The new Barbour Intense collection takes the brand's most popular men's fragrances and gives them a strength boost.
There's something for everyone here, with a range of different profiles.
When you're buying a luxury men's fragrance, there are a few things you're probably looking for. Smelling good is obviously a must, but you'll also want a neat bottle design and a good brand name behind it.
For most of us, longevity is also a must. The current market is seeing a trend of stronger scents for exactly this reason – while higher dilutions are more intense, they also stick around for much longer.
That's exactly what Barbour has done with its new collection of Intense fragrances. The blueprint is simple – take their iconic Heritage, Origins and Coastal fragrances and ramp up the oil dilution for a stronger hit.
I got hands-on – or, I guess, nose-on – with all three at a recent event hosted by The Fragrance Shop. They have the range exclusively in the UK, and we're keen to show off the benefits of a stronger scent.
As you might expect from a brand so grounded in style, the bottles here are absolutely wonderful. A sleek, matte black finish is accented with a strip of tartan near the base.
It's a curved bottle, though, which was a little awkward to hold. It's not a deal breaker but it's worth knowing.
The power of the concentrated scent is really noticeable, too. I sprayed a little from a tester while writing this piece to get me back in the zone, and the fragrance has spread around the entire house.
While I haven't given it a full day test, I have no trouble believing that this will stick around for the 8-12 hours claimed. That's a really beneficial thing, because it ensures a little can go a really long way. That's better for your wallet in the long run – you can buy less and still enjoy a powerful scent.
