Dior Homme Intense 2011

When I started my journey in fragrance, I hated this with a passion. It confused me. Why would any man want to smell like a chocolate bar in a woman's purse? In fact it made me angry as it seemed like it was purposefully created to be "anti-masculine" for the sake of being artistically contrary. The smell of lipstick, the smell of a woman's purse is ipso facto NOT masculine. With such descriptions anyone could confidently say "That does not smell like a man." Indeed, when I sprayed it on tester strips at the store, this is what I smelled and exactly what I concluded. That was all I needed to completely dismiss this, and I did. But people I respected kept raving about it. This made me more angry! Either all these people (who knew much more than me) were a bunch of gaslighting posers or there really was something to this frustrating conundrum that I have not discovered. Sheer frustration kept me coming back and trying it again and again, and still the tester strip kept giving me the same unimpressive data every time. Eventually I discovered that the problem is not the fragrance or its relation to what is considered masculine or feminine. The problem was (1) the tester strip and (2) the descriptions of lipstick and purses bandied about which were adversely affecting how I looked at this fragrance. It turns out that DHI's opening is not amazing, nor is it even the good part. So my first mistake was judging it by the tester strip at the store. I had to spray it on my skin and then wait for it to do its thing. That is when my perspective changed. The heart and base notes are what make it good. Further, these notes are NOT lipstick, women's purse ... women's anything. They are buttery smooth and creamy with wafts of vanilla, chocolate and praline with a perfectly understated sweetness. Now I was beginning to understand what people where talking about. DHI is not one of those fragrances you spray and instantly understand. It's slow. It blooms. It takes time. And while it certainly does project, it may not even be evident that you are even wearing a fragrance, as it is more of an atmosphere. It doesn't attract by shouting "Notice me! I am an awesome scent!" Rather it sneaks under the olfactory radar and leaves brains around you quizzically struggling to process the signals ... "Hey, wait ... what's this delightful thing I am catching? ... Where's it coming from? ... How do I get more!?" It lingers and wafts, dances and changes. So it's not a question of masculine, feminine, lipstick or purses, but rather the unique and extremely pleasing impressions it creates for you and those around you. And DHI does it well, with subtlety and class. I'm glad I finally have a bottle. And I am also glad that the emperor is indeed wearing clothes after all. Update Feb 18, 2023: I take back everything I said about the opening. It's incredible. The whole thing is incredible all the way through. This is my favorite fragrance now, of everything I tried. I like it better than Dior Homme Parfum, which while actually being superior, is not as practical day to day because it seems made for special occasions. After being exposed to enough different fragrances for almost a year now I can see why DHI is so special. I just hope they don't reformulate it now. Guess I need to get another bottle.

For most of my life, I didn't think that I even liked perfume, and even less so that I actually wanted to wear any. Until I smelled Dior Homme Intense around 6-7 years ago, and fell in love. Dior Homme Intense 2011 opened my eyes and my heart and made me realize that I can indeed love a perfume, and want to wear it. Since then I've explored all designer and niche fragrances I could find, and I figured out what I like and what I don't like. I'm indeed very picky with my fragrances. There are a precious few that I actually enjoy enough to wear. And Dior Homme Intense 2011 is still at the top of that very short list. This is simply put just coziness in a bottle. It's warm and sweet without being cloying. It's soft and smooth and perfectly balanced (as all things should be). It leans masculine but is arguably unisex, or at least metrosexual. It just smells like hugs and cuddles! People say that this is classy and sophisticated and that you have to dress up for it, and I really don't agree at all. To me this honestly smells like cuddling on the couch in sweatpants or pyjamas. 100% romantic date night fragrance. It doesn't even really smell very "perfumey" or "cologny" to me. It just smells like a perfect balance between floral, woody, powdery, sweet and warm. It's quite strong and projects like a beast, and I would definitely recommend against over-spraying. It can easily fill a room and choke people out. Less is definitely more with this fragrance. I often just do like half a spray on my wrist and then dab it on my other wrist and onto my neck. That's honestly enough. And doing this also avoids the potentially sharp opening that puts some people off, and instead goes straight to the soft, cozy sweetness that you get when you just catch subtle whiffs of it through the air. Some notes about formulations: In 2020, when Dior re-imagined (and IMHO ruined) the original Dior Homme, they also redesigned the bottle for Dior Homme Intense. Thankfully they did in fact NOT reformulate Dior Homme Intense... Yet. Up until 2023 or so, they still used the same formula code: 10950/A If you find a bottle with the 2020 design, but the formula code is older than 2023, you will still be getting the old 10950/A formula. This is the formula that they used since around 2017, and it's the one I personally fell in love with. Earlier formulations might be even richer or better, but I wouldn't know about that. However, from 2023 and now in 2025 they have indeed reformulated Dior Homme Intense. Dior Homme Intense 2025 still retains most of the core DNA, but it's not quite the same anymore. It's not as rich and warm, and it's not at all as strong in terms of projection. Dior Homme Intense 2011 was my first true fragrance love, and I still love it. I will treasure the 230ml or so that I have left of this absolute gem.

Right from the first spray, it feels absolutely luxurious and smooth. It’s super classy. It opens with that famous powdery iris note that instantly gives it a classy, almost old money sophisticated man vibe. It’s rich, soft, and slightly sweet without being childish. The scent feels very refined but also incredibly comforting. The iris is the star of the show. It’s buttery, powdery, and elegant, wrapped in a warm mix of amber and soft woods. There’s also a subtle sweetness from the pear that makes the fragrance feel creamy and addictive. As it dries down, it becomes deeper and warmer. It smells very distinct compared to most modern men’s fragrances. You won’t confuse it with a typical fresh or “blue” scent. Instead, it has this smooth, slightly makeup like powderiness that is surprisingly pleasant and extremely memorable. Performance is excellent. On my skin it lasts 8 to 10+ hours easily, and the projection in the first few hours is strong enough to get noticed without being overwhelming. Lasts even longer on clothes. It leaves a very elegant scent trail that people tend to notice when you pass by. This fragrance is also extremely sexy. It has that smooth, warm, intimate vibe that works incredibly well in close settings. On a cold winter date night, this thing shines. The warmth of the scent mixed with the powdery sweetness makes it feel cozy and seductive. It’s the kind of fragrance that makes people lean in closer because it smells so good. It’s season and versatility is where you have to be very careful. It’s perfect for winter, cold, intimate or formal settings, but I wouldn’t recommend it for summer or hot weather. In warm weather, the richness and powderiness can become cloying and headache inducing. It’s just too dense for heat. This fragrance really needs cold air to balance it out. Dior Homme Intense is honestly one of the best designer fragrances ever made. It’s elegant, unique, sexy, and incredibly pleasant to smell. Just respect the season and don’t wear it in the heat.

Dior Homme intense doesn't need any form of "convincing people that this is a great one". It won the best male fragrance of all time award, I don't know, 10 times in a row or so. Still, I have to say how incredible this fragrance is. Back when I bought my bottle about six years ago, people were already complaining about it: “This batch is crap,” “This batch is a fake,” “This batch doesn’t last long,” and so on and so forth. I can assure you that’s absolute nonsense. Every fragrance ages and changes its DNA, its longevity, its scent—just like wine. It’s pretty much the same effect. And believe me, the bottle I own was already stunning when I bought it, but now it’s turned into pure gold. By the way, I have many clones. And most of them are doing great work these days. But this DNA can’t be cloned. In every respect. The DNA, of course, but above all that divine drydown. I sprayed a few spritzes two days ago and still detect hints I can’t describe. It seems to be this unique combination of the musk used, the iris of course, and the lavender—which, by the way, is very prominent in this DNA—and I’m curious why no one ever mentions this lavender. It’s the most beautiful lavender I know. And a hint of pear notes. This drydown smells in a way that defies description. It smells divine. It smells like Dior Homme Intense. And you have to smell it for yourself.

Epitome of class out of a designer fragrance. I’m not necessarily a fan of Dior other than their ladies’ or private line but Homme Intense has been voted yearly as one of the most masterfully blended designer scents of all time and rightfully so! Bought a 75ml in Italy when I first started collecting and now regret that I didn’t get a bigger bottle. Absolute masterpiece. Scent: Clean and powdery as most people would say, almost makeup-y in a way but not excessively so and this lasts for almost the entire duration. Dries down into a deeper, woody and earthy smell further adding the complexity and this idea of mature classiness that the Dior Homme line tends to excel in. Performance: Great performance. On my skin this gets a good working 7 hours before retreating into a skin scent till the 10 hour mark. Projection is also rather strong as it definitely doesn’t sit intimate. Versatility: Wouldn’t recommend if you’re trying to use this daily as it’s definitely quite suffocating in heat or humidity. But for night time or special occasions this is an absolute confidence booster, especially if you’re more dressed up. Scent: 10/10 Performance: 9/10 Versatility: 4/10 Personal Score: 9/10 Very properly rated and well loved fragrance. Deservedly so.

İlk parfümümü aldıktan sonra mağaza görevlisi ufak bir sample vermişti ve kış parfümü olarak önerdiğini söylemişti (her ne kadar o sırada parfümler konusunda tecrübesiz olan bana yazlık adı altında zaten kış parfümü vermiş olsa da). İlk kokladığımda çok beğendim ama bunu dile getirmek istemiyordum çünkü başka bir parfümü zaten almıştım ve bunun daha iyi olduğunu kabullenmek istemiyordum. Uzun bir süre akılımın bir köşesinde performans yorumları sebebi ile bekledikten sonra 2020 batch açılmamış kutu bulunca direkt aldım. İris parfümlerini sevmeyen bana diğer iris parfümlerinden alığım tozlu pudra hissiyatını daha yumuşak bir şekilde verdiği için hoşuma gidiyor. Farklı bir çekiciliği var kokunun. İnsaların makyaj çantası yorumundan sonra dikkat edince ben de o hissiyatı almıştım fakat bu yorumları görene kadar aklıma gelmemişti. Daha çok takım elbiseli iş adamı kokusu olarak kafamda canlanıyor (tanımladığım kişi gibi değilim ama olsun). Şu an designerlar arasında favorilerimden bir tanesi. Mevcut batchlerinde performans çok kötü olduğu için bendeki 2020 batch'e çok kıyamıyorum.

I got this as a sample and tbh thought i was getting the newer release. I intended to get this for my more masc partner but the really sour opening is a nonstarter for them. It almost was for me too, but i'm stubborn and wanted to find the iris scent on this and OH BOY DID I FIND IT. while it opened with a melting plastic, sour, awful, somebody-call-poison-control starting note, after about 10 minutes it mellowed into a frankly billowy iris. It's a pillow of fluffy, clean, powdery iris that i want to bite the petals off of. I can feel the velvety texture of the iris petals and see the stalks swaying in the oklahoma summer breeze. I see where people are getting the chocolate note from, it's like a rich dark chocolate bar opened on the table next to a fresh bouquet of iris. I'm glad I didnt follow my impulse to immediately scrub this off in the bathroom, but i really wish the opening was less eye-wateringly acrid. I'm going to hold off on using the rest of my sample and let it sit a while, if more aging mellows the godawful opening note I'll consider buying a full size.

I have a 2010 bottle with the silver collar, 2011, and 2025 bottle. The 2010 and 11 smell and perform exactly the same. They last a long time, and you can tell it was before any huge reformulation just based on spraying it on skin. It gives a very oily texture when sprayed. The 2025 bottle however is very very VERY toned down. No oily feel on skin which is bad because it lasts maybe 2 hours if that. The scent fades quickly and you can just tell the quality control hasn't ever been the same since the earlier years. I am a 26-year-old man and personally like the scent. It smells very lipstick like on the initial spray. I have yet to meet a woman who dislikes the scent. They actually like it a lot. I tell them "It doesn't smell like lipstick to you?" and they say it doesn't. Now I say it smells lipsticky when first sprayed. It's not like I hop out the shower and spray it and go run to a woman and say HERE SMELL ME! lol. Overall speaking on the 2011 and earlier bottles I give a 10/10. You are paying a good price if you want these years though.

(Regarding the 2021 bottle) Finally got my greasy obese McDonalds covered American fingers on this masterpiece and I couldn't be happier. Absolutely lovely. Bottled elegance. Pure kino. This is THE Iris scent. Real review after wearing for a few weeks: This is the most beautiful scent I own, tied with Ombré Leather as my favorite. Warm, waxy iris and lavender throughout with some woody notes as it dries down. I get a marshmallow type smell too? Not sure what it is but it's really enjoyable. Nothing short of gorgeous. It lived up to the reviews and hype, and shits all over every other iris scent I've tried. If you told me this was a niche fragrance I would 100% believe you, it's that good. The only thing that isn't amazing is the performance. I get about 6 hours on a cool day, and it projects moderately for about 3. However, I love the scent so much that I don't even care. World class atomizer, as always from Dior. It's worth about $120 on most discounters, which is a steal for something this good IMO. Masterpiece.

No iris fragrance have the same iris scent not givenchy gentleman reserve not even valentino uomo intense i tried all of them multiple times nothing can beat that iris either its too woody and pencil shaving or too vanillic more than iris with an animalic base that I can’t stand This is the most balanced men iris fragrance the smoothest the most somehow unisex smelling fragrance ever made smells soooo ambery and vanilic like a creamy sweeeeeeeet vanilla which im surprised i can smell it here I thought I wouldn’t find it in any men fragrance the only thing i wish if it wasn’t in this fragrance is the pear, don’t get me wrong the pear is my favorite fruit in perfumery but here it doesn’t layer well with the iris when the pear develop more it turns to a really noticeable cherry blossom note kills the luxurious amberyness also the lavender in the opening is a little too harsh and pencil shaving but fades right off and turns into iris cherry blossom and base is just vanilla amber woody powdery luxurious scent 9,5/10

Fragrance Journal Entry #128 This was truly a masterpiece but with some drawbacks..so picture a bit of an older fancy lady with an extremely expensive handbag where she keeps all her cosmetics....she threw a luxury chocolate bar in her bag and forgot about it..well it melted and seeped out of the package onto the products...now open that bag and take a whiff and you'll basically get this scent. That's a dumbed down version of it but an accurate description none the less. I love this stuff but i personally cannot wear it as it has been responsible for at least 3 migraines. Sniffing it from the cap is a guilty pleasure of mine. I think objectively it's a lovely scent but still a bit devisive. If you like this then don't pay the resale prices just get the newer DHI or Givenchy Gentlemen Reserve Privee...they aren't 1 to 1 but they get you close enough within this scent profile. Rating: 9.0/10 Blind Buy Safe? NO

After a decant order full of stinkers, I had to revisit a true classic. This is one of the greatest perfumes in human history. It’s powdery. It’s sophisticated. It’s sexy in a way no other scent quite achieves. I don’t know how to describe it other than it smells like the bottom of your grandma’s makeup bag. And I mean that in the best, most beautiful way possible. The iris note is unmatched. I can reminisce over so many memories with friends by smelling this perfume. Oh, how I miss them. It's so wholesome yet emotional for me. It’s attached to memories I’ll never want to forget, which just makes it more special for me. This is not a casual wear scent. This is for occasions. It projects like a monster and sticks to your skin forever. It’s unforgettable. One of the highest-rated perfumes on this site for a reason, and rightfully so. I pray this scent never gets discontinued. I’ll never get bored of it. <3

This was my very first fragrance and the one that started it all. From the moment I smelt this I was hooked to it and to this day it is one of the best fragrances in my opinion. This is the perfect special occasion and going out fragrance. I've worn this in the summer and winter and I have to say it performs a lot better in the cold. It opens up very powdery and sweet from the iris, but after an hour you can really smell the cedar note. The longevity is also very good with this fragrance. I've seen a lot of people bashing this for being "too feminine" for a mens fragrance. It is sweet and it is powdery, but I have gotten a lot of compliments from both women and men while wearing this. It is ironic though that most of the people saying its too sweet and feminine have strong vanilla fragrances favorited like SWY Intensely....

Bought a bottle on impulse last year, no doubt swayed by the immaculate marketing. Who doesn't want to be half as cool as Robert Pattinson in that commercial. Anyways... I see the appeal and this is probably one of the most unique men's designers out there. I don't think I've ever smelt it on anyone before either, I would've remembered for sure. Just... I can't bring myself to like it. All I get is makeup, straight up. Usually I have no problems with fem leaning fragrances on men, Myslf or Reflection Man are personal favourites even though they're heavily floral. I guess DHI just doesn't work for my nose. I'll probably keep it for collection's sake but I don't see myself wearing it again anytime soon. e.- forgot to add, Dior Homme atomizers, absolutely killer. These and LV should be the standard.

Dior Homme Intense is my favorite designer excluding private lines and LV. It opens up with this really rough nuttiness to it which is really of putting to some. The real magic happens in the drydown when the powdery iris, vanilla and woods come in. It smells like a powdery vanilla after about an hour of spraying. Altho vanilla isnt officially noted in it its there and has vanillic molecules in there. Performance is perfect 10 hours with above moderate projection it isnt strong but its noticeable without being overpowering nor cloying. I'm passed giving a shit about compliments, altho it is nice to receive one! ;) I was at a party and got complimented by everyone except the people that didnt like me. Compliment magnet. Performance 10/10 Smell 10/10 Price 10/10 (80$ for 90ml)

I had a sealed box from a 2019 batch saved in the hope that Dior would relaunch this gem with the original formula. After Dior started releasing generic and redundant perfumes from 2019 onwards, I realized I had to keep this box as a treasure. Several houses tried to recreate Dior Homme Intense (Amouage, Givenchy, Guerlain, etc., to name a few), but never achieved the perfection that this perfume is. After searching for a substitute for 6 years, today I finally opened my box and with the first spray I remembered why I love perfumery. Dior Homme Intense is the best men's perfume of all time. In fact, the best perfume of all time, period. I don't need to say why. Perfume lovers know what I'm talking about. I will use these last 50ml of this marvel with devotion.

I skipped to buy this almost 3-4 years for now as I already own Dior Homme Parfum - 2021 batch and DHI copy Kayaan Classic Al Wataniah. After a long skip I finally took a chance of getting Dior Homme Intense (2024 batch). Oh Man this is a fragrance that feels like luxury in a bottle - smooth, powdery, and undeniably classy. The star note, iris, gives it a soft, powdery vibe, almost like stepping into a high-end boutique. Lavender adds a clean touch, while amber and leather make it warm and slightly sweet. This is not your everyday scent but something to wear when you want to feel in chocolate zone. Scent: 9.5/10 Silage: 9/10 [4+ Feet radius] Longevity: 9/10 [5+ Hrs on skin] Bottle: 8.5/10 Price: 8/10

Dior Homme Intense is one of those fragrances that feels like you're wearing true confidence in a bottle. It’s smooth, elegant, and a little bit mysterious with depth. The iris note is front and center powdery, almost creamy but it’s not old school. It feels modern, even seductive. There’s this mix of soft ambrette, cedar, and a touch of vetiver that gives it this slightly romantic vibe. Performance is okay it lasts, it projects, but it isn't too loud. It’s not your typical manly scent, but that’s what makes it stand out. It’s classy, artistic, and still turns heads over a decade later. One of the best designer fragrances ever made, no question a true masterclass in perfumery. 11/10

Dior Homme intense is by far my favorite scent of all time (pre-2025 Parfum being a close second), I go through a bottle of it fairly quickly, and the closest alternative I’ve ever smelled to this is L’homme Intnese by Geparlys. Not on fragrantica for some reason so imma say it here 🤷 Spot on, scentwise and performance. Literally puts every hyped up dupe to shame, weather it’s Kayaan Classic or any other. I’m glad it doesn’t have a big recognition, cause the price would be amped up and I’m happy paying 30-35$ for 90ml of my favorite fragrance. Just got few backups of it, so im not gatekeeping it anymore. Have fun yall 😂

I love this fragrance, for ME. If the love of your life enjoys this scent, your in luck, but I will say from experience I have only worn this in public once, it was an epic fail. I had to wash it off as best I could, and it still would not go away. If you chose to wear it out, one spray to the chest under clothes, and that will be more than enough. Not office safe, not good in heat, and VERY divisive. I love the profile, and how it smells through the dry down stages, it is artistry in scent, but not all art appeals to everyone.