There’s no shortage of popular niche brands, but Parfums de Marly must be one of the most loved in recent years. Since its founding in 2009 by Julien Sprecher, the French company has built an impressive line-up of best-sellers.
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According to the brand’s website, it takes its name and inspiration from Château de Marly, the palace of the hedonistic, perfume-loving 18th-century French King Louis XV who commissioned equine statues for the grounds in 1743.
That passion for horses is reflected in the fragrances' names and the bottles' design.
It's not difficult to figure out why this house is so popular. More than most, it gives people what they want: bold and distinctive crowd-pleasers with powerful longevity and sillage. The solid bottles are part of the appeal.
Where known, the name of the perfumer is included in brackets after the name of the fragrance.
Our Shortlist For Best Men's Parfums de Marly Fragrances
Parfums de Marly Godolphin EDP (Michele Saramito)
The gold bottle isn’t the only striking thing about this 2010 release.
The opening of this EDP belongs to a big dose of saffron. The spice's leathery qualities are maximized, with the freshness of thyme and cedar in the background.
The listed florals (rose, iris, jasmine) are more like extras than supporting roles.
They seem to know the star of this production is the rich leather accord in the drydown. It's smooth and animalic at the same time. Vetiver complements its earthiness.
Yes, there are similarities with Tom Ford Tuscan Leather, but Godolphin has more than enough appeal in its own right. It's cheaper too.
Parfums de Marly Pegasus EDP
The brand’s first mega hit was released in 2011 and is notable for its potency from start to finish. You could even use that dreadful phrase “beast mode” to describe it.
It leaves the starting gates (sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves) with the spicy tones of the synthetic heliotropin and bergamot in advance.
It’s not long before the main protagonist, bitter almond, comes into view with its nutty qualities. There’s nothing especially bitter about it; its sweetness is enhanced by fresh notes of lavender and jasmine.
The creamy drydown maintains the winning pace with a combo of vanilla and sandalwood.
The 2020 follow-up, Parfums de Marly Pegasus Exclusif EDP, has a darker, woodier profile.
Parfums de Marly Herod EDP (Olivier Pescheux)
Parfums de Marly fragrances are characterised by their boldness (some might say loudness), so this 2012 release is noteworthy for its relative subtlety.
It’s warm and spicy from the start, powdery cinnamon at the fore, with a hint of black pepper in the background.
Tobacco leaf, rich and caramel-y, meets the smoke of incense and floral fruitiness of osmanthus.
The vanilla is super-creamy, while patchouli, musk and a wood accord up the sensual ante.
Is it the best tobacco-vanilla combo since the standard-setting Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille EDP? We’re not sure we’d go that far, but Herod sure hits the sophisticated sweet spot in style.
Parfums de Marly Oajan EDP
As shown by this 2013 release from the Arabian Breed Collection, Parfums de Marly always gets the balance between accessibility and quality right.
Spicy cinnamon and powdery honey make for a great combo in the opening of Oajan, with the fruity floralcy of osmanthus in support.
The amber accord – lots of vanilla, benzoin and tonka bean here – is all about creaminess. Patchouli gives the EDP earthy depth.
The other releases in the range – Habdan, Hamdani, Kuhuyan – are also good options if you’re looking for approachable Middle East-influenced perfumes.
Parfums de Marly Galloway EDP
The Paris-based niche brand does some of the best freshies in the biz.
The opening of this 2014 release sees a contrast between a burst of sparkling citruses and the warm spice of black pepper.
They lead the way to a duo of sweet-ish florals: powdery iris and soapy orange blossom.
A blast of white musk in the drydown keeps its clean and powdery, with support from an amber accord and sandalwood.
For a freshie, it last forever and a day. We wouldn’t expect anything less from the house.
Parfums de Marly Carlisle EDP
There’s a lot to love about this 2015 release.
Let’s start with the fresh and spicy opening featuring notes of apple and nutmeg, with leathery saffron in the background.
The mid-section displays the fruity aspects of rose, osmanthus, and davana combined with tonka bean.
It all builds up to the deep drydown where a terrific trio – vanilla, patchouli, opoponax resinoid – work together to produce spicy warmth.
A thoroughly elegant and grown-up blend that lives up to the hype.
Parfums de Marly Athalia EDP
Apart from the Delina range, the female releases from the Paris-based niche brand don’t get as much attention as they should when compared to their more masculine siblings. While ostensibly a “female” release, this 2016 EDP is absolutely unisex in our opinion.
Delicately smoky incense meets the tart freshness of bitter orange in the opening.
Iris, the powdery and earthy variety, then gets support from vibrant orange blossom and the musky synthetic Cashmeran.
White musk, vanilla and an amber accord prolong the powderiness in the drydown.
The result is olfactory opulence, just like its black bottle with gold accents, without being overbearing and flashy.
Parfums de Marly Layton EDP (Hamid Merati-Kashani)
This HUGE 2016 release has become synonymous with the house, in the way that Aventus is equated with Creed. So what’s all the fuss about?
It opens in crisp fruity mode with apple galore. Aromatic lavender and fresh bergamot add to the complexity.
After that big entrance, the florals – geranium, jasmine, violet – seem somewhat subdued.
And then the momentum picks up again in the vanilla-dominant drydown, with patchouli, black pepper and guaiac wood bringing warm spiciness.
It’s reminiscent of gourmand-ish coffee, warm, indulgent and welcoming. Who could refuse?
Parfums de Marly Layton Exclusif EDP (Hamid Merati-Kashani)
Parfums de Marly Layton Exclusif is the 2017 follow-up to the hugely popular Layton.
While its predecessor was more on the fresh side, this EDP is a tad darker.
The opening of bergamot, grapefruit and apple notes quickly gives way to a mix of the rosy hues of geranium and richly resinous oud, with a subtly sweet sprinkle of cinnamon in the background.
Spicy cypriol in the drydown maintains the sensual vibe of the oud, with guaiac wood and patchouli going deep. The vanilla adds a touch of creaminess.
Seriously seductive stuff!
Parfums de Marly Percival EDP (Hamid Merati-Kashani)
Is this 2018 release the brand’s contribution to the battle of the blue bottles? Does it matter?
It starts out fresh and sunny with citrus notes of bergamot and mandarin orange.
And then onto the main attraction: lavender at its aromatic best, complemented by floral notes of geranium and jasmine, and the gently sweet spiciness of coriander and cinnamon.
The drydown is all about balsam fir. Perfumer Hamid Merati-Kashani, who has created several of the brand’s hits, make the most of its aromatic spiciness.
It’s not particularly unique, but scores points for its super versatility and wearability.
Parfums de Marly Kalan EDP
Let’s look at the red bottle of this 2019 release for a minute or two. Staring at its fieriness wouldn’t be rude; it’s encouraged.
The intro is equally high impact with an abundance of warm spice, in particular black pepper, contrasted with the sweet citric freshness of blood orange.
The subtle floral notes that follow – lavender and orange blossom absolute – lead the way to the woody drydown, where creamy sandalwood mingles with the earthiness of oakmoss.
Give this extremely polarising scent (even among die-hard Parfums de Marly fans) time to settle after the initial big bang of the opening and spray with caution. That red bottle isn’t just for decoration.
Parfums de Marly Sedley EDP (Olivier Cresp & Hamid Merati-Kashani)
This 2019 release is another immensely likable freshie. It makes a super-fresh statement from the start, with spicy mint and crisp bergamot notes.
Powdery lavender and green geranium lay on the aromatics, while the drydown is big on the white musk and cedarwood.
The aldehydic synthetic Hivernal Neo has a beautifully salty effect on skin.
No complaints. It makes us feel like we’re sleeping in clean white sheets while the sea whispers in the background.
Parfums de Marly Greenley EDP
This 2020 release is fabulously fresh stuff from start to finish.
The opening notes – green apple, Sicilian bergamot, mandarin – set the crisp tone. The synthetic Cashmeran (also known as cashmere wood), usually used as a base note, accentuates the effect with its musky spiciness.
Petitgrain brings an element of citrus greenery, with more woodiness from cedar. There’s a dash of powderiness, courtesy of violet, while the synthetic Pomarose contributes to the generally fruity ambience.
Musk and oakmoss are prominent in the drydown.
Although not quite the “walk into the woods” the brand claims it to be, it’s still invigoratingly escapist.
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Richard Goller is a fragrance and grooming blogger. His blog is called Fragroom. A senior editor with 20 years' experience, his blog allows him to combine two of his passions: engaging content and the always-intriguing world of fragrances. When he isn't blogging, you'll find Richard indulging in his newly found passion for balcony gardening.