I say finally because I’ve been in love with this perfume ever since I first smelled it. and I first smelled it when it came out. 🙂
The Puredistance people are a lovely bunch and I am always happy to receive their new releases – albeit this is far from a new release (it’s just that I am slow when it comes to writing).
Anyone who has smelled this will probably say it is hard to describe this perfume. I mean, you can actually smell all the notes but hell, that doesn’t come close to describing what it smells like in real life.
To my mind, it’s a perfume that share a genetic code with Shalimar. Where Shalimar is its female predecessor from a distant past, this is a perfume that has all the perfect bone structure of his famous ancestor, only it’s not a female descendant, it’s a really great looking male one. You see, it’s the bone structure he inherited, it didn’t come with the accumulated wealth and modern education. And he smells like all of it.
I can’t help it. In that first instant I smell Puredistance M, I smell the lemons and the underlying warmth of spices and vanilla and I instantly think, oh, Shalimar. That said, this doesn’t smell anything like Shalimar, it’s only the initial blast and just so you know, the lemony-spicy notes smell like candy a bit and give me the idea that our rich guy has a prankster side to him.
I can completely understand the smoky part of this picture
There is a slight sharpness to this initial blast and I blame it all on the rose (and when I say blame I actually mean thank).
This is just such a wonderfully full perfume that makes you want to burrow your nose into whatever part of the body it’s on and stay there. At least it does when it’s dabbed on.
Anyway, the leather makes its presence known quite quickly and it has that lovely irisy feel to it (that’s how I differentiate leather). Supple and smooth and oh so seductive. (honestly, men should not be aware this perfume exists)
The official notes are: Bergamot, Lemon, Rose, Jasmine, Cinnamon, Patchouli, Mosses, Cistus, Vetiver, Patchouli, Vanilla, Leather, Musk
What I smelled before I saw the notes is leather, spices, flowers, patchouli, woody notes, sandalwood (missed the mark with that one) and vanilla as that is what always comes with Shalimar associations. The thing is, I should have recognized cistus, I love that smell and once I saw the notes I could smell it (as well as vetiver – shame on me for missing that!).
If it hasn’t been obvious, I am a huge Puredistance fangirl. 🙂 And even though I love the their feminine perfumes, I have no problem wearing this. Well, that’s an understatement. I love wearing this.
Tagged: Leather, Perfume review, Puredistance, Puredistance M
All I am - a redhead 
And so glad you found him, Mr M, my Mr M (the one who makes me go all weak in my knees) is still called Clove Absolut 😉 Although I need to admit that I don’t think I ever tried M…
Welcome ‘back’ perfume-girl, that wasn’t so hard at all was it, and what a lovely review to get your creative blog-juices flowing (he).
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😀 Ah, yes, it wasn’t so hard but then again, I really felt inspired to write yesterday. After such a long time.
I love the fact you love Clove Absolute! 🙂
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I am a Puredistance M fangirl too and found myself nodding in agreement while reading your thoughts. Except I don’t see Shalimar as its ancestor but Caron Poivre 😛 It is my favorite from the line and probably could squeeze into a top ten though I don’t own any unfortunately.
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Well, I never tried Caron Poivre so I can’t really say. 🙂 That said, it’s only in the beginning I see traces of Shalimar, later it’s a perfume of its own.
Now I need to get my hands on some Poivre…
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arggh- my comment got eaten.
Poivre was one of my first favorite perfumes after falling down the rabbit hole. I’d meant to buy some but by the time I had funds I realized it had been reformulated..*pouts*. I did sniff a more recent version a few years ago and it is still nice though perhaps toned down. Do you like Malle’s Noir Epices. That one reminds me of a more elegant Poivre seen through orange tinted glasses. But then if I remember right, Suzanne loves NE but not Poivre so YMMV..:)
Now I need to get my hands on at least a decant of M..:)
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I hate it when that happens.
I love spicy perfumes so I think POivre might be something I need to try – or not, do I REALLY need andother perfume to fall in love with?! Sure I do! 🙂
I’m pretty sure I smelled NE at some point in time but for the life of me, I can’t remember my impressions but I love several Malle perfumes and I do trust Suzanne’s opinion in what smells great so I guess, I will have to smell both and decide for myself.
P.S. I’m hoping I can get enought wearing out of my two samples (before needing a decant). 😉
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M … my thoughts about it can definitely be summed up in multiple mmmmm’s. 😉
Glad to hear you love it too, Ines. My sample is long gone, but I’m sure I’ll reconnect with it again at some point, and when I do, I’ll keep in mind your comparison to Shalimar. Loved reading your line, “…just so you know, the lemony-spicy notes smell like candy a bit and give me the idea that our rich guy has a prankster side to him.” Ah, I think you’re right!
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I like the way you think about M! 😀 Makes complete sense to me. 😉
And honestly, I can’t think of a man wearing M being anything but prankster. The easiest one being played on women’s knees… 😉
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Another Puredistance fangirl here, though a quite selective one, and M was too butch for me, as I recall, but I will recheck my sample, as it was some time ago that I tried it. I am getting more and more into stronger fragrances, so who knows?!
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I see Vanessa we (the more adventurous perfume-wearers) are slowly rubbing off on you. 😉
This one is very masculine, that is true. But I don’t mind wearing masculine perfumes. 🙂
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One more Puredistance fan here 🙂 The same as Vanessa, I found M to be too masculine on me but it’s very nice on my vSO.
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I’m sure it would smell great on my vSO but I’m not really willing to share the little I have. 😀
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Thank you for sharing. I’d like to try it. Hope to hear more from you.
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Thank you 🙂
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