Badger & Blade

Bay Rum, Limes, and Peppercorns

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:33:13 -0600

by: safaripete

The One for Men

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:09:29 -0700

by: bamabubba

Description: This is my newest fragrance and has rapidly become my go-to. The opening is a pleasantly pungent hit of citrus and basil. These notes morph seamlessly into a slightly spicier note of ginger and citrus with the basil fading into a very slight flowery note. The dry down leaves a touch of woodiness (ala Spanish Cedar), a very slight citrus touch and reminds me of my favorite pipe tobacco.

Xeryus Rouge

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:46:58 -0700

by: SevereWX

Description: Xeryus Rouge is a commanding, masculine fragrance if ever there were one. Forget Chuck Norris quips, he would buckle under it's magnitude. Nay, this is what the most masculine of all men would wear. This is what Charles Bronson would wear for a night out of exacting merciless vigilante justice on the heathen masses. Xeryus Rouge starts out slightly sweet, but very peppery and woody. Once the heart begins to develop, all sweetness is gone, the fragrance turns to a very dry wood, like one just stepped in an aromatic sawmill going full tilt. As it continues to develop into its dry-down it becomes a softer wood and some of the mild sweetness returns with buttery smooth cactus and cedar bouquet of pure manliness.

Vintage Eau de Parfum

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 22:54:37 -0600

by: Luc

Description: Old School Japanese fragrance that you won't see every day

Image

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:36:04 -0600

by: HenrikP

Description: Image by Cerruti is a Aromatic Green fragrance for men. Image was launched in 1998. The nose behind this fragrance is Ursula Wandel. Top notes are plum, banana leaf, pear and pepper; middle notes are cypress, fig leaf, jasmine and guaiac wood; base notes are sandalwood, amber, patchouli, tahitian vetiver, musk and cedar.

z-14

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:31:15 -0600

by: Deltaboy

Description: Found it for 14 bucks at TJ MAXX. Reminds me of the Old 1980s Halson that was made for about 2-3 years.

Tauer Vetiver Dance

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:19:01 -0600

by: vertigo12314

Description: Top Notes: Grapefruit, Clary sage leaves, Black pepper, Lily of the valley Middle Notes: Vetiver from Java Base Notes: Cedarwood, Cistus, Ambergris, Tonka bean Interesting mix of scents here. It starts off with great sillage. The greenness of the notes mixes well with the citrus, florals and spice. The tonka sweetens it. The vetiver is very grassy and is probably the closest I've smelled to actual grass, but the other notes add more freshness and depth. Once the wood enters the picture with the ambergris it gives an impression of the great outdoors. Very evocative and reminds me of grey skies in the summer. The sage leaves give some small similarity to Grey Flannel in the leafy aspect of the scent. The longevity (like Marocain) is very good. I like "grassy" and "leafy" scents so this is right up my alley, but there are probably those who won't get into it. Nonetheless Tauer is definitely an artist. :001_cool: Try before you buy.

Chanel Sycomore

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:12:13 -0600

by: vertigo12314

Description: At the heart of the scent: Vetiver, with an elegant Sandalwood note and dashes of Cypress, Juniper and Pink Pepper, for an earthy, warm and enveloping, yet subtle presence. ~ Chanel site Now this is a nice surprise. Great vetiver on par with Encre Noire but at the same time it's less harsh. This could be used year-round but most would like it for the late summer/fall/winter periods. The vetiver is very clear at the beginning but the nice juniper and cypress soften the experience. Very elegant. Think of Baie de Genievre by Creed mixed with Lalique Encre Noire. :biggrin1: The pepper spices it up just a little and it trails off in a smoky drydown. Shall I use the overused word "masterpiece"? Anyways it all blends so well. Definitely recommended, especially for those who already like Encre Noire.

MPG Santal Noble

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:40:15 -0600

by: vertigo12314

Description: Top Notes: Coffee beans, spice oils, incense Heart Notes: Sandalwood, patchouli, vanilla, vetiver Base Notes: Ambegris, oakmoss, vanilla This is a nice sandalwood (more woody like planks of wood than typical incense) sweetened with vanilla and an enjoyable ambergris. The opening is a bit harsh and very earthy but it softens to a nice exotic scent not unlike Timbuktu (but without the fruit). The sillage isn't great like Timbuktu but it probably would be a monster if it did project too much. If Indiana Jones didn't wear Knize Ten he would probably wear this. :lol: Very enjoyable and recommended for sandalwood and gourmand fans. Ambergris fans will also like how it dries down and how it plays with the vetiver and oakmoss to give it an outdoors character.

Givenchy Vetiver original

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:15:49 -0600

by: vertigo12314

Description: Givenchy Vetiver original Top ~ Tarragon, bergamot, Cinnamon Heart ~ Cedar, Vetiver & patchouli Base ~ Civet & Russian Leather This is powerful from the start. It's a little like Guerlain's sweet vetiver but with more woods and herbs. It's very pungent. The tarragon pungent smell mixes with the bergamot to give off an "herby" floor cleaner smell (not as bad as described) and the leather gives off a stately quality and helps to contrast the greenness of the herbs. In terms of strength, this is stonger than Guerlain but a bit less then Encre Noire. If you like an "herby" pungent scent that lasts long then I think it's for you. For me it's just above average. TPC Sel de vetiver is the outstanding one.

Guerlain Mitsouko EDP

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:39:36 -0600

by: vertigo12314

Description: Top Notes: Bergamot, Rose Middle Notes: Jasmin, Spices, Peach Base Notes: Oakmoss, Woody notes Okay I've taken the plunge. The citrus is pretty obvious and so is the rose (which is similar to the rose on Habit Rouge EDT but stronger). Pretty quickly the middle notes approach with a nice blending of all those notes. The peach gives the floral a slight gourmand reaction. I found it to be pretty quiet in the first couple of minutes but now it keeps drumming on in a good clip with three sprays on my wrist. The florals give it a slightly "fresh bread" smell and the peach/oakmoss combination seems like the core of the scent. It all blends very well. I don't see this particularly being too feminine and I would recommend it to those who like, gourmands, rose scents, citrus and oakmoss. I think this could be suitable anytime of year but personally there is something cosy about it in regards to the spices and would be even better in the winter. The spices really move the scent forward. What suprised me is that it didn't seem as offputting as I expected to be. This is definitely not your Mom's potpourri. It doesn't scream of headache inducing florals but stays close to the skin and is very tasteful. It may seem stronger if you sit in one place collecting wafts of the scent. The true beauty appears in the drydown where the spices meet the woods. Very romantic. :blush: It might turn you on like the mango episode of Seinfeld where George Costanza gets his mojo back after sampling some mango. :wink2:

Fresh Lem-musk

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:02:42 -0600

by: hunter87597

Description: To date, this is the best summer-citrus fragrance I own. I have tried a lot of different lime colognes, mainly avoiding lemon because of it's "tartness", but I believe Bigelow has tamed the tart. Price rating is a solid 10 due to how much i like the stuff. I believe it to a be a high quality scent, it is a bigelow product after all. It came in a manilla box, cradled inside by cardboard. This was the first fragrance I have bought that I was impressed by the box actually. The atomizer is very good, it gets a 10. I have had no issues with it so far. Consistent volume every time, very nice. Scent lingers and slowly dwindles for about 8 hours, until it is almost non-existent. Scent and complexity: Scent is the main reason we buy the juice, so here's my take on Bigelow's Lemon. Right at the start, you get a mellow, but firm bite of lemon. Not as sharp as lemon pledge or industrial grade cleaning supplies, it still packs a firm but fair bite of lemon. It only takes a few minutes for the subtle musk to cut in and slow things down a bit. After that first 30 minutes it really relaxes, into a creamy and soft lemon :thumbup1:, gently over-taken by the sweetness of white musk scent. I could faintly notice it as I left work, so it lasted a good 7-8 hours. The scent is a bit on the light airy side, like think more mids and treble and less base. That, IMHO, makes it a great summer scent. Solid 8 I can understand that not everyone is into citrus scents, but seeing that summer is right around the bend, I wanted to get this review up on air just to give you all a general idea of it, and if you might like it. If you like subtle citrus scents with a twist of musk, this one is a good one.

Gendarme by Gendarme EdC

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:17:22 -0600

by: Harvitz81

Description: Gendarme opens with an assortment of what I detect to be light florals (jasmine?) and grassy green notes (verbena?). I do not detect much in the way of citrusy notes. This progresses over 30 minutes to a light soapy smell and within an hour the fragrance is barely detectable. It's a nice fresh scent, but longevity and silage are both rather poor. I detect no leather whatsoever on dry down despite that listed as the base note.

Xerjoff- NIO

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:53:27 -0700

by: wolfrb

Description: NIO opens with a gorgeous citrus and bergamot. This may be one of the freshest parfums I have ever smelled. It stays fresh from opening to drydown. The base and drydown seem to be a light clean wood smell along with a lively vetiver. Longevity seems to be about 5-6 hours for me but this from a dab sampler. Silage is fairly close. I would like to see how this performs out of an atomizer.

FRANK No. 2 Los Angles

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:03:35 -0700

by: Pulley

Description: This fragrance comes out very strong but the dry down is great. This is a very masculines scent that begins very aromatic & spicy then settles into it's warm amber cognac finish. I get a lot of compliments when I wear this. $65 for a 65ml bottle is a very good deal.

Santa Maria Novella Ginestra

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:10:58 -0700

by: vertigo12314

Description: Santa Maria Novella Ginestra Notes: Citrus, Ginestra flowers, Oakmoss Very refreshing scent. It's got a nice citrus to it and mixed with sweet hay like florals and oakmoss it becomes this nice outdoorsy scent. This is perfect for anyone who likes Oakmoss but not Grey Flannel.

Il Profumo Aria di Mare

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:05:53 -0700

by: vertigo12314

Description: Ocean notes, bamboo stalk, java tea leaves, floral herbaceous notes, sweet water mint, yellow wild broom, acacia flowers, sand white lily, yellow rose, tiare, musk Oh no it starts off with hairspray much like Brezza di Mare! :blink: Pretty quickly some different accords appear. A soft bamboo and minty florals. The hairspray is lighter in this and mimics sand/dirt so there's a little impression of flowers and dirt. This maybe too feminine to me but Lucky Scent describes it as unisex. Again for the price it's not really worth it. Unless you like hairspray this will give you some headaches and there are much better scents to try.

I Profumi di Firenze Brezza di Mare

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:54:09 -0700

by: vertigo12314

Description: I Profumi di Firenze Brezza di Mare sea salt, bergamot, lemons, limes and watermelon Starts off with a harsh blast of hairspray before it starts calming down. There is rubbery sea salt accord that's slightly sweet. The slightly sweet part is supposed to be bergamot, lemons, limes and watermelon but it's swamped by "hairspray sea salt" to the point that it's hard to decipher. It's basically like headache inducing paper with hairspray and slightly sweet. Yuck! :cursing:

Profumum Acqua di Sale

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:35:31 -0700

by: vertigo12314

Description: Myrtle, Cedarwood, Marine Algae Very similar to Hyle but much stronger scent. There's a Marine accord but it's less fake smelling than most and the cedarwood definitely gives off a vibe of wood floating in water. The ingredients are good and the sillage and longevity are better the Hyle. The myrtle and cedarwood mix well together and the algae gives off an oceanic greenness. The price is exorbitant for either Hyle or Acqua di Sale. Those who love licorice will love these scents because the Myrtle (I think) smells like it.

Farmacia SS. Annunziata dal 1561 Hyle

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:16:57 -0700

by: vertigo12314

Description: Farmacia SS. Annunziata dal 1561 Hyle Lemon, bergamot, myrtle, lavender, ginger, ozone, musk notes, juniper wood, patchouli This is a strange acquatic. It has barely some ozone and much more noticable myrtle and lavender. It comes off a little like overchewed bubble gum. The juniper wood is more noticable and as it comes in it improves the scent, but ultimately the sillage is nonexistent and there's little longevity. For the price it's not worth it.

Santa Maria Novella Acqua di Cuba

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:47:38 -0700

by: vertigo12314

Description: Santa Maria Novella Acqua di Cuba Notes: Honey, leather, tobacco The leather starts off a little like talcum powder (in a good way) and mixes well with the light tobacco and a good helping of honey. This is a very pleasing scent and for an EdC lasts pretty long and the sillage is very good. The price may be a bit steep but anyone who likes Creed Vintage Tabarome, Knize Ten, and Burberry London should give this one a shot. Overtime the scents meld together in a cohesive oneness that's very masculine and classy.

The Different Company Sel de Vetiver

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:24:36 -0700

by: vertigo12314

Description: Top notes: Grapefruit and cardamom; middle notes: Tahitian vetiver, bourbon geranium and ylang-ylang; base notes: Iris, patchouli and bourbon vetiver. On the top the noticeable grapefruit appears and patchouli (anyone with Terre D'Hermes will understand) but a high quality vetiver accompanies it and together it's like a gourmand vetiver. With the floral cardamom it keeps it outdoorsy. It's evocative like outdoors near an ocean but it's a mile away. For an aquatic this is very different than the typical kind and I don't get any obvious salt smells other than the floral seeming like salt on skin. For the price I would put this under Guerlain Vetiver but it's a little higher quality than GV and more beautiful in that the floral makes the vetiver and grapefruit more interesting. It seems simple at first but in the end is very complex and well mixed. The vetiver even goes towards a L'Occitane Vetiver territory on the drydown. :lol: This is more for good weather but really it can be worn anytime of the year. Both men and women can wear it. The staying power on me is close to Terre D'Hermes and I think I like it a little better. Those who like Nicolai New York should also try this one. I would put the florals here as much better than Beyond Paradise by Estee Lauder which goes more towards BO flowers. To think I was done with vetiver. :laugh: If you like vetiver you could easily blindbuy this one :thumbup:

J.Peterman 1903 Cologne

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:01:42 -0700

by: hunter87597

Description: Reviewing this cologne simply because the good news must be shared with men everywhere... regretting that men will buy it because I want to be the only one wearing this..... J.Peterman 1903 Cologne!! **Star Wars theme song starts playing** Really though, I am going to give an honest review of this stuff from the beginning and my initial impressions. The packaging is not what you'd expect in a cologne, you'd think the packaging held some kind of high-end luxurious watch. Being serious when I say that, others will agree. J.Peterman styling is impeccable. They are proud of their 1903 collection. Price-- The cologne retails on the J.Peterman website for 45 dollars. I've paid almost twice as much for other colognes, and those scents could only dream of being used as much as I will use 1903. The price is right. Quality-- Quality is top notch here. I can look for a negative point to discuss but I just can't find one. Which brings me to the atomizer. Quality of the atomizer-- Some colognes, when you spray them, disperse a heavy volume of spray into a relatively small pattern, and you incidentally put on too much. Not so with this atomizer J.Peterman uses. It disperses a "mist" if you will that really covers a lot of area, so that you will not over-do it easily. Two sprays does the trick on the neck. Staying Power-- The strongest cologne I have used to date. I sprayed it yesterday around 5pm. When I woke up this morning, I could still detect the subtle hints of this cologne, which is nice. Really, really nice. Complexity-- I find that after application of the scent, it is sharp for a few minutes until the dry-down. It mellows down, but I have not experienced much complexity in terms of the scent changing, or me detecting different notes. This may be a good or bad thing for some of you who like to smell the different notes, but it's fine for me. Scent-- This is of course, the real reason we all wear cologne. It is for the scent, the fragrance; to smell good. 1903 hits it out of the ball park with it's scent. It is not common, and can NOT be compared to other scents. It is not "oceanic" like this new designer junk, it's not "axey", and it's not dark and sadistic. It's hard to find the right words to describe it. It is a clean smell, but it is so distinct people will have to double-take you and ask what you are wearing, but people will compliment you if you wear it. It smells GOOD. I can not fathom in my mind someone disagreeing with this smell. Now I know to each his own, but this cologne is like air, I need it. Overall-- This cologne is a hands-down winner in my book. DON'T BUY THIS!! I want to be the only guy wearing it. :thumbup1:

One Man Show by Jacques Bogart

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:34:18 -0700

by: Featherweight

Description: One Man Show is Jacques Bogart's 1980 release for men. I don't know how it gets classified because there really is nothing like it, but if I had to guess, I'd say it's a foug�re. It employs all the right aromatics, with green spices, emaciated citrus, and bitter woods. Its heart and base capitalize on raw incense and tobacco. What's important about OMS is that it has an extremely aggressive top, right in the same league as Kouros and Quorum - perhaps even more so. It's obvious from the outset that the scent is conceptual, which is remarkable given its release date. The concept here is cold, dry, dirty metal. Somehow the nose behind this perfume dried everything out, found the starkest rosewood accord imaginable, and paired it seamlessly with angry citrus and basil. The result is a screaming basil, bolstered by the sugarless acid of the fruit, and anchored by austere wood. Lurking underneath is an ever-present hint of incense, somewhat garnished with tobacco, although I concede that these notes are inseparable at best. As OMS develops, the brutal top dials back a bit (all the time remaining sturdily present), and the incense moves forward, intensifying just enough to create a brilliant tension between metal and earth. The fragrance remains linear from this point, until the entire composition softens, with the incense bolstered by a nicely-rendered sandalwood until everything fades away. Geranium, cool and detached, touches the edges of this scent and cools it down on every level, to the point where it conjures images of air-hewn brass and frozen wood. OMS should fail, and I should hate it, but for all the reasons that one can find in my description here, I can only say that I like it. I also appreciate the whole package. Bogart's bottles are particularly attractive, very Pierre Dinand-like in shape and design, but the box and label suffer from a starkness, an absence of color, and I don't quite know what to make of it. I'm inclined to think that the people behind OMS want to keep things simple, and more importantly, [I]industrial.[/I] The gray gives the fragrance a listlessly impersonal feel that matches the tone of the juice inside. Still, this isn't the industrial era anymore, and perhaps a dash of color - even if just a Communist red in the lettering - would be beneficial. The scent is terrific, its quality shines despite its obvious use of synthetics, and the atomizer works fine. If you enjoy controversial fragrances like Kouros and Quorum, especially for their treatment of incense, you would do well to explore One Man Show. For $7 on Amazon, how can you go wrong? ...

Love in Black -- Creed

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 10:52:11 -0700

by: Featherweight

Description: Love in Black is an interesting fragrance. For a Creed, it has perfume level strength and longevity, comparable to the potency of other houses. I've read that this one is more unisex and wearable for men than its counterpart, Love in White, and I concur with that assessment; Love in Black is definitely unisex. The top is an explosion of iris - my least favorite part of the scent by far. Creed seems to have some issues with its top notes for me, and Love in Black doesn't make me want to buy a bottle after five minutes. The iris is so amplified, so doughy, that it smells like semi-sweetened Play-Doh. Fortunately, this doesn't last, although oddly, on my skin, it maintains this intensity for the better part of 20 minutes. Gradually from there, it begins to transition into cedar-infused violet and rose accords. The flowers literally bloom on skin, sweet, dark, and deep. From there, things stay pretty floral and linear for an hour, until something very interesting happens - Love in Black enters a second life. Somewhere in that later stage, a super-sweet cotton candy-esque note explodes forward, but only for about five minutes, at which point a prominent black currant takes over. The currant rejoins the cedar and violets, and everything is firmly centered again. However, I felt I was wearing a different fragrance, one with a fruity element that was nowhere to be found in earlier stages of this Creed. It's hard to say that Love in Black is synthetic rubbish, but I will concede that for some people, this may smell like just that. The caveat to the beauty of it is in its "perfumey" nature - this carries on air, and treats the nose with the same aggression found in classics like No. 5 and Fendi Donna. If it weren't for the iris, I would say it is blatantly feminine, but as it stands, there is something ambiguous here. Give this one a try, the packaging, complexity, staying power, and scent are well worth it. ...

Mazzolari Lui

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 05:48:22 -0700

by: Kenno

Description: This means business but in a smooth powerful and dirty anamalistic way! At first spray it says get outta my way if you can't handle me, like a bucking bronco, not in an 80's powerhouse way but in a way that says I'm understated, powerful and classy smooth. Wait for the dry down and after 5 minutes it's magic. I get vetiver, sandlewood and patchouli in a smoldering way that is brooding and sinister. It morphs into a scent that at times is indescribable and then pops its individual compositions and then goes back to being its wholesome self, it is sensual and it is raw, love it. It's not overpowering but it is very powerful, the balance is perfect. Nothing synthetic or cheap and no one will call it a wanna be or a fake. Not much is needed and staying power is great therefore value is good. A very masculine scent that is not flowery, artificial or unpleasant but comfortable. If you're the timid type put a little on and rough men won't necessarily fear you and get outta your way but will respect you for not being mistaken for a girl and the girls/ladies well they will be impressed and will not mistake you for a girl either but might fear that you will turn into a warewolf when full moon arises. The 80's powerhouse colognes made a fashion statement in their day and most have been left behind but Mazzolari Lui will make a statement for time everlasting. This one will not be left behind, it will kick most of the wanna bees in the guts and spit em out in the smoothest classiest way imaginable. If Terminator and Bond had a love child this would be it. A lot of people say if Dracula wore a scent it would be DC1913, C&S88 or Ungaro111; well if there ever was a classy warewolf he would wear Mazzolari Lui! Mr Mazzolari was definately Mr Hyde and not Dr Jekyll when he conjured this beautiful concoction. This is a warewolf howling inside a Bentley! Mazzolari Lui sets its self apart like no other and what a statement!

Guerlain Coriolan

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 08:54:02 -0700

by: vertigo12314

Description: Guerlain Coriolan Top Notes: Lemon Tree Leaves, Bergamot Middle Notes: Juniper, Absinthe, Coriander, Nutmeg Base Notes: Oakmoss, Patchouli, Everlasting Flower Interesting surprise. This is similar to other fragrances but fits it's own niche. When first sprayed on the lemon and bergamot are harsh and chemical. When you put your wrist away and let it develop you get a leaves smell similar to Yatagan but more subtle and more citrusy. The juniper appears and warms it up. On the drydown the oakmoss adds more of an outdoorsy scent. Basically if you find Yatagan too strong and too centered on cold weather then this is for you. If you find Creed's Baie de Genievre too strong on juniper then this one is for you. I feel it can be worn year-round no problem because of the citrus. Very elegant.

Burberry London

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 09:12:02 -0700

by: vertigo12314

Description: Burberry London Top Notes: Bergamot, Lavender, Cinnamon leaves, Black pepper Middle Notes: Mimosa Flower, Port wine, Leather notes Base Notes: Guaiac wood, Oakmoss, Opoponax, Tobacco leaf Off the top you get a little bergamot but much more mimosa fruit flower. Also leather and tobacco make their appearance quickly and last. This is not a bad department store scent and the longevity is very good. To me this is mainly a fall and especially winter scent. The tobacco leaves seem really realistic and mimosa last awhile. The port wine adds sweetness to the mimosa and on the drydown you end up smelling like an old wooden chest or humidor. It'll be too synthetic for experienced connoisseurs but most people will find it pleasant.

Ormonde Man

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 08:52:34 -0700

by: Pulley

Description: Ormonde Man, a most sophisticated fragrance, despite its unconventional ingredients. Complex and full of character, sultry and mystical, the fragrance exudes soft woody notes, but it is the infusion of Oudh oil, the world�s most prized essence since time immemorial, that sets it apart, elevating the scent to one of true distinction. Top:Juniper berry, bergamot, pink pepper, cardamom and coriander seeds Heart:Oudh and black hemlock Base:Vetiver, cedar, sandalwood and musk

Insens� Ultramarine by Givenchy

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:12:03 -0700

by: Featherweight

Description: ... [CENTER][IMG]http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/bryan805/Givenchy.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] ... Fruity aquatics don't do anything for me. I'm always trying to avoid them, but every time I step into a Marshalls or Walgreens, or a real brick and mortar perfume merchant, I inevitably find myself scanning shelf after shelf of blue boxes and bottles. Thank you Cool Water, for, as Off-Scenter put it on Basenotes, "spawning so many inane progeny." It makes my life easier; I can disregard an entire swath of any store's stock, and have an easier time narrowing in on chypres, florals, and classic fougeres. Unless I'm curious to find something brashly maritime, full-throated in its abuse of fruits and flowers, and so obviously feminine that the words POUR HOMME are arguably an in-house joke. I've heard BVLGARI BLV invests in this kind of perverse behavior on male skin. Creed's EROLFA, while not exactly tossing fruit salad over a garden of sea greens, has the brash, hyper-salinated marine stuff going for it. And then I read about Insens� Ultramarine, an odd early '90s release by Givenchy, the flanker to the critically-received Insens�. A flanker that apparently spawned another nine or ten flankers in its wake. I stopped into Marshalls today and saw a bottle of the stuff sitting there, tried to think of the last time I saw a bottle of Insens� Ultramarine anywhere (and couldn't), and promptly grabbed it. I have to say, given what I was expecting, this is interesting juice. The top is sparkly, saccharine, melony, salty, briny, and a little minty, which makes for an arresting amalgam of sweet and sour. The roiling salt note churns rapidly into the background, and after five minutes, the melons and mint give way to pollinated spring flowers. I get peachy rose, faint jasmine, and a watery, white-noisy floral - perhaps magnolia - that wells up from the blue to fill the air. These notes persist in a linear fashion, until gradually fading into the ever-present saline base. The base itself has fruity pipe tobacco in its undertow. The whole thing is big, sacchariferous, grossly synthetic, and dense. Insens� Ultramarine is the buxom epitome of the classic French 1990s aquatic aromatic perfume for men. Hell, they even dyed the liquid blue. Since the birth of this genre, its been done and redone to death. Everything from Chrome, to BLV, to Unbound, to Acqua di Gio, and all the millions of Cool Water flankers, Polo variations, and sport colognes in between. However, it should be noted that Insens� Ultramarine is a 1994 release, and came before all that stuff. It is so unapologetic in how bad it is, how very thick and sweet and sticky and wet it is, that it does the rare turn into being so bad, [I]it's good.[/I] It's superbly blended, all heavy-handed ingredients smoothed out to create this shimmery halo of scent, heavy but ephemeral in outdoor conditions, and very feminine in character. That this is supposedly a men's fragrance kicks it into the must-have stratosphere for me. It's perverse enough on its own merits, but the gender bait and switch Givenchy pulls is too impressive to pass up. The florals behave as though they're in a high class French hooker's boudoir perfume. The only thing missing is the Baby Phat lipstick note - I'm glad it's not here, but Ultramarine's aspirational hairspray accord livens its performance, and bumps it up from circus, to Cirque du Soleil. As it stands, Insens� Ultramarine wades into the kind of hairspray abstraction better smelled in Gucci's Rush and Fendi's now defunct original perfume for women. Even if it doesn't get there, the nod is appreciable. Many say this is for summer - I say sure, if you're at the beach with almost nothing else on your body. I'm inclined to see it as a solid French stinker that is impossible not to love in all weather, especially frigid cold winter days. Note that I said [I]love[/I], and not [I]wear[/I]. I'm glad that I found an aquatic with this much panache. It's a blast from the past. It's a blast of fresh air. It's something nobody wears anymore. There's quality to Insens� Ultramarine, and more than a little touch of Grasse. You can get this for $40 (down from $70) at Marshalls or TJMaxx. The packaging is nice, with a well-made, hefty glass bottle, and a nicely designed box. Expect 7 hours longevity, plenty of silage, and the atomizer works fine, although it sprays in broad strokes, so beware if you're looking to do fine spritzing instead. Recommended. ...

Creed Vintage Tabarome

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:24:18 -0700

by: vertigo12314

Description: Top notes: bergamot and citrus, Middle note: pepper Base notes: sandalwood, ambergris and pepper. One thing I'll give Vintage Tabarome is that with a drop I'm still getting some scent going on so longevity and sillage must be at the top level. It's like a nice green super peppery citrus. Very unique and easily better than the new Creed Tabarome. VERY MANLY. The citrus and the pepper with the basenotes is what makes it so unique. It's almost like I'm smelling a chair at a peppery gourmand restaurant. I'll probably have to age another 20 years before I can pull this off. I'll also probably have to age before anything like this gets released again. I think what makes this a great scent for me is what reminds me of oakmoss in Grey Flannel. Fragrantica has it in the notes but others (including Creed) don't list it. The perfumed court says there's tobacco but it doesn't seem like the tobacco in the new Tabarome.

L'Homme by Yves Saint Laurent

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 05:24:22 -0700

by: jdougal

Description: To me L'Homme is a very-well balanced, clean, manly and yet slightly floral fragrance. It starts out with a burst of sweet floral in the opening. As it dries down the sweetness gives way to citrus, vetiver and a musk scent. Overall i really enjoy this fragrance. While it's not anything groundbreaking, it is a well developed fragrance. Here is where this fragrance could use some improvement. The longevity and projection of L'Homme could really be improved. The longevity of L'Homme wasn't amazing, but it wasn't bad. On average I got 6-8 hours, but like I mentioned it was very close to the skin. Initially it really projects and it slowly fades. After a few hours it is still there but it's very very close to the skin. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just would like a little bit more projection near the end. This fragrance is very versatile, it can be worn really in any season for any occasion. I could totally see this being worn on a date yet it's subtle enough to be worn to school or work. If you're new to fragrances and just want one bottle that works for everything, this is your bottle IMO. I personally will probably find myself using it in the fall/winter most. But that is only due to the number of summer fragrances I already own. It can be pulled off in the spring/summer without issue. [URL="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=Vgrh8i0tSJ0&subid=&offerid=92855.1&type=10&tmpid=1048&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.fragrancenet.com%252Fl-homme-yves-saint-laurent-cologne%252Fyves-saint-laurent%252Fmens-fragrances%252Fmf%252Fen_US%252F11398%253Fcur_letter%253DL"]L'Homme Yves Saint Laurent = BUY[/URL] L'Homme is perfect for those looking for a one or two bottle collection. It also is well enough made that it can find a place in the deeper collections as well. The only points I take away are for projection and that's just my preference for desiring a bit "louder" fragrance. Scent strength: moderate Recommended age: anyone Scent life: 6-10 hours Recommended use: casual Classification: oriental Price: $$$ [URL="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=Vgrh8i0tSJ0&subid=&offerid=205654.1&type=10&tmpid=6744&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.perfume.com%2Fyves-saint-laurent%2Fl-homme%2Fmen-cologne"]For more information or to purchase L'Homme click here! [/URL] [URL="http://www.thecolognereview.com/2010/11/lhomme-yves-saint-laurent-review/"]Men's Cologne Reviews[/URL]

Lalique Encre Noir

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 11:58:56 -0700

by: Harvitz81

Description: Been on a vetiver kick lately and bought Lalique Encre Noir blind based on some threads here. Paid $45 for 100mL bottle. Considering the quality of this juice that is a steal. I've only tried L'Occitane and MPG vetivers and Lalique is very much different than the previous 2. It is a dry, dark, smokey, earthy, rooty hit you in your face vetiver in a very good way. Settles down to after 2-3 hours, but the overall longevity is impressive and definitely lasts 10+ hours. Pretty powerful juice as well and I find one spray on the chest and one of the wrists is more than enough. If you are a vetiver fan, you owe it to yourself to sample this.

Cale Fragranze D'Autore Mistero

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:56:05 -0700

by: vertigo12314

Description: Cale Fragranze D'Autore Mistero Top notes: rum, rhubarb and mint Middle notes: pimento, elemi, saffron and basmati rice Base notes: oak, agar, labdanum and musk It starts off smelling like an oil painter's pallete of turpintine and paint. This is definitely due to the pimento. Pepper tends to make other green scents chalky smelling. The basmati rice and oak appear pretty quickly. The oak is very recognizable much like smelling oaked wine. The mint gives it a freshness and the rhubarb hides itself well in the mix. It's definitely not fruity. This is a very dry scent and saffron nicely moves atop of it. The price is good for the scent and would be a good comparison with Timbuktu, and Tauer's L'Air du desert Marocain since I feel it's as good. It's like Timbuktu without berries and mango and a more dry woody character with a similar matte quality. The agarwood and musk are round out the base and the staying power is pretty decent. Timbuktu is a bit stronger in impact because of the fruit but both drum on for awhile. Very unique nonetheless. If you wanted to pay more I would choose L'Air du desert Marocain and Timbuktu over this, but for the price and if you want something more subtle this would be a better choice.

Caldey Island Fern

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:05:37 -0700

by: vertigo12314

Description: This scent is a simple citrus floral. It is a good comparison with Acqua di Parma Colonia. Just dial down the excess powder and remove the roses and you�re getting closer. It has a charming old-world quality coming from the realistic florals. It�s smells like orange blossom but it isn�t overpowering and very refreshing. The longevity is similar to Caldey Island Lavender and it could be worn by both men and women (though it comes with a ribbon). I personally would prefer this to Acqua di Parma Colonia but I could see some people who want a huge bombastic scent being disappointed. To me it�s the right balance and a fragrance like this could easily be mixed with other favorites to come up with a unique scent. The drydown is similar to Acqua di Parma but again more subdued. I don�t detect any wood so the �woodland magic� in the description is just purple prose. It could be worn successfully in the spring and summer. The atomizer works fine and the packaging is spare but this is coming from an Abbey so that is to be expected.

Angel Men Pure Malt

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:15:11 -0700

by: jdougal

Description: I must admit, I love this fragrance. It is a very deep fragrance, that to me just exudes rich and sophisticated. [URL="http://thecolognereview.com/2010/11/amen-pure-malt-limited-edition/"]Angel Men Pure Malt[/URL] was produced by taking Angel Men and storing it in whisky barrels used to age fine whisky. The result was a masterpiece. If you've smelled Angel Men but found the opening and tar note to harsh. Then you will probably enjoy Pure Malt. It is a smoother more refined gourmand, and is probably one of the best in its class. The drydown of this cologne is amazing with a rich caramel and whisky flavor. This isn't the rough edge of a Jack Daniels. It is more a fine whisky that you'd sip by the fireplace with a nice cigar. It ends with the patchouli scent that you'll find in all of Thierry Mugler fragrances. A warning to folks, if you're not a fan of gourmands or Angel Men's base then you probably won't like this. You may appreciate the masterpiece that this fragrance is but you probably won't enjoy wearing it. However if you even remotely like gourmands or found Angel Men to harsh, then this is a must have. This fragrance is a winter, and maybe fall cologne only. Anything over 60 degrees and you're probably going to regret wearing this. I personally won't wear it until it gets colder then that. Like I previously stated, this is perfect for a walk in the Rockefeller Center with your girl or skiing in the Aspens. That's what I think of when I think of this fragrance. It also could be used on a date however. Not so much fine dining, but more a movie in the house by the fire. I wouldn't recommend this for someone in high school. I think it works best for 25+, but possibly could be pulled off by someone in college. Angel Men Pure Malt = BUY NOW I really suggest picking this up while you can. It was a limited edition in 2009 and sold out everywhere. It then could only be purchased on eBay and selling for $100-$200 a bottle. It was then reintroduced in 2010, but has since been discontinued. Next year Thierry Mugler has already announced a new fragrance, so this one is probably in the record books. Get it while you can, don't regret missing out on this cologne or overpaying a few months from now. [B]Scent strength:[/B] extreme [B]Recommended age:[/B] 21+ [B]Scent life:[/B] 6-18 hours [B]Classification[/B]: gourmand [B]Recommended use[/B]: evening [B]Price: $$$[/B] [CENTER][URL="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=Vgrh8i0tSJ0&subid=&offerid=92855.1&type=10&tmpid=1048&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.fragrancenet.com%252Fangel-men-pure-malt-cologne%252Fthierry-mugler%252Fmens-fragrances%252Fmf%252Fen_US%252F21119%253Fcur_letter%253DA"]For more information on this limited edition fragrance click here! [/URL][/CENTER] [URL="http://www.thecolognereview.com"]Men's Cologne Reviews[/URL]

Creed Spice and Wood

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 09:51:26 -0700

by: Featherweight

Description: I've read some reviews of S&W that make it out to be pretty lousy. One person considers its birch note "nothing out of this world", while another says "dunno who approved this." Other reviewers are a little more charitable: words like "impressive", "old-school", and "masterpiece" are used. So what do I think of S&W? I think it's really good. I'm just not so sure it's worth $550 for 8 ounces of the stuff. But let me talk about the scent first. Initial application brings an incredibly realistic and not overly-ambitious array of notes to the forefront, namely astringent lemons and bergamot, underpinned by a very sheer red apple accord that gives the fruit some definite sweetness. This is coupled with a striking birch wood note. The birch is given an effect of its own, and although there seems to be pepper and cedar involved, it really isolates itself to my nose as a very dry, austere wood. In these moments of its evolution, the scent is certainly a triumph. I had no doubt that Creed could manage spices (if Proctor & Gamble can, so can anyone), but woods are a different story. I'm dead tired of the world's fragrance forests being limited to synthetic pine and cedar. It may not seem like much, but the clarity of the birch in S&W kicks the scent into a whole new stratosphere. It persists for a solid hour on my skin and clothes, which is nice, especially since the apple on the top never disappears, but rather gains in potency through the drydown. The sugared apple drydown is peculiar. There is definite oakmoss, but it is enmeshed in a buttery iris note, along with something that smells like pink pepper, amber, and white musk. It's at this point that I feel the scent becomes a bit too sweet for my taste. It never becomes unpleasant, and is always ephemeral and modern-smelling, despite the rickety concept at play here. But it's as though the fragrance stalls more than dries down. At about five hours in, evolution is no longer really happening, and a resolutely linear combo of apple, cedar, pepper, and musk carries on until it fades away. Perhaps if the saccharine apple and spices played second fiddle to the intriguing woods of S&W, I would be more inclined to consider buying into a split of this stuff. As it is, I think it's a fine fragrance, and avoids the standard masculine cliches of clove overkill and faux cedar sapling woods. It certainly smells good - maybe a little too good. Like most Creeds I've tried, there is no sense of danger, no controversy. The Creed boys could stand to dry out the citrus a bit more, and maybe amp up the oakmoss, like Andr� Fromentin did with Grey Flannel. Or perhaps introduce something blatantly animalic, like a touch of civet to wet the woods, Kouros-style. I approach Creed hoping that one day they'll make me crinkle my nose. I've only tried 5 of their fragrances so far. It's early days yet. But in this regard, it's no dice. That said, this is worthy of checking out of course. It's very likable, suitably masculine, persistent for a Creed, and definitely has sex appeal. It's stately and modern, but built on a tried-and-true foundation of what works. ...

Polo Blue

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 05:29:05 -0700

by: jdougal

Description: [CENTER][B]Top Notes[/B] Melon de Cavaillon, Watery Melon, Fresh Cucumber, Tangerine [B]Middle Notes[/B] Basil, Clary Sage Absolute, Geranium [B]Base Notes[/B] Washed Suede, Velvety Moss, Amber Wood, Patchouli Coeur, Sheer Musk[/CENTER] Polo Blue is I must admit, the only cologne I own from Ralph Lauren. With that, I really enjoy what they have done with this cologne. It has a very natural fresh feel that is unlike most. Most fresh scents either fall into the aquatic/soapy/citrius or some combination of the three. Polo Blue however doesn't fit into any of those molds. It starts sweet, then fades to a nice melon, cucumber, basil mix which smells nice and non offensive. To me it really is something that I don't have anything similar in my collection. Projection with Polo Blue isn't loud or offensive. It stays close to the skin and is perfect for office/school settings. With that Polo Blue can be used for any occasion. It can also be used during any season. I personally find myself using it mostly in the spring and summer. However there is no issue at all with using Polo Blue in the fall or winter. Longevity with Polo Blue is great for me, with it lasting 8-12 hours easily. Again, this isn't projecting to fill the room. But if someone gets close they will smell it even at the end of the school/work day. This to me is an uplifting scent, which I turn to the most when I need that extra boost. I could easily see someone wearing this as a signature scent, being that it is extremely versatile. Overall I'd have to say [CENTER][B][URL="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-4149160-10297375?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fragrancex.com%2FPOBMTS25.html&cjsku=POBMTS25"]Polo Blue = Try[/URL][/B][/CENTER] Folks looking for an uplifting versatile scent or shopping for a signature scent, Polo Blue could be your answer. Scent strength: moderate Recommended age: anyone Scent life: 8-12 hours Recommended use: casual Classification: natural Price: $$$ [URL="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-4149160-10297375?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fragrancex.com%2FPOBMTS25.html&cjsku=POBMTS25"]Learn more about Polo Blue by Ralph Lauren here![/URL] For more[URL="http://www.thecolognereview.com"] cologne reviews[/URL]

Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier Route du Vetiver

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 11:23:44 -0700

by: kg0mz

Description: Some people cannot stand broccoli or brussel sprouts. Both are bitter and awful tasting to these people. A gene in your DNA determines this. I'm guessing there is a vetiver-ish gene in my DNA. To me, vetiver is one of the more appealing scents there is or ever will be. You will not find broccoli or brussel sprouts in RdV, but I would be willing to wager that if you like brussel sprouts you will like the vetiver in RdV. Some say black currants are nasty. Robins love them, and so do I. Black currants are tart and make for great preserves. Currants go well with savory dishes, and the vetiver in RdV. Black currants and vetiver. There you have it. For me, a perfect pairing. Talk about evocative fragrances. I will not bore you with the details. Think July in Crawford County, Kansas. Rural. I have 7 or 8 vetivers. I can line them up in terms of vetiver appeal. I will not go through that exercise now, but I will tell you that Route Du Vetiver is at the head of my list. Opening vetiver with citrus is dicey. Guerlain works, sort of, but Guerlain is anything but organic. All city, nothing rural there. Creed Vetiver is saved by the ambergris, in my opinion. I do like the clean, soapy vetivers, but it is an approach that pales in the presence of RdV. Some say RdV is smoky. I don't get it. I don't get smoky in Marlborough, either. Probably that genetic thing. This is organic, pure nature. Currants, rich damp soil, vetiver roots. This is not dry, not grassy, not powdery, not soapy, not clean. It is dirty, but not dark. The woodsy dry down does nothing to erase the black currants, let alone the vetiver. The jasmine and sandalwood serve to broaden the organic pairing in an unobtrusive manner. By that I mean, I still get black currants and vetiver the next day. Top Notes: Black currant, leafy green accords Heart Notes: Bourbon vetiver, precious woods, jasmine Base Notes: Sandalwood, musk

Tom Ford Tuscan Leather

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 12:16:46 -0600

by: solar

Description: I finally obtained a bottle of Tom Ford Tuscan Leather. [B]Price[/B]: TF is expensive stuff, no doubt. The score is reflected on the price. I can't say I'd buy a whole range of TF scents owing to the high price, but I'm not moaning over the money I did spend. [B]Qualit[/B]y: There is nothing that smells synthetic or rough here, and smelling it over time, there is nothing nasty or artificial in the dry down, indicting decent quality to me. [B]Packagin[/B]g: A plastic cap which, at the price, seems a bit chintzy to me. [B]Scen[/B]t: This is a strong, linear scent, with very little layering or complexity. To my nose, there is a start of raspberry, which is gone in moments, giving way to full-on leather with strong tobacco underneath. The leather just endures, and endures well. While I have not read this in any reviews on Basenotes or any other perfume reviews, I have to say this scent is very reminiscent of Caron Tabac Blond. If Tom Ford's Tuscan Leather was a building, it would have two pillars only, one being leather, one being blonde pipe tobacco. [B]Staying Power[/B]: Very good in my experience. [B]Atomizer[/B]: As rated, not the best for the price but serviceable. Overall, this is one strong, linear-leather scent. I was really looking for something like this, as opposed to Creed REL or other formulations, which fine they may be, but which have layers of scents where the leather is more [I]sub rosa[/I] than prominent. If you want prominent, rich, strong leather tones, this is the one to get. But beware, its not for the faint of heart. This is strong stuff. Best, Chris

Une Rose by Fr�d�ric Malle Editions de Parfums

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 17:38:51 -0600

by: Featherweight

Description: Fr�d�ric Malle Editions de Parfums has put out a lipstick rose scent that would certainly not work on men. Une Rose is the answer to that. Creed's Bulgarian tea rose meets my need for a green rose. When I want a dark, earthy rose, I turn to the Malle. Une Rose gives me the dark, gummy, masculine flower in all its glory, completely offsetting any feminine associations it may have. The opening is a boozy explosion of rose, black cherry, geranium, and plastic. Each note is blended to a smoothness that conjures up images of dewy red roses, green shadows, prune-colored cherries straight out of a Bill Brady photograph, and dusty vinyl records twirling in the background. Everything is pristine, mysterious, artfully rendered, and ultimately very weird. It's quite beautiful, and it works. 100 ml is about $160, so for a relatively linear floral, I kinda think this could be cheaper. But hey, it's not as bad as Creed. Rose is a difficult note to interpret, and I think this is a very good rendition, mainly because it innovates on the masculine, brooding darkness of rose, and brings that character forward quite well. The bottles are beautifully simple, although mine was a sample. In terms of longevity, I get a day's worth out of this. Definitely give this a try. It's the most masculine rose I've encountered. ..

Frapin 1270

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:24:18 -0600

by: solar

Description: I picked this up several weeks ago, and meant to do a review here once I had the opportunity to wear this a number of times, in a variety of circumstances. Luckyscents describes this one as a combination of: "exotic woods, spices, raisin, vine flowers, pepper, candied orange, nut, hazelnut, prune, cocoa, coffee, leather, woods, white honey and vanilla." My first and most lasting impression upon smelling this, either sprayed in the air, on a test card or on my skin, is white cedar; so, I definately get the "exotic woods". This top note of wood is infused with sweetness, which I [I]could[/I] call "vine flowers", but happily is not overly sweet or cloying. Just slid in underneath this first impression of white cedar and sweetness, is light vanilla, and possibly honey. The whole is to give one the impression of a pleasantly sweet scented piece of cloth that has been stored for some time in a cedar cigar box. There are the slightest, faraway tones of something firmer--perhaps leather or tobacco-- lingering at the periphery, ephemeral, like wisps of smoke in the night. This is not a blatantly masculine scent, and while the vendor selling it made it out to be a man's cologne, it would do well to be considered unisex. I like having a wide variety of scents in my arsenal. Its interesting to see the look of pleasant surprise on a woman's face upon discovering a softer, more complex scent when this is unexpected. Frapin is a house fairly well known for using quality ingredients in clever, complex blends. I personally find 1270 to finish exactly as it started on my skin, with decent longevity but no development (either to the good or bad) as it ages with my body chemistry. If you are in the market for a sweet, moderately complex composition of excellent quality ingredients and a fine, if unspectacular finish, then this might well be a good choice. Its a tad pricey and arrives in an acceptable cardboard box and a simple, wide-bottomed glass bottle with a lovely quality atomiser. The cap is, however, cheap plastic, a bit of a drop from the rest of the package. Other than the plastic cap, everything else about this product has the feel of being a fine and quality product. Best always, Chris

L'Artisan Timbuktu

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:29:06 -0600

by: vertigo12314

Description: Top Notes: Mango, Berries, Pink Pepper, Cardamom. Middle Notes: Karo Karounde Flower, Papyrus Wood, Frankincense Base Notes: Myrrh, Vetiver, Patchouli, Benzoin The mango and berries appear upfront and refreshing. Pretty quickly a really nice floral appears mixed with a nice light wood. There's good sillage and longevity like most L'Artisan fragrances. The wood and flower are what makes this exotic and the incense finishes it off well by being a little sweet. This is so intelligently made it's fun. The price isn't bad for something so interesting. I could imagine Africa while wearing this. This would be perfect in good weather. If you like Silver Mountain Water you should give this one a try. Also if you like the matte quality of PdN New York I recommend this for the papyrus.

Penhaligon's Elixir

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:00:20 -0600

by: vertigo12314

Description: Top Notes: Eucalyptus, Cardamom, Orange Blossom Absolute and White Cedar Middle Notes: Red Turkish Rose Absolute, Egyptian Jasmine Absolute, Cinnamon Leaves, Mace and Rosewood Base Notes: Benzoin, Tonka beans, Vanilla, Incense, Red Sandalwood and Guaicum Wood The citrus at the top is overpowered by the wood. The rose and floral elements are overpowered by cinnamon leaves, rosewood, and vanilla. The leaves themselves are much better represented by Yatagan. It seems like it should be complex by the notes but on my skin, alas. There's a more incense towards the dry down but nothing to write home about.

Patou pour homme prive

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:36:29 -0600

by: vertigo12314

Description: Patou pour homme prive Top notes: Bergamot, Lavender Middle notes: Sandalwood, Patchouli, New Mown Hay Basenotes: Vanilla Another great lavender scent. The bergamot is great and the lavender is bumped up with a green hay/grassy scent and supported by sandalwood and patchouli. It jumps between a sweet soapiness to a green earthiness. It�s hard to compare this with anything because it�s so original. This should be sampled by anyone who likes fragrance. Good longevity and sillage. Just amazing stuff. Too bad it�s discontinued.

Guerlain Apre L�Ondee

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:11:26 -0600

by: vertigo12314

Description: Guerlain Apre L�Ondee Top Notes: Aniseed, Hesperidic notes, Rose Middle Notes: Violet, Hawthorn Base Notes: Iris root It begins with a powdery iris and anise with some floral. If the rose is there it�s very much in the background. The violet appears but the sweetness is subdued by the powdery iris note. I think this can be gotten away with by men even though it is marketed for women. It�s very understated compared to Bois de Violette and stays close to the skin but blooms out beautifully in the dry down. You may have to spray on more to your desired effect. It evokes a scent of outdoors. It�s like Habit Rouge was mated with Green Irish Tweed and all the wood and leather was removed. This is the best violet I�ve smelled other than Green Irish Tweed. The sillage is okay and longevity typical of Guerlain. It�s like a powdery violet (GIT style) after the rain and definitely smells old like Habit Rouge or Acqua di Parma because of the powder and possibly the Hawthorn. I think this will be my first purchase of an exclusively feminine targeted fragrance. For anyone who likes Green Irish Tweed they should try this one. It's does have the effect of sending you back in time 100 years.

Guerlain Habit Rouge

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:41:50 -0600

by: vertigo12314

Description: Guerlain Habit Rouge Top Notes: Bergamot, Lemon, Rosewood, Basil, Pimento Middle Notes: Sandal, Carnation, Patchouli, Cedar, Rose, Cinnamon Base Notes: Vanilla, Amber, Moss, Leather, Benzoin, Labdanum, Olibanum Okay I've come around to this one. The citrus and wood is upfront. After awhile I can detect some rose and a powderiness mixed with leather. This would be a good comparison with Acqua di Parma which has more roses and powder. Habit Rouge is more leather and wood. The dry down gets more sweet with vanilla but it's all balanced. This is definitely a classic up there with Creed Royal English Leather. Definitely sample beforehand because it can take awhile to "get it". Despite people thinking there is an age barrier I think any man 25 and over can wear it no problem.

Angeliques Sous La Pluie by Frederic Malle

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:19:04 -0600

by: vertigo12314

Description: Angeliques Sous La Pluie by Frederic Malle coriander, pink pepper, cedar and angelica The opening is a peppery floral. It then includes cedar. All of it is done with high quality and balance. I suppose you could imagine this scent after a rainfall. This is another good wood scent that veers towards masculine. There's a lot of competition in regarding cedar so I would sample this one and Voyage D'Hermes. If you prefer floral then choose this one and if you prefer citrus choose Voyage.

Diptyque Eau Duelle

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:00:27 -0600

by: vertigo12314

Description: Diptyque Eau Duelle [IMG]http://www.fragrantica.com/images/perfume/nd.9241.jpg[/IMG] Top Notes: Cardamom, Elemi, Juniper. Middle Notes: Saffron, Calamus Base Notes: Vanilla, Black tea, Amber This immediately smacks of vanilla gourmand. This would be a direct competitor with SCS New Spice. The vanilla is subtle and delicious. The juniper is subdued and the saffron and Calamus adds a slight spicy brown bag paper smell (in a good way) with the black tea and amber warming it up. Definitely both men and women can use this. The notes I mentioned are very subtle. The vanilla is dominant but very subtle and elegant. This is the way vanilla should be done. Not heavy and not overly sweet.

Lys Mediterranee by Frederic Malle

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:41:38 -0600

by: vertigo12314

Description: The top notes are nicely floral (without overdoing it) and it's unmistakenly Lily. It stays this way for a while and the Neroli appears but doesn't overpower the lily (finally!). Very balanced. The musk keeps this from being only feminine but I expect women would be more interested in it. Guys who love florals will love this due to the green quality of the florals. This is the best lily fragrance I've smelled.