M7 by Yves Saint Laurent

M7 Cologne is the seventh men’s fragrance from YSL. This much-desired perfume is dominated by dark, rich and warm-dry woods. The notes begin with citrus accords of Italian bergamot, Sicilian mandarin and rosemary from Southern France. The middle notes contain Agarwood and vetiver. The base culminates with delicate ambergris and nuances of musky notes. It’s heavy, rich and unmistakably masculine.

This fragrance has a beautiful balance of ingredients that lasts consistently throughout the day. Sillage is impressive and above-average. The ambery-musk undertones bring out a powdery dry down, a compelling mix of dryness and sweetness. This knockout oriental is interestingly borderline cherry and a tad smoky.

M7’s potency is appropriate for colder months. The scent develops into a warm blanket of creamy exotic notes that is deeply masculine. It’s also a special occasion scent, but not an office fragrance. It’s too much for a daily wear.

The flanker, M7 Fresh, has the same dry down sans the complexity and the chaos of the original version. At the top, it’s fruity without being cloyingly sweet. This one is a pleasant wear. You can spray as much as you want without being too offensive. Subdued and lighter, this is the fragrance for the warmer days. Although longevity is not that good as the original, M7 Fresh still has its own unique personality.

This sensual oriental-woody scent is famous for its controversial ad campaign featuring French model and former martial arts champion Samuel de Cubber in the nude – frontal nudity with his genitals in full view. It’s the first full-frontal nude in mainstream American advertising. According to Time magazine, “Break out the champagne, get out the party lights, strike up the band-the last taboo has finally been broken."

Tom Ford defends the nudity,” Perfume is worn on the skin, so why hide the body?"