Dunhill Custom Fragrance Review: Red Apples & Cognac In This Winter Fragrance

Dunhill Custom Composition

With its rich blend of spicy notes with a woody base, Dunhill Custom sits firmly in the Woody Spicy olfactive subfamily.

Head Notes

• Red Apples
• Cognac

According to Dunhill, the head consists of English Pippin apples specifically. In either case, there is a sweet fruity opening on red apples in the opening with a boozy backdrop of thick cognac.

Heart Notes

• Cinnamon
• Black Pepper

As Custom transitions to the base, we have an overt spicy note of cinnamon, which accords nicely with the apple. Soon after, the cinnamon gives way to a smoky black pepper note.

Base Notes

• Cedarwood
• Ambregris
• Frankincense

The black pepper persists as we head into the base. Here, we’re revealed refreshing notes of cedar while rounded, musky ambregris interacts with a foundation of sweet yet earthy frankincense.

Custom’s Life-Cycle, Wake & Strength

While Dunhill Custom’s dry-down is pleasant, it seems to lack inspiration and comes across as a relatively simply fragrance.

Meanwhile, the performance is not particularly impressive. Indeed, Custom has been panned by critics for its short longevity and weak sillage. Nevertheless, I found that the projection was reasonable when at the peak of its life-cycle.

However, there’s no harm in getting a small portable atomiser to top up during the day for an extra boost.

What People Think Of Alien Man

As mentioned above, the fragrance community was at times quite harsh with Dunhill Custom. However, it’s easy to overlook that the luxury brand sometimes produces affordable products such as this fragrance.

When testing it with my peers, the general consensus was that Custom wasn’t unpleasant. Nevertheless, people did occasionally note that it smelled either a little generic or reminiscent of a mall fragrance.

That said, there are people who found Custom to be quite pleasant. I noted that this was particularly the case of men in their 30s and above. Meanwhile, some women seemed to enjoy it too.

Interestingly, one person who tested it asked whether it was Dolce & Gabbana The One. Indeed, there seems to be a resemblance in the base.

When To Wear Dunhill Custom

Firstly, Custom is a decidedly autumnal and wintery fragrance. Thanks to its deep incense notes and spicy apple connotations, it produces rich imagery of the colder months. From apple pie to a crackling fire, it was quite vivid indeed.

As mentioned above, it strikes me as a fragrance best suited to someone in their thirties or above. Nevertheless, the price could make it an attractive purchase for someone younger.

Furthermore, I find this to be a fragrance most suitable for the office. Ironically, this is where Charles-Philippe suggested that Dolce & Gabbana The One shouldn’t be worn. That said, I believe it’s best suited for a working environment given that it’s quite inoffensive and not very strong.

Another irony would be that Custom is best suited for wearing at night thanks to the connotations that it creates with its bouquet. While this is something of a contradiction, it would be perfect for a dark winter period.

Finally, this is an unapologetically masculine fragrance. With the use of smoke and incense notes, it’s a classically manly scent.

Presentation and Value For Money

In terms of presentation, the bottle looks great and feels heavy to hold. Meanwhile, the fragrance oils are a deep amber colour, which is very attractive to admire. Unfortunately, the bottle cap was something of a letdown as it was effectively a plastic cylinder.

Meanwhile, the packaging was an interesting blend of Dunhill’s usual heritage design. However, there was a touch of modernity probably to attract a younger audience.

As for the atomiser, it worked okay. However, if pressed too slowly, it lets out a water-gun squirt rather than a pump of mist.

Finally, the value for money is very attractive with Dunhill Custom. At one point, its RRP was lowered to a mere $40. However, you can get it on Amazon for only $25 or even $20 on FragranceX instead! While it’s not a perfect fragrance, it’s certainly affordable, which makes up a lot for its rougher edges.

Closing Thoughts

As I hinted a few times earlier, Dunhill Custom is not a perfect fragrance. However, it features a wonderfully immersive head and smoky notes that are reminiscent of the colder seasons.

Furthermore, it’s a very affordable purchase. Therefore, if you’re looking for something pleasant to wear at the office that’s inexpensive, it’s one worth considering.