Realm (1993)
by Realm Fragrances

Because of its touted pheromones, I expected Realm to be a joke, but there is a quality and an attractiveness about it that requires me to give it a more serious consideration. The top notes of Realm are pleasant — a rather restrained patchouli / ginger dominant accord accented by lavender and orange: It has a more fresh feeling than its notes would indicate, and it presents a more complex and interesting accord than is usual among drug store fragrances. Moving on, berry notes are added to the lavender that is growing in proportion to the rest of the notes. It’s a creamy lavender / sweet / juniper berry – a combination that I find a little less attractive than the top primarily because I’m not a fan of creamy lavender; but that is simply a matter of taste and, removing prejudice, I’d have to say that the heart accord is very well done. Realm seems to lose some vitality and variety after the heart notes. Even though it picks up some muskiness, it becomes more recessive and ambiguous in its basenotes, but that’s OK because it has reached the point where it would likely be to too gaudy if it were stronger. At any rate, regardless of its claimed pheromones, this Oriental is an attractively fresh, spicy, and light-woody fragrance. It’s a better product than most of the generic drugstore offerings. Its longevity could be better. Nice fragrance. (Edit of 07 October 2006 review)

Wow! Went to AJ Wright and bought +2 .5oz pack of Realm for 5.99 and it was one of the best purchases I've ever made. Very energetic scent with a lot of spice and citrus. I get compliments every time I wear it! As for the 'pheromones' thing, it doesn't matter because the smell is great on it's own!

I think Realm gets no respect because so many people see it as a "gimmick" fragrance. Just because they threw some estratetraenol (EST, pheromone chemical) into the mix.

First, as EST is a feminine pheromone, Realm is not intended to be a babe magnet. Rather, at such low levels, the pheromone would only cause what are known as self-effects, EST acting as a calming and focusing agent (Androstadienone has similar effects on women).

As for the fragrance itself, it is rather nice. Very decent sillage and longevity. The scent is somewhat linear, but rich, classy, and romantic.

The ginger is prominent, without making Realm smell like ginger bread the way Gucci Envy tends to (though that one is nice too), as the florals, herbals, and vanilla balance the ginger nicely.

Give this one a try regardless of the pheromones. It doesn't last on paper as well as others but the tangerine and juniper base smell is quite good. It's unique and the pheromones are just a added bonus. It does make you feel more confident and makes you think the ladies are checking you out more, which is good enough for me haha!

I got this a while ago at Sears.....
I made the mistake of not smelling it before I bought it... Anyways, the smell isn't bad, per se, but not my favorite. It smells rather synthetic, and it's really strong. I put some of it on in the morning and I could smell it when I got home. It was kind of overpowering, actually. I didn't get any compliments from women when I was wearing it. My friend said it smelled "not bad". Oh yeah, and the pheromones? Don't see those working, either. Smells...cheap in my opinion.

Lavender and juniper berries. Has a vanilla vibe to it. Dunno about these pheromones though. Nice smell.