Initially I was not terribly interested in Puredistance’s third perfume, a release clearly geared towards men.
Created by Roja Dove in 2010, the fragrance comes in a matte grey flacon that evokes metal, its box is black and grey, it is called M, for God’s sake. Can it be any more masculine? The PR material states it was designed to evoke the feeling of being inside an Aston Martin.
All that added up to “not for me”. I don´t do leather, I don´t usually wear explicitly masculine perfumes and what’s more, I already have the other two decidedly feminine offerings by Puredistance (Puredistance I and Antonia), so I thought I was set.
Yet here I am, reviewing M. Why? Because I love it.
It was not love at first sight at this time, because M misled me with its masculine trappings. But I am glad to say, everything that Puredistance has made so far is simply wonderful.
It was love at first sniff, as my dear constant readers have heard me say a hundred times already, with Puredistance I and Antonia.
M – since I was heavily influenced by the leather description – I tried to dismiss.
After my visit to the Puredistance Perfume Lounge I handed my sample of M to my husband and forgot about it. Giving M to M., my husband, was more of a symbolic gesture, because he never, ever tries anything new.
But – lo and behold – there are signs and miracles! He actually applied it!
Wow! What a fantastic perfume! I was instantly, delightfully smitten.
So I thought, well, Puredistance made an excellent men’s perfume, how wonderful! Now I can get my husband his M and we’ll be smelling lovely and all puredistanced up for eternity. But I couldn’t leave it at that of course – no – I had to try it for myself.
In short – it blew me away. On me it doesn’t smell masculine at all. AT ALL.
M on me is a spicy, warm oriental with the tiniest, softest hint of leather that doesn’t bother me in the least unlike the way leather normally does.
M starts off with topnotes of bergamot and citrus, although the spicy base immediately peaks through, there is a little floral heart, which is way more prominent on me than on my husband, then a rich cinnamon, patchouli and vanilla base appears, accented by the woody impression of vetiver, the afore mentioned leather and a dash of dirtiness.
M is sumptuous and complex, but at the same time elegant and refined. There is no single overwhelming element in M, it is noble and sophisticated. Maybe that is where the Aston Martin comes in, not through the smell of leather but through associations of its essential elegance and British reserve.
M is powerful in a quiet way. Like a man who commands attention not through words but through his presence alone. See, I do think of M as a masculine still, and in essence it probably is. But is it highly wearable for me. Several innocent bystanders questioned about their opinion of me wearing M, never once suspected an essentially masculine perfume. But they all loved it!
Puredistance perfumes have the distinction of reeling me in time and again through their incredible quality and sheer excellence. As much as I want to stay detached or keep a semblance of objectivity, the perfumes make it impossible for me not to swoon.
M is the top candidate on my wishlist now, it has swooped in and has overtaken several other contenders. At least this time I have the great excuse of having to get it for my husband (too) since the good man has finally come around and seen the light (and for something that does not smell of sausage I might add ;)).
Hallelujah!
M is available at the Puredistance website.
Olfactoria's Travels 
just wait till i start layering ……
Must hide that Hickory Smoke flavor bottle, before you get any ideas. 🙂
This is so exciting! I knew that Mr. Olfactoria’s Travels just needed to find his “gateway” scent! 😉
Oh, he is getting furious now, because he thinks he has been quite the connoisseur all along, lol. 😀
Sounds wonderful! I love both Puredistance I and Antonia, even though I would have never have guessed initially that I would fall so hard.
The quality of their perfumes is just incredible, they are perfume works of art so I should have known M was going to be in that category as well. But when you mentioned leather, I was sold – I love leather (and I do lean somewhat toward the “masculine” specter of the perfume world.
Ines, I am sure you will love M too, especially if you tend in that direction anyway. Puredistance has surpassed my every expectation – again, I love when that happens 🙂
i love you ’cause you can read my mind..
Yes, I can and that bottle is securely stashed away already! 😉
You know, the smell of sausage is very hard to displace in man’s affections. 🙂
Oh yes, it will be his number one forever only endangered by the smell of bacon, maybe 😉
Glad to read about the progress on the husbands wearing fragrances front 🙂 M sounds wonderful, waiting for my sample.
I am so curious what you think about M, looking very much forward to hear your opinion then!
I have resisted even trying any of the Puredistance perfumes. They’re expensive and hard to get where I am. But darn it, you keep writing compelling reviews! I’m already planning my next samples score.
Yay! I am happy if I could convince you. They are really special, all three of them. I think Luckyscent will have samples soon if not already, otherwise I would love to get some for you and send them on to Canada. 🙂
It looks like we’ve both been recently seduced by leather-frags!
There’s a sample of Antonia on its way to me, which will be my first time trying a Puredistance scent… I’m giddy with anticipation! It sounds like I’m going to need to try M now too 🙂
Oh I am so glad you are trying Puredistance. I think M is the one you will love the most. Matt will love Puredistance I, since he wears Chanel 5, I am certain he will love this! I like when I can convert people, see post title. 🙂
M sounds like the one most up my alley, and you’re probably right about PI and Matt—I’m going to have to get him a sample! He hasn’t requested a bottle of anything yet, and I kinda hope it won’t be one of these… yeeps! Why do we love such expensive stuff? We need to re-calibrate our noses to drugstore scents. 😉
(just kidding)
Thank goodness Luckyscent is carrying them…
Before you start calibrating, check your email, Dee!
You, dear friend, are the BEST. 🙂
You were right! Puredistance is my new favorite house (such perfection!), but M soars above the other two… it’s love alright.
That makes me so happy! I knew M was the one for you! But the great thing about Puredistance is that all three perfumes are way above others in terms of quality, beauty and sheer perfection. Whatever they come out with next, I would buy it unsniffed if I had to.
B! don’t be that greedy, husband deserves some extravagant notes for layering, he shouldn’t sick to his usual “pino sivestre” his whole life long, should he???
Pino Silvestre – I wish!
Let us be thankful for the recent developments, but I am keeping the Hickory Smoke flavoring locked away for sure! 😉
…..so from now on you are known as the “puredistance” couple!!!
I quite like the ring of that! 😉
Pingback: Hey Mister Postman, look and see… « beauty on the outside
Pingback: Monday Question – What Are Your Top Three Favorite Perfumes? | Olfactoria's Travels
I’m wearing M since this spring and I really love it. Always present, never overwhelming “me”. It’s always me wearing the perfume, if you intend what I mean…
Complex, maturate during the day, make me comfortable with a smell even in really stressing situation, maybe like my personal Aston Martin, quiet and powerful.
Make me feel like Michael Caine in that old spies films…
In very hot days I prefer something fresher, but…
Michael Caine – what a good image for this beautiful amber scent. M is my husband’s favorite as well.
I love Michael Caine and Bogart and that old spies and Noir films!
——> Must try for me and my husband!
My husband loves it and wears it faithfully. 🙂
Pingback: A Little Something For The Eye – A Sneak Peek Into My Perfume Closet Part II | Olfactoria's Travels
Pingback: What The Husband Wears – The Masculine Side Of Life | Olfactoria's Travels
Pingback: À La Recherche Du Temps Perdu – Review: Puredistance Opardu | Olfactoria's Travels
Pingback: When Every Leaf Is A Flower – My Top Perfume Picks For Fall | Olfactoria's Travels
Pingback: Oh Happy Day! – Review: Roja Dove Scandal | Olfactoria's Travels
Pingback: The Doctor who married a Perfumista in Vienna | The Fragrant Man
Pingback: Honor System Posting | Undina's Looking Glass
Pingback: Fragrant Distractions – Part One | The Fragrant Man
Pingback: Fragrant Distractions – Part Two | The Fragrant Man
Thank you for your review.
I heard so many great comments and reviews of Puredistance M, but I always ignored testing this scent.
Last week, I had the opportunity to test this perfume.
Puredistance M is the best male fragrance ever made..
No fragrance is more luxurious and more refined.
Puredistance M is by far my favorite fragrance beside Antaeus, APOM, Kouros, Eau Sauvage and Tobacco Vanille.
I was forced to buy 60ml of this fragrance. My wallet is empty, but I have no hurt.
Ahh..I forgot to say that Puredistance M is similar to Antaeus, but M is much more luxurious, 1000x richer, well-blended and overall better.
I have no similarity with Bel Ami in M altough so many users state the similarity between Bel Ami and M.
I can’t say I find the two very similar either.
I’m glad you found M and love it so much. It is an amazing perfume indeed and it is my favorite on my husband.
Pingback: Puredistance M Extrait Perfume Review | EauMG