Narciso Rodriguez For Him Bleu Noir Eau De Toilette Extreme by Narciso Rodriguez

Smells like a musky women’s hair lacquer.

I bought it on a TikToker’s recommendation, mmm… I wouldn’t buy it again due to its longevity and because I think it’s discontinued. The opening is delicious, with the fruits taking centre stage. It reminds me of the smell of dried fruit. The downside: it doesn’t last more than two hours and the trail is low, almost skin-scent. And the ‘ice’ note goes unnoticed. It’s for personal pleasure, a shower before bed, and about 50 sprays so you or your partner can smell it… and sleep fresh and clean.

This is a truly exquisite perfume for summer. It’s easygoing but smells high-quality, balanced, and has decent longevity. It lasts around 5 to 6 hours, which isn’t bad for a fresh scent.

A bomb of musk, with citrus akin to Bleu de Chanel to provide an olfactive reference but with its own focus and personality. It’s a variant of the hundreds of blue fragrances being launched; the mother fragrance is so distinct from everything else that they didn’t want to be left out of the competition. To better understand the aroma… it’s sharp with a minimal herbal touch in the opening, then dries down to become woody and musky, that typical sexy, dirty but not unpleasant smell for me. Note that it is very, very musky, with that note floating above the woody hints. I think it’s a quite pleasant aroma; on my skin, it was luxurious and performed well. I like this perfume, though I’m not sure if I’d buy it. To finish, I honestly think the ice note is ridiculous.

The scent isn’t my style, but I must admit it’s quite pleasant and you can tell it’s high quality. I’d love to smell it on someone else, but wearing it myself makes me feel a bit sick. It’s a musk with additives, but the musk dominates from start to finish. Good longevity, moderate projection. A slightly metrosexual aroma, could be unisex too.

I’ve never tried Narciso Rodriguez, a rarity in my city, but thanks to a decant, the experience was satisfying. I don’t detect the ice note, but rather citrus, musk, and deep, masculine wood. It’s elegant, like a made-to-measure white cotton shirt. I’d like more longevity; it’s just right: 5-6 hours with a moderate trail for an hour and a half, then close to the skin. It reminded me of Dior Homme Eau, but it’s brief. Scent: 9, Longevity: 6, Sillage: 6, Versatility: 9, Value for money: 8.

Looking for a luxury substitute for my old Capri 19-69, something fresh for the heat. I’ve tried niche and designer, avoiding the most overused; I’m a bit put off by niche due to prices and undeclared synthetics. After sampling over 50 perfumes, three finalists emerged: one with brutal yuzu and iodine notes, another a clone with musk and little hype, and finally this Extreme by Narciso Rodriguez. For me, the best designer aquatic citrus in six years. Fresh opening with mandarin as the star, featuring a synthetic component that gives a glacial sensation without being unpleasant. The dry-down is magnificent: wood wrapped in musk, addictive and classy, lasting longer than expected for an EDT. A masculine proposal that skirts the edge of convention, breaking the mould.

I loved the opening. I own the Bleu Noir EDT and the DNA is always present. The Extreme is sweeter and fresher; the ice note gives a sense of dilution but lots of brightness and freshness. Buying both is redundant, but they serve different moments: the EDT for formal and elegant occasions, the Extreme for casual wear. I can’t yet judge longevity and projection as I’m just starting to wear it.