Velvet Exotic Leather

My second try from the high-end Dolce & Gabbana Velvet line (after Velvet Desert Oud), Velvet Exotic Leather is a bright, interesting mix of leather, fruity accords that are probably yielded mostly by the juniper and perhaps the labdanum, some sweetness (perhaps attributed to the rum, even), as well as some noticeable incense that comes off quite spicy rather than smoky. The leather itself isn't particularly dominant but rather part of a reasonably-balanced ensemble, so it's not overly animalic, despite the alleged presence of clary sage, which can often exacerbate some of the dirtiness of a composition. Rather, it's quite sweet overall, not specifically boozy but there's something sweet about it that's not strictly the juniper, so I credit that to the rum. The note combination is odd, though--there's lavender, allegedly, but I wouldn't say it's very floral or fresh, either. It seems like a solid performer, with medium/high projection and longevity. It ought to work for men and women alike, and is surely cold-weather-leaning while at the same time perhaps being acceptable in some warm weather situations if applied lightly. My inclination with leather and incense is to generally avoid them in the summer except under unusual circumstances. The 50ml EDP bottle retails for $230 but is available on Notino at $130, and the latter price seems more appropriate, given that for a 50ml bottle, it doesn't dazzle like its similarly-priced counterpart brands like Tom Ford Private Blend or By Kilian. It's a nice fragrance and a decant that I'll hang on to but not one I'll likely buy even at the secondary market pricing. It works well, but fails to really impress me, though it's agreeable enough. 7 out of 10

This is genuinely a very refined, classy fragrance - I used it for formal, black tie, and certain events where smart was necessary from University onwards. It was perfect for that - anything else and it feels, to me, hugely out of place. Work? Perhaps when it first came out...but you had to be able to pull it off. You have to 'be' that person - they're not a CEO, they're not Matthew McConaughey. But it undoubtedly requires significant self-assurance, unwavering consistency, and an almost cold distance to other people. Honestly, I wouldn't want to be that person every day, and few people are, let alone in jobs where this scent would be a good fit as a signature work scent. Excellent performer!

This isn’t usual designer leather—it’s bold, opulent, and slightly mysterious. The leather is smooth, rich, and slightly sweetened. It doesn’t scream as Tuscan Leather animalics,coz it (smoother and less fruity) but it whispers something a bit more refined. There’s also a touch of incense and aromatic herbs that gives it, Mediterranean Vibe. Longevity:4–6 hours strong Projection: Moderate to strong for 1.5–2 hours, then intimate but still detectable. It is worth to have it, for who loves deferent and classic leathery Parfumes 🥰

Honestly i love Dolce&Gabbana. I might have gone through three bottles of the one edt in its first year, and two of the EDP when it first came out. I would have locked away my entire fragrance collection for now with two bottles of this, if it was worth my time ...and it literally disappears after one hour. It takes me at least an hour to get where im going, any day of the week. So what am i wearing this for if it lasts an hour, aroma therapy?! Unuseable.

This is a fruity ambery leather fragrance. Leather note is not too prominent here. It is mass appealing, not-heavy or dense, can be wear year-round in western country and in ACE. Totally not very formal as someone said.

This scent is amazing and a real complimentgetter, really nice boozy leather with some smokiness and some slight freshness from the juniper

It does share some facets with “La Nuit de L`Homme Le Parfum”, however the rum here makes the juice more interesting.

Sweet cinnamon scent. I absolutely love it

Opens with a smoky leather surrounded by fruity notes that grow bigger and bigger until they absorb most of the leather which, after the top notes takes the backstage. The fruits are sweet, but they are in contrast with darker herbal and lavender notes. There are traces of incense working in the background as well and together with a boozy note it The bottom line is that the leather is so exotic that it's hardly detectible after the first hour and definitely this is not a leathery perfume. This reminds me of a fruitier version of La Martina Cuero, mostly because of the leather accord used. 7/10

Boozy and lightly smoky leather with a nice aromatic counterbalance from the lavender and juniper, which altogether to my nose reminds me of pine. Gets spicier as it warms up on the skin, the leather gets a bit stronger. Cool/cold weather only, this is slightly below arms' length projection.

Designer mass pleasing vibes. Shines in winter and lower temperature. Under-performs in summers or higher temperatures. I got 2-3 hours of good projection with 4-6 sprays in winters and great longevity. Overall sophisticated and masculine leaning for the more mature audience. Shukran Habibi!

Nicely balanced - I like the way the lavender is discernible subtly through the boozy fruity leather. Pretty long-lasting on me. All the same not special or 'exotic' enough to justify its price tag, and possibly a bit 'heavy' for everyday casual wear - more of a 'formal occasion' scent.

More refined and elegant version of John Varvatos Dark Rebel. Not as dirty and sweet. Leather in it is very soft. No need to be very confident to wear it. As JV is no more available good replacement but layered with some sweeter fragrances having fruits or alcohol in a base.

Projection and longevity beast! Smells good, nothing extraordinary, previous reviewer @antonpan describes it best- YSL La Nuite de L'homme / D&G the one. So if you like those fragrances, think of this as a more refined and much more expensive version of the aforementioned.

Decent scent, I think The One is a decent comparison. I don’t think it lasts real long or projects that much. I think the one is a beast in S is a little better and a little more feminine, but not worth the price in my opinion. Maybe has some unlisted cardamom

A very mild mannered boozy/leather scent. Office friendly as sillage is average with longevity in the 6-8 hour range. As mentioned there is also a slight fruity accord that adds some brightness to this scent. Very likeable and more masculine than feminine.

Nice perfume with very bad performance! Smells like designer fragrance nothing unique. I don't recommend it for the original price as there are better alternatives. I found it for $80 which is a good deal.

Decent buy if you can get it at all good price. Smells like a more refined generic boozy-leather scent in a luxurious presentation

Such a good leather that isn't trapped by the raspberry and leather combo. Just sampled in Las Vegas... Will see how it wears EDIT Just bought this in Jan 2019. I really like the boozy and leather accords...very classy. It does have similarities with both Atelier's Gold Leather and John Varvatos Rebel, but I like it better than both. The quality is significantly better than JV Rebel, and the overall smell isn't as "skeevy" or "sleazy" as JV Rebel. Atelier Gold Leather is a great scent, but is more a plum liquor smell than a leather scent. This has a prominent leather scent that shares the space with the liquor accord. It leans masculine, but a confident woman could wear this. It has a raw yet classy and confident sexiness about it, and I believe is best for evening wear. I would not wear this during the day in summertime.

I agree with most other reviews, but will add one thing. I can’t find any ideal situation where I would wear this scent. To me, it’s too exotic (pun intended) for work, not subtle enough for a classy event, and not pleasant enough for casual wear. I know others might disagree with my assessment, but this is my biggest gripe with this scent.