Kenzoair Intense
Kenzo (2003)

This is very close to being my absolute favorite presentation of vetiver.
Sycomore EDT may have the upper hand over Kenzoair Intense, so some pretty good competition.

The vetiver is ever so slightly 'dirty'/'earthy', but definitely NOT in the Terre d'Hermes sense. There is no 'B.O.' smell, just the ever so slight hint of dirtiness.

But this is offset by the amazingly bright composition, that "feels" like a citrus aquatic. This is no CK type of aquatic, just the clean, bright composition to support the beautiful vetiver.

For a daytime summer event with class, this would be my first pick. For style with debonair in the heat & humidity, nothing could better 'suit' than Kenzoair Intense.

As an aside, my wife's favorite type of scent on me is a vetiver fragrance, and Kenzoair is quite possibly her favorite. Though she may be partial to Sycomore EDT as well....

9.0/10.0 - would be a 10/10 if the performance had more @$$ behind it...

I really like the original Kenzoair for its soft, dry freshness and very unique anise smell. The Intense version gives you more of everything, including a bit more cumin in the opening to make it slightly dirtier and then a slightly sweeter, woody finish that was surprising. Like the original, it's still not as heavy or sharp as Encre Noir or even the Sport flanker and seems like a good mix between that and Lolita Lempicka au Masculine.

Air Intense is also a better performer in projection than the original. I get about roughly the same in longevity, 8-9 hours.

Colin Maillard correctly points out the comparison of Kenzoair Intense versus the original: A more "visible" rendition of the likable anise-centered Kenzoair, that just happens to hop off of the skin in a more present manner. A comparison or two has been made to Lalique's Enre Noir, which Kenzoair Intense does echo due to the healthy dose of earthy vetiver inside of it.

I find this one to be a more reinforced, though not brash nor in-your-face, version of the original. Both come off as aromatherapy mood scents than, say, the Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin collection which seem bolder and longer-lasting in comparison. The whole mystique of the hint of black licorice in Kenzoair is very desirable to me, and I appreciate their existence in the Kenzo line. One day I'd love to see a "Kenzoair Extreme" which transcends the skinscent quality of the current offerings and truly pays bold homage to the anisette note that I (and others) really love.

Notes-wise, Kenzoair Intense is practically identical to Kenzoair, but correcting its only and main deal-breaker: the lightness and closeness to skin. Finally this Intense version gives that “potentially beautiful” scent the projection and the “stereo boost” it deserved. Which doesn't mean this is a bold scent; actually, it means just that you can finally smell Kenzoair, and finally for some hours. If you aren't familiar with Kenzoair, it's basically a really clean, contemporary, tremendously refined minimalistic aqueous-vetiver-anise scent, bright and crisp like a freshly-cleaned window glass, still with some water drops on it. Breezy and cozy like a very few else vetiver scents. The vetiver here is soft, mellow, salty, not the most realistic or rich around but that's the beauty of it here, rounded by something like cashmere wood. It quite reminds me of Encre Noire, just more bracing, sophisticated and transparent. Encre Noire is thicker and a tad more synthetic, while Kenzoair smells just more “airy”, slightly watery-mineral too. Delightful and classy, with a perfectly gentle drydown, bright and quite close to skin. An uplifting mineral-woody gem, which I personally prefer over the original.

8/10

The opening is a delightfully simple, but convincing blend of a bright, fresh and light vetiver with a delicious anise. The vetiver lacks any earth darkness, and the anise is clear but more on the restrained side, like this fragrance overall. In the drydown the vetiver and the anise remain present, with a whiff of angelica added, and light woodsy impressions are added in the final phases. The anise is more present than in the fresher original. Soft sillage and limited projection, with about five hours of longevity. Unobtrusive and restrained; great for warmer spring days.

Was my all time favourite fragrance and my signature scent whilst it was available. So disappointed it's no longer in production. Beautiful fresh, woody scent. :-(