Romeo Gigli (1991)
by Romeo Gigli

I know it’s bad of me, but whenever I see blue liquid in a fragrance bottle or a sample vial, I cringe reflexively in anticipation of yet another drab, “sporty,” fresh fougère or unpleasantly chemical aquatic.

Imagine my surprise and delight then, when as I sniff timidly through the olfactory equivalent of a slit between the fingers covering my eyes, Romeo Gigli sheds its conventional bergamot and soapy aromatic top notes and morphs into a full-blown patchouli, tobacco, and spice-seasoned woody oriental structure. Things get even better as I take my hands away and judiciously applied animalic notes slide into place to warm the scent’s woody/balsamic foundation. In overall mood and structure, Romeo Gigli lies somewhere between the civilized woody orientals like New York and Héritage, and the big tobacco fougères like Lauder for Men, Jules, and Or Black.

Romeo Gigli is the kind of scent that could easily be loud, crude, or overly assertive, but the sillage and projection in this case are cleverly balanced to yield for controlled strength without brute aggression. Yes, Romeo Gigli is staid, perhaps even “old-school” in stryle, but it’s also complex and sophisticated, and should appeal to those who seek self-possessed dignity in a fragrance.

Easily one of the very best early Nineties frags. (You can really classify this one among Eighties power frags, truth be told.)

Gigli starts off very fresh and somewhat coniferous, but soon dries into a wonderful medley of spices, sandalwood and tobacco. This is a light and clean tobacco, by the way, not the ball-sweat "stank" stuff of Polo nor the pipe tobacco stuff of The Dreamer.

Other reviewers have been QUITE correct in asserting that this is not, though, a frag for a) twinksters who want the latest "fresh aquatic" frag, nor b) really for anyone much under 30.

Wear this one with confidence and marvel at its versatility.

I must have received a terrible or old sample of this but this really comes off as nothing but a powdery candy smell like the cheap ones you get from the elderly during Halloween. I think they're called Smarties in the States. Sickening to wear. I get none of the notes listed, not even the civet which I find to be quite stimulating in better civet scents like Ungaro II or Kouros. Just a big candy yuck fest.

Definitely a cologne for older men. The initial blast is very strong with the many top notes contained, which is deceiving, because the fragrance is really very light, sticking close to the body. I was disappointed at the lasting power, on my skin, about 5hours maximum. Overall, I do like the fragrance myself, but I feel like I might give it to my father; somehow, it will fit him better than myself. My girlfriend liked Gigli the least out of my scent collection.

When I initially purchased this one it was far too mature for a 21 year old(1994)
The year is now 2007(I'm 34) and I have reinvented myself with this classic fragrance! I had one of the best fragrances ever created resting peacefully in its dormant state that I placed it in and had forgotten all about it.
There is a hidden note within this complex juice that I can't put a finger on.I wonder if its nutmeg? whatever it is it cuts the sharpness and smoothes out the fragrance.
2 Thumbs up on this one!

I well balanced spicy,citrus scent...smooth and long lasting.

I bought two bottles scent untried after reading your reviews and am very pleased.

Foetidus' review really said it all, but i wanted two add my two scents worth..:)