Layton Exclusif by Parfums de Marly

Layton is my favourite, so I had high expectations for the Exclusif. It isn’t the most intense version of the original; rather, it’s a different construction. The original is more versatile, friendly and bright; this is rich, dense, structured and creamy from the outset. It feels less automatic but possesses far more identity. It smells distinct and expensive, and it is worth it. The citrus opening vanishes quickly: mandarin, bergamot and a very pleasant creamy almond. There is no dominant apple note found in the original, making it less youthful. As it dries down, an elegant touch of oud emerges—not dominant or heavy, but adding texture and depth to the vanilla, stripping away its easy sweetness and introducing shadow. The florals are clean and comforting without being obvious. In the dry down, it is vanilla-woody, warm and creamy. I detect sandalwood and patchouli. It is a deep sweetness, almost vanilla with amber and wood, warm on the skin without being cloying. It smells more adult to me than the original, which I find youthful. I thought the oud and iris would make it difficult to wear, as I am not a fan of those notes, but this is different: it is not aggressive, it is elegant with depth. I expected something more intense, but it is more sophisticated. Honestly, I like it more than the original, which is hard to say when Layton is my favourite. Ideal for temperate or cold climates, elegant dinners, outings where you want to make an impression, or dates. The hype is already there; when I save up, it goes straight into my collection. Rating: 9/10

I’ve been in this fragrance hobby for six months; I’ve tried almost all the popular designer scents, so I decided to try something higher level and bought a decant of Parfums de Marly. To be honest: it smells like fine stable Vicks VapoRub, but in the end, a very marked animalic note remains that prevents me from enjoying it. No one would compliment this scent.

Its scent reminds me greatly of Donna Karan’s Be Delicious Nights and Cacharel’s Amor Amor Temptations; it also has a touch of Dior Addict. It is very elegant and exquisite. Although I do not own it, I heard it on a colleague at work and was left speechless and heartbroken… Divine and delicious!

Few modern perfumes can compare to this beast. The opening is critical, but then vanilla and oud emerge to give it real depth. Always test before buying; it’s a distinctive scent that may not suit everyone. In my collection, it’s the best value for money (PDM already offers high quality). The downside? The price. Its exceptional aroma comes at a cost. I recommend it only to those who have been in this world for a while.

This is a mature, dark, heavy and particular fragrance; it’s not for everyone and I don’t recommend buying it blindly. Of all the notes, what predominates is a fleeting citrus opening that merely greets you before vanishing almost instantly. Then it dries down to reveal a sweet, gentle floral facet accompanying smoky woods, some incense and certainly patchouli, all easy to perceive. Once settled, it becomes sweet, perhaps reminiscent of vanilla, as if the entire dry, potent smoky base is caressed by a sweet touch that makes it more docile. Personally, I like it very much; it’s ideal for formal evening scenes and preferably in cool or cold weather since its notes are not amiable. It doesn’t seem particularly novel or extravagant; woody, smoky perfumes with sweet patchouli already exist. It reminded me a lot of Boss Bottled Absolu, though they aren’t identical. If you enjoy challenging scents and want to smell like an elegant man, give it a try; it’s highly recommended for cold climates or situations where you aren’t sweating to enjoy it fully.

Layton Exclusif is a more intense, opulent and sophisticated version of the classic Layton. It moves away from the accessible sweetness of the original to offer something more mysterious, dark and deep, ideal for those seeking exclusivity and character. The notes are as described above, some more prominent than others. – Longevity: Easily 10-11 hours on my skin (I have high pH). – Projection: High at first, then it becomes an enveloping bubble. – Sillage: Noticeable and elegant, perfect for special occasions. Is it worth it over the original? It depends on your preferences. If you prefer something accessible and versatile, the original is better. But if you’re looking for something dark, exclusive and with presence, the Exclusif is a jewel. In my opinion, they are very similar in the opening, but totally different in the dry down. I prefer the Exclusif a thousand times over; it has great presence and a luxurious aura. If you enjoy scents with oud, amber and a spicy woody base, but with a gourmand and sensual touch, it’s an excellent option. Fine note: 8.8/10

It starts fresh and reminiscent of Layton, but within seconds, it transforms into a super dark fragrance. This is how someone like Carlos Slim smells. A very mature scent, recommended for those over 30. It features a very smoky wood and leather base, with a sweet and floral hint lurking deep in the background. It’s pure elegance, but not for the young.

Dark and strong, it lasts 6 hours on skin and clothes until you wash them. With this, you are the Boss of Bosses in a good suit; on the street, people will say you smell like a millionaire.

It smells good and you can tell it’s high quality, but the problem is the performance. Perhaps due to my skin’s pH, it projects very little from almost the start, and by three hours I have to sniff it myself. It neither projects nor lasts. I’ll wait a few months to see if maceration makes a difference.

If you like Bleu de Chanel Parfum and EDP, this is a Bleu stepping up to niche. They aren’t the same chords, but they share the same style, with more complexity thanks to the oud, coffee, and vanilla.

Layton Exclusif by Parfums de Marly. OMG, I loved it the moment I tried it and bought it instantly. I feel a half-sweet, half-citrus almond note from the mandarin and bergamot, which then transforms into something super earthy, dark, and animalistic due to the oud, coffee, and civet. As described, it smells like THE BOSS, but not boring; it smells like a wealthy boss who is kind and fun (only with those who interest him), yet firm, mysterious, and very dirty in bed. For me, it’s the perfume of Christian Grey. Compared to Layton, this is harder to like. Layton is the kitten everyone wants to pet, but Exclusif is the lion no one can tame and everyone wants to be. Just don’t buy it if you don’t have the nose or the wallet to match. Success.

It’s like an endless letter to the Corinthians in ingredients, summarised as earthy, woody and incense-heavy. It tells me nothing. The longed-for animal or almond notes are absent, or at least I can’t detect them. Layton Exclusif feels super invasive at first, mega-masculine on the first spray; perhaps they toned down the intensity to make it wearable for women, but I find it so heavy and classic that it bores and overwhelms me. Very much for a mature businessman in a suit all day long, with little imagination; it has disappointed me.

Forgive the fragrance experts if I’m saying something crazy; as an inexperienced nose that can’t distinguish notes, I’d say it smells like smoke with Layton underneath. It even reminded me of Amouage Interlude or its budget clone, Midnight Oud by Ard al Zaafaran. It’s a fragrance that might put people off at first, but as happens with many others, the more time passes, the more I like it. Still, I wouldn’t buy it because that ‘darkness’ doesn’t suit me.

I just tried it in a perfumerie. It’s like regular Layton, just darker with a strong woody note. It smells INCREDIBLE. I fell completely in love. I feel compelled to buy it. Edit: said and done, I bought it a while later. I still love it, although most people who smelled it agree it smells like a grandfather or an older person. It’s not a fragrance to please the masses, but it’s not unpleasant either, so it’s not out of place to wear it. Lasts about 10 hours, and you can smell it all the time. I’m super happy with the purchase! It’s a fragrance I highly recommend and the jewel of my collection.

Smells very good but I expected something more original… I don’t know, perhaps I had too many expectations.