B683

It's nicer than Ganymede. I do genuinely think that. It is a hugely masculine fragrance from high end Parisian house Marc-Antoine Barrois that just sings to me. It is woody and leathery from the outset but the nutmeg, black pepper and chilli add spice and a lot of interest. The drydown reminds me a bit of AdP Colonia Intensa at the end but this is a finer and more subtle finish that really benefits from the leathery, suede-y noted that the AdP doesnt really have. I always thought the latter was a bit musty and antique-y in the drydown, I felt the minerality in it wasn't enjoyable and I never really got on with it as a result but this, despite being similar, is a more accessible and balanced frag that walks the line a lot better. It is "old money" if that makes sense and I feel like there is more going on here than with Ganymede (which I also love). It is more "me". Quentin Bisch is the master perfumer nose behind this one and you have to just admire how well judged and balanced it is. Leathery, woody, spicy frags are a bit of a minefield as even a slight mis-step in the balance can throw things off but this is just superbly done. The suede in the drydown is something I have a real weakness for. It is woody, spicy, slightly minerally suede and not animalistic. Pure class. This is one of the most sophisticated fine fragrances I own and such a smell isnt and could never really be a daily wearer, but it is perhaps surprisingly accessible for such a heavy and woody masculine punch. It would be a superior office wearer; anything even vaguely formal and you'd rock this. It is little shock that this is a powerful juice and you don't need to overspray this. Two on the chest and one on each inner elbow. Performance is a little underwhelming and once it calms down you can get a good four or five hours from this. I particularly like the way that it sits close to the skin after four or five hours and you can go to bed in the evening with it still there but subtly, in a really sexy way. It should go without saying, this would be a formidable date night frag. Scent - 10/10 Sillage - 8/10 Drydown - 8/10 Packaging / bottle - 7/10 Performance - 5/10 40/50

A long-overdue proper sampling of Marc-Antoine Barrois B683, the house’s first release, the initial version of B683 from 2016 in EDP concentration, not the more recent Extrait released in 2020. The original instantly hits as a modern gentlemanly creation, a woody, leathery, spicy blend with just a hint of sweetness, slightly fresh but still appropriate for a night out. Its note variety is interesting, a mix of spices (peppers, nutmeg), resins, woods, patchouli, and violet—providing the sharp and fresh bits, along with ambroxan and musk. It’s a very fashionable yet still classic-enough signature scent for a man, a more toned-down alternative to something like Gucci Guilty Absolute Pour Homme, which, by many accounts (albeit not mine), employs leather and patchouli in excess to the point of smelling petrol-like. Now, 683 has no listed leather note, but the effect is that of a leather fragrance but with a slight pivot toward sweetness and freshness. This is an easy recommendation for all to try—it may not be groundbreaking but it incorporates useful elements and achieves a very nice, agreeable blend. A modern men’s signature scent is an appropriately moniker. Marc-Antoine Barrois fragrances are sold at great boutiques like Perfumology, and the B683 EDP pricing is $195/115 for 100/30ml (Ganymede’s pricing is the same; B683 Extrait’s is higher). I look forward to sampling the Extrait as well as Ganymede (I’m behind on my sampling!), which I’ve both smelled in store but have not done full samplings of. 8 out of 10

#715 in my "Tour de Fragrance" This is a Quentin Bisch creation. I have a dozen of his fragrances on the shelf. He's also made a few I didn't care for, but out of 154 they can't all be winners, which this saffron and amber scent definitely is. Some reviewers smelled Penhaglion's "Terrible Teddy" which Bisch also created. Same musk and incense I suppose, but there the similarity ends. Enough oakmoss and patchouli to lean green, enough incense and spice to make it a grown up fragrance. Just under $100 an ounce, so you should get a sample before you buy. Some on here are not as enthusiastic as I am because of a "synthetic" note? I assume they mean the ambroxan? I hate synthetics that give me sinus issues like synthetic bergamot oil. I don't mind ambroxan. But I get it. At this price range it's natural to question ingredients that aren't natural. Good longevity, yet the sillage is moderate enough (3 feet) for this to be acceptable office wear. For me it's more a dinner date scent, unless of course there's someone at the office you want to date. Not something I recommend, but it's your career.

I love all Quentin Bisch's works. There is always his signature touch on all the perfumes he did. B683 is smoother and more sophisticated version of Ganymede. I love this more than Ganymede but I wish this would perform like Ganymede. It still has enough performance even as it is. Back to how B683 smells... B683 has a unique base note which is similar to blackpepper note from cdg but it is more than that note. You can easily detect this unique base note from start to finish but there is also beautiful Smooth leather and violet accord which are suit well to the fragrance. I think because of the aroma chemicals that in the base note, B683's sillage is enormous, it fills the room with one sprey. This happens even stronger in Ganymede and with Bois Imperial which has similar performance to B683. This doesn't come off easily on clothes. Ganymede, Bois Imperial, B683 are the weirdest performing perfumes in my collection. When you sprey it and smell it from your wrist. You wouldn't believe it's such a strong perfume. As you use it, you realize that it has extremely high sillage and lasts long.

B683 starts off with a warming combination of saffron, nutmeg and black pepper before developing a metallic, mineral violet leaf note which begins to take the lead. The musk, labdanum and sandalwood give this fragrance a robust and creamy backbone which blends perfectly with the other notes. Once B683 has had some time to settle, you’re left with the most beautiful combination of sweet saffron, metallic violet leaf and spicy nutmeg - creating one of the smoothest compositions I’ve ever come across. The dry down has similarities to Ganymede due to the mineral-style violet leaf and leathery base notes, however this is sweeter and spicier and much better suited to evening wear. This fragrance is an absolute masterpiece and a must-have for colder weather. It’s perfectly executed and the materials are of a fantastically high quality. It’s very easy to like while still being very unique and different, all with fantastic performance as Marc Antoine Barrois always delivers.