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.

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 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

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.

A MASTERPIECE!!! I actually own both - the original and the latest release and both are getting me more complements than any perfumes I ever used. I’ve had a woman chasing me outside of a supermarket asking about it! It’s simply different than any fragrances out there. It smells like red wine on skin on a summer evening. I think the closest relative would be SANTAL ROYAL by Guerlain. Rich, warm, luxurious, velvety and spicy with fruity undertones and TONES of charisma. Also, I love the masculine amber simplicity of the original bottle which screams Tom Ford’s DNA (not to mention the super-controversial marketing!) I can’t stress how rarely this happens... I have no other option but to give this 10/10(!)😳

This is light on me. I have to go heavy with it and then it gives a soft incense cloud that wafts gently round me. I must admit I prefer my perfume a tad more ballsy. And as a lover of oud, I like the patchouli in this! The vague hint of Agar wood here merely adds a little to the myrrh and labdanum to give the quiet temple fug. That said, the effect is a good one when I catch it. The combination of orange, patch, and incense is sexy and refined. I have similar performance issues with my skin-chemistry and Jubilation XXV and have learnt I have to hammer these particular scents and/or manage my expectations. Smooth warm and sensual if an ethereal tease, YSL Oud Absolu is classy and understated. Nice.

I had the privilege of trying the original version of M7 a few times when it first came out back when I was in high school that my friend left around. Not having much knowledge at all back then of specifics on accords, all I remember was how fantastic it smelt that my friend had to yank it out of my hands to get it back. Fast forwarding 15 years later, that led me to blind buy the remake. I'm wearing it for the first time since then and WOW! I am reminded of how great this masterpiece truly is! Even thought It is difficult for me to say which is better since its been 15 years, but I must say it still smells fantastic. Being that I don't like Oud scents, this is the only exception so far...

I never had the opportunity to test the legendary M7. I do not even recall to had seen it. Maybe because (I read this just a few weeks ago) it was a commercial failure for YSL and it only got its cult status after discontinuation. Thus, after reading all the great comments on this, I decided to go for the M7 Oud Absolu. It was a blind buy since YSL "La Collection" is not available in my city. I am glad I did it. Just using it today ... I am impressed. It is a nice, warm and romantic scent that gets apart from all the top sellers of today, so you won ́t find more folks using it. Scent: 10 Sillage: 6 Longevity: 10 Versatility: 8

I just bought a 80% full bottle of this for 50$. It`s the same bottle in the picture here and a batch from 2016. I have never tried any oud fragrances, but the bottle I got is pure fire! I sprayed one spray on my arm, and seven hours later, it is still almost as strong as when I first applied it. I guess the guy has stored it right because god damn it smells good! The scent is deep, rich and woody and really smooth! I am not good at picking up the detailed ingredients in a scent, but it smells like wealth and class, that's for sure! Oh, it smells like a MAN! This is not unisex!

My husband hates to wear a suit. He would wear any scent I said I liked. I like this. We are yet to find a male scent that is better than this. The oud and patchouli are restrained here, though initial application is a little overwhelming. The dry down is where this beautiful creation comes into its own. So sexy. Warm, spicy, and wonderfully masculine. So despite my husband’s dislike of a suit, end of the day scent in a crumpled white shirt - just wonderful. We have also used both the original and more contemporary versions, both are great.

This is gorgeous. I bought this a LONG time ago...not exactly sure when, but it was at the very least about 10 years ago. I never appreciated the beauty of this. I wasn't mature enough to appreciate oud, especially when it's done this well. I've lived in the Middle East, on and off, for the last 12 years and I've grown to actually love oud. I'm glad I kept this bottle. I will use is sparingly because it's been discontinued for a while and it's very hard to find. If you can get your hands on this beauty, take it and take it fast!

This is a very nice scent and was way ahead of its time when its predecessor M7 launched in 2002. I get syrupy oud with myrrh, very similar to M7 but not identical. I like to call this western oud and it's made for people who have never experienced real oud or find it pungent or barnyard-y. One of the main reasons I bought this is that of my memories of the original M7 and sure it doesn't disappoint, however my favorite M7 version is the 2010 formulation because it is very spicy and less syrupy, too bad I couldn't find one.

Noses are sooo different. The citrus in the top of this one hit me in the face. It reminded me of Shalimar meets Mugler Miroir De Voluptes or Jul et Mad Amour de Palazzo but sharper and rougher. There was that powdery non-Middle-Eastern take on oud but it vanished quickly. Then, this was a rich rich rich amber scent. Glorious. I wanted it to stay there. It did remind me of a rougher and far-less-expensive version of Amour. Then the patch kicked in. It's a patch/amber in the base that is wonderful. A soft skin scent.

Rating based on a new 2022 clear M7 bottle. Nice oud/patchouli fall/winter scent. Good but not great. Medium longevity and sillage. Well priced and still available from the big discounters. I wouldn’t normally bring age into a review but this is what I would definately call a “mature” scent. Very masculine and not something many younger guys would likely enjoy. Similar scent profile as Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens IMO. Not super similar in notes but they give me the same vibe. Cold weather only for me.

As good as M7, to my nose. I'm still not quite sure how much the differences between Oud Absolu and the original can be chalked up to the age of my original bottle or formulation changes. All I know is that Oud Absolu feels like it has a crisper citrus topnote and a drier woodiness to it. The original feel more sweet-sticky-ambery. Both are excellent scents--definitely pick up this re-release before it surges to aspirational prices down the road. A brilliant, wearable, and appealing dark evening scent.

I had two bottles of the original M7 which I sold off for next to nothing. I can't remember why I did at the time and greatly regretted it later. I was glad to see it offered again in this edition. It feels like it's a little less strong and more smooth than the original but still recognizable as old M7. Maybe it only seems this way because at the time this was a more daring scent and nowadays oud is very mainstream. Good longevity and projection. I'm glad to have this one back in my collection.

Rosequeen is so acurate on her 2018 description " 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. " the fragrance is the opium parfum striped of its florals and such ... only thing i can add is that it is oficially discontiued for good

I have the half black bottle of oud absolu and I wonder why it says 2002 on the side. As far as I know, this is a reformulated version of the original m7 which was introduced in 2002, so this one can't be made in the same year. Can someone explain please? Yet another thing, I'm surprised that some people can't find the occasion to wear this. I wear it to work, when going out, and even at home. It's not a gourmand fragrance nor a middle Eastern Oud beast. It's a really safe scent for me.

Great fragrance ! M7 was kind of template for future Private Blend by Tom Ford and still is really good, smells fantastic. As many people said before you can try first formula, but I don't think it's worth that much money unless you're a vintage collector. I have newest bottle without Oud Absolu, just plain M7. Oud Wood is more spicy, M7 is more ambery and balsamic. Edit: The citrus opening reminds me a lot of M7 Fresh, but Fresh has even more citruses, it makes my mouth watering :D

I get earthy patchouli and more earthy patchouli and I absolutely love it. If you ever smelled Chanel Coromandel and Dior Patchouli Imperial it has that same type of base. This is not a compliment beast if that’s what you’re looking for. This is artsy if I may say. The bottle not that it really matters is really nice and looks great on my shelf. Longevity and projection are good not great but hey it’s still a YSL so that’s par for the course.

@Mountain Air This newer version has no choice in concentration, only EDT, as it should be normally in YSL 'classic' men's releases. But it's definitely not short lived, it's quite long lasting, I can feel it the whole day when I use it. Somehow I even like it more than the original Tom Ford's edition - it's rich, warm and more rounded like you rightly remarked. I only miss the original bottle, because this new one is just a pain.

very woody and masculine , with a dry fresh-cut wood / furniture vibe and a touch of lemon for freshness. The oud is very mild and westernized, with zero animalic or oriental edge. It has a strong old-school, vintage feel and can come across as dated, clearly better suited for older wearers and colder weather. Still, it’s a classy, distinctive woody scent that feels slept on imo, perfect if you like vintage woody fragrances 8/10

@alexsuditu, absolute joke is your comment below. M7 Oud Absolu is one of the best oud scents on the market among designer's fragrances. It's very well balanced in a modern way, not too strong and sweet like arabic ouds, but bold and recognizable. It has excellent longevity and sillage and gets compliments always. The bottle instead is the weakest point of this fragrance. You have a very perverted taste, that's all I can say.

This review is based on what my husband said when he wore it. He loves this scent and especially likes to wear this for a either night out for dinner or a special occasion. The only thing he noticed is that it is more woody like a fresh pine than oud and can also detect rum notes even though it is not one of them. Sillage is very good and longevity is moderate - 4 hours max. Very intense and masculine scent to wear.

Love this fragrance. Absolutely masculine but unisex in the same time. Its like being covered in a woody dream. Got it 3 weeks ago and it became my signature scent. The only downside is it does not last very long and the sileage is not too amazing. Sprayed 6 times this morning at 6;30am and it was gone by 11:30am. always carrying tiny bottle in my pocket so can respray after few hours :)

Warm, dark and comforting with a great balance between sweet and earthy notes. M7 Oud Absolu was the fragrance of the year for me for 2022. It is both a sensual and a comforting, homely fragrance. It is more suited to the colder months but I like to wear it at various times throughout the year and it always performs well. This and Kouros are my two favourite scents from the YSL stable.

'favourite', 'hypnotic' and 'unique' are just some of the words that pop up when i do a random scroll below. i couldn't agree more. i've been collecting bottles for a good two years period now, and i gotta say this gentleman right here is currently on my throne. 'elegant' and 'sophisticated' are my two words to the countless superlatives below.

Tweaked version is remarkably similar to the original, but the point of my review here is just to reassure readers that both smack you in the face like a 20-pound leather boot, and leave you stunned upon spraying either for the first time. This is a real big-boy fragrance, next best thing to applying gasoline directly to your pecks...

This is my favourite fragrance to use before bed. It was warm and dark and delicious. It's been a rough week and nothing in my wardrobe could offer me the same comforting embrace as this beauty. I mainly get soft oud, warm myrrh and the wonderful aroma of making marmalade when the orange peels are bubbling in sugar. Sumptous!

There is a huge hype on classic M7 and I don't understand why ? Because it is no longer available ? Between Oud Absolu and classic are only little differences. Classic is sour form bergamot and OA is more sweet form mandarin. Overall they are identical , I was expecting much more from classic after reading so many reviews.

this perfume was gifted for me by my uncle he was a diplomatic so i guess this is how its smells in room full of Diplomats and its similar to Dior homme intense and both of them are master pieces the patchouli plays so good in the perfume and also the oud for me its the best oud perfume I've smelt in my life.

To me, this has an intense boozy accord in it. In our country you can buy orange liquor which smells pretty much exactly as this. And that does not have to be a bad thing, but I was expecting more oud and a bit different fragrance. Winter, night situations. Scent: 7/10 Performance: 7/10 Versatility: 3/10

It’s this in place of my original M7 in my collection. Don't want to use all the original up to quickly. This is almost just as good, but it is slightly different (sweeter). Now can’t find this anymore! The M7 line by YSL is bar far my most favorite. All the good reviews on here read accurate about M7.

Same vein as oud wood but More and Better. No they arent similar but they do they same thing for me. once i get past the cherry sweet opening its 8+ hrs of warm woods in the drydown. I didnt think it was possible for ysl to make a fragrance i actually like but its my fave mens scent ive tried to date