Crimson Spirit For Men

Crimson Spirit opens just like Hugo Boss's Hugo Intense: a bold, juicy red apple dusted with cinnamon, brightened by lime and a tart blood grapefruit for a vibrant, youthful start. The heart turns aromatic - red thyme and geranium add a green, slightly herbal depth that keeps the fruit from going one-note. The drydown is warm and grounded on cedar, leather and patchouli, giving the playful opening a more masculine, lasting finish. As a dupe it tracks the original's spicy-red-apple signature closely, and arguably improves on it: where Hugo Intense drew criticism for a chemical, occasionally cloying edge, Crimson Spirit reads a touch warmer and fuller, the apple rounder and less sharp. Longevity is good for a budget scent, holding better than the original's roughly three-hour designer wear, with friendly projection. An energetic, versatile fruity-spicy scent for casual and cooler-weather wear at a budget price.