Top 10 Best Parfums de Marly Cologne (2023 Reviews)

#10 Parfums de Marly Kalan

A Sweet Spicy Woody Scent

I’ll be straight with you…

This one is quite polarizing. So for this reason, I would highly suggest you don’t jump into a blind buy. My Advice?

Definitely get yourself a sample before you commit to a full bottle. Let me break the scent down for you…

PdM Kalan opens up loud — with a strong blast of spicy black pepper mixed with a slightly sweet blood orange and an earthy green undertone.

Bam!

Now, after about 15 minutes… it starts to smooth out, and some woody notes appear with some lavender and a hint of orange blossom sweetness.

And eventually… some creamy tonka bean shows up which adds some more sweetness. It gives you a sweet spicy woody vibe. It’s sweet but never overly sweet.

Mature

Kalan is unisex but leans masculine and more suited to the mature 30-up crowd. And is suitable for all seasons – except the high summer heat. For…

Formal, casual, work, dates, special occasions, nights out.

Kalan is an EDP and pushes out for the first 2–3 hours (so be careful with the sprayer), then sits closer to the skin for about 7–10 plus hours.

Bottom line:

This is a complex niche scent which may not be for everyone. Try before you buy!

Side note: the bright red matt finished bottle with the silver cap looks awesome.

#9 Parfums de Marly Galloway

A Classy Fresh Clean Scent

This is a lighter, fresher offering from the house of Parfums de Marly.

Let’s take a look…

Fresh Peppery Citruses

Galloway opens up with a fresh blast of peppery citruses mixed with a hint of orange blossom sweetness.

Nice.

Now, as it settles… the citruses quickly fade into the background and are replaced with some soft powdery iris with a dose of clean musk and amber.

Gives you a sophisticated spicy fresh clean musky scent with a powdery woody undertone.

The good news…

Super Versatile

Galloway is super versatile: unisex, all seasons, all occasions (but performs best in the spring/summer).

And more suited for the mature 20-up crowd. Makes a GREAT office/work scent.

Even better:

Great Lasting Power

Has great lasting power for a fresh clean scent. Galloway is an EDP and projects about an arm’s length for the first 2.5 hours… then sits closer to the skin. So If you’re looking for a projection monster, this is not it.

Lasts up to 8 plus hours.

Great. 🙂

Side note: the white matt finished bottle looks awesome.

#8 Parfums de Marly Godolphin

A Sweet Fruity Leather Scent

This is a fragrance that means business.

Here’s the skinny:

Godolphin smells very similar to Tom Ford’s Tuscan Leather (which is awesome). If you already own Tuscan Leather, you don’t need this.

That said… Godolphin is smoother, sweeter, fruitier and more herbal (and more affordable 🙂).

And:

It also has some added floral notes …and is not as dark or as loud – making it easier to wear. But they are very similar (and both AMAZING).

Let’s break it down:

Dark Rich Leather

Godolphin opens with a blast of saffron mixed with a sweet candied fruity vibe and a dark rich leather sitting in the background with whispers of green herbal notes.

Nice.

Now, as it starts to settle on your skin, you get some hints of floral notes and as time goes by you get some woody notes and the leather becomes more pronounced.

You get a spicy woody deep rich leather vibe with the sweet fruity nuances in the background.

Make no mistake…

Head Turner

When you rock this people will want to know what you are wearing, it screams quality. Watch heads turn. 🙂

The beautiful part?

This is unisex and you can share it with your significant other.

More suited for the mature 20-up crowd and best worn in the cooler weather: fall/winter (VERY cool spring nights).

Tip: do not rock this is the high summer heat, or you will choke people out. Trust me. 🙂

This is more of a night time type of scent: formal, casual, special occasions, upscale events, dates, nights out, clubbing.

Godolphin is an EDP and projects just over arm’s length for the first 2 hours then becomes more subtle… lasting up to 8 plus hours.

Now, a quick word of warning:

Less is More

Be careful with the trigger. If you overspray this, it will end up wearing YOU. 🙂

If you want to enjoy it: 1 to 3 sprays MAX …and you’re set.

Side note: the shiny gold colored bottle looks awesome.

Bottom line:

If you love leather fragrances or want to stand out from the crowd… then don’t sleep on Godolphin.

#7 Parfums de Marly Habdan

Spicy Candied Caramel Apple

Habdan is part of PdM’s higher end Arabian Breed collection.

Let’s break it down:

Habdan opens up resinous with a blast of smoky incense mixed with a spicy saffron fruity apple vibe and a hint of caramel sweetness sitting in the background.

Nice.

Now, as it starts to dry down… the caramel and apple start to shine through with some woodiness, myrrh and a faint hint of rose.

This gives you a beautiful warm sweet smoky spicy candied caramel apple vibe… And it smells AMAZING. It’s…

Dark, Rich, Warm & Luxurious

And is the perfect balance between sweet and spicy (it never becomes overly sweet).

Great stuff. People who catch a whiff will want to know what you are wearing.

The good news?

This is unisex so you can share it with your significant other. Bonus.

Now, this is more suited for the mature 20-up crowd and best worn in the cooler weather: fall/winter (cool spring nights). Do not wear this in the high summer heat as things will get messy.

Dressed-up Dressed-down

Dressed up, dressed down, special occasions, nights out, dates.

To be clear, Habdan is an EDP and doesn’t scream out for attention. You get about 2 to 3 hours of just over arm’s length projection – with a gorgeous scent trail. It then sits closer to the skin for about 6 to 8 hours plus.

Side note: the bottle has a gorgeous looking glossy black finish with a gold colored cap and comes in PdM’s premium presentation box with the bottle sitting in a velvet podium.

Nice. 🙂

#6 Parfums de Marly Oajan

Sweet Cinnamon Apple Pie!

A gourmand lover’s dream.

This is a sweet edible smelling fragrance. If you don’t like sweet fragrances, then this is definitely not for you.

Oajan is part of PdM’s more exclusive Arabian Breed collection. Let’s take a closer look…

Warm Sweet Cinnamon & Honey

Oajan opens with a blast of warm sweet cinnamon mixed with a fruity honey vibe.

Nice!

Now, as it starts to dry down… some creamy vanilla and a touch of powdery tonka bean join the party and morph beautifully with the opening.

The result?

Delicious

You get a beautiful warm spicy cinnamon apple pie vibe and it smells DELICIOUS!

But be careful…

Your significant other may want to eat you. 🙂

Warm, Sexy & Sophisticated

Now, as it develops you get a hint of patchouli and some musk which stop the fragrance from becoming too overly sweet.

It’s warm, sexy and sophisticated. People will want to know what you’re wearing.

The best part?

Oajan is unisex so you can share this with your significant other. Great.

Suitable for any age and best worn in the cool weather, think fall/winter (and very cool spring nights). Do not rock this is the high heat, or you WILL choke people out.

Dressed up, dressed down, dates, parties, nights out, clubbing …you get the idea. 🙂

Even better…

A Little Goes a Long Way

Oajan is an EDP and packs a punch! A little goes a long way, so be careful not to overspray.

1 to 3 sprays MAX …and you’re set.

For the first 3 hours it has good projection (not a room filler) and leaves a gorgeous scent trail, then becomes more subtle over time lasting around 7 to 8 plus hours.

Great. 🙂

Side note: the bottle has a gorgeous looking glossy black finish with a gold colored cap and comes in PdM’s premium presentation box with the bottle sitting in a velvet podium.

Bottom line?

If you love sweet gourmand scents, don’t sleep on Oajan.

#5 Parfums de Marly Pegasus

Almonds & Vanilla

First things first…

Pegasus is a bittersweet almond fragrance. So if you don’t like the smell of bitter almonds, this is definitely not for you.

Let’s take a look:

Pegasus opens with a strong blast of sweet vanilla mixed with spicy bitter almond.

This gives you a slightly powdery, bittersweet creamy almond metallic vibe. And…

As it starts to settle… you get hints of jasmine and lavender in the background – giving it a clean smelling quality.

And finally…

Delicious

Some soft creamy sandalwood shows up… and the fragrance gets warmer, sweeter and creamier the longer it’s on your skin.

In a word: delicious. 🙂 HUGE compliment getter.

The beautiful part?

Pegasus is unisex so you can share it with your significant other.

Cool Weather

More suited for the mature 20-up crowd and best worn in the cooler weather: fall/winter (cool spring nights). This gets extremely cloying in the high summer heat – so beware.

Dressed up, dressed down, special occasions, dates, nights out, clubbing (this is where it shines).

And it works GREAT. 🙂

Beautiful Scent Trail

Pegasus is an EDP and projects just more than arm’s length (it’s not a room filler) for the first 3 to 4 hours and leaves a beautiful scent trail.

After that, it becomes more subtle creating your own personal scent bubble… and sticks around for about 8 to 10 plus hours.

Now, just a quick heads up…

Don’t go crazy with the trigger as this one can get headache inducing if you overspray. Less is definitely more – if you want to enjoy it (and for others around you).

1 – 3 sprays MAX …and your set (a few extra for clubbing).🙂

Side note: the chrome silver colored bottle looks awesome.

#4 Parfums de Marly Sedley

The Best Parfums de Marly for Summer

In a nutshell, this is a mass-appealing, high-quality fresh, spicy woody scent… Which is more than likely to bag you some nice compliments. And a LOT of them.

Sedley is currently the freshest offering in PdM’s line-up, making it a GREAT choice for the warmer months. Or if you live somewhere hot and humid.

Speaking of… to discover more recommendations that work great in high heat – check out our best summer colognes list.

By the way:

Master Perfumer

Sedley was created by world renowned master perfumer Olivier Cresp – the man behind such famous scents as: Versace Man Eau Fraiche, Mugler Alien, D&G Light Blue Pour Femme, to name but a few! So you’re in good hands. Anyway…

Let me break this down for you:

Sparkling Citruses

Sedley opens up with a cocktail of fresh juicy sparkling citruses (lemon being the most prominent)… these are mixed with a hint of a cooling herbal spearmint vibe in the background.

Very, very nice.

Now, as it settles down… the mint becomes slightly more prominent (but never gets too minty), and is joined with a soft lavender and a pinch of rosemary.

Super Fresh & Clean

It smells super fresh and clean – with a nice green herbal undertone.

And finally… it dries down to a slightly spicy woody, musky base.

Sedley is unisex but leans masculine and is more suited for the mature 20 up crowd.

Now, I should point something out:

Warm Weather

Sedley is best worn in the warm weather: spring/summer. As this does NOT perform in the cold (unless, of course, you’re working in temperature controlled environments).

So this makes for a great warm weather day-to-day scent. Perfect for the office/work/casual. Or anything, for that matter. After all, it’s never a bad time to smell fresh and clean, right?

Subtle

Sedley is an EDP and projects around an arm’s length for 1 to 2 hours, then sits closer to the skin – giving off nice gentle wafts… and hanging on for 3 to 6 plus hours (depending on your skin chemistry and the temperature).

So, to be clear:

If you’re looking for a powerhouse, this is NOT it. Which is a good thing, especially if you work in an environment when you are close to other people…

…and you just want an inoffensive, fresh, clean mass-appealing scent. This is it.

Side note: the transparent blue bottle looks AWESOME.

#3 Parfums de Marly Herod

Sweet Spicy Tobacco

Tobacco. Vanilla. Cinnamon.

This is a tobacco based scent. And is (unsurprisingly) a top pick on our best tobacco fragrances list. For good reason!

Let me break it down for you:

Herod opens up with a blast of rich sweet pipe tobacco mixed with warm spicy cinnamon sitting on a smoky vanilla base.

And as it dries down… the fragrance starts to smooth out and you get a beautiful sweet cherry tobacco vibe mixed with the creamy smoky vanilla.

It’s sweet (but not overly sweet) and it smells DELICIOUS!

Warm, Comforting & Luxurious

Eventually you get some woody notes and a hint of vetiver and musk that gives it a bit earthiness.

It’s warm, comforting and smells incredibly luxurious.

You might be wondering…

Does it smell like Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille?

It has some slight similarities, as in they both feature tobacco and vanilla, but it ends there. They are different fragrances; none are a replacement for each other. And both are awesome. 🙂

Anyway…

Cool Weather

Herod is unisex but leans masculine and is best worn in the fall and winter (cool spring nights). Avoid the summer as this gets cloying in the high heat.

More suited for the mature 20-up crowd. Dressed up, dressed down, work, casual, dates, special occasions, nights out.

Now, to be clear:

Herod is not a scent that screams out for attention. If you’re looking for a powerhouse, this is not it.

This is an EDP and projects just more than an arm’s length for the first few hours, then sits close to the skin for about 7 to 10 plus hours.

Side note: the glossy charcoal grey bottle looks gorgeous.

Bottom line:

If you love tobacco scents… don’t sleep on this.

#2 Parfums de Marly Carlisle

A Warm Dark-Chocolatey Woody Scent

Carlisle was first an exclusive release – only available to Harrods of London.

The good news?

PdM have now made it widely available – so now everyone can smell amazing. Great. 🙂

So how does Carlisle smell?

Carlisle opens up sweet, spicy and fruity with a blast of green apple mixed with whispers of saffron and nutmeg.

As it dries down… some patchouli, tonka bean and rich creamy smoky vanilla make an appearance, along with some woody notes and hints of florals.

Chocolatey Vibe

It’s perfectly blended and smooth. And this mix of patchouli, vanilla and spices gives you a beautiful dark chocolatey vibe.

And needless to say:

This garners a LOT of compliments. Not complaining. 🙂

It’s warm, rich, sweet and smells luxurious.

Cool Weather

Carlisle is unisex but leans masculine and is suited for just about any occasion in cool weather: fall/winter (cool spring days). Avoid wearing this in the summer as it will get cloying. Not good. Perfect for…

Formal, casual, dates, nights out, outdoor events, special occasions.

Carlisle is an EDP and projects more than arm’s length for the first 2 to 3 hours, then becomes more subtle but wafts around for a solid 7 to 10 plus hours.

Now, a quick word of warning:

Do not overspray this one. 1 to 2 sprays MAX is all you need. Trust me – this can get out of hand if you go crazy with the trigger. Less is definitely more. 🙂

Side note: This comes in PdM’s premium presentation, the box opens up to reveal the gorgeous matt black finished bottle sitting in a velvet podium. Two thumbs up.

#1 Parfums de Marly Layton

Parfums de Marly’s Crown Jewels

Layton is currently Parfums de Marly’s best seller. And for good reason!

First things first…

To be clear, Layton is available in 2 different versions that smell different: Layton and Layton Exclusif. They’re similar but are definite stand-alone fragrances.

In fact… They are both created by the same world renowned perfumer: Hamid Merati-Kashani.

Here’s what we found:

Layton vs Layton Exclusif

Just as the name indicates, Layton Exclusif is a more exclusive (and expensive) version of Layton – that takes the fragrance in another direction.

It’s richer, deeper and more complex, making it more appealing to fragrance connoisseurs and/or those of you that want to stand out from the crowd.

To be honest:

Both are amazing and it is not redundant to own both. However, we picked Layton as our number 1 spot because it is more versatile and more mass-appealing.

That said, you can’t go wrong with either, so we have also included on this list our review of Layton Exclusif. Anyway, you’re probably wondering…

What Does Layton Smell Like?

Layton opens with a fresh spicy blast of citruses mixed with a hint of lavender and a sweet fruity apple vibe. However…

The dry down is where the magic is. 🙂

As it settles… the citrus fades and some vanilla and cardamom join the party and morph beautifully with the apple and lavender.

The result?

You get a warm sweet creamy spicy apple vanilla vibe. It’s sweet, but not overly sweet… and it smells AMAZING.

As it develops, you get some creamy sandalwood and a hint of patchouli to give it some depth and richness.

(Speaking of… if you love sandalwood, be sure to check out our best sandalwood fragrances list.)

Seductive

Layton is sweet, sexy and seductive. Huge, HUGE compliment getter.

The beautiful part?

Layton is super versatile: days/nights, all ages, all occasions in the fall, winter and cooler spring days. However, it does get cloying in the high summer heat.

Unisex but leans masculine.

Dressed-up, Dressed-down

Dressed up, dressed down, work, office, special occasions, dates, nights out, clubbing (great for the club), you name it…

Even better…

Layton is an EDP and projects GREAT for the first 3 to 4 hours (but not overpowering), then gets more subtle and lingers around for 8 to 10 plus hours.

2–3 sprays MAX …and you’re golden. 🙂

Side note: the bottle comes in an awesome matt blue finish.

Bottom line:

If you’re looking for a super versatile, high-quality, crowd pleasing fragrance. This is it.

Bonus: Parfums de Marly Layton Exclusif

An Exclusive Version of Layton

As I said earlier, this is an enriched, darker and more complex oriental version of Layton (it’s less sweet and more woody). Think: Layton’s older mature brother. 🙂

Let’s take a closer look…

Layton Exclusif opens up with a bergamot and orange citrus combo with a hint of almond sweetness (reminiscent of the original Layton minus the apple).

Now, as it starts to dry down… the oud and guaiac wood appear with a hint of vanilla and a subtle coffee note – giving it a dark, rich, smoky woody vibe with a bittersweet coffee undertone.

By the way, if you enjoy coffee notes in scents, then don’t miss our best coffee colognes post.

Rich, Dark, Warm & Luxurious

It has a rich dark warmness and it smells incredibly luxurious. People will want to know what you’re wearing.

More for the mature 20 up crowd and best worn in the fall/winter (and cool spring nights). Do not rock this in the high heat… as you will choke people out.

Dressed up, dressed down, office safe (1 spray), dates, special occasions, nights out, clubbing.

Now, a quick word of warning…

Parfum Extract

Layton Exclusif is a Parfum Extract at 25% concentration (which is even stronger than EDP), so be careful with the trigger…

…2 sprays MAX – and you’re set.

This gives you 3 to 4 hours of good projection (not a room filler but you will get noticed), then becomes more subtle – lasting about 8 to 10 plus hours.

Can you say jackpot? 🙂

Side note: Layton Exclusif is currently only available in one size (2.5 oz / 75 ml) and comes in a more premium packaging than the original version.

The box slides open to reveal the dark matt blue bottle sitting in a velvet podium.

Nice.

Just in case you’re not familiar with the brand, here’s a quick primer…

Who are Parfums de Marly?

Parfum de Marly are a French niche luxury perfume house created by Julien Sprecher and are known for their rich opulent long lasting fragrances.

Here’s the deal:

They use super high quality natural ingredients and master perfumers to create their unique luxury fragrances, which are a step up from the typical mass marketed fragrances that you find in department stores.

It gets better…

Attention to Detail

The brand also take great pride with their presentation and attention to detail. The scents come in beautiful heavy ceramic like bottles with heavy polished Zamak metal caps.

They look, feel and smell premium.

Pretty awesome, right?

The Brand Story

PdM draw inspiration from the 18th century when perfume was at its pinnacle and pay tribute to King Louis XV of France, who was passionate about horses and perfumes.

In fact… He even had his own private in-house perfumer based in the royal residence Château de Marly (Marly Castle).

This can be seen in the brands name and the use of the Chevaux de Marly (the Marly horses) as their logo. Also, their fragrances are named after various horse breeds.

So that’s the house of PDM. And just in case you’re  wondering…

Where to Find the Parfums de Marly Batch Codes

Each Parfums de Marly fragrance will come with a batch code (LOT number) printed on both the bottom of the box and on the base of the bottle.

These two batch numbers should match up.

Now, it’s your turn…

We would love to hear from you:

What are your favorites from the house of Parfums de Marly?

Or maybe you have a question.

Either way, please let us know by leaving a quick comment below right now.

Where to go from here?

If you prefer niche scents, then I highly recommend you check out our top rated Amouage fragrances and also our top picks from the house of Creed.

We hope you enjoyed our article and found this list useful.  If you did, we would love it if you would share it to your favourite social networks!