Something of a spiritual successor to Dunhill X-Centric, Dunhill Fresh was released in 2005 and continues to be produced today. As the name suggests, it’s a crisp fragrance with a heavy emphasis on aromatic notes.
In this review, you will discover Dunhill Fresh with a focus on the following topics:
- Bespoke Unit Fragrance Formula (BUFF)
- Fragrance Overview
- Blend & Fragrance Strength
- Tested 3rd Party Feedback
- When To Wear Dunhill Fresh
- Presentation & Value
Use the links to jump ahead or scroll on to read more.
Overview
- Brand: Dunhill
- Fragrance: Fresh
- Concentration: Eau de Toilette
- Release Year: 2005
- Batch Reviewed: 14302
- Olfactive Fragrance Family: Green Aromatic
- Related Fragrances: Dior Fahrenheit, Montblanc Individuel
- Price On Amazon: From $40 [Buy Now]
- Price On FragranceX: From $25 [Buy Now]
Developed by Maurice Roucel, who also was the nose behind Dunhill X-Centric as well as the very similar Nautica Voyage, Fresh was launched in 2005. Indeed, it was one of a number of Dunhill fragrances to be released during this period and we have now reviewed quite a number of them!
Dunhill Fresh Composition
As you will quickly discover, Fresh lives up to its name by providing a rich bouquet of crisp and bracing notes. Given there are only a few woody components at play and even the floral aromas are quite refreshing too, we’ve decided to categorise Fresh as a Green Aromatic.
Head Notes
- Lavender
- Basil
- Sage
- Freesia
Upon the first spray, Fresh blasts you with an unapologetic aromatic bomb that consists of lavender, basil, sage, and freesia. Indeed, a refreshing albeit fleeting experience, it can be initially compared to Dior Farhenheit, Nautica Voyage, or even Paco Rabanne Pour Homme.
Heart Notes
- Mimosa
- Iris
- Violet
Shortly afterwards, the head fades to reveal a heart of fresh floral notes. Although quite sweet and slightly cloying, the sensation remains crisp. Mimosa dominates the other two while the iris offers a certain ridigity against the soft violet.
Base Notes
- Tonka Bean
- Patchouli
- Vetiver
- Cedar Wood
Eventually, the floral notes subside and the base begins to come into the fore. It mostly offers an accord of tonka bean and cedar wood that contrast one another with resinous sweetness and crisp freshness. Meanwhile, the patchouli and vetiver offer a herbal earthiness for additional substance.
Finally, Fresh leaves a somewhat soapy residual skin scent once it starts to really fade away. This base smells quite clean and a little aldyhedic but overall quite pleasant.
Fresh’s Life-Cycle, Wake & Strength
Although a classic dry-down, the head was remarkably fleeting and very quick to transition from its initial crispness towards the sweeter heart. Otherwise, it does show some creativity in that a few notes to persist to transition later in the evaporation process.
Otherwise, it’s performance is pretty average. The sillage leaves a relatively steady trail behind the wearer while the projection offers a decent scent bubble.
Meanwhile, the longevity is reliable enough to last for a few hours. However, if you apply it before heading to work, you’ll probably need to reapply it before lunch.
What People Think Of Dunhill Fresh
Interestingly, Dunhill Fresh had a far more loyal following than we expected. Nevertheless, this seems to be a common trait with Dunhill fragrances. While some are inoffensive, others may be polarising. Yet, in all cases, there’s an almost cultish group of people who swear by them as their signature scents.
What impressed us most was Fresh’s versatility during certain seasons, which we will touch on later. Nevertheless, it proved to be quite popular among both men and women across all age groups.
Although not everyone was an adoring fan, nobody was particularly put off by the fragrance. In fact, we got the impression that it was quite a safe choice for most environments if you’re looking for something understated
When To Wear Dunhill Fresh
As mentioned above, Dunhill Fresh is a particularly seasonal fragrance. Indeed, it’s best worn during the late spring or throughout the summer. Outside of these seasons, it’s not as effective and may seem somewhat out of place.
However, during warmer periods, it really shines. Given its composition and the feedback we received, we would highly recommend it as a professional office fragrance for men in their thirties.
Nevertheless, it could also be worn by people in similar age groups or as a casual fragrance too.
Presentation & Value For Money
On this occasion, Dunhill has opted for a very classic square flacon with a cap similar to the one found on Dunhill Pure. The flacon is transparent, and you can see Dunhill written on the reverse through the teal liquid.
As for the atomiser, it performs relatively well when used with a decisive push. However, it can easily water gun if you hesitate, which isn’t always very convenient.
The box has a design that echoes the liquid’s colour and features white stripes across the front. I then uses the design at the top centre as a number of other Dunhill fragrances from this period.
Finally, Dunhill Fresh offers excellent value for money to say the least. While it costs around $40 on Amazon, it can be picked up for just $25 through FragranceX! Therefore, it presents itself as a wonderfully affordable fragrance for the office.
Closing Thoughts
While Dunhill Fresh is unlikely to win any awards, this isn’t necessarily the reason that you would purchase it. If you’re looking for an affordable fragrance for the office or your workplace, it’s a strong candidate. In fact, it’s an excellent alternative to the well-known Montblanc Individuel.
Therefore, for professional men on a budget, this is well worth considering to pair with your spring and summer office wardrobe!
"A crisp and refreshing fragrance for the office during the warmer months."
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