Jaguar (original) (1988)
by Jaguar

this is a spicy,aromatic,virile powerbomb with a high recognition value- one spritz that last forever with an unbelievable intensity !
As I always say, a perfume is something very personal- either you like it or not.
Jaguar is a typical scent of the end 80ties: powerhouse fragrance similar to oscar de la renta pour lui, duc de virvins by houbigant, egoiste platinum by chanel etc.
To me this fragrance is quite ordinary and simple ( already the name.....you think jaguar drivers would choose this fragrance as a signature fragrance? I don´t think so!)
One splash of Jaguar and it kills you with it´s power -already the opening is too strong, too heavy, too aromatic and too spicy-too much of everything and this is what I detest-it is not refined, subtle,etc.-it´s too linear! Having a look at virile and handsome scents you may think of azzarro, devin, aramis and yatagan and even the very special kouros but in comparison to Jaguar these fragrances are much more interesting and taste definitely better in a well rounded manner- and are more pleasing.Maybe Kouros stands out but it is definitely more exciting and challenging than Jaguar.
Nevertheless Jaguar ( what a horrible name for a scent?!)is in comparison to all these light aquamarine metrosexual trash of these days a spirited attempt- it´s a man´s scent-no doubt! - genuine, authentic and masculine! Which company would dare to launch such a scent 2011- no one!!! 2011 perfumes are all exchangeables.......

12nd December, 2011.

I was fortunate to acquire a 125 ml splash bottle, still sealed in the box! It has the wood cap (screw type) and says 85% alcohol. I decanted some into a dab vial and applied it that way. Doing this, I didn't detect much in the way of top notes. It seems like it takes a while for the amber to heat up and help bring the other notes out. The orange is there but muted, and it wafts in and out gently, perhaps for a couple hours. The two main themes here are ones I found in vintage Xeryus and vintage Quorum. From the Quorum type, I get green, leather, and tobacco. The Xeryus type features a strong amber, cedar, and spice type of accord. It's definitely not too sweet, nor musky, and while the lavender note is clear, it's not irritating, as is the case in many "men's" fragrances from the 1980s. One thing that's great about this one is that it offers all the complexity, dynamism, balance, and naturalness you expect from a great vintage fragrance without any qualities that might offend anyone; hence, you can wear it for any occasion. And I see no reason why it would cause problems in hot weather.

What's really interesting to me is how much variation there is among the reviews. There is certainly a "grassy" aspect to it, but it's not nearly as strong as in a fragrance like Bobby Jones Cologne. There is also an almost gourmand aspect to it, with the vanilla and some other notes generating "toasty" and almost chocolate-like qualities at times. I can also see why some might feel it's powdery, though it's not a particularly strong element. So, if you don't like "shape-shifting" fragrances, this may be one to avoid. On the other hand, if you like what this fragrance offers, this is definitely a "Holy Grail" candidate. However, keep in mind that there could be reformulations, so if you get a fragrance that seems bland and much simpler, one would assume that is the case. Longevity is very good but projection/"sillage" is moderate. Also, the Quorum aspect to it does not last as long as the Xeryus (amber and cedar accord), and the grassy aspect gives way to the toasty, somewhat gourmand aspect, as the scent progresses. Mine was made in Switzerland.

21st September, 2011.

Jagaur classic is the best among the all jagaur fragrances. It is very masculine, bright sparkling wood spicy fragrance with moderate silage and longevity. Nice for mature men and casual wear.
I give it 8 out of 10.

5th August, 2011.

One of te most underrated scents in the market. A fresh powerhouse of thr 80's. Super staying power.

Perfumer: Thierry Wasser

Top: Mediterranean spices, citrus and mandarines, lavender, basil thyme, bergamot, gardenia

Heart: Sandalwood, fir, cedar, patchouli, nutmeg, carnations

Base: Musk, ambergris, tobacco, fern, leather

9th July, 2011.

Within minutes of applying Jaguar to my wrist a warm and exciting familiarity came over my senses. Something about it reminded me of Gucci's Nobile! The top lacks the distinctive bite and masterful aromatic green blending, and is more orange by far, but the heart is so similar. The drydown I think I enjoy even more, so a trade-off of sorts is achieved. Sillage and longevity on me are quite good, but certainly not as loud as with Nobile. So in short, a more modern and affordable 'Nobile Light!'
I'd been toying with the idea of dropping the $250 or so for a real bottle of Nobile instead of just samples, but now I feel as though I've filled a long-standing hole in my collection. Quality in a bottle.

3rd November, 2010.

Jaguar For Men is nothing to write home about. It smells like a more refined, less crude version of One Man Show or the reformulated Versace L'Homme, but not as interesting as either of them. What I mean is that it's in the high-pitched woody spicy style of the 80s - you know, lots of shrieking juniper, ginger and artemisia notes that seem to last an eternity - which is a style I find dull, unlike the macho leathery, mossy 80s powerhouse scents I love. This is a style that has been done so many times before (Perry Ellis 360 is another), I've just become sick and tired of this style of fragrance. I believe this style was the precursor of what I call the "metal citrus" fragrances of the 1990s and the current day (see my review of Mr. Blass).

It's not a terrible scent, but nothing I would choose to wear. The drydown is pretty good, though, with its powdery patchouli and cedar scent.

MY RATING: 5.5/10

15th September, 2010.