Triumph Of Bacchus

With the purchase of Triumph of Bacchus (TOB), my journey of fragrance exploration has just taken an interesting turn. Unlike the many knowledgeable people who leave reviews here on Fragrantica, I'm still feeling my way, so forgive me if my thoughts on this fragrance lack depth and insight. Like many of my age, I started out with Brut and Old Spice as a teen back in the 1970s and then progressed in typical fashion to Aramis, Eau Sauvage, Antaeus, etc. In other words, the usual, relatively safe options. And apart from a few fragrance gifts and random purchases over the subsequent years, I've pretty much stuck with the old favourites. It's only in the last few months that I've become truly interested in fragrances. Where do I start with this, then? Well, I appreciate that the primary interest is the fragrance itself, but other factors inevitably play a part too. One such factor is presentation and, oh my, Argos has definitely got it right in my opinion. It might be shallow on my part, but there are a number of fragrances that might be wonderful, but I won't entertain buying just because I do not like the look of the bottle. No worries there with TOB. It arrives in a box that has been elegantly wrapped and tied with gold ribbon. Its box is simple, but classic, embossed with gold writing and logo. Along with the box comes a sealed envelope with a card inside thanking you for your custom. Opening the box feels like an event, something special. Things get even better with the bottle; it's presented as a work of art. Not wanting to be too gushing and non-critical, I could say that it's perhaps a tad too opulent, but I think it works. Now, before buying this, I read many of the reviews here and watched a few on Youtube. While I find reviews interesting as an initial guide as to what I might like, I appreciate that they can only offer so much in terms of what is useful. After all, we have differing tastes, our sense of smell differs, and fragrances work differently on each person's skin. That being the case, I've made it a policy to blind buy fragrances I've not experienced before. It's a risk and sometimes a costly one, but I feel that it's a great way to discover fragrances that I might not have considered if I'd just tried a small sample. In doing this, one thing I've noted is that my first impressions of a fragrance, even after wearing it a week or so, can be negative, but as time goes on my attitude to it can turn positive. This blind buying policy of mine may change in time, but for now I'll stick with it. My reasoning for buying fragrances is not for the purpose of gaining compliments or smelling attractive, instead it's all about experiencing new fragrances and learning, so if there are a few duds in the collection, then so be it. Some have said that the opening is reminiscent of cherry cough syrup and yes I smell the similarity for the first few seconds, but it soon calms down and when it does the green apple comes in for me. I also get saffron spice and rum, both to a lesser extent. Due to my lack of experience, I'm sure, I completely miss the listed middle notes, and after 30 minutes or so the overwhelming impression is of tobacco, with a fruity twang sitting lightly above it. Although I've never tried snuff, I imagine that the smell is not far removed from that of TOB. In fact, the tobacco dominates so much for me, that it makes my nasal passage tingle. I used one spray on my chest 5 hours ago and it has hardly diminished at all. It has incredible staying power, making me cautious about over spraying it. I'll be using it sparingly. I like this fragrance a lot and I suspect that might even turn to love in the weeks to come. Perhaps the only slight downside is its lack of versatility in my eyes. I'd never wear it in the summer or spring and I don't see it as a daytime fragrance either. It's one that will come out for special occasions, when I want to make an impression. My advice then is, if you want to move away from tame, nice, generic fragrances, and you are keen to experience something a bit different, then you might want to give this a go. UPDATE 1: Had this a few days now and I'm starting to love it. Even just one spray lasts incredibly well on skin and even better on clothes. Used wisely in the right setting, this can be perfect. UPDATE 2 (30 Dec 2024): First opportunity to wear this fragrance to a party last night. Used three sprays. Two "You smell lovely" compliments. I never buy a scent in the hope of getting compliments on it, but it is nice to receive them. ToB has definitely evolved from when I first tried it and I've now elevated it to my "love" category. When I first used it a couple of weeks ago it seemed a bit harsh on the opening, but that has mellowed a bit. What I really like is that after a little while on my skin, to my nose I get warm apple pie. My photo: https://www.fragrantica.com/fragram/fp/302022 Tested: 30ml full bottle Seasons / Occasions: Autumn and winter. Good for special occasions. Key thoughts: Sweet but not cloying. Opulent. Overall rating: 9.5/10 Buy again: Yes

Today marks the beginning of my journey with the house of Argos. A unique tidbit: Argos Fragrances is based in Dallas, Texas (my home state), and its founder, Christian Petrovich, is an actor with ties to Hollywood (rumored to be one of the 300 Spartans in the film 300). Setting off this exploration is their most popular fragrance, the veritable hype beast: Triumph of Bacchus. Named for the Roman god of wine and revelry, this scent promises an experience steeped in luxury and excess. Does the fragrance live up to its opulent pedigree? Let's get into it and find out. Opening: The opening is fruity, warm, and sweet. The primary notes I get are white peach, tobacco, green apple, and rum, with the most prominent notes being the white peach and tobacco. The white peach immediately projects from the skin as a bright, juicy, and sweetly photorealistic fruit note. While peach is often categorized as a feminine note, its presentation here is expertly balanced, avoiding any overly saccharine or "girly" associations. Closely following the peach is the tobacco, which introduces its distinctive warm, herbaceous, and subtly sweet accord. This tobacco is similar in tone to the intensity found in Mancera's Red Tobacco, but it possesses a notably more natural and appealing richness. Up next is the green apple and rum. The green apple adds more supporting fruitiness, but with noticeably more tartness to it, evocative of a Granny Smith apple. Lastly, the rum lends a warm, sweet, boozy dimension in the background, anchoring the opening with a masculine depth. Dry Down: The dry down remains sweet, warm, and fruity. The primary notes I get are white peach, tobacco, vanilla, and rum, with the strongest notes being the tobacco and vanilla. The tobacco is still a highlight in the dry down, maintaining a boosted dose of the warm, sweet, and natural accord from the opening. It is harmoniously joined by the vanilla note, which has emerged to provide a creamy, gourmand sweetness. This is followed by the rum and white peach. The rum remains a noticeable supporting element as a mellowed and smoothed-out version of its boozy and sweet accord from the opening. Lastly, the white peach has receded to the background, but still provides noticeable whiffs of its juicy, fruity sweetness. There are also lingering touches of green apple, as well as hints of a deep, balsamic amber. Performance: The initial projection within the first hour is very strong and can easily fill a room. The sillage matches that intensity with a dense and sweet scent trail. After about three to four hours, the projection was hovering around six feet, and the scent trail was still easily noticeable. After about eight hours, the projection was still holding on at around three to four feet, and the scent trail was lighter but still noticeable. The fragrance ultimately provides an impressive longevity of at least 12 hours before becoming a skin scent. When to Wear: Triumph of Bacchus is an undeniably fall/winter fragrance that is best suited for evening wear. This is not a fragrance for casual settings; its rich, commanding, and heavy profile makes it an undeniable knockout for special occasions like date nights or formal occasions such as weddings or black-tie events. Because of its heavy-handed nature, it is definitively not an office-safe fragrance. Blind Buy: I would not classify Triumph of Bacchus as a safe blind buy, as it caters to a specific, opulent taste profile. However, if you enjoy heavy, sweet, tobacco fragrances like Red Tobacco or the complex richness of fragrances like Parfums de Marly's Carlisle or Hugo Boss Bottled Absolu, Triumph of Bacchus is absolutely worth sampling. Final Verdict: From the first application, I could discern that Triumph of Bacchus was something truly special. The warmth of the tobacco and rum, the luminous fruit notes of the peach and apple, and the sweetness of the vanilla and amber all blend beautifully to create a deep and opulent experience. It synthesizes the best characteristics of fragrances like Carlisle, Boss Bottled Absolu, and Red Tobacco, adds a masterful fruity top layer, and delivers a richer, more saturated result. As anticipated, performance is exemplary, projecting commandingly, leaving heavy scent trails, and lasting long enough to easily exceed a full workday and then some. As far as tobacco fragrances go, this is one of the finest I have encountered, and I will definitely be procuring a full bottle of either this version or the new Extrait. Scent: 10/10 Longevity: 8/10 Sillage: 9/10 Versatility: Average Mass Appeal: Average Gender: Masculine Value: Fair

A while back I bought Charuto Mysterious Tobacco from Paris Corner, I hardly ever buy from dupe houses, but I'd heard so many good things about Paris corner, so bought about 10 different fragrances at once, I gifted some and kept some as air and laundry fresheners (I'm a bachelor!) and I'd bought Red Tobacco a few years ago and remember it choking me out so sold it, but had a fond memory of it As of late came across Charuto Mysterious Tobacco and was using it on my laundry so decided to buy the real McCoy as was growing very fond of the scent. What I've got to say is this is pretty identical to Charuto Mysterious Tobacco as can get, only difference is the much higher grade materials and that it actually lasts, I think (CMT laster about 90 minutes). If I had never come across CMT and had only tried this, version, I'd have said that it was extremely unique, which it is, even though RT came out before this, I still say this is more unique, or treads differently, that's just my own opinion. I don't think there is much to add other than it's very brilliantly blended, similar to the only other American house I've smelled (Mind Games), but I can't help but think if this was French, the price here in the UK would be lower than it is (I think it's currently £185 for 100ml), not that a high price tag means much these days except maybe exclusivity and more Artisanal and more rare raw materials, this one's merit is it's unique scent combined with great blending and a longevity that is phenomenal without it having any trace of synthetic smelling aroma chemicals. I would like to try more from the house, possibly Sacred Flame, because although I'm late to the ball, if all of Argos's fragrances are this unique, then Mr Petrovich may have a flair akin to that of Mr Al Zoabi (Pana Dora). God bless you all and enjoy

What else can be said about Triumph of Bacchus that hasn't already. It's like drinking a nice cognac (yes I know its rum not cognac,) wrapped in cozy blanket with a bowl of drunk fruits next to the fireplace. It is a beautiful fragrance with its faults, to be sure, but those do not outweigh the beauty of this scent. The opening is synthetic in the way the apple, peach, and rum mix into a delicate, juicy smell warmed with the amber. It's rich and that's why many are turned away at first sniff. The saffron backs it up to measure the sweetness and ground it (I am a sucker for saffron). Then in comes the tonka, (I don't pick up a lot of patchouli or vetiver, but the earthiness isn't missed). This is where the tobacco kicks down the door and announces itself with real smokiness that isn't cloying or abrasive, as the tonka and vanilla temper it down with a smoothness. This does tend to be where the evolution stops, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. This is a truly good gateway niche with long lasting scent. In optimal conditions it'll last you the whole work day, and it leaves a great trail that doesn't knock people back. Get it on discounters if you can, but Argos' presentation is truly a factor in the price, but sample it first if you don't fw boozy scents. Smell: 9.5/10 Dry-Down: 8.5/10 (the dry down is amazing yet linear, if you are seeking something that evolves like crazy, this isn't it.) Projection: 9/10 Strength: 9/10 Total: 9/10

It took me some time to get my hands on this fragrance, and I managed to get a full bottle at an OK price... Now I have to say that Ive owned quite some unique, luxurious scents before but this... this one stands out so much. It's by no means any insanely crazy experience but the blend of peaches, rum, vanilla and tobacco make for a very nose-pleasing experience. I wore it to a dinner date with my girlfriend and she was complimenting it all the time, had someone ask on the way back to the car what I was wearing too. I sprayed about three to four times at max, even though it's the EDP one that I have. Overall, after about a week of owning it, it is very much a special occasion scent, that's for sure. Sillage is good, the first three to four even the fifth hour, it projects like a beast. Longevity is praise worthy, over 10 hours on skin, and my longcoat has been smelling like it since I first sprayed it on since it caught some. All in all the price is a bit too high, but for the quality I think if you can get it, and have tested it, why not! a solid 8.5/10 PS.: two below me, @hkalnaimi, I don't know what batch you got but everyone I know who owns it says it's a performance beast. Also, the juice color being like that is normal, you could've checked ARGOS's own website where it states that it's normal and changes nothing regarding the scent itself...