Normally, when you think of fragrances made by car companies, you think of cheap, synthetic money grabs that use the vehicle manufacturer’s prestige to cash in a few bucks. However, there are a few car brands that actually hold their own, mainly Ferrari before they stopped producing, Mercedes-Benz, and Bentley. BMW recently started a line as well, but I haven’t tried any of them yet.

Bentley was hyped up quite a bit a few years ago with their Intense release. The verdict was quite divided, as it was a potent and unapologetically masculine scent. Nevertheless, it didn’t smell like a cheap floor cleaner scent, so it garnered the perfume brand some respect.

Bentley for Men Absolute wasn’t given such rave reviews, but it does have somewhat of a cult following. It’s quite similar to a hard-to-find and beloved designer scent: Gucci’s Pour Homme. Given the aftermarket prices on the Gucci, the Bentley did get some fanfare, but I don’t believe it was ever given proper time in the limelight.

Absolute, like Intense, is unapologetically masculine. However, it is not as aggressively potent with an assault of booze and leather. It is more gentlemanly, showing a smoky incense-bathed cedar. It’s more along the lines of a Virginia cedar, simmering with a warm ambery sweetness with tones of wood shavings.

The marriage of fiery pink pepper and spicy ginger adds a delicate warmth to the cedar, as if it were kissed by autumnal spices, while the vegetal greenness of papyrus prevents the scent from going too deep into cozy territory.

Creamy sandalwood and amber can be felt throughout, oftentimes outshining the cedar and incense, but I believe that this is a good thing. It adds an elegant touch that steers it away from lumberjack territory and more into a boardroom scent.

Is Absolute exactly like Gucci Pour Homme? No, it isn’t as high quality and the woods don’t sing in the same way, but it’s an admirable homage to the legendary designer. Michel Almairac composed both perfumes, so they are ultimately the same scent, but given the age of Gucci Pour Homme, IFRA restrictions likely limited how well he could recreate the Gucci.

Ultimately, Absolute is a fantastic scent by itself. For those who love cedar perfumes and resins, this is a no-brainer for the autumn and winter seasons, but it may lean a bit mature for noses that love modern scents infused with sweetness. Also, the presentation is fantastic and the bottle has a real metal cap. It certainly doesn’t look or smell like a $40 scent.