La Collection M7 Oud Absolu

Well, sometimes the purist side of ourselves screams more than the sensible and realistic side. M7 Oud Absolu is NOT the same as the original M7. Yes, this is true. But... the M7 feel is the same wearing all of the three formulations and the overral smell, even not bieng identical, is pretty much the same as the other two formulations. For the average guy, all three will smell identical after about 30 minutes. M7 Oud Absolu opens with a blast of myrhh and mandarin orange, with the oud very in the background. The feeling is very mineral and balmy, and is the major difference between the two other versions and this one. This open balmy and mineral, and the original M7 opens very medicinal, like a cherry cough syrup. This stay for about 20 minutes, that's when the oud comes. And comes very strong. The heart of this composition, whit stays about 30 minutes to 4 hours after the application is a mix of oud, myrhh, a little bit of labdanum (to give a resinous feel) and patchouli on the background. After this heart, the patchouli starts to appear as a major note. The base of this fragrance, that occurs about 4 hours after application is basically a mix between oud and patchouli, with hints of myrhh and labdanum (the same story again, to give the resinous feel of amber of the original M7). And it stays this way until the fragrance dies. I normally do 7 sprays with this one. The overall feeling is that you a wearing M7. It smells like M7 and the feeling is the same. Even having some differences in the scent, I can say that this is easily 90% the same as the original. And the changes that they made turned this one sexier and more modern. So, it can be a downpoint for some, but can be an advantage to others. Here go the ratings: Scent: 10 (Is M7. And is closer to the vintage formulation than the reformulation) Lasting power: 9 (8 to 10 hours on my skin. Weaker than the other two, but still excellent) Projection: 8 (Projects very well for the first 2 hours, then 2 hours of moderate projection and becames skin for the rest of the fragrance) Sillage: 6 (It leaves a scent trail, but disappears quickly from the place. Very elegant) Versatility: 8 (If it's not hot, you can wear it for about anything.) Final note: 9,5 It's still M7. And it's still a masterpiece. However, it's not the same as the others, and prefering the cherry cough syrup opening of the original than the mineral and balmy opening of Oud Absolu in addition to the lost of performance, this loses half a point in my book. But I love then almost equally. M7 will be forever my favourite fragrance ever, and this is a very close and cheap alternative for those who don't want to spend loads of money on the original M7. You will still be wearing the king M7 using this one. Nevermind the haters and enjoy M7 Oud Absolu!

Original M7 is an interesting fragrance, but somewhat rough and aggressive--that's what makes me think caused it to go out of the shelves. In contrast, M7 Oud Absolu seems to me as if the original juice was polished its rough edges, thus becoming much more pleasant and user-friendlier. My new bottle landed on my hands yesterday afternoon before coming back home. After unpacking it, I said to myself, "This is the same classic M7!" I sprayed some on my wrist, and I was blown away--yes, it is the same scent, but it's more rounded, creamier, and nicer; it's like they took the original juice, diluted it, and added more sparkling mandarin orange, myrrh, and labdanum to polish it so that more people can enjoy it. You can feel the typical cherry syrup vibe that is really unique (in classic M7, it's more like a raspberry syrup smell to my nose). For those who are wondering if this is the same old M7, I'd say this is 85-90% the original fragrance. When it comes to performance, M7 Oud Absolu offers fair longevity (4-6 hours), with moderate projection and sillage; it's not a beast as you can see, but classic M7 isn't that beastly, either--it sports 6-8 hour longevity, with medium sillage and projection. It stands out mostly at night, but it can be used in the daytime with fewer spritzes. Fragrancewise, M7 Oud Absolu smells wonderful! I like this one a lot more than its elderly brother, but I do wish performance was better. In my humble opinion, this perfume makes up for the absence of the old juice, and so it prevents us from having to spend too much money on it. Here's my rating: Fragrance: 10/10 Sillage: 8/10 Projection: 7/10 Longevity: 6/10 Value for Money: 7/10 Score: 7.6/10 AUGUST 5TH, 2017 UPDATE: At around 10 p.m. last night, I sprayed some on my left arm, and I was still able to feel it at 7 a.m. today. To me, M7 Oud Absolu is a superb fragrance, and let's take into account it's been produced by L'Oréal. This is my new rating: Fragrance: 10/10 Sillage: 8/10 Projection: 8/10 Longevity: 9/10 Value for Money: 9/10 Score: 8.8/10

I wanted to buy Tom Ford's Oud Wood, but I simply won't pay that much for such a small bottle. M7 Oud Absolu seems to be a great alternative. It's the cheapest Oud fragrance I could find, which I assume must be a consequence of it having less oud inside. I still get to smell enough of it and I really enjoy the sweet part, which seems to be mandarine (though I couldn't identify it). But it still smells manly enough, which is great. The only thing I miss from Tom Ford's Oud Wood is the woodier campfire deepness, like burnt wood. I don't get that here. So I might like Oud Wood a tiny bit more, but considering M7 gives me more liquid for less money, I will always opt out for the latter (unless I become a millionaire). EDIT: After longer use, I have to say I don't like the opening as much as the dry down. It starts weirdly, very slightly off-putting even. EDIT No. 2: After even longer use, I really have to say I have a love-hate relationship with this fragrance. I'm just not sure. Everytime I put it on I'm kind of disappointed I bought it, but then later in the day, especially when I have other perfumes on my body and smell the comparison, I always love it again. It smells high quality and really pleasant in the later hours. I don't hate the opening though. It is a pretty sharp one and the oud is nearly absent, but I can't say I hate smelling it. I don't love it, either. But for whatever happens later, right now I don't feel like tossing this fragrance yet (or removing it from my favorites / love-list). The problem is, before drydown hits, in order for it to really smell good in the first few hours, I have to breathe on my skin and quickly catch a sniff, or bury my nose into the skin. I don't have this issue with my other perfumes. I have no issues with the performance, it always lasts all day for me, but I don't think it projects very far for too long.

The Chronicles of Kapow or The Ultimate Fragrance Buyer’s Guide Until I Find a More Pompous Title: Entry Number 9 The amber-oud-patchouli effect works perfectly. The mandarin note in the opening is also very nice. This fragrance is elegant and mature. It has a touch of sweetness making it still accessible for a younger audience. It is a very comforting scent. The myrrh projects quite well, but the fragrance is not a beast and it quickly becomes more intimate. It is obviously an autumn or winter scent, but I can imagine wearing it in a cold spring evening too. I have just bought the new bottle to compare with M7 Oud Absolu. I am not sure there is a difference. The opening of the Oud absolu appears stronger, but this bottle macerated for ages. It still needs to be confirmed. Apart of that, it is the same scent. The original M7 was a blast and it was my signature for a while. It made history to become a legend, but it has to be replaced in its context too. Years later, this one is slightly different, but still very nice. It is smoother, less animalic and disturbing. I dare to say it is one of the nicest oud fragrance made by a designer available on the market at the moment. To find something better you have to go niche (Carved Oud by Thameen, Haltane by PDM...) or to be ready to pay TF prices (even Armani Privé Oud Royal or Ombre Nomade by Louis Vuitton). But still, this one will keep its charm. I am glad it remains available on the market. In my book, it deserves A-. I love this one, but a higher grade would show my personal bias.

This is a review of the black-dipped Oud Absolu bottle, not the clear one that seems to get panned for terrible performance. M7 Oud Absolu is an incredibly handsome and versatile fragrance, with a touch of darkness and romantic artistry that keeps both wearer and passerby interested. Compared to the OG M7's rosemary-heavier opening, Oud Absolu features more orange and an elevated patchouli note, delivering a slightly more dirty-earthy opening. Underneath is a base of oud and myrrh, which together provide a pleasantly light and sweet cough-syrup effect. Sounds maybe questionable, but it's actually fantastic. The oud is quite mild and approachable, and the overall product is quite well blended. I can't identify too much labdanum here. Comparing the original M7 with Oud Absolu, up close the original leans a hair sweeter and smoother with that incredible touch of rosemary. In the air, they're virtually identical. In terms of performance, the original M7 gets rave reviews for its longevity, but either my original M7 bottle has faded from age, or my nose simply grows anosmic to this whole DNA. Oud Absolu's performance is certainly a bit of a quieter fragrance, but that also enhances its compelling intimacy. Overall, both fragrances are phenomenal. I wouldn't fret about missing out on the original, because Oud Absolu gets you 95% of the way there. Earthier when smelling it up close, but otherwise almost identical impression and wearability

With what appears to be hundreds of reviews of this scent, what can one add that has not already been said? Notes have been covered, over and over again. So how about this.... Back in my 20s (when dinosaurs walked the earth) I used to work for a bank. We had a very old branch that had a few tunnels underneath it. One of the rooms off one of the tunnels had a smell that was very reminiscent of M7. Weird I know, but every time I wear M7 (vintage or this newer version) I can picture that room. I own both the vintage / original version of M7 as well as this newer version. The original is a bit heavier, harsher and edgy to my nose, but unless you are heavily into fragrances (as most of us on this site are) you will not really be able to tell much of a difference. Meaning that John or Jane Doe from the street will more than likely tell you they are the same. So why do I say that? The original M7 is very hard to find now a days and very expensive if you do find it. As of this writing, M7 Oud Absolu is easy to find and fairly inexpensive. While I love the original, you are better off purchasing a bottle of M7 Oud Absolu. If you really want to try the original, look for a small sample to satisfy your curiosity. My $.02. Bottom line: IMO, every man should own this scent, or at the very least, try a sample of it.

I absolutely love this cologne. I didn’t think it still existed. Unless I’m trippin but it Seems like my Dad wore this back in the day. Smells classy barber shop masculine like. Mature. Kind of like Dad used to before going to work. But my wife Dosent like it that much . She said it’s feminine. She’s weird. She rather I wore Mancera Red or Polo. It doesn’t make her sick or anything. Just not her favorite. I just hate that all the notes seem to fade and you’re left with nothing but oud. Like a few others. Last all day but it’s just oud. All smells the same like oud. Could be my nose. But It’s a great cologne for about an hour I suppose. Then it’s just oud. I love it though. And I’m probably wrong because I can catch wiffs much later. Just not a loud choice. That’s all. I’m definitely in team over sprayer though. Problem solved. Jk. I really do enjoy this for what it is. For the purpose this serves as. I do have to keep the wife happy though. So I find time to wear it when I’m running errands. It gives me a sense of confidence and maturity . A little class and reminds me of Pops I suppose. Update: Yea , Dad says son you’re trippin ? He likes it so thinking maybe I’ll give it to him

This fragrance is one of my favorites. The bottle is gorgeous and the atomizer is perfect. You can read the notes in the header, or seek out a more knowledgeable reviewer's take on the development of the fragrance itself, I'm only here to share my thoughts on the character. I was fortunate enough to acquire some vintage M7 (I had to have it after falling so hard for this one) and, in my opinion, the two are VERY similar. As others have said, M7 OA is a somewhat softer version of its predecessor, and is smoother in all aspects. I find it to have more layers and, as such, a bit more depth. Vintage is more poignant and spirited, but somewhat linear. I don't know if I prefer one to the other; they're both simply fantastic. I'll be more likely to wear M7 OA to the office and around town, and Vintage to special events or romantic nights (it's rarity adds to the treasure). If you've never smelled both, and find yourself interested, Oud Absolu is a very close reproduction of the storied original. You simply cannot go wrong with either.

Reviewing the "M7" version of this with the clear glass and orange liquid. NOT the blacked out bottle with "Oud Absolu". I'm not really sure if there is any difference or not in the scent profile, but I have the newer "M7" bottle with batch code from 2023. What can I say? Spectacular amber/myrrh with a gorgeous orange embellishment throughout. The orange is really what makes this special, I think, and probably the labdanum too. There's nothing really dirty in this fragrance, despite the listed oud note. I wouldn't call this an "oud" fragrance" to be honest. To me this is an amber/myrhh which goes slightly churchy, but the orange brightens it up enough to where it's mass appealing and wearable for many occasions. Fall and Winter only. Temperatures should be 65F (18C) and below. Day or night. This leans toward being more dressed up and would shine best with formal attire. 2-3 sprays max. It also leans more mature I'd say 28+ and definitely masculine, I don't see a woman pulling this one off. For the price? This is amazing.

Stunning Fragrance ! Elegant, Classy, Sophisticated , Modern , Complex and Unique. In my opinion, A MASTERPIECE with High Quality Similar to Niche Perfume that has well-blended composition and Lovely balance between Patchouli , Myrrh and Labdanum. I love The Myrrh note in this Scent. YSL M7 Original has The Oud note for first-time in the history of perfumery and I haven't tried it yet. This review is based on the new reformulation clear bottle M7. It opens up with a bit sweet medicinal warm spicy, earthy and balsamic notes in the background then dry down is Creamy a bit Smoky, Balsamic and Ambery. YSL M7 is Soft and Smooth , I really enjoy it from the opening to the dry down and I feel so honoured to have this Masterpiece in my collection. Longevity is good and The Performance is Average. It smells so good and very pleasant, This is perfect for the Cold Weather. If you find YSL M7, It is a blind worthy fragrance. Highly Recommended. Two Thumbs Up. Bravo YSL ! Rating : 9 / 10

Dark and a little sweet, M7 Oud Absolu is a warm and comforting fragrance that exudes elegance and a certain sensuality. As much as people rave over the original M7, I tried it at an airport duty free years ago and I thought it was good but not outstanding. But this flanker of the original is masterful. To my nose M7 Oud Abolu opens with an enticing blast of caramelised orange peel, then the darkness of the oud comes though. The oud intensifies a little during the dry down and the patchouli also becomes more noticeable. Bringing it all together is the comforting warmth of the amber. It's a beautiful fragrance that I enjoy wearing, there is a certain masculinity about it but I think that some women could carry this scent well. This fragrance is not very loud and so it has some versatility, it could be worn in certain professional settings and is suitable for more intimate occasions. The fragrance projects moderately well and it lasts most of the day on me as a skin scent.

Full disclosure; I'm a 72-year-old woman who wears a lot of men's scents. I saw this on eBay a couple of years ago and wondered how YSL would handle an oud fragrance. Fact is, they've made a fabulous fragrance. And one that is amazingly like original Opium parfum, in the red plastic snuff bottle presentation fresh from 1978, or whenever it first arrived (sorry, I didn't look it up first). M7 Oud Absolute is not exactly like Opium, but close enough and only $45 on eBay. I have wondered whether the $45 bottles are faked, not really YSL. So someone please tell me if you think they are. Whatever they are, I think it's a fabulous scent. M7 Oud Absolute is a strong scent, but not as strong as the scents made for the Arabian market. It's not Roja Oud either. I don't have the life most perfume wearers have. Most people would wear this only when out at night, but I wear it to the grocery store in the daytime. I'm considered an old woman, so I can get away with it.

Only ever tried this iteration of M7 so i have no refernce re original. This is one of the best smelling oud-dominant designers on the market. I especially love how the citrus-sweetish, chinotto opening develops into a patchouli/oud cooling middle. The trick is that it opens warm and develops to almost a cool minty patch within the first hour. This i think makes it not just a cold weather scent, but wearable in most spring weather. Eventually it transitions to a lovely syrupy, myrhh and oud combination. It is a beautifully composed scent given the minimal accords used. The one let down on my skin, is that i am luck to get 6 hours maximum longevity. Thus sits close to skin from the outset, and i find myself craving to get wafts of it as the day progresses. At this point, i'll keep it in my colection because it lasts long enough for evening wear, and reasonably priced enough that i am not going to be stingy with sprays. Scent: 8.5/10 Performance: 5/10

Of all the iterations of M7, I have the most recent clear-cube bottle, black-dipped Oud Absolu, and the OG 2nd-gen rectangular bottle with one side painted (which most people here seem to say is virtually identical with the 1st gen.) With the clear-cube bottle on my shelf, I have no reason to go seek out more of the old stuff. They are virtually indistinguishable. Quality remains top-notch. If someone disagrees, I'd ask whether it's because one of their bottles haven't been stored properly. To my nose, Oud Absolu is the most dissimilar out of the three. It leans slightly sharper. And for me, performance is sadly mediocre across all three iterations. When I want nuclear M7, I reach for H7 by Alexandria, which leans more medicinal and sharper, in a good way. H7 could almost be an M7 Intense flanker. Can you tell I'm OBSESSED with this scent profile? I've worn hundreds of creations, and M7 remains distinct -- a top 5 masterpiece for me.

I had the original when it first came out and didn't like it at first, untill a friend wore it one night and just kept smelling it in his trail and fell in love with it,was one of the first fragrances I really liked and started me of on my fragrance journey then it just vanished.. Then got another bottle when they re released it, and to me it smells exactly how I remembered it from all those years ago, I absolutely love it... I've still got a tiny bit left in the oud absolute bottle as I tried to get another bottle but looked like it disappeared again.. But have seen shops have re stocked on this so ordered another bottle incase it dissapers again.. As for being a ysl fragrance it seems to preform really well on my skin and if you liked the original would defo recommend this gem

At the time of writing this review, I have applied M7 Oud Absolu (black label) to my neck and chest, as usual, and...sprayed my the back of my right hand with one shot of the original M7 (4 ingredient, amber-sided bottle) to do a comparison. Here we go...and the lovers of the original (of which I am one) are not going to like this: They are almost identical, AND, I even have to give the edge to the Oud Absolu for projection. I won't go into a scent description, as there are plenty of reviews on this site and other sites to peruse. So...it's your choice. Spend $200+ for the original, or spend about half and essentially have the same product, albeit without the bragging rights. Let me end with saying, I love both of these products and they are prime examples of high-end perfumery.

I have a 10 ml decant of this M7 Oud Absolut and all I can say is that its bold and beautiful, a gorgeously masculine fragrance. I love its scent profile and it's a must in my collection. I already placed an order for a full bottle. I also have a full bottle of the newly reformulated YSL M7 and I like it as well. They share the same DNA but I love this M7 Absolut much better. In fact, I haven't put my nose yet on the original or the rare discontinued vintage M7 but I guess I don't need to, since I am already satisfied with these two. I'll give this gorgeous masterpiece a 10/10 “Let's spread the scents of peace and kindness. The two most beautiful fragrance in the world that will cost you nothing and will get you a totally different kind of compliments” 🙏

#1179 in my "Tour de Fragrance" The minute I sprayed this from the sample sprayette I went online and ordered a full bottle. No other YSL scent I own or have sampled comes close. This is a brilliant and affordable men's fragrance. Classy business wear. Sexy date scent. Solid performance. It's a simple composure with a handful of notes that work magic with a westernized oud and a really delicious myrrh. The orange, labdanum and patchouli brighten it enough keep it from being ponderous and churchy. There is a less expensive Fragrance World copy, "Absolute Oud Magnificent 7", with mixed reviews, but I don't risk a blind buy just to save $30. Car pool, elevator, small office safe. Probably not for summertime, but otherwise I think it's quite versatile.

I am the first to lay into YSL's parent company, and their eternal mission to destroy the heritage of the once great powerhouse fragrance company. However, in the sea of trash that is churned out of this house, this fragrance shines as a glimmer of hope, a sign of true quality. I had been reluctant to purchase anything YSL, following a few poor performing recent fragrances. I had a conversation with the YSL associate who knew what she was talking about, and she explained how strong her customer base was for this fragrance. I used to wear the original M7, but somehow this is even better then I remember, the notes are truly incredible, it lasts and performs remarkably well. Please, please don't alter it. Don't be in any doubt, this is superb.

After ordering M7 Oud Absolu, I thought at first I had been shipped the wrong product by mistake, as what I got has no mention of Oud Absolu. Just says M7. It is a clear bottle with amber liquid. On the side it has the year 2002 and the notes, which clearly are the 2011 Oud Absolu notes. So, I think they've repositioned it, discontinued the old M7, and they're calling the Oud Absolu just plain M7, and pretending it is from 2002. The fragrance is absolutely gorgeous. I love the mandarin opening, and the oud, amber, pachouli, myrrh combination is addictive. Very gentle and wearable, nothing offensive about that oud. It doesn't project very far, ending up fairly intimate, but seems to be long lived. I can't stop smelling it.