Spicebomb Infrared EDP is a fragrance for men released in 2023 by Viktor & Rolf.
There have been so many flankers released throughout the years, and of course, we had Infrared, but now we have Spicebomb Infrared Eau de Parfum, this is a stronger concentration or so it seems, but the DNA has been changed as well, so it does smell quite different from the original Infrared.
Spicebomb is one of my favorite fragrances. It's composed by Olivier Polge and it goes back to many, many years ago, and just that tobacco, pink pepper, spicy type of vibe.
Let me tell you something, Spicebomb Infrared EDP is the spiciest fragrance that the brand has released.
Some of the previous iterations have smelled quite bright and quite sweet, and a lot of tonka bean, and you do have a bit of spiciness in there.
This has the Pink Pepper, cinnamon, and chili pepper.
This is by far the spiciest interpretation, and I like how the spice goes in a few different directions when it comes to this fragrance.
This was a three-way collaboration among perfumers Nicholas Beaulieu, we have Carlos Benaim, who's an amazing perfumer, and Jean-Christophe Hérault, who also worked on Creed Aventus, believe it or not.
What Does Spicebomb Infrared EDP smell like?
Let's first unveil the notes of the fragrance:
The top notes are Cinnamon, Chili Pepper, and Pink Pepper.
The middle notes are Chili Pepper and Leather.
Base notes are Resins and Woodsy Notes.
So right in the opening of this fragrance, you get this dark spicy vibe.
The opening, kind of reminded me of Bvlgari Man in Black.
Now, if you've ever tried Bvlgari Man In Black, a lot of people were comparing it to the original Spicebomb, but it went in a bit of a darker direction.
So, this one is a darker version of the original Spicebomb, darker and spicier.
It has a bit of a leathery dry down as well, so it's not just spicier and darker in the opening, but it also has that dark edge as it starts to dry down as well.
So like I said, it opens up very, very spicy, and I got more cinnamon than anything else.
So it does open up with a heaping dose of cinnamon, and you can smell it right away.
It smells like those red hot candies, and it smells like if you've ever tried the beverage Fireball, it smells like Fireball.
So it opens up very, very spicy with the cinnamon the chili pepper, and the Pink Pepper.
Pink Pepper also has a red reputation for smelling rosy and not smelling as spicy as black pepper or something like that.
But that triad, that combination of the chili pepper, the Pink Pepper, and the cinnamon, certainly makes this the spiciest Spicebomb fragrance that the brand has put out.
Of course, you give it a chance to dry down, and it does have that sweetness underneath it all.
I know the note breakdown just says resins; it could be labdanum, it could be benzoin.
I'm also getting a bit of vanilla from this as well, but it's not overly sweet, so I'm getting ethylvanillin, just a nice sweet undercurrent in this fragrance.
And that kind of creates this almost ambery dry down because that's what amber is; it's a combination of resins and vanilla, and it's an accord.
So, this one is spicy in the opening and ambery in the dry down.
Is it the first fragrance that I would recommend by Victor and Rolf?
Not necessarily. It's not their most complex; their most complex was Antidote, which is now discontinued.
It has been discontinued for many, many years, unfortunately. I think that was a wonderful fragrance by Victor and Rolf.
But I would much sooner recommend the original Spicebomb, or I would probably recommend some of the other iterations that came in the green bottles; some of them have been compared to Invictus Aqua by Paco Rabanne.
So, this one is much more on the darker, spicier, edgier, more niche-quality side of things, if you get what I mean.
But that combination of perfumers that worked on it and the unconventional ingredients being used in the note breakdown, this stuff is awesome, and it does smell a whole lot like Bvlgari Man In Black, especially in the dry down.
So, if you're familiar with that fragrance and you understood just how darker that was compared to the original Spicebomb, I think you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect from this one. Ambery, the spiciest version of them all; takes things in a darker direction, less sweet, more of an emphasis on the resins.
Give it a try, check it out if you have a chance.
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Let's go ahead and finish things off with my overall assessment.
My overall assessment:
First up, in terms of the uniqueness and the overall smell, I do find Spicebomb Infrared EDP to be unique.
Of course, it does have elements that are similar to the original Spicebomb and even Infrared EDT, if I'm being honest with you, but overall smell, I do think it's not going to cater to everybody's tastes because it is rather on the spicier side of things.
So, try it for yourself first and see how it works with you.
How long does Spicebomb Infrared EDP last?
Longevity was a solid 8 hours on my skin.
Projection was wonderful for the first hour of application.
It radiated within an arm's length.
It became an elbow's length scent right around 5 hours.
A skin scent right around 8 hours.
When to Wear Spicebomb Infrared EDP?
In terms of versatility, it's masculine-leaning, and great for casual or formal scenarios.
I think this one would probably appeal to somebody a little bit younger because of the sweetness.
And I think this one is better for the colder weather, so fall and winter.
In Summary – Spicebomb Infrared EDP
In conclusion, the Spicebomb Infrared EDP is a fragrance that deserves your attention.
While the initial impressions may not blow you away, give it some time to settle and reveal its complexity. It's a fragrance that offers a unique blend of woodiness, cinnamon, resins, leather, and even a touch of vanilla.
So, when you're shopping for a new fragrance, don't dismiss the Spicebomb Infrared EDP as redundant if you already own Spicebomb Infrared EDT.
Both fragrances have their distinct personalities and are worth exploring.
In the end, it's all about personal preference.
If the smoky leather and mature notes resonate with you, this fragrance could become a favorite.
Just remember that it might not be the best choice for sweltering summer days.
