Dueling Dupes - BR540 vs. Untold · Brotherhood Of Scent

Dueling Dupes - BR540 vs. Untold

Today's Frags: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 EDP and the Extrait. That's right guys, I'm pulling a two-fer today as these are very similar enough to tackle together. So, 540...the ultimate "panty-dropper".... supposedly....So much love from the community, I was very excited to try this out. On first opening, I get a wonderful, addicting smell of saffron blended to give a warm woody/amber feel. EDT is light, airy almost, while the Extrait is richer, thicker, and a bit heavier. Both are ambroxan bombs too, filling the room on initial sprays!!

So having a little background before wearing these, I knew to go light on the sprays. The EDT is heavy on the ambroxan and so too many sprays will get you nose blind and wanting to apply more. DON'T !!! Trust me, you're good at the 2 to 4 sprays. Extrait has more oils, so less sprays will serve just as fine. These project and the staying power is incredible, EDT lasted all day and Extrait can go 24 hrs. or more!! Also, if you spray on clothes, they can last even through a washing!!

The scent here is luxury in a bottle, a mature sweetness with a woody base. The saffron is the star player, with added dimensions through the sugar and ambery sweetness accords. Extrait takes it further, adding in a nutty note and thickening the amber in lieu of the EDP's alcohol. Not really "Joe Average" terms here but: sexy, sensual, and seductive come to mind. (I won't be using those words any time soon after this...) The mixtures are rich and deep, think red plush pillows and ornate wooden couches with red silk upholstery and gold accents and inlays....

Clone Battle. A much talked about clone for the EDP is Armaf's Untold. On first sprays, Untold is perfumer's alcohol (seems to be their thing). After a bit, it comes really close to EDP. It even has the same characteristics like seemingly disappearing (because of being nose-blind). But, it's there and you, and the people around you, will get whiffs. On my skin, Untold lasts longer than EDP, over 12hrs vs. 8 or so with EDP. Untold has a slightly heavier saffron/cedar note, whereas EDP smoothly blends in the sweetness. Toward the end of wear, Untold does deviate slightly from BR540, favoring more woodiness in the base. The closeness is surreal, especially in the mid and dry down, Armaf really knocked it out of the park here!

MFK BR540 (EDP/Extrait) 70ml. Retail Price: 325/435 USD, My Cost 150/200 USD

Armaf Untold 105ml, My Cost 50 USD

Final Verdict: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 is an Amber Floral fragrance that's a master class in blending saffron, woods and amber accords. Someone pretty famous said it's "Art in a Bottle"... more like mid-century Baroque style. And the scent itself is definitely high class. However, given as close Untold gets to Baccarat, and at 1/6th the price, it's a no-brainer, get Untold by Armaf. No point in going "Baroque" buying the real deal...And as far as being a "panty-dropper"?, my wife dropped her underwear in my lap...AND TOLD ME TO GO DO THE LAUNDRY! 😒

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