One of my favorite movie series is the James Bond set of films. Connery, Craig, Moore are the top three movie Bonds, just because I know you’ll ask. One of the conventions of the series is after 007 has returned to London after the pre-credits chase scene he reports to MI-6 to get his orders from his superior, M. After flirting with Moneypenny he is summoned into this quintessential English wooded study where M sits behind a desk and there are leather chairs to sit in. It is a sophisticated man cave full of the things a cultured English man thinks is important. I was reminded of this when I tried the first Puredistance masculine fragrance, also called M. It definitely shares the aspiration to be a sophisticated masculine fragrance.

 

 

Puredistance has previously released two feminine fragrances, I and Antonia, both of which were excellent and M looked to carry that excellence forward. The first sign that M was going to be special was Puredistance hired Roja Dove to design it. Roja Dove is one of our most thoughtful perfumers and his fragrances share a common trait of not displaying all of their complexities in one wearing. Usually I wear something two to three times before writing about it. When it comes to Mr. Dove’s creations it usually takes another wearing or two and I discover something different even upon those later applications. M was one of those fragrances. The first time I wore it I liked it quite a bit but it was somewhere in between the third and fourth wearing where it truly displayed all of its charms. Mr. Dove has created a fragrance which speaks sotto voce enticing you closer to make sure you experience everything about it.

 

 

Mr. Dove says in the press material that his inspiration was a “grey Astin Martin interior”; in those same press materials he describes M as a leather chypre. The lemon and bergamot at the beginning come off almost ordinary but upon subsequent wearings the lemon had a more distinct aspect to it than most citrus notes do early on. Mr. Dove’s lemon has a touch of the rind floating along with the pulp. On a particularly warm day the opening glittered unexpectedly. The heart is a mix of rose and jasmine which are layered in subtle ways and this combination seemed to be slightly different each time I wore it. When the temperature was colder the jasmine seemed to predominate, the opposite was true in the heat with rose on top. In any weather conditions cinnamon adds heat to the floral notes. It is this part of M which might not be apparent if you only experience it on a strip. I think you really need to try this on your skin and allow it to fully unfold. The base notes work the chypre trio of patchouli, moss, and vetiver. M would be great if those three notes were all there was; but there is a refined leather accord which elevates those chypre notes into another sphere. This base was great every time I wore M but over time I really came to enjoy the trip down to the base as much, if not more.

 

 

Puredistance M has excellent longevity but very little sillage as befits something that is extrait strength.

Mr. Dove has shown he has a license to thrill when it comes to perfume. If you are a fan of fine perfume your next perfume mission should include Puredistance M. Remember to be nice to Miss Moneypenny on the way out.

Disclosure: This review was based on samples of Puredistance M purchased from Luckyscent.

–Mark Behnke, Managing Editor

Thanks to our friends at Luckyscent we have a sample of Puredistance M to give to one commenter. To be eligible name your favorite actor who has portrayed 007 James Bond or favorite Bond Film. The draw will close on  June 24 2011

You won't need Nick Heller or Joseph Finder to find this