Castile (1998)
by Penhaligon's

Smells like roses! Then something else, like a musk. Then more roses! It's really neroli no wait it's citrus rose. Wow! Interesting. Very classy and beautiful.

Well, hirsch_duckfinder said just about everything I was going to say.

Simple (I could pick off all the five notes that are supposed to be there, even with my unsophisticated nose) but elegant and classy. It combines the freshness of a good eau de cologne with longevity and sillage. Kind of similar to AdP Colonia, I think, but more intense, vivid and colorful.

This immediately reminds me of a classic Eau, particularly Villoresi colonia. All the notes are somewhat detectable right from the start but the balance changes as it develops. It starts with lovely limey citrus like a high quality edc, light but very present neroli with the dark, heavy aspects chopped out maybe mingled with a light rose. While never overbearing, the neroli retains some indolic qualities. This sits with a clear and very excellent bergamot note which reminds me of the divine one in Patou pour Homme. Finally a very pleasant musk, with the sharp points smoothed off .The musk-neroli blend is absolutely outstanding, warm with soft spikes like a hedgehog polished by a disc sander.

Beautifully blended and balanced this is an outstanding fragrance.

OMG, I cannot believe what some of the reviews here have said.

This is a spectacular fragrance. The neroli opening is a magnificent opening to an orange blossom heart. Quite simply this is a lovely floral yet curiously masculine scent.

This is like many great masculine scents, effortlessly so. This projects the levels of refinement you would expect of Heritage yet with a much fresher, livelier feel. It is what Chanel Monsieur would aspire to. This is a fresh citrussy (but not lemony) fragrance that has both longevity and sillage for a long time.

I disagree also that there are no crisp notes here, yes there are! (Although I accept that is going to depend on skin type.)

Creed lovers should take time out to consider this. It is a classic, elegant, fresh and articulate fragrance that any man who considers himself knowledgeable about fragrance should have as a de rigeur purchase.

This is the purchase that the real man should consider when faced with a choice between Blenheim Bouquet and Endymion. I would buy this every time. It carries more class, more elegance and more savoir faire than either of them.

Highly rated? You bet!

This review is under revision.

I didn't catch the rose notes at all...to me it simply smelled like soap. Not cheap soap mind you, but still soap nonetheless. Clean and fresh best describes this fragrance.