Cologne Intense

The nose behind the new masculine fragrance by Houbigant, Cologne Intense is Luca Maffei. He is a young nose in the fragrance industry that is making a name for himself with such stunning fragrances as Perris Monte Carlo’s Oud Imperial and Rose de Taif. What he has created in Cologne Intense is something brilliant bold and breathtaking. The presentation of the fragrance which comes in both Eau de Parfum and Extrait Parfum is classically elegant. The 100 mil bottle is the same sophisticated masculine bottle that was created for Houbigant’s 2010 re-release of the exquisite Fougere Royale from 1882. The juice is darker in Cologne Intense which only adds a golden richness to the presentation. Just as the No.5 bottle is used for other perfumes by Chanel so it is that Houbigant is presenting this release in the same bottle as Fougere Royale. This smart marketing gives a certain instant house recognition. You see the bottle and you know the house at once. Class and sophistication are assured. The parfum is classified as a citrus aromatic. I agree, it opens with sharp crisp summer freshness of Sicilian lemons, a bitter bite of Calabrian bergamot which sparks brilliantly on the skin then gives way to the wonderful green petitgrain and Moroccan neroli. It is a show of green citrusy skyrockets that shimmer as they rise and sparkle as they fall way to reveal the center of this fragrance. Here the heart in this classic tarragon takes the center stage. It is richly blended into a complex dance with red pepper, a touch of lavender, and a whiff of Indian Jasmine. Oh that Jasmine is nice if subtle, as it should be. And the pepper is sharp adding depth to the tarragon and lavender. I love the middle of this fragrance but my love turns to obsession when we reach the dry down. Here in the bottom notes I find a fine and creative blend by Luca Maffei that make this a truly memorable release of 2015. The two magical notes he introduces to the fragrance are a bitter Mat Tea and lush deep and hypnotic incense. The effect with the fading mid notes is sheer olfactory heaven. On my skin the it lasts between 6 and 7 hours and the sillage is at about 18 inches. Cologne Intense is one of my top favorite releases of last year. It is a beautiful addition to the venerable and historic house of Houbigant that is both a tip of the hat to past classics, an era of refinement and grace but also embodies a youthful modern vibe. [FOR THE REST OF THE STORY INSPIRED BY THIS FRAGRANCE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY BLOG SCENTS MEMORY]

Houbigant released a truly remarkable composition in Cologne Intense in that it seeks out the refined, fastidious nose with its whimsical classicism merged with emergent modernism. However, it is far beyond that, as evidenced from reading through the mixed reviews that run the gamut from adulation to revulsion. Well, I can think of some other masterpieces which I love dearly that share this polarity: Guerlain's Jicky and Mouchoir de Monsieur, Eau d'Hermes, Kouros, Rochas Moustache Concentree, even Diptyque's L'Autre. It's because they all juxtapose the clean and dirty, the sacred and profane, the botanical and animal, and I think this has its appeal to those who know that beauty is molded from shadows and light. Cologne Intense opens with all the sharp and sweet drama of a citrus aromatic; juicy, leafy, tart, sweet, even oily, announcing itself in a radiant arc from the skin. No sooner than this delicious bravado wafts do the elements that make Cologne Intense fall into play: a surprisingly indolic jasmine combined with somewhat anisic tarragon and pink pepper create an accord with dusty lavender that is profoundly intriguing to my nose. I am stirred further when I soon am met with the a bit of the must and civet-like undertones coming from the base (perhaps a synergy between bitter, earthy mate and the terpenic elements from the olibanum resin for which the incense note seems comprised. I find this effect to be very sexy. All of this swirls decadently into an eventual sensual simmer on the skin, while still retaining the spirit of aromatic cologne from days of yore (though I must point out that this is far more substantive as well, its longevity is formidable). What can I say? I think it's brilliant in its bold defiance on both classic and modern convention, and surely this was the reason that it wasn't at all commercially successful, but as we diehard fragheads know, that is in no way a metric for quality olfactory art. This is high art, actually, and high art is seldom ever mass-appealing...

This is a surprising scent. It’s really two scents crashed together, and in a way that I found intriguing. I absolutely love it. Some scents - many scents - just “smell nice” and they are bought so people smell nice. Nothing wrong with that. This perfume smells amazing - but is for people who are on some sort of “scent journey” rather than people who want the proverbial “easy grab”. It starts as a straightforward traditional cologne with a masculine citrus thing going on, a little reminiscent of YSL Pour Homme. And this remains throughout. Then there is the other, earthier scent. I’m not going to call it maté because I don’t know what that smells like - and nor, I’ll wager, do any of the 83 people who have voted it as the dominant note. This earthy scent kind of grips me on the inside (I loathe poncy perfume reviews, so I’m trying to be straightforward), and almost feels like it’s emerging from the body into the nose. I’m contrasting this experience with smelling a normal, current masculine fragrance, like the oud-forward Amouage Jubilation. Smelling that feels like sniffing a chemical on the surface of something, whereas the Houbigant somehow... I dunno. “Comes from within.” It provokes a bigger range of thoughts and experiences. But be aware - this is an earthy, organic, convoluted smell. It doesn't smell "like" Kouros, but there is a family affinity with some of the "nature-y" dimensions of that scent. The marrying of the conventional citrusy cologne with this visceral Je ne sais quoi (et personne ne sais quoi) is electrifying. I love it and every day with it is a journey. Performance is cologne like - a couple of feet for a couple of hours. Re sprays mandatory. Currently £30 for 100 on eBay. I shall buy a second bottle, because this is so idiosyncratic that it will inevitably be discontinued.

Opens with a blast of petitgrain and lemon. Shortly after I get a beautiful bitter aromatic/earthy stage (probably the tarragon and mate), giving a strong impression of spices (caraway/cumin). The citruses, greenery and florals will tone down in the base, letting the mate dance with incense, labdanum and oakmoss (the pyramid is not complete here). Moderate projection and longevity. A stunning classic chypre-sque spicy/aromatic citrus fragrance (or more accurately: a citrus-y chypre, imho), on the same shelf with L'Eau d'Hermes, Armani Eau pour Homme and Lancetti Monsieur. I am not sure where people are getting some fecal, urinal or BO facets,(nor any similarity with Fougere Royale - it is totally different)... The name 'Cologne' might be misleading - the only point I might concede to the negative reviews - as It is clearly not a summery light citrus EDC, and is probably more suited for Fall than Summer, given the spicy undertones. While the full retail price is definitely steep for that one, it can be found for 3-4X cheaper online, and it's a no brainer at these prices if you like that style of fragrances. Mature? Not really... I'd say, for grown-ups, independently of age. Basically: lovers of Layton and Eros might want to pass and stick to the newborn department, independently of age :) Masterful craftmanship in my book, and again a hit by Luca Maffei. Fall days, 30+

Houbigant's Cologne Intense is really, really good. Upon first spray, you get a Citrus bang from the Bergamot and lime but also a slight bitter tang which I am assuming is either the petitgrain or Neroli mixing with the lavender. The mid part is all spicy herbal notes, tarragon n pepper with the lavender covering it. The dry down is slightly dry, salty herbal smelling notes which I am assuming is the Mate Tea and I also get hits of the slightly bitter floral Jasmine note. I dont smell any Incense as such. Projection is pretty strong for the first couple of hours and then settles a bit. Longevity is about the 6-7 hour mark which is fine for what is primarily a citrus herbal fragrance although in EDP concentration. This is a year round frag and you can dress it up or down, will add class to whatever you are wearing. The only thing it is not is a clubbing frag unless it's a beach party or something like that. Normally I dont pay attention to bottles but I have to say the Houbigant bottles for this and Fougere Royale are really beautiful with etched glass and solid, heavy Gold and silver caps. Adds a final touch of class to already classy frags. Get this if you like ADP's Colonia line or frags like Eau Sauvage or Rive Gauche. All Masculine Class. Very impressed.

This is right up my alley. Realistic citrus opening followed by a smoky jasmine. Undercut with facets of the green mate and labdanum. Fresh yet unique; very interesting. The scent keeps changing on my skin and keeps me captivated. Simply amazing. This would be a great signature scent for a discerning gentleman. This review is for the extrait de parfum version, which I don't see on fragrantica. Despite being an extrait, I don't find it to be overwhelmingly strong. It is definitely noticeable but not going to choke anyone out. Elegance in a bottle. Also, the presentation is top notch. Came in a very nice hinged wooden box and the bottle is gorgeous with a beefy, solid cap. The etched glass flacon is eye-catching. I pray this doesn't get discontinued so I can grab a back up bottle or two. EDIT: This has insane performance. In the opening I get a very sour lemon and a fresh petitgrain note. Jasmine and incense notes combine and the citrus notes lose their sourness in the heart. Incredibly long lasting citrus fragrance, this stuff just keeps going and going. Great sillage and longevity. Citrus and smoky jasmine on steroids. I love it and I'm glad to have this in my collection. 10/10

Just a follow up to earlier review a couple below. I can understand why this perfume gets such a low score. It is simply going to shock a lot of people, because the word 'cologne' in the name is really very misleading. You're not going to get ANYTHING like Acqua di Parma, Dior Homme Cologne, 4711, Neroli Portofino etc. So maybe people are disappointed (though there is a citrus spine to the scent). It is not 'like' anything that people will be familiar with, it is NOT a 'compliment getter' (eugh...I hate Fragrantica clichés... 'pulled the trigger... juice... urinal cakes... dated... old man smell... blah blah blah). But it is creative, and there is a 'line' to it, in the sense that it has a clear sense of purpose and elegant design. So I'd encourage perfumistas to give this a try. It is definitely NOT difficult to wear - it's not going to challenge people, even if you/they don't immediately love it. I'll assume that if you're reading this at all, then you're not wearing Sauvage, A*men, Le Male, Aventus et al. So you're clearly on a fragrance journey... so give it a go.

Having owned this for a year or so (After blind buying it) - I do love this fragrance. The first time, I spray tested it, my initial thoughts were 'Have I made a mistake?' BUT I let the thought sit for a few days and then went back to it. THEN I fell in love with it straightaway! It is a beautiful and a classy fragrance. IMO - perfect for summer. I would not recommend a blind buy though. I will copy a few sentences from the reviews below which mirror my thoughts: I was amazed at how classic this smells ... The accords it creates are very old school and almost animalic - not a heavy animalic but a very airy animalic. AND: Blind bought this thanks to a few reviewers I hold in high esteem. Namely Lanier, Jack Hunter and Le Knows. The negative reviews really had me in two minds. A lovely modern take on a classic gentleman’s cologne

Off the top I can smell lemon citrus with lavender mixed in with a strong earthy spice/herb. This herbal element really does ground the scent from becoming too citrusy. It's a little astrigent in a earthy leafy way and contrasts well with the citrus and lavender. I think this note must be the Tarragon. Behind these notes I can pick up a soft floral note which just shows itself every so often behind the dominating herbal accord. It does get stronger and I'm sure it's neroli or Jasmine maybe both. The scent is very well blended and crafted and quite complex. If you like green citrus herbal earthy fragrances that is gently sofened by a floral & neroli accords then you will like this. Thumbs up from me, I like it.

OK, I bought this and hated it immediately. However, my nose typically takes a bit to adjust to a challenging scent. Sometimes I figure it out and still dislike it. Other times, my brain puts it together and I love it. I couldn't get past the initial fuzzy sweet rotten floral animalic funk. But....I made myself wear it once, then twice. Then, voila it smelled different. I have gone from wanting to immediately sell it to really liking it. Yes, it's a thick old fashioned scent. Don't care. I'm a fan now. For those of you who despite this, make yourself wear it fairly heavy at least once. Update: now I love this stuff. Green, dry, crisp, expensive smelling, masculine, dressy, impressive.

Love Cologne Intense from Houbigant! Starts are almost gourmand with all the anise mixed with citrus. Then it settles down into a more complex, smokey vetiver kind of thing. It reminds me a little of old school Eau Sauvage from decades ago; maybe pitched a little more dark than the Dior classic. With the way it dries down CI would be fine year around. I can see this working well in cold weather. I usually wear it during the warmer times of the year. I'll have to try it this Winter. Totally safe for work too. Put some on and think classy thoughts.

High art signature. Masterpiece to the elect, unknown to the hoi polloi. Summons poetic imagination: papal palaces, incensed hair, hems of royal robes, sun faded starlight, blood memories, botanical reliquaries, equestrian heat. Ephemeral endings come for them all. Tragically only through discontinuation will this perfume receive denied bouquets of expansive praise. P.S. - Houbigant shared a year ago: "Cologne Intense is still present on our website but will soon be discontinued"

Blind bought this thanks to a few reviewers I hold in high esteem. Namely Lanier, Jack Hunter and Le Knows. The negative reviews really had me in two minds. Reminds me a bit of Etat Libre d’Orange’s Je Suis un Homme but less boozy and more natural. I feel too much has been made of the maté note. I think people notice it because it is an unusual note, but it is nicely integrated into the other base notes. A lovely modern take on a classic gentleman’s cologne. Five stars from me

I recently smelled an old batch of Eau Sauvage that my dad has since the 90's and it's really similar, I'd say this one has leathery accord that is present and stays a good hour after the initial spray, then it gets soapy and then ambery, it has different stages and for me it's synonymous of very well crafted perfumery.

At first spray I get a big citrus burst which smells very clean. It is green, earthy, citrus and floral. Very masculine. Perfect wear for a nice pair of jeans with a white crisp shirt.

an amazing skanky spicy citrus cologne i can even detect an animalic note in the top not such as civet some how.. yes it's animalic citrusy cologne .. thanks houbigant

I came to know Houbigant first through Fougère Royale and shortly thereafter through Essence Rare. Both are outstanding. So, when I saw all the hyperbolically negative reviews for Cologne Intense, my curiosity was piqued. When I noticed the prominent maté note, I knew I had to give it a go. I'm actually much more impressed with this than I expected to be. The maté is indeed foregrounded, bringing a soft, herbal mustiness that perfectly balances the sour lemon and sparkling petitgrain. The smoke is on the delicate side, working well with with the tarragon, which I fear would be too savory otherwise. My nose only detects the faintest whiffs of pepper, bergamot, and jasmine around the edges and base of an overwhelmingly earthy-herbal-citrus bouquet. The drydown is long, sweet, spicy, and slightly indolic. Cologne Intense is pleasant and unique enough that I've ordered a full bottle from a discount retailer. That said, it doesn't blow me away. It's very reminiscent of Fougère Royale, but not nearly as light on its feet; imagine FR, subtract most of the core aromatics, add lemon, bergamot, petitgrain, and neroli in the style of a classic Italian cologne, then whack some smokey maté on top of it all. The result is something that isn't refreshing, per se, but has a certain quirky, old-fashioned panache. The "intense" doesn't lie—the performance really is fantastic here. And most of all, don't listen to all the Marly-fetishist drama queens below (yes, I'm looking at you, JosefR and AndySmellsGreat)—this is a perfectly classy composition. It certainly doesn't smell like a "men's room", unless, that is, you have an impeccably clean men's room stocked with posh fragrances with a small window opening on the garden. ;)

A pristine Petit Grain note in here combines with a most defiant (in the context of a cologne), herbal and black soil-like Maté note. Cologne Noir would've been more apt of a name because it really isn't that explosive or strong enough to warrant 'Intense' in its title, but the Maté-Incense in it's base distinguishes it far apart from most Citrus Aromatics we know. Yes, it's distinguished, it's fresh, it's interesting. Is it exceptional? No, not really. It's just what a niche fresh fragrance should be. It stands out enough to spark arguments between conservative cologne lovers who feel they've been cheated into buying some new-age nonsense that doesn't even smell 'good' (pfft) and those who appreciate this quirky upgrade in the composition which, while it isn't anything stupefying, still works and provokes some interest. I fall in the latter category. But is that because I just love how handsome Luca Maffei is? Follow to find out. ~ bigbusynose of Instagram

It takes an acquired taste, to appreciate this one. It definitely, took me a few wears to open up to it and become accustomed to its old-fashioned structure. Starts off with a blast of citrus and smoke. The lemon and incense is very fine and beautifully composed. Then the florals chime in. Normally, I don’t like Jasmine, ( and this is loaded with it ) But it is blended remarkably well here. The lavender and neroli, play tug of war, while wrapped in incense providing body and sophistication. I also smell cistus, which gives an impression of tobacco. As it dries down, oakmoss and mate, work together to provide earthiness to the entire composition. Tarragon and petitgrain keep everything green, bitter, and fresh. It’s a traditionally structured chypre alright, and a damn good one. My only concern is wearability. It can come off as old-fashioned and mature, and even some might refer to it as dated compared to its more mass appealing cousin Fougere Royale.

This should be a simple fragrance to describe in many ways, but I find it rather challenging. It's fresh, but dirty, intriguing and boring at the same time. It has a skank to it, but also a fresh juiciness to it. I don't know what to say. I appreciate Cologne Intense for what it is. I understand quite well why some love this and others detest it. If you like old-fashioned colognes and niche perfumery you should get a sample and test this out. Could potentially be a signature scent because of the freshness but also off its skanking and the little spice from the mate.

Blind bought this expecting not to like it and predetermined to get rid of it before it arrived. Took a sniff and right away I liked the incense spicy citrus opening with a noticeable cardamom note. This cologne is made for a gentleman. I will be rocking this to work, dressed up, and button up with kakis or jeans. Definitely could be a signature scent.

Very nice. Reminiscent of Roja Dove Apex Parfum. Enjoying it with a sample, and would consider a full bottle.

Neither a prototypical cologne or intense, I detect a tarragon from the start. The paired petitgrain, neroli and citrus read as an orange more so than lemon or bergamot so for me the association is with Chypre Azural by Les Indemodables. Chypre Azural is a bright citrus, here a subtle but indolic jasmine casts a shadow over the brightness making it a bit more reserved. This could be described as dirty but on my skin that commentary is very exaggerated. As it dries I get matte but not as pronounced as in Tempo.

WOW! I'm a Houbigant fan! I LOVE Duc De Vervin L'extreme - awesome lemon bomb. I respect Fougere Royal even though it is a challenging smell. This, this can not be :( There are plenty of gorgeous citrus scents that do it well (Eau Sauvage, Tres Bien Institue L'Italien, Jacques Fath Green Water etc). There is no reason for this to exist. So, I got sucked in thinking that all these horrid negative reviews are exaggerations. I also liked the fact there was Tarragon and a few other things in the notes. I remained positive. The samples arrived and an excited spray left me wrenching. Horridly the bad reviews seemed to be onto something. Suddenly I am understanding the varying disgusting descriptions or at least why people are expressing themselves in that manner. Some of them work for me. The Tarragon (it seems to me) provides an uncomfortable kick to an exceptionally sickeningly sweet citrus blend resulting in an uncomfortable wrench. It reminds me of my aunt (bless her) with health issues who's sweat was a bitter sweet stench and far reaching, often the cause of whispers. I can not describe it better as I don't want to smell it anymore. When I first sprayed it was under wrist and forgot - whilst I was talking to my flatmate I thought she had gone to the gym and stank - I was embarrassed for her but thought she'd shower soon enough. Then I remembered I'd sprayed the sample and then realised that small spray was strong as the horrid smell was from it. The whole time it was from me whilst we were talking! She registered my reaction and asked what was wrong! I tried 4 times to apply and it improved slightly (my flat mate agreed it was not a forgiving smell at first bite) but lets face it thats ridiculous to have to push it that far. I realise now that all the positive reviews are either people that delude themselves into justifying their perfume knowledge or simply trying to prove that they know better. A spade is a spade. This is not pleasant to most people with common sense/senses. A joke or mis management within the brand perhaps? This could not realistically even be considered polarising unless you are the equivalent of someone standing infront of the oncoming locomotive saying 'everything is going to be alright'. I will not buy this, it would be offensive to people to wear it - sorry, no justification, none whatsoever! Duc De Vervin L'Extreme however - thats another review all together!!!

@depesha It's rather amusing how you complain about some reviwer here discredting those that dislike this fragrance. But yet you end your comment with "if you like that crap all the power to you." You yourself discredited. The point is who cares if somebody disagrees or even discredits your opinion in a fragrance. We all have different preferences and we all have the right to disagree. As for Houbigan Cologne Intense, I personally don't like it in the slightest. It's just too sour and has a rather bizarre composition. If you like it that's great. But I prefer my citrus scents to be fresh, clean and smooth like a fresh glass of lemon aide. And that's what this juice lacks. It's just too sour and musky for my liking.

No, just no. Doesn't give me classic cologne feel at all, maybe that's not what they were going for. The mate gives it this feel almost like cumin, strong and dominant and not very pleasing. It's hard to pick up on any of the other notes cause the mate is so in your face. In the air it's slightly better, but still not for me.

I just could not get on with this one. The maté, incense, and jasmine come together to make a green and fecal base to this cologne. It’s a bit too much for me, I’m afraid.

This smells extremely dated. I got a sample of this at fragrancebuy and after one spray on my wrist it went straight in the garbage. The opening is very christmas fruit cake like and then all of a sudden it transitions into this 100+ year old man scent. This rotten, out dated scent lemon scent on the top with some uplifting jasmine mixing with the green notes, however, there's the mate (Green tea) note stays throughout the life of the fragrance and it absolutely ruins it. The only fragrance I have that has mate in it is Rasasi La Yuqawam Ambergris Showers and that fragrance is fantastic. the closest this is to any fragrance I have is Caron Le 3e Homme (1985). Both belong in garbage bins. If you're on the fence about this or something completely different, get that other fragrance. Even if it's a second bottle of something you're about to finish.

From AndSmellsGreat below, "I realise now that all the positive reviews are either people that delude themselves into justifying their perfume knowledge or simply trying to prove that they know better." That sums it up. There's nothing pleasant about this. These are the same people who drink Corona and Heineken because the lightstruck "skunk" flavor is "unique," but they don't realise skunk means spoiled. This is nasty and in the hour I've had it on, it's gotten worse, not better. There's also a guy below who mentioned mens' rooms to describe it and he's on to something as well. Shame on Houbigant for this.

This is the most off- putting fragrance of all time. It literally smells like spoiled milk. It was blind buy and after two years I was hoping it would grow on me but it got worst.

Cologne Intense has a fresh and zesty citrus opening, followed by a calming and aromatic Mediterranean-inspired phase. The heart introduces a smoky, floral, and earthy complexity, and the base brings warmth, sensuality, and depth. The fragrance is designed to evoke a sense of tranquility, positivity, and inspiration. The fragrance opens with sparkling citrus notes of Calabrian Bergamot and Sicilian Lemon. This gives a fresh, vibrant, and zesty start to the scent. The citrus notes provide a burst of energy and brightness. The grace notes in Cologne Intense are inspired by warm Mediterranean waters and restorative breezes. A combination of herbal and aromatic elements such as Petit Grain Paraguay, Neroli Morocco, Lavender, Estragon, and Pink Pepper create a sense of tranquility, invoking the image of a Mediterranean landscape. The overall effect is calming and soothing. The heart of the fragrance features blissful notes of Incense Superessence, Jasmine Absolute, and Mate' Superessence CO2. This combination gives a blend of smoky, floral, and earthy qualities. The incense note provides a touch of mystery and depth, while jasmine brings a floral and slightly sensual aspect. Mate' CO2 adds a green and herbal facet to the heart. The base notes of Cologne Intense offer a blend of positive, inspirational accords and sensual elements. Sensual Patchouli, Labdanum Absolute, Amber, Oakmoss, and Musk gives a warm and grounding foundation. Patchouli adds an earthy and slightly woody characteristic, while labdanum and amber contribute to the fragrance's sensuality. Oakmoss and musk provide depth and richness, completing the base with a touch of naturalness.

"العينات اللطيفة" كولون انتنس اصدار : 2015 العطرجي الإيطالي الشاب لوكا مافيي له العديد من الانجازات العطرية الرهيبة ابتداءا من تعطير متحف فيرراري وتقطير اليلانج يلانج في مدغشقر وهو شريك في تأسيس دار اتيليه فراقرنزا الايطالية التي تهتم بالفلسفة والتراث الإيطالي لصناعة العطور والتركيز على المواد الخام بصورتها الطبيعية بالاإضافة الي المولكيول الصناعي المبتكر. لوكا لديه العديد من الابتكارات الرائعة ، كعطر الورد الطائفي لدار بيريس مونتي كارلو ، وعطري داروقا و نيا لدار جوول إي ميد ، انجازات رائعة لهذا الشاب الثلاثيني. دار اوبيقانت باريس العريقة وجدتها ضالتها في لوكا مافيي ودار اتيليه فراقرانزا كونها دار تهتم بجودة المكونات والتكنيك العالي لصناعة العطور، كان خيارا موفقا للغاية والنتيجة مبهرة. كولون انتنس عطر حديث بلمسة كلاسيكية وهو من عطور الأروماتيك الرهيبة جدا والتي تشعرك بالسعادة والرغبة بمواصلة الإبتسام للحياة :) العطر يبدا بافتتاحية منعشة حالمة من الحمضيات الايطالية ممثلة بالبرغموت الإيطالي مع وجود واضح لليمون الصقلي الراقي (ديور سبورت) ، تظهر بعض الروائح العشبية الخضراء لتعزيز تلك النواحي الأروماتيكية لوجود الطرخون. الإفتتاحية تكاد تشبه عطر انقارو 2 بنسبة كبيرة بالطبع بعد حذف مسك الزباد. هناك تداخل واضح ايضا للياسمين الهندي مع لمسة لافندرية معقولة بالاضافة للنيرولي المغربي الجميل الذي يختلف عن رائحة النيرولي الصابونية الصاخبة. القاعدة بخورية بالإضافة لابتكار لرائحة الطين المبتل ، عطر متعوب عليه بكل أمانة أقولها ولقد وضحت فيه الإحترافية والثقافة العطرية. لاتحبطك التسمية "كولون انتينس" فالعطر يأتي بتركيز بارفام وله فوحان وثبات مثالي ، وهناك نسخة مركزة منه ذات تغليف فاخر. عطر جميل ومبتكر واراه متعدد الإستخدام ويصلح لكل الأوقات .ربما يكون ضمن قائمة الأمنيات للشراء ان شاء الله. 8/10 دمتم بخير ، في امان الله.

As a general rule, things of the greatest intrinsic value and representing the highest level of refinement tend to be acquired tastes. Conversely, things we love right away, are typically of lower value and lose their appeal just as quickly. This applies equally to food, music, art, and of course, fragrance. With that in mind, it must be said that many will find Houbigant's Cologne Intense unpleasant. At least, initially. It's unexpected, unfamiliar and you may have to resist the impulse to dismiss it prematurely. The Mate Tea note can be off-putting. It's a million miles away from designer aquatics or anything that might be popular with the crowd. Nor is it immediately likable in the traditional sense. But Cologne Intense IS interesting. It's thought-provoking, and inspires ambivalence in the same way Kouros can be both repellent and intriguing. And it's well-crafted of high-quality ingredients. Of course, it's entirely possible that Cologne Intense may not be your cup of tea. But, as with most good things in life; if you give it a chance, keep an open mind, and are willing to expand your understanding... you may discover that you love it, after all. After owning and wearing Cologne Intense for several months, now, I'm enjoying it even more than I initially did. This is really beautiful, sophisticated stuff. I love it!

I'm afraid of this one. I have full bottles of Fougere Royale, Bois Mystique, and Duc de Vervins L'Extreme. All great. And I tried Figueir Noir and my nose is coming around to full bottle worthiness for that too. But I'm afraid of this Cologne Intense, without having even tried it yet. Sounds too rough around the edges for me. Although I have a full bottle of Lancetti Monsieur, a comparison to this, and although that one is a bit rough I like it because of its classic character. So you never know. I'll give it a try. Update: OK, in the drydown of my test wear of this. That "dirty" animalic funk you smell? Indolic jasmine. Indoles impart a fecal-like smell and it's pretty apparent even into the drydown. Animals produce feces so it is an "animalic" accord, and so "animalic" should be a listed accord. Indoles can impart a classic vibe to a scent, and some indolic accords in scents work out OK. But this one persists, even though it settles down somewhat and allows the pettigrain, neroli and other notes to manifest. But Cologne Intense is still too animalic for me. I'd rather have had a more traditional pettigrain/neroli Citrus Aromatic without the funk. If they wanted to throw a curve I'd rather have had a non-animalic curve thrown at me. It's one Houbigant that's not full bottle worthy for me.

My POV of this scent profile is based on the Extrait de parfum verion which i was sent instead of the Eau de Parfum The scent opens with a very zingy sweet lemon accord as this stage its where i enjoy it the most, its fresh, a lil sweet, quite realistic and easy going. That soon fades away within 25 to 30 minutes leading into a strong white floral clean scent. Can be unisex but I find that to my nose and from my experience it leans a lil feminine. The culprit is the Jasmine Absolute accord and I believe that it wouldn't be so heavy if I was dealing with the EDP version. This Jasmine lingers thru out the entire experience. The Scent retires into a matte tea smell which i can see where ppl say it smells pungent and like poop or bad breath but in the air is tolerable. The jasmine combine with the Labdanum gives off this Dusty bees waxxy smell at this point is where I correlate the smell with a well put together Grandpa. Its quite an experience but all in all its a very mature scent but nonetheless i find it comforting to wear. 🤷🏻♂️👴🏼🤵🏻♂️

I am laughing at mistershashi's review - I disagree about the fragrance, but I love the review - reviews that awesome really make this site fantastic. I was amazed at how classic this smells considering it's based on the mate note, which is extremely rare as a primary note in fragrances to my experience. The accords it creates are very old school and almost animalic - not a heavy animalic but a very airy animalic. Almost like a civet-aldehyde hybrid. The overall effect is like a classic French men's fragrance from the 50's or 60's. I don't know if it's a love but it's a solid like that I bought based on my faith in Houbigant. If you are looking for a fragrance time machine this is a great choice.

Simply The best. From the Houbigant website: The exquisite Cologne Intense symphony opens with sparkling citrus notes of Calabrian Bergamot and Sicilian Lemon. Warm Mediterranean waters fan restorative breezes of Petit Grain Paraguay, Neroli Morocco, Lavender, Estragon and Pink Pepper in ornamental grace notes. In the storm’s placid aftermath, an enraptured heart sighs contentedly with blissful notes of Incense Superessence, Jasmine Absolute and Mate’ Superessence CO2. Positive, inspirational accords pare back with sensual Patchouli, Labdanum Absolute, Amber, Oakmoss and Musk.

Solid Eau de Cologne which lasts much longer on skin than the classic formula. Greener than floral with the tarragon and the Yerba mate adding a bitter dryness as opposed to the bright neroli of the classic EDC. Reminds me of Bois 1920's Come la Luna, but with mate and incense providing the base instead of oakmoss. Traditionally, this would be a masculine scent, but there are no woody or musky notes prevalent in masculine scents today. But there is no girly sweetness, either. It's a clean citrus with an unexpected herbal twist provided by the novel mate tea note.

A scent so horrendous it's almost funny - almost. I bought a sample of this and still feel cheated out of half a pizza.. I won't describe the scent to you. Let's just say it's very unpleasant: Eau de Public Transport de Nuit during the office Christmas party season.. Initially, I thought perhaps it's just a bad sample, so I checked out the reviews. It turns out that every bottle of this is a bad sample. The best way to wear this is to spray it on someone you really don't like, then throw them out a moving vehicle at fast speed. Fire arms might also be handy..

This quite a challenge... the initial smell is a little bit “funky”. It does reminds me of Jicky by Guerlain, but Cologne Intense is less animalic. It has similar vibe to Tom Ford for men or Tom Ford Rive d’Ambre. This smell can be pleasant and nasty at the same same, it’s bolder than classic Eau de Cologne and a little bit retro. This is definitely not a blind buy perfume, but for any fraghead it is worth sampling. Maybe you will fall in love. Fougere Royal is different story and I personally I prefer this one or Bois Mystique.

@JmThms, imo, there's nothing rough around the edges with one, at least to my nose. I own a bottle of this & Bois Mystique & absolutely love both. To me, Cologne Intense comes off somewhat sweet but far from Gourmand. I really enjoy the Matte & Incense combo in here. It gives me a very "sun baked cut grass" vibe. It's very masculine but in such a beautiful way, at least to my nose. I find nothing sharp, abrasive or obnoxious about Cologne Intense, just a lovely take on a Spring & Summer DNA that's been done to death.

This is a true, up there mature gentlemens fragrance. It stands out and lets people know that you are a serious minded person. Only people whew know their fragrances should wear this with pride & confidence. This gives a great original old school vibe to the maximum. I wear this regular and love every moment of this masterpiece. This is not a fragrance for a weak person, this is only for alpha males, who do what they want, when they want and how they want. Period.

I remember purchasing this from Neiman Marcus and turning right around and returning it lol. There was something extremely off putting in the opening and it never got any better. The best way to describe it is a sour smell. Sour milk or something of that nature. I tried to like it but couldn’t. That was 3 years ago and my pallet has completely evolved. I’m going to sample it again for the hell of it. Something tells me, I probably still won’t like it

This one kinda wowed me. Smells like a classic Italian summer cologne but darkened into a "noir" version. It leans masculine 30+ which suits me perfectly. It has an addictive quality to me. It's one I often smell even if I don't plan to wear it then. I find this same quality in L'artisan Parfumeur Timbuktu and thus I associate the two. I think it's the incense and vetiver. Not saying they're similar other than that.

the *extrait* of this might just be the nicest just the masculine side of unisex cologney fragrances I've smelled. Very smooth..not too much of anything. A little woody but not enough for it to be a wood fragrance. lovely (even on me...and I'm female).

Bloody awful. Don't know why anyone would want to smell like this. Smells like the inside filter of an old vacuum cleaner. Luckily I didn't blind buy a full bottle. Bought a small sample instead to try out. Not impressed at all. It's a pass for me.

Solid, classic, masculine fragrance. Very good, when the only statement that you want to make is that you’re mature and a little conservative. 8/10

There is something funky animalic in this cologne beside the lemon and the different citruses, just like in Yves Saint Laurent Pour Homme.