Layton Exclusif

Continuing my Parfums De Marly streak with Layton Exclusif today. If Layton is the friend that everyone loves and gets along with, Layton Exclusif is his dark, brooding brother sitting in the corner. Layton is undoubtedly the most talked about fragrance from PDM, but Layton Exclusif doesn't get much press. I've reviewed Layton already and it did get a vote of "love" from me. However, will this turn out to be like Pegasus Exclusif that I ended up enjoying more than Pegasus? Let's find out together; Scent: The opening is nutty, citrusy, and woody. The primary notes I get are almond, bergamot, laotian oud, and mandarin orange. The strongest of the notes are the oud and almond. The oud is noticeable from the very beginning as a uniquely intense and dark wood note. Laotian Oud is notorious for being a very "funky" type of oud, and it's no different in this fragrance. Not quite to the point that it's challenging, but it definitely flirts with it. There's also an animalic tinge, but I'm thinking that's coming from the Civet and not the oud itself. The almond note is nutty and slightly bitter but mostly sweet. This is followed by the bergamot and mandarin orange. Both notes carry a citrus tone to them, with the orange providing sweetness while the bergamot provide aromatics and fresh spice. I also get hints of the coffee in the opening, but not too much. The dry down is woody, sweet, and earthy. The primary notes I get are Laotian oud, vanilla, guaiac wood, and indonesian patchouli. The strongest of the notes are the Laotian oud and vanilla. The oud still has the same intense and funky woodiness from the opening, nothing has changed there. The vanilla follows closely behind with a creamy, gourmand sweetness similar to fresh vanilla beans. This is followed by the guaiac wood and patchouli. The guaiac wood adds more woodiness to the dry down nuanced by smoky tones. Lastly, the patchouli is recognizable in the background as a dark earthiness that reminds me of the aroma of damp soil; but in a good way. Further in the back I can pick up on the sandalwood as well with its unique creamy woodiness, but it's mostly an afterthought. Much further into the dry down the fragrance is mostly vanilla with a bit of woods underneath. Performance: Initial projection is very strong at 6+ feet. Sillage matches that with a heavy scent trail. After about four hours the projection and scent trail were unchanged. Around the 7-8 hour mark the projection was still about 4-6 feet and the scent trail was still easily noticeable. The fragrance didn't become a skin scent until after 12 hours. When to wear: Layton Exclusif is a fall/winter fragrance best suited for evening wear. This is not a casual wearing fragrance and is best suited for special occasions or anytime you want to stand out in a crowd. Date nights would be a tricky wear because of how off-putting oud can be for some, but it could work if you're feeling daring. Formal occasions would probably be the most suitable scenario, but I would go light on the sprays. For obvious reasons, this is not a safe pick for the office. Blind buy: The Laotian Oud makes this not a safe blind buy. This wasn't made to be mass-appealing like its brother Layton, and only people that can appreciate natural oud will enjoy this fragrance. If you like oud, give this one a sample to see how it strikes you. Final verdict: Layton Exclusif turned out to be a positive experience. I'll admit that when I first sprayed it I made a bit of a face because of the oud. However, after I got used to it I discovered it to be quite enjoyable. I found myself going back to smell it on my arm more often than I thought I would. The scent profile of Layton Exclusif is pretty easy to describe; take Layton, remove the apple, and add natural oud. That's pretty much it. It's very similar in that regard to comparing Pegasus to Pegasus Exclusif; it's just added complexity through mostly oud. And even though they share similarities, they aren't redundant of each other. I won't say I enjoy this one more than Layton like I enjoyed Pegasus Exclusif more than Pegasus, but I like it just as much as Layton. Performance is noticeably more powerful than Layton though; at least four hours of strong projection and sillage and lasting at least 12 hours before starting to wear off. I'm sure it goes without saying, but Layton Exclusif is not winning any awards for versatility or mass-appeal. It's usage is very niche, essentially just formal occasions, and some people will think this smells like literal crap because of the oud. But this isn't what Layton Exclusif was made for. It's made for those that like statement fragrances and can handle challenging notes. Those who want to stand out and not smell like everyone else around them. If you want something everyone will like, just get Layton. All this being said, even though I can appreciate the beauty of Layton Exclusif, I don't think it's one I'll end up adding to my collection. It's just so niche that I won't get enough usage to justify the price. That and the fact that I already have Layton. But I'll definitely keep a decant around though for those few and far between occasions where it would work. Scent: 9/10 Longevity: 10/10 Sillage: 10/10

Layton Exclusif opens mature and elegant with wood, musky, soft floral, and strong spicy accords. The opening is spicy, bright, great projection, strong almost pungent/animalic but still very pleasant. The opening is a mix of multiple notes, first a combination of mandarin orange and bergamot, which adds a pinch of citrusy accord giving Layton Exclusif a spicy freshness; then the almond which feels more like a blending note rather than a featured note; curiously the woody notes described as base notes, come up immediately upon application and continue through the various phases of the fragrance. The watery notes of the opening are barely noticeable. The floral notes of the mid combine themselves adding a needed touch of softness to a fragrance that otherwise would be too harsh, however, Layton Exclusif is far from a floral fragrance. The civet found in the mid notes comes up immediately upon application and it gives Layton Exclusif a clear animalic/musky touch which makes it strong but not pungent. With these notes, Layton Exclusif moves to its dry-down, here a vanilla accord develops, noticeable but not overly sweet; the coffee is just a whiff whereas the musk is prominent and blends well with the civet of the mid notes giving Layton Exclusif its outstanding projection. Once fully dried-down, Parfums de Marly Layton Exclusif can be summarized as a mostly woody, musky, and spicy fragrance with some fruity/citrusy, floral, and vanilla accords. This fragrance feels refined, elegant, unique, of high-quality, and projects lots of confidence. Its opening and dry-down performance are excellent. Compared with Layton, Layton Exclusif feels less fruiter, woodier, spicier, and muskier. If Layton and Layton Exclusif would be brothers, Layton Exclusif would be the older brother, the same fantastic DNA but Layton Exclusif feels less fresh and more mature. Batch reviewed: 2020 Wow Rating: 10/10. Layton Exclusif is an impressive fragrance. Dislike Rating: 3/10. Its animalic notes may be too strong for some people. Uniqueness: 10/10. Layton has a distinctive and unique aroma. Mass Appeal: 8/10. This is a fragrance that will please most people. Projection: 5/10. Excellent, about five feet around the wearer. Sillage: 6/10. Excellent, about six feet behind the wearer. Application: Four atomizations will suffice, more could make the fragrance offensive. Longevity: 6/10. Excellent, about six hours. Seasons: Any. Layton Exclusif is more of a night fragrance, may not be ideal for hot weather. Occasions: Formal events, outdoor gatherings, business, casual, clubbing. Versatility: 7/10. Good versatility but not the best. Gender: Masculine, its spicy tones make it masculine. Ages: Any. Recommendation: A niche price for a worthy nice fragrance. If you have Layton and its freshness is good enough for you then you can pass on Leyton Exclusif. If you have Leyton and you feel you need a more intense, less fresh, more musky fragrance, then Layton Exclusif is your answer. Blind-Buy: No, sample it first. Similar: From the same house its younger brother, Layton is another great fragrance sharing the same DNA. The Dua Fragrances house produces clones, not all of them are good, however, Dua Fragrances Royal Chariot Attar is an impressive good clone of Layton. Summary: A strong woody, musky, and spicy fragrance with light fruity/citrusy, floral, and vanilla accords; refined, elegant, bold, and high-quality.

Layton Exclusif was a scent which I had no intent of ever buying, considering I found the original Layton, which I had tried at an airport, smelled like a cacophony of overwhelming sweetness to me. I just happened to come across Layton Exclusif in the mall and to my surprise, I loved it right off the bat. Of course, having my fair share of experience with fragrances, I let it sit on my skin for a bit and once again to my surprise, I loved the fragrance throughout. That was it. I had Layton Exclusif in my collection by the end of the week. It has also somehow made Layton more tolerable to me as well, but the Exclusif, to me, is easily the superior of the two. Layton Exclusif opens up with the note of almond and a hint of bergamot with an underlying woodiness from the oud. There’s also a hint of civet in the base. It is this combination of Oud and civet that made me love LE right off the bat. It smells more mature, more upscale than its younger brother. The bergamot soon fades and the almond note also takes a backseat. Off my skin, the prominent notes are the oud and civet with a touch of coffee. It lacks the cloying and quite frankly juvenile apple note that was so annoyingly overwhelming in the original Layton. The fragrance is very dark and it is only in the extreme dry down when the fragrance turns into a skin scent that I can pick up a faint vanilla note. I have a bottle with the batch number 103904 and it says 78% at the bottom. The projection is quite good for the first 2-3 hours. It’s not a room filler by any means but it’s more than enough to get people to notice you. I find the performance to be a bit lacking. Off my skin, I’d say it only lasts for about 6 hours or so. Maybe it doesn’t work with my skin chemistry because everyone else seems to be getting fantastic longevity out of it. I find the fragrance to be quite masculine, while the original Layton felt more unisex to me. This also wouldn’t appeal to the masses as much due to the presence of animalic notes and it being quite dark. However, it achieves what it set out to and stands out from a plethora of fragrances out there. Overall I’d give it an 8.5/10.

😈 The Darker Brother of Desire Usually, I create stories to describe the fragrances I love — but this time, let’s call it what it is: Not a story. A fantasy. Layton is the gentleman playboy in his late 20s — sharp suit, fast car, playful wink. But Layton Exclusif? He’s the older brother. Early 30s — more mature, no longer a playboy, but a seductive fetishist in full control of his desires. The one who walks slower but owns the room. The one who speaks softer, but every word lands like a promise... or a threat. There’s no rush in his seduction. No games. He knows what you want — and how long you’ll wait for it. He’s not the man who makes you blush. He’s the man who makes you lose control. He doesn’t seduce with sweet nothings. He uses silence, a glance, the space between words. He knows exactly where to touch — and when to stop — just long enough to make you beg. By the time he’s finished, she’s not just satisfied — she’s unmade. The sheets are ruined — and so is her body, of course — thoroughly used, every entrance flooded and left quivering. ;) Her sense of restraint? Gone. And he’s still ready for another round, dripping in sweat, not even out of breath. ⸻ The Scent It opens with dark apple, cinnamon, and lavender, but gone is the flirty freshness of Layton. Here it’s animalic and deep like bitten skin. Oud, gaiac wood, vanilla — not sweet... but dangerous. He doesn’t promise romance. He promises intensity. And once you’ve tasted it, everything else feels... boring. Think Christian Grey, but turned into Mads Mikkelsen’s Hannibal — refined, articulate, hauntingly polite... but with eyes that say “I will ruin you beautifully.” He doesn’t chase. He lets you crave. ⸻ I like, but don’t love the original Layton — but this one is my favourite PDM, along with Althair and Herod. 10/10. A scent for men who don’t just seduce — they conquer.

This one was a blind-buy for me. I expected an 'in your face' oud and powerful opening, but what I found is a very elegantly put together mix of floral, spicy, woddy, ambery, and citrussy notes, which I am still looking for, by the way. I was not a fan of scents that include rose, but I am simply blown away by the elegance of this masterpiece. I spray it behind both ears + on the back of my wrists, and my day is filled with the development of this one. It goes from lifting you up with the almonds (I pick up a bit of cardamom in there) and vanilla, leading to mysterious interplay of oud combined with rose, which, I should note, is a god damn good combination. It's mysterious, sexy, elegant, beautiful, and it comes out a couple of hours after you have sprayed it on. The vanilla remains dominant but mixes with patchoulli, coffee, and amber. Wearing it throughout the day and for e.g. work, you will be noticed in the morning and loved for the smell of almond milk vanilla frappucino, or simply a cup of almondy-vanilla coffee for non-U.S. employees. After lunch time, it will give you the excitement, lift your spirits and energize you through notes of rose, oud, vanilla, pepper, musk, and back to the rose again. After work, you will receive your afternoon cup of coffee to relax and enjoy the boozyness of vanilla, coffee, oud, amber, and patchoulli. Wearing it at night is a whole different story. It brings the slow start that a night-out may have, leading through the fever and excitement that follows after the first beat and gives you the hint of booziness for the after party or even the morning coffee afterwards. A very versatile, powerful, and elegant scent. It's not pushy or arrogant and it does not need to prove itself. It's aware of its elegance and pleases all those who can value it

R#1 A word of advice: this is for a more mature crowd. As someone in their early 20s, I got lucky getting it from an older relative, and for first impressions, everyone I've shown it to immediately responds with, "It smells like a grandpa." TO CLARIFY that is the initial reaction of it when first sprayed. This fragrance is highly dependent on your skin chemistry, and I do not recommend spraying it on clothes, especially in high heat and humidity, because it will become a very sour and uncomfortable smell. When correctly applied and depending on the individual, it first starts off as animalic for everyone. But as I've tested, it seems that after the first hour, it begins to lose the animalic note, and by the third hour the sillage goes in between intimate - moderate. In the dry down for younger people, it becomes a beautifully creamy and ambery scent with subtle hints of incense and floral. For older folks, it stays generally similar, but the animalic note stays longer and becomes much smokier, which makes it retain what a lot of people would describe as the "grandpa smell." However, it still has a beautifully complex scent profile that makes you want to smell it over and over again all day which is wonderful because the longevity is eternal. Overall, I wouldn't particularly suggest this if you're trying to get compliments from strangers. This feels more like a scent you'd wear around someone you're very close and comfortable with, someone who doesn't mind the "stinky" parts of you, who appreciates you for all you are, and loves it. FYI after being accustomed to the scent, you can immediately smell the wonderful dry down but sadly the animalic note will be present in the top notes.

Unlike most people, I don't really like Layton. It's too sweet and repulsive for me; it feels like a bad boy perfume. I didn't like it. I thought I'd give it a try for a while, and for the first 15 minutes, I thought it was the same. It clearly shows Layton's DNA, but after that, it took on a completely different character. The more I smelled it, the more I wanted to smell it. The opening, middle, and drydown sections have different scents. I've never encountered this before. It's surprising that it suits such a general taste considering the notes in it. I will once again share my feelings that. I tried it again today and I really liked it. Reading that it's animalic surprised me because I don't smell anything like that at all. It's so soft and refined, and I feel amazing. I bought my bottle right away. When I saw it in the comments below I said ohh thankfully I'm not the only one who senses the tomato leaf-like note, let me get to the point. When I first tried it, it felt similar to the Memo Italian Lather perfume, which I really like. I wasn't convinced to buy a full bottle of Memo, but the tomato-leaf note in that perfume was drawing me in. Layton Exc definitely has a similar scent to it, that's why I want to smell it every time I smell it. Try that perfume and discover the similar note. Layton Exc has built something incredibly masculine, a masterpiece, by incorporating that note.

If I close my eyes and sit quietly I can take myself back to when I first smelled this gem. I won't talk about the notes here but more so my journey and how I discovered this fantastic fragrance. I actually discovered PDMs Layton Exclusif having never smelled the original Layton. In a time where I knew very little about fragrances this became my absolute go to and favorite to use. I bought Layton Exclusif after smelling it just one time I knew it was for me. At the time I didn't really understand the nuances of situational usage... Basically, rain, snow or shine I felt very comfortable using this. That said it's probably more of a winter/fall fragrance which the notes suggest as well. There is probably better options for the warmer weather honestly. I've been complimented on this fragrance more than any fragrance I own and I own over 100. This will forever be one of the absolute best fragrances that every man should consider in his collection. This is Layton but more grown up, more complex and more unique. if you like Layton and want something that could challenge you but is still mass appealing--This is one of the best on the market flat out. PDM is one of my favorite houses and I own a lot of their creations. It’s essentially mass appealing niche which is oxymoronic I know. But I highly recommend exclusif and I think it deserves more praise. Cheers 10/10

I have the sample vial of this. I own OG Layton for 2 years now. Love it. My God thats right up there w/ Aventus. It's parfum de Marley's masterpiece. However....GET YOUR NOSE ON EXCLUSIF!! Same exact DNA as Layton, but with Almond , Oud, tinge of coffee and a civet animalistic note,... not fecal dirty. An intriguing scent! There is something about this exclusif that messes with your Olifactory senses. Usually people will say, "Oh this smells like such and such from this house or it smells identical to this other houses parfum." Not the case with Layton Exclusif. This is on its own and by itself and it's Unique. This is a masterpiece. . The drydown is a greener animalized Layton. This would be the Nightime Layton. There is a green note in this that smells amazing with the Oud, coffee and all the other notes. It really is damn good. It's a unique scent that you would wear once in a while. Maybe not full bottle worthy because of this fact. It's a once in a while fragrance.... a travel spray decant would be good since it IS unique situation wise to wear. **** Layton you could wear by just grabbing it. This is definitely the more mysterious and more sensual intriguing cousin of Layton. This should be right next to your Aventus....that's how good it is. Scent: 9.5 Unique and nothing smells like this. Nothing. Sillage: 9 Longevity: 9.

I picked this beauty up for father’s day for my husband. He absolutely loves it. It beats Layton by a mile, especially with longevity and silage. His skin brings out all the citrus and watery notes of the opening with the apple making it exceptionally fresh. I don’t get much if any almond in the opening, unless that’s the creamy smell of the freshness. The heart has the civet smell, but it’s tame. (Pun intended!). The animalic smell is nuanced by the geranium and the lavender with just a hint of spice. This is where it starts to warm up that freshness. The heart lasts for a moderate amount of time before the vase kicks in. On the dry down I get that spice amped up by the oud/vanilla/sandalwood. My nose can’t really pick out the coffee. The amber helps to round out the spice but really it’s all about the Wood.. 😉 I love it. It reminds me of a career driven gentleman in a Versace suit in a corner office somewhere in Times Square. Definitely a great gift for the man in your life. Not a summertime wear. Early spring or fall. Possibly winter.

I believe I smelled this when I tested the line at Nordstrom 2 years ago. But apparently it didn't stand out to me at the time because I didn't remember what it smelled like. Making my recent purchase a (semi) blind buy. But a pre reform version, at the price I found it for, I'd say it was a highly successful one. Its Layton but (as many report) it settles into a more woody and yes a little animalic finish. I also pick up smoky and leathery facets (from the oud) that are not mentioned. I can see why some would not like it. But I enjoy it and personally find it a little addicting. Catching wiffs of it long after you think its gone is one of the best experiences. I also find that clothes allow traces of the top and middle to be detected hours into the drydown. What a handsome scent! It has class for days. I dont know how it measures against the current version but this is chef's kiss. Parfums de Marly suprised me again. I never thought I'd enjoy this house as much I have been lately.

Buyer BEWARE: This thing is a monsterous powerhouse. If you're looking for subtlety, this is not that. However for the rest of you... This is a bitter, slightly creamy woodsy fragrance backed by a touch of sweetness from the vanilla and coffee notes. It projects like crazy due to what it's made up of, and the light animalic touch helps that too. Further from the fragrance you catch light whiffs of bitter woods and civet, but as you come closer, you get the almond, vanilla, and everything in between. Only problem I find with this is that it is screechy and loud...biggest solution is to wear this on the colder days or during cold nights. This is NOT a going out fragrance, not to a club or a party...date fragrance, maybe, although you'd maybe want something sweeter for that, at least for me. This one is hands-down staying in my collection though, even if it is a harder wear, because it is just that unique. Overall: 8.5/10 Safe blind buy: Hell no, try before you buy

I've experienced the OG Layton for a few years now and always found it too mainstream and generic for a high end fragrance. Don't get me wrong it smells nice and will garner attention but for me you get the same with many designer scents for a fraction of the cost. I waited a long time before trying Layton Exclusif based on the above but I was wrong. This has the same undertone as Layton with the apple and Vanilla vibe but it's so much more. There's a dirty earthy edge to this with some darker notes making it much more grown up and interesting. It lasts longer than Layton and still pulls in the positive reactions. Price is high but if you are on fragrance groups this can be got at good prices, I got a 125ml 2020 pre reformulated tester bottle for under £150. For that price its a no brainer. For the colder months this for me is a must have in anyone's collection. Don't be put off by Layton if you feel the same way I did about it, this stuff is a masterpiece.

Smells like Layton with more strength and dynamic range. It is slightly fresher in the opening and deeper in the drydown. Original Layton feels like it's missing something in comparison. Exclusif has the apple and spice turned up a bit and the vicksy herbals turned down. The opening on strip made me go "wow" out loud when the Nordstrom employee accidentally gave me exclusif instead of original. The drydown introduces coffee and oud which I much prefer to the aromatic dry down of Layton. It's very long lasting and eventually leaves you with a dry sweet skin scent reminiscent of Grand Soir or Tobacco Vanille. I don't get any civet/animalics at all and I think there is some power of suggestion going on for people who read the notes first (its not listed on other sites). However it is very easy to over spray for the awesome opening then cloy yourself with powderiness in the drydown. 9/10.

I sampled this only because the OG Layton unfortunately does not last shit on my skin (basically becomes a skin scent after 45 minutes), and well I am so glad I did. This is the perfume where I can instantly justify the PDM price tag, as this really gives something more. PDM has a lot of incredibly pleasant scents, but I always felt that for the price they can be - sometimes - a little too close to some designer scents. Not the case with this one. As Aaron Terence Hughes perfectly put it, it has that "filth accord", which imo is the animalic-oud Exclusif accord itself, also found in Pegasus Exclusif. That clearly elevates this scent to a whole other level of complexity. Definitely signature-worthy elegant and refined yet dark and provocative formulation. Currently one of my favourite scents, I will probably pull the trigger on a whole bottle soon.

Awesome fragrance. I never personally enjoyed the original Layton too much due to how sweet it was. I could appreciate that it was a great smelling, mass appealing, non generic scent but it wasn't for me. Exclusif is different. The Layton DNA is there and it's under the surface ready to burst out, but it never does. It takes a backseat and is overpowered by a new woody facet that gives the perfume a whole new dimension. I was worried about the civet being too nasty but it isn't at all, I barely even notice it. It's not a skunky/dirty fragrance whatsoever. I also don't pick up on much oud. In short it's Layton minus the menthol and sweetness with added woods and a smoother, more mature vanilla. It's fantastic although perhaps less versatile than the OG, but could see this being amazing in colder weather.

Exclusif opens with Layton's signature Apple but with a dark, smoky, animalistic twist. You don't get the vicks vapor rub nuance that some people allude to with Layton. Feels more niche than Layton(if that even makes sense)... although my opinion is that Layton is not as mass appealing as influencers will lead you to believe. I've had both for a long time and do not feel like it's redundant to own both. Layton is easier to wear at first but if you've owned Layton for a while, I feel like you can rock Exclusif in many of the same situations. The wearing experience is more robust and long lasting perhaps more shouty even. Dry down is almost identical. You get 10 to 12+ hours consistently with Exclusif to Layton's 6 to 8 hours on skin. Both last to next day on clothes.

This juice is so good I had to do another review and I already did one. 🤣 #1....Hamid Merati-Kashani......amazing perfumer on Layton Exclusiv........ along with other greats out there like Alberto Morillas, and while we're at it let's give a nod to Natalie Gracia- Cetto as well for Moustache EDP. I agree with a reviewer on here who said not only is this fragrance unique and a mysterious version of Layton, but THE OPENING is phenomenal. **** I wish a perfumer would come up with just the opening of this fragrance that lasts and lasts. It's such an awesome opening and it's unique. If the OG regular Layton, to some Would be unisex leaning masculine, then Layton Exclisif is 100% masculine. Just wear this on date nights or nights out.

This is a masterpiece in all honesty and preferable to the original layton if you’re looking for something stronger, more mature and a little more complex Very warm vanilla almond thats woody, amber, a little watery fresh, and has a little funk/animalistic to it (Not too much) and somehow it works This is such a unique manly cologne while also remaining sweet and seductive at the same time. The only drawback is I think this is for an older crowd (late 20’s or 30+). Due to the animal and oud notes in it, I think its harder for a younger crowd to pull this off or like. And I don't say that often for fragrances Still its one of the most interesting mens winter fragrances I’ve smelled for sure

Some of these reviews below are appalling. This is not challenging whatsoever. It truly truly is not. And it’s not animalic. Whatever animalic notes that are in this are very subtle. It is also not a sweet fragrance as someone below me described. In my opinion this is much better than the OG Layton. Much more interesting with a lot more depth than the original. I still love Layton as well though. Layton is for the day. Layton Exclusif is for the night. Amazing for going out and getting dressed up. You will have people asking what you’re wearing if that’s something that interests you. If you’re thinking about trying this one and enjoy dark, smoky and spicy fragrances I highly recommend.