No 2 Bergamot and Leather Spritz

Lovely gift from Zara at the price this fragance is being sold. This smells, and more important, FEELS expensive. The scent is almost the same from the first spray till it starts fading away: a pretty deep but not strong nor suffocating leather/oud aroma, with a more subtle iris and an ambery base. Here's the thing; I couldn't tell there was any iris into this parfum until I checked the notes. I totally feel there's something that softens the leather power and presence, but it's so quiet that feels almost like a whisper. Also, the bergamote note is pretty much a funny introduction to the fragance. You can feel a sparkly vibe when you just put it on, that vanishes soft and beautifully. The transition from leather to just oud and amber is also exquisite. As other user said, the base feels ''just like'' oud and amber, but you almost can't notice the leather is not there anymore after it dissapears. The tone and vibe from this oud is almost exact as the leather one, truly a perfect match in terms of notes. I have this problem with leathery or oud based/leaning fragances that they tend to ''impose'' or take over the scene. I really don't feel comfortable when my parfum is the most noticeable thing in my whole outfit, or if I feel it can bother other people around me. So, this one achieves (for me) the perfect balance in these terms; you can get the leather scent, it's deep enough to be both, noticeable and enjoyable, but, as this is a Zara parfume, it has this ''limit'' Inditex tends to work around with, so it cannot annoy almost anyone. The sillage and projection are nice. The fragance has presence, and it's totally noticeable but, again, we're talking about an Inditex one; you can totally wear it indoors, without any problem (although I do not recommend spraying it 8-10 times as with other Zara creations; 4-5 are quite enough). I would say, duration wise, it last around 2-3 hours with good projection, then you can get another 2 with a moderate one (personal bubble), till it goes into the skin space for the rest of the duration (till I take a shower, in my case). I wouldn't recommend spraying it on clothes, as I don't like using this kind of scent everyday, and it kinda stays on fabrics, but that's totally subjective I guess. Last point to review about, and, In my opinion, an important one, is that this is not a super manly strong leather; quite the contrary, I feel this is a perfect match for women or girls wanting something with that vibe. It has the leather, the sophistication, the ''I'm expensive get out of my way'' fanciness, but it's not rude nor intrusive as the 90% of the leather/oud combinations you can find out there. To sum up; go to your local Zara, and try this girl if you can find it (it's totally sold out in my country). It's good, it's cheap, it's quality into a 25,95 € bottle. P.S.: Not a summer fragance. If someone can pull this off into a hot weather, period girl, you rock, but I feel that's almost an impossible feat. AMAZING for autumn, incredible for winter and good for early-cold spring.

What a shame this fragrance didn't get any hype. Easily one of the best Zara have ever released in this style. Like many people I would imagine, I blind bought this one because of its ostensible association with DHP - which I can't confirm never having smelled it myself - but what I got was something I certainly didn't expect. Essentially, what it is, is a very thin, yet pervasive sweet, liquid amber - almost watery - with a very smoothed out, slightly ashy leather accord and a touch of animalics. The leather is nothing like the bootstrap Tom Ford variety, but a very delicate, almost fleshy leather finger. I know that sounds weird, but it has that organic nature to it. No distinct iris to my nose, no bergamot or obvious lavender. As for the animalics (oud?), if you smell it from the atomizer, you'll know what I mean - almost like the transparent, oily, fractional component of vomit or diarrhea (I swear that's what it reminds me of), but so far in the background and in such a small quantity that it doesn't really show up in the scent proper. Unfortunately, despite the exceptional projection (longevity 9 hours plus), the leather really isn't noticeable beyond a foot either. It's mostly that sweet, translucent amber that stretches out everywhere, and gives a completely unisex vibe. Such a great fragrance to layer with. Although I wouldn't call it terribly complex myself, it absolutely has that "niche" vibe when smelled up close. Sensual stuff, and nowhere near the mass-appealing frags Zara normally releases. Not a compliment getter either; and if you're looking for a Dior Homme/DHI style iris, this ain't it. Got it when it was discounted and I couldn't be happier. I missed out on True Leather last year (never showed up online in my country) and I wasn't going to let that happen again. That one was another Top 5 frag from Zara. Maybe they'll be reincarnated in the future, but I wouldn't count on it. Get 'em while they're available. Two if you love the scent. Hope that helps.

I was doubtfull when i started to hear some reviews saying that this fragrance was similar to Dior Homme Parfum. I just could not believe it and i had my reserves... I blind buy it, because i knew i was going to like (similar to DHP or not, i had to like a fragrance that could remind me of DHP), and there it was!! At first, it starts with a fine lavender vibe, but after a second it starts the leather blast and that familiar lipsticky vibe that is obviously familiar to many of us... and then after 5-10 minutes i started to feel the iris coming in, along with the ambery notes to smooth it all! And there you have - no rose apparently, but what a fine scent! And definitely similar to DHP. I immediately tested both side by side (this one and DHP), and the doubt was finally gone - i just bought a decent cheap alternative to DHP, and arguably with a more proeminent leather note. I must say that this fragrance is one of the leatherish scents that Zara has ever launched, and i am so pleased! It's not a harsh leather note, it's rather an elegant leather, unisex in my opinion, as all fragrances ultimately are! It has great longevity, make no mistake here - although some people might feel it longer than others, it has a fair longevity at minimum. Maybe this could even be used all year round, because of its less potent vibe, in contrast with DHP's stronger presence. What a fine discovery, one more time Zara proved me that i don't need to spend so much money to smell elegant, round and with good longevity! I will get an extra bottle of this for sure!! P.S. - i intend to keep using and buying DHP, just because it has that rose/leather vibe more proeminent, and the development of that fragrance is just unbeatable (for me most elegant fragrance ever!!)

The Jo Malone line for ZARA really does have some bangers. The bergamot mentioned in the name is present in the opening, but it is more on the bitter acidic side, than a sweet juicy citrus. Which works very well with the bold leather accord that comes out right after the opening. The star of the show however, is the Oud accord. I find it very unlikely for any real agarwood resin to have been used in this, as the price point simply cannot provide such budget, but whatever they did to simulate it, it worked very well. The Oud accord in here smells more authentic than what i have smelled in fragrances 10 times the price of this one. It is not your run of the mill "westernized oud" that smells of creamy fresh wood chips, but it gives out scent profile closer to Indian or Laotian wood, being rich, deep, dark and vegetal, rather than the more balsamic and musky Indonesian type. It gives the scent a very robust profile, and it lasts easily for 8+ hours - something very uncharacteristic for a Zara fragrance. While the citrus provides some freshness in the opening, it is not imho a warm/hot weather fragrance - the leather and Oud accords might be overwhelming in such conditions. There is an iris mentioned in the note breakdown, which evidently prompts some inexperienced people to blindly claim its similar to DHP/DHI - it is not, not in the slightest. Overall, absolute gem of a fragrance with a complex, artistic scent profile, unusual for a budget oriented house like ZARA. It goes right up there with Leather Jardin as one of the best this house has ever produced (both from the Jo Malone line).

Run to your local Zara and get this before it's gone. This is a quality scent that you wouldn’t imagine being sold for this price at a fast fashion clothing brand. I did not try it when it first came out but when I noticed it back on the shelves this month I did not hesitate to try it and bought it instantly . It's a perfume for perfume lovers, for those who miss and remember those scents from the 90's where you would smell a woman /man before you would see them. There was an allure and chicness that emanated from them by the perfume they wore, which stated confidence and refinement. This creation of Jo Malone brings me back to those times, where people were not afraid to PERFUME themselves. This one envelops the wearer with an aura of sophistication . I'm not bothering with the note break down or what it might remind me of as we all have a different perception of smell but I can guarantee you that it's a magnificent creation. Congrats Jo, you've created a wonderful perfume here, in line with Leather Jardin and Ancestral Papyrus. These would make a magical trio of perfumes that are real creations for those who like perfumes to be that: a unique creative expression by combining perfume notes that create a magical potion.