Acteur

LANIER, originaldeftom, cowboykenny27, bigsly and flannelman (among others) really wrote some great reviews - thank you! I got a Vintage bottle recently prior to reformulation - the moss is definitely very much there and shows up in the mid-notes on the skin (on clothing, a touch more cleaner and slower evolution of scent - but I really prefer this as a skin scent - just a couple dabs to clothing from a splash). This is radiating a deep, dark brooding rose (but not dirty like Zino Davidoff's - different vein). Knightz is correct is saying that this is not a "fresh" bloom, but one that has already dropped a few petals into the bowl of fresh and dried fruit under it (definitely some nice fruit notes in here) - the rose petals are slightly wilted, darkening at the edges of the burgundy petals. However, what keeps the rose from being "off" is actually the sharp carnation, in my opinion (brilliant). I actually think it fits perfect into the structure. A bright, cheerful rose note would not fit into this simply wonderful composition...it is very deep, mysterious, & rich. I am in olfactory heaven with this brooding, masculine floral! It would take a confident man to wear this - most definitely. The wood in this is so well-integrated with the florals and the fermented fruits drying down a bit. And, the leather is well-done...warm, smooth. A key note is mace, or nutmeg flower, (which creates a nice spiciness) which really shows itself, however the note could be off-putting to those who don't know what it is. Not dominant, but integrated in the top with cardamom, some bergamot rind and the booziness from the dried fruit. A sharp opening that dries and really warms on one's skin. This is, indeed, better than a lot of the niche fragrances out there today - unbelieveably good juice. My score is 9+/10, for Vintage formulation...with a standing ovation. So, do as you may. This is a warm, deep, masculine and beautiful fragrance...one of the best offerings ever made by the Azzaro house, Vintage Acteur. For men, not boys. **Update** - I decanted about 20-25ml into a 30ml glass atomizer (to have some air in the spray bottle and really let it breathe!) After applying the same splash-on juice by atomizer, it really opens up beautifully. A lot more of the spices comes out along with the other florals mentioned (jasmine, and even more carnation). The note separation is fantastic. Less concentrated? Perhaps a bit - but it keeps the richness and prefer to apply several shots close in (to create depth) and a couple from a bit of distance to spread out the composition and let it reveal the top and heart notes more. I bought a Vintage 50ml spray bottle as well and realized how the scent wore different when applied through an atomizer. This is serious fragrance and you can really get a lot more notes by applying this way. The rose is not quite as deep and brooding with the leather, amber and oakmoss - but you get a slightly brighter top and a more integrated fragrance. Booziness is still there - you get the FULL effect. Impressive. Another aspect I did not delve deeply into is the actual spiciness and earthy wood structure of Vintage Acteur. I love the spicy cardamom on top - it is very distinct to my nose. It blends perfectly into the gorgeous and earthy patchouli (one of the most important notes I find in the entire composition) along with a nice warm cedar. Vetiver comes in at the end of the heart going into the drydown. It is not perfectly "clean" vetiver. There is a bit of damp soil on that root - lending an extra bit of depth to the entire wear and allowing it to transcend perfectly into the Oakmoss! The leather is gorgeous here - very classy and smooth and it blends brilliantly with the rose that stays from the top all the way through to the base. The effect is nothing short of the slightly wilted rose petals that are stuffed in the pocket of a rich, black leather jacket. The musk is well-done...another not-so-perfectly clean note, but perfectly befitting the 'mood' this fragrance creates. The amber is actually a more important note here as it blends with the musk and actually does two things - it adds even more warmth (this is one of the "warmest" scents you can find in Vintage Acteur) to the composition and increases the longevity, while at the same time adding a distinct note that provides a radiant feel. One should wear this on skin, and fairly liberally. It goes on with a wonderful sharp richness, warms incredibly on your skin and creates the "aura-effect" that Azzaro Pour Homme made famous. It is how the scent is structured that allows one to experience (and adore) this. If you look at the notes, this could have had some dialed up and the effect would not be there. Soothing and calming in Vintage Acteur - like a 'mature, confident actor' indeed. Some people have complained about the current juice being "fizzy" - which I simply felt was lacking the density and depth of Vintage (it was dilute, unimpressive and very short-lived), but interesting adjective. That is the last word that would ever come to mind when thinking about this gorgeous, rich scent in its Vintage form, though. Based upon that, and my experience with Vintage Azzaro Pour Homme versus the reformulation - I would say to seek out Vintage bottles of this if you want to truly experience the sheer depth, warmth and beauty that is in Original Acteur. Bravo!

I bought Acteur maybe 8 years ago or even much earlier and wore for 2 or 3 times. Never cared for it. At that moment, I was overwhelmed by my curiosity of exploring the greater reign of perfumes, vintage and female perfumes in particular—This is shortly after my first serious encounter with perfumes. Acteur came to me at the end of a phase when I bought and tried men's fragrances exclusively. It was a period when I was amazed by the roughness and toughness of Aramis, appalled (in a good way) by the vulgarity and decency coexisted of Kouros, mesmerised by the (re)freshing cleanness yet skanky dirtiness of Mouchoir de Monsieur and captivated by the solid (if not sacred geometrical) structure of Sagamore and I thought I knew them all, all the great male fragrances. But unfortunately, Acteur failed to stand with these great works shoulder to shoulder, at least not to my preference nor judgement. The reason? I completely missed the rose. Hard to believe but it's true. I would raise a brow and look at you in skeptical look on my face should you tell me that there is a predominant rose note presented in Acteur while all I could perceived have always been waves of spicy-woody leather rushing into the nostril and to the shore of my memory, until tonight. Out of a very coincidental reason, I grabbed Acteur and sprayed heavily on my forearms and my neck for around 6 to 8 times. At first, as expected as always, the spicy-woody leather facet took over. I felt its very coarse texture and could not really appreciated it, I layered my Coty Wild Musk, hoping its soft and smooth musky vanilla would mellow the edges then I went to bed for a nap. When all the leather and sweet musky vanilla faded, the rose, oh the delicate yet stubborn rose arose. All of a sudden, I was surrounded by the magnificent, opulent and glorious aura of velvety fuchsia shade. It was unmistakably the rose I missed and misunderstood for so long. Romantic, poetic and vividly realistic. Acteur is the leading tenor of a long-awaited opera for which you've been saving money to get the best seat possible. The skills to create Acteur is technically perfect but on top of that Acteur itself is breathtakingly beautiful. And this could be easily proven if 1) you try it yourself or 2) read reviews by some of the most respectable connoisseurs of male fragrances here in the Fragrantica community. But most of all, the surprise Acteur brought me tonight is just another example and valuable lesson to me: the appreciation of perfumes is an acquired taste and ability. And it takes time and experience to grow wiser, indeed. At last, I am so glad I didn't sell or swap Acteur so a second chance was given to me and the rosy gem.

The sumptuous red velvet curtain rose silently. The stage was as dark as 3:am. Then an amber spotlight widened from just a pinpoint at the center of the stage to reveal a lone handsome figure. The Actor. “To spray or not to spray, that is the question.” The audience cupped in the neo classical splendor of the Comédie Française Theater was spellbound in shimmering silence. “Whether ’tis nobler for the body to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fragrance, Or to take arms against a sea of scents, And by opposing end them?” He raised a bottle of Acteur Azzaro to inspect it and then popped the top and sprayed it out over the assembly. Thunderous applause shook the rafters of the theater and caused a microscopic show of plaster to fall from the ornately vaulted ceiling lightly dusting the audience. The following morning the Parisian papers trumpeted the reviews, The Acteur is bombastic, over the top, and in the grand style of another age. Yet despite all of that, it is a fabulous exciting hit. And indeed it is. What a perfect name for this late 80’s power fragrance, Acteur, the Actor. It demands attention and carries a natural charisma that only a true star possesses. The drama of its theatrical opening is huge! It is a tangy spiced cocktail of Fruit, nutmeg, bergamot and cardamom that nearly knocked me over. This opening quickly dissipates into a really romantically masculine and sublime mix of rose, jasmine, vetiver, cedar and patchouli that carries authority in that special 80’s way some of us love. The dry down is a sensuous mix of leather amber musk and oakmoss. I do have to say that throughout the entire performance of this fragrance the leather and amber do move up into the middle notes which temper the rose and burnishes it and the jasmine quite nicely. The silage is fine, a range of about medium and it last a good 6 to 8 hours on my skin. If you are looking back to the 1980’s for a fine mature fragrance with some authority and panache, Acteur should take center stage for you. FIVE GOLD STARS *****

I love this fragrance very much! I bought a sample cause of the positive reviews that I read about this being a frag. that has a prominent rose note in it. The rose note(s) are hard to detect when first applied until the beginning part of the drydown. After that, the rose notes stand out more(at least with my chemistry). This frag. is the best one I've smelled out of the "Loris Azzaro" design house so far. This fragrance has very good longevity. I applied a little on myself before going to bed and the next morning I could still smell it. The final phases of the drydown smell similar on me like the middle stages except a lot lighter, almost like low end or dimestore perfume for women but in a good way, and that's ok with me. This is definetely masculine enough to be worn by most guys. If it weren't I wouldn't be wearing it, as my chemistry wants to lean more towards floral and (or)sweet notes. This fragrance is floral enough and slightly sweet enough to lean towards being a unisexual frag. There's probably more then enough rose perfumes out there for women better then this one. I highly recommend this for the guys, especially if you're wanting something very different or a rose type of fragrance. Give it a try first by sampling it, and if you like it, buy it. There were some rumors going around that this is discontinued but that's not the case according to another fragrance website. I would like to also say that I compared this with my other unisex cologne that's also smells of roses called "Intense Oud" by Jovan. I like this one a lot better, as Intense Oud smells more feminine and way too much rose, so I'll wear that once and while at home. "Declaration d'un Soir" by Cartier is another rose frag. for men. There's one more fragrance that has a rose accord, for men. It's called "Loud" by Tommy Hilfiger. It smells nice, not as strong as "Acteur" which I like better than it. I like "Acteur" so much that I didn't hesitate to buy a bottle of it online.

ACTEUR 1989 by Maurice Maurine I do really believe that it is imperative to have a historical grasp of the history of perfumery, if one wants to write properly about perfumes. Acteur is a groundbraker, the equivalent of a seminal paper. Maurice Maurine went at length to unchartered territory with this heavily dense rose, anticipating Mancera, Montale, Kurkdjan, and Roja Dove. Importing the idea by the Arabian Middle East world, he showed that rose can be and should be used in masculine fragrances (remember that there were a clear division in place with regard to gender in the fragrance world at that time). So: no aromatic fouger, no heavy cyphre, no aggressive leather; just a beautiful rose supported by a hint of jasmine and a good dose of a piquant carnation. The oil rose here is slightly fruity, but it is surronded by a good amount of spices, namely clove and nutmeg, or bettr, mace which is a fragrant oil made from the dried aril of nutmeg, it's sweeter and milder than nutmeg oil. It is both a little bit soapy and emanates a cidary aurea that probably originats from the muguet and the jasmine. With time, it gets darker when the soft sude base emerges joined by some woody accents (patchouly for the most part and then some rooty vetiver) immersed in a good dose of pungent oakmoss. For me it's a very romantic and unmistakabely masculine; an acteur at centre stage who is bitter-caustic and turbulent, distant and intimate at the same time. Acteur conveys that sense of elegant and masculine adroitness. There's something about its expression of greens, spices, and flowers that brings class and ruggedness into the same room, sits them down, and negotiates a truce. Acteur is handsome and timeless; for me a masterpiece! Follow me on IG @alexolympia6

TL:DR: Very, very pleasant and actually a timeless spicy rose scent that many can wear even today, and would probably get high praise if it was a "niche" one. Unfortunately this one had slipped from my attention for years even though I used to get tempted by the name every now and then. I finally got my hands on a vintage mini bottle that's luckily stood the test of time, which is always a risk if you are going for something 15-20+ years old. Based on the many reviews I was expecting something very strange, but instead I got a very smooth, perfectly fine-tuned spicy and woody rose with a nostalgic flair. The main ingredient is calamus root here, it both gives balsamic and leathery undertones whilst providing all the fresh, earthy and spicy aspects. I think the cardamom/nutmeg type note that makes up the DNA in combination with rose is also coming from the calamus. The rose note is not like the actual rose otto, but more like some parts of it, the spicy, dark yet fresh aspects coming from citronellol for example. The floral fruity aspects feel like jasmine and banana. Mid to base plays out like a chypre, oakmoss-leather-patchouli with generic woodsy tones of its time. I think the modern time comparisons can be made to Comme des Garçons - Concrete (and maybe even CdG - 2), or Pharrell Williams - G.I.R.L - yet Acteur remains the mature vintage gentlemen that it is. The very first few minutes where calamus is kicking the most reminds me of Amouage - Imitation and at the same time Journey.

In the opening, at least for the very first 5-10 min, a punch of "tzuica" or "palinca" a traditional romanian strong bevergage made of plum hits your nose. Bergamot is also there but the tzuica is stronger. But after this time, the story begins...What. a. wonder. Carnation and rose,patchouli and vetiver, and the plum for the beginning (wich is not separatelly listed) are making a wonderful mixture. The leather, cedar and wood are comming soon, what a wood! A wet,alive, old wood, tones of leather and ancient amber and again the best rose I have ever smelled in a male scent!From the many bottles I had, the first ones (still have one full 200 ml since 89-90) is definitely the best. The new version is also good, but sadly far from what this masterpiece was at the point of its creation! I know the old recipe simply can t be duplicated nowadays, due the rules and restriction, but for those who wants to try it, it s a chance.The new version is a bit synthetic, the rose is a bit pungent and chemical, less oakmoss and leather in this version. If you know what I mean, in the old version, there is a MALE rose! I detect jasmine in the new version, wich in the older one I simply cannot detect. If you can, buy an OLD bottle. Rare but still available for decent prices. Choose a pre-barcode edition, -1989,1990,1991. KING! 10/10

I'll be honest, I was a little intimidated with Acteur at first. The composition feels older than a 1989 release, and until I was able to break the notes down like a double barrel shotgun, I was a bit drawn away by how dark this gem portrays itself. The guy a few reviews below mine who associated Acteur with Phantom Of The Opra, pretty much hit the nail on the head with this one. That said, I really like Acteur. It's damn intriguing and displays a lot of charm in a clean vs. dark give and take that showcases itself around a shadowy rose. I was surprised at the authenticity of the rose note in particular, especially considering Azzaro budget restraints. You can almost feel the texture of the dark red petals when smelling it on your skin. That coupled with the Azzaro PH classic oakmoss DNA which gives Acteur a masculine backbone that rightfully grants a men's labeling. I don't recommend blind buying this one, especially if your're under 35. Know what you're getting into and realize that you had better like floral roses and classic men's fragrances. If you're not exactly sure then you're probably buying for all the wrong reasons. It seems 3.4 ounce spray bottles of Acteur are in the begining stages of dissapearing. Buy now.

I have wanted this fragrance for quite some time. I found it cheaply at Strawberrynet and after only waiting 4 days (two of which were Saturday and Sunday) it arrived. What a fantastic fragrance! With the first sprays from the bottle I was hit with a boozy rose, somewhat like opening a box of Turkish delight and inhaling deeply. (lol reminds me of the time I took my kids to the movies with turkish delight and they blew the powdered sugar off it ... all over the woman in front of us). Anyway...back to the review...It also has an aromatic aspect not unlike the original Azzaro, so I would almost categorise this as a floral fougere, even though it technically is missing some of the notes to qualify as such. It is really unlike any other fragrance I have. I have both Ungaro III and Zino Davidoff, but this is very different to either of them. This could quite easily be a top 20 fragrance for me!

This does not agree with me apparently. The opening smelled oddly "barn yard" to me after that smell went away it seems it took everything else with it leaving a vague sweet smell that if sniffed really hard and close I would say was floral. Now 5 hours later and there isn't even a hint of scent on my wrist. The bottle I have is a splash that took me for surprise when I opened it so I got a healthy dose of this stuff. I'll try it in an spray and see if it makes a difference. I really want to like this one but it might not be for me. Update Yeah spraying this scent makes a world of difference. Now it's the aged rose so many have said. My guess is that the splash was just too dense for my nose. Now that it's thinned out a bit this makes a lot more sense. It also seems to last longer around 7 hours of rosey goodness.This went from worst scent I have to contender for favorite

I now have a 100ml spray bottle as well as a smaller splash bottle. An elegant, sophisticated, avante-garde scent. I imagine a seasoned well-groomed man in his mid 30's or 40's. Not an old man scent at all. It is on the lower end of the spectrum regarding "power" in power house scents. You can wear this with your favorite tweed jacket and newsboy cap or a t-shirt and your leather Norton motorcycle jacket. Acteur's not particular so pick your role. There is a cool, almost sweet herbal nuance that gives it a youthful or playful effect. It is a carefree well traveled man driving a Benz 280 SL, MG, or Alfa Romeo. You pick the car but whichever you choose, know that the top is down, it only has two seats and you're on a fun and sunny backroad daytrip to the coast. Whatever the destination, a glass of chilled Riesling or refreshing bitter/hoppy Pils is waiting for you.

Received the 1.7oz splash today. Seems to be the newest formulation of Azzaro Acteur. Three dabs to my inner wrist was the method of testing. Upon initial application I took a few immediate whiffs that gave me a high school flashback of the pungent, green, bitter odor of the bowl of a dirty pot pipe....go figure. After it settled in and did it's thing with my skin, it morphed into a pleasant and somewhat intriguing scent that had a dry, semi-sweet, herbal coolness. The rose is soft and mellow. Vaguely reminds me of skin scent mode of Caron Yatagan, only because of an herbal nuance. Mildly masculine at the opening, but I can easily imagine the dry-down on a woman. I imagine an herbal cough drop/lozenge wrapped in a rose petal. Very unique in my opinion. It's a fascinating scent, cerebral arousal/stimulation as opposed to erotic/sensual. Thumbs way up for me.

I bought this scent based on the reviews here, and I am very glad I did. It reminds me most of Tom Ford's Noir de Noir. Acteur doesn't last as long but only costs a fraction of TF NdN. More importantly it smells almost identical. The rose and leather notes also remind me of vintage Aramis 900 more than the current release to Aramis 900. To a lesser extent it reminds me of the dusty rose of Agent Provacateur, although AP definitely more on the feminine side of the spectrum. To me this is a truly unisex scent in that it is equally appropriate for men and women. Love at first sniff, no waiting for the opening to subside. A great ride from beginning to end. I am so glad I took the plunge and bought a large bottle.

Wow! Rose... very well done. This rose reminds me a bit of the wild roses that grew next to my great grandmother's house. Not the compound hybrids, rather, the single-layer 5 petal pink gradient to a white center as "rosa woodsii" or "rosa acicularis". In combination with the fine leather, oakmoss and spicy notes of the carnation this is a masculine masterpiece. Gentleman this is not a rose scent to shy away from for fear of it being too feminine or dated to little rose soap balls on your granny's bathroom sink. Very sophisticated and elegant. Can easily be done in casual or formal attire. House of Azzaro... you still continue to amaze me with your unique and long lasting fragrances.

Yesterday bought it .it 's really a georgous scent.Idon't like rose in mens perfumes but this one is really well balanced which rose don't bother . At very fisrt seconds rose dark leather are potent and then oakmoss patchouli give it a mature masculine vibe to it ,the rose exist though . Rose exist from first to the end of perfume life.at first dark leather gives a manly stunning smell to it which I like and exist on the back but in a tone down mode beside oakmoss. Many niche scents today smell like this while Acteur created in 1989.I reach certainty that nowadays niche perfumes copy or get inspiration from classic fragrance. It's a masterpiece of a kind.

Acteur Azzaro 💎 Shame on Azzaro house, Acteur Azzaro's production stopped شاء القدر ولله الحمد وتم بلقائي بعطري المفضل بعد سنوات من البحث عنه ... لأنه مع الأسف كان قد توقف عن الإصدار وكنت أمني النفس بالعثور عليه ولو على عينة واحدة منه . والان العطر موجود عندي وهو بالنسبة الي كتحفة فنية أتعامل معها برفق ولكم أن تتصوروا سعادتي الكبيرة حينما ارتديه لأنه يرجعني الى فترة التيسعينات الذهبية وكان اللقاء به هو البداية الفعلية لحبي للعطور . حسب ذوقي وتجربتي أكتور ازرارو أعظم وأرقى عطر على الاطلاق برائحة ( الورد الأحمر ) الممزوج بالجلد والفواكه والأكموس الطبيعي. نقائه وجماله يفوق عطور النيش جد معقد وصعب فك شفرته جد متفرد ولايشبه أي عطر وفخم الى أبعد الحدود .

A seductive, boozy rose, wrapped in brushed leather and dried fruits. Come to Papa. This must have been bizarre upon its release in 1989, when the world of masculine fragrances was just coming off the heels of powerhouse chypres and often brassy fougeres. Don't be mistaken though, this does have its own panache, but it was so left field for its time (much like Paco Rabanne Ténéré) that it wasn't commercially successful. These days, a scent similar to this is de rigeur (see Etro ManRose). I wear this when I want to be reminded that there is a sophisticated side to me. I am not quite as simple as the world would like me to think.

I picked up this fragrance and wore it only once back in 2015...it was okay, but Acteur just seemed a bit dated (not that I mind masculine or mature scents) so I placed it back on the shelf and kinda forgot about it. Well, I decided to wear Lagerfeld Classic the other day and noticed Azzaro Acteur sitting next to it, so I gave it another shot. Anyway, I'm liking it a lot more (it's perfect for the cooler Spring days) and I'm glad to have it in the Scent Armory. I will need to wear it a few more times, and will update my review according, but it's a solid like for me at this point.

Acteur is always a favorite's shelf honorable mention for me. An attic rose scent. This formula could very well be Azzaro's all time best unsung release. For a budget house the rose comes off very authentic...almost niche quality to my nose. If you're a rose curious guy, this would be the next step up from the Burberry Brits. I don't think I'll ever get through my 3.4 oz spray bottle, or at least I hope I don't. Forget Lyric Man by Amouage. All you get there is the unsweet, green part of the rose. For true, authentic rose seekers, here’s where you need to be. Trust me, guys.

U.N.I.Q.U.E so it's floral...big deal...it's also one hell of a scent ! Very unique, certainly not dated (although 30+)and very pleasant to wear in any circumstance (INCREDIBLE sillage)...nowadays i dare to say that it's better (although 2 totally different scents) than the latest (poor) reformulation of the legendary azzaro pour homme (which i used to love)...acteur is for real, gentle, clean (and confident) guys. Try & buy... I do have to mention...you perhaps find it sometimes difficult to find a right opportunity to wear it...