PARFUMS DE MARLY
PERCIVAL
2018
PERFUMER
Hamid Merati-Kashani
bergamot
mandarin
pink pepper
lavender
geranium
cardamom
balsam fir
woody notes
spicy notes
tonka bean
‘Presenting a subtle balance of citrus and aromatic notes on a woody base, this eau de parfum exudes a fresh, sensual and refined scent in an ocean blue bottle that will be remembered. Amongst the top notes, scents of bergamot and mandarin sublimate through a touch of aromatic water to offer a unique combination. The heart notes give Percival its character and depth through a blend of natural jasmine, violet and geranium, overlapping with lavender, coriander and cinnamon. On the skin, musk mixes with pepper, absolute balsam fir and, to give emphasis, woody spices are revealed at the base. A Parfums de Marly olfactory that is designed for men with a strong passionate side and a gentle refined spirit. Percival is a fresh fragrance that is as bold of a character as the man who wears it. The sensual and refined scent opens on aromatic bergamot, pink pepper and mandarin notes and settles to a heart of lavender, geranium and cardamom, holding true with a woody base.’ – Parfums de Marly
Percival is one of the most ‘mainstream’ offerings from the house and therefore I think it gets the most undeserved criticism, as I think it’s one of the better Parfums de Marly offerings.
It’s a fresher, watery, fruity and floral fragrance, not unlike some you can find among the designer brands. A lot of people have compared this to Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce, which I haven’t smelled, but I can definitely imagine this scent being in that realm of basic designer releases. However, that doesn’t take away from what this achieves in my opinion.
It’s very well-blended, smooth straight from the opening. There’s nothing harsh about it, the citrus is balmy rather than sharp in Percival and it’s paired with some florals, mainly lavender. The lavender is key, but it’s subtle. Most of the times lavender will put a fragrance towards aftershave, fougere territory, but that’s not the case with Percival.
There’s a ton of light woods in the drydown, and although they don’t smell all that natural, they help with performance. There’s a hint of green and spices, which gives this fragrance a welcome edge, but mainly it’s a very soft and pleasant, light orangey scent.
Sure, this is not the most interesting or special fragrance from Parfums de Marly, but I can see this being a crowd-pleaser and performance is top of the line for a fragrance that’s suitable for warmer weather. Unless the cheaper designer offerings smell as well-blended and last twice as long as they tend to do, I have no issues with this release.