Our take
What does Spirit of the Brave Intense smell like?
Diesel added Spirit of the Brave Intense to its Only the Brave family in 2020. This eau de parfum follows Spirit of the Brave from the year before. The bottle keeps the clenched fist shape of the series, this time in gold. Diesel files it under oriental fougère, and that label is accurate. The opening pairs an apple accord with bergamot. The apple is green and only lightly sweet. The heart turns aromatic with clary sage and cypress. That dry herbal stretch is the best part. The base warms up. A dry amber accord with vanilla and patchouli settles in for hours. Compared with 2009's Only the Brave, which is more leathery and lemony, this Intense version is sweeter and more modern. It follows the amber fougère trend of the 2020s. There are few surprises here, but the staying power is solid.
When to wear it
For autumn and winter evenings. Two sprays on the neck at most, as the vanilla builds fast.
It belongs to the Oriental / Amber, Fougère family. Spirit of the Brave Intense is one of 14 creations by Diesel in our encyclopedia.