Iquitos Alain Delon for men

This is lovely, an older Kouros, a little less animalic with an added rose and very slightly fruity. Could be a brother. You probably has to love Kouros to love this, but I guess all do.
gusten

this is Kouros' cousin...absolutely incredible. And the smell of a civet's butthole, aint half bad. It throws everything but the kitchen sink, at you. But manages to stay elegant.

A *BIG* thank you to aidin900 for the decant of this stuff. I really can't thank you enough.

So many lovely, well-written reviews of this fragrance sit below me. While every reviewer has something unique and special to say about Iquitos, I am particularly in envy of the detailed, articulate reviews by ericrico, Lana Lool, and originaldeftom.

I've always loved "gender-bender" androgynous fragrances. I've reached the point where I pretty much look past gender classifications in fragrance, but it's always a delight to find a hidden gem that can swing both ways - examples include Zen by Shiseido, Ô de Lancôme, Caron's Third Man, and now Iquitos by Alain Delon.

Despite the classification as an woody chypre, I'd put it more on the line between an aromatic fougère and an oriental floral (gasp!). Three fragrances come to mind when I smell Iquitos: vintage Czech & Speake No. 88, with its luscious rose-neroli accord; Dior's Poison, with it's bombshell tuberose note; and Ted Lapidus's Lapidus Pour Homme, with a fruity-lavender accord.

Iquitos opens with stark, slightly green rose and aldehydes - enough aldehydes to almost make you sneeze! When the initial shock of "aldehyde abuse in a masculine fragrance?!" dies down, a gorgeous floral amalgam develops - the rose quiets down a bit and (at least to my nose, despite the notes) joins forces with what smells like tuberose and carnation. Under all this is a semi-animalic, fruity lavender, which is straight out of Lapidus Pour Homme. The florals continue onward to a smooth touchdown of tame but slightly funky civet and oakmoss, while still retaining the floral medley. The total lasting power of the fragrance, on me, is about six hours at the most, and it changes very fast, but man does it smell good while it lasts. The projection is definitely strong for the first hour or so, but then it goes down drastically to a more subtle skin scent.

Some things worth noting:

1). If you've read my other reviews, you'll know that I'm not too big on rose fragrances. They very rarely work on me, but I'd call this an exception, because the rose doesn't last very long, and it eventually blends with the other florals to just make this a straight up abstract floral as opposed to a singular, representative floral.

2). It's interesting to see a comparison to Balenciaga Pour Homme. While it is funny that both fragrances open with a sharp aldehyde blast, what's even funnier is that I find Iquitos to be one third Lapidus Pour Homme, which was a precursor of sorts to Balenciaga Pour Homme. I gave my bottle of Lapidus Pour Homme to a friend, because I found it too crude and overbearing, but I feel like the concept was perfected in Iquitos (and later Balenciaga Pour Homme).

3). The fruity/tropical notes. I don't really get any tropical visions with Iquitos, but that's the beauty of abstract perfumery. It allows for more varied interpretations by the person smelling the fragrance. Don't believe me? Look at how differently people interpret Chanel No. 5 or Patou Pour Homme. Abstract perfumery in and of itself is an art.

So anyway, I feel that Iquitos is a gorgeous masculine floral that has unfortunately been lost to time. While I don't find it dated, there's certainly no way it would work in today's market - in a sea of boring aquatics and apple pie gourmands for men, guys would shriek in terror at the idea of an animalic masculine floral. The dark bottle and the snake in the ad campaign (which I think is a gorgeous ad, by the way) just intimidate you even more. Oh well, at least true lovers of perfume can appreciate this work of art. Maybe someday I'll buy a full bottle, but for now I'll cherish the decant I have. If I ever smell someone else wearing this, you know I'll give them a thumbs up.

As the saying goes, "All good things come to an end..."

There has not been another perfume so intensely interwoven with nature and the mystical as Iquitos. I bought mine first in late October or early November 1987 in Amsterdam, and it was what has made my 1987-1993 special. It was having a jungle and the wisdom of the shamans around me, whirling and twirling, and creating a ball of safety around my uniqueness.

After it was discontinued I occasionally managed to find a few bottles in small non-chain shops in countries outside of Fortress EU (the US, Switzerland), until even that disappeared. I do have a bottle at home (a continent away from East Asia where I have been living since 2005) and when I go back there after my annual return flight reimbursal, wearing it for a night out is like a real home coming.

In my opinion, Alain Delon perfumes should be sued for hooking us on Iquitos and then discontinuing it and causing us withdrawal suffering. If they did not want to make it any more, they should have sold it to someone else.

Anyone else interested in class action suit?

I still wear this frag,when I want to smell vintage and keep the ladies guessing what is the cologne you are wearing today! a nice long lasting scent.

A brief follow up review...and, you are very welcome my friend, krmarich!

After decanting some of my precious 30ml and doing another test wearing, I felt compelled to revisit this scent. Fantastic review yourself, krmarich! This truly is something special and has won my heart (and nose) as well! Iquitos is what modern mass-perfumery (excluding niche) is lacking so obviously today - natural, high-quality ingredients that are blended so incredibly well together! This is art in a bottle. It is stunning. Further wearings have shown even better and more consistent - I don't get the mature woman's vibe anymore. Oxygen has allowed the vintage juice to breathe. What goes on is beautiful rose blooms in a tropical rain forest with moss, nice exotic fruit and coconut blended in...with a wonderful civet note. This is something to behold and admire, not just wear. My score is increased to a solid 9/10 - this is excellence.

I am sharing the decant with a generous online member who was so thoughtful and kind to send me (without asking) a nice amount left of the impossible-to-find, discontinued Kouros Eau de Sport (Vintage) bottle and a Kouros After Shave Gel!

I hope to, one day, get a larger bottle of Iquitos as well. A scent like this will simply never be made again. This is for those who know....

This is the ultimate floral ever for men. That moves it up to my current signature. I originally sampled this in 1989 and thought NO WAY. It was quickly lost in an ever changing market...

Thanks to the reviews below by fans I know and trust, I bought a small bottle. Ericrico, thank you for your analysis! The florals are perfectly masculine-I think... Aww, who cares anymore, this is a masterpiece compared todays offerings. I am still stunned by the notes. I am curious how ladies react to this enigmatic wonder. Perhaps this was the turning point for the unisex market.

My, how my taste has changed. I am a rose fanatic-I grow them, draw them and of course collect perfumes with it in it. I am pretty masculine, the last time I looked-somehow this is me. I have hit the jackpot today. If size matters, this is as big as it gets!

Its much more complex than just rose. It has a little bit of everything in it-including lots of civet. I think the nose tossed in the kitchen sink as well! The fugue of notes is "nose boggling". Each sniff discovers something new and wonderful. Such a lavish, shimmering production. Once the florals calm down, it becomes a plush leather sofa that wants you to lay down on it.

I would call it Chanel No. 5 for men. Originaldeftom refers to it as Poison for men an he is not far off. La Nuit, Mon Perfume and Knowing all come to mind. It stays masculine, however. It is sexy, potent and confident-the ultimate mens powerhouse!

There is something hot and tropical about it. The honey/coconut and fruits(dried mango, papaya and guava?) make it edible. This is the anaconda of all perfumes. It has the ability to swallow you whole. Kouros is a mere king cobra. Now, I must save up for another bigger bottle. The likes of it will never be seen again.

This is a gender bender. I appreciate its boldness for a man's fragrance but acknowledge that it wouldn't be so unique if it had been released as a woman's fragrance.
It reminds me of the older women from my childhood.

I love the brash aldehydes and fruity notes. These aren't juicy, they're more like dried fruits. There's a hell of a lot going on here so I won't pick out everything. The flowers are well blended, a little sweet but dusty. There is soft moss, leather and animalic notes that really work to keep it elegant.

It's a spectacular scent but it doesn't work for me as well as other 80s sexually amiguous scents like Tenere (I am yet to try Acteur and Zino but I'm hunting them down).

I just got a Vintage, perfect condition 30ml/1oz bottle to try...as I have found an affinity for masculine florals lately. This definitely goes on strong - aldehydes, citrus, coriander, ginger and cardamom...rather spicy and very impressive. About 15-20 minutes into the wear this changes rather drastically (it could have gone a lot of places - but if I hadn't have read reviews - I thought I bought a mature woman's perfume!) When the citrus melts off and the spiciness dissipates, a strong bouquet emerges - jasmine, ylang-ylang, lily-of-the-valley and a single, long-stem pink rose in full bloom. A touch of fruit, but not strong, some tropical fruit underneath the loud florals that are very prominent.

Wow. The touch of civet and honey are there at 40 minutes in (fresh in my mind as I wore Kouros yesterday) giving it a slightly animalic and sweet note. The moss is light - showing up just after, say 45 minutes in, but present. Starting to integrate. A point to throw in as this is developing on me as I write this: Iquitos is probably the most feminine fragrance I have worn. This is very unique and the quality is there. I am very in-touch with my feminine side and adore Vintage Acteur by Azzaro (as another reviewer compared this to). While they both have a rose note that is prominent, Acteur's rose is very deep, dark and almost wilted (probably a couple of petals have fallen off). Iquitos is a fresh-cut bouquet of bright pastels, jasmine, and the ylang-ylang pushes the limit. Acteur is a very masculine rose scent that is, while refined, macho. The rich base of leather, oakmoss (Vintage), vetiver and patchouli create a vividly dark and brooding scent that breathes on your skin.

Iquitos radiates too - but it smells like a tropical garden in comparison. This is quality fragrance...no doubt. But, would I wear it regularly? No. This is a scent for occasion. A 1oz bottle of this Vintage juice will last me. My wife loves it and said it reminds her of a scent she used to wear. We cannot recall the name - but we remember it had a nice jasmine/rose/ylang-ylang/tropical composition (with a spiciness), but she agreed this was very original (and maybe unisex as she adores it). I definitely would apply it light and at least 45 minutes before leaving the house to get past the phase of development just after the spicy top notes burn off.

1 full hour in: Drying down - there is a definitive coconut (tropical) smell. Mixed with the ylang-ylang from the heart, this is getting very interesting again. A touch of wood and slight oriental-vibe come out as well (the civet is very slight). I have never tried a Chypre like it and would probably classify it as a "Spicy Floral" - with great quality and a chic feel.

Overall, it is a great composition - one that stands out. This has a certain South American feel - relevant to the name. Impressive juice...this will not be duplicated, ever.

2 hours in - the fragrance dries down into a warm bouquet with jasmine, lily-of-the valley and rose mixed with coconut oil. This would be wonderful fragrance at a night club in Miami or the tropics!

My score - 8/10 for sheer quality and uniqueness. But, not a scent I can directly compare to others...it is Iquitos, and it takes you "there".

**Update** - I kept this on my sleeve for the whole day - it is still there after over 10 hours with one spray! Excellent longevity. From the 2 hour mark, as noted above, this really comes together. I am truly impressed. Niche quality juice from 1987...! The scent really has a nice tropical vibe, but maintains a floral quality that could be as fresh-smelling as a quaint, small florist shop. There is nothing off-putting here for over 8 hours of wear. I compared it earlier to Acteur (by smelling the scent on my sleeve next to an open splash bottle). This evening, I did a full wearing of Zino Davidoff - my other favorite masculine "dirty rose" fragrance. I was complimented on it heavily (it is truly awesome - current Zino layered with a few shots of original formulation juice). It has dried down now beautifully. I smell my inner wrist and back of hand - Zino. Back to my sleeve - Iquitos. Two very different scents and not fair to compare. But Iquitos, while it is regarded by reviewers as better in the winter (and it is cold and rainy tonight), I think Iquitos will shine in Spring, early fall and warm evenings (70's to 85 degrees Fahrenheit). A scent to be worn outdoors in the Spring and for Summer evenings. The bouquet stays fresh during the entire wear and the base of warm amber and touch of wood with moss add depth. The vanilla and coconut oil notes make this breathe - definitely something I will reach for and come back with more notes. Not one I can apply once and fully understand. Truly compelling fragrance and very sophisticated.

I so wanted to love this. I am on a never-ending quest to find the perfect masculine rose scent and the reviews on here had me purchasing a miniature the very next day. But try as I might, I just couldn't love this one. When I was small I used to go to my grandmothers and in her bathroom were a group of perfumes that never seemed to get used and were always coated in a fine layer of talcum powder. I used to smell them each time I visited because I used to feel a bit sorry for them! Unfortunately, Iquitos reminds me of those fragrances.

So far, the best masculine rose I have found is Cabaret by Gres. It is as close as I have found to perfection. As for the best feminine rose, I have to give that award to Stella by Stella McCartney. BTW, if you have a masculine rose scent suggestion I'm all ears - or should that be nose?

My favorite scent for most special occasions. It is a rhapsody of smell. Great longevity. Can not get to buy.

My first ever fragrance! I was about 15 when my father gave me the After Shave Lotion (he probably hated it since we have always had different tastes in fragrances) as a birthday present.
Little did he know that this olfactory sensation did sent my senses up and down an emotional rollercoaster.

This was wild stuff only the coolest of men would wear (my dad was obviously no longer cool in 1988 aged 48) and here I was owning a whole bottle aged 15!! LOL

I have not sniffed it since (had it for a few years as I used it sparingly) but recall it to smell of a tropical town (=Iquitos) after a hurricane, when the sun breaks through again and all those plants, fruits and flowers, compete in releasing their phermones.

It is utter and absolute aromatic olfactory porn!

Very exotic, tropical and intense, like "Carnival" in Rio I would imagine.

ICONIC THAT TONIC!

Recommended for summer evenings only when you are out to hunt for prey (like the snake in the commercial implies)

+++++++ U P D A T E ++++++ May 2012

Finally managed to get a vintage bottle from ebay for a snippet of a price (perhaps a fake, who knows). Feels like I am re-united with a long-lost friend.

London is wet and cold presently, so this fragrance works like heating up the prefect storm. It really is a crazy fragrance, once that can barely be classified and certainly is not on trend presently or has ever been. It is just too unique: it's got a bit of everything.

Best described as a male floral with ample of amber, musk, aldehydes and a soapy-sour leathery base.
It is the male answer to "Poison" with the floral beauty of "Acteur" (rose), the Amber nostalgia of "Halston" (Studio 54), the aldehydes of CHANEL #5, the pine/cedar/fougere accord of "Xerys" YSL and the soapy bathroom feel of a "Kouros" YSL.

Yet it is disctinctively its own weird combination. I do get a bit of headache from the Lilly-of-Valley note and it is deffo NOT for the office, lol.

10/10 for uniqueness and creativity. Long-lasting and potent. Pungent and strong.

I like the idea of this one but I like Boss Cologne (before it became #1) better, and whenever I've worn Iquitos I've thought to myself that I'd rather be wearing BC. They are certainly not identical, but it's the same basic idea, at least to my nose. I find Iquitos to be too fruity and floral. I prefer balance, which BC has relative to this one, and I'd say there's a better interplay among the notes in BC. I'll have to wear it again when I feel I can give it a totally fair assessment, but if you want an excellent "old school" fragrance where the fruity and floral qualities are emphasized, I don't think I've come across a better one than Iquitos. In the meantime, I've got more than I'll ever need, so if anyone wants to swap I've got more than 50 ml in the original bottle.

UPDATE: I think the key with this one is to spray more than usual but try to avoid the aldehydes in the top notes as much as possible (unless you like aldehydes; I can't stand them). It's rather blended but definitely not "blob"-like. This is not in fashion now, to be sure, but it's a great change of pace for me, just different enough from Boss Cologne to make me want it in the rotation.

Just gorgeous! Jasmine and Rose, float on a mossy animalic base in a most perfect way. When looking at the notes, I couldn't imagine how this would smell, and I now know. It's rich, herbal and floral with a touch of civet that helps the base transform into a beautiful luscious long lasting olfactory smargasbord. If I had smelled this when I first began sniffing things, this probably would have turned me off. It is loud, tangy, sweet, and animalic. Now, I find it sumptuous and challenging...it is something worth sniffing. I was lucky enough to come across the vintage Iquitos. This is a must sniff for you frag heads out there.

I just purchased a bottle of this fragrance and I have to say it smells very similar to Azzaro Acteur , masculine floral love the rose note in this fragrance , it seems to last more than the one in Acteur , well worth a purchase if you can find a bottle :)

A formal green fragrance in the vein of a university garden. Green yet elegant and controlled. Not a wild grass or flower smell. An odd, but addictive mix of jungle and high culture, like the town of Iquitos itself.

My Iquitos and my Francesco Smalto smell rather similar in one way I didn't expect. Somewhere in both there is a hint of finest vintage pear liqeur. Iquitos has plenty more fresh air in it than Smalto though. I guess it's more "transparent".

Iquitos is out of production, but there are still similar, if not identical fragrances in production. Must and Must essence by Cartier come to mind but I'm sure there are others as well. So if you missed out on Iquitos don't worry. Sniffing Cartier's Must Essence will take you to the same place in a slightly different boat.

Why do I keep on thinking Quorum when I think of AD's Iquitos? Probably because they are both in-your-face brass balls scents, and the fact that they both come in dark green bottles with fantastic boxes.
Oh, and women go ga-ga over the both of them !!

I actually bought a bottle of Iquitos the year it came out, used it all and never had it again. So, I recently purchased a bottle again on basenotes. The aldehydes at the top are really a bit much but they are followed after a few minutes by a very smooth spicy floral heart (rose, cardamom, ginger). The rose stays all the way through the excellent and very long-lasting drydown mainly composed of patchouli, woods and moss with some civet.

Hi RRBM,
Well nothing like Iquitos out there, but it is in my top 4 male perfumes ever.

Lancome Sagamore
Yves Rocher Trimaran vintage
Escada pour homme original
Alain Delon Iquitos

Maybe we share the same taste, if that is the case, I can recommend Escada pour homme original and Lancome Sagamore.
Good luck!

The very best fragrance I have ever used....powerful with subtle tones that touches others without overpowering....the best ....why is it gone? What on earth is the closest fragrance to this today?

lol the name "Iquitos" comes from the capital of Loreto (a region in Peru)which is in the amazons, also thats why an anaconda appears in the picture, cause in the amazons there are a lot of them

Incredibly refined, seductive and mysterious,with an air of decadence, almost a women's fragrance but maintaining a masculinity. At release, kind of a Dior Poison for men, equally revolutionary, and sadly out of production now. Truly a one of a kind because there has never been a man's cologne before or after that had an androgynous touch without the overpowering sweetness of Gaultier Le Male or Joop! Homme.

I bought a tester size bottle of ebay . The opening is very mixed up but it develops into a lovely masculine floral scent - why was this discontinued ?

I agree with Afraafra. Iquitos & Sagamore, how I regret those two fragrances being discontinued...

One of the best 80's men's fragrances, great lasting power and sharp opening.