Description
Princesse Marina de Bourbon presented two editions for women this year – from the Royal Marina collection Royal Marina Turquoise and Royal Marina Intense, as well as fragrance for men Monsieur Le Prince Intense aimed at the man with strong character inspired by royal family.
Composition of Monsieur Le Prince Intense opens with vibrant and fresh bergamot zests combined with fruity notes of apple and pineapple. The heart develops aromatic notes of sage blended with jasmine and leather accords resting on musk, amber and blond wood.
The fragrance arrives in a bottle of the same shape as men’s editions Le Prince Galant and Le Prince Charmant with a cap in silver color, with imprinted crowns. The central part of the glass flacon iridescent from light to dark blue features royal stamp, symbol of nobility, pride and power. Outer carton is in dark blue with a relief motive of brushed steel. Monsieur Le Prince Intense is available in 50 and 100ml Eau de Parfum flacons.
Monsieur Le Prince Intense was launched in 2015.
vlad7868 – :
While there are definitive similarities between Le Prince Intense and Aventus, I think it’s got too much going for it to simply pass it off as a clone. This one has character I haven’t found in any other so-called Aventus clone, even the more expensive ones.
Lest all the fanboys pillory me with grief forthwith, I’ll just get this disclaimer out of the way: Aventus is wonderful. I’ve owned several bottles, know it well and love it… BUT, I have to admit it’s pretty much linear and simple in what it brings to the table, for better or worse.
Le Prince Intense, on the other hand, takes the pineapple brightness of the more fruit-forward Aventus vintages and adds further depth and nuance to it, evoking other complimentary fragrances along the way. And while the journey admittedly doesn’t last terribly long (as with Aventus, honestly), it’s a very enjoyable ride while it lasts.
At the top, LPI presents as 90% fruity Aventus, minus that trademark smoky birch (that is often missing in newer batches anyway). As LPI dries down, something else sneaks out that reminds me of the incensy mandarin accord of Aqva Amara, mingled with that Aventus – it’s a novel juxtaposition that adds nice depth and really works. This is where it becomes clear that LPI is no clone but more like a flanker.
About 2-3 hours into the dry down, LPI becomes more of a skin scent, but it continues to evolve during this time into a vanillic woodsy (heavy ISO-e) combination almost identical to Secret Temptation by Antonio Banderas – which is one hell of a pleasant surprise finish to be honest.
This one’s got character! It smells great at every stage of its evolution. Aside from longevity issues (which seem like all the rage these days), I love the nuance of LPI and definitely see this as a frequent go to for date nights or casual hang outs alike. I highly recommend it!
Meszk139Negeltzex – :
It has the tasty pineapple opening that I wish CDNI had instead of that super tart lemon.
I don’t even really consider this an Aventus clone because it doesn’t quite have that lovely pencil-shaving birchwood note that is central to both Aventus and CDNI.
As mentioned below the drydown is very herbal, and there’s something else in there that I find very distinct that only middle-aged Americans and younger will get, but there’s no other way to say this: under the herbal accord there’s a “Trix-in-milk” note/accord as it dries.
For the uninitiated Trix is a fruity cereal for kids in the US, and was a favorite of mine in my youth (and through to college, let’s be honest) – I absolutely smelled it as soon as it started to drydown and now there’s no way I can’t think of it when I smell this on me.
Not that it’s a bad thing – far from it – but I do use scents to set my own mood and that accord means I’ll never wear this to work again, this will be a weekend, just waking up, “let’s have a fun day off” fragrance for me.
UPDATE: that Trix-in-milk accord was more of a transitional, middle accord – I guess it was the musk notes combining with the remaining sweet fruit notes to produce that fruity/creamy accord. Now that it’s fully dried down to the base notes this is much closer to the woodsy Aventus/CDNI drydowns – though still not that distinctive birch, more of a typical, darker wood note.
DrAculS – :
WOW – I’m smiling so much! I don’t care for the note description let me tell you how I think it rocks…
I own Aventus – love it – this is better!!!
Aventus is Aventus – in comparison it is slightly more in your face and to me actually more synthetic (I disagree with any Armaf comparison – I believe all the Armaf I have purchased have clearly been an inferior nastier clone of whatever it was meant to be – its a budget solution). I agree with Johnnyfranchise below – this is a higher quality alternative than l’adventure and Armaf.
For the first 10 minutes has to me a calm woody boozy note. It feels like a Walnut and Hazelnut with a dab of Cognac or maybe even bourbon – so unique I struggle to think of any perfume with such a beautiful comparable note. After 15 minutes the Aventus starts creeping to the front as the afore mentioned dries down in to the background.
From this point beyond an arms distance it whiffs of Aventus/Pineapple but closer or as a trail you get that lovely warm note – hmm – definitely like a hazelnut hit – its like Aventus has soaked in a Cognac Barrel before being bottled!
I like it better because if say Aventus was the well to do, brash, attention getting but tasteful young night clubber that all the girls want this is its mature sibling in a velvet jacket with a streak of gray hair totally jumping the queue past the bouncers, pinching the girl and showing how its done…
Both have their place – Aventus is brighter – for summer – MDB for winter – easy…
Sillage is a creeper – I get decent whiffs 5 hours later and I’ve been reminded I smell good when I can’t smell it.
A very serendipitous purchase. I’ve now tried a number of Marina De Bourbon scents which have all been quality though not exceptional – this one is the go to for MDB.
Happy Smelling
Ava_fromAF – :
Better than insurrection pure, but is more herbal.
I find it rather unpleasant during the dry down and longevity very poor 1 hour with poor composition.
I do not recommend you try this, because you will likely have to blind buy it.
L aventure by Al Haramain is much better smelling and lasts much longer for 30 dollars.
club de nuit intense by armaf , if you don’t mind synthetics and want something more smokey and loud for close to 25.
Good day fellas.
sandro1055 – :
I’m not sure why this one doesn’t get the hype of its armaf and al haramain counterparts. This one is less harsh to open and although it sits a bit closer to the skin it comes across as more natural! This runs about 20 dollars more than the aforementioned options. That being said, it is worth worth a look for those that are turned off my the opening of CDLNI or the slightly sharper citrus feel of L’aventure. Cheers
Pennivaise – :
Much closer to mancera cedrat boise.
daddytor – :
This is Insurrection ll Pure’s better looking twin brother…..being an Aventus fan (obsessed), I had to give this a shot.
At first spray, it reminded me of the famous Z01 batch. I was shocked at how it reminded me so much of Aventus. It then turns into a better version of Insurrection ll Pure.
Think of Aventus without the smoke and birch. Not bad. Longevity and sillage above average.
Its pretty simple: Don’t expect Aventus. There is only one Aventus. This is, however in my opinion, the best version of Aventus without being $300.
DarkRaven – :
Une petite question des avis sincer s’il vous plait et ‘il un parfum qui dur bien sur la peau merci ??
Kalyasya-malyasya – :
Great name for a brand, great bottle, at the beginning alcohol dominates the opening ,fallowed by sage , velvet, lemon , green apple , and musk, projection is medium, and longevity is also medium,this is a good formal or office scent just dont judge it before 30 minutes have passed, and it smells very different in the air than on the skin so be aware of that fact.
For the 30 dollars i paid for it its not bad at all, great fragrance for summer night’s out, ages 30 and up.
chebic – :
Anyone else getting a strong alcohol smell in the opening? It lasts up to the dry down where it turns into an awesome scent. I wish longevity was better. I find myself using this when I’m in the mood for Aventus, but don’t want to waste the juice just hanging around the house or the gym.
Intense1992 – :
This is definitely close to Aventus but obviously not as strong. Pretty damn good I must say. If you can’t afford Aventus then try this. A must have to your collection.
lll284JeomiWogkig – :
Truly amazing fragrance, it’s been a while since I encounter something good like this so grabbed without hesitation.
Yurok801996 – :
i had a chance to test this on paper strip. i barely smell anything except citrusy alcohol. i’s hard to detect the scent. then i tested it at my wrist. still, it’s so hard to detect. i had to sniff it very close to my nose, so it’s low projection. anyway, the scent remind me of Aqva Bvlgari. but MLPI is weaker, softer, lighter, without that seaweed notes. a little bit fruity imo. i decided that MLPI wasn’t special…then i went to the gym, sweaty all over, and i smell something wonderful, very weak though. smooth. so i guess it’s the drydown. suddenly, i love it. i’m not good at picking any notes, but it’s woody, floral, clean, soft, a very safe pleasing scent. maybe it’s kind of skin scent. see, i’m new to this kind of perfume world, not many perfume i ever smell, but MLPI is wonderful to me. maybe it’s generic for you…but i’ll hold somebody any longerrrrrrr if he ever smell like this.