Explorer Platinum

Carl Thompson, May 2023

Carl Thompson, on his blog devoted to men’s fashion, described in May 2023 a citrusy, herbaceous opening that fully satisfied him and reminded him of the guest amenities of a luxury hotel. The woody notes gradually give it a decidedly masculine character.

Where the original Explorer reminded him of Creed Aventus, Platinum finds its own identity in his view, thanks to the sage that dominates the heart. He credits it with far more maturity than its predecessor, judges it understated without being bland, and would happily wear it to the office.

Michael Adams, Michael 84, July 2023

Michael Adams, on Michael 84, first picks up an aromatic, powdery scent carried by violet leaf, with clary sage passing through. Together with the violet, the cedar in the base gives a very dry impression, a soft wood he likens to a woodier version of Calvin Klein’s Defy.

He finds the whole pleasant, but lacking the little something that sets a fragrance apart, and too close to bottles he already owns. He would not buy it and instead recommends Prada L’Homme to lovers of violet fragrances.