Hibernatus

What a nice rendition of Lapidus pour Homme! The carnation and honey are definitely enhanced here at its opening, as the honey-orange-patchouli at the drydown, making it sweeter and more floral than its original counterpart. It took off that strong animalic (or some may say pissy) accord from LpH and left something that reminds me of Warde by Kajal (another one on my wishlist).

I would give this perfume my rare 5-star rating if it weren't 90% a clone of Lapidus. However, Hibernatus has some merits of its own that even stand out compared to the original. The perfume has more honey and clove and less incense and animalic character than Lapidus, making it a bit less warm and more shareable. It opens very sweet, and the strong presence of clove and rose reminds me a bit of Phebo's Odor de Rosas. Paris Elysees' fresh perfumes tend to have an overly dominant artificial and sharp note, giving off a "cheap perfume" vibe. However, in Hibernatus, which is warm, heavy, and enclosed, it completely matches the construction quality of other designer powerhouses. It's unbeatable in terms of cost-benefit.