1681

1681 is one of my all-time favorites and one of the few fragrances I can safely grab for at any time. It always smells amazing and never feels out of place. The opening has a lively Mediterranean aromatic quality with coriander, thyme, rosemary, citrus, and pepper, giving it a classic old-world masculine character. After the opening settles, it dries down into a beautifully balanced base of cedar, sandalwood, soft spice, and a touch of incense. In that later stage it actually reminds me a bit of Carven Pour Homme, because both fragrances eventually rest on a similar dry woody structure. The difference is that 1681 maintains more depth and refinement thanks to the subtle incense and the smoother blend overall. It’s a timeless composition that manages to feel both elegant and comfortable, and it consistently performs well on my skin. May Carthusian 1681 reign forever!

I don't really detect citrus up front but I do smell lots of herbal and woody notes. It is so well done that everything comes together in one masterful scent. This one is difficult to pick apart and without the list of notes I'd have a hard time figuring this one out. I smell cedar, rosemary, thyme and something soft and floral (probably neroli). The herbal notes also come from petitgrain, which has a sharp green smell. I don't detect musk or lavender and just barely catch a hint of black pepper. Iris? If you say so. After a few hours you'll mostly smell the herbal notes with a bit of amber and cedar. It's clean and classy. I felt glad to find a herbal and modern scent that didn't reek of vetiver. Creates a nice, ambient scent around you through the day. Love tugging my shirt to get a whiff. Longevity was up to six hours. Sillage was soft.

Despite the similar note composition to Silver Factory by Bond No. 9, 1681 has a distinctly more organic, earthy feel. The sandalwood, incense and floral components are held in place by a soft powder, evoking the bustle of a Shakespearean dressing room. Many fragrances evoke a bygone era or decade past, but I have not encountered many that hearken back to a different century altogether. Silver Factory's metallic iris is really only suitable as a winter fragrance, but the herbal quality of 1681 allows it to be worn from early fall through early spring.

This is simply a herbal and aromatic version of Door Homme intense. The opening is very herbal and stays for like an hour then it dries down to the familiar iris note from Dior Homme intense but with some of the herbal notes lingering. This is very elegant and a more masculine take on Iris for those that find Dior Homme too feminine. It wears elegant and has a retro feel about it especially in the opening, so younger folks may not necessarily find the opening appealing.

Not much to add to other reviewers' opinions in that Carthusia 1681 has similarities with Dior Homme. it has a Mediterranean vibe because of citruses and herbs but also the conspicuous iris note. However, 1681 is denser, luscious and more mature. The bed of vanilla and sandalwood gives it the edge over Dior Homme. The silage is moderate, as it should be IMO, but with good longevity as others have eluded to. A winner and a must have !