Parfums de Marly Carlisle Review (2023) – Best from the Brand
Carlisle.
The best Parfums de Marly fragrance.
This is one of the best Parfums de Marly fragrances by a clear margin. Today, I’m going to dive into this cold-weather masterpiece. Describing its smell and performance and if it’s the right choice for you.
Before I give away too much, let’s jump into the review and see if Parfums de Marly Carlisle is for you.
Table of Contents
Quick Summary
- A warm, spicy, and woody fragrance for men.
- Sensual and heavily geared towards winter wear.
- Above-average performance with projection for hours and 10-12 hours of longevity.
- Highly rated on other review sites.
- Marketed as a unisex fragrance but is more masculine.
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What Does Carlisle Parfums de marly Smell Like?
The opening starts both bright and invigorating. It has a prominent green apple accord that is both fruity and green. In the background are wafts of nutmeg spice. It is so tempting to push your nose into your wrist.
The green apple accord gets sweeter and fruitier in the first few minutes. It is almost candied as if you could eat it.
The nutmeg spice and green accents have fallen in the background. This makes room for a dark and mysterious patchouli to make an entrance. At this point, it is less about the patchouli note and more about the depth and darkness.
Patchouli can tend to get earthy/dirty at times. However, the sweetness of the green apple contrasts enough that, that never occurs.
30 minutes into the wear, the green apple and patchouli accords have weakened. While a warm vanilla washes over the heart of the fragrance. It is now starting to settle into its sensual and sexy aroma.
As the dry-down starts, tonka bean becomes more prominent. Progressively taking over the scent. Initially, it is slightly spicy with an almost cinnamon accent.
Over time, it gets warmer and woodier, pairing perfectly with vanilla. The rest of the wear is subtle woody tonka bean with spicy accents. While rich and warm vanilla lingers in the background.
TOP NOTES
- Nutmeg
- Green Apple
- Saffron
HEART NOTES
- Tonka Bean
- Rose
- Osmanthus
- Davana
BASE NOTES
- Vanilla
- Patchouli
- Opoponax Resinoid
*Notes from Parfums de Marly’s Official Website.
Carlisle Performance
So, now you know the most important part of the fragrance. Let’s talk about the second.
Carlisle lasts 10 -12 hours on my skin, with a solid and dense scent trail. It’s the type of scent that will last all day at work and still be present on date night.
The sillage is good, and so is the projection. In the first few hours, it pushes out strongly. It becomes very noticeable with one spray on the wrist and moving around.
After the initial 4 – 5 hours, it recedes closer to the skin. Yet, it never becomes a skin scent.
So, when can you wear Carlisle? It’s suitable for nearly all situations. Excluding the gym – if you wear fragrances there. It is a classy perfume, yet, it’s still balanced enough to “dress down” for the office.
Carlisle is exclusively cold-weather wear. Working best in the winter but also being useful in the late fall. This is because it’s both intense and needs dry, cold air to temper it.
On top of that, it’s also warm and spicy, best fitting the colder times of the year. Depending on your climate, you could get 4 months of everyday wear.
Later in the FAQs, I shine light on Carlisle’s closet replica. But for now, let’s talk about uniqueness.
The sweet, juicy green apple, rich vanilla, and woody tonka bean are nothing new. However, the quality of the notes and the fashion in which they are blended are unique.
I wouldn’t say it will be a 1:1, though you’ll definitely stand out.
Is Parfums de Marly Carlisle Worth It?
The smell and performance are covered so we can objectively evaluate it.
There is no doubt that Carlisle is an outstanding scent. It has a captivating smell and excellent performance and can be worn for all occasions. However, it has downfalls like its cost and seasonal versatility. Are four months of wear really worth $400?
Well, yes. If you’re researching Carlisle, you probably already have a decent collection. Thus, this is a must. I’ve been saying this most of the article, and I mean it, this is a winter show-stopper.
How Do The Masses Rate Parfums de Marly Carlisle?
Don’t just trust me; what do the masses think? This information is pulled from fragrantica.com. Providing a general estimate of what others think.
At the time of writing, Carlisle has 2,619 votes with a rating of 4.42 stars out of 5. Based on the cost-for-value metric, Carlisle is rated as neutral to overpriced.
Here are the top three pros and cons:
PROS
- Sexy and Seductive Fragrance
- Well-blended and high quality
- A dark and mysterious scent
CONS
- Not ideal for warm weather of hot climates
- It may smell too cloying if oversprayed
- Expensive price point for blind buying
I agree with all the pros and cons – I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Presentation
The current sample I am reviewing was bought from Parfums de Marly’s website.
It is one of seven in their men’s discovery set. These are seven 1.5mL bottles of their most popular colognes. I’ve included the sample picture below and what an authentic bottle and box will look like.
The bottle is black with a silver cap. I know from watching youtube reviews that the cap clicks into place. You won’t have to worry about spilling. The batch code will be on the bottom of the bottle.
The box is also black with Parfum’s de Marly logo. The batch code, as well as ingredients, will be on the bottom as well.
History
Parfums de Marly’s brand was founded in 1743 and remains headquartered in France – they have experience, to say the least.
From Parfums de Marly, “Each fragrance has its own olfactory signature, developed from a palette of noble ingredients. The splendor of the 18th century through a prism of modern vision.”
Carlisle was released in 2015. It is marketed as unisex, though it leans slightly more masculine. Currently, there are no flankers.
FAQs
Where Should I Buy Parfums de Marly Carlisle?
How Many Sprays Should I Apply?
1 – 2 Sprays. This is heavy stuff, so you have to be careful with how much juice you put on. If you want a more in-depth article on how and when to apply cologne, check out my guide.
Is PDM Carlisle Masculine?
Carlisle is marketed as a unisex perfume. However, it leans more masculine based on my experience and the reviews on fragrantica.
Is Parfums de Marly Carlisle Discontinued?
Carlisle is NOT discontinued. It is still readily available on Parfums de Marly’s official website, retailers, and discounters.
If it were to become delisted on the Parfums de Marly website, it may mean it has been taken out of production.
Yet, even then, it may still be able to be purchased through discounters. The best telltale sign of any fragrance’s discontinuation is skyrocketing prices on eBay.
If I know anything different, I will update this section as soon as possible and alert all of my newsletter subscribers. You’ll only get updates on my new articles and any important fragrance news.
Example: A fragrance being discontinued.
What is a Parfums de Marly Carlisle Clone?
Conclusion
Parfums de Marly Carlisle is a classy, sensual fragrance for men. If you want to expand your collection, this is an excellent start. I can’t guarantee you’ll love it as much as I do. However, I am confident you won’t be disappointed.
Second, it is created by the niche brand Parfums de Marly, which speaks miles of itself.
Carlisle is an excellent cologne and a great winter scent. Yet, don’t just limit yourself to Carlisle. Check out the best winter colognes for men.