MCM Success
MCM (1986)

MCM Success smells quite nice and all, but it really is just their take on the honeyed animalic patchouli that started with Givenchy Gentleman in the 70s and reached peak popularity with the original Boss for Men. The really is no need to search out this scarce release, it falls under the category of "also ran." Vintage lovers should know about the many "also rans" of the past; there were just as many then as there are today in the perfume industry.

MCM Success goes on with a ton of deep, musty oakmoss with significant animalic musk and dark, dulled rose support before transitioning to its heart. As the composition enters its early heart the super-strong oakmoss remains, as the animalic musk grows in strength to become co-star, now adding an alcoholic honey and smoky tobacco accord into the fold in significant support with hints of the previous dulled rose and now carnation florals. During the late dry-down the oakmoss gradually recedes, leaving remnants of the now diminished animalic honeyed musk sans booze to swap in just slightly sweet and powdery vanilla through the finish. Projection is excellent and longevity below average at around 5-6 hours on skin.

I have tried to warm to MCM Success, but alas it is not going to happen. I never thought I would say a composition had too *much* oakmoss, but there is no getting around it here. The wearer is inundated with the stuff immediately on application to skin, with the musk and relatively dry boozy honey from the base adding a highly off-putting odd gothic aspect not unlike what one might expect to smell in a crypt. The heart only exacerbates this dank, near rotting organic material accord to the point of the composition approaching scrubber territory though never quite reaching it. The late dry-down is thankfully much better composed and pleasant smelling in comparison, though most may have given up well before its arrival, and it is far from worth the early nose torture. The bottom line is the $100 per 100 ml bottle on the aftermarket MCM Success delivers the oakmoss goods in spades, though the "below average" 2 to 2.5 stars out of 5 rated 80's perfume goes *way* overboard with its liberal odd animalic musk and honeyed booze accompaniment that could scare away the dead, yielding an avoid recommendation to all but perfume loving necromaniacs.

This is a lovely scent! Admittedly it is 80's old-school, but if applied lightly it is charming and genteel rather than heavy and oppressive.
There is a strong honeyed note in the opening. The various elements of florals, citrus and other things are very well blended. They create a smooth and classy masculine scent. Gradually an aromatic tobacco leaf note emerges -- very golden-brown, a bit bitter, and quite nice. Some light woods emerge in the dry-down.
The vanilla, amber and patchouli are not a problem at all, and the leather is a very minor note. They are all done with a light hand.
Well worth seeking out and trying.

Quite a unique tobacco opening with a very strong, very tenacious honey note. The honey certainly adds an interesting perspective to the citrus / tobacco / florals of the opening and heart: I enjoy the combination, and am reminded of Miel de Bois because of the powerful honey note. The opening has an excellent longevity. When the heart notes eventually do come along, the uniqueness continues. The lightwoods of patchouli and vetiver combine first with the middle's abundant florals and then morph to a soon-to-be-prominent cedar note, all the while the honey is prominent and retains a firm relationship with the tobacco. I don't get a very strong drydown. The honey and tobacco remain and there's an amber and a leather that show up, but the whole accord doesn't seem strong to me. The first time I wore MCM Success, I got a balanced tobacco, leather, and honey accord. After that the honey has dominated each wearing. With its honey dominance it's still an ok scent but I prefer the balance of the first times I tested it.

A demure 80's fragrance. All the class, style and structure of the 80's powerhouse fragrances except it is calm and light-hearted. Not heavy though I dare not wear in the heat. It's basically a leather and oakmoss scent with a smoked honey essence to it. I like it for the fact it's a toned-down classic.

Not quite the monster I was expecting it to be. In fact, it's a bit of a gentleman, entertaining you over wine and dessert while smoking a fine cigar. The top notes are surprisingly Youth Dew-esque, bergamot meeting heavy amber before spiced and honeyed tobacco rides in on a tide of syrupy booze. While sweet, the effect is not as cloying as it sounds. In fact it's a great deal less sweet than gourmand tobaccos such as Ambre Narguile, and in the drydown the booze slowly departs, leaving a rather earthy tobacco with a distinct touch of moss and patchouli. I find it very wearable. Success is an old-fashioned portrait of manliness painted with alcohol and tobacco, part gentlman's club; part machismo. Perhaps it's out-dated, but if you're reading a review of an obscure, retro men's fragrance, it could be just what you're looking for. Sadly, this fragrance is both discontinued and terribly underrated, so get it while you can.