VIKTOR & ROLF – Spicebomb

a Scent Samples review

Viktor & Rolf’s Spicebomb is certainly a name well matched for the scent. This masculine Eau de Toilette released in 2012 is one of the more mainstream offerings that has some substance and is worthy of peaking my interest.

From the moment the fragrance hits the nose, it creates an explosion of spices to tingle the senses. I've been a wearer of Spicebomb for a couple of years now and am yet to be bored of it, though I've found that wearing too much throughout the week can become a little cloying. There's a heavier base in the scent and I wasn’t surprised to find notes including leather and tobacco along with vetiver amongst the ingredients. Tobacco is an ever common note used in men’s perfumery and has been included in fragrances such as Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille, Thierry Mugler’s Pure Havane, and Creed’s Tabarome. This fragrance does compare heavily to other designer fragrances such as Paco Robanne 1 Million and Lanvin Avente Garde and though sharing similar DNA to the aforementioned fragrances is still relatively unique.

The longevity is impressive. One spray’s worth onto my lower neck was still quite prominent after 6-8 hours of wearing. By this time the fragrance had dried down nicely leaving an aroma that was clearly Spicebomb and not just a generic aroma as so many other mainstream offerings tend to do. I wouldn't over apply Spicebomb and recommend no more than 2 full sprays per wearing. Applying any more than this runs the risk of becoming overwhelming to the nose giving it a more synthetic feel. With that being said it is safe to say Viktor&Rolf have done a great job with it with the overall smell. The fragrance is quite versatile and is suitable for many occasions such as daily wear, romantic settings, and the work place. It will surely garner many compliments as was the case for me when I'd been with friends and family.

The nose behind this Spicebomb is Olivier Polge, who is the nose behind some of the best selling fragrances of all time. Spicebomb’s female counterpart, Flowerbomb was created by also created by Olivier, as well as Dolce & Gobanna’s, The One, and Dior’s, Homme. He now works as an in-house perfumer for CHANEL and is highly regarded within the perfume industry.

Spicebomb retails in the UK for £40-£50 for 100ml and can be found in most department stores nationwide.

Compares to the following Fragrances:

Viktor & Rolf – Spicebomb Extreme

The Verdict

"A great designer fragrance and superior to many other similar offerings"

Rating

4 out of 5 stars.

Reviewed by

Bradley Stone – Lead Contributor at Scent Samples