Dolce & Gabbana The One For Men Fragrance Review: A Mysterious Musk Fragrance

D&G The One’s Composition

Despite Stefano Gabbana’s claim, The One is far from a simply Spicy Oriental fragrance for men. In fact, you will discover that it is a complex Woody Oriental Amber. This is due to the abundance of resinous wood notes that create intricate accords through interaction with spicy and aromatic notes.

Head Notes

• Grapefruit
• Basil
• Coriander

Upon application, wearers will experience a unique introduction to the fragrance. The One opens on an oily, bitter grapefruit zest that bears over notes of fresh basil and coriander. The initial spray is remarkably heady. The citrus notes are remarkably bitter, creating a truly masculine scent.

Heart Notes

• Nutmeg
• Giner
• Neroli
• Cardamom

Despite edging into the heart, the grapefruit’s bitterness lingers. This is slightly sweetened by neroli but contrasted by emerging spices including nutmeg and cardamom. Sharp hints of ginger add a sense of liveliness to this otherwise mellow fragrance.

Base Notes

• Tonka Bean
• Guaiacwood
• Cedarwood
• Ambergris

Once the heart subsides, musk and woody resin begin to emerge from the base. The resulting blend of amber and animal musk creates a heavy, tantalising base. Nevertheless, whilst it’s extremely viscous, it’s not a dirty scent but a boozy, enticing experience.

A complex bouquet of guaiacwood and ambergris create the vivid sensation of tobacco. Meanwhile, an addition of latent tonka bean adds a gourmand touch of vanilla, which leads well from the heart’s nutmeg. Furthermore, the tonka bean interacts wonderfully with the musk accord, creating the sensation of vanilla pipe tobacco.

However, dry notes of cedarwood provide contrast with a sense of freshness. This ensures that the base doesn’t stray too far into its oriental theme of spicy gourmand heaviness.

The One’s Life-Cycle

Those familiar with Armani Code may find the D&G’s description relatively familiar. Although there are notable differences and the overall experiences are unique, both are comparable fragrances. Similarly, their life cycles follow a comparable dry-down.

For instance, The One features particular notes such as the grapefruit, which are present throughout the head and heart. Other notes transition independently of their tiers and will develop several accords throughout. The two initial phases consist of a similar duration before revealing very similar bases.

However, their respective bases are entirely distinctive. Whilst Armani Code seeks to create independent accords of leather and tobacco, The One focuses all its attention on the latter.

Wake & Strength Of D&G The One

Much like Code, the experience is relatively short-lived. Although The One features a much stronger presence, it’s longevity is relatively weak and will only endure a few hours. However, it features both a sillage and projection that are much more powerful.

Therefore, if you are looking to wear The One for more intimate occasions, take care not to overly apply. As The One features a heavy musk presence, it can easily become too heady and off-putting in close quarters. Moderation is the key to The One’s successful application.

When Should You Wear Dolce & Gabbana The One?

Overall, people seem to enjoy D&G The One yet not to the extent as intended. Although the feedback was generally positive, some people find the fragrance too heavy on the musk or too fleeting in scent.

However, a large proportion of both men and women seem to love it. Some women indeed found it particularly sexy and were enticed by its complex woody aroma. However, a few women found it to be too oily and were put off.

Unlike Code, which features hints of leather, The One focuses on a concentrated tobacco accord. In addition, The One features fewer refreshing notes and, as mentioned above, is very oily. Consequently, The One is a much more mature fragrance than Armani Code. Therefore, this is best suited to men in the very late twenties or throughout their thirties.

Although The One could be worn in spring at a push, it’s a decidedly fall and winter fragrance. In fact, it’s an ideal fragrance for cold nights with the resinous base providing a much-desired sensation of warmth.

It’s easy to imagine this being worn during winter evenings. Therefore, this isn’t an ideal fragrance for daytime wear at the office. However, it’s an excellent option for both formal events and dating. In fact, it’s almost like Armani Code but for older men in that it’s a perfect choice for romantic encounters during the winter time.

Being much more masculine that Armani Code, it’s also fortunate that its lifespan is somewhat short. By applying this before a date, it should have died down just enough towards the end. This ensures that it’s enticing and not off-putting when things become more intimate.

Presentation & Value For Money

The One For Men’s bottle is modelled off that used for the women’s version. However, it’s much heavier and sturdier. In short, it’s a beast of a bottle, with a thick slab of glass underneath that crawls up the sides.

The clear glass reveals the mouthwatering caramel-coloured contents with the light refracting through the corners. This is indeed eye-catching and the weight avoids knocking it over. However, I learned the hard way that it isn’t kind to baggage allowance when travelling!

The atomiser performs generally well if sprayed decisively. However, if the finger slips when pressing, it tends to spray a jet like a water gun. Given that it’s quite heavy, it’s easy for it to slip in the hands so take care when applying.

Unfortunately, no packaging came with my version of The One. However, the box comes in brown cardboard with gold lettering, which evokes chocolate and coffee. This ties in well to the fragrance’s underlying gourmand theme of nutmeg and vanilla.

Finally, The One’s value for money is pretty good considering that it’s a flagship fragrance from a leading designer houses. The One’s RRP for 100ml (3.4 Oz) stands at around $65 for the eau de toilette.

Nevertheless, Amazon.com offer 100ml (3.4 Oz) of the eau de toilette at $49. Meanwhile, it can be bought for just under $44 on FragranceX.

Therefore, Dolce & Gabbana The One is featured among the best men’s fragrances under $50!

Closing Thoughts

A complex celebration of amber, musks and wood resin, The One offers a sensual experience on the skin. Its oriental spices and gourmand notes are a tantalising experience for both the wearer and his entourage. If you’re looking for something for formal evenings or dates during the winter time, Dolce & Gabbana The One For Men is a strong contender.

Additionally, if you enjoyed Armani Code and are looking for something more mature, Dolce & Gabbana The One For Men is an alternative worth your serious consideration.

If you want to learn more, watch our video below to see our first impressions of The One: