Our take
What does M7 smell like?
M7 came out in 2002, during the years Tom Ford ran creative direction at Yves Saint Laurent. Its ad, a full frontal male nude, got more attention than the scent. That's a shame, because the juice deserved the attention. Jacques Cavallier and Alberto Morillas put oud at the centre long before the oud craze of the 2010s. Bergamot and mandarin open onto a slightly medicinal rosemary. Then the oud arrives, rough and almost smoky. Dry vetiver keeps it company. The base is simple amber and musk, which soften things without adding sugar. Next to Tom Ford's Oud Wood, released five years later, M7 smells rawer and darker. The original formula was dropped in 2011 for M7 Oud Absolu, a rather different perfume. People who wore the first one still miss it.
When to wear it
An autumn evening woody that suits a dark shirt. Two sprays at most, because the oud fills a closed room quickly.
It belongs to the Oriental / Amber, Woody family. M7 is one of 35 creations by Yves Saint Laurent in our encyclopedia.
