Code Sport
(2011)

Already being fascinated by the whole “Sport” fragrance theme, I was even more intrigued when I saw notes of mint and citrus. Without expecting anything in particular, I sprayed the sample of Code Sport and literally said out loud: “Wow…”. My first thought was: “This is the freshest and most masculine fragrance I’ve ever tested.” No Acqua di Gio, no Allure Homme comes even close.

This vintage opened on my skin with the faint remnants of what once were vibrant mandarin, lemon, and mint – their freshness still noticeable in the top notes, yet already revealing the incredibly masculine base built on Calone, Dihydromyrcenol, and a mind-blowing amount of Ambroxan. Later, when I was trying to figure out why the fragrance was discontinued, I couldn’t get rid of the suspicion that the problem was the insanely expensive Ambroxan. Only two years later, when I was finally sent the Code Sport formula, my suspicions were confirmed: 6.40% of pure Ambroxan went straight into the base.

By today’s standards this may not sound shocking, but for 2011? That was absolutely wild, a dosage most would consider excessive for a designer “Sport” release. And it is true: most “Sport” fragrances back then relied solely on cheap Dihydromyrcenol and Calone to achieve long-lasting freshness. For comparison, the far more expensive Bleu de C*** EDT, released just a year earlier, contained no more than 1% Ambroxan.

As I mentioned in my D. Homme Sport 2008 write-up, time is merciless to citrus. Once-bright compositions lose the sparkle of their top notes after a decade. But when I reconstructed the Code Sport compound using fresh citrus oils, the fragrance felt reborn. The sweetness of yellow mandarin and the sparkle of sicilian lemon slid perfectly into the empty space I always sensed in my vintage bottles. Spearmint added that familiar refreshing mojito effect that blends beautifully with the citrus.

I used to judge fragrances prematurely by the brand long before actually smelling the composition. And let’s be honest: who doesn’t judge a book by its cover? In cinema, I learned long ago to pay attention to the director's name, not the studio. In perfumery, this realization came to me much later: what truly matters is the perfumer behind the fragrance, not the brand's name on the bottle. So when I googled the perfumer who created Code Sport, everything suddenly made sense. It was the same man who, years later, would give us Tygar, Aqva Pour Homme Atlantiqve, Afternoon Swim, Pacific Chill, Imagination, and many other masterpieces.

Just like D. Homme Sport 2008, Code Sport 2011 is now considered a vintage that was discontinued many years ago. Prices on eBay start at around $250 for 75 ml, and with each passing year fewer bottles appear for sale. After discovering the scent, I knew I absolutely had to track down this masterpiece of a long-gone era and immediately secured for myself two bottles, which ultimately helped me recreate the composition.

Olfactory profile: citrus, green, herbal, aquatic.
Concentration: eau de toilette.