JF (1993)
by Floris

I'm afraid degustibus is right: JF really has elements of a bathroom (I would not say toilet) cleaner.
But that's not the problem. A bathroom cleaner could smell really good and fresh. I think the problem is, that
JF smells extraordinary synthetic. I smell lemon, not the scent of a real lemon, but of some
synthetic aldehyds or acetals. A further problem for me is the poor longevity. I know that this is a
problem for most of the fresh citrus scents, but there are by far better ones (try e.g. Iskander or Eau de Rochas PH).
And last but not least there is no (nearly no) development in the scent. Citral as a top note, citral
as a heart note and citral as a base. Sorry not for me.

This board is full of unimaginative dismissals of fragrances. Everything is a GIT/Issey/CK clone. To me, such posts lack imagination.

JF has bright bergamot and mandarin topnotes that are a delight after shaving. The shave soap is has a little more backbone than the cream, and is subtle enough to transition to other aftershaves and EdT's, if you're not inclined to use the full Floris set.

But JF on it's own dries down to a warmth that discloses itself only to those who get close enough to enjoy it. One could always lather it on if the projection is needed, but the best thing about JF is the subtle warmth that is shared with the wearer and close companions all day long.

And if no one gets that close? Their loss.

GIT? CK? Issey? Sorry, JF is not quite as sweet and feminine. But then ... no, I'm not sorry.

Stop describing great products by referring back to cheap labels, guys. JF is wonderful. And rare enough to be a signature. It's mine.

There are obvious comparisons with Green Irish Tweed and Cool Water, but JF seems a slightly sweeter and muted blend. There is no brash opening, and all the phases, slide in seamlessly.Normally, I would take a Deer Rifle to anything with this much Amber in it, but the balance of components in JF is excellent. Floris have a habit of doing things without fuss and fanfare, this is a prime example. Top notch.

(Cool Water comparisons are fairly straight on but I'll ignore that fact since there are major differences).

Wonderful light and zesty citrus opening that lasts for the first 30 minutes of the life of this fragrance. The middle is a subtly sweet and refined. Not synthetic smelling, not abrasive, just all around pleasing. A sandalwood-ish drydown supports the overall experience making this a fresh but not over the top laundry/shower/I-just-cleaned-something scent. Ultimate class with a touch of youthfulness. Amazing.

Coolnose is correct: after an initial blast of lemon, which to me is overly sweet hard-candy lemon, "J.F." becomes toilet cleaner. Pity the age in which we have been made prejudiced by an abundance of powerful cleaning products, but there you are. One is tempted to opine how this would have been a perfectly fine scent before the era of the modern household cleaner, but by the time of its creation in the 1990s, the new rules should have been apparent.

Floris JF has been my Floris fragrance of choice for quite some time. There is something profoundly dignified about JF that is difficult to put into words. Time and again I have been complimented by males and females alike. I have yet to find someone who dislikes the unique JF signature. Sheer class.