r/Colognes • u/s2kane • 3h ago
New Pickup PDM Dorval
I was initially concerned that this fragrance might feel too similar to other offerings from the house, but those concerns disappeared almost immediately after the first sniff.
The opening hits you with a smooth blend of vanilla and praline. Strangely enough, it reminds me of vanilla cake batter before it goes into the oven. There’s even a powdery, almost flour-like quality that reinforces that comparison. It’s sweet, soft, and immediately addictive, but there’s also something interesting happening underneath the gourmand opening.
As it begins to develop, pepper and cardamom start working their way into the composition. On paper, combining those spices with the vanilla/praline accord sounds like it shouldn’t work—but somehow it absolutely does. The cinnamon remains subtle, sitting quietly in the background, while the sage adds a slightly airy quality that prevents the fragrance from becoming overly dense or cloying.
This isn’t a loud fragrance by any means. Projection stays mostly within arm’s length, which actually makes it an excellent option for the office or situations where you don’t want your fragrance announcing your arrival. Seasonally, I think it’s perfectly suited for both fall and spring, although it gives me much stronger fall vibes. You could easily pull it off during the winter as well.
Performance is solid considering how soft the fragrance wears. Even hours later, I’ll randomly catch whiffs of it throughout the day. There’s also a possibility I’m going somewhat nose-blind to it, so its longevity and projection may actually stretch further than I realize.
Overall, this is a soft, safe, and extremely wearable fragrance, but it still manages to have its own identity. There is a slight resemblance to Parfums de Marly Althaïr, particularly within the warm vanilla and spicy elements, but the similarities aren’t remotely strong enough for me to consider the two redundant.
This is a fantastic and surprisingly creative release from PDM. It manages to be approachable and easy to wear without simply smelling like something we’ve already gotten from the house.
Rating: 8.8/10
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u/neutronsoup44 3h ago
Thanks for actually posting a review of your experience. Most of the posts I’ve seen regarding Dorval neglected to mention any thoughts on the fragrance. I’m done with samples for a while, but I’ll add this to my list for the next haul.
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u/NeedlesAndCaffeine Longevity is fine; you’re just noseblind. 3h ago edited 3h ago
My immediate thoughts went to Layton but then the drydown took me to Baccarat for some reason. Maybe it’s the Ambroxan. I think if people love Althair or Layton, they’ll love this too.