i usually make no secret of my fragrance hobby with my friends and family (though the reviewing side is almost always incognito). it’s definitely not as easy to relate to or discuss as more ‘mainstream’ hobbies, though conversely i feel that it’s even more meaningful when someone does make the extra effort to try to connect with me on this topic.
so it was really sweet that during a visit to one of my relatives’ houses over the lunar new year festive period, one of my uncles thoughtfully and generously gave my husband and i a full-size fragrance each for us to enjoy this year.
the one my husband received was a 90ml eau de toilette of Made to Measure Pour Homme from Gucci, definitely not something that either of us would have chosen on our own (though that's the fun part about gifts, isn't it?)
i requested to be allowed to open it on his behalf for unboxing video purposes (you can check out the video on my Instagram here) and it was worth it - this is a lovely display piece, a classy and elegant glass bottle with the Gucci horse bit incorporated into the cap.
i wasn't able to find this one on the official website, though multiple other review sites online have similar wording that (to the best of my knowledge) seem suitably authentic. this one is from fragrantica.com:
"Gucci launches a new fragrance for men called Made to Measure in fall 2013. It is meant for the “worldly and refined” man “who demands the very best." This scent is a masculine partner to the feminine Gucci Premiere from 2012.
The composition is oriental-spicy, "tailor-made" like an expensive suit. Its initial notes are inspired by the look and feel of a handmade suit; there are accords of Calabrian bergamot, Tunisian orange blossom, French lavender and aniseed. The heart is eclectic, spicy and textured, including notes of nutmeg from Sri Lanka, water lily, juniper berries, plum and cinnamon. The base is luxurious and sophisticated, made of labdanum, patchouli, leather and amber.
One further ingredient is required: the man. For a suit is merely a beautiful silhouette until its owner wears it. It is only then—when worn—that it becomes something more. Similarly, the perfume’s refined leather and rich spices combine with the warmth of the skin, the Made to Measure man’s character, and the style in which he wears it."
Made to Measure Pour Homme took me by surprise with the dominance of the florals in the opening, though the slightly-sharp aniseed does pop its head in here and there to remind the wearer that this is not meant to be too soft and easy-wearing. within fifteen minutes or so, the nutmeg and cinnamon become apparent together with a tangy fruitiness from the juniper and plum; true to its description the scent does evolve significantly on the skin, with a deep richness from the leather and amber coming through after half an hour of wear. i didn't get a chance to try this on an actual homme, though it doesn't strike me as being an exclusively 'masculine' scent and i can see myself wearing this one now and then.
i tried this on two different wears and was surprised to find quite a large variance in the results - on the first wear, i was able to enjoy this for just under four hours with about a foot and a half of sillage; however the second wear was barely discernible after two hours and sillage didn't make it past a foot. i'm not sure whether it's fair to attribute this one to the perfume or to myself, but regardless i think that this one definitely didn't match my expectations of at least four to five hours for an eau de toilette.
Made to Measure Pour Homme wasn't an easy scent to review - my ideal 'masculine' scent is one that's a hundred times stronger on the leather and amber, with the inclusion of smoke and whisky to accentuate it. even putting aside these preconceptions and labels, i still found it difficult to fully embrace Made to Measure Pour Homme - this felt more like a scent that was trying to tick too many boxes at once with the florals and spicy fruits and leather-amber, with the result being that it felt a little underwhelming taken as a whole.
4.5/10 a passable scent that does what it says on the tin (albeit with varying results performance-wise), but in light of my preferences and compared to the rest of the scents i own, it's not something that i would find myself consciously reaching for within my collection. in any event, it technically was a gift to my husband not me, so fingers crossed that it performs better on him and that more importantly, he enjoys this one more than i do.
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this review is of a product that was received as a gift without any expectation of review. i wasn't asked to review this as a condition of receipt and didn’t receive any incentives for writing this. i’m not affiliated with Gucci and as always, all opinions remain my own.
all information correct at time of publishing.
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