L'Homme Idéal L'Intense

I originally ordered this off eBay {learned my lesson - don't do that} and was very disappointed when I did not receive the black older, original bottle, as was pictured in the listing, but instead got the clear, newer bottle. However, if the black bottle is any better than this clear bottle - Holy GUACOMOLE. Because this is *so* good. I still do not understand what makes the difference in this dynamic but most fragrances follow the idea that there is an opening, a middle and a base. Some are cheap, and synthetic and lack the complexity and are super linear and one-note. But there are fragrances like this that seem to do something very different. This fragrance seems subtly different every time I smell it and seems to move laterally rather than across time, if that makes sense. Sometimes it smells more smokey, sometimes I get a bit of rose, even a fleeting glance at the pepper note. But the main notes I always get are gorgeous, gorgeous triad of almond, vanilla and patchouli. I cannot think of any better word to describe this fragrance than just PLEASANT. It's *so* nice. It is the smell of relaxation, comfort and happiness. It's the feeling of kicking up your feet after a long day. It's the feeling of being done with a big project. It's the very smell of "ahhh, now I can relax". I don't know how else to describe it. It's about the most addictive scent I've ever put my nose to. It is subtly sweet and warm, but still very masculine. Super well balanced, harmonious, and it's worth saying again - GORGEOUS. No question, easily a 10/10 scent. Performance on this is solid EDP-level stuff, with a good 6-8 hour longevity and solid sillage/projection. This is one of only a very small handful of fragrances that I have noticed women silently love - meaning I have noticed that wearing this (as well as Mont Blanc Explorer and Sauvage) that women at work stood obscenely close to me while talking to me. I don't want to pretend that fragrance is some type of chick magnet, or that it's all about what other people think - but it does help to know that people like whatever it is you choose to wear (or at the very least, are not offended by it), and I can say when someone stands WELL inside your personal bubble while talking to you, for no other perceivable reason, it's a good indicator that it's an appreciated fragrance. That said ... can't think of anything to deduct any points for. I love the bottle and the weighty metal cap. Good atomizer. Price is reasonable. Performs well. But most importantly; it smells - I'll say it one last time - GORGEOUS. I will eventually get my hands on a black bottle of the original, and that may even dethrone Sauvage Elixer, but for now I give this the highest score I'm willing to give it 9.9/10.

I got this today, so this is just a first impression. This is the first of the Ideal line ive had, ive stayed away because of the reputation they have of being sweet. Well either i picked the least sweet of the line or the sweetness has been exaggerated because i was pleasantly suprised to find out this is a very tame sweetness. I like it alot and it def feels like a guerlain, so im happy thus far. Doesnt seem to be super strong but well see over time. Notes like the pepper and leather make this interesting while remaining "mass appealing" generally. To be honest, theres similarities to even stuff like habit rouge and coriolan, but its got that extra modern touch where young dudes can rock it too. But ill tell you what, if you're in your early 20s or about to be and you like this?....You have class and you definetely have good taste. Its like Thierry Wasser took all the best things from guerlains most classy famous mens fragrances from the past and just left all the "old man notes" out (though i hate to use that term haha). Especially the leather, this has an incredible leather accord and it all lifts it up. Imagine if Jean Paul Guerlain created the original formula Armani Code, giving it the "Guerlain treatment"...thats the vibe here. Sexy, good for dates, crowd pleasing, but this is french as hell and built expertly with an actual opening-mid-drydown evolution and complexity of notes/accords. This is not "the cheap guerlain line" or "the first guerlain line after they started to go downhill". May God strike me down: but this belongs proudly right next to Heritage, Habit Rouge, Vetiver ect. And those are some of my top 10s. Its a shame im just checking this line out now, i always believed the people claiming "the last 'real' guerlain masculine was l'instant pour homme"...no way, this is great. P.s. after a couple wears, the performance is actually quite good on this. It lasts a work day and i noticed whiffs still here and there after the halfway point. People have noticed and complimented it too, this is all with 6 sprays. Thats another thing, fantastic atomizer on this bottle (2020 bottle)

Smoked chili almonds served from a warm leather pouch. I love the masterpiece that is L'Homme Ideal EdT, but sadly my nose is overly sensitive to sweetness. I wanted Intense, even though I lost the gorgeous fresh top - and I love fresh fragrances. But in Intense I get something not as cloying and possibly even more interesting. The thing about L'Homme Ideal Intense is it's quite unique lack of anything fresh. Usually even dark fragrances start with a blast of citruses etc. Here, no. In fact the opening feels like a dud. Did it go off at all? Why is there nothing happening? But there are things happening, even without your usual bergamots and all. If you know the opening has chili, you will certainly notice it, it's very realistic. And the almond of course, the almond carries all the way through from the beginning to the end. But people like me, we buy this not because the opening sold us. We've come to Intense not because we sprayed a tester strip in the mall and the opening was so gorgeous we rushed to the counter. We sprayed Intense on our skin and couldn't stop sniffing it throughout the day and we fell in love with the middle and the base. The almond gets smoky and leathery in a very masculine, powerful way. Intense is a sexy, manly smell. If I smelled this on another man, I'd hate to admit that he smelled more manly and interesting and mysterious and classy and powerful than me. That's why I bought this. Now I'm the manliest etc. man in the room. Yeah, I'm joking. But only a little. Fantastic for winter day or night, classy, not loud, but lasts all day. I'm very stingy with Loves but this is a hard Like. EDIT: Oh heck how I love wearing this guerlinade-nectar, rated Love.

The EDP is cherry cola, this is spiced Cola with rum. A prickly peppery yet sweet opening, later turns to a smokey vanillic nutty flower bed. The spices never fully dissipate, but on the drydown they take a backseat to the smooth blend of almond, vanilla, tonka and floral notes. I surprisingly get a lot of realistic Chilli Pepper, which is lovely and not something I've come across in many parfumes. The patchoulli is really subtle here, which i enjoy, it support the scent by adding a slight aromatic feel, but without the sour balsamic qualities that I've noticed sometimes come with a more prominent use of patchoulli in fragrances. The leather mostly blends with the base notes and isn't easy to pick out, I'd say it's more of a "leather essence" as opposed to a realistic depiction. The EDP has a very prominent cherry cola smell, which I like, but to my nose is a bit excessive and gives the scent a candied, artificial flavoring feel. L'Intense retains this quality but tones it down. It has more nuance and is exactly what I would've wanted the EDP smell like. The contrast of sweet and spicy, make this a more masculine, professional and balanced package. Very addicting scent. @Cdonutsrun bellow is smoking something, maybe that's why he could barely smell this when he was writing his review. Don't let yourself be skewed and try this for yourself before deciding. This does not smell like every other magazine men's parfume, neither does it smell cheap. It's a cold weather scent that has vanila, that's where the similarities to spicebomb end. It has a very distinct scent profile as does the rest of the L'Homme Ideal line.

I was looking for a good night time cold weather fragrance and stumbled upon this after testing its cousin the EDP. I was actually aiming for that one, but I only wanted a 50 ml bottle and the store only had this one in that size. The matte black bottle was super sexy (it's an early batch), the range was the same, so I decided to test drive it. The opening is overwhelmingly spicier than the others within the Idéal range. This may be a bit off-putting for some, but this is a fragrance that you really need to be patient with, as the drydown is definitely where it's at. Compared to the EDP (a more linear fragrance throughout), it will have a sharper, fuzzier, slightly medicinal opening and less of that cherry note, but I do still get the almond with the tonka that form the signature of the line. As you reach the half-hour mark you start to get a glimpse of its full glory. The overwhelming spices at the top become much more subdued as it settles on the skin, and the smooth mixture of vanilla, incense and leather takes the scent to a whole other level. It's one of those fragrances that really change throughout its dry-down for the better. It's sweet and smokey in a unique, daring and very french way. Some people have mentioned a kind of "cola" accord, and I can see where they're coming from. It does have that sweet soda thing going on, but with a smoky, spicy and mature presentation. I won't recommend this as a blind buy due to the very heavy spicy opening, but I think it still has enough of that mass-appeal factor, especially in the drydown. Very decent longevity and sillage. 8.25/10

Being a devoted enthusiast of the L’Homme Ideal line, I find it perplexing why I delayed adding L'Intense to my collection. Every Ideal acquisition has consistently surpassed expectations, making each one truly remarkable. To clarify the distinctions among the L'Intense bottles, here's a simple breakdown: 1. Original L'Intense: Black bottle with a black background sticker featuring white and yellow writing. 2. Clear bottle with the same black background sticker with white and yellow writing. 3. Clear bottle with a silver/grey background sticker and white writing. All three feature black caps. In my olfactory exploration, all three variants exhibit identical scents and deliver impressive performances, with the black bottle adding a touch of allure. While a familial scent thread runs through Ideal offerings, L'Intense, to my nose, is more of a flanker to the EDP, while Extreme is more of a flanker to the original EDT. To my nose, the EDP and L'Intense stand out in the Ideal line, emitting a spicy, smokey, cherry coke vibe with a hint of powderiness. They are very similar, with L'Intense being slightly spicier and replacing the incense of the EDP with smoke. My admiration for L'Intense mirrors my affection for the entire Ideal collection. Guerlain consistently secures its place among my favorite houses, and L'Intense is yet another testament to their olfactory prowess.

First of all, I don't think i'd ever be disappointed at a Guerlain frag smelling "cheap" or generic. It's always classy and sophisticated, no matter the price point you get their scents. Although i don't own any other frags from L'homme Ideal line, i've smelled them before so when i got this i was expecting something even denser and sweeter. Not that i wouldn't be happy with that, but i'm actually more pleased with what i got from this: Dark and Smoky rather than Sweet and Gourmand. Dark fragrances is one of the "categories" of scents i enjoy the most and i have nothing like this on my collection. I got the black matte bottle, and damn this smells good, legit in love with this one. It has an unexpected fresh quality specially in the opening which smells so sexy in a luxurious way. On the drydown it get's a little more warm but it has this smoky-rosy vibe to it without being heavy or obnoxious. As far as performance goes, after being massively disappointed by Bvlgari Man In Black performance i can at least say this one is way better: not a projection beast, but the sillage is excellent and the scent lingers and trails for a good while. I don't know about the new bottles but the black one i have lasted 15 hours on my skin, lasted thru a shower so pretty damn good!

Updates: This is still, out of all my samples and full bottles my #2 of all-time favorites! I ABOULTELY LOVE THIS THING. 12+ Hours on my skin and pushing. Definitely time did it some wonders in terms of performance but it's not intrusive due to its elegance. Signature scent worthy, and very under the radar even for those in love with niche, etc. Not safe for a blind buy if you're just starting, but worth the sample. I've probably tried more than 500 fragrances by now and humbly affirm this is my second favorite of them all. Old review: Nothing like the original. Got my bottle for ~$60 during black Friday and I'll assume this can still develop a lot more with oxidation + time. Such an amazing opening, dry own, everything really is wonderful about this fragrance. I do have a newer batch, falling in the simpler bottle as well (plain black cap with silver/chrome sticker in the front). Still, such a great fragrance for even a signature. Not as harsh as the EDT, with that fresh almond, this is much more of a refined smoky almond. Makes sense to be in the L'Homme Ideal line, but unlike Extreme, this truly goes away from the EDT. Definitely one of my favorites!

I love the original Ideal and I've owned most of the flankers. I've had the EDP for some time now, but I just never reached for it. I always felt I enjoyed the concept of it more than how it actually smelled. The cherry/vanilla/tonka is a little too much for me and it came across as too powdery in the dry down, leaned just a bit too feminine. Of course, that is the reason many love it, but for my tastes it was a bit too dandified. I avoided Intense for years because many reviews state that it is virtually identical to the EDP. A friend sent me a sample one day and....let me tell you, it is not! This is what I wanted the EDP to be! The sweet cherry is way down, leather is amped up, and I LOVE the subtle chili note. It is still sweet, but it is spicier and darker, which really perfects this fragrance DNA. It does sit close to the skin, but I find that that is the case with this whole lineup. It makes sense to me- these aren't beast mode fragrances, but more for the modern gentleman. This is a truly magnificent fragrance. Perfect blend of sweet, spicy, leathery darkness. A darkness not to be feared, but one that entices you inexorably into velvety depths.

Recently acquired this after a long period of contemplating whether to go for this, the EDP or the extreme. I noticed a buzz between reviews around the performance of this being very good, as some would claim it is the strongest overall scent out of the whole line. Having tested the EDP and this some years ago in the airport, i had an okay-ish memory of both scents. I remember loving the drydown of the EDP, and really digging this one throughout its life which was around 8 hours. The girl i was with, told me that she liked this one better than the much sweeter EDP. When that's said and done, I was looking forward to this. Turned out a little disappointed as of now. It smells great and kind of like i remember, but the performance is quite disappointing. 3 hours max and it's a faint skin scent. During the first hour of its time, it projects well. Will give it time and see if it gets sorted out. If not, i probably wouldn't recommend this, even though i find the olfactory experience itself very enjoyable

This is giving sophistication and masculine elegance. I have never smelled anything like this. I agree with some opinions expressed of this being niche quality, and having some complex qualities. Sometimes I think this is also gourmand coming from the spices, chilli, cardamom and almonds. The star of the show is that chilli. The first time I smelled this, I thought there was a smell of spicy 🌶️ chilly chicken poussin cooking inside an oven from my oil version of the scent. I also agree with the smokiness and the sweet leathery aspects. I think I am really going to grow to love this. 9.5/10 for now. UPDATE: I love it as I coming around to fully understand this scent. Interestingly, I am now getting something sweet and abit jammy and I am guessing it's coming from the cherry 🍒 and 🌹 rose accord, even though cherry isn't listed. The magic of this is in the sillage it creates in the air than smelling it up close. Longevity is good, projection is moderate to slightly loud depending on the climate.

This is my third most favourite in the L'Homme Ideal line. But don't get me wrong, I love this entire line because of how incredibly pleasant and high quality they are. It's just that I love the EDP and that Extreme even more. L'Homme Ideal L'Intense is an addictive fragrance that smells closer to the EDP flanker than every other L'Homme Ideal flanker. I smell more of that coke accord in this fragrance than the EDP. It is smoky, spicy, sweet, rich, a bit woody, and strong. I love it, and I can't believe I overlooked this fragrance. For the scent, I'll give it a 9.3/10. My 2018 batch also lasts for a very long time (10 hours+) with a very good projection for the first 3 hours. Great for the colder days, even though I would wear this in a tropical country like where I live in. My rank for the entire L'Homme Ideal line: 1. Extreme and EDP 3. L'Intense 4. Cologne 5. EDT 6. Cool 7. Sport And I really love all of them. The quality is just unparalleled.

I'd like to start off by saying this is a SUPER masculine scent, but sexy smokey masculine. It's basically the less gourmand & sweet version of the original EDP. You can definitely tell the difference side to side (as I did). The intense is definitely more leathery & smokey than the original EDP...also sits VERY close to the skin. The almond, vanilla, tonka, patchouli, sandalwood prevent this scent from becoming a smoke bomb! HOWEVER testing on the skin 2 days straight I can most definitely say that the original has much greater sillage & longevity (on my skin)...so it's not really intense in performance. BUT this is a fantastic fall/winter scent for men. It's delicious without being heavy citrus, oud and sweetness. I would also say it's safe for work/office environment since it sits SO close to the skin! All-in-all a super sexy masculine scent that distances itself from regular well-known scents with oud, citrus.

A spicy woodsy fragrance with almond to make it sweet and sandalwood to give it a creaminess. The Chile is light and Carrie’s nicely with the Cardamom, and spices ! The leather and tonka make it sexy . It just does it for me . It’s slightly powdery,creamy, and sweet while the Spiciness along with the Vanilla bring warmth ! Fragrances like this I where in my own company , it’s addictive ! As far as wearing it out the only time I wouldn’t reach for this one is a hot summer day being slightly smoky but as a far as a summer nights I love it . The smokiness may be to much for some but to me it blends in like incense. This thing stands out ! It is special to me like Dior Homme intense, Prada L’Homme intense and Valentino Uomo Intense but Guerlain did not follow the trend however they are all being reformulated and discontinued. That’s about all they have in common smh !!! 10/10

I have tried the original EDT and EDP versions of this line before, and I have liked both of them very much. I purchased this fragrance blindly and do not regret it at all (My best blind buy so far). It is a very pleasant scent. Right from the beginning, this fragrance is smooth and gentle. Although the projection of the EDT is better, the scent itself for this one is more refined, sexy, and balanced. The dry down is particularly noteworthy, as it is very sexy and addictive. Like other ones, the main components of this fragrance are almond, leather, and tonka bean. The other notes are not dominant but they add really a masculinity, and depth to the scent. I have tried many designer and niche fragrances, but if someone asked me about only one fragrance to recommend for a signature, I would suggest this or any other fragrance from this line. It's a great fragrance. 8/10

out of the l homme ideal line this one ranks third only after cologne and the og. i love the opening, it is spicy. like actually spicy. from the initial spray that chili pepper is like BOOM but quickly goes into to a smooooth almond with slightly bitter cardamom in the back. its so good. you'd think from the opening and the intense in the name that this is gonna be n aggressive pushin scent but its not like that. it has a nice scent bubble but still sits close. where it shines is the scent trail, in combination with colder weather. the trail it leaves is so intoxicating. it's smokey, leathery that masculine rose slapping people in the face as you walk by. the almond on the dry down is still there but sits more in the back rounding up the edges. performance is slightly above average. after that it becomes a nice sweet vanilla, nutty smokey skin scent

WOW. This is absolutely intoxicating. It’s my first from the ideal line and was a blind buy so I had no idea what to expect. I know ideal edp gets all the love but I decided to give this one a try first. I would agree that this is in the same league as man in black or spicebomb in terms of smell but by no means is it a copy of either. This is SO smooth and seductive! Pure, warm spicy goodness in a bottle for cooler weather. I picture myself wearing this, along with a cozy fleece sweater on a chilly fall evening to a dinner/cocktail party. Performance could be better for an “intense” edp...still not bad though. 4 maybe 5 hours longevity and sits close to my skin throughout its duration. This is one that people will have to lean in and get close to you to fully appreciate it, which makes it perfect for indoor and intimate settings. 10/10 for me!

Amazing! This L’Intense is sweeter and more elegant than the EDT - it’s more of an evening fragrance thanks to the dose of vanilla - a great date night scent. It’s not particularly “intense”. It’s got the same classy refinement as the EDP, but the vanilla gives it a bit more substance and warmth. The EDP is amazing but comes across a bit formal and squeaky-esoteric - good for black tie dinner parties. The intense is definitely more alluring and inviting. The Extreme is a different beast altogether, focussing more on a syrupy amaretto and plum vibe, then on the darker, more brooding and woodsy vibe of the EDT. Personally, for me, it’s the Extreme that has all the intensity and is perfect for an every day winter scent. I’m a big fan of the whole line, and they all compliment each other. But the EDT does it all really.

Mi fragancia elegante preferida junto a sauvage elixir de dior. Que hermoso aroma. Que calidad, que bien logrado. La almendra cautivante con ese toque especiado y la rosa empolvada que no es tan notable como en su hermana la EDP (aunque si guarda algo de parecido) la hacen muy especial. Ese fondo ahumado y con cuero, maderas y el punto de dulzura con tonka y vainilla redondean está maravilla para volverla a mi parecer la más masculina de toda la familia L' homme ideal (en cuanto a los flankers de uso otoño/invierno) No creas que esto es una bomba dulce de vainilla típica de fragancias de estos últimos años, esto es una obra maestra hecha fragancia realmente y tiene un dejo muy varonil. Elegante, fina, delicada. Perfecta para citas, ocasiones especiales o reuniones sociales muy importantes.

This is a difficult one for me to review. I'll say that I love it and it's my current signature scent. It opens sweet and spicy. Mildly citrus, tonka takes over quickly. Almond and vanilla combo are there and are Beautiful on me once citrus and spice fade. Great for night in and intimate settings. Great for office but not if you want to project. I have Ideal cologne and that projects better. The Scent is detectable long on skin and clothing, even 7 hours later and my wife always compliments it. Overall it's my second favorite fragrance of all time after Armani Eau de Nuit. It's just so easy to wear and smells so great on skin through a wonderful 8hr ride. For me it's so versatile that it's my easiest wear right now and therfore signature. Max love and respect