Bel Ami Hermes for men

This scent is so sweet and smooky... that you really can feal the gothic vibe in it. Thats the scent of a Vampire if i close my eyes.
About the question which Version to chose i can only say there is no big differnce.
As i own both Version i have to say the Vintage is a bit more leathery and the recent one is more sweet. I prefer the new one but as i have them both i dont need to think about which i love more!

EVERGREEN ★★★★★
This perfume is one of the extraordinary unique ones.
At the same time it's warm, elegant and serious as well. It invites me
to come closer, to feel welcome and protected.
I'm glad it can still be bought and hope it will always be there.
Chapeau!

Bel Ami de Hermès es un glamouroso y temperamental perfume de la familia chipre-amaderado. Para mí, el mejor perfume de la casa Hermès después de Equipage, toda una delicia masculina que se abre con notas cítricas y se va caldeando a lo largo de su evolución con especies como el cardamomo que terminan con un exquisito fondo de cremoso cuero, patchulí, sándalo y vainilla. En mi humilde opinión, uno de los mejores perfumes de la historía.

Thank you, Grottola, for your review of the original formulation of Bel Ami. Indeed, Patou Pour Homme is the best scent for men in existence - or, sadly, not in existence any more. I want to get something as near as possible to Patou Pour Homme for my husband, and was thinking of Santos (Cartier). However, based on your analysis, I think I will try to find the original Bel Ami. Why oh why, do perfume houses think they have to make fragrances "more accessible"? It's an insult to the original creator.

Okay, time to review the current version of Bel Ami.

The current formulation, in the main picture seen above, retains the character of the original for the most part, but isn't as full, rich, or leathery. The predominant note in the current formulation of Bel Ami is a powdery, salmon-colored rosewood note, in the style of Tiffany for Men. Surrounding this is a resinous, woody chypre structure. After about an hour when the rosewood note finally poops out, the leather starts to rear its head. Again, I found the leather in the vintage juice to be a bit more prominent and stark. Here it's a lot more toned down and plush. I guess I could say that the differences between the old and new Bel Ami are, in a way, like the differences between old and new Antaeus. The fullness and richness have been reduced, and the predominant notes have been switched around.

As a final consensus, I guess I'll say that the new Bel Ami is a more accessible version of the original. If you like the new stuff, you'll probably love the old stuff. And if you hate the new stuff, you'll hate the old stuff. Either way, Bel Ami is a fantastic masculine chypre that exudes the warmth of wearing a leather jacket on a cool, breezy fall day.

When I first bought this cologne, it was the most expensive bottle I'd ever purchased, so I used it very sparingly. Bel Ami is a heavy, full-bodied scent that is made distinctly for the darker months of the year. The scent brings to mind many places and images from the autumn and the holiday seasons: Chrysanthemums, fireplaces, woods, cloves, burning leaves, wreathes of fir, bayberries, juniper, freshly cut wood. If you're a nostalgic man, you would love to have this around and wear it once in a while. That first bottle lasted me over three years without any noticeable denaturing of the scent, so it survives well.

Women who like leather scents should try it too. Bel Ami smells perfect on my skin. I get leather plus vetiver with a fresh note of lemon. Thank you, Hermes.

One of my all-time favorites. Bel Ami is a very aromatic leather fragrance that manages to be strong and long lasting without being overpowering. It's refined and dry enough for your average fragrance wearer to enjoy and feel comfortable wearing, yet at the same time strong and masculine enough for fans of powerhouse fragrances to respect and appreciate.

The leather in Bel Ami is evenly balanced by the spices here, so both facets are prominent, without either dominating. Bel Ami is very spicy, which it gets from big doses of cumin, patchouli and styrax, and this sets it firmly within the 80s style of men's colognes. It is an extrovertly masculine scent, going hand in hand with wearing a shirt with the first couple of buttons unfastened. The leather and oakmoss warm up and balance out the spiciness, and they add a bit of sweetness and virile bite to the fragrance. This is a fairly dark scent, and I find it has much in common with Halston's Z-14; if you like Z-14, chances are you'll like this.

Bel Ami is timeless and perfectly balanced. It's a fragrance that I can grow into, as it smells more and more appropriate the older I get. I've smelled both the vintage and current versions of this, and either of them are worth buying. This will always be one of my favorites.

MY RATING: 9/10

The vintage formulation of Bel Ami is one of the best masculines ever, period. Bel Ami is a chypre by smell - not so much structure, but it definitely has a chypre feel. No bother, as it's done flawlessly and I guess could in a sense be called "MItsouko Pour Homme".

However, another thing I have to add is that the vintage Bel Ami is extraordinarily close to Patou Pour Homme. Now, Patou Pour Homme is richer and denser with an oriental character, but they both share a spicy leather chypre smell, which is essentially the central accord to Patou Pour Homme. Seeing as how Patou Pour Homme is probably the most perfect masculine in existence, I could roll with Bel Ami as a replacement so I don't have to take out a loan to buy the last drops on Earth of Patou Pour Homme.

I haven't tried the current formulation yet, but the vintage version is something I'd definitely recommend for anyone interested in classic masculines or chypres.

Love it.

I just received the package of this fragrance from my friend overseas, since I could not find it here. I have to admit that I have been putting high expectation on this perfume. Then I sprayed it on my wrist...oh man! The opening is so strong, so strong like someone just slapped me on my face. I could not detect citrusy note, just sage...the smell is hypnotic. I was hoping that it would be milder then...but it is not! To be frank, this perfume is overpowering me...therefore I should wear it only when I have big confidence. But don’t have mistaken, I do like this perfume. It shows class, and purity…the impression is like a gentleman on his peak! Bravo!

Bel Ami

This was one of the best perfumes in the Hermes range and another one that has been somewhat changed through reformulations. It's still absolutely pleasant but no more compareable to others masterpieces of the genre as Knize Ten or Cuir De Russie. Nice but you can have better leather scents at any price.

Rating: 7/10

Bel Ami (1986)

I found the original Ble Ami in a small store where they were selling vintage perfumes in their original formulations and packagings at ridicolously cheap prices (I had Insensè and Le 3 Homme De Caron for 10$ and Givenchy Gentleman for $5). At the beginning I thought it was a joke, but after talking for almost an hour with the owner (a very old lady who almost witnessed to the first launch of Jicky back in 1889) I realised that what I just found was the closest "real thing" to paradise. I immediately got a bottle of Bel Ami and realized that this is a way rougher and more compelling version of the new reformulation. It has a weird, challenging, almost strident leather accord that is now gone to be replaced by a quite conventional one, as well as for the animalic notes, once aggressive and now desappeared. An unique and not for everybody fragrance that if you'll have the chance to find in its original reformulation, you should buy very fast!

Note: If you'll ever come to visit Tuscany, just drop me a line and I'll tell you where paradise is..

Rating: 9/10

Now this is the kind of masculine I like. The moment I put this on and inhaled deeply, I thought to myself, all men should smell like this.

A ruggedly masculine man makes my heart skip a beat and this is the essential fragrance for such a man. Rich, leathery and clean. Bel Ami is the scent of those 1950's Hollywood cowboys. It's a fierce fragrance, not for the shy.

You need to like leather in order to enjoy this fragrance. For some, the leather note may be too strong, however I find it fascinating. There's a hint of sweet incense mixed in there somewhere too, that gives this fragrance a rather luxurious feel.

The heart is mostly leather, pepper, herbs and earthy patchouli. This combination is strangely clean yet a tad dirty. Bel Ami has an almost dizzying effect on my senses. To be honest, I'd much rather smell this on a man than on myself. The mystifying masculinity of Bel Ami goes to waste on my feminine skin.

The longevity of Bel Ami is very impressive, as is the sillage which will leave the air around you beautifully scented for all to enjoy. A true classic in my opinion. A fragrance that separates the men from the boys.

it is complex in good way, woody citrusy leathery ,

longevity 6 hour and still smell strong on paper .

classic , i love it, Hermes talking good here.

I came to know about it 5/6 years ago, but never could find one in Asia or even in Dubai. Just got it 2 weeks back. Heard a lot of praise about it, read a lot of reviews too which certainly made me crave for this masterpiece. After hearing and reading a lot about it I imagined it's smell. So I couldn't resist myself from taking a sniff of it right on the spot where I first received my pack. WOW. Could there be anything such precise what your heart desires in a perfume? I'm not gonna elaborate on the description of notes in it, and why would I? The description people have given so far need no further elaboration. I've read everything before, so did you all. So, I'm just certifying and endorsing every good words that have been said about this. Deep, dark and mature people, if you guys are listening then you MUST get one. And now.

Bel Ami the perfume with master class
the opening is well defined with Lemon with a mixture of dry sage and velvety
citrus note of bergamot dries the top note, the middle section becomes a bit
more spicy consisting of Carnation with
the herbal scent of basil with the nuance
of pepper Jasmine in diluted form makes
it's presence known and orris seems to
quiet the jasmine with it's earthy aroma
dries the middle with sharp ceder,
Patchouli is elusive and heard to detect
in Bel Ami that is perhaps the most elusive note in this fragrance,

The drying down starts off deep resinous
of styrax with undertone of leather for
an glossy texture and semi-sweetness of coconut then dries to an mossy
feel of oakmoss and dry vetiver.

Bel Ami conjours for me a vast hunting den in the Scottish estate in the highlands of some pompous Earl with deer antlers a bear rug in the floor with red velvet chairs a huge ornate fireplace
meticulous crafted ebony table and a vast library of old books from great masters on a dusty shelf musty in scent
sitting in his luxurious chair sipping
his blood red Vino in his Burgundy colored robe and idly listening some
depressing violin adagio almost falling
asleep,

Bel Ami is for a man or for a few brave
women who appreciates the finer things in life this is one of the finest cologne in perfumery there is nothing
cheap or kitschy about Bel Ami they only
make the top of the line of ingredients
to make this masterpiece.

I found this scent in the early 90's with a sample.

I was impressed by the originality. It was diferent from everything I knew.

A remarcable, refined, elegant and lasting scent.
I tried it at night and the next morning after a sleeping it was there. I went to take a shower and it survived the shower. I was impressed.

I bought it.
Superb.
My wife loved it. I will love this scent forever and yes it is true, there is no woman from I met who didn't like this.

Today is my number one.
I don't know Mr. Sieuzac but I can't stop thinking that he did this specialy for me.

For those who want to compare it with others like Aramis (from which I know all the fragances), I think there must be a problem with their noses.

I'm a perfume adict and tried many things. Nothing compares this.

-Elegance in a bottle! This is probably the best leather scent out there. Very warm and deep. Sillage and longevity are excellent. Not for kids, but for mature, elegant, refined, gentlemen 30+ It`s for those who like classic timeless fragrances with character. Hermes has made some great masculine fragrances over the years. Bel Ami and Equipage are the best of them. Highly recommended!

This is probably the best perfum for man that as ever been made.

I put it in the morning and the next morning I can stil feel it.

I never met any woman who doesn't like it.
And the most important thing, I never get tired of the scent.

Excelent. Perfect.

I bought it a fews years ago with the low price,It's a perfect leather scent for men,rich,warm,a little spice and masculine.

Leather at its best - rich, warm & dark - very strong but oh so cultured. And just a little bit slutty. Great sillage too. Love it!

Incredible. The "Gucci pour Homme" for grown ups. Very warm leather. Did not get any citrus notes or god forbid vanilla. One of the simplest leathery perfumes, it does not have too much complexity which may not be a bad thing. Lasts forever.

Try Aramis 900 or Tuscany and you will pay half as much....

Good scent though

This is not the same, but is as close to my favorite of all times: Etienne Aigner's Superfragrance, as I have found. Any other ideas?

absolutely perfect but attention its just for those who like powerfull scents. it lasts and lasts and lasts ...all day

I think this is a perfect fragrance for men.I had it one and it nearly runs out.
I have to buy new one.I can guarantee you the strangers will falling into you both men and women.Speaking from experiences I'm glad that I had a chance knowing this perfume.I'll just take a shower,get dressed and life goes on.