Dior
Dior
107 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Brilliant citrus—lemon and bergamot—explodes immediately, but the basil cuts through with a green, almost minty freshness whilst lavender adds herbal complexity. Within moments, the spicy notes begin their ascent, creating a dry, slightly peppery sensation that transforms this from mere eau fraîche into something with genuine character.
Coriander blooms alongside rosemary, creating a warm, almost culinary spiciness that plays beautifully against the aldehydes' silken shimmer. Sandalwood and orris root emerge as stabilising forces, the latter providing a subtle powder-dry mineral quality that prevents the composition from becoming syrupy, whilst jasmine adds a whisper of floral sophistication without compromising the woody-spicy narrative.
Cedar and oakmoss assume dominance, their dry woody structure now enhanced by amber's subtle sweetness and musk's intimate warmth. The composition settles into a refined, slightly resinous skin scent—still spicy at its core, but now profoundly earthy and contemplative, clinging gently rather than projecting.
Eau Sauvage Extrême Dior is a fragrance that refuses to whisper. Where the original Eau Sauvage trades in restrained elegance, this 1982 intensification leans into provocation—a spicy, woody creature with civilised manners and a mischievous streak. The opening delivers bright lemon and bergamot with an almost herbal bite courtesy of basil and lavender, but these are merely the invitation. What distinguishes Extrême is its central nervous system: coriander and rosemary conspire to inject a peppery warmth that transforms the citrus from innocent freshness into something more worldly, more assertive. Aldehydes shimmer through like expensive silk catching light, whilst orris root adds a subtle powder-dry mineral quality that prevents the composition from becoming merely fruity-fresh.
The base is where Extrême reveals its true ambition. Cedar and oakmoss construct a woody framework that's simultaneously dry and slightly resinous, whilst amber and musk anchor the whole affair with a subtle animalic warmth. This is not a fragrance for the cautious. It's worn by those confident enough to command attention—the person in the boardroom who smells unexpectedly complex, the one at dinner who leaves a memorable trail. Extrême occupies that rare territory where spice (100% accord strength) never overwhelms the fresher elements; instead, they wage a subtle territorial dispute across your skin. It's equally at home in winter's chill or spring's uncertain warmth, demanding respect either way.
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4.0/5 (258)