Memoire Intense

To Buy or Not to Buy?

Wearing Memoire Intense versus the original is like opting for a sepia-toned photograph instead of a vibrant oil painting. You get the basic idea, but the depth and richness are undeniably missing. This scent profile creates an aura of studied sophistication, although the synthetic notes undermine any true sense of opulence. It projects the image of someone trying too hard to embody a certain lifestyle, falling slightly short.

Scent Breakdown

Memoire Intense opens with a surprisingly tart grapefruit, but it’s quickly wrestled down by a synthetic mandarin note that smells suspiciously like orange cleaner. The pink pepper attempts to add intrigue, but it can't distract from the initial chemical blast. The heart reveals a dusty, slightly sweet incense, reminiscent of aged paper in a neglected library. The tobacco is muted, more pipe tobacco pouch than smoldering leaf. The saffron presents as an artificial leather accord, with a plasticky undercurrent. The dry down is where this diverges most from its inspiration. The oud is a whisper, overshadowed by an overly sweet, amber accord and a persistent, acrid edge to the leather.

How Long Does it Last?

On my skin, Memoire Intense lasts for approximately 5 hours, with projection extending about one arm’s length for the first hour before settling into a skin scent. I wore it during a rainy afternoon walk; the damp air seemed to amplify the initial citrus blast but did little to improve the overall experience.