Description
Cologne Intense is a new edition added by the house of Houbigant to the collection which arrives in autumn 2015. The citrusy-aromatic composition enriched with spices and enveloped in a veil of incense is signed by perfumer Luca Maffei. “The precious EDC with a classic structure is enriched with modern elements. The new fragrance Cologne of Houbigant is created by using solely the best raw ingredients that can be found in the world, staying true to the original cologne formula”.
Luca Maffei added impeccable citruses union of Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian lemon to top notes, along with green touch of petitgrain from Paraguay and neroli from Morocco. The citrusy-floral notes are enriched with lavender and spiced with tarragon and pink pepper, while supporting Indian jasmine flowers. The composition is enveloped in chords of mate tea and incense lingering in drydown.
Fragrance Cologne Intense arrives in the same flacon form as the re-edition Fougere Royale from 2010, differing in color of the cap and fragrant liquid. The accent lies on sunny yellow color of liquid and elegant cap in golden color. Cologne Intense comes in two versions: as Cologne Intense Eau de Parfum in 100ml flacon and as Cologne Intense The Cologne Extrait Parfum in 100ml flacon.
АНГЕЛ ТЬМЫ – :
At first spray I get a big citrus burst which smells very clean. It is green, earthy, citrus and floral. Very masculine.
Perfect wear for a nice pair of jeans with a white crisp shirt.
almompose – :
@depesha It’s rather amusing how you complain about some reviwer here discredting those that dislike this fragrance. But yet you end your comment with “if you like that crap all the power to you.” You yourself discredited.
The point is who cares if somebody disagrees or even discredits your opinion in a fragrance. We all have different preferences and we all have the right to disagree.
As for Houbigan Cologne Intense, I personally don’t like it in the slightest. It’s just too sour and has a rather bizarre composition. If you like it that’s great. But I prefer my citrus scents to be fresh, clean and smooth like a fresh glass of lemon aide.
And that’s what this juice lacks. It’s just too sour and musky for my liking.
yakolumb99 – :
WOW!
I’m a Houbigant fan!
I LOVE Duc De Vervin L’extreme – awesome lemon bomb.
I respect Fougere Royal even though it is a challenging smell.
This, this can not be 🙁
There are plenty of gorgeous citrus scents that do it well (Eau Sauvage, Tres Bien Institue L’Italien, Jacques Fath Green Water etc). There is no reason for this to exist.
So, I got sucked in thinking that all these horrid negative reviews are exaggerations. I also liked the fact there was Tarragon and a few other things in the notes. I remained positive.
The samples arrived and an excited spray left me wrenching.
Horridly the bad reviews seemed to be onto something. Suddenly I am understanding the varying disgusting descriptions or at least why people are expressing themselves in that manner. Some of them work for me.
The Tarragon (it seems to me) provides an uncomfortable kick to an exceptionally sickeningly sweet citrus blend resulting in an uncomfortable wrench. It reminds me of my aunt (bless her) with health issues who’s sweat was a bitter sweet stench and far reaching, often the cause of whispers. I can not describe it better as I don’t want to smell it anymore.
When I first sprayed it was under wrist and forgot – whilst I was talking to my flatmate I thought she had gone to the gym and stank – I was embarrassed for her but thought she’d shower soon enough. Then I remembered I’d sprayed the sample and then realised that small spray was strong as the horrid smell was from it. The whole time it was from me whilst we were talking! She registered my reaction and asked what was wrong!
I tried 4 times to apply and it improved slightly (my flat mate agreed it was not a forgiving smell at first bite) but lets face it thats ridiculous to have to push it that far.
I realise now that all the positive reviews are either people that delude themselves into justifying their perfume knowledge or simply trying to prove that they know better.
A spade is a spade. This is not pleasant to most people with common sense/senses. A joke or mis management within the brand perhaps?
This could not realistically even be considered polarising unless you are the equivalent of someone standing infront of the oncoming locomotive saying ‘everything is going to be alright’.
I will not buy this, it would be offensive to people to wear it – sorry, no justification, none whatsoever!
Duc De Vervin L’Extreme however – thats another review all together!!!
prixod_1990 – :
“You peasants wouldn’t understand a good fragrance if a unicorn queefed in your designer aquatics”
SergeyN844 – :
As a general rule, things of the greatest intrinsic value and representing the highest level of refinement tend to be acquired tastes. Conversely, things we love right away, are typically of lower value and lose their appeal just as quickly. This applies equally to food, music, art, and of course, fragrance.
With that in mind, it must be said that many will find Houbigant’s Cologne Intense unpleasant. At least, initially. It’s unexpected, unfamiliar and you may have to resist the impulse to dismiss it prematurely. The Mate Tea note can be off-putting. It’s a million miles away from designer aquatics or anything that might be popular with the crowd. Nor is it immediately likable in the traditional sense.
But Cologne Intense IS interesting. It’s thought-provoking, and inspires ambivalence in the same way Kouros can be both repellent and intriguing. And it’s well-crafted of high-quality ingredients. Of course, it’s entirely possible that Cologne Intense may not be your cup of tea. But, as with most good things in life; if you give it a chance, keep an open mind, and are willing to expand your understanding… you may discover that you love it, after all.
Laulplatcruct – :
Imagine soiling yourself and not being able to wash yourself for a week… that would be the smell. If you’re in that kind of stuff I’d still advise you to smell it first before buying.
Duh2006 – :
an amazing skanky spicy citrus cologne i can even detect an animalic note in the top not such as civet some how.. yes it’s animalic citrusy cologne .. thanks houbigant
ZoovaCogGog – :
OMG NO!!!
I don’t know about Intense part, but it definitely should be called Colon, not a Cologne! I’m sorry, and you can call me liar as much as you want, but it smells exactly like my poo after I eat only salad.
I love tarragon, and thought it’s impossible to go wrong with combo of it with neroli, lemon, bergamot, jasmine and some pepper. Nobody told they obviously using them after digestion process been completed.
So glad I had tester first!
shmon – :
Bloody awful. Don’t know why anyone would want to smell like this. Smells like the inside filter of an old vacuum cleaner. Luckily I didn’t blind buy a full bottle. Bought a small sample instead to try out. Not impressed at all. It’s a pass for me.
Hussi – :
Houbigant’s Cologne Intense is really, really good. Upon first spray, you get a Citrus bang from the Bergamot and lime but also a slight bitter tang which I am assuming is either the petitgrain or Neroli mixing with the lavender. The mid part is all spicy herbal notes, tarragon n pepper with the lavender covering it. The dry down is slightly dry, salty herbal smelling notes which I am assuming is the Mate Tea and I also get hits of the slightly bitter floral Jasmine note. I dont smell any Incense as such.
Projection is pretty strong for the first couple of hours and then settles a bit. Longevity is about the 6-7 hour mark which is fine for what is primarily a citrus herbal fragrance although in EDP concentration. This is a year round frag and you can dress it up or down, will add class to whatever you are wearing. The only thing it is not is a clubbing frag unless it’s a beach party or something like that.
Normally I dont pay attention to bottles but I have to say the Houbigant bottles for this and Fougere Royale are really beautiful with etched glass and solid, heavy Gold and silver caps. Adds a final touch of class to already classy frags. Get this if you like ADP’s Colonia line or frags like Eau Sauvage or Rive Gauche. All Masculine Class. Very impressed.
xCMePTHuKx – :
Solid Eau de Cologne which lasts much longer on skin than the classic formula. Greener than floral with the tarragon and the Yerba mate adding a bitter dryness as opposed to the bright neroli of the classic EDC. Reminds me of Bois 1920’s Come la Luna, but with mate and incense providing the base instead of oakmoss. Traditionally, this would be a masculine scent, but there are no woody or musky notes prevalent in masculine scents today. But there is no girly sweetness, either. It’s a clean citrus with an unexpected herbal twist provided by the novel mate tea note.
Mypeplellal – :
The nose behind the new masculine fragrance by Houbigant, Cologne Intense is Luca Maffei. He is a young nose in the fragrance industry that is making a name for himself with such stunning fragrances as Perris Monte Carlo’s Oud Imperial and Rose de Taif. What he has created in Cologne Intense is something brilliant bold and breathtaking. The presentation of the fragrance which comes in both Eau de Parfum and Extrait Parfum is classically elegant. The 100 mil bottle is the same sophisticated masculine bottle that was created for Houbigant’s 2010 re-release of the exquisite Fougere Royale from 1882. The juice is darker in Cologne Intense which only adds a golden richness to the presentation. Just as the No.5 bottle is used for other perfumes by Chanel so it is that Houbigant is presenting this release in the same bottle as Fougere Royale. This smart marketing gives a certain instant house recognition. You see the bottle and you know the house at once. Class and sophistication are assured.
The parfum is classified as a citrus aromatic. I agree, it opens with sharp crisp summer freshness of Sicilian lemons, a bitter bite of Calabrian bergamot which sparks brilliantly on the skin then gives way to the wonderful green petitgrain and Moroccan neroli. It is a show of green citrusy skyrockets that shimmer as they rise and sparkle as they fall way to reveal the center of this fragrance.
Here the heart in this classic tarragon takes the center stage. It is richly blended into a complex dance with red pepper, a touch of lavender, and a whiff of Indian Jasmine. Oh that Jasmine is nice if subtle, as it should be. And the pepper is sharp adding depth to the tarragon and lavender. I love the middle of this fragrance but my love turns to obsession when we reach the dry down.
Here in the bottom notes I find a fine and creative blend by Luca Maffei that make this a truly memorable release of 2015. The two magical notes he introduces to the fragrance are a bitter Mat Tea and lush deep and hypnotic incense. The effect with the fading mid notes is sheer olfactory heaven. On my skin the it lasts between 6 and 7 hours and the sillage is at about 18 inches.
Cologne Intense is one of my top favorite releases of last year. It is a beautiful addition to the venerable and historic house of Houbigant that is both a tip of the hat to past classics, an era of refinement and grace but also embodies a youthful modern vibe.
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driver22 – :
Off the top I can smell lemon citrus with lavender mixed in with a strong earthy spice/herb. This herbal element really does ground the scent from becoming too citrusy. It’s a little astrigent in a earthy leafy way and contrasts well with the citrus and lavender. I think this note must be the Tarragon.
Behind these notes I can pick up a soft floral note which just shows itself every so often behind the dominating herbal accord. It does get stronger and I’m sure it’s neroli or Jasmine maybe both.
The scent is very well blended and crafted and quite complex. If you like green citrus herbal earthy fragrances that is gently sofened by a floral & neroli accords then you will like this. Thumbs up from me, I like it.