Bottega Veneta Pour Homme: ONLY for Manly Men (Reviewed)

Bottega Veneta Pour Homme is a men’s cologne that came out in 2013. It’s a wildly masculine fragrance, known for its strong focus on aromatic and woody notes. I first discovered this beauty years ago. Since then, I’ve gone through several samples and even a full bottle. Because I’m a red-blooded masculine demon, there’s no one better placed to give you the low down on how it smells. Read on for my thoughts.

Table of Contents

Bottega Veneta Pour Homme smells like strong aromatic notes, woods, and leather

Bottega Veneta Pour Homme opens with pine and juniper. Together, they emit an extraordinary aromatic energy. The combination has a refreshing and coniferous smell.

Citrusy bergamot is here too, infusing a cooling effect with mild zest.

After the opening, some changes happen as the scent develops. Firstly, a Canadian fir note drifts into view. It introduces a composed evergreen and woody smell that deepens the aroma.

I also detect traces of pimento. I’m a huge chilli fan and was not expecting to see it here. The pimento exudes a red peppery spiciness. It helps to warm things up after the initial freshness.

A clary sage accord also bolsters the aromatic energy. It smells herbaceous and green but always remains faint.

Once the scent fully dries, the bracing aromatic burst peels away. Now, we see the smouldering, supple leather accord. This important note deepens and darkens proceedings even more. It smells brooding and relaxed – not fearlessly forward like Tom Ford Ombre Leather Parfum.

Lastly, patchouli and labdanum lay a verdant foundation. They arouse an earthy, resinous essence and mingle with the remaining notes.

In summary, Bottega Veneta Pour Homme smells like a strong aromatic woody aroma. Then it softens quickly, leaning into soft spiciness and herbs. Finally, leather and earthy tones are revealed. Pour Homme strikes a balance between feeling rugged and dapper. Like a brooding, hairy-chested man who wears a suit with disdain. Right in the wheelhouse of Bvlgari Man In Black.

Take a look at comments from this reviewer:

It’s masculine without overpowering. Safe but still manage Its unique quality. Opened with a piney forest scent and a burst of juniper and bergamot, followed by aromatic notes from sage and little bit spicy from pimento, and build up to a dry down of handsome combination of greenish labdanum, warm patchouli, right amount of leather in an immense of woody nuance.
Fragrantica.com

Get more information and buy now on Amazon >>>

Weak performance…BUT

All this talk of aromatics and leather notes. Surely that means beast mode performance right?

Nope.

I’ve found that Pour Homme projects softly for the first hour, then lasts as a skin scent for another 3. Therefore, don’t expect anything above 4 hours of total longevity.

However, I don’t think this is a negative. This isn’t a fragrance that you want filling a room. This virile, green essence only works as a soft scent bubble. Similarly to Bvlgari Wood Essence.

I actually think the poor sillage is an advantage. I’ll cover why in the next section.

Only for one type of man

This juice is destined only for hairy-chested, masculine men in their late 20’s and beyond. For a comparison, scents like Gucci Guilty Absolute fill an identical demographic.

And if you’re one of those guys, Pour Homme provides plenty of versatility to play with.