Amber Alive

This fragrance is without a doubt the closest you can get to the original Drakkar Noir experience, but improved for today. It is not a 100% 1:1 clone. The addition of amber in the base and a touch more lemon in the opening makes it slightly different, and in my opinion, it works in its favor. It feels more modern, more premium, and more enjoyable overall. The opening is bold and sharp, projecting very heavily for the first 2 hours. From hour 3-4 the projection is moderate, tapering to lighter projection around hour 5, and by 7-8 hours it sits closer to a skin scent. Even then it still leaves a subtle trail if someone walks close by. The base note is beautiful, slightly rounder than Drakkar Noir, and the amber gives it warmth and depth. It’s familiar yet refined, with enough complexity to feel timeless without being trendy. Longevity on skin is solid, giving me 7 hours minimum unmacerated, and probably longer after a month or two of maceration. On clothes, it lasts like a champ, easily 48 hours, and you can catch faint traces even up to 72 hours if you get close. This perfume was made to be noticed, yet it never becomes overbearing. The type of person who will wear this best is specific. If you are 25 and above, especially taller or rugged, you can pull this off effortlessly. I think it appeals even more to men 35 and older, but younger guys with the right style and confidence can make it work. This fragrance is bold without being abrasive, masculine without trying too hard, and confident without asking for permission. Unlike many modern fragrances that feel safe or designed for mass appeal, this is self-assured, the kind of scent that commands attention without forcing it. It smells like an anti-hero from an 80s movie, leather jacket, Doberman, and all. The Fragrantica context is worth noting. There are around 21 reviews, but nearly half are full-text reviews. That is unusual and important. Everyone who bought this fragrance sought a Drakkar Noir-style scent. No one bought it blindly or as a gift. They were looking for something specific, and this delivers. I liked it so much that I bought a backup bottle immediately. That speaks volumes about how strong a performer this fragrance is. It works in any season. You can wear it indoors or outdoors. Outdoors it shines. Indoors, careful spray management helps keep it from overwhelming smaller spaces. It is not a generic office fragrance. It makes its presence known in the first two hours and stays noticeable on clothes for days. If you are searching for Drakkar Noir but want something longer-lasting, more refined, and modernized, this is it. You do not need the original unless you want it for nostalgia or collection purposes. This fragrance delivers premiumness, longevity, and the confident character of a classic aromatic fougere without compromise. For anyone who owns their confidence, does not ask for validation, and wants a timeless masculine scent that stands out, this is the perfume to wear. No regrets, high reward, and worth every penny. This is a statement fragrance that will turn heads, and once you experience it, it is hard to go back to anything else in this style.

I agree to the reviews below me. This is pretty much vintage Drakkar Noir rebottled - not the watery, diluted swill that is currently marketed as "Drakkar Noir". This is the real deal. I've said in most of my other reviews that I'm a huge fanboy of 80s scents, particularly powerhouses. Unfortunately, a lot of them have been reformulated/diluted. In my mind, Kouros and Drakkar Noir are probably the biggest victims. That's why I look into middle eastern clones. Rasisi is a very good house and this release has definitely flown under the radar. It's a hidden gem. I received my bottle today (I actually bought three as they were like $30 each...the glowing reviews here and on Reddit sold me). I applied three sprays to my neck area and was immediately greeted with Drakkar Noir, only more intense. I knew then I'd made a wise decision. My GF snuggled in and we watched a movie. She said a few times "you smell good. I like this one". She bought me a bottle of current Drakkar Noir a few months ago. She agreed that this (Amber Alive) is *very* similar and a lot more potent. During the movie, I got pleasant wafts for the next 2.5 hours. At present, it's been about 5 hours since application and I can still smell it on my shirt. You cannot say the same for current Drakkar Noir. I think this will only improve with time. Definitely pick this up if you're after the scent profile and performance of vintage Drakkar Noir. Don't throw hundreds of $$$ away on a vintage Drakkar bottle when you can pick this up for like $30. You can literally tell people you're wearing vintage Drakkar Noir and they'll believe you. You wear the scent, not the bottle. EDIT: I've had great success layering this with a few swipes of Al Rehab's Dakar oil. The scent profiles of both are very similar. The two, when used in unison, equal "beast mode".

This is Drakkar Noir from the 1990's... Not the watered down garbage that they call Drakkar Noir that they are calling it today. Good longevity and projection is very good, as I would have expected from Rasasi. I have a few bottles of the modernized Drakkar Noir, and I don't wear it much because it becomes a faint skin scent in an hour, and it's such a letdown. I would say this is 35+ for an age range, as it is rather mature. Women seem to love this frag, as when I wear the regular Drakkar Noir, I get compliments from it until this day. This one needs more love, as Drakkar Noir is a timeless classic, and this modernizes and improves on performance in a big way. 8 out of 10.

1990s Drakkar Noir, little modern twist. Very very mature and masculine. 40 plus will like it I think, under that it may feel outdated. Potent stuff, happy to have it in collection. Came back to add more after wearing a few times. This is definitely a more 'manly' fragrance than most of what you will see now days. I love all different types of fragrances but lately I've been drawn to that super hard edge of fragrances. This is good stuff, long lasting and has a great push. Harder to find now, better than current DK noir versions too.

This fragrance needs more love. I know there are Drakkar Noir lovers out there, and this blows it out of the water. I let this macerate for a month or so, and the performance has improved greatly... not that it was a slouch. This lasts all day with a nice scent bubble that you pick up constantly. If they discontinue this, it will be a shame, as Drakkar Noir performance is terrible, and I would pick this every day, and twice on Sunday.