Antidote

Antidote, inspired by Viktor & Rolf Antidote (2006)

Antidote begins cool and aromatic, with Guatemalan cardamom and mint over grapefruit, mandarin and bergamot. Lavender then joins cinnamon and nutmeg, and a few flowers, geranium and violet among them, round off the spice without making it floral. The base is where it gets serious: incense supplies a smoky thread, while amber, vanilla, tonka and leather make it dense and resinous. Iris and oakmoss keep the finish dry instead of syrupy.

About the original

Launched in 2006, Antidote was Viktor & Rolf's first men's fragrance, conceived as a counterpart to Flowerbomb. Alienor Massenet and Pierre Wargnye are credited with the formula. It won two FiFi Awards in 2007, Fragrance of the Year Men's Nouveau Niche and Best Packaging Men's Prestige. According to a customer-service email quoted online in 2013, the brand stopped making it because demand was too low.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Viktor & Rolf stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Layered, spicy and resinous, Antidote is a dense, warm composition. Men who enjoy lavender-and-spice orientals will find plenty to explore. Incense and leather give it some smoke, which may not appeal to anyone after a clean, fresh scent.

Notes of the original fragrance, as listed in fragrance references.

Top notes: Guatemalan Cardamom, Mint, Grapefruit, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot

Heart notes: Lavender, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Violet, African Geranium, Freesia

Base notes: Incense, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Amber, Leather, Iris, Patchouli, Tonka Bean, Guaiac Wood, Cedar, White Musk, Oakmoss

Cardamom and mint lead, lifted by grapefruit, mandarin and bergamot, so the first minutes feel cool despite the spice to come.

In the heart, lavender meets cinnamon and nutmeg, with jasmine, orange blossom, violet, geranium and freesia blurred into the background.

Incense, amber and vanilla dominate the drydown, supported by leather, tonka bean, patchouli, guaiac wood, cedar, sandalwood, iris, oakmoss and white musk.

Is Viktor & Rolf Antidote discontinued?

Yes. A Viktor & Rolf customer-service email quoted in 2013 said it had been discontinued because of low demand, and it no longer appears on the brand's site.

How is Antidote related to Flowerbomb?

It was conceived as the men's counterpart to Flowerbomb, but it is a completely different scent built on spice, lavender and incense.

Is Antidote smoky?

Moderately. Incense runs through the base, softened by amber and vanilla rather than left dry and ashy.

Is Viktor & Rolf Antidote coming back?

So far, we have found no announcement from Viktor & Rolf that it will return. Our version is an eau de parfum in 50 ml or 100 ml.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Viktor & Rolf and Antidote are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Viktor & Rolf in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.