Influential
Influential by Penthouse is a low-cost men's citrus woody fragrance with a warm-weather personality. Reviewers pick up a lemony fresh opening, light spice, and a woody dry-down that can feel powdery on some skin. Its appeal is practical rather than luxurious. Fans like the freshness and value, while critics find the citrus rough, cleaner-like, or too weak in the air.
Similar Suggestions
BETAFragrances with the nearest note and performance profile.
For more in-depth suggestions.
Performance Metrics
68 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Performance feedback is mixed, with the overall pattern landing around moderate to soft. Some wearers report decent wear or about six hours, but the fragrance often seems to stay close, and one negative review found both longevity and sillage very weak.
Notes Pyramid
Search these notesChoose where each note belongs.
Influential opens with a simple citrus freshness that reviewers most often frame as lemony rather than juicy or sweet. The heart carries light warm spice and a clean fresh-spicy feel, then dries down into woods with a possible powdery, slightly floral edge depending on skin.
Main Accords
7 MAPPEDThe woody accord gives Influential its dry, casual base, while the citrus accord does most of the early work. The warm spicy and fresh spicy facets add a little lift and heat, but they do not appear to turn it into a heavy spicy scent. In wear, the balance is fresh, woody, and budget-clean, with the citrus deciding whether it feels pleasant or rough.
Community Data
83 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in spring and summer. The vote picture leans most toward daytime.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Bright citrus opening suits warm weather
Easy casual daytime profile
Woody dry-down adds some structure
Very affordable when found discounted
Can last around six hours for some wearers
Usually stays non-offensive in projection
Works for simple fresh-fragrance wardrobes
Lemony style may appeal to fans of Penthouse Legendary
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Citrus can smell cleaner-like to some noses
Not a refined or expensive-smelling fresh scent
Projection may stay close to the skin
Longevity can be weak on some wearers
Dry-down may turn powdery in a way not everyone likes
Limited note complexity
Mixed review tone makes blind buying risky
Not ideal for formal or evening wear
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Penthouse Influential Review”
Influential by Penthouse is a 2014 men's fragrance that sits in the budget fresh category: citrus first, woods underneath, and a light spicy warmth through the middle. The strongest positive comments come from wearers who treat it as an inexpensive warm-weather fresh scent, not as a luxury designer replacement.
The opening seems to be the most divisive part. Several wearers describe a fresh, citrus-forward impression, with one calling it a "citrus fiesta" and another comparing it to Penthouse Legendary but with more lemon. That lemony brightness gives Influential its easy daytime character, especially in spring and summer.
The downside is that the same citrus can read sharp or cheap to some noses. The harshest review describes the opening as weak citrus with a cleaner-like effect, then a dry-down that turns floral, powdery, and woody. That does not mean every wearer will get a cleaning-product smell, but it does show the fragrance can feel thin or synthetic when the citrus does not sit well on skin.
As it settles, Influential appears to move toward a simple woody base with some powdery texture. The official note evidence is broad rather than detailed, listing citruses, woody notes, and spicy notes, so the best way to understand it is as a fresh citrus-woody scent with a little warmth, rather than a complex note pyramid.
Performance is practical but not impressive. Wear votes lean moderate for both longevity and sillage, and one positive reviewer reported about six hours with projection staying inside personal space. Another reviewer found longevity and sillage very poor. Expect a casual personal-space fragrance rather than something that fills a room.
Value is the main reason to consider it. Multiple reviews mention very low prices for a 3.4 oz bottle and call it a good buy or worth a shot. That value argument works if you already like bright, inexpensive fresh scents. If you are sensitive to sharp citrus, synthetic freshness, or powdery dry-downs, Influential is better sampled first or bought only when the price is low enough to make the risk acceptable.
FAQs
What does Penthouse Influential smell like?+
Influential smells mainly citrusy, woody, and lightly spicy. Reviewers mention lemony freshness in the opening, a clean warm-weather feel, and a dry-down that can turn woody, powdery, and slightly floral on some skin.
Is Influential by Penthouse for men?+
Yes. The available fragrance-page evidence positions Influential by Penthouse as a fragrance for men.
When was Influential by Penthouse launched?+
Influential by Penthouse was launched in 2014.
Is Influential good for summer?+
It appears best suited to warm weather. Reviewers call it a warm-weather fresh scent, and the seasonal feedback leans toward spring, summer, and fall rather than cold winter nights.
How long does Influential last?+
Longevity feedback is mixed but mostly modest. The largest share of wear votes points to moderate longevity, while reviews range from weak performance to around six hours on skin.
Does Influential project strongly?+
Most evidence suggests moderate to close projection. One reviewer said the sillage did not go past personal space, while the broader sillage voting leans moderate rather than strong.
Is Influential a good cheap fragrance?+
It can be, if you like simple citrus fresh scents. Several reviewers praised the low price and value, but the scent quality is divisive enough that price alone should not decide it.
Is Influential safe to blind buy?+
Only if you are comfortable with inexpensive citrus fresh fragrances and do not mind a synthetic or cleaner-like edge. Because reviews are split, sampling or buying only at a very low price is the safer route.
What are the main notes in Influential?+
The supplied note data lists woody notes, citruses, and spicy notes. In wear, reviewers most clearly notice lemony citrus, fresh warmth, and a woody dry-down.
Is Influential similar to Penthouse Legendary?+
One reviewer who tried both said Influential and Legendary share a similar DNA, with Influential feeling more lemony and Legendary more grapefruit-like. That is a useful comparison, but the evidence is too limited to call it a confirmed dupe.
Rankings
Full rankingsWear Diary
0 COMMUNITY WEAR LOGSKeep sprays, longevity, weather, and compliments in one practical log.
Sign in to keep private wear notes.
Compliment Signal
FROM WEAR LOGSReviews
No owner review yet. You can be the first.
Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCOREThe only supported comparison here is Penthouse Legendary, mentioned by a reviewer as sharing a similar DNA, with Influential leaning more lemon and Legendary more grapefruit. There is not enough evidence to make a firm dupe claim beyond that. If you dislike sharp budget citrus scents, look instead for a smoother mainstream citrus woody fragrance.
No User submitted dupes yet. The first useful DupeScore can come from your community.
Live questions about Influential
Ask one quick question and let the community weigh in while it is live.
No live pulse yet.
Trusted Sellers
Community-submitted stores that regular buyers trust, by country.
No trusted sellers added for this fragrance yet.
Where to Sample
Discovery sets, official samples, and trusted decants.
No sample or decant options shared for this fragrance yet.