Cristobal pour Homme (2000)
by Balenciaga

Smells like a refined Givenchy Pi. I like it a lot, and when my Pi is finished, I'll probably replace it with this.

9th June, 2010.

Cristobal is one of those woody oriental scents that pretty much dispense with top notes and jump right into their sweet-spicy central movements. In Cristobal's case this is comprised of a very sweet vanilla and powerful (and suspiciously synthetic,) sandalwood, dressed up in an array of kitchen spices from nutmeg and mace to anise and cinnamon. There is also a harsh, musty, and inevitably cheap-smelling woody amber pounding away in the depths, and this presages a disappointingly crude and generic drydown.

Before that happens, but after the sweet vanilla blast settles down, Cristobal passes through an interesting and gratifying phase where its woods and spices take on a vaguely smoky, roasted quality that almost suggests coffee, in the manner of Yohji Homme or New Haarlem. In Cristobal the effect is not so blatantly "foody," and hence far more pleasant to wear.

Unfortunately, the drydown can't be held off forever, and as it lumbers in it tramples anything that's remotely intelligent or interesting about Cristobal to dust. This occurs after perhaps three hours on the skin, so that to comfortably wear Cristobal I'd have to adopt the following routine:

1. Wait 30 minutes after application to allow the accords to achieve balance before appearing in public.

2. Retire to the shower two or three hours later, scrubbing vigorously to remove the loud, nasty and (of course,) tenacious base notes.

3. Return to step 1.

Sorry - too much work for me.

12nd December, 2009.

I love this heavy vanilla / masculine frag. I call it my 'church' cologne.

13rd September, 2009.

Cristobal is a very sharp and aggressive oriental. It is mainly made of lavender, benzoin and patchouli. It’s also very peppery.

I bought my bottle many years ago. I used it awhile, but after some time I had enough of it; it had ability to sting my nose and burn my nostrils. It was TOO sharp, TOO aggressive to me and my nose. (And I like strong fragrances)

I sold my bottle away.

Quite unique oriental juice in a fine bottle, but it just wasn’t meant for me.

Lasting power of Cristobal is about 5 days.

3rd February, 2009.

This one has really grown on me. It certainly has a character all of it's own that is both sexy and sophisticated without be overindulgent or annoying. Very nice.

Recommended.

19th December, 2008.

Vanilla base is the entire support for this fragrance. The top notes remind me of a subtle violet leaf note or a Gucci pH II or Sander for Men top. Not too shabby.

10th October, 2008.