Cuir InfraRouge

To me it wears as a more refined, softer, and easier to like/wear rendition of Oud Maracuja's DNA, I wouldn't go as far as to say they're the same just with a different fruit note, but they do smell relatively similar, and you can easily tell they're related/Crivelli fragrances. If I were to say which one I personally like better I'd say I prefer Cuir InfraRouge, Oud Maracuja projects way more on my skin than on paper and on other people, which is a shame since my preferred sillage is medium or light-medium, on top of that I personally prefer InfraRouge's scent over Maracuja's as well. that being said, this on my skin opens up with a slightly bitter yet sweet raspberry and an understated cinnamon spiced leather that's reminiscent of a less pungent Tuscan Leather, for around the first 20-30 seconds, but then it quickly morphs into a sweet and smooth yet slightly subtle raspberry, that accentuates a very muted Oud, as well the namesake Leather (Cuir), which becomes the main player of the fragrance that all the other notes build on. I do also get some Vanilla, Orris, and that cinnamon from the opening, but they're behind the leather, oud, and raspberry, mainly being there to sweeten the drydown and enhance the leather+raspberry combo. I quite like this scent profile and it's a close contender with Oud Stallion (Though I personally prefer drhis due to wearability and ease of access/general preference) for my favourite of Maison Crivelli's Leather/Oud centric fragrances. As I hinted at before, projection on this on my skin is between medium and strong, longevity I get around 12-14 hours (with just 1-2 sprays as well), which is the oustanding norm for Crivelli's creations of this type, and it'd likely go onto the next day if applied more. In terms of werability, it's perfect for any day outside of hot or humid days, unisex leaning a little masculine imo, and considering this is easier to wear and enjoy, I think you could get away with it as a daily driver or casual wearing fragrance that you went easy on the trigger, and it'd be a good formal occasion scent as well. Overall, really glad I finally got try it (as it wasn't available in Australia where I'm located until this week), but was well worth the wait, and probably the MC fragrance I'm most likely to get a full bottle of, really good stuff, the scent to me is just soa addicting and i cant jelp but smile whenever i get wafts of it after applying in the morning or still smelling it's sweet remnants just before bed. I recommend it if you want a less intense, less monstrous projecting, and overall a softer more wearable alternative to Maracuja, or (or if you just really like the notes/DNA lmao) Personal 9.1/10

I have a bit of a love affair with leather based fragrances and I think Cuir Infrarouge is one of the best examples. It has everything you want. A gorgeous, deep and rich leather accord, performance that is off the charts and enough going on in the background to keep it interesting. The opening is, as with Hibiscus Mahajad, Tubereuse Astral and the wonderful Oud Maracuja, a really intense hit that almost seems aggressive. The first thing you get is slightly sour, plump raspberry and a very heavy saddle leather. There is some cinnamon in there in the top if you really go looking for it but this is to move the leather away from the barnyard, and there is some subtle bergamot tucked away there too but again, this is to keep the raspberry honest. The heart is aimed at moving the opening into softer and more manageable territory and it does this with a little bit of osmanthus that provides a fresh bridge between the fruit and the leather in a very clever way. The orris again, is here to stop this from going too sour and it never really takes this in a powdery direction to my nose. The patchouli and vanilla in the base are there to soften and smooth; to manage the leather and the fruit and to ensure the oud in the heart doesn't push this too sour or animalic either. It is almost like a conceptual study in how ridiculously strong you can make a leather accord and still keep it under control. The oud in the base almost feels like a flex, as if Jordi Fernandez spends most of the rest of fragrance reining in the leather and the berries, and then jokingly adds some oud just to highlight how well he's done it. If you've ever got your nose on this one you will know how strong it is. The control and assurance here to keep it all tidy and managed in such a wearable and attractive way is out of this world. This should be an unwearable, noxious mess. That it is wearable at all is testament to the skill that has gone into this. Magnificent stuff. Layering Suggestion: Eau De Ombre Leather by Tom Ford Three Word Summary: Masterful Red Leather Scent - 10/10 Drydown - 9/10 Sillage - 10/10 Bottle/packaging - 8/10 Performance - 10/10 47/50

Cuir Infrarouge is a really interesting scent. It's a bit of an anachronism in a way. Stylistically it sits along side Tom Ford Tuscan Leather and that generation of leathers released in the late 2000s. The backstory behind Cuir Infrarouge is supposedly inspired by the house founders experiences sipping cocktails in nightclubs. Upon first sniff one is treated to a delicious raspberry note. The raspberry in this is quite candied and sweet. It comes across a bit like a raspberry liquor with a hint of spice from cinnamon. The Tuscan leather vibe is strong at this point, but after a few minutes it really starts to differentiate itself. The leather note arrives. Its a big, thick and oily leather. Its not smoky like Tuscan Leather. Instead it seems more like the smoother leather from Ombré Leather backed by the raspberry from the opening. By the late dry down the oud is present. It's a polite westernized oud, and serves to add heft and substance to the composition. It never feels like it's the focal point, instead it adds a pleasant depth in the background. I am very positively impressed by this. It feels like a more modern take on the Tuscan Leather style. It retains the playful badboy sexiness of Tuscan Leather, whilst adding a bit of modern playful lightness and is ultimately much easier to wear and can fit many occasions. Rating: 10/10

First time writing a follow up review to something I have already wrote a review for but I just have to preach about this even more. Using my sample so scarcely (a couple sprays every few months), it is among the 1 of only 2 fragrances (the other being Bvlgari Tygar) that I truly think I need in my collection. This is the only fragrance that is genuinely eternal on my skin. It has now been 30 hours since I have applied this on my skin, on the inside of my left elbow and I still smell it. It has somehow roped its way onto my t shirt and sticking to the left sleeve of it too. All of this, plus I still smell it moderately strong in my chair by my desk where I spent the better part of my day yesterday. I don’t think I need to explain the the experience of this again but I’ll give the gist. It is wrapping leather, with a nice touch of oud. Juicy, fruity, opulent raspberry and hint of bergamot that draws you into it the realms and depths of it. I also get quite a lot of iris in this, and with it being my favourite note, it just adds so much to this. There’s something flashy/electric about this and I can’t put my finger on it but assume to be the entire concoction. My perfect nighttime fragrance.

Another really great offering from this house. I think between Oud Maracuja and Tubereuse Astrale, the two fragrances I have from them this is my favorite to wear. Its thick, but not too thick for a warmer day. And although many will say this is something to wear for an evening out I think its bright enough in profile to wear in the day. This is due to the Raspberry note up top. The Bergamot assists in some sweet citrus facets but its hardly noticable to my nose. The leather accord is apparent throughout; only until the very end does it disappear and what remains is Oud. It eventually falls away with the Oud sitting on skin. You wouldnt even know this started as Cuir InfraRouge. The Orris and Osmanthus mixed with the Leather in the middle of the wear provide for an almost Chocoloate-y almost Lactonic smoothness. Hate to say it but Jordi Fernandez is much better at Maison Crivelli than at Ex Nihilo; everything there feels the same. This would be a repeat purchase.