Horace &Horace Extrait de Parfum Review: Better Longevity, But Is It Better?
If you have been reading Dapper & Groomed for a while, you probably already know that I have a bit of a soft spot for Horace fragrances.
Oud Rose is one of my favourites from the brand, especially when I want something richer with excellent longevity. But &Horace has always been particularly special to me because it was the first Horace fragrance I reviewed.
And for me, it was pretty much love at first spray.
&Horace is fresh, clean and incredibly easy to wear. Horace has always compared it to wearing your favourite clean white T-shirt, and I think that description is remarkably accurate. There is something effortless about it. You can wear it to work, at the weekend, going out for dinner or simply when you want to smell clean and put together without wearing something overly complicated.
I have always loved it.
There was just one thing I wanted Horace to improve: the longevity.
So when Horace launched a new collection of Extraits de Parfum, including a more concentrated version of &Horace, I was immediately interested.
I've now been wearing &Horace Extrait de Parfum for around two weeks as my everyday fragrance, and there is some very good news.
Horace has fixed the longevity.
Completely.
But the Extrait is also noticeably stronger, richer and more intense than the original, so I have had to adjust the way I wear it.
What Is &Horace Extrait de Parfum?
The easiest way to understand the new fragrance is not to think of it simply as "&Horace, but stronger." There is more going on here.
The original &Horace is an Eau de Parfum built around bergamot, white pepper and rum at the top, iris, cedarwood and davana in the heart, followed by sandalwood, tobacco and tonka bean.
The new Extrait is concentrated at 30% and moves in a slightly richer direction.
&Horace Extrait de Parfum notes
Top notes
Bergamot
Aldehydes
Heart notes
Iris
Jasmine
Davana
Base notes
Sandalwood
White Musk
Oakmoss
Tonka Bean
Horace has therefore done more than simply increase the concentration.
The aldehydes reinforce the clean character, while the floral and woody elements feel fuller and more substantial. The result is still recognisably &Horace, but with more weight and presence.
And you notice that difference quite quickly when you wear the two fragrances side by side.
Does &Horace Extrait Smell Like the Original?
Yes. But not completely.
If you already own &Horace, you will recognise it immediately. The clean, smooth character is still there and the relationship between the key notes makes the family resemblance obvious.
If I had to put a figure on it, I would say around 90% of the original &Horace DNA remains.
But the Extrait feels noticeably denser.
The clean side of the fragrance is still very present, but the floral and woody elements seem to have more weight. The iris and jasmine feel more prominent, while the sandalwood, white musk and tonka create a creamier, richer base.
The original feels lighter and more effortless.
The Extrait feels fuller and more serious.
That doesn't mean it has lost the identity of &Horace. Far from it.
It simply feels like a more intense interpretation.
The Longevity Is a Huge Improvement
This was the part I was most interested in. The difference in longevity is significant.
I can apply &Horace Extrait in the morning and still notice it much later in the day. On me, it comfortably lasts through a normal day without requiring me to keep reaching for the bottle.
I wouldn't try to give you one of those suspiciously precise "11 hours and 37 minutes" fragrance claims because fragrances behave differently depending on your skin, the weather and how much you apply.
What I can say after wearing it repeatedly for two weeks is that this is now an all-day fragrance for me.
That changes the proposition considerably.
If you have tried &Horace before and loved the fragrance but wished it lasted longer, the Extrait directly addresses that complaint.
A Word About How Much to Spray
This is important. &Horace Extrait de Parfum is considerably stronger than the original Eau de Parfum.
If you are used to applying several sprays of the standard &Horace, I wouldn't automatically use the same amount with the Extrait.
Personally, I think this fragrance works better with a lighter hand.
You simply don't need as much.
The concentration gives it much more presence and it stays around for far longer, so reducing the number of sprays makes the fragrance easier to wear throughout the day without it becoming too heavy.
What About Projection?
Projection is stronger too.
The original has always felt quite intimate to me. It smells polished and clean without announcing your arrival from the other side of a room.
The Extrait has much more presence.
I notice it around me for longer and the fragrance feels fuller, particularly through the middle and base.
Again, this is why I think it is worth reducing the number of sprays.
Used with a lighter hand, it feels sophisticated.
Over-applied, I think it could become a little too much, especially if you are used to the softer character of the original.
| Comparison | Eau de Parfum | Extrait de Parfum |
|---|---|---|
| Character | Fresh, clean and light | Clean, richer and denser |
| Strength | Moderate | Much stronger |
| Longevity | Good, but its main weakness | Excellent, all-day on me |
| Projection | Softer and more intimate | More noticeable |
| Sprays | More forgiving | Fewer sprays recommended |
| Best Season | Spring and summer | Autumn and winter |
| My Preference | My favourite for scent | My favourite for performance |
| Best For | Lighter everyday wear | Longer wear and colder weather |
Which Version Works Best by Season?
For me, the two versions make most sense at different times of the year.
I still prefer the original &Horace Eau de Parfum for spring and summer. It feels lighter, fresher and more effortless, which works particularly well in warmer weather.
The Extrait comes into its own during autumn and winter. It has more depth, considerably more strength and the longevity to comfortably last throughout the day.
Rather than seeing one as a replacement for the other, I almost think of them as two seasonal versions of &Horace: the Eau de Parfum for warmer months and the Extrait when I want something richer and longer lasting.
Is &Horace Extrait Better Than the Eau de Parfum?
This is where things get interesting.
Technically, Horace has solved my biggest criticism of &Horace.
The longevity is substantially better. The fragrance has much more presence.
And the higher concentration makes the Extrait feel richer and more substantial.
Yet if you asked me which one I prefer purely based on scent, I would still choose the original.
It feels lighter, fresher and a little easier to wear.
So for me:
The Extrait is the better performer.
The Eau de Parfum is still my favourite fragrance.
And I don't think there is anything contradictory about that.
Sometimes increasing the concentration of a fragrance changes its balance. In this case, Horace hasn't ruined that balance at all, but it has definitely shifted it.
Who Should Buy &Horace Extrait de Parfum?
I think the Extrait makes particular sense if you have already tried the original &Horace and your main complaint was exactly the same as mine: you wanted it to last longer.
It is also a very good option if you prefer fragrances with more presence or tend to wear richer fragrances during autumn and winter.
If you've never tried &Horace before and generally prefer lighter, fresher fragrances, however, I would still be tempted to start with the Eau de Parfum.
The Extrait is not simply the "better" version because it is more concentrated.
It is stronger, longer lasting and richer.
But it is also less subtle.
And that is worth considering before choosing between the two.
Final Thoughts
After wearing &Horace Extrait de Parfum every day for two weeks, I can confidently say that the longevity issue of the original &Horace has been solved. It lasts much longer, it is stronger, and yes, it is more expensive too.
I have always loved the original &Horace Eau de Parfum, which I consider a timeless fragrance. The Extrait keeps almost all of that familiar character but feels richer and, for me, much better suited to autumn and winter.
It is a great fragrance with exceptional longevity, but at £118 for 50ml, it is also an expensive one. Ultimately, that is the price you pay for the higher concentration and the significantly better performance.
Jerome.
I wore Horace &Horace Extrait de Parfum for two weeks. It’s stronger, lasts all day and suits autumn and winter—but is the higher price worth it?