Dior Homme 2005

There are two reasons why I really like this perfume. The first reason is simply for its composition: it is gorgeous, both technically and sensorially. The second reason is for its character, its personality, and its intention, which I shall explain last because expounding upon the first reason is necessary for context. I should start by saying that I am currently wearing the original 2005 release (Dior nerds will know that the original has the silver stem through the glass bottle, and so mine does), and my words cannot reflect experiences with subsequent reformulations or flankers since I haven't smelled them. Hear told that the more current formulations of Homme, or any reformulations or flankers for that matter, share very little in common with this original by Olivier Polge. Also to note the "original" Dior Homme, that which is on my person now, is now going by the name Homme Original (again, not having much in common with the original 2005 release), and today's Dior Homme is a completely new fragrance by in-house-mortician Francois Demachy. So now that you are sufficiently confused and also bummed-out, I'll try to turn your frown into a smile regaling you of a perfume from long, long ago in a place far, far away - or so it feels. 2005 Homme is all about iris. Don't adjust your spectacles or reread the line - yes, in 2005 of all times, Dior gave us a masculine perfume centered on the lovely white-purple floral note of iris. This is apparent from the first sniff after application, where the iris stands tall and greets you with a soft but firm arm-around-the-shoulder and a gentle smile. An interesting baked tree-fruit accord presents itself as well; apples, pears, peaches, maybe apricots and figs - I'm not sure. What I find most attractive about this opening is that, despite the floral and fruit, it is only very mildly sweet. Olivier Polge did a masterful job of making sure that the two accords together didn't descend into a feminine-perfume-cliche of syrupy sugar. The sweetness is just enough to probably push a typical perfume-ignorant man's "masculine requirements" onto the unisex line that separates overt masculine from overt feminine. The iris note lasts an age, playing the role of beautiful foil to a soft and smooth vetiver, patchouli, leather, and balsam base. What is likely the iris accord though seems to be more of a floral lavender, but Polge blurs that line to near imperceptibility - a truly unique and novel approach to the two notes. Remember this, this idea of blurring lines. The vetiver, patchouli, leather, and balsams are so smooth, quiet, and restrained that, when you consider the lavender there as well, you rightly ask yourself if you're smelling a standard men's cologne. The base notes carry their own mildly sweet flavor, just like the top notes, but never go full-on aromatic, spicy, earthy, animalic, or syrupy sweet; they are very understated, with their lines and typical facets well blurred. All of the right ingredients are there for standard men's fougere-cologne-type thing, but they don't speak to you in at all the same manner as your standard masculine cologne. This tees-me-up perfectly for the second reason I love this perfume: it is daring. Dior and Polge didn't give us a unisex cologne, they gave us an androgynous cologne. Women could easily wear this, and I would encourage any to try. Men can certainly wear this, and should. This perfume knows no genders, knows no archetypes or cliches, knows no templates, and knows no boundaries since any lines it could potentially cross are blurred to imperceptibility. It manages to be everything that standard masculine and feminine template perfumes are, and yet nothing at the same time, while presenting a clear, coherent, extremely pleasant and wearable personality. In this day and age of our culture this doesn't sound daring at all - you might even ask, as I do, "why don't more brands do this?", and that's a very good question. But, when you remind yourself that you are smelling a product from a big fashion house meant to turn a big profit, and the fashion house has effectively said "we are going against the marketing trends and the cultural grain," then it's clear why - in conjunction with its masterful execution - this is such a novel, unique, and precious perfume. It's a damn shame that Dior lost its nerve so quickly.

Fragrance: Dior Homme (2005) Perfumer: Olivier Polge Olfactory Classification: Woody Floral Musk Masculine Version: "Silver barrel", the legendary and original, with an internal silver metal tube, a symbol of olfactory status Opening: From the very first sprays, Dior Homme 2005 delivers a sophisticated and clean opening with lavender, bergamot and sage, creating a sensation of classic elegance, but not at all dated. Heart: This is where the magic happens: the iconic iris emerges creamy, powdery and refined, a note that was rare in men's perfumery at the time. It is enveloped by slightly bitter cocoa, resinous amber and spicy cardamom, bringing a veiled, almost androgynous sensuality. The combination is bold and at the same time extremely refined. Base: In the drydown, deeper and more robust notes emerge: soft leather, Tahitian vetiver and patchouli, giving the fragrance masculinity, structure and staying power. Projection is moderate in the first 2 hours. It is not an explosive perfume, but it has presence. Very good staying power of 8 hours on the skin, especially in mild weather or on fabrics. Sillage is elegant, leaving a subtle and refined trail, ideal for those who want to be noticed without exaggerating. Dior Homme 2005 is a versatile perfume, but it shines especially at: Formal events and important meetings – it conveys sophistication and intelligence. Dinners, dates and special nights – elegant and seductive, without being overbearing. Autumn and winter, its floral/woody composition stands out best in mild temperatures. Avoid using it on very hot days or during sports activities, it is too refined for that. A milestone in men's perfumery Dior Homme 2005 Silver Barrel is considered a watershed. It was one of the first mainstream perfumes to prominently feature iris in a men's fragrance, something that was previously mostly associated with women. This bold move transformed the market and opened doors to a new interpretation of what it means to be masculine in the world of perfumes. In addition, the bottle with its metallic silver inner barrel is now a collector's item. This edition is considered the most artistic and balanced in the Dior Homme line, far ahead of its time. Final Score: 9.7/10 If you find this vintage version with the silver barrel, consider yourself lucky. You are in the presence of an olfactory relic that represents the pinnacle of contemporary men's perfumery. It is not just a perfume, it is a legacy.

Picked up a 15ml decant of this version today. Wow...it's so much more floral than the 2011 version or the 2020 "DH-Original" version! It seems to be almost devoid of Cacao and the Cardamom/Vetiver/Iris combo makes it such a sweeter and more floral fragrance. It's not sweet to my nose though...when I smell it, it feels sweeter way up in my brain or something. It's a weird feeling...I sense the sweetness of this frag deep inside my head...feels...off...like something is definitely not right with this. The leather also seems to be dialed back compared to the 2011 version and I'm not picking up a hint of Cacao A-N-Y-W-H-E-R-E in this one. It's like it's all lavender, Iris and cardamom.... Maybe a different kind of iris? Definitely not what Mr. Demachy used in the following updated formulation...I dunno... I had a bit of trepidation looking at the formulation, partly why I bought a decant instead of going for broke on a bottle. It appears my fears regarding the composition were justified...now I know that the post-2011 reformulations by Mr Demachy are the only ones for me. I'll be putting my money towards bottles of the "Post-2011" version in the future. The 2005 version is nice...but man-oh-man is it a sweeter-floral-feminine-leaning fragrance... This one may take some getting used to after having experienced the later versions. EDIT: Will pick up a bottle to complete the collection...but won't wear it probably. EDIT: Bottle ordered...yikes...why do I do this? =[ That was way too expensive... EDIT: 17NOV21 Now I am happy I ordered a full bottle. Definitely smells awesome, just took a bit to get adjusted to. This is REALLY floral when first sprayed but smells REALLY great when it dries down...wow!! It's definitely got the floral side of DHI and none of DH-O (post 2011) No leather or cacao at all. Definitely a good choice for the warmer weather as it's not overbearingly sweet. DH-E will be my summer fragrance with DH-O-2007 my spring fragrance. Winter weekdays will be DH-I and during the winter weekends, I'll layer this frag with a few sprays of the chocolate frag I made to give it the missing (to me) cacao note. I can understand, now, how "Dior Homme Intense" came to be...it's like the best parts of V1 and V2 of DH-O mixed together into one decadently luscious fragrance.

The review posted by "Firstblood" down below is a bullsh*t except formula codes and his more-less accurate take on DH 2011. a) Silver Stem formulation: This formulation is slightly less fresh "aromatic"; it feels wetter, almost slightly greasy/oily (and I don't mean the physical consistency). The iris is distinct and earthy, slightly carrot-like. It's noticeably sweeter than the 2011 version or DHO, which gives it a more unisex vibe. At the same time, the cardamom and cocoa note are more pronounced, backed by a subtle leather aroma that a untrained nose might miss -which adds more contrast, character, and "edginess" to the overall blend. The whole thing, especially that carrot-like iris sweetness, has a slight sourness/tartness to it that is completely missing from the later, "smoothed-out" and "stripped-down" formulations. I had the chance to try this scent on my own skin for the first time a year ago (I own a total of 290ml), after years of being familiar with DH 2011 and DHO. I have to admit that at first, I approached it very cautiously and with a bit of hesitation, but it quickly won me over. I would give a lot to be able to douse myself in liters of the original DH 2005 as my signature scent. It definitely has way more character, and the PERFORMANCE blows every subsequent formulation out of the water -including the current DHI EDP! b) DH 2011: Here I agree with the aforementioned user that this version is more powdery and cosmetic-like, but it has been stripped down -for instance, the cardamom is missing. It’s a tiny bit fresher and slightly more diluted, which impacts the performance, though it's still decent compared to... c) DH Original: The current version, a "consolation prize" specimen. The scent is extremely smoothed out, stripped of the character and punch of the 2005 original. It's more office-friendly, drier, and slightly scratchy due to a higher presence of herbal-aromatic notes (more emphasized sage and rosemary), with the iris stepping half a pace back. It's still a very pleasant fragrance and isn't drastically far off from DH 2011, but it no longer has quite the same character. Above all, the PERFORMANCE is tragic for a designer EDT. You have to reapply after 3-4 hours (even though I'm a heavy sprayer).

I'm in love! What a gorgeous fragrance this one is! The bottle, the juice... just gorgeous! Dior has always tried to go in a different direction and really set a trend for men's fragrances, ever since Fahrenheit in 1988 when they decided to turn the male fragrance world on it's head, they did it again almost 20 years later with Dior Homme in 2005. Dior takes what it is to be a man and turns it upside down, turns the angle, shifts the perspective, so that you come to appreciate it even more. To put it simply, Dior Homme does NOT smell like a typical men's fragrance, yet it IS masculine. Iris is a flower not used in male perfumery, it is used extensively in female fragrances (notably the butch/androgynous Chanel No.19), but here it is used in a way which, coupled with leather, vetiver and patchouli, gives off a very dry earthy vibe which still smells smooth and elegant. Now this isn't for every man, and many may say it's feminine. But to me, this just smells GOOD, in fact it smells really special. This was the fragrance which started my interest in perfumery, without Dior Homme, I wouldn't even be here. The first time I smelt this, I fell in love. In fact, first time I tried this, I really didn't associate the smell itself with any particular gender or sexual orientation... instead I thought to myself: "Wow! This is the best damn smell I've ever come across! Pure class & sex all in one gorgeous bottle..." Listen, I don't expect everyone to like this, but for me, it just does it. Iris lightly dusted in cocoa powder, smooth creamy leather throughout, dry vetiver and earthy patchouli at the base, to me this smells like you are the richest man, the smoothest talker, both the familiar lover, and the dark stranger, the ultimate magician, the boss. All these personas rolled into one. I don't give a damn what you say... what you think... what you presume... or how you judge it. This. Stuff. Is. Beauty. Dior, Mr. Slimane, Bravo, sir... I salute you!

All formula code variations for Dior Homme EDT (found on the back or bottom of the box, at the very end of the ingredients) Silver Stem formulations: - 2005-2008 : formula 01704/A - 2008-2010 : formula 01792/A As for bottles that have been taken care of and are full, this formulation smells the most elegant and sophisticated. It's slightly fresher and more mature smelling than both DH 2011 and DHO. Some say Dior Homme resembles a Chanel Les Exclusif. That I can attest to, but mostly for the silver stem versions. All the Chanel LE's have this slight old-world elegant funk that makes them very... old-money and snobby. Silver stem has something similar. This formulation runs the most unisex smelling. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2011 Black Stem rerelease - 2011-2014 : formula 05434/A - 2015-2018 : formula 08853/A - 2019-2020 : formula 12244/A These all smell the same and are my favorite of the bunch. These formulas are similar to silver stem (obviously), but are more powdery, cosmetic-y, bready, doughy, and more masculine, and "fuller" smelling. More sweet, less fresh, and they lose the elegant funk in the silver stem. But still 90% the same. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2021 Dior Homme Original rerelease - 2021-now : formula 17997 This formulation resembles the 2011 Black Stem rerelease the most. However to my nose, every single DH variant with iris (DH, DHI, and DHP (pre-2025) ) post-2020 have a SLIGHTLY changed base, where there is a slightly more dark and doughy note in the base. So DHO is like DH 2011 except with an ever-so-slightly more lipstick base. Virtually undistinguishable to those who haven't drowned in multiple bottles of each formulation, which I have.

Prince of Fragrances (Olivier Polge, 2005) Bottle Design: Tsutomu Kiyama Scentrack: Bobby Caldwell – What You Won’t Do For Love When I bought my bottle of Dior Homme 12 years ago I was not a perfume enthusiast. Still, I felt something special that cold winter evening while trying this fragrance. I felt for the first time a 3D depth of scent cloud. Dior Homme and later Fahrenheit Absolute were the catalysts for my passion reaction. In 2005 Olivier Polge created a part of fragrance history for Dior. Dior Homme was innovative, refined and bold at the same time. It was not a classic example of male perfumery, but the new definition of contemporary. The use of strong iris note for men was a trailblazer for many brands. To this date most of contemporary designer fragrances owes something to Dior Homme. Dior Homme opens with Earl Gray bergamot and a touch if herbs, but immediately blown away by posh and luxurious iris note. Classic lavender (an ode to classic French perfumery) has resisted for some time, but the iris have been just too strong. Decadent, golden, and velvety iris just dances on my skin. I especially like some pale fruity undertones under this iris explosion, like a dry fruit aquarelle. Darker and sweeter cacao note introduces some gourmand tendencies. Cacao combined with patchouli, amber, but especially soft leather leads the golden iris into a warm and comforting base. The base gives me a soft tobacco touch. Dior Homme is a masterpiece overall. Unfortunately, Polge’s version is discontinued. However, current Demachy’s version is still very good. A little bit more masculine and direct, but I still prefer soft and refined nuances of the original. Dior Homme was a prince, but time has shown is ready for the coronation. Rating: 10/10

I know very well this fragrance, it was my personal fragrance for several years, and this first edition is undoubtedly the best. The entry of sage, lavender and fresh bergamot (which everyone forgets comment) and this first edition, I felt like a very nice fireworks explosion that anticipated that mixture of cardamom iris that produces that atalcado effect deep aroma. Amber and cocoa together with the mixture just produced this effect lipstick or so characteristic of everyone talking and many dislike makeup, but that to me was what most attracted me. For me, with subsequent reformulation Dior Homme still there, but lost some of its charm because it was lighter and softer (less intensity and duration). The I felt less sparkling and stopped using it with the habit I used to. For lovers of the first edition or who want to try as much as smelled like the first edition (ie, the inner cannula carrying the silver) testeen the scent of Dior Homme Intense turns out to be as similar. Dior Homme when he left in 2005, was to try and bought immediately a bottle (it would be the first of as many more) I found a completely different to other options aroma, somewhat revolutionary to this very ambiguous game of using an aroma "a "feminine and make other scent more inclined towards the male side, because that entry previously mentioned and the important detail to put an agreement vetiver and leather during drying priori (if it had been totally feminine would put it surely vanilla and musk , making it a sweeter or more drying and powdering entry would surely have been more floral). I remember that first feeling, seemed very attractive, deep, intense, sophisticated. Wonderful aroma, composition and an advanced fragrance of its time. Rating: 9.2

I think the lipstick smell is grossly over-exaggerated. Rather than lipstick, this smells like a leather purse filled with non-descript make-up products, but in the most elegant and masculine way possible. If you're searching for perfumes that actually resemble lipstick, look no further than Givenchy L'ange Noir, and Atelier Cologne Silver Iris Cologne Absolue, with the former being the darker of the two. As for formulation differences, I own the 2005 silver stem (2005 batch code), the 2011 black stem (2011, 2018, and 2019 batch codes), and the 2021 re-release of the black stem called Dior Homme Original. Both the 2011 and the 2021 smell identical, however, there are noticeable differences to the 2005 silver stem. To start, the 2005 silver stem has a different juice color, with it being ever so slightly more "peach" colored, rather than yellow-gold in all the succeeding versions. The 2005 silver stem is also fresher as it leans less into the iris, leather, and cacao. I detect much more lavender and bergamot in the opening, with there being a slight floral-animalic note coming from the lavender. With that said, my bottle is from the year 2005 so take these differences mentioned with a grain of salt. Things can change a bit over time. The only problem with this perfume is the performance. Within 2-ish hours after spraying, it becomes undetectable while doing your daily activities, but remains a skin-scent for about 7. All 3 versions performed the same on my skin. Like shit. Simply put, this is heaven in a bottle. My favorite scent. 10/10 edit: The lipstick is there but only when sniffing up close in the drydown.

(If you have any bottles or samples from this perfume 2005-2008 batches - please read this comment and reach me.) I have been following this site for a very long time and have never commented before. I think I wanted to write my first review on an evening when I felt that I really missed this perfume. First of all, I would like to start by emphasizing how this version of this perfume is different from all the other commercial perfumes... The scent of this perfume is like, it contains notes of good memories / old times that we can never express in words and never return (and the definition here is the smell of old lipstick scent) And that makes this perfume really rare and unique I believe. I'm not an expert but I think this scent comes from the Iris. And then, unfortunately, like all good things, they finished this perfume as well. Even the bottle design... I mean it was so unique! As soon as you heard the smell in your nose, you could easily understand that someone unique or probably really good-looking had stepped into the place. There are so many people who want to be someone else or want to smell like the ''others'' -so it's sad to lose such special perfumes, but It is still so nice to say "I'm glad I smelled this perfume at some point in my life" or "I'm glad it has a connection with me". That's why it has a very special place in me. It's the only reminder of the precious times I lived between 2008-2009... -But I can't find it despite searching for a long time. Please contact me if you have a bottle from this time period still in good condition. I'd appreciate it. Love you and Thank you Olivier Polge! 🤍

Imagine my shock upon walking into my new local chemist, only to spot a half-full tester bottle of 2005 silver stem Dior Homme on the top shelf of a goldmine fragrance cabinet, replete with vintages of Miss Dior, Diorella and Higher. Upon spraying, the first point to stress is that this is by no means a million miles from the 2011 reformulation I was familiar with. Taking into account the passage of time, the main difference to my nose is that the 2005 formulation is noticeably sweeter, spicier and dare I say far more gourmand in the opening. I certainly felt the cardamom and cacoa was more prominent than my memory of post 2011 bottles. The iris and lavender remains upfront but not as astringent as in DHI and nowhere near as bold a DHP. The effect is softer, more enticing and warm. I'll admit I didn't smell the leather others have detected but bear in mind this bottle had been sitting under spotlights in a warm cabinet for likely close to twenty years. I came away more baffled than ever that Dior chose to jettison this work of art for it's 2020 ersatz, and reminded what a truly blockbuster decade the 2000's were fragrances, when seemingly every year brought us another timeless masterpiece. I know Demachy had many fans, but to mess around with this was like adding eyeliner to the Mona Lisa. With Francis Kurkdjian's new take on Miss Dior Parfum, we can only hope he turns his attention next to restore this landmark of perfumery.

OK, as I said, I have about 10-15 mililiters of this original, pre-reformulated stuff. What I can say is only confirm what I've said before. Polge's 2005 and Demachy's 2011 versions are equally the same, but they do differ a bit. This one is more herbaceous right from the start, while reform version has more prominent bergamot. Yes, citrus is here, but is covered by the herbs. And then... Drydowns also differ. This one is more creamy-buttery like (due to the presence of shining iris) and I guess I can FINALLY specify cardamom :D It appeared for a while, giving some spice to the composition, but unfortunately it didn't last long. My friend says the smell of DH reminds her of cough syrup. Cocoa seems to be covered by the iris at first, then it "takes control" and dominates the fragrance. Leather makes the "lipstick" or make-up bag feeling even stronger. REFORM dries down to more gourmand scent I'd say. Cocoa covers iris and I swear I feel a lot of vanilla there(however it's not in the official notes). Some say it now goes more towards Intense version - I agree with that, but it smells better than Intense, at least to my nose. About sillage - both are comparable. Longevity - and the winner is... REFORM. Vintage lasts about 6-8 hrs on me, while the reformulation stays ~ 10 hours on my skin. And my final verdict is... DRAW. At first I thought I like the reform better, but I'm really starting to love Polge's version too... QUALITY!

Dior Homme to me captures the olfactory experience of Ikea furniture or maybe the store, it's odd, I know. To me it smells refined yet easy going, floral but not overtly feminine. I adore Dior Homme, it has truly become woven into my life. This is one of the only "mens" fragrances that I wear. Story goes, back in 2005 I was a regular at the Rideau street Bay Fragrance department. On one of my frequent trips I caught a wiff of something really special and very different. I was a poor student at the time so buying a bottle was out of the question. Three years later, I sprayed some on after my interview with The Bay. The Dior consultant told me this would be my good luck charm. I got the job in the end and bought a bottle. I am now on my third, which for me is unprecedented. Dior Homme was my signature scent for a long time. I do admit that I haven't worn it often in the past few years, but recently I have put it back into rotation. I get a lot of complements from coworkers and friends when I wear this. It has great projection and sillage, plus it lasts all day and night. My bottle is the old formula with the steel rod and after reading reviews I feel lucky to have almost a full 100ml. I will keep wearing Dior Homme until it starts to get warmer then swap it out for Eau Savage. But as soon as the cool weather returns you best believe I'm going to dig this baby out again.

As an iris fanatic I've gone through many iterations of the note and travelled far to the realm of niche to test some of the most expensive creations. Still, Dior Homme and infusion d'Iris remain my absolute favourites after all the sniffing. One femininely masculine and other androgynous masculine, these two are like the yin and yang pillars of the iris kingdom. Without either of them I wouldn't know what to do. On to Dior Homme: I truly love this original version the best. The original is very powdery and tart with a defined leather and sweet cacao smell. The lavender lifts the heavy iris note nicely, and the cacao really gives this a vanilla-like welcoming aroma. It is very plush, but not showy or obnoxious at all. This smell radiates class. The projection and longevity is great, on me lasts around 10 hours and can be smelled within two arm-length. I believe men and women can wear this equally just like any other true masterpiece perfumes. One last note on reformulation: I own several silver collar bottles and have tested the black ones several times. While both have the same opening the new one seems to have a stronger chocolate-ly leather drydwn and is sweeter while the pre-formation one is more iris-y and plush. I prefer my scents less sweet so old one is the way to go for me.

A beautyful wood. I had the chance to find a vintage 2006 bottle and wow! One of my best fragrance purchase for a while! I can easily see why Dior homme line has that much succes, and where it begin. It is different from DHI, but u can clearly see that they are close. A smooter version of DHI (of course, it is not the intense version;)), more versatil, woody with least "lipstick" note, but u can clearly smell the iris. A chocolat dry down, smooter again than the intense version. A yr around fragrance, that u can use for office, casual, romantic or night out (i would choose DHI for night out instead of this IMO). A good complément for someone who have DHI and want to have a daily version of it. Great job Olivier Polge for this creation, wonder what could possible be DHI if he was the creator... Here is the score: Smell: 9/10, a beautyful wood, smooter than the intense version. Longevity: 4/5, around 6 to 7 hours. Good Projection: 4/5, good projection, u will be notice. A little more than the average. To be careful to not overspray if u use it for office. Versatility: 4/5, an all yr around, all occasion, a little bit strong for small environnement. Overall: 21/25, an excellent fragrance. If u can find it at a good price, don t miss that opportunity. You won t be deceived.

I tested this for the first time today in a store. I sprayed this on my hand as I had heard that it's one of those fragrances that needs to dry in to be appreciated. I sniffed this as soon as it went on as a test and it didn't smell too appealing. As one YouTube reviewer put it, the opening smells like cooked carrots. I found that it smells like carrots cooked in rum, as it is also very sweet and alcoholic at the same time. It's not an awful smell, but I wouldn't want to smell like it. Even when it dried in, it didn't improve much, so I tried a few more fragrances and then left the store. About 20 minutes later, I suddenly got a whiff of something beautiful. "Someone smells nice" I thought. As I walked, I kept smelling it. Was it the Gucci Guilty Black I sprayed on my other hand? Was it hell. When I realised it was Dior Homme, I was stunned. How could something that smelled so nasty suddenly smell so incredibly, irresistibly smooth? It had gone from cooked carrots and rum to powdery iris, vanilla and chocolate. I knew I was in love with this scent. I didn't buy this today, but just thinking about it makes me wish I had. I will buy my own bottle very soon though as I'm aching to smell it again. It's nothing short of a masterpiece. An easy 10/10

In my city you'll find a few hidden, mom and pop fragrance shops and if you're lucky and you treat them nice, they'll hold you down. I went there in 2019 and found my Invictus Aqua 2016. For this trip, It was early 2020. I walked in wanting a specific bottle, Dior Homme Intense. The husband said that he had one bottle in the stash but he had to go in the back to find it. He told his wife (and partner) to show me Dior Homme. They had their hustle down and I was slightly annoyed. The box was not brand new. The cellophane was still on the packaging but the wife opened up the bottom ever so gently in order to drop the bottle out from below. There were a few sprays missing so I was annoyed again. She sprayed the inside of the cap and handed it to me. My mouth dropped. I was in love. Head over heels. Only a handful of times has this ever happened to me. Without thinking twice I told her husband to hold off on the DHI...I needed this...today! And I didn't even haggle her on the missing sprays. It was a 50ml and I paid $90. Upon further research, it was a silver stem OG from 2005. Man, did I come off. Put down $50 for the DHI and went back on my next payday to pick it up. Bang Bang.

My former boss always smelled wonderful (kind of like a manly Chanel No. 5) and when I asked him what he wore, he said "Dior" but couldn't name the actual scent. I think it might be this one, although there are so many versions and formulations of 'Dior Homme' that who knows? I'm smelling this on a card; I'm currently getting into iris perfumes and this was recommended online for women as well as men. It's sweet and powdery for a man's fragrance, and the iris is much darker than in the women's fragrances I've tried. There's also a leathery drydown that feels warm and comforting. It's gorgeous. I'm seriously considering trying this on myself. EDIT: I tried it on and was disappointed; the leather predominated in a way that felt too manly for me to wear. Also, I was inescapably reminded of my old boss – it felt like he was following me around. However, I also tried on Dior Homme Intense at the same time and I liked it more – although the Dior perfume counter guy reckoned regular DH was the more androgynous one, I think DHI smelled sweeter (in a chocolatey gourmand way) and, LOL, not as intense on me.

I picked up a bottle of this recently. I thought it was the reformulation, but it ended up being the original. I suppose my entry into this line is different than most. I started with Dior Homme Eau, then Dior Homme intense reform, now this, the original is the final one I think I want. Also, I have the new cologne version, but it's not in this vein at all, so it's hardly worth mentioning. Dior Homme original is the best, to my nose, of all the blends. It's just a perfect blend. I've heard that said, and I know what it means. It smells of great quality ingredients. It's got that make up vibe, but more blended to my nose than it is in eau or Intense. In those, that note is unmistakeable, then they settle into something else. This one, the note is stronger, but more blended into other notes. So, it doesn't stand out because it's the fragrance itself. There's a soft chocolate pillowy bedding for this ripe velvety fragrance. It's not Gourmand though, nor is it too heavy for daily office type wear. I think this is what sexy scents are striving to be, and this one is the best of that genre, by a margin.

By some miracle, I stumbled upon a fully sealed, 2005 batch silver stem bottle at a bargain price. After several wearings, it strikes me that Olivier Polge's original Dior Homme was a masterstroke of the the bait and switch tactic. Even in 2025, the iris opening still feels shocking for something with "Homme" written so prominently on the box, but after this dries down, it's clear this resolves into a more traditionally masculine amber fragrance. Yet perhaps what made this truly shocking for a mainline masculine release in 2005, even more than the iris opening is how gourmand this is. The cacoa and cardamom in the mid to drydown is so rich and enveloping, combing with the amber to create a warm apple pie effect. Every single twist and turn of this is unexpected. To compare this with the "Dior Homme Original" now on sale, I can say with some confidence that Polge's 2005 concoction is a vastly more complex composition. Demachy's 2020 reformulation, whilst still beautiful and faithful in theory, is mostly linear, more synthetic and lacks the darkness and depth of the deep drydown of the 2005 release.

I`ve been looking for the first version of Dior Homme for many years. The first time I got Dior Homme was in 2013 and was the version made by Francois Demachy from 2011- instant love. Today I got Vintage (5G03 batch) and they are not that similar as I expected. Both are blended really good but the original one gets that extra point (I`m suspecting that the top notes are not that prominent anymore because It`s been almost 20 years since this was made). Iris and Cacao are the biggest players in 2005 version and It`s more floral than 2011(more citrus). Longevity moderate, sillage intimate to moderate. No idea why it was described as long lasting ,maybe 19 years ago it was different. *Smells amazing on fabric. I just got a fresh new bottle (never opened) with batch 5h02 (longevity and projection are better than my other bottle), top notes are there, it is magical... to my nose, there is nothing better than Dior Homme 2005, period. Praise to Olivier Polge for making such a masterpiece!

The original, the haunting, the breathtakingly beautiful Dior Homme. When this came out in 2005, in the dismal panorama of masculine perfumes, it was like finding a Da Vinci painting in a men's bathroom. It started with this buttery, powdery breath of richness and a weird, sultry sweetness, like iris root over scotch. It shifted grandly over the course of hours into a stunning feather bed of cocoa powder and cigarette smoke, with a distant metallic whir. Fast forward 17 years later (God I'm getting old) and that delicate balance has been completely ruined, favouring the foghorn deodorant tendencies of contemporary masculines. The metallic whir is now a tin foil blast, the handsome peppery iris is now a stomach turning violet, and the whole thing is tooth decaying and unsubtle. Adieu, Dior Homme. With apologies to your art director Hedi Slimane (If you still hanker for a gorgeous, tender "incense and honeypowder" oriental with a golden hour glow, try l'Envol)

My very first signuture fragrance. We had share great 3 years together until Dior decided to formulate you with just pale shadow of your goodself. I wish I knew that they will formulate you and had bought 10 back up bottle for myself. But unfortuantely we are separeted forever. This fragrance was the best of the best. At first spray sage, lavender penetrates the nostrils and first few seconds were not pleasent. But in 1 minute to until the end it was my most complemented most asked fragrance ever. ın the mid stage of life time, Vetiver Leather and patchouli combo was giving masculine aura while Iris (never been used such beautiful afterwards) cacao gave slight metrosexual auora. Performance wise I got good 8 hours sillage (not invasive) and 10-12 hours longevity (depends on the weather) For me it was 10/10 fragrance. The bottle you find on the shelfs which pretending to be Dior homme is nothing to do with this. Initial formula was king and will always be.

The actual 2005 version now, is going to be some watery some buttery concoction with dampened papery lemon and dried florals with a bit more pronounced pepper now. its now about the notes that stuck and the others that morphed if stored even properly. for those notes from 2005 that morphed, they morphed uniquely. it cannot be exactly the same as on shelves back then..the notes are too delicate and natural. synthetic citrus frags last much longer such as polo ralph lauren (40+ year shelf life) and I believe this concoction contains many naturals, such as the citrus, and I believe the raw iris may have aged papery, and I also believe it may even contain real ambergris fixative (which is basically ageless), so again, some accords stayed some went, BUT even today this is still robust and lingering, on brand, reminiscent, and worth the collecting. A bottle will throw you back to the youthful prince you were when you purchased it first.

Apon further review.. This is a gorgeous fragrance, and with all Dior Homme fragrances for some reason, I need a day to get used to it. In my opinion, the most masculine thing about the Dior Homme line is the name- this is most definitely a unisex fragrance. I wouldn’t say the iris in the original is “lipsticky”, not even close compared to the intense and even the Parfum in some ways. The iris is more fluffy, smooth, and brighter in this. There’s a certain dryness to the scent, most likely the cardamom, that adds a sort of dirtiness to the mix. Lastly, like many have said before me, the leather really holds this fragrance together. It prevents the iris from being too powdery and the cardamom too dry, it adds that smoothness that makes this fragrance great. Projection is OK, nothing further than a foot of projection for me. Longevity is also OK, solid 5 hours, 2 projecting.

Dior Homme was love at first smell for me. I've had this from the moment it was released, and can't imagine I'll ever be without it. A perfectly blended synergy of creamy powder and sparkling florals mated to smooth vanilla and cacao on a spicy woods base. Smells classy, yet easy going - perfect for almost any occasion. Could easily be someone's signature scent, or reserved only for special occasions. DH is so good that I wore this on my wedding day, and will forever hold a special place in my collection because of that. In my experience I get incredible longevity from this - 8-12 hrs, and very good sillage and projection as well; lasts on my clothes for days afterwards. What else is there to say, the original Dior Homme is a masterpiece. Few other fragrances make such remarkable first impressions. Even fewer make this kind of lasting impression. Score: 10/10

Classy, so very classy. The opening smells like lipstick but not in a bad way; when I sprayed it onto my skin I thought the lipstick smell added an aura of sexiness; smelling it made me feel like I had just been kissed by a girl in red lipstick. The drydown was great as well, I feel as if it really became powdery; the middle sort of smells like butterscotch to me but not sickly sweet butterscotch, more butter than scotch I suppose. It lasts like a beast and projects very well as well. Funny thing, I woke up in the morning after having sprayed it on the previous afternoon, couldn't smell it on my wrist. BUT as I was sitting in my table browsing the net, every now and then I'd get hit with a soft but noticeable milky patchouli smell but when I went ahead and smelled my wrists...nothing. And frankly that was the best part about the fragrance to me. 10/10

Does anyone share my thoughts like there are THREE versions of Dior Homme? 1. First one - vintage - produced from 2005 to April 2011. Silver tube and silver collar. Smells very lipsticky - the potent and prominent iris note. Cardamom in middle notes. 2. Second one - first reformulation - produced from April 2011 to April 2013. Black tube and silver collar (looks similar to the vintage DHI to me). Iris toned down, more herbacious and citrusy opening, much more prominent cocoa note. Drydown smells like a milk chocolate to me. Dior has removed cardamom from it. 3. Third one - second formulation - produced from May 2013 'till now (from batch code 3S01). Cardamom again in the notes breakdown, but this time in the top notes(instead of middle notes). Smells a lot more similar to vintage DH than the reformulated one...

I don't understand some of the bad reviews on this. This is one of the greatest perfumes of the last 25 years and easily Olivier Polge's masterpiece. It's an important perfume and it's beautiful. This is a perfume about masculinity, and it's a lot more complex and serious than the later versions of this fragrance. It's not just about being "metrosexual", it's about being a modern man in an urban setting. Before that men could smell like a pine tree or a leather barnyard. This is closer to Anteus in its ideas and complexities than almost any other men's perfume I can think of. It's also one of the few perfumes where I ACTUALLY get complimented on. The later versions are good. The Dior Homme "Original" is good also, and there are some similarities, but this is legions ahead of the others.

Today, for me, Dior is a joke house. They don't take themselves seriously at all, discontinuing and putting out boring junk at crazy prices. It's a shame, but once upon a time they released this jewel... ...The ultimate magnum-opus of Dior as a fragrance house. This is almost too good to wear, it's an artistic masterpiece and should be looked as such. For me, it's fine suede, light lavender and chalky/lipstick-like Iris, minimal sweetness. It's almost untouchable, it's better than every single niche fragrance i have ever tried. The silver stem reigns supreme. PS something that everyone skips is: the leather note here is what puts it all together. This leather is one of my favorites, its ultra smooth, brand new leather, but its so light and smooth, i just cant resist it.

This is pure class. PURE. CLASS. Did you hear me? The iris top note is something of the most elegant pieces of matter to exist. Your nose’s treat of this powdery perfection is then, in the heart, served with a darker, also powdery, cacao note, which blends beautifully with the top. Olivier Polge’s masterpiece then dries down to a slightly leathery, clean, woody base. This is elegance. It’s masculine. I understand some people think this smells like makeup, but I love how Mr. Polge has taken something very traditionally feminine and twisted it into this piece of art. There is just something about this fragrance that drags my mind towards elegance, success, and fortune. I am truly blessed to have managed to find myself a bottle of this.

OK, I finally found this version in my local Sephora. I think that the newest version is equally in quality to this, but yes, I can see differences. I don't feel the herbal-citrusy beggining here. From the start I get a strong make-up or lipstick smell instead. This lasts quite a while and evolves into very leathery drydown. Yes, I feel the leather here quite clearly. Unfortunately I don't get any "pure" cardamom note. This version has bigger sillage at the beggining, but has shorter longevity instead comparing to Dior Homme 2011. I think I'd like it more if I knew this version first... But know I'd say I fell in love with the new version and it's a must have for me. However, I'm glad I tried and have about 10 ml of this one.

This Fragrance has an AMAZING concept: Floral Musk. It is wonderful! When I first sprayed it and smelled it, I could smell a 'Cleaning' effect. It is kind of like when alcohol is evaporating off of your skin and is cooling it but if it was IN my nose lol It was probably the alcohol but the ingredients must have taken away the alcohol smell and replaced it with a scent that is almost like fresh water or something. Then, after it had some time to dry down, the Flowers and the Musks and the Woods jump out. But what is interesting is that it doesn't seem like there is a dominant scent. They all work in harmony. It is beautiful. Needless to say, this is a fragrance that is a MUST have for ANY collection for sure.

This is the jackpot of men's fragrances. I have Dior Homme Original and Dior Homme Eau. The modern "Dior Homme Original" lacks the lavender, the cacao, and probably some other things. And that one also has this kind of weird leathery bitterness and it's a bit off putting to me. NOT the case with this 2005 version. It's rich, has a balanced and gorgeous sweetness, and the lavender adds, dare I say, a slight shaving cream note which I think helps to make this undoubtably masculine. Other than hot days, I'd say you can wear this any other time including a warm evening. This is for sure a masterpiece. Refined, seductive, balanced, classy, gentlemanly, and really, really, beautiful. Gonna be hard to top this one.

I love this so much. I just found a 2008 bottle and it's still in good condition. I get a bit more Iris softness in this compared to the new one. The reformulated Dior Homme has been nudged in the direction of Dior Homme Intense. It is just a bit sweeter and more gourmand-like, with the iris being less pronounced than the original. But I am still very happy with the new formulation. The old formulation was/is just the biggest fragrance love for me. It's not the first time that one of my favorite colognes is soon gone forever due to reformulation and I hate it. I might need fragrance therapy. That's the dark side of fragrances. Haha, very dramatic. But again, the current one is still amazing!

Bought a 80% full bottle (seems genuine, code is 5H05) and it opens somewhat earthy and dirty. I can smell the iris, but it’s much more toned down than I expected. Slight licorice? Much more “dusty” than I expected, the cardamom is very dry. Unisex for sure. Dior Homme Original is far lighter, and the cardamom is far less noticeable. If you’re paying resellers prices (350+), don’t waste your time. Invest in a bottle of the old Dior Homme Parfum or if you really need the OG itch scratched just get Dior Homme Original. Edit: up close, smells identical to DH original, but in the air it’s something way better. Letting this one work it’s magic on my skin.

Recently got a 30ml 2007 bottle. This opens up with more floral/waxy/buttery which will last about 1 hour when compared to Dior Homme 2011. After the first hour it becomes similar to Dior Homme 2011 cacao floral/waxy combo. I can say that the 2005 formulation is a bit more complex with much more floral in the opening compared to the 2011 formulation. Happy to have a 30ml, this is getting more expensive and harder to find but at least we can still pickup Dior Homme 2011 at a reasonable price and Dior Homme Original (although as of the moment in Europe only). Performance - is excellent 6 to 8 hours on skin with moderate projection and nice sillage.

For the refined, polished, and sophisticated gentleman. This king will announce your presence in the most alluring and seductive way without being aggressive. Once Had a colleague say ‘wow you could steal me with this beautiful scent’ 😃. This lady sniffed her way to me to say that. She’s not a friend. This is My most patronized fragrance line in 2 decades. Owned them all, including the intense, sport, 2020, and parfum. I Always ensure that I have this and the parfum in my collection. This king has stood the test of time for me. I have never grown tired or taken a break from it. It always delivers when worn right.

When I decided to buy a bottle of Dior Homme about a year ago, I got lucky and ended up with the original formulation. The 2005 formulation is so much richer than the current one. The iris and leather are both stronger and richer. I have the 2008 and 2012 versions of Dior Homme Sport, and I vastly prefer the 2008 version as well. Thankfully, the original formulation of Dior Homme hasn't gotten too hard to find if you know where to look and don't mind paying retail. I have no problem paying full price for Dior fragrances and I plan to get a backup bottle of Dior Homme before it gets hard to find.

It is Heaven. Pure Heaven. Hands down the number one cozy and warm fragrances I ever had. It is addictive. The experience: The opening is rather complex with two - three scent components with promiment Iris in the background. The opening is beautiful, cozy, heartwarming. It settles very quick and mesmerizes you even more once it goes into drydown-mode. The drydown is very simple without a complex accord portfolio, why it makes it even more addictive. My only association with this fragrance is "heaven". Drawbacks: The sillage is maximum intimate, longevity is 1-2 hours.

Oh look at that. Christian Grey for Christian Dior. This fragrance is interestingly enough very floral (iris) despite the fact that it is for men, but it still somehow manages to turn masculine and very pleasant on a man. The pure contradiction it creates is really seductive and sexy. And just for the record, it also perfectly reflects femininity when worn by a woman (what I'm saying is this could be unisex). I love this complex versatility of Dior Homme, because it makes you question what gender truly is when it comes to fragrance! It's remarkable. A piece of art.

Dior Homme (2005 version) - roasted iris - this #olivierpolge creation was my college scent and took me ages to find this very bottle. After 15 years, the perfume has remained what I remember. Starts with a Lavender meets roasted Coffee and Licorice accord. Then, transitions to a beautiful spicy Iris that resemble a vintage makeup bag smell mixed with earthy Patchouli. So it reminds you of roasted sweets, coffee shop and iris flowers. Drydown rounds off the Iris accord and shows an earthy Leather smell supporting the entire structure. Nostalgic.

Spray, one, two, three, four times. Stand in front of a full length mirror, naked. Close your eyes, smell the air. Wait. Rest your hand on your neck, squeeze a little. Feel your heart beat pulsating through your neck into your hand. Smell the air, inhale deep, in and out, in and out. Some people don’t know how it feels to be both primal and sensual. To have the two experiences merge into one. This is how I believe Dior Homme should be enjoyed. Alone or perhaps with company. Primal, sensual, to experience sensation with your whole body. Living.

Just received an old formulation tester bottle. I feel so fortunate to be able to experience this version of Dior Homme. It’s simply beautiful smooth and elegant in a semi-masculine sense. I do not pick up the cacoa at all. I pick up the vetiver. The vetiver is very prominent on my skin; slightly soapy. It is a great fragrance - it’s not as great as Dior Homme Parfum but this is more wearable and more versatile while still being what is extremely important to me -> UNIQUE. Is the new formulation really much different ?

There are still people that think Dior Homme isn't available anymore. Guys, they still produce the 2011 version. Its called Dior homme Original. To be honest, i think Dior Homme 2020 its not going to stay here for that long but at least we still have the Original version to buy. This 2005 version is definitely more sweeter, with the cocoa more present and less bergamot. Its denser and more chocolaty. Both masterpieces but i kinda prefer the 2011 since it has a sparkling opening that Demachy is known for.

This perfume composed by Olivier Polge was a marvel before its reformulation. A true iris was there, a little bit rooty and earthy, softened by chocolate. It was coated with aromatic notes, lavender, sage and cardamom, and a very powdery background. It was beautiful as Guerlain, with something very classic, a bit like a Grey Flannel married with Egoïste and remixed to match the new masculine ideal androgynous and tormented rocker as defined by Hedi Slimane. Goodbye my beautiful child ...

@backtotheeighties It has similiar leather accord and you can definitely tell it has DH DNA. But its hidden behind shit ton of some iso-e or whatever type molecule. It literally has no opening, it gets stronger with time, like it comes out of this weird wooden shadow. On me the original has the best longevity out of all the batches i've tried in my life. But the smell just isn't quite there. I will keep coming back to the original to see how it works with time.

The leathery opening makes me shiver. Lavender toned down with sage. The middle is different, mostly sweet vanilla and cacao over dry wood. In the end, the leather comes out again. I love wearing it (I favor unisex scents) but I have to admit this would be make a very special statment on a man. At first it's not feminine as much as feminized, like leather tooled with a floral pattern. A touch of contrast to emphasize masculinity, but ultimately very versatile.

This is my re review. The first time I thought it was ok. But I've matured now and find this to be the perfect gentlemen's fragrance. The iris with just a slight pinch of leather keeping it from falling into the overly feminine. And as it smoothes out comes in the cocoa. This is a masterpiece. And I feel like it can be worn all year round in just about any weather. It's not too sweet as to overpower in the heat and just right in the cold. Love it!!

"is it worth the hype" yes and more 👍 ive been wearing it about a month. its different day to day which doesnt normally happen with me. theres nothing linear to get sick of. i get really nauseous with most gourmandish scents especially chocolate type smells. but.. the vetiver pulls heavy on me right when i need it to and saves the day in the drydown. takes this from good to great imo ♡ dont pay more than $150 unless you dont care/have it like that