Antaeus

I got myself a vintage bottle of Antaeus to compare one of my favorite fragrances of all time with the modern was gonna just edit my older review for a side by side run down but the reviews below made me do it like this instead. theres a very annoying phenomena in this community of constant heckling about reformulations and how much better everything used to be. those boomers are just projecting their own personal frustrations. like i get it bro. hairline starting to recede, you gained a few pounds and things aint working as well as it used to downstairs. some of these frustrations on reformulations are well founded but most of them are honestly just bragging how cool you are that you smelled it before it was ''ruined'' ! these type of reviews aren't helping anyone looking to explore these great vintage classics today. reminisce all you want about the ''good old days'' but stop being a dick. the fact chanel even keeps their vintage line around and presenting it in such high quality keeping it true to the originals while navigating IFRA ingredient bans is nothing short of a blessing. I already smelled the vintage before along side the modern and even then I said how true to the vintage it is. even upgrading with better transitions. but here is the final side by side: - first of all they're both still strong af balsamics. the vintage's opening is a lot less fresher and has a more forward myrrh/ coriander. while the modern also has a very obvious myrrh but the limes introduce themselves more loudly without changing the composition. this adds a transition, layer of complexity with slight sour ''fresh'' facet. - the mid of the vintage is also exactly the same however the vintage doesn't have this ''waxy'' note. i have no real comment or complaint about that as it doesn't seem to do anything but give more texture. again probably to make up for not having REAL castorium, which is banned for obvious ethical reasons. However the MAIN thing what i prefer in the modern over the vintage is that the rose is so much more present. it's also there in the vintage but cuz its bit more denser and not as airy it gets muffled. making it unable to jump out as much. again... adding a more clear transition without changing anything structurally. - still like couple hours on left and right hand. both present. still pushing with no sign of calming down. however the base in the vintage of course.. having pre restriction oakmoss is much more ''3 dimensional''. no surprise but the modern still offers great substitute without making you feel like you're missing out on a lot. the modern is way more aldehydic. - both still have a very lively animalic leathery feel of castorium, despite the modern being synthetic it still has depth, still feels rich and textured. the only main difference i'd say that the vintage leans ever so slightly ''dirtier'' animalic but it isn't far off this is where i can see someone make a actual sound argument on a ''negative'' difference. and i will agree with you since that's also my preference. patchouli in the modern is dosed bit more. - after a full wear they are both powerful. i came back to edit this review and the modern literally lasts longer as a skin scent. i was able to pick up on the remnants of leather n ambery labadum notes long after the vintage died just showing signs that a fragrance was applied there. could be due to the age a bit but i doubt it since the base notes esp for such dense frag should be still alive even with bad storage. this was well over 10 hours tho. - i am also suspecting that the modern projects more. a denser base tends to stick to skin more compared to a more airy composition. also the the juice itself is a lot more viscous liquid. the modern is more ''volatile'' meaning that it evaporates its molecules in the air much more efficiently while the vintage has to rely on more heat of the body. honestly sniff all you want up close but they both smell LITERALLY the same in the air - on side note i asked my dad and sister what they think smelling it up close. my dad enjoyed the vintage cuz he actually grew up with the fragrance. and my sister recognised it was a chanel without me even saying what it was and she surprisingly enjoyed the vintage too because she said that too much is happening with the modern. saying that ''it has something floral, earthy and spicey in there and that it smells too powerful while the vintage is more calmer and easier to follow'' she also said ''they're both something thomas shelby from peaky blinders would wear. but the modern is like the older brother and the vintage younger.'' again, this was up close. however when i applied the modern they mistook it for the vintage in the air and said ''it smells fancy but powerful something for a wedding'' honestly couldn't have asked for a better answer. funnily enough, it kinda proofs to me that the modern is the ''power house'' fragrance people want. theyre just getting nose blind from it. one review said ''i did 6 sprays and could barely smell it'' LOOL... like even if it was completely reformulated to oblivion there is just no way none can't smell it after 6 sprays. that's a brazen lie! google nose blindness bro verdict: still iconic/10 honestly try it out! it's still one of the best and unique animalic balsamic scent in history. if anyone wants a more detailed review for the modern check out my first review of antaeus. peace out

Having just bought a new bottle (same formula code as my previous one which still had a couple of sprays in it), it was interesting to note how muted the citrus top notes had become, from a few years of sitting in the bottle when compared with a fresh bottle. Tested against a mid-80's small bottle that I have, it was clear how much the top notes fade after time. So this is a cautionary tale for all the vintage bottle chasers, yes the very, very old bottles may have real castoreum and oakmoss, but really all you will be smelling from the moment you apply it is a very hazy version that leaps straight into midnotes or at least loses a lot of zing of the citrus, and from there into the drydown. The modern versions may have lost some oomph perhaps from the change to an oakmoss alternative, but you still get a proper chypre progression from the burst of citrus and herbal notes, then the floral heart starts to come out as the warmth of leathery/animalics/mossy notes in the base starts showing through. The only other vintage perfume that I know well that gets close to the beautiful rose/castoreum/oakmoss leather accord at the heart of Antaeus (and it's from the 30's/40's and I know my old, but only recently opened bottle, will have lost its citrus top notes quite horrendously) is the Jean Carles classic "Elle Elle" for Lucien Lelong. Jean Carles is one of the key perfumers of the 20th century, and the "Jean Carles Method" for constructing perfumes are taught to this day in the key French perfumery houses. Jacques Polge was trained by Jean Carles who was his mentor, and so he would have been completely aware of Jean Carles' historic accords, compositions and his method. From the first time I was able to compare them (a few years back now) I've always considered Antaeus to be Jacques Polge's masculine version of, and homage to, this long lost masterpiece. Elle Elle used carrot seed and chamomile as key highlight notes/foils to the underlying base accord, rather in the way that the coriander and clary sage and other herbal notes work in Antaeus, but the rose/castoreum/oakmoss leather heart remains strikingly similar in the dry down when compared side to side. The whole midnotes to dry down of Elle Elle when compared against even modern Antaeus shows an almost uncanny similarity, both in a strong rose floral heart and the warm animalic focussed base. Elle Elle may be just a notch more plush (with some more musks) but the overall the similarities are quite striking. These days you'd market it as a unisex without even batting an eyelid. If you want to go down the Jean Carles rabbit hole, you can still buy in some form or another to this day Tabu (the scent for putains) and Canoe for Dana, Ma Griffe for Carven and Miss Dior for suprisingly, Dior, (the Miss Dior "original" version which they still make in pure perfume form, not the later pink fruity ones), and perhaps a few others if you scour around. It's a shame that Schiaparelli no longer make another one of his great compositions - Shocking, which was their signature scent for many a long year. Anyway - all of that is to say, stop fussing and ventilating unnecessarily about vintage bottles and how the modern version is a travesty of what went before and should be burned in the fires of hell etc. Maybe also stop trying to flog them via the comments section on this scent, however perfectly preserved they may or may not be - that doesn't seem very cool to me and certainly not what the comments section was created for. Hey ho. Chanel is not perfect by any means, and yes, it's cynical in its pricing, but it's one of the few houses that still seems to value its reputation for good perfumery with generally good ingredients. The recent slicing through of its pure perfumes in smaller bottles is nasty cynical move that I hope will bite it in the proverbial soon. The current version of Antaeus really holds up just fine, it really does, and it still has that magic in its heart. Just go out and buy the damn modern bottles, otherwise the next thing we'll know is that Chanel will have discontinued it, and that would be even more tragic. It's a masterpiece that is there to be enjoyed.

My signature scent... the first time I sniffed it I loved that mysterious dark smoky/musky and slightly animalic scent. It makes me think of burnt cork. It suits me very well and I'm comfortable wearing it. When I hug my wife she takes a deep breath and assures me that it smells very good. I discovered it in 1999. Like Cartier Santos (my other main fragrance), it, too, has been reformulated. I am certain of this. (For one thing, the box no longer lists oakmoss as an ingredient.) Vintage juice: Powerful, deep, dark, somewhat animalic, smoky and absolutely masculine. Use too much of it you'll be smelled a city block away. Reformulated juice: Very nearly the same thing but much reduced in strength, according to current trends. Antaeus Lite. This morning I did about six sprays on myself but the scent is confined to close to the skin; I can only smell it when I move my shirt front like a bellows. That much of the old stuff would be discotheque-grade killer. Why was it reformulated? Did Chanel do it to make Antaeus less of a dated Eighties scent? I called Chanel Customer Care and they told me that there has been no refomulation of it since it was introduced in 1981. I just don't believe them, and it's apparent from the comments here that others are sure that a reformulation has taken place as well. I asked them about oakmoss restrictions, and the woman on the line had no information about that other than to maintain that it's the same 1981 stuff. Update: I bought a bottle today. How I missed it! -------- I found a bottle of vintage (I'm guessing mid to late 1980's) Antaeus. Anyone who doesn't think this has been drastically refomulated just needs to get a whiff of the old stuff. Like night and day. --------- Big disappointment yesterday. A few years ago I traded a couple of bottles of perfumes I didn't really like for a half bottle of vintage (1980's, I think) Chanel Antaeus - the stuff with the real castoreum and oakmoss in it. The bergamot citrus top notes had evaporated away, but that's okay, the heart and base notes were still intact and much better than the current greatly lightened and oakmoss-free formulation. Problem was, though, the bottle's sprayer cap was a bit funky and leaky; I could smell vintage Antaeus when it sat in the cabinet. No problem, thought I, someday I'll simply go to Whole Foods, get a new sprayer bottle and transfer the stuff. I did that yesterday - and was heartbroken to discover that most of the juice had evaporated away! I figured I had about 2 ounces left - in reality, I had perhaps an eighth ounce. DANG. So what have I learned? Alcohol-based scents need to be kept in airtight bottles! Also, tempus fugit. ---------- BTW: Current formulation Antaeus no longer has oakmoss in it. Look at the ingredients. No oakmoss listed. If it had it it would be on the box. ------------------- Update, March 2024: I found a bottle of this at a duty free shop in the Amsterdam airport. Sprayed some on my arm. The giant is dead! Within an hour it was gone. A pity. This used to be one of the greats.

This underrated classic deserves more appraisal and recognition... It is a small miracle that such an extraordinary and profoundly masculine fragrance survived the fleeting tides of the designer perfume market and is still with us today. The 1980s were a fascinating period in perfumery – a time when fragrances had been created to last and stand out. Yes, Antaeus has been reformulated multiple times, and no, that doesn't mean watered down or robbed of much of its potency. Antaeus remains the ultimate olfactive representation of healthy masculinity – a testosterone-fueled sweat of a Hellenic demigod who plays to his strengths and is not afraid to display vulnerability. He is a warrior, a lover, a poet. Untamed, capricious and potent, this creation encapsulates the essence of ancient heroes. The flacon represents one of the smooth, black pillars of the subterranean temple wherein this primordial creature resides, refined to perfection through the millennia. The opening is fresh and herbaceous, inviting us to an ancient, Pagan ritual in the temple. Through all the incense, hints of sweat, flowers and fresh citruses are revealed, as Antaeus rises in his full beauty. The sweaty and balsamic onslaught of myrrh, castoreum and clary sage captivates and ensnares the senses, elevated by the refreshing hints of bergamot, lime and Amalfi lemon along with crisp coriander that adorn this glorified secretion. Rose and jasmine hum, woven into the lush, verdant tapestry of clary sage, basil and thyme which remains prominent until the dry-down. Heroic myrrh endows an aura of power to this demigod and, in fusion with the aromatic and floral notes, quickens the pace of the deep, leathery pulse throbbing in Antaeus' muscled chest. Castoreum, which vintage formulations of this perfume are best known for, is not in any aspect overpowering or excessively dirty, yet provides a healthy dose of daring funk throughout the experience. As Antaeus dries down, a soft, creamy accord of labdanum, patchouli and oakmoss takes charge; evocative of Athonite incense – a Greek style of incense used in Eastern Orthodox churches, probably due to the fusion of myrrh and labdanum. This marvellous, timeless creation deserves to shine in EDP and roar in XDP concentration. Antaeus is, by far, Chanel's most original, yet most underrated perfume. I have not tried anything from the Les Exclusifs collection, so I can't make any comparison between Antaeus and Le Lion (a similar creation). Lastly, if Chanel No. 5 endured on the shelves for a whole century, so can Antaeus. It is a masterpiece worthy of a signature scent, a perfect balance between appealing and daring, fresh and dark, classy and different.

A classic 80s masculine that smells... well... like a classic 80s masculine lol. Arguably this perfume has probably aged the least well of Chanel's active lineup, but that bar was already incredibly high. For today's younger man - likely who Chanel still want this to be aimed at as an alternative to Bleu - this perfume still has a lot to offer. If you like the dry, bold, statement-making cologne-style masculines that smell a bit old school it's hard to do much better (wearing something old school as a signature would actually be quite unique these days. Pay attention, newbs). This cologne is a legend for a reason. The bitter citrusy bergamot, and dried herbs and spices opening signals this a cologne for a man that walks with his back straight, shoulders back, and head high. It is classic masculine confidence in olfactory form. In the rather quick first dry down comes a bracing swell of myrrh, cedar and sandalwoods so dry and sharp you would swear that they were about to burst into flames all on their own. It commands attention, yet unlike modern masculines that use these notes it is not at all harsh and abrasive. Modern masculines use synthetics to such an overt level, and poor synthetics at that, where those compelling incense and wood accords have no attractiveness at all. They are just repellent, annoying, and harsh. But not Antaeus. The heart notes of Antaeus are what would set apart the modern young man wearing Antaeus from the modern young man wearing any other modern incense woody masculine; he will smell confident, strong, and bold, but not harsh or repellent. He has class and style, confidence without the off-putting club-boy arrogance. After some time, the base notes start to come forward with gentle leathers, frankincense and labdanum, moss, some animalic notes, and a beeswax note that - again - sets Antaeus apart from the modern pack. That gentle honeyed sweetness at the base with the understated incense and leather and animalic notes is genius. A man of high confidence showing he can relax too. At the end of the day, when energy is a bit drained, this is what you want to smell and feel. And, unlike the majority of the modern masculine incense woody plonk we have today, this EdT version lasts incredibly long, which means you will indeed get this comfort at the end of your day or night out. This perfume is an absolute no-brainer for a daily-wearer by someone who wants a classic and stylish masculine fragrance. It might not have aged that well, but all of the greats of the past inevitably find revitalization at some point in today's world.

Well, I really like this one. More than Kouros. There are things however which I don't understand here. If people are aware of how close this is to Kouros why are there so many negative votes for their similarity and also, it doesn't surprise me that Kouros has quite a low rating considering how different the scent is however even though I prefer this to Kouros the high rating of this one actually surprises me. What? I would say this is a better scent than Kouros but Kouros is definitely stronger, if that's what you're looking for. I would also say this is a little similar to Interlude by Amouage because of the Thyme and oregano similarity. The animalic note is certainly more notable and more animalic in this one despite Kouros being sharper. I feel like the civet in Kouros makes the cinnamon very strong. So all of that civet strength turns into a strong cinnamon scent to me but in this I smell more of an animalic scent. I prefer this to Kouros . They're different enough of course but you know they have a lot of things in common. Update: this is my favourite scent now. Interesting that this ended up being the last Chanel I tried and just like Opium which was the last YSL I tried, this is my favourite. It's interesting how different Jacques Polge and his son are actually. This is a very bold and daring fragrance. To me it's. all about the thyme which many people seem to not mention. Thyme doesn't generally project that much like lavender and mint and I think the castoreum really makes the thyme project well here. Also people say that mature wearers have to wear it or that it doesn't suit young people and I disagree with that. I would say that it's about personality. If you have the personality to handle Antaeus(one needs to be Hercules), you can pull it off at any age. But if you don't, then you shouldn't wear it even if you're 40. Like I happened to get so into fragrances in my thirties when I found this and I loved it but if I had smelt this in my twenties I would have loved it just as much. I just can't afford this and have been going to the store to test it everyday since I first tried it. There seems to be a 50ml bottle but it's practically impossible to find.

It is good in life when something continues to impress. Antaeus by Chanel intrigues me continuously by its solidity of performance and statement. + This frag is not playing games. It plays to win, for keeps, and win it does. + Love the clary sage & bergamot. Antaeus is pleasant from opening through dry-down and dependable in its messaging to sniffers who turn up to check out your deal. + There is nothing I would change about it. Boom! (That says a lot) + I am glad Chanel doesn't release it to the discount firms, rather keeps it under tight security. This is money well spent. Best to know what you are getting, and what you have on your shelf. This reach is sure-fire. + An element of the Antaeus myth that I appreciate is the reminder about the power of being grounded. We can accomplish unanticipated ranges of achievement when the way we plant our feet on Mother Earth is real and conductive of natural power. We should not let our ideas be too flighty, nor our ways become detached. + Antaeus features a dryness that to my nose is reminiscent of Uomini Black by o'Boticario and Zino Davidoff by Davidoff. Zino gets you at least halfway to anywhere Antaeus can go - it is brilliant and inexpensive, so an interesting alternative for some frag day pulls. Uomini Black is a winner up the same avenue as Antaeus and worth knowing. It does 75% of key aspects of what Antaeus does AND some night operations and other special sorties that AC cannot. + The single greatest power of Antaeus in my assessment is that it goes out on the line with you when it is time to differentiate yourself from those who break faith with their own character. When your handshake must be the real deal and life or business has turned up the degree of difficulty, Antaeus by Chanel is right there with you performing the exercise of its meaning in a stable and reassuring way. I do not know of another scent about which I can honestly say the same. Kouros doesn't come close (vintage included), Habit Rouge is amazing but doesn't have the core composition power... Terre d'Hermes is awesome but much more easily geared. Antaeus really is a phenomenon that reveals masculine dependability.

Antaeus was the first "big boy" cologne I bought with my own adult money from my first real job in 2012. I remember walking into Nordstrom, and a fragrance associate was super excited to show me this new spicy fragrance in a grenade-shaped bottle called "Spicebomb"...ever hear of it? Well, on our way to that counter, I smelled Antaeus and was taken aback by how raw and masculine it was. That was the one I wanted, and that's what I got. Antaeus became my signature date night scent for years. Yes, it's "old" and I wasn't, but it worked on me. I received so many compliments back in the day. Antaeus was so dark, spicy, and herbal in the opening, with this rich and musky animalic leathery accord that I had never before smelled in a perfume. The pachouli was earthy and camphorus, contributing to the darkness of this profile. The oakmoss added this earthy inkyness that reinforced how masculine this scent was. The rose and other florals were there, but they were getting subdued by the more aggressive aromatics, leaving them to only contribute a much needed soft balance. This was a raw, no-fuss cologne for MEN. Literally Bruce Willis (or is it Wayne?) in a bottle. I was feeling nostalgic, so I finally bought a new bottle a week ago, and ugh...it's not as potent or commanding as my 2012 bottle, which I still have. The shell of Antaeus is there, and it smells somewhat similar, but the raw brooding nature of what it once was is gone. It's so...tame. I have no idea if there was real castoreum in my 2012 batch, but it's way more animalic than the version I just got. This could be due to the fact that my 2012 bottle has been macerating for years, or simply the effects of reformulation (or both). I really have no idea, but will hope my new bottle evolves over time. Antaeus was far and away my favorite Chanel fragrance, but this new bottle dropped it down to 3rd, right behind Platinum Egoiste, with Allure Homme taking the first place spot. No love lost for Antaeus, but I am slightly disappointed. 🥀 2012: 9.7/10 2026: 9.0/10

Purchased late last year at Chanel's airport storefront in Taipei. I had been circling around it for about a year and I finally made up my mind after seriously reflecting on an Antaeus-soaked paper strip during some previous layover. It's my favorite thing to do at airports now: annoy/ignore the duty-free people, soaking strips with their wares, then getting a beer and a burger and taking up a table for a couple of hours, listening to music, watching people, smelling my strips of paper. I can tell they are jealous because they are miserable at the airport but I am in my element. This is my house My temple. This is a liminal space and the house spirits are my familiars. I remember the woman running that storefront was confused that I was so interested. "Huh. That's a weird one. Definitely not for everyone." I like that about it. It is weird. It's not some boardroom, business man scent. Unless he is weird. He is well-off and maybe he has power, but he's into old things, strange things, and there are rumors and many people do not like him for reasons they can't explain. How did he get his job here? Why is his hair like that? Is that even his real hair? And why is he allowed to wear that outfit? It's against the company's dress code and I personally find it offensive. Performance: Unlike most perfumes, I do not go noseblind, and the profile subtly shifts over the hours. Yesterday I applied 4 sprays at 8am, and I was done with the ride and ready for something different by 10pm. My watch strap is still radiating today at 2:30pm. I enjoy having Antaeus, but I would be fine finishing my bottle and not owning it for years. I would eventually re-purchase though. The problem is if Chanel ever discontinues Antaeus, it will assuredly go from underappreciated to "the best chypre to have ever existed" and I suspect it's too complex to dupe.

I wanna add another review after owning and wearing Antaeus for a month. There's just so much depth in the scent. What I noticed recently is how long the fade out really lasts and how strong the jasmine is in the fade out stage. If you put on enough Antaeus on yourself for let's say a week and not even on your clothes, if you don't wear antaeus and the clothes you were wearing while wearing Antaeus for let's say 3 or 4 days, when you grab your clothes they still smell like Antaeus and mostly like the jasmine. It's like a really intense LSD trip whose effects last for a while. Considering the modern market and what fragrances smell like now, yes it's an old school scent but of course it's really obvious that it was created as a modern game changer in 1981 and I think it still projects that feeling. Compared to a normal fragrance, Antaeus is what an Electric guitar with a 200 watt amplifier is to an acoustic guitar but then again Antaeus is too sophisticated to be compared to an electric guitar. If François Demachy has really worked on this then I suppose he's had a lot to do with that factor. This is a masterpiece and every person regardless of their gender should smell this. The best Chanel and definitely the most groundbreaking one. I've smelt the silver spray too and have compared it. I think the rose is buffed in the current version slightly and the older batch had slightly better and stronger base which most importantly resulted in the herbs smelling stronger which makes me like it a lot more but it's not easy to find and probably not really worth the hunt since I had barely even noticed one of the shops I used to test it at had a silver spray as opposed to the rest.

I would love to get hold of a vintage bottle of this but for most of us the current formulation is all we have. And it’s still pretty damn good. It opens up with a very strong and pungent citrus (reminds me of the foot spray at the bowling alley when I was a kid) but dries down to a juxtaposition of clean creamy soap and a dirty sweaty leather. Chanel’s marketing blurb suggests that the current formulation contains a lavender note, not listed on Fragrantica. This certainly seems to be part of the ‘clean’ aspect of this composition. It has a part of that Drakkar Noir shaving foam vibe but so much more as well. The clean/dirty contrast is a big part of what makes this scent so addictive. It’s reminiscent of an old leather watch strap that has become soaked in soapy water. As others have noted, this is a scent that works with your natural body chemistry and odours. As for performance, this is still a beast relative to most modern fragrances even if it is toned down versus the vintage. Remember that until the early 00s, public smoking was still permitted (and French people only bathed once a week) so fragrances needed to be stronger. Projection is moderate but you don’t necessarily want a fragrance like Antaeus filling a room (it will still do so if you overspray). If you think the scent has disappeared just work up a sweat and it will explode of your skin again. Of all the old school masculine Chypres that are still readily available, Antaeus is the one that holds up the best today. Reformulations aside, you can always rely on Chanel to maintain its quality and the characteristic smoothness means this isn’t too jarringly different in today’s world of clean, blue fragrances.

Absolutely the best perfume I have ever smelled, complex, deep and unabashedly masculine in a refined classy way. It’s not fresh but it’s clean. It’s not bright but it’s smooth. Castoreum here is done extremely well- as a potent ingredient that is also in others like Kouros, it is blended very very well here to the leathery aromatic oak moss and labdanum. Ive found that most women who notice this fall in two camps: ‘oh it’s ok’ and ‘nope’. The only ones that truly liked it were well above 50+. But let’s face it- this isn’t for women. It’s for men. Any dude that smells it will instantly say DAMN, But they’re also the same gents that agree that sometimes, things that don’t intentionally smell GOOD actually smell good! Like WD40 and the smell of petrol. It’s a man thing. Visually this matches a dark rosewood book cabinet with green quilted leather and gold accents set in a high ceiling library while there’s an autumn storm raging outside. It’s old school it’s deep and it’s rich. Not for someone younger than 30, not for someone who wears a hoodie and baggy jeans. This is for someone who’s tweed tuxedo, oxfords and a Bentley in the garage. This isn’t for someone sitting in front of a desk in the office, this is for someone who sits by their wet Labrador in front of the fireplace while casually approving a multi million equity position over a phone call. If you don’t have a straight razor in the bath cabinet, you won’t like this. If you do- you’d LOVE this as it takes a Manly approach in a smooth classy way in a very different tangent than pure fougere barbershop types. While those can be confused to be aftershave splashes, this one is a rock solid perfume. Highly recommended.

The year is 1984, and the city is Paris, alive with elegance and purpose. You are a man of influence, whether in politics, law, or high finance, accustomed to navigating the upper echelons of power. The setting is a grand apartment on Avenue Montaigne, with its high ceilings, gilded mirrors, and parquet floors that echo with every deliberate step. Outside, the faint glow of the Eiffel Tower punctuates the evening mist, while inside, the air is warm with the quiet hum of authority and refinement. You’re dressed in a tailored Cifonelli navy suit, its impeccable cut a testament to your precision and taste. A white Charvet shirt and a silk tie, understated yet elegant, complete your ensemble, while polished John Lobb oxfords reflect the dim light of the room. On your wrist, a Vacheron Constantin watch marks the passage of time, though you control its rhythm. Every detail speaks of mastery—a balance of tradition and modernity. Your fragrance matches your presence: bold, confident, and enduring. This is Antaeus by Chanel—a scent that embodies strength and sophistication in perfect harmony. It opens with a sharp burst of citrus and coriander, invigorating and commanding. The heart reveals thyme, rose, and basil, blending complexity and grace. At its base, leather, castoreum, and oakmoss radiate primal warmth, an animalic intensity that lingers like the memory of a decisive handshake or a quiet moment of dominance. Antaeus is not just a fragrance—it is the signature of a man who understands the weight of his presence, balancing raw power with refined elegance. It is Parisian in its essence yet timeless in its appeal, leaving a trail of authority and intrigue wherever it is worn.

Antaeus by Chanel is a powerful and timeless fragrance that epitomizes classic masculinity. Introduced in the 1980s, it remains a standout with its bold, complex blend of earthy, leathery, and aromatic notes that speak to strength and elegance. Right from the start, Antaeus makes an impression with its aromatic opening, featuring citrusy bergamot and a touch of clary sage that adds an herbal freshness. As it develops, the fragrance deepens with layers of myrrh, basil, and thyme, creating a rich, slightly spicy heart that’s both rugged and refined. The real magic of Antaeus, though, lies in its base. The combination of leather, castoreum, and oakmoss gives it a dark, animalic warmth with a smoky undertone that feels raw yet sophisticated. A subtle rose note softens the edges just enough, adding an unexpected hint of elegance without losing its masculine power. Longevity is outstanding, as you’d expect from a Chanel fragrance—Antaeus can last through the day with a lingering intensity. Sillage is strong but controlled, making it suitable for someone who wants a statement fragrance that holds its presence without overwhelming. Antaeus is the fragrance for those who appreciate bold, complex scents that carry a touch of nostalgia while remaining effortlessly classy. It’s ideal for cooler weather and evening occasions, adding a sense of timeless confidence. In a world of fresher, modern scents, Antaeus stands as a tribute to a more rugged, sophisticated kind of masculinity—a truly classic scent that commands respect.

For me, the best men’s fragrance ever created by Chanel, and arguably the best ever. A masterpiece by Jacques Polge, this 1981 fragrance is notably different from many of today’s men’s fragrances. It’s definitely not a fragrance for older adolescent boys or even young guys. There’s a sense of maturity and refinement with Antaeus, best suited for men in their thirties and up, who enjoy the finer things in life and who are calm and bold without being brash . Antaeus is without doubt a masculine fragrance; it’s definitely not unisex. The vintage stuff (1980s and early 1990s) has a rawer, more animatic quality than the recent versions. You can actually smell a pungent and almost “sweaty” odor to it, but it’s not offensive. It’s a complex fragrance with many different notes. The dry-down is the best part of Antaeus. It leaves a very masculine, dark and smooth leathery smell on the skin. Although masculine, Antaeus doesn’t shout of rough and tough like Fahrenheit with its machinery oily scent. No, it’s smooth and suave. To me, it’s like a pair of handsome shiny black leather men’s dress shoes or a pair of slick black leather gloves. As one reviewer on YouTube put it, “Antaeus Pour Homme is what men want to smell like and the women in their lives get used to it, whereas with Bleu De Chanel, it’s what women want men to smell like so men wear it.”

Someone mentioned Kiwi shoe polish in their review of Antaeus. Whether it smelled like Kiwi shoe polish or simply reminded them of it isn't crucial for this story. I had completely forgotten about Kiwi shoe polish, but Antaeus indeed has a scent that can be compared to it. They share similarities beyond their aroma; both hail from a bygone era. Young men today often don't know how to polish a shoe, much like they can't quite pull off wearing Antaeus. A man who wears Antaeus likely knows how to polish a shoe. Shoe polish can make everything in its path dirty, yet it’s essential for a polished shoe. Similarly, Antaeus is both rugged and refined. It’s earthy, raw and rugged like a shoeshiner, yet clean and classy like the gentleman who wears the polished shoes to a ball. Both are masculine in different ways, yet undeniably manly. Antaeus blends well with all skin types and body odors. You can spray it on when you're dirty and sweaty, and it will still smell great. Its performance is impressive for an EDT, offering a non-linear scent that takes you on a journey, never ending where it started. This fragrance is not about people pleasing nor compliments. It’s one of the best scents for men from Chanel, capturing a rugged elegance that stands the test of time.

Antaeus displaced Aramis as my favorite 70s leather chypre and Kouros as my favorite 80s powerhouse. I never sniffed the original, but what’s currently on offer is fantastic. This here is my kind of aromatic woody opening: hesperidic and herbaceous and spicy, brimming with character. I’m personally a fan of clary sage, and combined with lime and myrrh it makes for a strong brew that is both vigorous and inviting. The smoothness attests to the quality of the materials (I get the same feeling from Egoïste, which I don’t own but quite enjoy). It then moves swiftly through a floral mid that is dominated by rose and thyme, and settles in a base that is sultry, earthy and unctuously animalic, courtesy of the labdanum, the patchouli, and the castoreum, respectively. I agree that there’s a semisweet, leathery beeswax effect throughout, melding deliciously with the funk in the base. Masculine, sensual, and full-bodied, Antaeus is a statement maker that is never crass, always beguiling. Be forewarned, however: it’s a potent juice that is only amplified by body heat, and given that the atomizer pumps it out copiously, you should spray it sparingly unless you want to be Brian Fantana doused in Sex Panther.

Antaeus by Chanel is a true masterpiece that I genuinely love, but not in the usual way. This is one of those rare fragrances where I don’t initially love the scent itself, but something in it pulls me in so powerfully that I can’t resist. It’s like the fragrance is seducing me, drawing me closer, and no matter how much I try to resist, I find myself falling in love with it. It opens with a bold burst of citrus and clary sage, quickly transitioning into a heart of basil, rose, and thyme, and finally settles into a dark, animalic base of castoreum, leather, patchouli, and labdanum. The sillage is strong, and the longevity is impressively long-lasting. But what truly sets Antaeus apart is its overwhelmingly masculine character, it exudes a raw, almost primal male energy that feels both magnetic and intimidating. Honestly, this scent reminds me of very tough, dominant men because of how aggressively masculine it is. And in my opinion, it’s an absolute essential for every sexy, confident man. Antaeus isn’t just a fragrance, it’s a force. It doesn’t merely smell masculine, it defines masculinity in its most powerful and unforgettable form. I’d rate it 7.4 out of 10.

For me, this is the best men's designer fragrance ever. Sometimes the sweetness of the labdanum stands out more, other times it’s the menthol-like freshness of the clary sage. Sometimes I feel it depends on whether I apply it in the morning or evening, and also on the temperature. I think I like it so much because it’s neither too sweet nor overly hyped, yet it’s definitely not unisex. The fragrance notes are simply in perfect harmony. I can’t get enough of it. Just the right amount of earthiness, just enough animalic undertones, and even a touch of soapiness. It honestly feels like a perfectly calculated composition. Its longevity and projection on both skin and clothes are, in my opinion, flawless. It’s not overpowering at all, yet it stays with you for a solid eight hours. I even wear it at the office during the day, but I have to say that this fragrance truly reveals its full character in the evening. Ever since I started wearing this, I don't even feel like wearing BdC Parfum or Sauvage Elixir anymore... NOTE: It’s very important to give it 1-2 months to oxidize. Also not ideal for hot weather. For me it is 10/10.

I recently added Antaeus to my collection. I already have and adore Kouros so I didn't feel the need to buy a similar masculine scent but something kept bothering be enough to purchase Antaeus anyway. Now after wearing Antaeus for quite some time, I have to take back what I wrote in my Kouros review about both perfumes being similar. They are not similar. I smell more similarities between Aramis and Antaeus than Kouros and Antaeus. I feel like Antaeus captures the smell of a father figure perfectly. What comes to mind are old leatherbound books, wool sweaters, shaving cream and cologne... The opening has that peppery, masculine, sweaty note, that I love so much. Cue BO fetish. I can't really add anything more than what has already been said here except that it's my most masculine scent that I wear almost daily and crave on days when I'm not wearing it. There is something addictive in there. Thanks to this fragrance, anytime I see a rugged man, I imagine that he must be wearing Antaeus. P. S. I swear, if I read one more time this BS nonsense about having to be a certain age to wear a fragrance...!!!