Le Parfum

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO DRIVE THE MERCEDES "LE PARFUM"? It's not just any kind of perfume. It's "Le Parfum", the apparent top-of-line model developed by Mercedes Benz. So, I imagined it to be a kind of perfume for the Mercedes S-series. At first sight, I had no problems with the finishing and the bodywork. Le Parfum is presented in a very nice leathery case and the bottle is solid and nice to look at, with a good cap and atomiser. My biggest curiosity was about the engine, or the juice if you like. With Polge as the engineer, it looked quite promising, probably with plenty of horsepower and making us enjoy a pleasant and comfortable drive. I used it for a few days, not letting anyone know I was wearing the three-pointed star "Mercedes-Benz Le Parfum". My wife - not an oud scent lover at all - just asked me: "Are you using another Middle Eastern oud fragrance? I'm not sure if I like it.... In any case, it's different from the other oriental stinkers you have". My daughter was blunt and direct as always: "Dad, are you wearing another old man's scent picked from the back of your wardrobe? At work, my partner commented, "That's strong stuff... much too strong for me! That's a "cabaret" scent! What kind of perverted things are you up to tonight?" Well! I don't love it, but I like it! It's masculine, but not overly masculine; it has a decent power; it's more versatile than most oud fragrances I own, reasonably elegant and even a bit sexy. But it's not an unchallenged, radiant, three-pronged fragrance star! It opens with bergamot and pink pepper. This phase seems overly fresh and aquatic. That's a bit unnatural for this kind of fragrance. That happens probably due to the overuse of Cascalone, an ingredient that has been manufactured or synthesised in a laboratory. It just doesn't convince my nose... Is Oliver Cresp trying a few tricks in the manner of Alberto Morillas? The resulting watery and fruity undertones seem a little out of place in this type of perfume. As the fragrance progresses, we notice a strong violet leaf aroma, which for me, forms the signature of "Mercedes-Benz Le Parfum | Mercedes-Benz" together with the oud note. The unnatural freshness of the opening is now rounded off by a more natural violet leaf freshness. Polge probably wanted to recreate the chic ambience of a luxury-class Mercedes. On the other hand, the saffron note is also quite noticeable and blends with a scent reminiscent of leather. Okay, now I understand! Polge has added powerful air conditioning and real leather seats to this "Mercedes-Benz Le Parfum | Mercedes-Benz". I just don't understand well which of the listed notes are responsible for this leather accord. The base accords are quite predictable, with some amber and vetiver in a woody / oudy frame that lasts until dry down. It is unsurprising but pleasant and almost seductive. I like this dry-down "finishing" even if it is not unique. As a final remark: I can honestly say that I like this Mercedes a bit more than the other noses around me. This is tantamount to saying that I have some new car scent haters around me who don't really care about riding this Mercedes vehicle. Let's give a full drive test rating to this Mercedes: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ - Opening: 7.0 (not really offensive, but less Cascalone would help). - Dry Down: 8.5 (consistent leathery and oud woody dry down). - Longevity: 8.0 (up to 7~8 hours on my skin, with 3 sprays). - Sillage: 7.0 (the sillage extends over a 5 feet radius and projects for about 2.0 hours or so). - Versatility: 8.0 (surprisingly, it's quite versatile, unfolding better in spring and autumn but remaining pleasant on winter days and summer nights). - Usability: 7.0 (it's not a fragrance you can use almost anywhere; there is some transactional conflict between the fresh opening and the woody base; as a result, this fragrance is neither fresh nor typically leathery oudy or woody). - Compliments: 7.0 (It pleases more men than women. They smell elegant and clean, that's it). - Uniqueness: 9.0 (due to its tangled blend, it is quite unique; the saffron-leather accord is a bit weak in my opinion. It does not justify the comparison made by several reviewers between "Mercedes-Benz Le Parfum | Mercedes-Benz" and perfumes like "Tuscan Leather (Eau de Parfum) | Tom Ford", "La Yuqawam pour Homme | Rasasi" and "Godolphin | Parfums de Marly". It is not as leathery pleasant as these three fragrances). - Quality: 8.5 (The fragrance ingredients quality is above average despite the opening synthetic note remarked. It bears a quality presentation, with a sturdy glass bottle, a heavy cap, a good sprayer, as well as an unusual well-crafted fake leather case). - Presentation: 9.0 (Beautiful case, flask and cap). - Price: 6.5 (€ 60 for 120 ml? The juice is not worth it. You are paying for the leathery case and the Mercedes name as well. I bought my flask on sale for €45). ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ - Average: 7.81/10.00 between 7 and 8 => above average; between 8 and 9 => recommended; equal or bigger than 9 => don't miss it; Opinion on "Le Parfum": Nice bodywork and finishes but an "engine" a bit below expectations. You can do much better with the same amount of money. As I am an Oud sucker, I like it better than the common John or Jane Doe. Recommended? Not really! Unless, like me, you are an oud collector or fancy the high-standard perfume presentation. Is a blind buy worthy? Of course not! Music: Janis Joplin "Mercedes Benz"

Wow, I just got this today. It's love at first sniff! The presentation, both packaging and bottle are way nicer than most designer fragrances let alone one I paid $40 for in a 4 oz (120 ml) bottle of EDP. It makes a very nice first impression. The atomizer produces a good pattern and the bottle is easy to hold. The top clicks on securely. The tall bottle is easy to pick out on a shelf. So ergonomics overall leave nothing to complain about. As for the fragrance, the first thing it made me think of was Versace Oud Noir. Not because of the scent profile but, because this is another really nice designer oud that probably won't offend many people and is very versatile with solid but not beast mode performance. Versace Oud Noir is one of my favorite designer ouds and my first impression is that this is exactly the same sort of fragrance with a different scent profile. I don't get any similarity to Dior Fahrenheit other than the violet leaf. Fahrenheit is harsher and more in your face with more violet and that gasoline vibe. Mercedes Le Parfum is sweeter, smoother, and mellower with no leather. The two aren't similar at all for me. It may not push artistic boundaries. It may not impress someone who collects middle eastern ouds. But it seems wearable Spring, Fall, & Winter, but maybe even on a mild summer night. There's nothing here that offends. The projection and sillage are moderate to strong, not over the top. The oud is a supporting player, not the focus. Even the violet is there but it's not "in your face" like Fahrenheit EDT at all. No single note really hits me. I guess I'd call it really well blended. But the combination produces a really great smelling result. For me this smells like quality along the lines of a Lalique or Guerlain or some of the Versace fragrances. There's nothing cheap or harsh or annoying. It's lighter than Oud Noir with less spice and oud and violet replacing the neroli, plus saffron, and amber. I don't really get the vetiver or patchouli as separate notes here. I can't wait to wear this for a night out.....if we ever get out of lockdown! :( Edit: OK, a few hours in I can say that I like this Oud / Violet combo MUCH better than the Oud / Rose combo in either the Montale Black Aoud or the Al Haramain Oud 36 Nuit that I own. I've never been a fan of Rose and Oud. It took me quite a while just to tolerate Black Aoud and Oud 36 Nuit. With this Mercedes Le Parfum it was an immediate like same as Versace Oud Noir (no rose) or Bvlgari Man Black Orient with Oud + Taif Rose + Tuberose. For some reason that traditional rose note just doesn't do it for me. EDIT 7/30/2021: I just looked up the notes for this on the official Mercedes Benz fragrance website and was surprised that Fragrantica has the wrong note structure. "Refined and elegant, the fragrance starts off with a fizzy blend of Italian bergamot, pink pepper and cascalone. Enhanced by mysterious notes of violet leaves absolute, galbanum and saffron, the heart finally unveils a precious and intriguing combination of patchouli, vetiver, oud and amber gris. A fragrance with a luxurious and modern signature." Specifically, Fragrantica has omitted the Cascalone in the top and lists Amber in the base instead of the Ambergris listed by Mercedes. That explains why the fragrance doesn't smell like the notes listed on Fragrantica. Cascalone is described as a watery + fruity synthetic molecule. And Ambergris / Ambroxan which is described as Ambery but also Salty, Warm, and Musky. So with that information this Mercedes Le Parfum makes a lot more sense. This is Mercedes attempt at a unique modern "Aquatic" / "Blue" fragrance with a moderate westernized Oud, woody foundation. It's not a Tuscan Leather clone or a clone of anything else either. This is its own thing. Cool! I like it even more now that I understand what they were aiming for.

Mercedes-Benz Le Parfum opens with a moderate projection of fresh oud notes. The oud found in this fragrance is mild, aromatic, fresh, and pleasant. Several steps behind are the spicy notes of pink pepper and the green notes of the violet leaves and vetiver. The fragrance is mostly about fresh oud. The bergamot of the opening is almost unnoticeable. The potency of the fragrance drops very quickly. Other notes in the fragrance are faint and just add a very soft aromatic touch to the fragrance. The most important change from the opening to the dry-down is the change from a moderate to low projection, that until the amber enters the blend boosting projection back to moderate again but without adding its tone. Once Mercedes-Benz Le Parfum Men EDP has reached its full dry-down, it can be summarized as a moderate projection, fresh oud fragrance with very soft green and spicy accords. The fragrance feels dry, formal, masculine, mature, more “woody” and “oudy”, warm, and very pleasant. BATCH REVIEWED: 2020 WOW RATING: 7/10. The oud tone is well blended creating a pleasant fragrance. DISLIKE RATING: 1/10. Oud tones could be unpleasant to some people. UNIQUENESS: 5/10. Oud is a popular tone. MASS APPEAL: 5/10. Oud is not the most appealing tone. Oud is commonly enjoyed by mature wearers. PROJECTION: 3/10. Low, about 3 feet around the wearer. SILLAGE: 3/10. Moderate, about 3 feet behind the wearer. APPLICATION: Four applications. LONGEVITY: 4/10. About 4 hours with 1 of good projection. SEASONS: Fall, winter, or colder nights. OCCASIONS: Formal events, outdoor gatherings, office, business, casual, holidays, clubbing. This is an office-friendly fragrance. VERSATILITY: 5/10. Moderate, somehow limited by its seasons. GENDER: Masculine. The oud creates a masculine scent. AGES: 30 and above. RECOMMENDATION: Mercedes-Benz Le Parfum can be found discounted for about $40, it is a great masculine fragrance that does not feel old school or pungent, a great wearable modern oud fragrance. BLIND-BUY: Yes, but only if you are familiar with its two main notes, oud. SIMILAR: Several houses have tried to combine oud in a way that it isn’t pungent, by combining it with softer or sweeter tones. Here are some examples. Amouage Jubilation XXV Man's EDP is a great oud and sweet fruity fragrance; Mancera Gold Intensitive Aoud Unisex EDP mixes oud, flowers, citrus, and musk creating a superior fragrance; Mancera Black Gold by Mancera Unisex combines oud, floral, and leather, a fantastic scent; Mancera Aoud Lemon Mint by Mancera is another unisex, oud, citrus, almond, and leather fragrance; Mancera Gold Prestigium Unisex EDP is one of the best Mancera oud, leather, roses, and vanilla scent; Montale Paris Oudmazing by Montale is a sweet, fruity, and oud fragrance; Montale Paris Honey Aoud by Montale mixes honey, oud, and cinnamon, another great creation; Montale Aoud Leather by Montale EDP is a strong white leather, oud, and spices, fragrance; Tom Ford Oud Wood Intense EDP by Tom Ford is one of the many ouds, leather, and spices fragrance that this house offers; finally, Zaharoff Signature Pour Homme by Zaharoff blends ginger and oud; Parfums de Marly Shagya, which is a woody/oud and citrus soft fragrance; Nasomatto Pardon is a natural smelling oud that brings gourmand and soft floral tones. SUMMARY: A moderate projection, fresh oud fragrance with very soft green and spicy accords. The fragrance feels delicate, dry, faint, formal, masculine, mature, more “woody” and “oudy”, warm, and pleasant.

Mercedes-Benz Le Parfum is signature scent worthy. It qualifies as one of the best price to value fragrances on the market. If you're a fan of the scent Oud (Agarwood) then you're in for a stellar performer. Scent: The oud in this fragrance is supported by the freshness of three accords: violet, saffron, and vetiver. Oud is the star player of this fragrance and it remains from the start to end as a fresh take upon oud. In contrast, oud from other fragrances are a bit more prominently "dense," such as Bvlgari Man in Black Orient. M-B Le Parfum will engulf you in a "non-chokehold" oud bubble with supporting clean masculine floral and earthy-woody accords. This fresh and minutely spicy (saffron) opening lasts for 1-2 hours, then it starts to unveil its leather accord, which to my nose is an aromatic cashmere scent. I imagine that this is what a S550 fresh off the Benz dealer lot smells like (sophisticated, class-leader, and resinous). From hours 2-8 the oud and cashmere scent is blooming. People within 1.5 meter of you will still smell this scent all day long. The slight spiciness from the saffron is still present, but the cashmere and oud are still performing this seductive tango. At hours 9-12 it is just a rich woody scent, that you will smell before bedtime and on your skin before you shower the next morning. Performance: 12+ hours (1-10 hours legit!) Sillage: 2 meters | 6 feet (consistent from start to 8 hours) Sprays: 2 (each side of the neck) + 2 (chest) + 1 on shirt = 12+ hours easy! Projection: Hours 1-4 = 2 meters | Hours 5-10 = 1 meter | Hours 11+ = Intimate Age: Age 24 - 55 Seasons: end of Fall and all through Winter. A cool Spring night in the low 50s. Bottom line: If you're a complex & mysterious man, who's actions speak louder than their words, this is your scent. It smells like experience and deep thinking have carved the man you are today and going to remain tomorrow. Overall: 9/10

After recently discovering a love for Dior Fahrenheit, I've been looking out for fragrances with woody notes and violet as I absolutely love how those notes work on my skin. After seeing that the Mercedes-Benz fragrances have a similarity to Fahrenheit, I thought I'd give the parfum a go as it intrigued me with the added oud, saffron and pepper. It was a risky blind buy as I don't have many fragrances like this however the main accord that I get from the scent is a fresh, woody and leathery profile which is surprising as leather is not noted in the note breakdown. It is a very masculine scent that I absolutely love and it also has that airy feel from the violet leaf to give it a freshness on top of a kind of smoky leather. This is an addictive scent that smells heavenly in the air and performs very well for me as I get around 8hrs off my skin and I could even detect the fragrance even after showering. The presentation is one of the highlights of the fragrance as it feels very premium from the leather case it comes in to the weight and quality of the bottle itself. The atomiser is simple but effective and it looks amazing on the shelf. I will hopefully be adding intense and ultimate to the collection soon as the bottles look extremely classy and I have been very impressed with the quality on display. For the price you'll be hard pressed to find many better fragrances in terms of uniqueness and quality. Most definitely a blind buy that I am very happy with however if you aren't a fan of masculine leather scents, you'd be better getting a sample of this first as it can be overwhelming for those not used to this genre of fragrance.