Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana
1.2k votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Grapefruit asserts itself with almost aggressive freshness, immediately joined by basil's green snap and coriander's spicy undertone. Within moments you're not in a citrus fragrance but in something more herbaceous—the top notes feel less like a typical Eau de Toilette freshness and more like a deliberately constructed spiced-citrus statement.
The orange blossom emerges softly, lending creamy indolence to what was initially sharp. Cardamom and ginger warm the composition considerably, and here Polge's architecture reveals itself—the spice isn't aggressive but rather integrated, almost candied. The fragrance becomes sweeter, rounder, and genuinely wearable in this phase.
Amber and tobacco begin their descent, though the cedar keeps the base from feeling heavy. By the fourth hour, the projection has faded considerably—this is where The One's notorious longevity issues become apparent. What remains is a soft amber-woody whisper, barely detectable beyond arm's length, sweet and slightly dusty, like walking past a vintage tobacco shop at dusk.
The One for Men arrives with the candied brightness of grapefruit and basil—a combination that feels almost herbal-gourmand, like you've rubbed citrus skin between fresh basil leaves and caught the aromatic release. Olivier Polge constructs something deceptively simple here: a spicy-sweet masculine that trades complexity for directness, though not without refinement. The cardamom and ginger in the heart create genuine warmth without veering into oriental heaviness, whilst orange blossom prevents the composition from becoming purely masculine-sporty. There's something almost retro about this structure—it recalls the early 2000s moment when fresh citrus could coexist with genuine spice and creamy warmth without apology.
This is a fragrance for the man who finds excessive projection exhausting. The One speaks quietly, almost deliberately—which means you're selecting it for specific contexts rather than reaching for it thoughtlessly. It's a weekday fragrance, something for the office where you want to smell composed and lightly spiced rather than announced. The tobacco and cedar in the base provide earthiness without smokiness, grounding the sweeter elements without roughening them. There's an understated elegance here, a refusal to shout. If you appreciate restraint, if you find beauty in a scent that requires proximity to be fully appreciated, if you've tired of the volume wars in men's fragrances, The One rewards close attention. It's a fragrance that trusts you'll notice it without broadcasting itself.
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4.0/5 (200)