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Parfums de MarlyEau de Parfum · EST. 2015

Carlisle

A rich, unisex oriental-fruity blend of apple, nutmeg, and patchouli over a warm amber and vanilla base. Carlisle is one of the brand's most lavish compositions, often described as a luxurious, spicy-sweet powerhouse with strong projection.

NOSE: Hamid Merati-KashaniRELEASED: 2015RETAIL: $230 - $360
The Quick Answer

Carlisle opens on Apple and Nutmeg, moves through Jasmine and Patchouli, and dries down to Amber and Vanilla. At $230 - $360 it is firmly luxury pricing that demands you love the profile first, with long lasting (8h - 12h) on skin. Sample before you commit — it is loud and polarising rather than crowd-safe.

ADEGBE ANALYSIS SCORES

7.3
Expert
8.6
Longevity
8.5
Sillage
6.2
Versatility
6.0
Value

Scores are AdeGbe's editorial analysis based on composition, concentration and community-reported performance — not a single personal wear test.

Approx. $2.30/mlBased on the lowest street price ($230) over an assumed 100ml bottle for this concentration.

OLFACTORY PYRAMID BREAKDOWN

TOP NOTESFirst impression · 15–30 min
  • Apple
  • Nutmeg
  • Bergamot
HEART NOTESCore character · 2–4 hours
  • Jasmine
  • Patchouli
  • Cinnamon
BASE NOTESDry-down · 6–24+ hours
  • Amber
  • Vanilla
  • Sandalwood

EXPERT ANALYSIS — COMPOSITION & PERFORMANCE

AG
AdeGbe Fragrance Research Team Data-Driven Analysis
Olfactory composition & performance assessment
Updated Autumn 2026Eau de ParfumMethodology: note-pyramid analysis + community performance data + AdeGbe scoring model

Composed by Hamid Merati-Kashani for Parfums de Marly in 2015, Carlisle sits in the bright citrus space of modern perfumery. Below, our research team breaks down its olfactory structure, measured performance, and ideal wearer.

The Opening

It opens on Apple, Nutmeg, Bergamot, a bright citrus and juicy fruit introduction that sets expectations before the heart emerges.

The Heart

The middle phase is floral and warm spice: Jasmine, Patchouli, Cinnamon carry the core of the scent through its most expressive hours.

The Dry-Down

Hours later it resolves into a dry woods and golden amber foundation — Amber, Vanilla, Sandalwood — that determines the lasting memory of the scent.

Projected Performance Timeline
Hour 1
Apple and Nutmeg opening. Strong, room-filling projection.
Hour 4
Jasmine and Patchouli heart fully developed. Still projecting clearly.
Hour 8
Amber and Vanilla base emerges. Performance holding well.
Hour 11
Soft base notes still detectable close to skin.
Longevity
8.6/10
Sillage
8.5/10
Blind Buy
LOW RISK
Final Score
9.1/10

Who Should Buy Carlisle

Carlisle is genuinely unisex. Its season vector points strongest to autumn, and its day/night balance makes it best suited to evening wear and going out. If you gravitate toward bright citrus and juicy fruit compositions and want strong longevity, it belongs on your shortlist.

One Honest Warning

No major red flags in the composition, but fragrance is personal — skin chemistry can shift the balance of notes, so a sample wear is always wiser than a blind purchase at this price.

Analysis based on composition, community-aggregated performance data, and the AdeGbe scoring model.A human skin-test review is added as our team tests each fragrance.

PERFORMANCE INDEX & SUITABILITY VECTORS

LONGEVITY FACTORLong Lasting (8h - 12h)
Weak (1h)Moderate (4-6h)Beast (24h+)
SILLAGE / PROJECTIONStrong Projection
IntimateModerateEnormous
DAY · NIGHT SUITABILITY
DAY
35%
NIGHT
65%
GENDER INDEXShared / Unisex
FEMININEUNISEXMASCULINE
SEASON SUITABILITY VECTOR
SPRING 🌸15%
SUMMER ☀️10%
AUTUMN 🍂40%
WINTER ❄️35%

PROJECTED PERFORMANCE TIMELINE

Projected from this fragrance's concentration, note structure and reported longevity — an analysis, not a single personal wear test.

Hour 1
Top burst

Apple and Nutmeg lead the opening before the volatile top notes burn off.

Projection: Strong
Hour 4
Heart in bloom

Jasmine and Patchouli take over as the core character of the fragrance.

Projection: Strong
Hour 8
Early dry-down

Amber and Vanilla anchor the scent close to the skin.

Projection: Moderate
Hour 12
Base residue

A skin-scent of Amber and Vanilla is what typically remains by now.

Projection: Skin-close

Wear It

  • Autumn / Fall (40% seasonal fit)
  • Winter (35% seasonal fit)
  • Evenings, dinners and going out

Skip It

  • Spring — it underperforms here (15%)
  • Summer — it underperforms here (10%)
  • Enclosed offices, lifts and meeting rooms
  • Go easy: 1–2 sprays is plenty
  • Hot daytime errands — it can read too heavy

Blind-Buy Risk

19/100SAFE
Risk factors
  • Very high projection — easy to over-apply and overwhelm a room
  • Fresh, broadly-likeable profile lowers the risk of disappointment
In its favour
  • Beast-mode sillage is hard to dial back once sprayed; sampling helps you judge dosage.
  • Clean citrus/fresh structures are widely accepted and rarely offend.

INGREDIENT SAFETY SNAPSHOT

Linalool / Limonene

Common EU-declarable allergens; can oxidise and irritate sensitive skin.

Cinnamal / Hexyl Cinnamal / Eugenol

Spice aldehydes are EU-declarable and among the more common skin sensitisers.

Benzyl Salicylate / Benzyl Benzoate

White-floral declarables; usually well tolerated but listed under EU rules.

Benzyl Benzoate (fixative)

Generally well-tolerated base/fixative materials with low sensitiser risk.

This snapshot is based on the published note list, not a full INCI ingredient breakdown. Always check the box for the official allergen declaration and patch-test if you have sensitive skin. See full ingredient-safety guides →

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is Parfums de Marly Carlisle unisex?
Yes. Carlisle is built around spiced fruit, amber, and vanilla, which read comfortably across genders, though its richness makes it a bold choice for anyone.
What season is best for Carlisle?
Autumn and winter suit it best. The dense spiced-apple and amber accord can feel heavy in summer heat, where lighter application is advisable.
Does Carlisle project strongly?
Yes, it is one of the stronger projectors in the line, with long longevity. One or two sprays are usually enough to fill a room.
Is Carlisle worth buying?
For the money, Carlisle ($230 - $360) is a considered purchase. It projects at a strong projection level and lasts in the range of long lasting (8h - 12h), which puts its performance well above average. It is worth it if you connect with its Apple and Nutmeg character; if you want an all-occasion safe blind buy, sample first because it leans toward evening wear.
Can I wear Carlisle to the office?
Be careful. Carlisle projects strongly (strong projection), so in an enclosed office it can easily overwhelm colleagues. If you must wear it to work, limit yourself to one light spray on clothing and avoid reapplying. For shared indoor spaces, a softer fragrance is the more considerate choice.
Is Carlisle good for summer?
Not really. Carlisle scores only 10% for summer — heat tends to amplify its Amber and Vanilla base and push it toward cloying. It performs far better in autumn, so save it for cooler months and reach for something lighter when it is hot.
How many sprays of Carlisle should I use?
Go light. Because Carlisle projects at a strong projection level, one to two sprays is plenty for most settings — one on the chest and one on a wrist. Three or more can quickly become overwhelming indoors. With longevity in the long lasting (8h - 12h) range, even a small application carries you through the day.
Is Carlisle safe for sensitive skin?
Carlisle is an alcohol-based eau de parfum and its note list includes materials such as Apple, Nutmeg and Bergamot, some of which fall under EU-declarable allergen rules (for example linalool, limonene or coumarin depending on the notes). That does not make it unsafe — most wearers have no reaction — but if your skin is reactive, spray onto clothing or patch-test on the inner arm first. This guidance is based on the published note list, not a full INCI breakdown.

INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS

Personalised calculators and scanners specific to Carlisle.

INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS

Personalised calculators and scanners specific to Carlisle.

TOP DUPES & AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVES

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ADEGBEDRAFTING 3D PERSPECTIVE...
N° ENC-2015CarlisleANTI-GRAVITY CONTAINER VISUAL
4.9 RATED