Drakkar Intense

I fully agree with GiveMeADrPepper. There's most definitely an ambery vanilla like note in here that contributes to the overall boozyness of this fragrance. Dare I say there's almost a straight cognac like note to this one. Either way though I absolutely LOVE it. It's one of those rare fragrances that has nuclear projection while at the same time being inoffensive, even when oversprayed. It has a very pleasant and perfectly balanced sweetness to it. I get absolutely phenomenal performance out of this. Probably about a solid 8 hours spraying it on skin and clothes; and I can still smell it very clearly on my clothes over 24 hours later!! I sampled this in my local Boscov's some time back and remembered really liking it and wound up getting it some months later when I saw it for $30 at T.J. Maxx. Pretty sure Burlington has been having it for $25 now. For that price it's an absolute no-brainer. I might even pick up a backup bottle as I'd say it's a safe bet it's not going to stay in production real long. I know the last Drakkar flanker, Drakkar Essence came and went pretty quickly, and now fetches $50 to $100 on eBay. I'd really REALLY love to experience the original Drakkar from 1972 and see how it compares to both this and it's most legendary brethren Drakkar Noir. I mean I wonder, is this even REALLY a proper "flanker" in the normal sense? The original has been out of production for at least 30 years and, including Noir, this would make it the fourth fragrance to carry the Drakkar name. (Noir, Dynamik, Essence, Intense) The only one of those four that was created while the original was in production is Drakkar Noir. So that makes me wonder.......are they even really referencing the original source "DNA" so to speak, anymore? Drakkar Noir strikes me as a likely being a true flanker. But I don't see any similarities between Noir and Intense. I can only assume Dynamik and Essence don't smell anything like it either. I wish they would relaunch the original Drakkar. Even if only for a limited time.

As someone who loves Noir, my hopes were relatively high for this release, and thankfully, for everything it does for such a low price, it delivered more than I expected. TOP NOTES As I sprayed it for the first time, I felt overwhelmed with joy and smiled. I just knew I had scored an unbelievable fragrance, which reminded me of the good days in my fragrance journey. The opening has the distinctive bitterness of wormwood(aka absinthe) but is not off-putting; instead, it adds an intriguing depth that pulls me in. Shortly after, coriander joined the mix. Its spicy and faintly citrusy aroma added warmth, creating a seamless bridge between the bitter greenness of wormwood and the citrusy brightness that followed. HEART NOTES The first note to appear in the mid notes is lavender, a timeless part of men’s fragrances. Its crisp, aromatic nature imparts the scent a familiar and soothing quality. Following this, clary sage steps into the spotlight. This note introduces a grounded and slightly musky dimension that complements the lavender beautifully. The presence of the sage lends the fragrance a mature and self-assured aura. BASE NOTES The base notes bring warmth, sensuality, and depth to the fragrance, strikingly contrasting the aromatic freshness of the initial phases. Vanilla and amber take centre stage in the base notes. The vanilla in Drakkar Intense is not excessively sweet or dessert-like; it is blended subtly and refinedly. It smooths out the sharper, earthier elements of the patchouli and suede, resulting in a well-balanced and harmonious dry down. OVERALL My journey with Drakkar Intense can be a lesson to all of us who love perfumes and enjoy their magical effects. On the one hand, they can be described as expensive scented water, but on the other hand, these scented elixirs create unforgettable memories that we cherish throughout our lives. Read the full review at scentgrail (.) com

Drakkar Intense — The "Dad Legend" Remastered Look, I know what you’re thinking. "Drakkar? Really? Is it 1989?" We’ve all heard the jokes about Drakkar Noir being the official scent of high school locker rooms and 80s power ballads. But here is the thing: There is a reason it’s a legend. It smells clean, masculine, and unapologetic. However, I didn't want to smell exactly like my uncle in 1992. That’s why I grabbed Drakkar Intense. 1. The Smell Think of this as "Drakkar Noir 2.0." The Opening: It still has that classic, sharp, "barbershop" blast of rosemary, lavender, and lemon. It hits that nostalgic "shaving foam" button in your brain immediately. The Twist: The original dries down very soapy and mossy. This Intense version dries down warm. They added Amber, Suede, and Vanilla notes. It takes that sharp edge off and makes it smell smoother, boozier, and more modern. 2. The Vibe This is the "Dad Boss" scent. It doesn't smell like bubblegum or flowers (like most modern colognes). It smells like a guy who pays his mortgage on time and knows how to change his own oil. It’s rugged. It’s my "dumb reach"—when I don't want to think about what to wear, I grab this. It just works. 3. Performance For a cheapie, it hangs in there. I get a solid work day out of it (6+ hours). It projects well (it is Drakkar, after all), but the warmer notes keep it from being screechy. 4. The Nostalgia Factor There is something comforting about this DNA. It feels familiar. Putting this on in the morning just puts me in the right headspace to tackle the day. It’s a classic for a reason, and this update gives it enough of a modern tweak to keep it relevant in 2025. Verdict If you miss the days when men’s cologne smelled like men’s cologne, but you don't want to smell outdated, get this. It’s the perfect update to a legend. Rating: 8.5/10 (The ultimate Daily Driver).

* Great combination of sweet, amber, rum, herbal, powder and wood aromas * The love child of Bentley for Men Intense and Drakkar Noir * Brilliant flanker that updates the original in style * A perfect bridge between nostalgic aromatic fougere and modern sweet and fresh colognes * Suitable for men of all ages * Stronger performer * Not unisex * Underappreciated and undervalued * May be too different for those used to the original * Serious competition that is more popular with newer generations Straight up, I love Drakkar Intense. It's a brilliant update of the classic Drakkar Noir formula. The classic herbal, pwoder and wood aromas of Noir are blended with sweet rum and amber aromas and it works perfectly. This is the love child of the illicit affair between Bentley for Men Intense (a personal favorite of mine) and Drakkar Noir. On paper, that shouldn't work at all but in practice it's amazing. Intense is a perfect bridge for older aromatic fougere users and younger sweet and fresh users. It balances both extremely well and is great for introducing the older audience into the newer style of modern colognes and the younger audience into what their fathers and maybe even grandfathers raved about in their youth. Add in strong performance and it's a winner. Launching in 2022, Intense is rather underappreciated, I find, and I suspect it's because of the Drakkar name itself. Younger users won't be seeking out the name and there's plenty of competition for this style of cologne. Bentley for Men Intense and Stronger With You Intensely are just two examples that are far more popular with younger users. This is great for cooler seasons, night use, festive occasions and date night in particular. Great for men of all ages.

So I got this when it came out here in Paris. There was no hype or furor surrounding this perfume in France, like there was circulating in the fragrance community. As for myself: Did I expect a time machine to take me back to the nineties? Did I expect new life and muscle breathed into the neutered behemoth of the original fragrance? Of course I did! I knew it was to no avail but we can have high hopes. However, not all was lost. Upon getting familiar with this fragrance I came to a simple conclusion. The packaging and the title needed a re-work. There is a suede that Clarks uses for its Wallabees and Desert Boots and it is called cola suede. Drakkar Intense should have been called this. The suede note is just perfect in this fragrance and yes there is this cola accord that is created by the supporting notes. As a scent Drakkar Intense is dated (I do not mean this in a negative way.) in that it screams something from the nineties. Drakkar Intense could be found somewhere between Obsession by CK and Aspen by Coty (as Mas7erofreali7y stated brilliantly in their review). Spicy, woody suede, smoothly blended that sits close to the skin and gives a warm vibe. Is this worth owning? Honestly, for the price why not? Drakkar Intense is not truly bottle worthy simply because this fragrance is redundant and seems like it has been done before. Several sprays of this will not envelop you in a leather jacket and sit you behind the wheel of a Datsun 280Z but the opening will at least make you think back to that time when that was a regular weekend occurrence.