking for this sort of profile recommend going for Slumberhouse Jeke or TF Tobacco Oud, cheaper and better imho.

Mmm. Good stuff. Accurately described. Opens with a refined barnyard oud note that smoothes out between the tobacco and earthy patchouli notes. Really an oud lover's indulgeance here. Lots of love went into the distillation. Ultimately an aquired taste and a daring wear.

Manly is a brutishly strong tobacco fragrance, which really pushes the boundaries of those who claim to love tobacco. For me, I find it too much, but that doesn’t make it a bad fragrance. As for those whose taste it fits, I imagine would be a glorious wearing. The tobacco isn’t smoky or ashy, but dry, earthy and almost damp - like a collection of tobacco leaf which has been left out in the rain to mingle with mud, moss and dead leaves alike. This is furthered by the patchouli, oakmoss and leather, with that dark and musky facet coming from the oud. It’s an impressive creation, but I find it far too damp and earthy for my tastes. It reminds me a lot of Tabac Dore by Bortnikoff, of which I had a very similar experience with. I’ve come to accept I simply don’t like tobacco in its natural form.

Nothing special and this type of perfume was done much better and at a fraction of a price many times before. It reminds me of Roger & Gallet Open Black, which has similar bitter oakmoss and burnt tobacco notes, but Open Black is a pleasure to wear and is done really well, and it costs less than 20 bucks for 100ml. It is also similar to M. Michallef Style, same vibe, similar notes etc. As for Manly, I only have a decant and I am so glad that I did not waste money on a full bottle. One caveat - Manly is a new perfume and I just sprayed it. It may happen, like often happens with many perfumes, that it needs time to macerate/develop and it may become something really special and interesting a year from now.

Manly is easily the most crowd-pleasing offering I’ve tried from Areej. It smells like what you’d get if Kilian asked Russian Adam to make a fragrance. It’s boozy, earthy, spicy, smooth, semi-sweet chocolatey tobacco. Edit: After a few weeks and a few wearings, I’ve started to notice what feels like a synthetic film coating the entire fragrance. It’s less of a smell and more of a feeling in the very back of my sinuses/throat at the end of a deep inhale. I get a similar sensation with many Xerjoff releases, perhaps Adam and Aton have used some of the same ingredients here. It’s still a fine release, but the noticeable synthetic component is pulling it towards “meh” territory for me.

The worst one the Russian Adam has created. And it has nothing to do with any of the perfumes in the remind me of section. Those are beautiful. This one is just crap.

Manly lies somewhere between Aramis Havana and Masque Milano Montecristo for me. Not worth the money for one second. Disappointed

A disappointing release that did not live up to its hype. It seemed like more of a promotion for the young relative of Russian Adam (only in his early twenties, I believe) to come on to the perfumery scene. Manly is not a bad fragrance, but for the exorbitant price tag for 30ml, it is far too mediocre to warrant a purchase.

Nice tobacco,patchouli and spice blend.Drydown is very nice.Light smoky in the opening but it calms down as it progress.Recommend for patchouli and tobacco lovers.Very well blended.

Some of the 'perfumes reminds me of' voted above are ridiculous! Musc Noble? Black Gemstone? Straight to Heaven? really!?!?! a lot of broken noses out there. Manly is a below average scent for me, the notes are quite busy and there feels an obvious lack of skill by the perfumer. It doesn't feel like it will have the magic of maceration over time. This won't gain legendary status and a lot of scalpers will have to think twice on any future collaborative releases, hah.

On my skin, Manly opens with a boozy accord, similar to the one in Chinese Oud, but that doesn’t mean that it smells exactly the same. In Chinese Oud it was paired with orange and it lasted for a very short time, but here it leans more towards Rum with raisin like sweetness and it is paired with heavier notes. I also detect oakmoss absolute, now oakmoss usually forms a part of a fougere accord or a chypre accord and you usually need to wait until the late drydown to detect it in isolation, but here, it doesn’t feel like a part of an accord, just pure oakmoss with its green mossy slightly bitter nuances. I also detect a short lived Indian oud note from the opening, it is sweet resinous woody with hay-like nuances and is slightly barnyardy. In the heart the spices appear, at first I could only detect nutmeg and cinnamon, but after a few wearings I started detecting the beautiful realistic sweet spicy leathery saffron note, two or three wearings more and the heart became saffron heavy on me. The sandalwood is also present in the heart, it is very creamy, the same sandalwood that is present in Russian Musk II. The spices are further sweetened by the caramellic dry sweetness of tonka. The patchouli was very prominent on the first few wearings but now, it plays a secondary role in the heart, it has a dark sweet earthy dusty profile, without any herbal or mentholated nuances. The tobacco doesn’t appear until the second hour, it has a rich dry bitter cigarette-like profile that reminds me of the tobacco accord in some Amouage fragrances. The tobacco is combined with smoke (that reminds me of Interlude) and a non-animalic leather accord that feels like suede. I only detect the castoreum after 2 or 3 hours along with subtle vanillic sweetness. Now I don’t consider it as one of the best releases from the house. It is pleasant but doesn’t live up to the Areej le Dore standard IMO. The fragrance feels a bit familiar. Also, it lacks airiness; you are bombarded with all these heavy notes: Oakmoss, patchouli, leather, tobacco, booze, saffron, you name it! but nothing creates a contrast like a fresh aromatic note or a floral accord. The quality of ingredients is on par with any other Areej le Dore to my nose.