VERSACE MAN EAU FRAÎCHE EXTRÊME by Olivier Cresp

It’s time to hold onto your hats as we hurtle headlong into the final stretch before Christmas. It’s the moment when many people suddenly realise that they’ve unfortunately left everything to the last minute, and that those promised “delivery times” just aren’t going to cut it. That’s when the humble high street can come into its own once more. You’d probably be surprised by how many perfumes and colognes are still available for you to buy in person, and that they come conveniently gift-wrapped! So, if you’re looking for the ideal fragrance to buy for the man in your life, look no further than the new Versace Man Eau Fraîche Extrême.

Versace is arguably one of the most famous names in the world of design, and so it was inevitable that they would eventually sidestep into the world of perfume as well. This happened back in 1981 with the worldwide hit Gianni Versace, but there would only be a further two fragrances released by the company in the 1980s - the masculine Versace l’Homme and the feminine V’E Versace. However, it paved the way for the massive output that would appear from the nineties onwards. The Jeans collection arrived in 1994 and saw an impressive fourteen variations in its ten year run. However, tastes were changing.

The release of Versace Man by Domitille Michalon Bertier in 2003 saw a reinvigoration of the male fragrances, and it would hold the crown until 2006 when Olivier Cresp’s Versace Man Eau Fraîche arrived. This took an aquatic and Mediterranean inspiration, as opposed to the original Latino tobacco one, and it would remain front and centre until Dylan Blue Pour Homme triumphantly arrived in 2016. It was a worldwide hit and an award winner, but was quickly eclipsed by the Eros collection. However, a comeback was on the cards, and it came in the form of the new Versace Man Eau Fraîche Extrême.

Olivier Cresp was asked to revisit the Versace Man fragrance line in 2025, but this time to appeal to “the strong and self-confident man”. He took the classic building blocks of male colognes but, by adding new facets to the ingredients, aimed to breathe a new life and freshness into the blend. Combining vibrant brightness with a woody trail, the scent perfectly captures the pull between the “eau fraiche” and the “extreme” of the title, while always recognising both tradition and innovation. Perfect to gift and perfect to wear, Versace Man Eau Fraîche Extrême is the ideal present to place under the Christmas tree.

The fragrance opens with a citrus aromatic medley of lemon, bergamot and lavender, which immediately places you in the traditional fougere territory, but there’s a touch of bitter orange and mint in here as well that helps add to the scent’s initial vibrancy. However, the arrival of the semi-floral blend of geranium and orange blossom, this time with a hint of juniper, creates an expansiveness that is perfect for those winter evenings. Alongside a dash of pink pepper, you then get the merest whisper of rose, which adds a smoothness to the fragrance, before a dry cedarwood and leathered tonka bean creates the perfect lingering trail on the skin. Another gem from Versace, say hello to your new Christmas fragrance.

Versace Man Eau Fraîche Extrême is available from many stores, including Boots and The Fragrance Shop, and is priced at £78 for 50ml, £100 for 100ml and £145 for 200ml. [Sample provided by Aspects Beauty]