Our take
What does Hugo Dark Blue smell like?
Four years after the green Hugo of 1995, Hugo Boss released Hugo Dark Blue in 1999. The midnight blue bottle borrows the shape of a cocktail shaker. Alain Astori and Béatrice Piquet composed it for a man heading out at night. It starts lively. Ginger mixes with grapefruit and orange, while lime and citron add a little sting. The heart turns darker. Cypress and mahogany bring dry wood. Cardamom and sage add aromatic warmth, and geranium keeps a green thread in the background. The base mixes vanilla, benzoin and patchouli, held up by cedar and vetiver. The vanilla never turns syrupy. Where the original Hugo played green apple and fir, Dark Blue goes for spice and wood. It's still a fairly light oriental, nowhere near as heavy as some masculines from that decade.
When to wear it
An evening scent for autumn and winter, better for a night out than for the office. Three sprays on the chest, since longevity is average.
It belongs to the Oriental / Amber, Spicy family. Hugo Dark Blue is one of 35 creations by Hugo Boss in our encyclopedia.
