Air

What Kenzo Air definitely possesses is this aforementioned ozonic quality to it. However, it is not a static fragrance that settles down once you apply it and then just reveals its layers continually. Rather, I like to say it has to be in that constant swirl with your movements. You need to be active to really smell this scent real potential. Now, right after sharp yet quick angelica opening it almost instantly sets its soft velvety anise/caraway tone which is staying for long time present, accompanied by woody base and just a slight link of citrusy bergamot hints, those more so add a bravado of freshness to frail anise. Once anise weakens its presence, its character is transformed with licorice that protrudes to my nose mostly. Sweet licorice that resembles lacquered mahogany wood and well fits to minimalist urban chic aesthetics. Staying power is long enough, while projection is slightly ephemeral. One second it seems like you almost lost it and then in next moment it starts to gain its initial intensity back, though this time without any sign of angelica around. Best to apply during the day whilst it gets warmer in its character as hours pass. Approximately after six-seven hours it is still well detectable. There is no definite end to Kenzo Air if you ask on sillage, for every time you do a sudden movement it reappears. And just how refined is that comeback - even sharper, more complex, embedded and locked in your skin pH! Airy as proclaimed, spring breezy day or summer noon emitting subtle grey noise from swinging tree branches and birds flying high above is accurate to accessorize your being with Kenzo Air. Wind will bring this haziness right up to your nose. Gently.

This is a light and airy fragrance, maybe one of the best Kenzo's I've ever tried. It does bother me that it's gone after about 2 hours. It's projection also could've been better, but I suppose that would tear down the core concept of the fragrance; air. Like Taskphorce said, you can easily detect the Iso E Super. Considering this fragrances perfume is 48% Iso E Super and Encre Noir's is 45% Iso E Super, it's also not really a shock they have similarities. I found them close enough at times to vote for a reminder of the other fragrance, but only in their drydown. /edit: When smelling them side by side they seem more different than I had thought them to be. It's strange, because the first few times when I smelled Encre Noir it made me think of Air, but it had been nearly 8 years since I had smelled that. And when I recently put on Air again for the first time in those 8 years, it made me think of a lighter Encre Noir. Air has the added licorice and anise notes, which really complement each other and together with Iso E Super they form a great team. I guess they have the Iso E Super and vetiver in common, but that is pretty much it. Comparing them side by side after about 30 minutes, they share similarities but Air is a lot lighter than Encre Noir. I guess it's the Iso E Super that keeps popping up every once in a while. So in conclusion. Are they the same? No. Do they have similarities? Yes. In the end, I think Tom Ford's Grey Vetiver would be closer related to Encre Noir than Kenzo Air is. Grey Vetiver could be it's younger and lighter summertime brother, while Air is more of a nephew.

Alafrom is right, if ever you have the chance to layer Etro anice with Encre noire the result is unmistakably ----------> kenzoAIR! So remarkably similar when layered but both are so very unlike kenzoAIR on their own. I further agree that there is little or no difference in the original and intense variations. Intense has a slight blue tint to it where original is clear. Furthermore the intense versions box is identical to the original except it has a glaring sun on it. The intense versions bottle is not frosted but rather a clear plastic. Lastly, so far to my experience I have yet to buy a bottle that comes filled with more than 50-60% juice. They all say 90ml but the reality is you are getting around 60ml. It's may be due to leakage or evap or just manufacturing limitations. But with such a special scent I suspect it's discontinuation had more to do with packaging than anything else! **NOTE** never ship a bottle of kenzoAIR or its intense counterpart via airmail. There is a very very high likelyHood the bottle will burst under pressure and you will receive a cracked bottle or worse a leaky mess! 9/10. A staple of my collection!!!

Finally! I was lucky enough to find and grab a bottle for a good price! Here are my two cents. It is very sad to see nowadays boring releases from designer houses, stacking the shelves with "sport" versions and nonsense flankers, and then looking to all these great discontinued fragrances makes you want to go hunt them. This is one of those incredible fragrances. The concept of "Air" here is different, it is not that fresh and transparent feel, but rather a soft spicy, ozonic vibe. When first sprayed (about the first 10 seconds) it is a blast of anise and licorice, after a while the licorice becomes almost invisible, and vetiver and cedar take place. Truly one of the best and most interesting fragrances I've smelled. For those who haven't had the opportunity of smelling it, the most literal description I can make IMHO (so that you can imagine it) is that it is a merge between Au Masculin, Encre Noire and cedar, with that ozonic vibe I can't really explain, but that's what my nose gets. Longevity is good but sits close to the skin, which is not a problem at all since the scent itself will be a marvelous journey for your nose.

Yay! My 3rd Kenzo is finally here. Kenzo Air is not a very strong scent. I spritz it twice on my wrist and I have a hard time smelling it, perhaps my skin is too dry. For the scent, there is nothing fruity or floral here at all, but just woods. I only smell this wet woody vetiver with fresh cedar + licorice combo. The scent is wet and cold; like a wet forest or driftwood by the river bank or even a haystack. Somehow, I still find it fresh and quite unique. It's never too hard nor even appear to be herbal. In my opinion, this is not a very usual fragrance, and it's a must try, especially for those who are interested in an interesting woody scent, and the blocky bottle is quite a collectible item.