Costume National I

I agree that this smells a little synthetic and metallic in the opening but that fades within 5-10 minutes tops. Compared to the harsh, nose burning openings some fragrances have this is nothing. After you’re left with something that time and time again smells remarkably like Layton. I’ve sprayed Layton in store multiple times while wearing “I” and I can attest and appreciate that Layton is made with better ingredients. But this smells great, longevity is amazing, and sillage is that of Layton and is above average. I cry about fragrances not lasting on my skin and performance being poor and with this I have to be easy on the trigger with my overspraying self. This stuff isn’t nuclear but it performs. If you have a bottle of Layton and are die hard then you will pick up the small differences but to me this is negligible. Would I take Layton over this? If I could find it for a decent price, half off, absolutely. Would I spend $80 for 100ml of this as opposed to $300 on Layton. Probably everytime. Would I take detour noir and its beautiful presentation over this as they are in the same price range? Probably not. I’d pay the $20 more and not get burned by YouTube middle eastern hype. I know sometimes those frags are awesome but yeah, I’m good, I found a suitable replacement. As always, get a sample and test it out yourself. If you’re here just to try this and not because of Layton comparisons then this is amazing in its own right. Edit: having tried both Layton and exclusif this falls smack dab in the middle of those with the leather adding a twist. This is great.

I haven't smelt Layton, but scent-wise, at least initially, this may be my favourite so far of the fragrances most frequently likened to Layton or branded as clones of it. It's much less assumingly vanillic and camphorous than many others and generally more balanced, and although I don't know whether it's in Layton, the fruity-leathery labdanum here (perhaps with some support from the saffron) probably constitutes another slight departure from several other scents of this type that I've smelt. The base showcases the (synthetic) leathery oud accord used in multiple Western fragrances (mostly evening ones), such as Tom Ford's Tuscan Leather, complete with raspberry-like ionones or whatever it is that I so often smell up top in those fragrances. Actually I can't focus on much else in the dry-down. I don't find the overall effect of this in any way coarse or rough but there is a slight ambery texture to it that to my nose verges on the powdery or grainy, though only if smelt up close. This is actually quite different from the other Layton-type fragrances that I have smelt, at least in the dry-down. Several of the others resemble one another more than any of them resembles this. For me, this one's performance is fine (projection average, longevity good although the dry-down gets tired). I might not pay full price for this but I like it.

I don't understand the majority of vague & negative comments made here about this amazingly unique & pleasing fragrance that i personally enjoy & recently acquired. I reckon the direct comparison with PdM's Layton fragrance is ridiculously unwarranted & uncalled for. The main dominant component of CNI is it's subtle leather left, right & centre in which Layton does not have referring to it's perfume pyramid. The only 3 components they both have which are the basic components of many, many fragrances are bergamot, geranium & lavander...nothing else. Those 3 notes does not & should not always indicate direct similarity between 2 or more fragrances containing the same components. So i suggest that anybody who is curious & interested should test both these two fragrances on their own skin on separate wrists & make their own conclusion for themselves before listening to these so called self-proclaimed wannabe olfactory experts/snubs who posted their hogwash comments here that are confounded & useless to other fragrance advocates & aficionados.

I can see why people compare this with Layton and Layton Exclusif as it does feel like a combo in a 2:1 ratio. The saffron offers some sharpness that in the opening makes the apple feel like a granny smith. Crisp and tangy. It might smell slightly like menthol to some noses mixed with a sweet apple. But the menthol notes is toned down here so no vicks vapor rub like in Layton. As it dries down the apple transforms from a granny smith to a red sweet apple like a gala or fuji. There's a leather note but it isn't an animalic leather. It's quite soft and and balances the sweetness nicely. Whereas Layton can be too cloying at times, too much menthol or too heavy handed vanilla, Costume National I remains more restrained and balanced. Not too dirty or rough like Exclusif. It manages to meld the best of both Laytons together. Projection is good for the first 3-4 hours and it lasts a strong 8 so performance is quite good. As long a you aren't expecting a clone to Layton or Layton Exclusif, but rather a blend of the two you should be quite happy.

Is it possible that I like this more than Layton – Layton is one of my favorite fragrances though I have never been a great fan of vanilla based fragrances and Layton is a vanilla bomb though combined with the other notes makes this fragrance fantastic. The “I” version has leather instead off vanilla and I am a sucker when it comes to leather scents, not all leathers – the freshness in the opening is very similar to Layton but then the leather, saffron and some Thyme pushes trough – in no way the saffron is oriental in this fragrance, the leather is also very smooth, not like Tuscan Leather or so, I almost want to say more like MP African Leather though it does not smell in any way to African Leather. The first 1 to 2 hours the fragrance is very strong, one spray will fill the room afterwards the fragrance settles, longevity is very decent – quality is top – price/quality ratio is excellent