Sung Homme (1988)
by Alfred Sung

Definitely a cool weather fragrance. One squirt of this stuff in the summer and I'm choking on it. Oddly though, it exhibits an entirely different and infinitely more refined character in cooler temps. Sharp and VERY spicy; the cologne equivalent of ordering "five stars" in an indian restaurant. Astounding longevity. I'd give it a thumbs up, but since I'm really only comfortable wearing it about half the year, am going with a neutral. And by the way, even in cooler temps, you'll need to let this one dry down for an hour or so before subjecting yourself to close quarters with others. Either that, or apply with extreme discretion...

I remember 20 years back when this EDT from the now well-known but then little heard of Chinese-born Canadian designer Alfred Sung was introduced in the US. I did not like it at all the first time I smelled it (soapy and overwhelming) and it didn't help that it was not what one would consider affordable at all at the time, upwards to $70 for the 3.4-ounce bottle, which looks nice btw. However it proved to be a commercial success and something I couldn't fail to notice, a hit with the ladies. Maybe Sung was up to something after all and I purchased a bottle. Can't say I feel in love with it, especially the opening which is far too strong for my taste. However I found the drydown much more interesting than I had expected, totally exempt from any flowery sweetness one could be lead to expect from it. It's very dry and distinctively unique, I don't agree that it could ever be mistaken for a female fragrance. If you don't overindulge it makes a man smell "heavenly clean" according to numerous female comments, some also comment that the silllage it produces is "one you want to follow almost anywhere", Personally this EDT is not the most self-pleasing to me and it was definitively an acquired taste. However its social value is one that deserves a thumbs up.

Not for me. It was a blind buy based on some "good" reviews, Spicy and soapy, old cigarrettes. Does not change a lot on drydown

I liked this when it was first introduced at Macy's (NYC) in 1989. I wore it a few times then for some reason I started to dislike it very much. Perhaps because it is so synthetic. To this day, whenever I come across it at a discount store, it turns my stomach.

This is by far the best fragrance ive ever had the joy of smelling.

I wanted to like this scent. Yet to me, this fragrance is akin to an off the rack, synthetic mirco-fibre suit that wants to come off like one that is tailor made from super fine wool. Or perhaps a room full of plastic house plants.

When I smell Sung, all I can think of is Night at the Roxbury.