Manhattan

#1526 in my "Tour de Fragrance" First thing in the morning I grab a random decant. I usually don't bother to see what it is and look it up till I've applied it. The print is too small to read without my reading glasses on anyway. So I grab this one out of the box, pulled the stopper out, and immediately I actually said, "What is this?" Went in the living room to grab my reading glasses. My first City Rhythm scent. Very nice! There are a few "Manhattan" scents. I've worked in Midtown. It has a an "idling Yellow Cab needs an engine tune" smell, but it does not smell like this "Manhattan", or either of the Roja Dove "Manhattans" or Bond No 9 "Manhattan." But I get it. New York is the capital of Planet Earth, so I get why they want to associate it with the "City That Never Sleeps" and the myth of energy that surrounds it. In reality everyone there is exhausted and fueling themselves with five espresso shot lattes. But I digress. This is a unique note combination, but still a definitely vanillic scent. Niles Ramadhin is apparently THE MAN behind City Rhythm scents, and I am certainly going to check all his creations out. You can barely smell the myrrh and olibanum (disappointing for me) which are apparently there to covertly add some longevity. You can pick out the pimento leaf, and green tea lovers will certainly appreciate this. I'm not getting much sillage after the initial very potent opening, but the skin scent hangs on through the day. I'm certainly not getting pickle juice. They may be sensitive to the pimento, which I think detracts more than it adds in every scent where it's used. I agree it's similar to the dearly missed Gucci "Pour Home II", if you added incense to the Gucci. Offensive to none in any setting I think. But $150 for 50ml! You're in Tom Ford, Parfums de Marly, Initio, Mind Games, Roja Dove, Clive Christian territory when you're $300 for 100ml, which I am certain is why City Rhythm packages this in 50ml bottles to avoid the comparison (A fellow evil product marketing manager may be at work here). At that price it becomes, "Do I want this City Rhythm scent, or that Amouage "Interlude 53 Extrait" I've been eyeing for months?" Especially since this City Rhythm scent totally has an Amouage vibe. I think I'll wait on this, but it's definitely going on the list. But I agree that at this price you always get a decant first.

Very high quality unique smell. I pick up on the cinnamon, tea, and myrrh the most. In fact, best way I can describe it is a cinnamon herbal hot tea on a winter day. I wore this while being outside on a cold day and that's exactly what it reminds me of. Cuts right through the cold. Could smell it on myself almost constantly. Lasts forever not only clothes but skin as well. On my wrists I could faintly still pick up on it some 24hrs+. Even after multiple showers and applications of other fragrances. Overall, it's flat out amazing. Wife can't get enough of it and she's very picky. I call it my secret weapon! 12/17/22: Additionally it will get compliments unsolicited. I've only wore it a couple times and have had very positive feedback. One guy (while outside on a cold day) couple smell the sillage while he was at least 10ft from me and repeatedly commentented on how good it smelled. Another guy I was just meeting for the first time turned out to to be a fraghead and told me I smelled amazing. He liked it so much he immediately wanted to know what it was. He looked up the website so that he could save it to buy later. This stuff is a show stopper.

Manhattan, a fragrance that encapsulates the essence of New York's vibrant heart. Opening with the crispness of violet leaf and bergamot, it mirrors the city's energy. The allure of cinnamon weaves through, reminiscent of the warmth that emanates from its bustling streets. As the scent evolves, the middle notes unfold a story of sophistication with a touch of intrigue. Tea and pimento leaf dance together, echoing the mix of cultures and ideas that define Manhattan. Myrrh, labdanum, and olibanum emerge, mirroring the diverse inspirations that converge in this concrete jungle. In the base, the aroma deepens, much like the city's enigmatic nights. Tobacco leaf and cedar evoke the steadfast determination of its inhabitants, while vetiver represents the rooted resilience that runs through its veins. Finally, the fragrance settles with the sweetness of vanilla, a gentle reminder of the dreams that come alive under Manhattan's dazzling lights. Manhattan isn't just a scent; it's a narrative of ambition, culture, and the constant pulse of a city that never sleeps.

Got this at the same time as Miami, my first scents from City Rhythm. Absolutely blown away by both. Alright, so this scent. Sweet, slightly powdery, green, slightly creamy. If you've ever had a green tea latte or frappuccino, it has a similar profile to that. Vanilla, pepper, and herb notes are all supporting players to the main creamy tea scent. Both Miami and Manhattan (and from what I've smelled, 2164) have this sort of gently sweet creamy DNA to them. This one is a bit on the fresher and cleaner side, where as Miami is a bit more lively. Manhattan isn't soapy, but it smells like what I might want a soap to smell like, if that makes sense. Longevity and silage are both satisfactory to pleasant, neither too strong nor quick to die. A great cooler weather scent. Some class without being too formal. Scent - 9.5/10 Longevity - 8/10 Silage - 8/10 Value - 8.5/10 Overall: 8.5 / 10, an easy win for those looking for a sweet, soft, classy scent

@Mokinko Thank you for noticing the trolls, City Rhythm has switched to more reputable suppliers and upgraded all the fragrances to IFRA standards along with certifications and safety data sheets, the trolls are sent by the old supplier who are trying to sell the old UNREGULATED formulas which now have quite a few banned and highly regulated materials to the public. Long story short, old supplier is butt hurt that City Rhythm LLC is not purchasing from them anymore so they will try to sell non compliant formulas to the public.

This one started very fresh green and herbal. Not my usual style of fragrance but still very nice. As it dries, the fresh greens soften and make way for the creamy-sweet-tobacco vibes to come through. I understand the Herod references because of the sweet tobacco, but the green accords make this so much more intriguing and I think versatile. The journey you go on with City Rhytmn fragrances is so beautiful. Even though I’m not the biggest fresh green fragrance lover, I will be buying a full bottle and wearing this frequently.

Manhattan by City Rhythm and its variants are known for a rich, complex urban scent that many describe as fresh yet serious with depth and warmth.  First impression: A fresh-aromatic opening with green violet leaf and bergamot, leading into smoky tea and warm spice, and settling into a tobacco-vanilla cedar base that feels sophisticated and city-night ready.  In essence: fresh at first, then deep, warm, and slightly spicy — like a cool evening walk through Manhattan’s lights and nightlife.

Versatile enough for all seasons but excels on cool brisk mornings in the fall. I'd call it Unique, but in a crowd pleasing kind of way. There are no sharp notes here and it isn't a challenging wear. It's fresh and aromatic with a light masculine touch. Exquisite notes of tea, violet, cinnamon and tobacco will turn heads all day. Excellent performance, leaves an amazing trail all day long. Office safe. A must try!

Wow, Manhattan is amazing! It was my first purchase from City Rhythm, but I’ve since added a couple more (why isn’t New Orleans Jazz and Booze listed on Fragrantica?). Manhattan is beautiful, unique, and it lasts on my skin - something that few fragrances do for me. I recommend this one without hesitation.

JWeagsPhotos “yOu MuSt bE oNe of hIs bOOtlickers” Get a life. You make a profile just to crap on the brand and Niles. I’m not going to sit here and argue with some incel internet tough guy about scented water. Good for Isaac. He was a hired perfumer who got paid for his work. Best of luck to him.

Manhattan read peppery off my skin. I didn't fall In love with it. That being said: EVERYONE THAT SMELLED ME LOVED IT. LOL. It is a really good fragrance. Absolutely quality materials used. I figure I smell the pepper because I eat a lot of pepper spices and it has Pimento leaf.

Smells great. Opening reminds me of YSL Tuxedo. Dry down then transforms into PDM Herod. Should give you an general idea of what this smells like. Also the quality is there, lasts all day and then some. All for a great price, love it.

JWeagsPhotos I literally just got a bottle of it and smells exactly like the old formulation. Funny how you have a new profile and the only two reviews are to hate on City Rhythm. Get a life.

One of the absolut best winter fragrances there is. It's like combining Herod & GPH2 and then amping it up a few levels. Stunner!!

Overall excellent. But I'm very confused by some of the reviews. This is a dry, sweet vanilla with tinges of herbs and spice. To be clear, this smells nothing like bubblegum. Or blue raspberry candy. And as much as I like Naxos, it doesn't really smell like that either. Naxos is honey-lavendar and creamy tonka bomb. This has none of those scents. So what does it smell like? It's very reminiscent of Tobacco Pod by the indie brand For The Scent of It. I think both this and that are inspired by (DO NOT READ CLONE) Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille. But this is my favorite of the three. The tea note adds a softness and complexity, which avoids the "house candle" smell I get with TF TV and Tobacco Pod. The orange in the opening make is almost smell like spiced orange tea for the first few hours. (Good Earth if anyone knows the brand). And the performance is massive. Like one tiny spay from the sample projects all morning and into the afternoon. I can't imagine wearing two sprays and I have a weak nose. The earthy vanilla is the dominant note to me. The tobacco is more the leaves than cigarettes. If you can, get a sample. It's so strong that it's gonna polarize, so make sure you and your housemates like it before getting a bottle. At the same time, don't be deterred by the price. It's very approachable and excellent for cool/cold weather. You could wear this day or night. And the dry vanilla core is totally unisex.

Aromatic, leafy greens with accents. The heart of this fragrance is formed by the three leaf notes -- violet, tea, tobacco -- a sort of sparkling ozonic tea & tobacco scent. The combination of heavy bergamot plus cinnamon and chili dust add a uniquely spicy yet fresh pop, with a faint vein of incense running through it over a woody amber base. Strong projection fades over 2-3hr and limps through four, longevity 12hr+. A fairly unique and rare, hot-n-cold citrus plus spice combo. Leafy green, yet not smelling like the outdoors. The light tobacco and incense accords combined can unfortunately, dare I say, be perceived as an ashy used cigarette sort of smell.

This is the only City Rhythm fragrance I like so far. And wow it's nice! It's delicious tea with light tobacco and green violet leaves. Some ozonic notes to really make it a breezy surreal experience. Manhattan is like Naxos from Xerjoff meets Indigo by Nest in a wonderful way! The others from CR were so heavy in the animalic/ambergris smell that I couldn't bear it.

Not going to lie. I'm a bit disappointed. It starts out with Gucci II mixed with pickles and dries down to a more robust tea not, while the pickle smell lingers underneath.

@nísimaldar my comparison to Naxos is due to the cinnamon and tobacco notes they both share! But you're right, this is much more dry and green.

Tobacco heavy opening that fades into a smooth, caramelized cinnamon and vanilla hybrid. Nuanced with myrrh, mixed leaves and cedar. Very nice.

Interesting, complex and unique Well blended and very wearable Progresses nicely through the drydown (also Fragrantica pls add the rest of City Rhythms perfumes) PS: Customer service from Niles (founder) and niche fragrance lovers is incredible. (edited)

Really liked the opening and thought it would be my next purchase. Then in the dry down it became pretty smokey with a tobacco/vanilla combo I didn't really enjoy too much. I'd say it's a but mature but would definitely please a lot of people. 6/10

Decent scent. Come the dry down it smells very similar to Amouage Memoir Man, but not nearly as good and natural smelling.

It smells like the pink amoxicillin medicine I used to have as a kid

I had a bottle which smells amazing and lasts forever, a friend of mine really liked it so I decided to gave it to him and buy a new one... The new one smells like a cheap clone of the original same presentation and same everything and lasts for few hours I bought it directly from the brand’s website so it’s obviously not a fake item, it seems like it has been reformulated heavily and literally killed the fragrance, so sad!

Please sample this before even thinking of buying it. In the opening it smells like straight pickle juice... I am not even joking. After an hour of the pickle smell, it turns into a soggy type of fragrance, it is bland. Smells like when the rain stops and you can really smell the soil. Projects fine and lasts quite a while. 4/10

City Rhythm is really a miss brand for me. The only one I like is 2654. Manhattan is basically a tobacco bomb, sharp tobacco, opens up with pickle juice smell. However the dry down is fine, really generic vanilla and woods. Not for me. I am glad I sold my bottle.

Got a sample of this. It's not for me, it smells like the greenest tea known to man but it is smooth and has decent performance

This does not float my boat. Opening is kinda nice but it becomes rather rubbery and sour later.

This was a major disappointment. Manhattan is not blind buy safe and absolutely not worth the price. On my skin, the dominant note is a very strong pickle-like smell that shows up immediately and completely ruins the experience. Once you notice it, it is impossible to ignore, and it makes the fragrance borderline unpleasant to wear. Beyond that issue, the composition feels immature and surface-level, similar to other City Rhythm releases. There’s an attempt at something woody and urban, but it never develops into anything interesting or refined. It smells unfinished, lacks depth, and comes off more like a novelty than a well-crafted niche fragrance. For the price point, this is unacceptable. There are countless better options that do the “city woody” idea with far more polish and maturity. Between the pickle note, the shallow composition, and the hype surrounding it, this one feels massively overrated. Sample first, or better yet, skip entirely.

Mokinko...you must be another one of his bootlickers. Dudes is not what everyone think he is and all of his perfumes have either been reformulated or will be reformulated. I was around from the very beginning and had a sample of Manhattan. And my actual bottle was given to me by the owner in a swap. They do not smell like one another. Not even close. The new bottle makes me nauseus and I loved the original sample. You'll see, none of these fragrances in his line right now are the same as they were when he came out with them. And all of them will be reformulated under the guise of some BS regulatory reasons. When in actuality he's redoing them because he only cloned the original formulations when he and his perfumer Isaac broke ways. And the cloned reformulations are garbage.

The original formula of this fragrance was amazing. This current version is a headache inducing, poor excuse of a clone of GPH II. Literally makes me nauseous. I will not be purchasing from this brand ever again. The original sample I purchased when it first came out is not the same scent as the current formulations. This has been noticed across the board with these perfumes when compared to older bottles or samples. And not just by me but many others. Very different. Especially for the price, I expect better. If I am looking to purchase the original scents as they were when this brand started, I'm buying Prisma Parfums a brand started by the actual perfumer, who brings the original formulations at much more reasonable prices.

@nramadhin it's cute to see the owner of the company come to fragrantica ro defend his brand, and then attempt to make claims against the old perfumer/ supplier. All while he knowingly sold these "UNREGULATED" formulas to the customers he seems to care about so much, for MONTHS, while stating that nothing was changing. It wasnt until months later when he finally ran out of the old formulations and had to find someone to clone them, that he started talking about "upgrading", in other words reformulating. Such a joke. Go ahead Niles, get this review removed too...

I originally said something negative about the amount of dye in these fragrances, but after going on the brand's website, I was really moved by their "about us" section and wanted to cut and paste it here as a reminder not to rush to judgement about any scent based on the packaging. Not that the marketing/backstory should make or break a scent for you either but I feel like the story of how this brand came to be is actually inspirational which sets it apart from the tons of mushroom-like small niche brands popping up every five seconds. The city of Manhattan holds a singularly significant place in my heart, so it is only fitting that my first creation was an homage to the place where my story includes so many chapters. Having migrated from the Caribbean at the age of 12, I was overwhelmed by the culture shock of this strange new land, encountering life at a whirlwind pace. My immigration status was easily exploited and most of my childhood was spent laboring at the jobs so many others deemed unworthy of their time. However, throughout tough times, the magic of Manhattan was all-pervasive, shining especially brightly through the spirits of the many who treated me kindly, and encouraged me in a vision of a brighter future for myself. As I began to find joy in every day, one thing always elicited a sense of strength. Smelling good. Running deliveries brought in meager tips, but I remember saving up all I could until I was finally able to buy a bottle of Gucci Pour Homme 2. Smelling good was transformative. I felt important and worthy of my own dreams, and an understanding of the importance of scent began to develop. When I was enveloped in that illustrious scent I could easily conjure visions of my future success, even as I headed to another below-minimum-wage job at whatever restaurant was hiring that day. The art and the magic of fragrance are such that through it one can feel awash in endless possibilities; a self-empowerment that drowns troubles away and intrinsically forces your head up high. This power is what I aim to encapsulate for the use of all City Rhythm clients. Manhattan is a scent of hope, possibility, and self-belief. Scent is a powerful evoker of emotion and provoker of memory and for me the best way to capture a feeling. Manhattan was inspired by that indescribable feeling I get when looking out at the Manhattan skyline. The juxtaposition of being surrounded by the tranquility of nature, while gazing at the perpetually kinetic lights of a sleepless city creates a sensation unlike any other. This fragrance plays with the alluring and enigmatic aura of New York City. Bringing together the contrasting nature of a city of many faces, Manhattan melds freshness and intensity. Opening as brightly as a stream of headlights glinting off of mirrored skyscrapers and drying down to a dark, sensuous reflection of the city’s inner world. Manhattan, like its namesake, lends its energies to any season or event: fresh enough for summer evenings, its essence also cuts through the winter cold. The dichotomy between light and dark evolves on the skin to entice and intrigue the senses. Captivating bergamot at the top of Manhattan’s scent pyramid dances with notes of cinnamon before tones of incense usher in a subtle shift to the deeper end of the olfactory spectrum. As this fragrance transitions, the incense highlights rich shades of hearty tobacco leaf and comforting vanilla.

its been over a decade since my last visit to NY but strangely this perfume did remind me of Manhattan. just the vibe, the atmosphere. very SatC-like:) opens up marine citrusy but quickly settles to a warm tobacco scent. im not a fan of cinnamon in perfumes but here its so smooth that I actually enjoy it. also the tea and pimento add a nice fresh green undertone, not too much but just the right amount. very pleasant surprise overall, but it lacks SOMETHING for me. it becomes tiring to wear after a few hours, the marine vibe takes over whereas i would prefer it to stay more on the tobacco side. upd absolutely fantastic drydown after 7-8 hours.

This could have some interesting aspects to it, but the vetiver is so overdone, we'll never really know for sure! I see this brand is really hot with influencers right now which shows want they really know. I got samples of all of them about 10 months ago and have tried them all multiple times and it would equate them really to a sophistication level about the same as a Bath and Body Works spray. I don't mean that in a bad way, there's a time and place for everything, this level is just not what I expect from a niche.

I commend emerging brands that recognize the public's heightened awareness regarding skincare ingredients. The fact that City Rhythm has achieved the status of a fully regulated establishment, akin to esteemed names such as Xerjoff, MFK, and Roja Parfums, significantly bolsters my confidence in purchasing from them. Given the dynamic nature of the cosmetic, food, and fragrance sectors, periodic revisions are made to uphold the most stringent quality benchmarks.

This is beast mode performance. Violet leaf in combination w/ the tea note might give off the Gucci PH vibe, but the vanilla and tabac really throws me off in this composition. Overall, if I am being frank and this is not to be mean but it reminds me of the little trees black ice. I think Ryhtym (same brand) is super versatile and a more enjoyable fragrance than this one. After that I would say from the city scape line New Orleans is one to try.

Absolutely horrible, i had to apologize to my nose for making it smell this. very weird green smell, dry down doesn’t get much better. like people say, it does indeed smell like pickle juice. and for the love of all things holy. DO NOT BLIND BUY no matter how good of a deal or how tempting... this can go very wrong. unless you like smelling like you just dumped 16 jars of pickles on you and haven’t showered in days.

I enjoy the cool down of this cologne but the opening smells very strongly of pickles to me. I don’t see anyone else saying anything about this so it may just be an issue specific to my bottle but after about 45 minutes it goes away and the cologne smells amazing.

I don’t understand the hype about this fragrance. I just smell burnt cigarettes. It’s depressing and awful! Miami and San Diego on the other hand are beautiful, uplifting and my two favorites from this house.

I've never smelt another fragrance like this before, it's so well blended and sweet but mature. The opening blew me away. Absolutely signature worthy and going to be a great date night scent for me.

This stuff is amazing. Smells just like green tea to me but with some added spices. At 140$ US for 50 ML I think it’s a very good deal

its good but definitely overhyped its a warm spicy tea scent with a tad bit of citrus I see how it can be a “year round scent. 7.5

Stuff smells like seaweed to me lol. Soggy seaweed. It's not a bad scent but I don't think I want to smell like this... 4/10

i see this as a lot less accessible and a lot more "chinese herbal medicine" than midnight. picture of chinatown

Basically Manhattan Midnight is the more refined and 5x better version of this. No reason to this over Midnight.

This smelled decent on card, then it dried down to a slight vinegary ketchup smell. Would not recommend.

Can I just be quick and to the point? This fragrance is PdM Herod minus the strong tobacco. Period.

All I'm getting is bubblegum. Fresh blue raspberry bubblegum. I don't get any other notes..