Darley

#949 in my "Tour de Fragrance" So I have JPG "Le Male", and this is a little similar, though much, much smoother and better performing. I'd certainly love a more potent EDP take on Le Male, but enough to pay $250+ for PDM's version of that scent? Especially since i already have Sedley which is not wildly different except for no cinnamon. I'll have to macerate on that a couple of months. I also have Amouage "Reflection Man." Not minty. I suppose I could layer it with Azzaro Homme "Wild Mint" and come close. It is a little more similar to Roja's "Scandal Pour Homme" Also mint. But if I had to choose, I'd choose the Roja, which I've tried but don't yet own. It's more complex and actually a less expensive scent. But for me Amouage "Enclave" has no peer in the mint category, though it weighs in at a whopping $380, and there are reasonable clones out there (Abraaj "Enclosure"). For the budget conscious you could actually go with Ralph Lauren "Polo Sport." It's nowhere near in performance. But if you do not already have Polo "Cologne Intense", which is an EDP, and you want something with mint that lasts, that's where I would start. Not with this. That said, this is car pool, elevator and close space safe. I suspect great date wear. Definitely masculine though. I'm thinking it over. But if you're listening Maison Alhambra, and you're picking another PDM to dupe, this would be a good one!

Why, why, why are we not talking about this more? Minty, sweet, clean. It smells like a slightly sweeter shower gel, with brightness with some sparkle. This is an excellent people-pleaser that you can wear in any occasion. I've been looking for a fragrance like this for a while to wear during the summer, and I'm happy I found it. Most of the best summer fragrances are aquatic and quite generic compared to winter fragrances. However, Darley is like a sweet, minty garden with a handsome, masculine spine. The florals are there, but they are subdued enough let everything else in the profile shine. As I've said in a previous review, Parfums de Marly executes lavender like no one else. Just the right amount. I don't think Darley smells that much like JPG Le Male. Yes, there are some similarities, but not enough to say this is another version of it. I strongly prefer Darley over Le Male. Darley is more versatile, sophisticated, and mass-appealing in a great way. Performance is great, with projection and longevity above average. I say performance is great because with a scent profile like this, "monster projection" wouldn't be appropriate. This fragrance is quite easily one of the easiest wears in my collection. If you're looking for a dumb reach that isn't an aquatic or "blue" fragrance, this is it. All-year scent and performance, inoffensive, not boring. Perfection.

I have to say that I really love this one. It is more or less in the same style as Amouage Reflection Man but it's definitely not close enough to say that one is redundant if you have the other one. Reflection is more on the fresh and sweet side and I would say it stands out more while Darley is more mature, easy going and kind of dry if that's the right word. I am not sure how it compares to JPG Le Male as I acutally never smelled it but I do have Le Male Elixir and there are some similarities between that and Darley. Darley is obviously far from being so sweet and smells higher quality. I guess it makes sense given the comparisons with the original Le Male. In my opinion Darley is a perfect signature scent, very versatile, all year round for every occasion. Wearing it makes me feel clean, fresh and maybe not exactly classy but well groomed. Having said all of that, I am still on the fence about buying this. While I love this fragrance, it does smell kind of basic, and the performance on my skin is so-so. I would have to spray at least 5 times and most likely re-apply during the day to be happy with the performance. Doing so at USD 200+ for the 125ml bottle doesn't sound like a good deal. Sidenote: I don't see it on the official PDM Website, has this been discontinued?

First impression, it’s nice and enjoyable on the opening but it smells simple. The opening has nice notes of amber and spice with light notes of a woody vanilla with a bit of mint and floral in it. It has a very warm feeling as well. As it dries down Darley keeps the same notes but they blend together even better than the opening. To note; when I say that Darley smells simple I mean that in the best way, it is perfectly blended and the different notes are in perfect balance; combining into what is basically a singular note. The longevity is good, it lasted 6 hours on my skin and clothes. After the initial dry down it stayed the same for the next 6 hours, fading out to complete gone in the 7th hour. I would say a 8/10 for longevity, both because of the 6 to 7 hour performance and also because I’m very impressed with such a mildly easy wearing scent lasting as longs as it did. Projection could be a little better, this was a skin scent for me after the first 30 minutes of dry down. 6/10 for projection. This is a gorgeous simple well balanced easy wearing scent that is a dead easy reach for cooler days. 8/10 overall!

The LeMale and Original Santal vibe is spot on. If I had to pick a side, I would say it leans more LeMale but has some of the Original Santal spiciness facets to it as well. I don't hear this one talked about much which is a shame.....but I can see why since it does share similarities with LeMale and Original Santal. It's definitely creamy and refined rose/mint/lavender. Blended together it gives this luxurious spiciness that gives this scent bubble that everyone will want to know more about. This can be worn just about any time of the year and to just about any function you're going to! In terms of complements, I would put it above Percival....and that's saying a lot since Percival always garners attention. Longevity......I put this on the other day at 6am right out of the shower on my t-shirt (4 sprays). I picked up wafts the entire work day and could easily smell it into the evening. Who can wear this? Because it has a bit of that playful LeMale thing going on I think someone in their early 20's can pull it off. I'm in my mid 40's and wear this occasionally throughout the year. Cheers!