Checkmate

Checkmate is so beautiful. It’s sweet, smoky and a bit powdery - real hit of heliotrope. It’s lasts forever, especially on clothes. I think suede is a good description rather than leather as it has a lighter daytime characteristic to it. For me, it really captures afternoon time with a father figure, suede gloves, cashmere sweater, relaxing, sipping tea. But it’s more of a presence, and lovely and creamy as well as leather hence I’d rate it as unisex (not that women can’t wear leather of course). I sprayed it on to test it on skin and bought a full bottle the next day. I wouldn’t recommend it as a blind buy but don’t be surprised if you love it once you try it.

Oooh this is good. It’s pure suede, cashmere and iris: smooth, rich and expensive. Some supporting fresh and spicy notes to add depth but the main game is the suede. Great performance. Just one of these frags that smell damn good (admittedly on the conservative side - this isn’t pushing boundaries). More masculine.

Interesting woody aromatic scent from this always under the radar house. The perfume opens with aromatic notes of cardamom and citrus. The heart is iris, heliotrope and leather. The perfume settles on a base of mostly cashmeran wood and suede with slight hints of cedar. The unisex scent has moderate to strong sillage and very good longevity. The powdery scent reminds you of a lazy fall afternoon drinking tea and playing chess in a garden or estate. Nice as usual which is to be expected from this reliable house but not hugely earth shattering. Enjoy!

I don't usually like leather, but this does something for me. I smell the smokey animalic notes for sure.

The opening was dry and powdery, with a hintly floral and animalistic spice. This then presents a larger blossoming of spice-like powderiness with a clean citrus at the top. While it was a warm, bright, dry, and powdery simultaneously, in testing this blind I was more than a little surprised what I took for spice (paprika or saffron with some green dry herbs, so I thought), it was just the leather and wood notes. That aside, I never got the impression of leather, dry and spicy powdery aromatic. Even knowing after the fact I don't get a leather impression. Much like the fragrance I don't have much else to say. While it carries its notes honestly, it also feels a bit stark. It's a bit too dry. But overall it's just too monotone, leaving more to be desired.

Disappointed with this house so far, but I got excited when I sprayed this on, as the scent profile hits a bullseye for my taste. Rich nutty leather brightened by some citrus/cardamom sparkle, built atop a nice powdery iris and woods. But here’s the thing - like “1270” from the house, it’s a nice fragrance that starts at the dry-down and then proceeds to disappear. I sprayed it on thick two hours ago and now I’m left with a wisp of cashmeran, which will presumably stick around but that is all. You’re breaking my heart, Frapin. You’re a new house - why do your fragrances come across like weak reformulations of once-great works??

It's a nice fragrance. Nothing spesial or ground breaking. But you will probably be in the top 10% best smelling people in any large crowd. Nice leather and woods combo that's not too strong or overpowering. Moderate projection and longevity. I'd say a fine fall, winter, and spring fragrance for work, casual or semi formal events. Not a date night fragrance, but a classy dinner wouldn't be a bad time for it. Personal score: 6/10. Slightly above average. Nothing i'll run out to grab, but if i ever see it silly cheap, it'll be an easy buy.

I expected nothing but still somehow came away dissapointed. The powdery overtones overwhelmed everything else. I think if that was just toned town a little the woods and leathers would have more room to shine. I can't put my finger on it but he comment about it smelling exactly like cocaine is right on.

The smell of a chain smoker who thinks he can cover the smell of cigarette ash by brushing his teeth with minty toothpaste. Fabulous!

Yikes -- quite disappointed, I must say. A bit let down by how much the cashmeran overwhelms this scent -- overpowers the animalics, the iris and all of that. There is a cold metallic element, and not the usual metallic note that I feel ruins a scent -- it's a blasting 'iron' like scent that renders other components inert and just undetectable. A pity, too...

The note breakdown looked amazing, I was dissapointed. Opens up really leathery and woody, dries down to a suede, green hay, floral iris scent with a super weird dusty, hot iron smell background, this makes all the notes go bad. I dont like it at all.

This is one of the worst perfumes I have tried. I'm not typically a fan of leather/suede scents but this is just awful to me. It has this overwhelming smokiness to it..I sprayed it on and all I could think of was burger rings/lapsang souchong tea. I tried to scrub it off my skin but it lingers still.

نسخه آرام و امروزی شده توسکان لدر با اضافه شدن بنفشه --------- Scent & Quality: 8/10 Longevity: 8/10 Sillage: 8/10 Creativity & Uniqueness: 5/10 Affordability: 5/10 ----------- Overall: 6.8/10

Men’s chypre scent in the same family as Aramis man. Vetiver, moss, cigarette smoke, & leather. I did not get any of the floral notes mentioned. Decent projection and longevity.

Awesome! Since first spray I have loved it) it smells very naturally. In opening some dirty leather and suede. But dry down so woody. I bought a bottle and enjoy it😊

Ordered sample. Lasts long, very linear powdery/creamy i mean overall good scent but nothing groundbreaking.

On me it smells exactly like Tom Ford F'in Fabulous, maybe a bit more smooth/classy.

Cheaper version of santal 33. This one is a little harsh blend

The notes sound amazing. Can't wait to try.

This smells exactly like cocaine. Exactly.