Lui

Anyone who has been around the block for long enough has heard this name at least once: LUI. It makes the best lists of many aficionados when it comes to musks, leathers, and more recently, patchouli. I think it's all of that, depending on how old your bottle is, because this beauty has changed over the years. Frankly, I have been on the fence with it for a long time, as the various samples I tried seemed to be getting increasingly sweeter and patchouli-dominant while departing from the musk-leather-heavy emphasis this fragrance had in the past. Finally, I realized the only way to mend that is to hunt for an older falcon, as it seems to be the solution more often than not. Smelling it from this bottle, Lui is not about the patchouli, which plays a minor role, and barely any amber. This is, first and foremost, a civet bomb. The cat slaps you over the face as soon as you spray this. But it's not the way civet usually comes across, which is sharp. Here it has this creamy, almost buttery texture, which I only encountered with another fragrance, an Italian-made gourmand, Cadavre Exquis, but devoid of that one's savory connotations. A big dose of buttery and foul-smelling civet, followed by a strong woody facet that smells like a barn scorched by the summer's heat, allowing all its aromas to rise and permeate the air. And finally, a dry and dusty leather, maybe hanging in the same barn next to a pair of leather boots to go with the picture. The patchouli and the amber accord barely breathe underneath the slab of meat and help to balance the fragrance, next to the woods, preventing it from going completely into a gore animalic show. So, my recommendation, if you are looking for a potent musk perfume with a heavy-handed civet note, go and hunt for old bottles of LUI. I'd even say this is amazing if you want a barnyard and dry leather scent. If you want an amber-patchouli, there are a dozen better options, or you can try the modern versions of LUI, which tone down the animalics significantly. One thing is certain: LUI is pure testosterone juice and truly bad to the bone. IG:@memory.of.scents

Very much a Patchouli-driven fragrance as many have noted but supported by soft amber, creamy sandalwood and leather (in that order of importance), steering away from Patch 'soliflores' like Jovoy's Psychedelique and others. A bit animalic in the opening yes but more of sweaty Cumin rather Civet (no bad breath here)... maybe Castoreum making up for that Leather accord but that's another odor profile. Dabbing from a sample seems very quiet and longevity isn't much to write about however the blend is smooth and the materials seem of high quality. Is it worth it 200 usd for 100ml? Well if you are looking for a Patch dominant fragrance and/or love masculines from the 70/80s (Givenvchy Gentleman, etc) but wish for a refined or upscaled version you won't be dissapointed. As alfarom would say: Me? I'm sold. ------------------------ Una fragancia claramente dominada por el Pachulí como muchos han notado, pero respaldada por un ámbar suave, sándalo cremoso y cuero (en ese orden de importancia), alejándose de los 'soliflores' de Pachulí como Psychedelique de Jovoy y otros. Un poco animálica en la salida sí, pero más en el estilo de comino sudoroso que de Civeta (no hay mal aliento aquí) ... tal vez algo de Castóreo componiendo el acorde de cuero, pero ese es otro perfil aromático. Aplicándome de una muestra parece muy tranquilo en cuanto a proyección y sobre la duración tampoco hay mucho sobre lo que escribir, sin embargo la mezcla es suave y los materiales parecen de alta calidad. ¿Vale la pena 200 usd por 100ml? Bueno, si estás buscando una fragancia dominante de Pachulí y/o amas los masculinos de los 70/80s (Givenvchy Gentleman, etc.) pero quisieras una versión refinada o exclusiva, Lui no defrauda en ese sentido. Yo me anoto con una botella. 8,5/10

WOW! What a, rich, earthy, powerful fragrance! Is this really EDT? It has the potency of EDP! So strong, so smooth, great dry-down...kind of like really aged, aromatic, spicy Scotch. Certainly a dab will do ya! I think I may have grown chest hair after application! lol... Thanks to fellow Fragrantican and aficionado of leather fragrances, Smelly Beast, I ventured out and nabbed a decant of Mazzolari Lui and full heartedly approve of his recommendation. This is totally right up my alley with all the dark, resinous-sweetness; a veritable patchouli bomb so you'd better love, love, love patchouli like I do, not merely appreciate it casually because it will certainly stand up and grab your attention. And if you're not careful with the application, you may risk offending others a few blocks down who may not care for it as much as you do, so do apply conservatively. ADDENDUM: Since this is still my initial take and I'm still witnessing Mazzolari Lui's evolution on my skin, I'm finding the final dry-down incredibly sexy. Much of the brute, rough, patchouli strength has mellowed out and now I'm getting more warm amber and musk. I never quite got the animalic and civet that others described, although I see how some of the exotic patchouli combined with leather can have that effect.

We go from yesterday's review of raw and rough Santa Maria Novella Patchouli to the down and dirty Mazzolari Lui, which (agreeing with the below reviewer FragranEssence), surely is loaded with civet, castoreum and perhaps even Animalis base. This is just as much a favorite musk fragrance as it is patchouli. Musc Koublai Who? This is for me the ultimate skank musk, and the fact that patchouli is a prominent note is testament to the fact that the humble Pogostemon Cablin has an uncanny ability to amplify animalic notes. Lui's furry, feral patchouli is ensconced in cozy woods—a prominent cedar is here, which also energizes animalic accords as well, with some sandalwood and spice (cumin, caraway, coriander surely are part of this melange) lending necessary texture. As it develops, the animals are tamed, curl up into a snuggly bed of amber, but one gets intermittent whiffs of their musks in the somewhat sweeter base that evokes the mildly nutty, round, aphrodisiac-like ambrette seed oil and it is here the patchouli begins to reveal itself completely. Hours of ambrette and patchouli bliss linger on the skin. Incredibly sexy.

BOOM!!! This stuff is the bomb! It's smoky, animalic, sweet, oriental, musky, balsamic, and downright different (in the best of ways)! Mazzolari Lui has lasting power only seen in extreme sports! Projection is beastly, and I always ... ALWAYS ... get compliments. 100% of the times I have worn this, which are many, I have received some sort of positive comment. And if you appreciate looks of bafflement, tell them what it is if they ask. Who has ever heard of this, except for us frag-heads? You will NOT find it at Kohl's or Dillard's or Gordman's or any of those places. As of this writing, you can get it, solely, at Lucky Scent. Oh, and my wife loves it, which is a huge plus, as well. Listen ... once you have it adorning your collection, it is a fragrance to be cherished and utilized only for special occasions! 10/10 P.S. BEEN TRYING FOR MONTHS ... LUCKY SCENT CAN NO LONGER SOURCE THIS SCENT. 'TIS GONE, FOLKS! :( P.S.S. IT HAS FINALLY ARRIVED! Mazzolari, it would appear, was having problems finding a trusted logistics source to the U.S.A.