Or Masculin

Or Masculin feels to me like the glissando of a pedal steel, warming my heart with its stimulating aromatics and blissful woodiness, a supple, spiced leather. An astringent, invigorating opening of citrus, basil and coriander leads to subtly powdery and smoky sandalwood, shaded with a spiciness and the slightest indolic jasmine. This winds down into a lingering soft, smoldering leather and a reassuring mossiness, like a comforting companion. It is simultaneously commanding and nuanced, a sentimental masculinity, more concerned with honor and compassion than with demanding respect. It's sensitivity in earth tones and wide-wale corduroys, a strong hand with a gentle touch. It sits at the crossroads between the wonderfully confident wielding of Aramis and the storied styrax luxuriance of Bel Ami, yet has a presence all its own, a legend in itself, but lost to time, discontinuation, and scarcity. Or Masculin truly is golden.

This is where my love for perfumes started long ago... Or Masculin was the ONE that conquered my sences and became the most desired perfume for me. Nowadays you can't find it anywhere. I tried to replace it with another gem, that is Hermes Bel Ami, but something was missing and the magic was not there... Last year luckily I found Vertus Monarch and something in it reminded me of Or Masculin, but in a fresher way. I decided to mix it with Bel Ami, and.... Le voil a! Because Vertus Monarch is longer lasting and stronger than Hermes Bel Ami, I applied Hermes Bel Ami / Vertus Monarch in a proportion 2/1 and this is the closest thing to Or Masculin that I can imagine. If you miss Or Masculin as much as I do, then you can try my suggestion. I hope it would work for you as it does for me!

This vintage juice pulls no punches. It is a masculine luxury leather fragrance of the highest order built to be appreciated instead of pleasing random folks with instant appeal. A surging composition that reveals different facets of woody, ambery bliss and classic aromatics backed up by a hint of dusty jasmine and tons of gorgeous, ancient oakmoss. The intricate smokiness has something ayurvedic to it and becomes lucid during the drydown. Fans of Aramis will definitely love this.

Not much to add to the view below, but I do want to add another strong plus. This is a real gem that is, unfortunately, now very hard to find. Very lush, dark, woody, spicy and smokey, yet not overwhelming or overbearing. I love wearing it, but it makes me melancholy each time, for the day when it will be gone for good I fear is too fast approaching...

How the heck am i the first person to review this!! If you are a fan of Bel Ami by Hermes, i think you will definitely appreciate this.