It's sweet, resinous, powdery, slightly woody and spicy, and enough dirty animalic that it makes me swoon. It dries down into that weird airy chlorinated water aroma that I commonly get from all Avon men's fragrances.

It's a serious cologne and matches up with dark clothing, formal clothing, so I will be wearing this to formal dinner parties this autumn. I wore this years ago as a young man and I just re-discovered it and thought I would give it a try again. The drydown reminds me of a cross between A*men and dunhill's desire red and I know the pyramid does not list vanilla in this but I def detect vanilla.This is a sleeping beauty, known only to those who dare to peruse the pages of that cute little Avon book. I just barely trust re formulations and even though I'm not an Avon follower or expert, I do love this one! Simply put, this is a gorgeous "Dad's cologne" smell, bracing at first, then spicy, warm, sweet, smooth, and mossy with a creamy sandalwood finish. This perfume has a bit of that, but the myrrh note in this is much smokier, more "dark" than what a cold-pressed essential oil would be.

It's got a real "belly-dancer with seven veils" vibe to it and I think it's perfect for a night spent between silk sheets with candlelight burning and Sade playing in the background. So I went crazy looking for a small bottle I had in a box were I keep those perfumes I don't wear often. At the start, Mesmerize has an almost-effervescent aspect like some 50s-era fragrances (think Moustache or Tabu)and the apple is the key note (although it is like a SweetTarts version).

Disclaimer: Sellers are responsible for following applicable laws and regulations, including properly labelling and disclosing the ingredients of their cosmetics and personal care products, as applicable. This original formulation that i have reminds me a lot of incense with vague hints of sweetness and warmth. Worn in a megadose -to ensure what I am reviewing for you- I am happy to say that Mesmerize is not a dupe or a smell-alike for anything per se! You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice.

of course the amber and spices are all but emanating from my skin right now, but with a very powdery base, again probably because of the amber.It is not too sweet and could work as a man's scent (yes, I know they made a Mesmerize for Men, too, but I mean if that was not available). The heart is what stole the show for me: myrrh and a melange of sweet, smooth spices (cardamom and allspice maybe) in a warm vapory trail, manly and very 'hot'(in a sexy way)! The spices and wood and amber all blend perfectly on me, while the citrus notes gently hang in the background.

The dry down (which happens in 2 hours) reminded me of John Varvatos' dry down (which happens in 6 - 8 hours). This cologne will build your mates confidence when he sees you sniffing the air and wanting to get closer to what his skin and that smell combine.This is no genie's lamp nor are you Aladdin when unstopping it, as what comes out of the gold and blue sprayer is one part convention, and one part quirky. Top notes are Bergamot, Mandarin Orange and Apple; middle notes are Myrrh, Exotic Spices and Herbal Notes; base notes are Amber and Woodsy Notes. Take the earthy spiciness of Zino; subtract a bit of the dusty powder and depth; add a little of Tommy's apple pie vibe in its place; and voila.