Penhaligon's Castile

[Mike in Cincy]

So I finally tried out the sample of Castile I was sent. Wow, really interesting stuff. Unfortunately, before saying anything to my wife, she asked, "are you wearing women's perfume"? She didn't like it because she just doesn't like flowery fragrances on men in general. However, I loved it. It was my first experience with Neroli, which smells alot like lilac. The scent has a faint woodsy-ness to round it off. This is a winner....with me, unfortunately, not my wife.

[usqview]

get for yourself! just do it. you know you what to...

i love it too. very nice scent. scents are mostly for yourself anyway. wear it during the work day and after work put on something that she likes...

just my 2 cents

cheers,
ryan

[Suzuki]

I had the same reaction to the Castile as your wife - I think its a very well made scent, but it smells like women's perfume to me.

I'll try it again since I have a sample, but I certainly won't be buying a bottle.

[Mike in Cincy]

I could always get the shaving cream instead. That way, it's more affordable and something just for me. I know there are great reviews for the Blen. Bouq. cream, but what about the others?

[mental]

I love the scent and never really thought of it as particularly feminine, but I could see it being "unisex", I guess. It just smells bright, clean and fresh to me.

Also, if you haven't smelled Blenheim Bouquet before (and maybe you have), I would recommend trying it before purchasing the fragrance or shave cream. It is well regarded but it is definitely a unique scent and not for everyone.

[Austin]

It's my favorite Neroli scent. Feel comfortable in your masculinity and wear it with pride.

[moses]

Also, if you haven't smelled Blenheim Bouquet before (and maybe you have), I would recommend trying it before purchasing the fragrance or shave cream. It is well regarded but it is definitely a unique scent and not for everyone.

Definitely agree. Although for different reasons than the Castile. BB is about as non-gender ambiguous as scents get. But definitely not an everybody loves it sort of scent like Floris Santal or something.

-Mo

[boboakalfb]

I could always get the shaving cream instead. That way, it's more affordable and something just for me. I know there are great reviews for the Blen. Bouq. cream, but what about the others?

The Castile cream is excellent.

[Bricktop]

I really like Castile. To me it's very reminiscent of Acqua di Parma, but with a little something else. For me it's a re-buy/

[blantyre]

One of the best IMO. Almost all the summery scents are a bit feminine. I am wearing Knize 10 today, so no ambiguity there!

[Texican]

I wear Castile to formal situations, like church. I don't have any problems with it, and the Mrs. loves it. It also lasts a long while on me and is bracing, whereas stuff like Trafalgar and Endymion is gone on me in one to two hours.

To me Endymion smells like a Victoria's Secret. But that's just my nose I guess.

[Emilius]

I had the same reaction to the Castile as your wife - I think its a very well made scent, but it smells like women's perfume to me.

I'll try it again since I have a sample, but I certainly won't be buying a bottle.

+1 on that. As much as I enjoyed the original Acqua di Parma, Castile, while a great, quality scent, is too feminine for me. My girlfriend ordered me to wash it off when I first used it.

[seamus402]

So I finally tried out the sample of Castile I was sent. Wow, really interesting stuff. Unfortunately, before saying anything to my wife, she asked, "are you wearing women's perfume"? She didn't like it because she just doesn't like flowery fragrances on men in general. However, I loved it. It was my first experience with Neroli, which smells alot like lilac. The scent has a faint woodsy-ness to round it off. This is a winner....with me, unfortunately, not my wife.

It does make you smell like a girl. You should send it to me. I will dispose of it for you.

[A.de.Lioncourt]

Castile shaving cream is my favorite right now. I have five other Penahligon's scents at the moment: Blenheim Bouquet, Opus 1870, English Fern, Duoro, and LP9.

While I like them all, I feel I must get everything Blenheim Bouquet and Castile scented, or else I'll never be whole.

In time I will probably have everything they make. Anyone else have PAD?

[Lynchmeister]

I, and my wife found it to be too old and feminine smelling. I had a sample and applied it very sparingly and was simply overwhelmed by the floral, musty grandma type scent.

One man's trash is another man's treasure, so good on all of you who do enjoy it!

[boboakalfb]

I was thinking, Mike. Give Floris JF a shot as well. It is a very nice neroli scent, not floral like the Pen. You guys might both enjoy that one.

[Scotto]

I am a fan of neroli scents, but I can certainly understand that some gents might find it feminine at first. When done well, I don't think it is feminine at all. That being said, if you find Castile too girly, try Floris JF (heavier on the amber), or even Musgo Real #1 Orange Amber - a very fine, relatively inexpensive scent.

[A.de.Lioncourt]

Perhaps it smells somewhat feminine on the top-note, but I find it dries down to a very deep rich scent. It's not really sweet, nor dry, it just has a beautiful depth that I think is more masculine than feminine.

I could see the right lady wearing it though... boy she'd be something!

[jlander]

Castile shaving cream is my favorite right now. I have five other Penahligon's scents at the moment: Blenheim Bouquet, Opus 1870, English Fern, Duoro, and LP9.

While I like them all, I feel I must get everything Blenheim Bouquet and Castile scented, or else I'll never be whole.

In time I will probably have everything they make. Anyone else have PAD?

Oh Yeah! I have it very bad. The only Pen fragrance I don't really care for is Hammam Bouquet, and I may give it another try.

[Texican]

Hammam is pretty good and will probably be the next cologne I get (I love the scent of roses).

My wife really loves Malabah - so since they are matching fragrancies, I'm considering buying her a bottle.