Jazz Club by Maison Martin Margiela

I absolutely love this sweet fragrance, surely thanks to that tasty vanilla and the smoky touch that rounds it off. It lasts longer than it projects. It doesn’t break the mould, but it smells glorious. Sometimes it smells like rum and other times something dry and rough, yet always rich and sweet.

I was keen to smell Maison Margiela’s Jazz Club due to autumn recommendations in Madrid. I found a sample at El Corte Inglés during my trip. I applied the remainder on blotter paper and, at first sniff, it seemed different and very pleasant. I knew I wanted to own it. It’s for cold climates and nights, ideal for dinners or tranquil settings. I think it suits people aged 30 and upwards for occasional use. I managed to get a 10ml decant for around $30 and tested it on skin. It’s interesting: it smells like a real jazz club, with liquors, tobacco and woods, enveloping and sophisticated. I want to try it more on clothes and skin to check projection and longevity. Rating: 8/10.

I’ve recently fallen for perfumes while searching for a rocker scent. My sister left me a 2ml sample and, my goodness, love at first sight. I bought it on the Sephora website because it’s not easy to find. It smells strongly of rum and tobacco and, although I don’t know the technicalities, it’s that aroma you like to feel close to. The important thing is that you like it yourself. I don’t care if girls or others like it. When I wear it, I feel wrapped up, warm and comfortable. I don’t know how it will be for summer.

It starts with a bold, sweet and warm-coloured opening, but in a mature format. It has something fresh, a whiff of tobacco that transports me to people with scarves and places with extravagant walls. As it dries, it darkens. Sometimes it reminds me of Givenchy Society Extreme, but this retains more freshness. It has a passionate, intimate and addictive sweetness in the close-up. It’s seductive and performs well at night. Excellent, nothing heavy, with an original touch. You can tell the vanilla is in the base. As it dries, the sweetness persists and the tobacco embraces the fragrance. Longevity isn’t its strong suit: the trail is moderate and the duration the same. From my perspective, it’s definitely a man’s scent. The opening is strong and over time it leans towards unisex with a masculine tint.

It’s the most masculine of the Replica series by Maison Martin Margiela. It doesn’t place me in a jazz club, apart from the fact that I don’t have much experience with those clubs which are scarce in Valencia. I suppose the leather, rum and tobacco are responsible. But to me, it smells niche and outrageously elegant, suggestive and inviting. I thought so and still think so it’s a brilliant job since a friend smelled it. For fresh times it’s appropriate and regarding the jazz club aspect, it works great in enclosed spaces; it doesn’t go unnoticed and is much liked for its refinement and good character. The Margiela DNA is present, just like in By the Fireplace. There’s a recognisable factor from the house. To me, this seems like a work of art. Highly recommended for perfume lovers. It will hook you quickly and offers impressive natural notes; I clearly perceive the lemon, that slice over the cocktail. Everything is attractive.

No one understands why they market it as a men’s fragrance; it looks spectacular on me. It’s dark, mysterious, and super sexy, yet not feminine at all. It smells exactly as promised: a jazz club. Wood, pipe tobacco, and lots of sweet liquor. Ideal for a woman at night, for dinner, or with a few drinks.

Honestly, it’s an exquisite perfume. It could be heavy in the heat, but so far, it’s one of the scents I’ve found closest to me. It has great audacity and, at the same time, a lot of elegance.

Fantastic, but expensive $$ for what’s available in my country right now. I only have a 10ml decant and it smells of majestic tobacco and vetiver with a touch of caramelised vanilla and perhaps a hint of dry rum evaporating from a glass. I’d say it smells like an elegant jazz bar. The tobacco is just like Aramis Tobacco Reserve and the vetiver like Dolce Gabbana Blue Forever. I stumbled upon Ola Factory Music Fest Fragrance World and this dupe or clone is very similar; perhaps the ingredients differ, but the scent is almost identical, about 85%.

Beautiful, warm… starts citrusy and peppery… but dries down deliciously, unisex, rum, tobacco, vanilla… I just love it.

The notes are daunting: rum, tobacco, vanilla, vetiver, pink pepper… you might think you’re going to meet a bearded pirate. But in reality, the rum and tobacco are subtle, wrapped in vanilla. It has a profile similar to Bvlgari Man in Black, something redundant, with both fragrances feeling weak; I don’t know which one to choose as inspiration. Returning to the pirate, there is none here; there is a modern man in a bar. It’s a scent for smelling good. I wouldn’t use it in the context it aims to replicate (club or disco) because it goes unnoticed. It’s for the night, various occasions (formal, casual…). But I don’t see the magic or the speciality. It smells good, but it competes with giants like Mercedes Club Black, Bvlgari Man in Black, Spicebomb, The One EDP, Tobacco Vanille, and John Varvatos Vintage. I would choose those over Jazz Club.

Of all the Maison Margiela dupes, this is my favourite. Ironically, based on the reviews I thought it would be the least appealing, but it’s the opposite: it’s a masterpiece. The only downside is that it lacks even 20% of the trail and longevity of its sibling, ‘By The Fireplace’.

I’m a fan of tobacco, but the ‘friendly’ kind, with vanilla or cinnamon. I also like aggressive fragrances, but this one isn’t. It smells like raw tobacco that says little, and its performance is VERY poor.

With Jazz Club, after an initial citrus-spicy burst, soft and elegant tobacco appears alongside a subtle rum. These aren’t dense scents; they are well-balanced and don’t overpower the other notes. However, a powdery note soon emerges and grows until it dominates the entire perfume until the very end. In summary: excellent for those seeking a light tobacco touch, with decent performance (7/8 hours), very wearable in any season (except extreme heat) if dosed correctly. As always, test it on your skin and be patient with its evolution.

It’s not for everyone. Tobacco and rum dominate at first, followed by vanilla and vetiver. The scent is dry and slightly sweet; I wouldn’t recommend it for teenagers as it might smell boozy to some. I do recommend it for dates in winter or autumn for those over 25. Scent: 8.5/10 (not for everyone). Projection: moderate. Longevity: 8-10 hours. Trail: moderate. Price: 8/10.

Excellent blend of rum, tobacco, vanilla, and soft resinous citrus. It reminds me of Couvent des Minimes’ Porto Bello. But if you can afford the difference, stick with this.