Mercedes Benz Club Extreme

This is a fine patchouli/vanilla based men's scent that is bound to please. The opening presents an odd citrus veneer over the heart notes that seems a bit discordant and out of place, but thankfully it passes within minutes. Honestly, I think this opening is where one could find CE a bit off-putting, but it almost doesn't resemble the lovely evolution to follow. After the strange top notes fade away, this transitions to something akin to layering MBZ Club Black (vanilla/wood) with YSL Tuxedo (patchouli/amber, but minus the rose and violet leaf). "Extreme" scales back the vanilla from Club Black and rounds it out with a healthy dose of patchouli (on the chocolatey side), some light woods and just a tease of leather. I think I'd like it better with a touch of incense, maybe some violet leaf and/or thyme to accentuate the herbaceous side of the patchouli, but I still think it's very good as it is. Like Club Black, this one doesn't push out too far and announce its presence before you enter a room - nor does it last especially long. Moderate in terms of sillage and a good 7-8 hours of longevity in my experience. Then again, I don't tend to douse myself, so your mileage may vary. :) Overall, MBZ Club Extreme isn't really extreme in any way, but it is a decent and inoffensive woodsy/vanillic fragrance that "reeks" of quality IMO. Good for a cool day or evening out, and just light enough for a Spring day. Layers well, too. This started out as a "like" for me, but has really grown on me over time. Enough so that I just "had to" stock up. Glad that I did, as I can see this becoming a dumb grab type go-to for me.

Mercedes Benz Club Extreme opens as an olfactory game of chance, where each spray is a roll of the dice. Sometimes, it greets you with the luxurious, spicy caress of PDM Layton, other times with the sweet, rebellious depth of Pure Malt. This unpredictable opening, lasting a mere 20-30 minutes, sets a thrilling stage for the experience to follow. As the scent unfolds, it reveals a bold, animalic leather note, akin to the raw intensity of Ombre Leather. This phase, lasting about an hour, might not be for the faint of heart with its daring, unapologetic presence, but it adds a distinctive character to the fragrance narrative. The final act of Mercedes Benz Club Extreme is where the magic truly happens. The fragrance transforms into a dark, metallic essence, reminiscent of an abandoned ship floating in the ocean's vastness, akin to Kenzo Homme EDP. This phase sees a fascinating interplay between the rugged leathery notes and the metallic, oceanic aura, painting a vivid picture of a world where land and sea coexist in a beautiful, ever-changing balance. Mercedes Benz Club Extreme is more than just a fragrance; it's an olfactory journey that traverses contrasting landscapes. From the unpredictable opening of Layton and Pure Malt to the bold leather heart, culminating in the intriguing dance of land and sea, it promises an adventure in every bottle.

Preliminary thoughts with first wearing: VERY nice. A much sweeter, smokier, and much more likeable Mercedes Benz Club, which I had and sold before. It's hard to gauge the strength because I've been smelling other scents all day, but I went back for 2 more applications throughout the course of the day. It starts out like a lion, but ends with a whisper... but that may just be the anosmia or scent fatigue speaking. UPDATE: It was definitely anosmia. This scent performs great on its own. The scent itself reminds me most of Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black, but more masculine, and stronger to boot. I'm sure no one will upvote that comparison, but it's true and if you smell both I think you'd agree, although I can see how some compare this to Mugler Amen, even though those two are nothing alike. This sits somewhere in the middle, if you will, since it has that amber and patchouli on one side and a bit of a sandalwood vanilla vibe on the other. Overall, I like it! It's sweet and spicy and different from the norm. It's dark and yet unique, and a definite improvement on the original Mercedes Benz Club. Only negative is, it's somewhat rare and hard to come by. I'm glad I bought a bottle when I did, because I haven't seen too many available since.

The reason why I chose this over Mugler's Pure Malt or the original A*Men is because I want that booziness and fruitiness from Pure Malt and I also want that sweetness and warmth from the original A*Men. Mercedes-Benz Club Extreme is just both of them, combined. Actually, it is smoother, fresher, and a bit more woody. I can smell a bit of the fruitiness and booziness from the Pure Malt, but the patchouli DNA from the original A*Men is also here and I can smell it clearly. Again, it is also more woody than both A*Men fragrances I mentioned. Both of those Muglers have better performance than this one overall, but this one is also performing very well on my skin. I have yet to test it more properly, but that was my first impression about it. It is great. I got it for a great price and that's what makes it more worth it than getting a very inflated price of that Pure Malt, and it is definitely more wearable than the original A*Men.

It's a lovely scent to me. I had a hard time finding it, and even though it's not his season, I couldn't wait to try it. It's a really sexy fall-winter scent and I'll be happy to wear it. It actually holds up very well in the heat! Very musky, ambery and that lotus... ohhh great! I wish I got a spare bottle but I bought the last one! The search continues! A very good addition to my collection! This is a fragrance with which you will certainly be different and attract attention. This is almost niche quality and longevity is 9-10 hours on me! 8.5/10