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Dolce & Gabbana have taken a similar turn as Calvin Klein in recent years by relying heavily on past successes rather than trying to do anything new or standout. In some ways, D&G have leaned into the “if it ain’t broke” mentality even harder than CK have, if only because Klein still throws out the random zinger now and then like Reveal Man (2014) or cK2 (2016) that tosses everyone for a loop. Not D&G though, as they are content with issuing flanker after seasonal flanker yearly of Light Blue pour Homme (2007) with little to no significant difference because they know it sells on recognition alone. I mean, we are talking about the same house that took 12 years to release a new masculine pillar after The One for Men (2008) launched, and those kind of extended turnovers for new lines ended with the 1980’s. Well, that launch didn’t go over so well with many people, and if you’re one of the people who didn’t care for K by Dolce Gabbana (2020), Light Blue pour Homme Forever (2021) may be the flanker you’ve been waiting for, if it’s even possible that someone could actually be waiting for a new D&G release at all anymore. Lack of hype around this brand save for when it makes its own controversy is one of the reasons the brand is in trouble.

With this release, it looks like D&G did everything they could have done differently with K here in one fragrance, almost like this was an alternate formula in the running for becoming K. It is a fairly common practice to later use or sell off unused formulas from the R&D process of a new launch, which is part of where budget and celebrity scents come from too. In this case, we see a similar citrus ambroxan formula as K, but with blood orange switched out for grapefruit, and pimento spice omitted for violet leaf. Aquatic notes and ozonic aldehydes comprise the top, but there is very little DNA to link this with the original Light Blue pour Homme, unlike the Intense version that released in 2017. Alberto Morillas didn’t return for this flanker, with Shyamala Maisondieu instead being the nose at hand, and she stuffs the dry down full of patchouli, vetiver, herbs, and mossy notes that turns Light Blue Forever pour Homme fairly green despite its naming. The end result is a freshie that goes from air, to sea, to grassy hill then forest before reaching the ambroxan base, like you’re flying over the coast with a drone capturing scent. Wear time is 8 hours and sillage is consistently good too. This could easily be a signature for all seasons and occasions except winter or romantic affairs.

I am rather pleasantly surprised by Light Blue Forever pour Homme, which is the first Light Blue scent I really liked since Light Blue Sun pour Homme (2019). another one of the line that thankfully doesn’t resemble the mediocrity of the original. If I didn’t know better, I’d say this was D&G’s attempt at trying to go head to head with Armani Acqua di Giò Profondo (2020) in the newly-emergent “beefy aquatic eau de parfum” category of amped-up eau de parfums with aquatic structures. If this is the case, I say bravo to them, although this might have been better off as a pillar release and not another undoubtedly limited flanker, because if it sells well, and I think it will since it’s the best and most original thing D&G have done since forever (ba dum tish), then it will quickly become a unicorn once the run is finished for the year. Furthermore, disruption of production is imminent with the falling out D&G had with the Chinese market, causing their sales globally to freefall and Shiseido to tear up their contract, so who knows how long this or K will remain on the market since they were made under Shiseido’s watch and not transferred in from other producers like all the older fragrances were. In any case, don’t sleep on Light blue Forever pour Homme or forever hold your peace when it is potentially gone. Thumbs up