The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
AB Spirit Platinum arrived in 2012 as the elevated expression of Lomani's AB Spirit line, a collection built on the idea that premium fragrance doesn't require premium gatekeeping. Lomani, the flagship brand of Parfums Parour, has operated from central Paris since 1986 with a philosophy of confident versatility: fragrances that make a statement without overwhelming. The AB Spirit series is where that philosophy gets sharpened into something more assertive. Platinum sits above the original AB Spirit, trading some of the lighter fare for warmer woods and a more insistent presence on skin. It's Lomani saying: we can play at this level too.
The structure here is deliberately counterweighted. Most fragrances lead with their strongest suit. AB Spirit Platinum opens bright, grapefruit, bergamot, then gradually cedes control to the coriander and peppercorn heart, which in turn gives way to a base built on cedar, patchouli, and benzoin. Each layer has room to arrive, settle, and transition. The peppercorn trio is the key move: black pepper for bite, pink pepper for warmth, coriander bridging the two. They're not a wall, they're a conversation between heat and aromatics. The benzoin in the base is the quiet win: sweet, resinous, it keeps the woods from going austere without tipping into gourmand territory.
The evolution
The opening is immediate. Grapefruit hits first, tart, bright, no preamble, followed quickly by bergamot softening the edges. The pink pepper arrives within minutes, adding a subtle floral warmth to what would otherwise be a straightforward citrus. Then, around the 15-minute mark, the coriander and black pepper take over. The citrus doesn't disappear, it retreats, becoming a undertone beneath the spice. This is the fragrance's most assertive phase: the peppercorn trio working in concert, the coriander lending an herbal edge that keeps everything from becoming one-note. By the 90-minute mark, the base begins to settle. Cedar arrives first, dry and woody, followed by patchouli's earthier depth. The benzoin appears last, a slow, sweet warmth that rounds the composition into something that smells expensive without announcing it. The drydown on skin lasts another 2-3 hours: vetiver keeping the earth alive, benzoin adding a faint resinous sweetness, cedar holding it all together.
Cultural impact
AB Spirit Platinum occupies a particular space in the men's fragrance landscape: bold enough to be noticed, refined enough to avoid caricature. The citrus-topped-woody structure, grapefruit and bergamot giving way to cedar and patchouli, places it in a crowded category, but the benzoin drydown sets it apart. Wearers who connect with it tend to describe it as the scent of someone who doesn't need validation. The 2012 launch date puts it squarely in the era of assertive masculine fragrances that prioritized presence over politeness.
