Fig Man

Additional thoughts (September 28th, 2024): After over three years have passed since my initial review, it is time to add some more thoughts and impressions. As a precursor: Carner Barcelona's "Fig Man" is still my favourite late spring and summertime perfumes. It may not be suitable for college freshmen, but it can definitely cater both to younger people, as well as more mature perfume enthusiasts, and it is sophisticated, yet fun and carefree. I haven't many perfumes (about 10 that are on rotation depending on the time of day and season in the year), I tend to use perfumes very sparingly in general. Still, I have already used up three-quarters of this, while all my other perfumes are not even half-empty. My biggest reason to love Fig Man is that I have yet to come across any other perfume that so effortlessly and naturally mimicks the smell of actual fig trees in a seaside town on a very hot summer's afternoon when the salty breeze blows landward and carries with it the fig leaves' scent to you in promise of many more dips in the crystal clear refreshing sea before it is time for a bountiful fig harvest in a few months. I would know this scent well, since I have resided in such places. I have heard some perfumefluencers say that capturing saline scents is difficult, but Carner manages this in a very convincing way in "Fig Man". The additional sweetness from the fig fruit, the very decent cardamom, and the woody sweetness of the guaiac wood really mix well with the smell of violet, which I surprisingly do not mind in this at all. It performs reasonably well on me with moderate sillage (around a forearm's length) and moderate longevity (around six to seven hours). All in all, this perfume is a summer vacation in a sleepy Greek seaside village full of joy and laughter, captured inside a perfume bottle. Original review (June 9th, 2021): OH MY GOODNESS! This scent is fruity without remorse or apology! It's powerful fig in a bottle, with a breeze of the salty sea. This is a no-nonsense modern spring-and-summer scent if there ever was one. It doesn't try to be citrussy, but hints of bergamot do come through at times. The most obvious notes are fig (fruit and leaves), sea water, cardamom and floralness (although I couldn't say what kind of a flower exactly). I do not get patchouli at all, but I do smell a slight hint of, almost an allusion to, guaiac wood. Definitely give it a try, price-value isn't too bad!

One of the best fig perfumes I have come across. This is a work of art. I get the green of the figs leaves, and the jelly-like essence of the fig while noting the marine notes. So pleasant, playful and mature all at once. I do get a little weak in the knees for fig scents so I am a lover so be warned that I am biased when it comes to fig and fig leaf scents. I have worn this a few times and like usual i have to put about 10 spays and would need to reapply for me to really enjoy it fully. Today I put one spray of Diptyque's Philosykos on my hand just to compare the fig notes. I love Philosykos and the one spray was about 5+ times stronger than the 10 sprays of CB. However, I love the scent of Fig Man much better as it feels more balanced and nuanced-- being able to smell different notes all at once-- the artistry of perfume mixing is apparent here. Philosykos has more green notes and dries down to a sweet, woody, green note and hints at cedar where Fig Man dries down to almost a slightly sweet woody-rosy scent. In the end, although I prefer the scent of Fig Man, I will probably reach for Philosykos simply because it doesnt fade on me so quickly. It is hard to enjoy a scent so much to have it evaporate so quickly (this is typical for my skin and it is hard to find perfumes that linger and I have never seen this happen to anyone else quite like it does to me). *****With Carner Barcelona I always have to have a disclaimer that these are well curated but are light and do not last on my skin. I have 8 bottles of their perfume because I live in Spain and it is easy to get my hands on them but my rapid, perfume-devouring skin really needs more intensity As I have mentioned before, if you suffer from perfume headaches easily but still enjoy the scents of the niche world, this house would likely be a good place to try out

OH MY GOODNESS! This scent is fruity without remorse or apology! It's powerful fig in a bottle, with a breeze of the salty sea. This is a no-nonsense modern spring-and-summer scent if there ever was one. It doesn't try to be citrussy, but hints of bergamot do come through at times. The most obvious notes are fig (fruit and leaves), sea water, cardamom and floralness (although I couldn't say what kind of a flower exactly). I do not get patchouli at all, but I do smell a slight hint of, almost an allusion to, guaiac wood. Definitely give it a try, price-value isn't too bad!

Extremely clean soapy fragrance. It reminds me of when I lived in Puerto Vallarta, MX and used to cut through Zona Hotelera to go the beach. The smells cutting through the alleys emanating from the coast and the luxury hotels smelled exactly like this. This is probably pretty blind buy safe but definitely not if you don’t like fig. DO NOT just smell this from the bottle without actually spraying it. For some reason it smells different and much better once you actually spray it, at least for me.

i smell fig leavs and a fruity suculent low sweet fig note and then some ambegris, a very faint bergamott, fresh vater and cucumber (very slight) Its a very summer safe perfume that feels cooling and calming, i wish it was a bit less Aquatic and blended in some stronger woody notes, but Its non the less a very Nice fresh unisex perfume that mabye leans more male.

Buncha assholes voting for this fragrance when they've never even smelled this! This gets a 5 star rating from me! Very beautiful, soft and spicy fig and bergamot with a suble marine accord Fig Man can be pulled off by either sex because it's very balanced and doesn't lean masculine or feminine

I love fig scents, this is like Costa Azzurra with multiple fig facets. Again, I'm not a blue/sea/ozonic fragrance lover, I actually quite dislike them. But this like Costa Azzurra, is different. Fig Man, is bitter green figs, with a salty/warm spice and a dark woody/earthy base.

Tropical getaway in a bottle. One of the most undderated summer scents in the niche world. Especially if you can get it good at discounters. One of my most complimented scents easily. Not blind buy worthy however, definitely get a sample of this before jumping on it.

Lovely fig scent for spring and summer. Has a very nice fresh first notes and a warm green drydown, but turns quickly into a skin scent. Maybe should overspray and apply in fabrics too for a better performance.

It has a different take on the fig note, it is more of sweet fig than being green. It is also marine and woody in the dry down. I was surprised with the performance and projection, as they were really good.

Fresh, fruity, figgy. Watery aquatic spa like zen. Excellent for spring, summer or whenever. Even though it's labeled Fig Man, I think anyone can wear it. This puts me in a great mood! Love it! ♥️😁

very underrated summer scent. could work as a signature for the warmer months

Fig Man hits with an intense opening which has bergamot, air and a semblance of floral fig. Spices and violet flower step in as the citrus fades, the airy qualities of the opening giving way to waters and salt, giving a marine impression. The presentation of fig, even in the heart of this scent, remains relatively subtle. This is not a juicy, fruity fig, but an image of fig. Overall, then, a presentation of fertile Mediterranean coasts. In the dry-down, water notes fade, and leaves behind woody and earthy notes which had previously provided counter-balance to the sea-water. Overall, Fig Man is a nicely blended and creative summer day aquatic which doesn't rely on massive amounts of marine calones or ambroxan to do the heavy lifting. It performs fairly well too. A niche-like alternative to common blue perfumes. Fig Man is a summer scent worth considering.

Just got my sample from Twisted Lily in the mail and this easily took the number one spot in my quest for a new summer fragrance. This fragrance is a scentscape rather than a recreation of a fig itself. Upon first spray I imagine a lone, fruiting fig tree pointing out from a rocky, brush-covered cliff overlooking the Mediterranean. Under the tree is a woman draped in sheer linen, enjoying a reproach from the barrage of solar rays. A salty breeze rises up from the sea and gently caresses the girl's features, dispersing with it her dainty, soapy perfume of bergamot and violet. As it dries down, Fig Man becomes, in essence, more "manly". Guaiac wood, cardamom, and patchouli begin to push through, but never overpower the fresh opening. Beautifully unisex and versatile, this fragrance can hold it's own. Definitely a full bottle worthy purchase.

I almost thought I sprayed Salado? Having almost finished a bottle of Salado, Fig Man opened with a very familiar DNA but with the addition of fig. It feels significantly more marine/salty than woody. It’s pleasant and a relatively easy wear however, in my opinion, Nishane Ege and also Miller Harris Hydra Figue are far superior for a marine-style fig fragrance.

Bright, light summery scent with a hint of fig but mostly I get a gush of fruity tropical notes. Quite pleasant, could be easily worn by a man. Projection and longevity are weak though, which is a shame as it's quite lovely on the skin, but I have to dig my nose into my inner elbow to get any echo of it, an hour or two in.

This is a really pleasant masculine summer fragrance. It's very Mediterranean: salty beach side cliffs with some fig trees swaying in the breeze. Very aromatic, fresh, modern aquatic with no nasty artificial notes stabbing my face, it's sophisticated and quite beautiful. 7.5/10

This leans masculine to me. The opening is a mildly bergamot and slightly sweet fig opening. This is quite different than Fico De Amalfi which opens up quite green. Its a smooth summer scent which is a crowd pleaser even those people who do not like fresh scents 7/10

Opens incredible, like a brother of Phylosikos and before 5min have passed that is all gone and you are left with a very generic (yet likeable and fresh) drugstore male scent, like Emporio Armani from the 90s

The smell is the same as the fig in my impression, very elegant and nice, very similar to Salvatore Ferragamo's pour homme, the difference lies in the details, CARNER more delicate and charming smell

A very lite fig herbal aquatic with a creamy woody base. That quickly becomes a skin scent It's OK... I built the fragrance up reading the notes. I was expecting FIG, but only got a hint.

I love that they've managed to make an ambiguous, alluring fragrance with figs. Subtle enough to suit the masculine, gentle enough to fit the feminine. Pleasant.

Testing my little sample, knowing the name there's obviously expectations of fig, but I don't get it, fresh, jammy, or otherwise. It comes across as a breezy aromatic, fresh, green leaning, and summery. Manly, ehh! Maybe the automatic body leans masculine, but not polarized. Looking at the notes besides the broad aromatics, the salted sea water would be second, and citrus, meanwhile woods feel behind the coast. It's a generally refreshing fragrance, with a brightness that may cut through the summer heat, but still no fig, and hardly a man, and at an overpriced price point I'll find more salvation in my fig newtons.

i really liked this at first sniff, i could really pick up the papery smell i always get from figs in the likes of DS&Durga Debaser and Philosykos, but 30 seconds in, and i smell nothing but what i assume is a deodorant-like scent, but now that i smell it again, it's mostly like a shaving cream/foam, it doesn't smell particularly expensive or perfumy, if I were to smell this on someone i'd assume it's their deodorant. it's a very blue creamy scent, creamy as in dense and aluminum-containing deodorant stick.

Unfortunately, after the pleasant opening that lasts for about 15 seconds this scent goes into the Santal 33 realm and that is nowhere near I want to be. The ugly faux leather confection store / hamster damp cage is mixed with some aquatic note that occasionally brightens up the composition but then the horrid Le Labo DNA kicks in again and it's back to the faux leather purse confection store with hamsters. No thank you!

It's an okay summer fragrance that leans more toward the feminine side.

This is a "blue" fig fragrance, if that makes sense. Some fig fragrances focus on the vegetal and verdant qualities of the fig leaf rather than the fruit. This one is dominated by the "sea note", with a lot of accompanying tropical ghost notes (I can detect a little sunscreen coconut, banana, yellow florals) This smells like a mix between two Hermes Jardin fragrances: a combination of the figginess of Un Jardin en Mediterranee and the bright tangy citrus of Le Jardin de Monsieur Li. I will stick with Hermes for myself - unfortunately I don't care for the aquatic note here, it drowns out the other notes that I like.

Cucumber, all i am getting is low budget body lotion that makes me wish it was not perfumed. Carner has beautiful scents but fig man is not one of them.

I'm a lady and I really enjoy wearing this as a more androgynous / masculine leaning scent in summer. It's very fresh and figgy to begin with then it develops into a more musky, sea salty cologne that in general makes me think of when men are wearing a fresh cologne and then start to sweat a bit. This is not at all a bad thing :) I really dig it. I also think Carner Barcelona are a great price point and are a bit under hyped, which is fine by me. I really enjoy a lot of their offerings, this included.

A little disappointed in this release, was hoping for a fig strong fragrance, instead its more of a aquatic fresh scent, I don't get much fig at all, 90% marine notes, 10% fig- its very pleasant and nice but nothing different- 7/10

I really like it... to me the cardamom prevails. It is also a little bit sweet and woody, not very green. I can smell a faint fig fruit in the backround. Very, very interesting.

Stunning green and blue perfume. There is almost no fig, nor fig tree to my nose. For me this is violet dominant, aquatic. Similar to Ege by Nishane, but a bit more fruity.

Aldehydic, musky, floral. Where is the fig? Marine notes are quite strong. Dry down is better than the opening.

salty green fig, leaning more towards male scent but i enjoy it

Sounds like the ultimate fresh niche fragrance for a man.