French Belom Eau de Toilette, Aftershave, Belom Fragrance, 100ml

After falling in love with Rebel, a twin to the male Marseille fragrance catalogue, I had to take a chance with this one as well. I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into scent-wise but a few descriptors mentioned this one being 'sporty' and 'elegant,' which I could see upon smelling it but not very descriptive about the actual scent profiles. So I had a look at the ingredients on Marseille's official site, and its ingredients gave an idea of what to expect from the composition:
• Limonene – Lemon, pine, mint
• Linalool – Lavender, coriander
• Citral – Lemon peel, lemongrass
• Butylphenyl Methylpropional – Floral, lily
• Hexyl Cinnemal – Jasmine, gardenia
• Geraniol – Roses, geranium
• Benzyl salicylate – Balsamic, floral
• Eugenol – Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, basil and bay leaf
• Citronellol – Geranium, rose, grass, citrus
• Evernia Prunastri – Oak moss extract
• Farnesol – Lily of the valley

And surprisingly upon first spritz, I was instantly taken back to Drakkar Noir! That spicy, floral, woody smell with some citrus and sweetness. Definitely smelling the oakmoss in there. Good stuff! I just wished they'd list a specific note breakdown somewhere instead of "opulent male scent" as it does this fragrance a disservice and the people reading don’t know what they’re buying. And not to mention the reuse of Rebel's description, stating it has the same 'heart of musk, marine and patchouli base,' which isn't true.

It definitely does have a distinct gentlemanly vibe nonetheless; classy and bold which isn't a far cry from the style of fragrance that might have been released in Noir's prime. And a big draw to this brand for me is the natural oils, so it definitely smells quality, without any of that headache some artificial ingredients give.

I wouldn't say this one lasts as long as Rebel, maybe tipping off the noticeable end at neck distance maybe 4 - 5 hours? Your mileage may vary as I did do some strenuous work in that time which may have sweated off some of the fragrance but I can see it staying plenty long in casual settings.

Definitely worth buying for the price if you're a fan of aromatic, fresh and woody scents from a brand that's established itself as using natural quality ingredients. Also thanks again Edenwood for the bonus soap bar! :)