New West for Him (1988)
by Aramis

As well as many  underlined this interesting watery fougere introduces, though in the body of a very herbaceous and aromatic blend, the usage of the synthetic element of calone that would have been in a second time inserted in many following ozonic-marine modern (banal, chemical and anosmic) aquatic concoctions. While many of the recent aquatics are detergent, too metallic and synthetic like insecticids, this fragrance is wonderfully cool, fluid , woodsy, dry and aromatic (i would better write mentholated) due to a blend of mint, oregano, rosemary, lavender, artemisia and juniper. The initial irony feel has the body of natural geranium which on the side of herbs, hesperides and calone produces a sort of balsamic  oceanic feel. The coolness is airy and refreshing in a very aromatic way (due to the chord of herbs, lavender and calone)and the consistence is surprisingly natural and icy. The blue color of the bottle is perfect in order to represent the level of bracing coolness of the juice. The base is mossy and a bit ambery on the side of astringent woods and smoky patchouli. May be the masculine and dusty smokiness is made of nutmeg and a touch of tobacco and amber. A good juice for those that are looking for a more than decent woodsy and silvan aquatic.

17th December, 2011. (Last Edited: 18th December, 2011.)

If California was a scent it would be NEW WEST. This scent is California, reminding me of endless beaches, the ocean, sunshine, glamour, easy life, a decent summer evening, Hollywood and so on. A must have in summer. Could be the older brother of Calvin Klein Escape.

28th October, 2011.

I kept my expectations on New West for Him ver low so when I finally got to test it I've to admit I've been very positively impressed. I honestly thought about something aquatic, sort of an ante litteram version of Light Blue but no way...

New West for Him is very herbaceous and aromatic. It opens with aldehydes and bergamot joined by a minty vibe and, yes, some calone. It's surely refreshing but at the same time anything but dull as geranium and artemisia provide a contrasting and almost astringent undertone while a fougere-y lavander/mossy accord resembles many classic compositions from the same period. Sharp woods (cedarwood) and culinary herbs (bay leaf, rosemary and oregano) are remarkable throughout but they're never overdone.

A great option for anyone who's into lighter / fresher fragrances but want to avoid the chemical fruit blast of many composition of the same genre.

15th October, 2011.

I was surprised yet pleased to find that Estee Lauder had returned the Aramis scents to wider availability, since all of them were classics, albeit inexpensive. What confounds me is that the Calone note automatically classifies it as an aquatic for most people. For me, it doesn't conjure that feeling to the degree where it was overdone for too many years and simply became a dead common industry staple. New West was always a little different in that the notes were organized in such a way that you'd truly get the spice palette -- the rosemary, sage, oregano almost Bistro-like -- and the dry-down into a and Sandalwood/Cedar base to create a unique character.

Overall, it's very pleasant. It's masculine. It would be unfair to call it the first of a genre or suggest that it brought about the over-emphasis on aquatics for years to come. To me, what comes across more are the combination of simple spices and simple woods that play well without competing. It's very balanced. I can't speak to longevity quite yet, nor can I say it's superb. It's a basic cologne that serves its purpose well, is inexpensive, and isn't offensive. Definitely worth a try.

19th August, 2011.

I love this scent on my husband. Not overly dramatic. The moss & patchouli compliment the calone without becoming overbearing. I am so glad that Aramis decided to bring it back.

14th August, 2011.

New West was a staple of my wardrobe in the late '80s, but I was always disappointed in its longevity at the time. Eventually I moved on to other things. I recently revisted it and found the longevity better than I had remembered.

The scent, though, still just doesn't quite work for me. I want to like it more than I do, especially since I am a fan of Lauder's men's fragrances on the whole. I find it aromatic and spicy - much closer to Borsalino than, say, Cool Water. New West is a transitional fragrance, moving the guys from the dominating swagger of Kouros, Lauder, Krizia and the like into the aquatic and fresh realm of the '90s that still reigns today. The bottle and the branding mark it as more aquatic than it is. There is some similarity to Horizon, another early semi-aquatic; they both have a Calone slug mixed with an herbal element but they are more potent than the wan offerings of Escape, Pleasures and their wispy brethren. The mint note, to me, predominates. It's more of a menthol-eucalyptus kind of mintiness (such as Safari contains) than the Green Water spearmint that I'd prefer.

For those looking to extricate from the Acqua Di Gio-Curve mafia, New West is one to check out.

24th May, 2011.