Spicebomb EDT.
The original from one of the best winter fragrance lines.
Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb EDT was released in 2012. It is based on warm spices and tobacco. It lasts six to seven hours on the skin with moderate projection. In this review, I will describe its smell and performance and if it’s worth it.
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Table of Contents
What Does Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb EDT Smell Like?
The original spicebomb opens with a blast of spices paired with a present citric duo of grapefruit and bergamot. The spices are equal parts pink pepper and cinnamon. The general idea is subtle yet intense warmth. The cinnamon will become increasingly dominant as the wear continues.
The citruses are only present in the initial blast. Into the mid, they fade and give way to a warm dose of saffron and slightly aromatic vetiver. It is more refined than the opening, making it more wearable as the spices aren’t so intense.
The dry down is simple. It’s all about warm spices, cinnamon being the most prominent. There are faint additions of tobacco and leather, but they aren’t as prominent as I thought. They sit behind the spices in the neighborhood of the citruses. This is what you’ll get for the rest of the wear.
Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb EDT notes:
TOP NOTES
- Pink Pepper
- Elemi
- Bergamot
- Grapefruit
MID NOTES
- Cinnamon
- Saffron
- Paprika
BASE NOTES
- Tobacco
- Leather
- Vetiver
Performance
The performance of Spicebomb is nothing as explosive as the smell. It lasts six to seven hours on the skin with moderate projection. Although it doesn’t last an entire day, it is still very present the entire wear. It will push out an arm’s length or more most of the wear.
This performance is with three sprays.
As for seasons and occasions, this is exclusively fall and winter. The spices won’t seem right outside these seasons, and the smell will be extremely intense for you and those around you with any heat on this fragrance.
I will wear this for all occasions. There are better formal occasion scents, but this can hold its own. Primarily, I reach for this when I’m out and about, running errands. This gives it the most room to air out and get compliments. Speaking of, this is likable enough to get compliments but not a magnet.
The uniqueness is average. It is special how the notes are blended, but… there’s nothing groundbreaking about a spice and tobacco-dominant fragrance. Many masculine winter colognes have this same scent profile. As for other guys, I rarely smell this on other people.
Final Words
Is Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb EDT worth it? Yes, but is it the best choice…? Maybe not. I enjoy how this fragrance cuts through the cold air like a blade. The spices are intense but never repulsive. They are both quality and blended to make this a very enjoyable wear.
However, is there a better choice? The Extreme version has the same scent but is more intense. It lasts longer and projects further but still never becomes overwhelming. The original is a few dollars less, but the better performance of the Extreme version is worth it.
So, in short. This is not a bad fragrance and a great buy, but there may be better choices.
If you liked reading about the original spicebomb and want to discover the top four from the line, check them out here.
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