Description
British fashion house Dunhill, under the new creative director John Ray, is launching a new fragrance for men in early 2015. The fragrance is named Icon, created by perfumer Carlos Benaim, who describes it:
“Icon is the perfect expression of natural refinement, a translation of the luxurious and classic heritage of the Dunhill house, with, what’s more, a touch of modernity …. The man who will wear Icon is a masculine and sophisticated gentleman.”
The composition is aromatic-woody with an opening of fresh bergamot and neroli absolute. Its heart includes spicy and aromatic notes of black pepper, lavender and cardamom, leaning on a woody base of smoky oud, vetiver, leather and oak moss.
Andrew Cooper is the face of the campaign, shot by Annie Leibovitz. The fragrance comes in heavy metal bottle as 50 and 100 ml Eau de Toilette.
barada777 – :
After owning for months I have concluded it’s Not a bad scent in any way, but not exceptional either. For a frag that has all them notes, I only get about 3 or 4, Neroli opening, lavender, cardomom and something spicy could be pepper. After the top notes die down it only becomes an average scent. Would’ve been nice to get some of that oud or iris come in. This is just what I get. Results will obviously vary. Only can see this good for the office. Performance is decent.
7/10 at best
vimvol – :
Wow! This fragrance is something that I like more and more every time I smell it. First off, I wanted this for a long time because it was so hyped. I wanted to know what it was all about. Somehow I always ended up buying something else until one day I decided to buy a bunch of fragrances that had been for too long on my shopping list. I was not in the mood for this kind of fragrances when my fragrances arrived, but man did this thing blow my mind!
First smell is a neroli super bomb! Not the grape soda I was anticipating but a lot better 4711 Original Cologne kind of feel that actually lasts. Then, almost immediately it adds creamy citrus into play. Almost Allure Homme Edition Blanche cake-like creaminess. This later transforms into more shaving foam style creamy (sage?) but not as strong a Luna Rossa Carbon, with something woody. From the bottle I clearly smell pencil shavings but it is less apparent when sprayed on skin.
Do I regret buying this? No! This was most likely the best from those I bought together and each day I seem to like it even more.
Was it the grapesoda scent I tought I was going to get? No. It was something more. Very good, worth the hype, suitable in almost any occasion.
Rezed60 – :
Icon is a study in contradictions. If you want to experience a fragrance that truly evolves during its lifetime, this is it. The oft-used sweet neroli/grape soda description of its opening is well deserved. This sweet, fresh accord gives way to a spicy cardamon/pepper/lavender mid. Then… Desitin. Yes, that diaper rash cream I used on my kids. Dunhill nailed it- spot on, perfectly replicated in the late stages of Icon. It’s a medicinal, clean smell, and if you’ve never applied Desitin to a baby’s rear, you won’t make the connection and reflexively think of this house as “Dunghill”. Despite this association for me, I really like this scent. It is at once formal and casual, appropriate in most any occasion and climate due to the mix of sweet/spicy/medicinal notes. It’s a great designer scent that holds my interest from top to drydown. Totally recommended.
advise: use a different baby buttrash ointment than Desitin and keep your Icon experience unsullied.
el_post – :
One word it’s a masterpiece!
anton2216 – :
Fresh orange blossom with leather and spices, with more depth than the very linear Bright Neroli and just as classy as Neroli Portofino, yet more masculine.
Aurora_Borealis – :
I like the smell and quite enjoy the way it evolves as it dries down but the performance is horrible on me. By the time I get to the base, which is about 4hrs, it’s barely there. It doesn’t last on clothes or on skin. How the initial reviews claimed that performance was anything more than mediocre is amazing to me. I can only assume that it has been reformulated – mine is a 2017 batch.
I do get the comparisons to TdH but they differ significantly after the opening. Icon has a very barbershop-y mid and a sweet leather base. Some say that they don’t get the oud at all but I get it pretty strong after a few hours. I don’t love it but it does smell unique in a way that isn’t really unpleasant.
Real shame that it performs so poorly.
maloy12 – :
09/2018
This is one I will always have in my collection. Not only is it a beautiful smelling, smart, classy and versatile fragrance but it projects and lasts like a champion. It’s one of the very few fragrances I have that will last me a whole day at work without needing a top up. My skin tends to drink most colognes so longevity and silage is often a problem for me but this is one of the few that I’ve had that works really well on my skin. So if you’re like me and have skin like a sponge then I would say this is a safe bet. Has gotten me compliments too and also is one of those scents that I never get olfactory fatigue from. I can really smell it coming off me all day.
podatnov – :
@thiagomartini: What an ironic comment. I see that your perfume wardrobe contains many gourmands.
Guerlain Homme: Why in the world would people like to go out smelling like a mojito?
Guerlain LIDGE: Why in the world would people like to go out smelling like hot cocoa?
Dior Homme: Why in the world would people like to go out smelling like iris infused chocolate?
Chanel Allure Blanche: Why in the world would people like to go out smelling like lemon pie?
You get the point…
okbond – :
@stickaforkinit
Yeah, this is really, really messed up… I wore it several times, just can’t understand why in the world would people like to go out smelling like orange soda.
The fragrance doesn’t have any evolution whatsoever, its just a linear and boring orangy-bubblegum soda syrup.
Sad to see where modern commercial perfumery is attempting to take people to… old ideas (Terre/Declaration), but recycled in a very bad way. I would even say this fragrance is not only bad, it’s plain wrong…
To those who like it, don’t fight me, just wear it. And forget what you’ve read here, after all thats only MY opinion.
Peace.
Velmok – :
Smelled this while passing through Dubai airport duty free 2 years ago. Had to return and buy a bottle as the smell got me. Classy and sophisticated fragrance that garners a lot of compliments. Has a uniquely English vibe to it too which sets it apart from the French and Italian offerings.
negodyae4ka – :
so, this is where armani’s deceased city glam went.
exact same scent. couldn’t understand why they discontinued it cause i loved it so much.
just to change the brand obv.
i’m liking it of course, but as with the previous incarnation, it has a longevity issue, although expected as is with all the ethereal scents.
serg6677 – :
OK tried this 2nd time today.
Originally I thought it was a bubble gum smell but now am thinking grape soda sounds about right.
no sign of elevated social status..will pass for now.
KaraNebesnay – :
I have been using an anti allergy nose spray for 20 years, which affects my olfactory. Being a fragrance lover, I kind of felt sorry for myself.
But in stead I should feel sorry for those guys who claim this to be close to Terre D’Hermes.
I have the original and the Eau Tres Fraiche version. I even have the aftershave. Oranges, oranges and more oranges.
Overripe in the original and indeed a little bit fresher on the Fraiche version.
So do I have since recently Dunhill Icon. It’s a 2017 batch.
Will review it later on, after using it in all kinds of circumstances. For now I can say I have serious doubts regarding the performance.
But, unless the previous formula was drentched in oranges, in this one Bergamot and Neroli is what you get in the top. With a thin layer of Pepper, that will remain after the bergamot and Neroli are gone. Which is, unfortunately pretty soon.
I must have at least half of dozen of other fragrances in the same category as Icon. Fortunately, nothing as repelling and nauseating after 2 hours, when the overly ripe oranges start to smell rotten, as Terre D’Hermes.
I know I will get a lot of hate for this but in spite of my bad nose, that is my opinion.
slayer-shah – :
Stunning. Luxurious and refined. Really wish I’d bought this years ago.
victorsh54 – :
Dunhill Icon eau de Parfum: here you go! Green deep soapy scent. Classic that reminds me creed original Vetiver or Mugler Cologne. I don’t find it some modern scent but it’s clean soapy just like come out of shower now. For me dominant nots is Vetiver. Performance and longevity is average , projection is 2-3 centimeter (poor), longevity is better than projection and silage. you can feel a lot DNA than a lot perfumes in it. It shows to me the manufacturer wants to focus on selling without taking any risk. I can find print of Dior savage, terre de Ermes, diesel fuel, Prada Rossa carbon, Mugler Cologne somehow ( because of a lot Vetiver) and and and……
Stahtoowl – :
I’m close to having over 100 bottles of fragrances that I own, but for whatever reason Dunhill Icon is my favorite designer fragrance. The smell is intoxicating, I put this on when I’m dressed with my Hugo Boss navy suit, I can honestly say I feel like a million bucks. Just look at the reviews from Youtube and here on Fragrantica, this kicks Dior Sauvage and Bleu de Chanel for 2nd & 3rd place on my list.
chipist – :
(Ordered this online, blind buy based on reviews)
I agree that Dunhill Icon has this sort of “purple” vibe going on. I wouldn’t say it is like grape soda though. It doesn’t sparkle or have any kind of fizzy feel to it. Despite the citrus note breakdown (neroli, petitgrain, bergamot, etc.) it comes off more like blackcurrant — very tart. This tartness is probably why so many think “grandma scent.”
When I first put my nose on it, I was taken by surprise at how powerful that fruity tartness was. The first thought that came to my mind was vaseline. Even going into the dry down it has a babies butt, nursery kind of vibe going on. While it isn’t terrible, it wasn’t love at first sniff.
I was sniffing it on my hand close up and that was a big mistake. Granted, I sprayed it in the air and got the same effect off the top, but where this scent really develops and shines is when it dries down and radiates off of the skin. The spiciness comes through and is definitely masculine. Whatever floral effect the frag has also dissipates as time goes on. The blackcurrant loses much of that tartness and becomes smooth and creamy with a hint of sweetness — it no longer reminds of me of vaseline even though my hand still smelled like it when I put my nose on it. It was when I left my house and the breeze wafted it around, then I could notice this wonderful development.
After the three hour mark, the pleasant jump off also gets closer to the skin and has this luxury soapy, fresh and clean kind of a nuance. Less zesty than the citrus would imply; more creamy. The cardamom and black pepper give it this awesome spicy backdrop. At the four to five hour, as it fades to a skin scent, the oud and leather provide a slightly rugged/woody accord that clings to the clothing and persists for quite some time, perhaps 6 to 8 hours. All in all, very nice in the dry down. It is reminiscent of a Dior Fahrenheit situation, where the initial spray is slightly offensive, but the dry down is pleasant and manly.
It doesn’t end up a “grandma” or a “grandpa” scent at all, but it is mature. It isn’t overly mature, but I couldn’t picture a man in his teens or early twenties wearing this. It is pretty versatile too, any time of year, except maybe the high heat or the extreme cold. I probably wouldn’t wear this if I wanted to leave a lasting impression like while on a date or special occasion, but it would be safe enough (after the dry down) for the office, interviews, casual wear, etc. I would suggest no more than four sprays, but if you go less than four, the dry down won’t be as noticeable. At four sprays you will have to put up with that overwhelming and intense explosion of tartness for about an hour though.
Scent – 7/10
I give it an above average rating based on how interesting the scent is among the current wave of ambroxan bombs and sweet male frags. It is fresh and clean, but it isn’t readily accessible. I wouldn’t call this mass-appealing by any stretch but holds a welcome spot in my collection as it is unique enough to warrant it. The role it fills is similar to a Mugler Cologne/Original Vetiver or a Prada Infusion d’Homme; soapy, subtle in the dry down, great right out of the shower for that extra clean feeling, good for any occasion where you just want to fly under the radar while still keeping it fresh.
Performance – 6.5/10
Nothing special; in fact, I would give this a lower rating but the dry down to a reduced scent bubble is actually what I want out of a frag like this. The sillage and projection are quite beastly in the first hour, and that isn’t necessarily a good thing, in this case, considering how tart this can be (to my nose at least).
Presentation – 7.5/10
The bottle feels hefty. I enjoy the way the cap clicks on. The sprayer is solid. I have a thing for textured bottles including the Valentino Uomo line, so maybe I am a bit bias here, but the bottle is certainly above average as far as designer frags go.
liamyloalia – :
After one test run from Macy’s, I bought it two days later from FragranceNet. Many people say this is for an older man, but I’d say anyone could rock it with a nice outfit.
pskander – :
Whew! – this was a blind buy and ‘By Jove!’ am I pleased with this fragrance.
The opening of Dunhill Icon is a beautiful and rich concoction that reminds me very much of Nabeel’s Macho Man; sweet but smooth notes of wood and leather cut with florals that to me smells of new suede and fruit scented flowers and which ages very well.
Whereas Macho Man can be a little cloying and musky once the raspberry fades, Dunhill Icon is kept fresh by Neroli and Petitgrain as noticeable top notes with Oakmoss that lingers in the background to add body and freshen the Leather and Oud without any musty smells.
The only draw back… once this fragrance has aged 5 or 6 hours and if you get ‘warmed up’ during that time at the end of the lifecycle Dunhill Icon can, as my girlfriend said, ‘smell sweaty.’
Day or evening wear – if you want a ‘pick me up’ later in the day; I don’t think this somewhat invigorating fragrance would help you sleep – during Autumn and Winter… definitely not a Springtime fragrance.
Blueebird – :
There appears to be two camps with this one. One camp swears it smells like Terre d’Hermes, while the other thinks it smells like grape drank. How can two sides have such a different opinion on the same fragrance? My conclusion is that there was either a reformulation that drastically changed it or there are extreme batch variations.
I do remember trying this in store and it smelled very citrusy, nothing like the grape soda one I woundup purchasing online.
If you have the grape version, it lasts maybe in the 4 to 5 hour range with moderate projection. Overall, it’s an interesting scent. The bottle is beautiful and very well made.
mirt – :
Great scent but personnaly I find the performace is better on my skin in cooler climates otherwise in hotter weather my 2016 Icon is weak in the overall performance category.
Kasur – :
I compared this to Dior Homme unintentionally and Icon smelled much better! I happened to have Dior Homme on the other hand. This is a great fragrance I think any guy would like. I give this a 9.4/10
twinkly – :
Wow, Neroli, Bergamot and Black Pepper with lavender and cardamome coming to the party right away with the opening notes. It opens fresh and spicy: it comes off to me as a clean scent, but much more deep and with unique personality than what we except from “clean”.
This is a scent for a gentleman, clean orangy and serious. It’s uplifting, but not overly bright. It has some dark undertones that I love.
Dunhill released a luxurious scent, bright and fresh. Orange is everywhere. But you will have a lot of fun going through the notes. This is an interesting and evolving fragrance, made for those who enjoy a bit of complexity in a rather mass pleasing fragrance.
There is a bit of Oud Wood in there too. It’s well hidden.
Wait for the end. What I got was leather, oud, iris and vetiver. But still, after all these hours, I was getting something like orange.
I am surprised by this Dunhill release. It was a blind-buy and I am satisfied. Also, the bottle is heavy, masculine, just like the scent. A nice looking bottle, with a cap that clicks when it’s in place.
I would spray that on heavy cotton clothes. Smells so good on heavy fabrics. Spray this on a scarf during autumn. That would be the best I think.
Thanks for reading my review!
DREAM300 – :
This is interesting and different: smoky fruit, smells purple.
5221983 – :
its done 100% perfect for its purpose i love it,if you like citrus/flower fragrances dont hesitate.
svetavovk – :
Very disappointed. I don’t get the Terre d”Hermes reference at all. To me it smells like a thinner, sharper version of Mugler Cologne. The bergamot and neroli dominate this fragrance completely and while I am fine with that I already own a large bottle of Mugler Cologne and that one smells better, more rounded and less stingy.
Cool bottle though!
batik123 – :
Second review:
I will always have a bottle of dunhill icon in my collection.
It doesn’t smell like anything else despite trying hundreds of perfumes. Forget the resemblance to Hermes TDH.
It has that classy luxurious feel that I cannot discribe, like a bright lobby of an elegant hotel.
So beautiful citrus floral combo “neroli/iris/sage/lavender” opening then the leather, spices and woods holds it to its masculine roots.
Excellent fragrance, Excellent performance, elegant, fresh, deep and sophisticated. Luxurious high quality bottle and powerful sprayer and on the top of that it is super cheap and crazily underpriced.
What else can any one want?
Xeroxaeurb – :
I have always love the unique smell of Icon especially the Neroli in it.
Unfortunately my December 2014 juice doesn’t react too kindly on my skin and after 1 hour of soft projection, it turned into a skin scent for about another 1.5 hour, and then totally gone.
The only good thing was, within the first hour of projection, those around my scent bubble usually complimented the scent.
My bottle is almost empty and I won’t be buying another although it’s one of my favorite hot weather scent.
Update:
Found another 2 bottles of the December 2014 batch with 40% off the sticker price. No choice but to get them. Sigh! 😉
CTACnumberone – :
@Ryanmmas26
You should dump your gf bro, Icon doesn’t smell like grandma at all 😉
taip – :
Didn’t like this at all ! It was too peppery and the neroli made this smell like a gramma like scent. With that said, Neroli is not a note that generally agrees with my skin chemistry. Such a shame as this was a unique scent.
I tested this in the morning and immediately my fiancée said she didn’t like it and it was making her head hurt. She’s a tough critic and hates the majority of my fragrances but I did agree as I wasn’t a fan of this myself. I asked her why she didn’t like it and she also said it smelled like something her gramma might wear.lol
Blah, once again I bought into the hype and was very confused as to how people are liking a fragrance that gets so much love. Again, to be fair this was a very unique scent so I can’t totally bash it.
Sidenote— I did NOT get the comparison to TDH as TDH is a way better smell
Kucherowatikhonina – :
This deserves all the praise. One of the best designer fragrances by far. This scent overall portrays class and elegance, not in your face or a shouter by means. The ingredients are high quality and longevity is amazing.
zlopyxar – :
WOW – AS ALWAYS! Im sick in bed and wanted a cheer me up smell so I’ve sprayed one of my top shelf faves… and now I have to time to write about it!
Bought this funnily enough with Terre De Hermes EDP – and was it coincidence that I always relate the two? I class them the same even though they are not – @WeAreTheCosmos is spot on – TDH is dirtier and heavier and for winter, Icon is fresher and would pass for any season.
For a simple description @eholley485 nails it with a grape soda vibe (obviously more refined). Its an evolving smell and I find on occasion I get a zesty spicy sweet orange peel to a woody floral – so many sensations!
The pyramid is correct (except to my nose the bergamot is most noticeable) and starts with a very bright Bergamot/Grapefruit with sweet toned down lavender just in the background with a tiny kick (the pepper?).
On the dry down after 10 minutes the note pyramid comes to life and for me is one of the rare cases when I put nose to skin and analyse and I completely agree with it. there is hope for the Fragrantica Pyramid! Broadly I find it resting to a sweet lavender with a citrus punch and a slightly woody base.
I’ve worn it to work and had even my boss comment “gee you smell good” – if I poor it on neck, arms, shirt with 10 sprays I find it has decent projection, (had a client designer at work doused in TDH that I could smell 5 metres away he still could smell my Icon when I approached. He was impressed I knew it was TDH and asked me to write down my scent. Its one of the few Citrus content sprays that has strong projection and longevity.
@thepharoah suggested this is weak – as per some reviews ISO E and some of its make up may tire the nose but judging from compliments its probably stronger than you think.
Ive tried all the Icons and this is the stronger in performance – I had Icon Racing which was also awesome however was too weak for an EDP even giving it multiple chances so I gifted it.
I think it is indicative of the quality when unlike many of my perfumes I can actually clearly smell all the ingredients.
In summary:
* A bright aromatic citrus well rounded with woody spices. Even at a distance its one of a few scents that clearly offers an evolving smell showing up all its notes distinctly
* A overly simple description is a Grape Soda, Ive been told that from a distance it sometimes comes across as a spicy sweet orange zest at a whiff (which I get that analogy too)
* Excellent silage – I get compliments from a few metres away (again I do spray a lot because even at strength it is not offensive and offers evolving smells even at a distance)
* Great for any season or though best for winter and autumn
* Any occasion however best for casual as it is somewhat in your face.
* Value for money and to my knowledge I can not think of anything similar (except TDH at a stretch)
Happy Smelling
Fadymnnah – :
This one is a no-brainer—just an amazingly fresh, unique scent with decent sillage and longevity. The bottle is a work of art.
Icon is considered a discreet, office-appropriate scent, and I completely agree. In fact, I think it’s appropriate for just about any situation.
Many of the reviews here say projection and longevity of Dunhill Icon is “weak”. Well, this was my experience:
I applied a few small sprays before heading out the door: two on the chest, one on each arm. Four hours later, I’m standing in the door of a colleague’s office. She’s 5 feet away, and within two seconds says, “Oh, you smell GOOD.”
Enough said!
Lapa343 – :
I love this perfume, it makes me happy, i dont know why, love it really
gal4on0k – :
I am trying to be fair. Let me give you advice worth 50$: do not buy it, trust me, you will be disappointed, you do not want this.
Batch from 2017 december: longevity 2hr, cheap synthetic cloying mess. Oh you enjoy neroli a lot? Do not bother with this chemical.
Tester bottle was a different fragrance – it had excellent projection and smelled like grape soda. Thats the old formulation, that was worth compliments.
Стелька7 – :
I think the reason anyone is comparing this to TDH is simply the combo of citrus and ISO E super.
Most days I can’t smell ISO E, so this and TDH smell nothing alike… But on the rare days/conditions where I’m able to smell ISO E, I can see some resemblance.
TDH is dirtier, and heavier.
Icon is more fresh.
Both are great, but not all that comparable IMO.
meshet – :
Anyone who already tried REALLY well made neroli-based designer scents, like Rochas Lui, will, as I did, *laugh out loud* in front of a joke like this.
Nice try, tho.
5 out of 10
slbtnsbd;m – :
Ok smell. Weak longevity and projection. Do not believe anyone who tells you this has good projection and longevity. It does not. I tried 4 batches. You should not be rewarding companies that produce these weak fragrances. Not worth it.
sanek2010 – :
I really like this one. I think its unique. Some compare to TDH but I dont see it.It does have a grape soda vibe to it which I like. I would say Icon is signature scent worthy.
sneed2010 – :
I really like the smell and it has good performance so I think it’s a really solid fragrance, the peppery note is really strong in this which gives it a mature vibe but it’s also pretty versatile I’d say a teen could wear it too.
Overall it’s a great, fresh fragrance with good performance and it’s pretty versatile
snake33 – :
If this lasted longer, it would easily be an A+ for me, based on scent alone.
bond007_33 – :
An awesome blind buy. I was able to get a gift set with 100ml bottle, aftershave lotion, body wash, and a toiletries bag for $39. That’s an absolute steal for this.
This has the vibe of Terre D’Hermes. I think it’s because the black pepper of Icon resembling the flint of TDH. These notes makes both scents (slightly) daring because those notes aren’t found in most fragrances. I like safe scents and I like this.
It opens with citrus and mild black pepper in the background. Around the 30 minute mark the pepper becomes a bomb for the next half hour. It smells like someone sprinkled black pepper all over me…but in a good way. After 1 hour the pepper is present but toned down, and it becomes slightly sweeter with a grape soda note mixing into the scent. After 3 hours the pepper is almost gone and a subtle sweet grape soda becomes the main note.
This is the June 2017 batch, I purchased April 2018: With three sprays (2 neck, 1 arm) this projects 6 feet + for 2 hrs, then 3 feet for next two hours. It then sits close to the skin at 5 hours and becomes a skin scent by the 6 hour mark. It’s pretty much gone at 7 hrs.
This can work any time of year, but especially during spring and fall. Great for work and casual. It will work for formal and date night, but there are better options. It can be a signature scent.
Scent: 9/10
Projection: 8.5/10
Longevity: 7/10
Versatility: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Overall: 8.75
fariz – :
[batch 7201, 2017]
I bought after it appeared in a British men’s magazine as a perfume “a gentleman must have”…
The verdict?
Excellent buy!!!!
Very modern but do not expect the usual “sweet/spicy” smells that are fashionable these days…
Bitter freshness, citrus, strong pepper and woody…
…smells very different to most perfumes…stands out …
…definitely underrated in its score in this site at 4.19…
It will suit a young successful sophisticated professional or a mature person which is very young at heart…
I think it is an all season, all times, can be worn with casual wear as long as they are smart…
Performance is average. I will edit once I wear it a few more times in different temperatures.
Modern!!
Unique!!
Classy!!
Very very happy!!!
Scent: 10/10
Performance 6/10
EDIT Compliment received on holiday break 06/07/18
snaiper13 – :
[This was my first review on Fragrantica, and while I tried to be thorough the important parts took too way long to become evident so I deleted everything and give only what I learned that can really help others below.]
Some fragrances may present unfavorably to certain individuals when sprayed from a new, sealed bottle. For me, Icon was an extreme example of this. Take all the smells and positive comments already listed (below & above) by those who loved this fragrance, and that’s what I perceived from both the well-used tester and my new bottle (minus 20 sprays) after allowing it to sit for 4 months before trying it again. Whatever happens to a slightly used bottle as it sits unused for several months is pure magic and Icon has been a wonderful hot weather scent for me ever since. However, the first 20 sprays (4-5 uses) from that bottle right after unsealing it gave me the grape drink smell some have reported here. It was so unpleasant during those initial wears that I tried to give it away. Thankfully the recipient gave it back to me when after 3-4 months he never used it. For some reason once that same bottle sat unused for those 3-4 months it developed into a something beautiful. I’ve had scents improve like this before, but never to this extent.
matsur2 – :
very nice scent for an incredible price. icon is a a good surprise from the modern era of fragrance, it beats many others in terms of smelling and price-quality ratio. gorgeous opening with citrus and neroli, the drydown is full of woody-spicies notes with that creamy taste…i love it! u can use it at work or in casual situations, and for me it’s a safe blind buy for an older crowd, not for teenager in my opinion. to my nose is very similar for the 50-60% to terre d’hermes, which is superior for quality and performance but both has in common that orangy-creamy-earthy taste. tdh is better, no questions about it but the difference between the two is not so big considering the price tag(tdh is far more expensive than icon). both are mature fragrances but icon for me is slightly younger and playful.
the performance of icon is average, i heard it has been reformulated so the longevity and sillage are not so amazing. the bottle is fantastic!!
a great pick for the spring and summer. molto felice dell’acquisto!
scent:8
longevity:7
sillage:7
uniqueness:8(where i live in nobody knows it)
versatility:8
bottle: 9
my vote: 8
in one word: spring
Novichok147 – :
I wasn’t a fan of Icon Absolute, but this, this I like! Gorgeous neroli, bergamot with spices, wrapped around cardamom, juniper berries and lavender. All sitting on a bed of woods and leather. This for me is bottle worthy. Compliment getter. Great alrounder and I can’t see anyone getting offended by this one, making it great for closed environments like the office.
dponya – :
This one is good, but not great, in my opinion. It’s reminiscent of 4711 and Neroli Portofino (I’m surprised that I’m the first to list that as a similarity). I’ll spend some time and update this with a more thorough review later.
den1111 – :
very unique scent. It has it is own smell and I love it!
Really it makes me happy to spray it and the surprising thing that it has a good projection and longetivity unlike most of Dunhill perfumes!
Scent 4.75/5
Projection 4/5
Silage 3.5/5
Longevity 4/5
Offensive No
dizi88 – :
I’d heard a lot about this fragrance and became very interested when I saw the notes. I came across it for about $40 on eBay!
This starts it with a blast of very fruity and spicy citrus. I love the fruit smell and this is very close to being a summery scent than a spring one. It dries down to the woody and leathery notes.
Unfortunately, I got the 2017 batch, so the longevity isn’t quite as good and also surprisingly so being an EDP. I’ll have to find the 2016 version, but the projection on my skin lasts about an hour and the overall scent lasts about 5 to 6 hours.
Overall, I love this scent and will be utilizing scentless creams to increase its longevity and projection. 8.5/10 for me! Cheers!
edgemoemulp – :
Note about batches and performance from my personal experience.
Gifted my father Icon with batch of 2016, performance is incredible. Been on a trip and I could smell Icon sillage on my father even the other day and the day after.
Not long ago, my brother purchased Icon for himself with the batch of 2017. Performance is day and night between these year apart batches. 2017 is at least twice as softer in performance, yet it is still good, but 2016 bat