Keep Trying Me
Keep Trying Me is a bold, animalic aromatic fougere by Mai Senza Profumo, crafted by perfumer Miguel Matos. It balances sharp grapefruit and cinnamon against a dense, base-heavy composition of civet, beeswax, and oakmoss. This is a defiant fragrance for men who appreciate challenging, high-intensity scents that linger on the skin for an entire day.
Similar Suggestions
BETAFragrances with the nearest note and performance profile.
For more in-depth suggestions.
Performance Metrics
85 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
This fragrance is a high-performer, easily lasting 10 plus hours on the skin. It projects with enormous intensity, filling a room within the first few hours and leaving a heavy, long-lasting scent trail.
Notes Pyramid
Search these notesChoose where each note belongs.
Keep Trying Me is a dense, aromatic fougere defined by a powerful animalic core. The texture is resinous and musky, featuring prominent accords of civet, beeswax, and oakmoss. It offers a gritty, vintage-leaning sensory profile that balances sharp herbal notes with a deep, earthy dry-down.
Main Accords
13 MAPPEDThe animalic and musky accords dominate the skin, creating a warm, slightly funky, and deeply resinous feeling. As it dries, the beeswax and oakmoss smooth out the sharper top notes, leaving a persistent, earthy, and powerful aromatic presence that is intense from start to finish.
Community Data
86 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 fall and winter. The vote picture leans most toward night.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Exceptional longevity well over 10 hours
Enormous projection that fills a room
Deeply complex, vintage-inspired composition
Unique and unapologetic animalic character
Excellent performance in cold climates
Distinctly masculine and assertive profile
High quality of base notes like civet and costus
Perfect for formal evening wear in winter
Strong value for fans of intense fragrances
Leaves a persistent and memorable scent trail
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
The animalic opening is very polarizing
Not suitable for small or crowded offices
Can become cloying in high heat or humidity
Too intense for beginners or casual wear
Beeswax and civet notes may feel too pungent
Lacks the versatility of modern blue scents
Requires a bold attitude to wear confidently
Not a safe blind buy for most collectors
Heavy sillage may be seen as intrusive
May be too retro for some modern tastes
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“A Raw and Wild Aromatic: Keep Trying Me by Mai Senza Profumo”
Keep Trying Me arrives with an opening that makes no apologies. It hits immediately with a sharp, dry spike of cinnamon and the bitter, citrus bite of grapefruit. This is a bracing introduction that feels almost medicinal, setting the stage for an aromatic fougere that refuses to play it safe. Within minutes, the clary sage begins to swirl in, adding a herbal, medicinal layer that feels lifted straight from a classic barbershop, but one that has been left in a damp, earthy forest for far too long.
The heart of the scent reveals a complex, dusty mixture of geranium, carnation, and lavender. While these notes usually provide a clean, soapy floral lift, here they feel grounded by the artemisia and coriander, keeping the fragrance firmly in the realm of the rugged and the unconventional. It is a transition that keeps the scent from ever feeling too polite or too mainstream. You can sense the hand of Miguel Matos here, pushing the boundaries of what a modern fougere can be by pulling in heavy-handed, old-school elements.
As the heart fades, the dry-down is where this fragrance truly settles into its own skin. The base is a massive, resinous weight of civet, beeswax, musk, and costus. This is the moment the fragrance becomes either your best friend or your worst enemy. The animalic punch is substantial, providing a deep, slightly funky, and unapologetically masculine texture that clings to the skin with impressive tenacity. The oakmoss and patchouli add an extra layer of dark, damp earthiness, ensuring the scent never loses its punch even after several hours of wear.
Performance is objectively high. This fragrance is a beast in both longevity and projection. It is not for the faint of heart, as it will easily dominate a room for the first few hours of its lifecycle. It thrives in cooler temperatures where the air is crisp, allowing the heavy, musky accords to expand without feeling suffocated by heat. It is a fantastic option for evening wear during fall or winter when you want something that cuts through the cold and leaves a persistent, assertive trail.
In terms of fit, it is a fragrance for someone who views scent as an extension of their personality, rather than a mere accessory. It suits men who love the classic, dense fougeres of the 1980s but want something that feels refreshed and pushed to a raw, primal limit. If you prefer light, fresh, or modern aquatic scents, this will be a massive culture shock. It is an assertive statement scent that rewards the wearer who has the patience for its intense, slow-moving evolution.
Ultimately, this is a masterpiece for a very specific type of collector. It is not for everyday use, and it is certainly not for the office. But for the person who loves the thrill of an intense, animalic, and incredibly long-lasting fougere, it offers an experience that is hard to find elsewhere. It is a bold, daring composition that absolutely commands attention and respect for its refusal to yield to modern, minimalist trends.
FAQs
What is the dominant smell of Keep Trying Me?+
This is a potent aromatic fougere defined by a heavy musky and animalic core. You get a sharp, spicy opening of cinnamon and grapefruit, but the heart and base quickly take over with notes of beeswax, civet, and costus. It smells like a classic, rugged composition pushed to a very modern, intense extreme.
How does the opening differ from the dry-down?+
The opening is surprisingly bright, thanks to grapefruit and clary sage, giving a clean, herbal start. However, the dry-down is where the personality shifts drastically. As the cinnamon fades, the base of civet and beeswax emerges, creating a dense, warm, and slightly funky animalic finish that stays on the skin for hours.
Is this a long-lasting fragrance?+
Performance is exceptionally high. Many users report that this fragrance lasts well into the double digits in terms of hours on the skin. Given the concentration of musk, civet, and patchouli in the base, you can easily expect it to remain present throughout a full workday and into the evening.
Does this fragrance have strong projection?+
Yes, it projects significantly. It is not an intimate scent by any means. It fills a room easily, especially in the first few hours after application. If you prefer scents that leave a noticeable trail in the air, the sheer power of the beeswax and oakmoss here will certainly satisfy that requirement.
When is the best time to wear this?+
This is best suited for cooler weather, particularly in fall and winter. The warm spice and resinous base notes can become too aggressive in high heat. It feels most appropriate for evening wear or formal, outdoor occasions where its heavy, musky character can properly develop without overwhelming a small office space.
Is this suitable as a signature scent?+
It is a bold choice for a signature. Because of its intense animalic character and the heavy civet note, it is far from an easy-going daily driver. It requires a specific style and attitude. If you enjoy vintage-inspired, challenging fougeres, it might work, but most will find it too loud for daily use.
Who does this fragrance suit best?+
It leans toward men who appreciate classic, raw, and unapologetic perfumery. It is designed for someone comfortable with animalic notes like costus and civet, which are polarizing to modern noses. If you gravitate toward 1970s and 1980s powerhouse fragrances, you will likely find a lot to appreciate here.
Can I layer this with other fragrances?+
Layering is risky due to the dominance of the civet and beeswax base. Adding another complex scent might create a muddled mess. If you must layer, try pairing it with a very simple, clean vetiver or a basic citrus fragrance to cut through the heavy, earthy density of the oakmoss.
Are there any similar fragrances to Keep Trying Me?+
It shares DNA with classic, high-octane aromatic fougeres. Fans of vintage Kouros or other heavy, musky compositions by Miguel Matos might see a resemblance. It is not a direct dupe of popular designer scents, so do not expect it to smell like modern sweet-blue fragrances currently dominating the market.
Is this a good gift for a beginner?+
This is not a safe blind buy for a beginner. The civet and beeswax notes are deeply polarizing and not aligned with current commercial trends. Unless the recipient is a self-proclaimed fragrance collector who actively seeks out challenging, animalic compositions, you should skip this and look for something more versatile.
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 DUPESCOREThere are few direct dupes for such an aggressive profile. Fans of vintage Kouros or similar heavy animalic fougeres will find familiar themes here, though it is distinctly its own creation.
No User submitted dupes yet. The first useful DupeScore can come from your community.
Live questions about Keep Trying Me
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.