Jil Sander Man Pure (original) (1981)
by Jil Sander

Hello, this is my very first review in Basenotes.Actually i adore Jil Sander's both Feeling Man and ManPure. Both unfortunately are discontinued but i managed to get 2 bottles of man pure 125ml each. My disappointment comes from man pure does not have any staying power at all; it lasts almost one hour then no trace.

Top: lemon, basil, clary sage, origanum
Mid: carnation, patchouli, cinnamon, geranium
Base: Castoreum, oakmoss, labdanum, musk
It took a lot of sleuthing but I found the components of Jil Sander Man Pure (ORIGINAL), a discontinued treasure. A friend wise in the ways of scents suggested it to me. I’m grateful, because this is outstanding! I’ve not found anything quite like it. At times, its rich beauty suggests Worth pour Homme; at other times its elegant note of leather reminds me of Equipage. However, this stands on its own. It has an ethereal loveliness that is easy to appreciate but hard to describe. I’ll try, but words fail to fully capture its appeal. JSMP has an opening that is rich and yet brisk. Herbal and floral notes quickly emerge. When done well, as it is here, clary sage is a complex element that can evoke amber, neroli, lavender, muscatel grapes, light vanilla, and balsamic resin. Origanum lends herbal notes like thyme or marjoram. This is well-designed: it is sweet yet dry, substantial yet light. Despite its richness it has a cool, clear aspect. It is old-school in its mossy tones, beauty, and substance. This is a great chypre, it is lovelier and less grassy than many. I recommend this one highly, it is worth hunting for!

My second long-term fragrance after growing tired of Azzaro. And what a change. Where Azzaro is all chest-haired Burt Reynolds 70s, this represented the good side of the eighties - like Sander's couture: clear lines, black/white, Zen-like elegance, a cool androgyny (more Grace Jones than David Bowie). Clean, but its directness was simple only in a deceptive way, like a Mondrian painting. Cool, but never cold, sweet, but never sickly, light but no lightweight. Severely missed, the newer Sanders pale by comparison

This is another GREAT Jil Sander Scent. And like all of her great fragrances...it's discontinued(her average scents are available.)I found a couple bottles of this on ebay and it's AMAZING. For those who know FEELING MAN by Sander...Sander Man Pure is VERY similar...almost identical. The only difference seems to be,it's not quite as heavy as Feeling Man, and the dry down is a bit sweeter. However, it has great staying power. This is another example of a beautifully crafted scent, being yanked from the market,long before it's time. It's a lost classic! Joshaugustt USA 4-19-04