Absolutely Dark

Transitive Similarities Is Absolutely Dark really that dark? It is no mystery that this new creation by ZARA, signed by Marion Costero, immediately brings to mind that fresh, citrusy, aromatic, a little green and a little flowery genre to which more well-known fragrances such as Fierce COLOGNE, Legend EAU DE TOILETTE, and Percival belong to. This was the first impression I had when I smelled the three fragrances in the series, which include Amber Brown and Nostalgia Blue, to which Unexplored Black was recently added. Although the olfactory pyramids are quite different, the DNA is very similar between fragrances. If we look at the year of release on the market, the first fragrance with that kind of smell was Fierce, followed by Legend, and finally by Percival. Even if the similarity is not a transitive property, we can always say that some Fierce is present in Legend, which is present in Percival, and finally, it is present in Absolutely Dark. In other words, Fierce --> Legend --> Percival --> Absolutely Dark seems to be a natural transition. Alright, I think I’ve rambled on too much and it’s time we dive into the scent in question. Absolutely Dark blooms with a blast of super fresh and aromatic accords on a powdery background. Not a tough powderiness like #Prada Homme or #Givency Gentleman, but a sort of dusty cobweb, perceivable yet invisible. There is an unmistakable herbal touch of lavender, fresh, and balsamic, surrounded by a mix of citrus accord. So, the opening is bright, stunning, a smidgen soapy, with a barbershop slant. It never crosses the citrus boundary or the spicy one. The advertising mentions marine accord, which I barely recognise, except in the salty shades of amber. So, the perfume doesn’t overflow into marine fragrances, which is a good thing for me. Then, I was expecting an explosion of blossoms, given the participation of rose, orris, and lavender. Instead, it is not overpowering, while I receive the right dose of powderiness and spiciness. The rose is closer to the green geranium, without those jammy and dewy facets, while the orris just adds that dustiness without lipstick or makeup reminiscences. The trace it leaves in the heartfelt phase must be very pleasant for others who perceive it because I received a lot of compliments within about half an hour of applying it. Musky, mossy, and woody are the most prominent aspects I catch in the dry-down. Among those nuances, there is a pleasant dry amber, which I associate with salty ambroxan. The more it dries, the more it turns warm, sweet, and vanilla-like, and the tonka expands, cuddles, and wraps around me. Courtesy of sandalwood, the woodiness is not exaggerated, and together with cashmeran, it gets a creamy and smooth slant. My impression is that it starts like Fierce and ends like Percival. Though, it is further from Fierce, a bit more balsamic and resinous, and closer to Percival, somehow more dusty and woody. The projection is strong initially, then moves down to moderate; about longevity, I can smell it for several hours on my skin and clothes as a skin scent. I like to wear this kind of aroma during the season transition, such as winter to spring, and fall to winter. It is pretty versatile, and it works both day and night, for leisure, and at work either. Absolutely Dark ain’t not so dark, yet is a lekker, and mass pleasing, I'm describing the sensation I get on a bottle I've owned since October 2023 (BC 32300).

Honestly, this is (probably) the best Zara fragrance for men to date. I love Percival, it’s been my signature fragrance for years, and Absolutely Dark is a 99% match. In fact, the Zara reinterpretation of the DNA performs better than both Percival and Fierce. Projection is strong and easily lasts up to 10 hours on skin. The quality of the raw ingredients is not the same as in Percival, but honestly, the difference is negligible. Absolutely Dark smells amazing both in the air and up close. At this price point this is an absolute steal. To my nose, this is better than Sauvage, better than BDC and better than any of the Y flankers. A well-made, versatile blue fragrance that is dirt cheap, has good performance and also pulls compliments. What else could you wish for?

Simple showergel fresh blue fragrance. Similar to A&F Fierce and PdMs Percival. It leans more to the latter with a slightly salty Drydown and less harsh spices in the Opening. I haven’t received a lot of verbal compliments except for one or two, however I noticed a noticeably friendlier demeanor from my co-workers and even strangers. All in all it’s well executed and genuinely affordable, to me that was a no-brainer and the perfect daily driver for College, Work or casual wear. My final assessment: Presentation: 7.5/10 Scent: 7.5/10 Versatility: 9/10 Uniqueness: 6/10 Compliments: 7/10 Sillage/Projection: 7/10 Price: 10/10 Give it a try!

I have never smelled Percival, so this review is not in comparison to it. All I know is that this fragrance is incredible - it projects nicely, it smells gorgeous, and it lasts for a long time. I wore it at work and had two people immediately ask what it was, with one of them intending to buy it. Unbeatable at its price too; if it had a designer label on it, you wouldn't bat an eye if told that it cost $80+, so getting it for $20-$25 is remarkable

I don't have a well trained nose, but to me this can take the place of Percival when it's empty. Nearly identical, with some nearly undetectable differences in the top notes. I detect more fruit in this and less pepper. The dry down is spot on. I've heard Zara discontinues scents frequently so I'll stock up on a few of these .