Michael for Men (2001)
by Michael Kors

If I had to name the one timeless and perfect fragrance for Autumn, it would without a doubt be this one. I break this one out every year in late September as soon as the first chill hits the air.

Michael for Men is bone-dry sueded leather and patchouli, with subtle dark plums, pipe tobacco and an herbal breath of thyme. It has a nice booziness but unlike other similar fragrances, it remains arid and avoids sweetness. When this was released back in 2001, it was widely praised and much talked about-- it was really unlike its fresh contemporaries and was more of a throwback to the archetypal 70's patchouli-monsters like Ralph Lauren's original Polo. Over the last few years, its popularity seems to have waned some. It hasn't fallen out of fashion, it just seems to have been forgotten, almost carelessly misplaced.

This one destroys every other Fall fragrance out there.

One of the most unpleasant fragrances I have ever smelled, instantly nauseating to me whether on paper or skin. Zero stars on a scale of 1 to 5.

Updated from my 8 June 08 review, which provided an incorrect reference.

I bought this blind on Ebay just because it shares my sons name. Also the triangle had alot of notes I usually enjoy. My first reaction.........WOW this strong stuff. As it mellows down you can really appreciate the scent. I do recomend this but in VERY small quantities. One to the neck and one to wrists....thats it.

Bought this for my husband, and must admit that I wear it as well when I want. It is a smack in the face of full on booze and sex. Love it! Nothing girly or uni-sexy about it. Leather and cigar, ah, to die for.

Big, boozy, masculine fragrance with bullying sillage and longevity -- there is no subtlety or class here -- it just smacks you one. I like a lot of the notes that are used here normally, but they are all turbocharged and blended quite badly, so the smell utlimately turns me off.

Allright Firmenic!--If that really is your name--Fess up!
What you did was to take a bottle of Givenchi Gentleman and ask yourself:

" How can I make this far more sexy and accessible, even at the cost of it being less formal or elegant? "

Your masterplan succeeded admirably and you kept the Patchouli theme of GG
and, as you evaporated the notes suited for a night at the opera, you combined star anise. pipe tobacco, suede, dark plum, incense, fruits and-- Dionysus only knows what Booze--to produce this brash yet somehow ( you mad genius, you! ) light brew.

Will it be hailed as a classic years from now like ( the old unreformulated) GG?
Will the praise continue unabated?
Who knows?

I can only speculate that: " Your place or mine" will always prove more popular than " Wanna stay for the second act of La Boheme? "

Cheers.