Dior Homme Intense 2025

I finally got my nose on the 2025 version. First things first, it HAS been reformulated. It appears that Francis Kurkdjian is trying to put his stamp on all Dior lines. Francois Demachy is one of my favourite perfumers of all time but so is Francis Kurkdjian so I'm confident that he will live up to his predecessor's legacy at Dior. That said I am not one to poo poo a reformulation right off the bat because contrary to most people I find that reformulations tend to improve fragrances over time, think of it as bringing out a newer better model of the Mercedes S class or whatnot. Sometimes they ruin things but in my experience they mostly improve them especially with the major designer brands like Chanel and Dior with in house perfumers who take the time to do it right. I also have to preface my review by admitting that I was never a fan of the original Dior Homme line, definitely not enought to purchase any of them except for the Cologne(which I find to be one of the best modern take on a the classic eau de cologne in the market right now second perhaps only to Chanel's Allure Homme Sport colonge but only by a hair's breadth) and Eau for men which is sadly discontinued. Dior Homme, Intense and Parfum I have never been a fan of, I found them too resinous, medicinal and harsh and just not my cup of tea. So what do I think of the new one? I like it, I think it is a vast improvement on the original 2011 or 2020 versions. In fact I like it so much that I now think it is very much collection worthy. I knew things were moving in the right direction when the Parfum that came out last year was also a dramatic improvement on the previous version but sadly not quite enough for me to buy it(it still retained some of that resinous lightly harsh qualities though it was sweeter and less medicinal). Francis Kurkdjian has finally cracked the code as far as I am concerned with the 2025 DHI. Of course he did not kick off on the best footing because Sauvage Eau Forte was terrible, but so what, he is a master perfumer possibly even better than Demachy, he is allowed a dud every now and then while he quickly redeemed himself with DHP 2025 and now DHI 2025 even more so. So why do I think this one is better, well as mentioned, the original I found to be too resinous and medicinal and the 2025 version significantly tones down those qualities while at the same time counterbalancing them with a touch more sweetness and smoothness. It's crazy that with as little as a 1 - 2% tweaking of a fragrance can result in dramatic improvements. It's overwhelmingly the same fragrance but at the same time not, if you know what I mean. Those tiny changes resulted in a change of what I would charitably rate a 7.5 out of 10 to at least a 9 out of 10(time will tell, I can see it getting up to a 9.5+ over time as I get to know it more). Moral of the story, don't pay any attention to die hard fan boys, they are the fragrance community equivalent to football hooligans. They are so fanatical and tribal that it gets in the way of their ability to honestly and with a clear mind evaluate a fragrance for what it is. They are not open minded enough to reliably appreciate good perfumery without letting tribal tropes get in the way and you will find that a sure fire way to tell them apart is that they have the same set number of cliche talking points which they all repeat ad nauseam like mindless drones. PS: Francois Demachy is as mentioned one of my favourites of all time, so it may seem hash that Kurkdjian is messing with his creations. However it is after all his job to curate and reformulate the Dior lines from time to time as this is common practice in the industry but more importantly, at least by my sensibilities he hasn't messed with the fragrances which I think are Demachy's best. Perhaps DHI and DHP sales haven't been that great lately while DHC has remained solid and the Sauvage line is obviously doing gangbusters...? Now if the only thing FK does moving forward is revive the discontinued Fahrenheit 32(Demachy's greatest creation IMHO) he will have solidified his legacy at Dior in my eyes and go down as one of the top 5 greatest perfumers of all time.

I accidentally posted this review under the 2011 Dior Homme Intense, but I have the 2024 version. I deleted the other review. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Dior Homme Intense was unexpected for me. My first encounter—on paper, with the parfum—was nearly a rejection. The opening felt harsh, challenging, even off-putting. (My wife hates it outright.) And yet, despite that initial resistance, I couldn’t let it go. I have an unexplainable attraction to iris, and curiosity eventually won. I made the blind buy, knowing full well this could go either way. On skin, with time, everything changed. The opening was still severe, but this time I understood it. Instead of recoiling, I stayed. What followed was an hour-long meditation on powder, restraint, and curiosity. Dior Homme Intense doesn’t try to seduce—it observes. The iris here feels cosmetic, theatrical, and intellectual rather than floral. It smells artistic. It smells like a poet. As I returned to it again, the fragrance revealed its emotional core. Indigo. Violet. Jazz. Introspection. It feels like a work of art more than a scent—something lived with rather than worn. There’s a solitary intimacy to it that makes it perfect for writing, making music, or quiet self-communion. Wearing it feels like receiving a love letter written specifically to me. What I admire most is how unlike anything else it is. This is not a people-pleaser, and it doesn’t seek approval. It’s aloof, emotional, and deeply personal. I see undeniable signature potential here, even if I’m not ready to call it a favorite just yet. If there’s a fault, it may be performance—but even that feels intentional. Dior Homme Intense doesn’t project authority; it murmurs emotion. If Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif is distinguished, refined command, then Dior Homme Intense is a troubadour—sweating passionately in a smoky Paris nightclub, playing because not playing would hurt too much. This one has earned its place in my rotation. Not loudly. Not dramatically. Quietly—and for the long term.

The “new” DHI 2025, quite frankly, is an excellent outcome for most of us. We are lucky we didn’t get some gutted imitation of DHI, but rather, we were given a slightly different presentation of something many of us already love. Which actually, to be honest, gives the newer bottle a reason to exist alongside the older ones rather than just duplicating them. So, the impudent bashing of the different DHI formulas and batches, and yeah, they do vary. For some are denser, waxier and more powdery while others (like this newest one which is No.21961) are a little more aromatic, transparent or airy. But I really don’t think the differences are anywhere nearly as catastrophic as some make them sound. A lot of that comes from nostalgia and the way someone may attach a particular smell to a particular period in their lives. Whatever version you first fell in love with, or wore during some memorable time becomes the version in your head, and everything afterward gets judged against that memory. It’s basically the fragrance equivalent of everyone thinking the best era of SNL was the one they grew up watching. That doesn’t mean the differences aren’t real but “different from the version I’m emotionally tied to” and “Dior ruined it” are two very different things. This newer DHI still smells absolutely and unmistakably like DHI to me. It’s just presenting that DNA from a slightly different angle, and so far, I think it smells fucking fantastic.

This was my first fragrance purchase in over a year, after going on a spending freeze. For a while, no new releases really appealed to me, however to see the beloved Dior Homme Intense get a rerelease and maintain that iris note? I just had to try it. First off, I’m happy to see it retain the same vibe as the previous release. This is Iris-forward with that cedar on the dry down to give a creamy lipstick woods feeling, borderline-buttery like DHP but not as strong. When I compare this side by side with DHP (2014), the iris is much lighter but still projects fantastically on this! Next, a 50ml retails for 137CAD which for retail IMO is a good price considering the quality scent profile. However this is steadily available on discounters, finding 100ml’s for $155CAD, so I’m happy to see this is an easy find. Also, only 3 notes listed? Is this really the case? I won’t pretend to have the nose of a dog and suggest “there’s ambergris in here too” or something lol, but regardless I consider the ingredients here to be quality. Finally, I’m beyond pleased to see they maintained the DHI DNA, sure it’s not exactly the same, with older reviews suggesting a bolder opening, but this is what I expected DHI to be. I cannot get enough of this scent and I’m so happy to have this be my first fragrance purchase in 2 years. For me, I see myself going through a whole bottle this year. I give it a 9/10

The launch of Dior Homme Intense 2025 marks an important moment for perfumery enthusiasts. Although the declared olfactory pyramid seems like a return to the essential, this new version seeks to balance the historical legacy of the line with a cleaner and more vibrant modernity. Despite being classified as Woody Oriental, the DNA remains inextricably linked to the "Dior Homme" signature: sophisticated and almost dusty elegance. The Opening (Tuscan Iris): It is the absolute protagonist. Compared to previous editions, the 2025 Iris appears extremely pure and less "buttery/gastronomic". It maintains that distinctive "luxury lipstick" feel but with a more silvery and fresh facet. L'Evoluzione (Ambrette Seeds): The heart note acts as a musky bridge. Ambrette gives a silky texture and a natural, slightly fruity sweetness, which prevents the fragrance from becoming too dry. The Bottom (Virginia Cedar): The finish is masculine, architectural and dry. Cedar cleans the composition, leaving an unforgettable trail on the skin. The 2025 version seems to want to dry out the structure of the perfume. If the 2011 edition was famous for its almost gourmand sweetness (given by vanilla and cocoa), this new interpretation is more minimalist and woody. It is a fragrance for the man who seeks timeless refinement, less opulent than the past. It is the scent of "quiet luxury".