No.152 Only The Brave

Only The Brave built its reputation on a simple, effective idea - bright lemon over a woody-leather base - and this dupe reproduces that structure faithfully. The opening is a clean, soft citrus that quickly settles into cedarwood, giving the classy, understated character reviewers associate with the original. Where the two part ways is in the base: Diesel's version has a slightly mineralic, almost metallic leather edge from its styrax that gives it depth and a touch of edge, while Eden's rendition smooths that out into a gentler, more generic woody-musk finish. It still reads as both young and mature, working equally well for the office or a casual day out, though it lacks a little of the original's textured complexity in the drydown. Longevity and projection are moderate rather than commanding, so this is a scent for close-range wear rather than a room-filler, best suited to cooler weather when the woody notes have more presence.