Stetson (1981)
by Stetson

Cal it Norell or Tabu for men. Fine. This one does work when applied lightly and yes, as an after shave (man up with it). A third place in 2009 in the mass-market category which I agree with. as well as the FIFI.

This is a very feminine scent, at least if you apply today's standards (after all, floral scents used to be considered far more masculine), and in my mind much moreso because its uncanny resemblance to the perfume my grandmother used to wear around the house. The jasmine is extremely pronounced, and is one of the last things to remain hours after application, followed by the (almost) sickly sweet amber that seems to cling to your skin nearly 24 hours after you first put it on. Too bad the rest of its character isn't so tenacious (though it can last a good 6-8 hours).

That isn't to say it's bad, or immasculating to those wearing it. It's got enough of a woody, musky hint to it that it won't be mistaken for a woman's perfume, at least not very often. I almost smell whiskey in it too, but that's likely to just be due to its sepia hue and 'cowboy' theme.

Beware the splash-on bottles, though. It isn't loud or far-reaching, but can bring tears to innocents' eyes without proper ventelation. Bottom line: Another mass-market fragrance that's fantastic - for the money, that is. I've worn it, and will wear it again, and won't be embarassed if my girlfriend does too.

This stuff smells more like an old-school women's perfume to me than anything else I've owned. My mom had something that was remarkably similar that I always associate it with, and I think erv2 is correct: it's Norell. I felt embarrassed smelling like this in public because of how obvious the comparison was to me. I think I get the feminine impression because there's too much of some flower (jasmine?) and not the right spices like other similarly priced brands, unless I just got a bad bottle. I also smell urinal cakes, but only at the very end, and if I breathe it very close-up. I've never been so thoroughly disappointed from something so inexpensive. Chaps is closer to what I wanted Stetson to smell like.

I can't say if I like it or not - as it smells typically like the "attar" (concentrated perfume) that is available in India. Since it is commonplace, I don't feel very attracted to it.

As Tania Sanchez pointed out in The Guide, this is an old-school women's fragrance packaged and sold as a men's cologne-- an great joke, perhaps an excercise in postmodern gender-role subversion. Stetson starts off with a blast of spicy citrus, admirably brightened with aldehydes. Then it settles into a musky jasmine and an ambery dry-down. Strong and smooth with an old-fashioned charm all the way through, and an excellent value for the low price.

An aggressive, powdery, drugstore cheapie with way too much lavender and cheap amber and far too little patchouli. (If you're going to be an oily beast, at least come to the table slathered in patchouli.) Screaming sillage -- absolutely screaming. Very little, if any, complexity in the drydown.

Often sold very close to Fleet enemas in Walgreens across America. How appropriate.