Dior Homme by Dior is a fragrance for men launched in 2011 as an Eau de Toilette. The nose behind this scent is in-house perfumer Francois Demachy.
Dior Homme is part of Dior’s Homme collection, and the first Dior Homme scent was introduced in 2005. This particular scent was first released in 2011 and rebranded in 2020.
The keynotes of this woody floral musk fragrance are Lavender, iris, amber, Cacao, and Leather.
A note from the brand:
The fragrance of a masculine iris. A sexy olfactory signature heightened by virile woody notes for an unusually subtle sophistication. Dior Homme is worn the way you wear an elegantly sharp, modern suit. Leave an olfactory trail of that woody, spicy scent, the immediately recognizable mark of a distinguished style.
| Perfume Name | Dior Homme |
| Brand | Dior |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Concentration | Eau de Toilette |
| Scent Family | woody floral |
| Gender | men |
My sister recently gave me a sample of the 2011 version and this is what I think of it.
What does Dior Homme by Dior smell like?
It smells masculine, smooth, and chocolatey. To me, the smell is dominated by the powdery iris, cacao, and leather base note.
This scent feels very sexy and alluring. It’s the type of scent a guy in a designer suit wears out to fancy dinner meetings or a hot date. Smells 90% similar to Valentino Uomo except with a weaker cacao smell.
| Top Notes | Lavender, Bergamot and Sage |
| Middle Notes | iris, Cacao and Amber |
| Base Notes | Leather, Vetiver and Patchouli |
My Experience
I tried the tester before heading out with friends. After I sprayed it, I could detect powdery floral and leather notes. Also, some spicy gourmand notes. I loved the heavy iris opening. The iris comes across as an airy, aromatic note with a touch of purple floral lavender.
The iris bomb is pulled back to earth by the leather and vetiver, but it’s really the leather that stood out even though it’s listed as a base note. The leather note felt aromatic and intense but not pungent.
The cacao is the third opening note that I picked up. It was more like cacao powder than chocolate. The combination of the cacao and the iris makes the scent feel powdery and dry. As the scent dries down, the amber starts coming out more, adding a slightly sweet touch. I briefly picked up a bit of the bergamot, but it disappeared again quite soon.
As the fragrance reached its full dry-down, it has a moderate projection and sillage, and it lasted 6 hours on my skin.
Sillage & Projection
It’s projecting just enough, and the sillage is moderate. It’s unlikely that someone will pick up the scent from across the room, but it has gotten me a compliment when I was wearing it out and was in conversation with someone.
Longevity & Versatility
This is a scent I would wear during the colder months of winter and autumn. I can also imagine wearing it when it’s not too hot in the spring, but it would feel very out of place during the hotter months. I can see myself wearing it during the day when it’s cold out, but it definitely gives off more of a night-time vibe. It’s well-suited to nights out, whether on a date or even dinner out with friends.
One of my colleagues wears it to the office at times, but personally, it feels a bit out of place in the office to me. I get 6 hours of noticeable longevity which is good for an EDT concentration. I wore it for a night out with friends, and it lasted till I got home, so I was pretty pleased with that.
Closing thoughts
I liked this scent, I don’t feel inspired to buy a bottle. However, it is pretty unique, so I’d give it an 8 out of 10 for uniqueness. If you already own Dior Homme Intense, I’d probably not also get Dior Homme as they smell 90% similar, in my opinion. But if you liked Dior Homme Intense and you are looking to replace that scent, then Dior Homme is a safe blind buy.
If you are looking to add a classy fragrance to your collection to wear in the evening during the colder months, it’s definitely worth a try. It is a bit on the pricey side, so stick to a sample first before investing in a bottle, as not everyone likes the powdery accord.