Gambler (1983)
by Jovan

This is the best drugstore fragrance I've ever found. Gambler starts off with some mixed greens, a very light citrus, and sitting in the forefront is a very herbal and warm combination of mugwort and cinnamon. The florals of the heart are subdued and supportive of the top and the resinous base adds a rich, if light, sweetness to the mix that colors the whole experience with that old-time musty sort of smell mass marketers now avoid utterly in favor of synthesized freshness. When the starring roles of artemisia and sweet cinnamon finally bow out the base is a simply pleasant sweet leather.
Gambler smells a bit like a combination of Xeryus and Halston Z-14, but I find it more well-mannered and in the end better than both. I count myself extremely lucky I happened upon a bottle of this.

17th August, 2010.

I would love to see Jovan Gambler back on the market, all you have to do is to repackage/make a new label, the cologne was fantastic, it always got me in the mood. I would consider it a classic cologne. Maybe it didn't sell well because you could buy it in pharmacies and k-mart, but the price was definately right. If you sold the product in Bloomingdale's it would be a big hit.

31st May, 2004.