Santal de Mysore is a divisive beast. For some, it's a sublime journey into creamy, spicy sandalwood. For others, it's a full-on curry house assault. Love it or hate it, it certainly makes an impression, and rarely a subtle one.

A budget read of Valentino's Uomo Noir Absolu - that sweet-woody winter masculine of spicy cinnamon-pepper, resinous incense and creamy sandalwood. Black Definite tracks it closely, with PP wearers reporting near-identical scent and performance side by side; it reads a touch more balanced and less green than the original. A genuinely convincing cold-weather spicy-woody for the money.