Reviews of 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.

Very strong and sharp 80s powerhouse. The opening is interesting and shares a certain Kouros vibe, as well as a sulphurous sharpness that seems to plague many other American budget juices -- it's a note I can easily recognize, but I don't know what it is. Because -- like Kouros -- the opening is so rich, it's fairly timeless. Unfortunately, the drydown is very 80s -- the stale cigarettes smell almost evokes images of a cheap, seedy bar with a stripper past her prime pulling down her red thong in front of me and a bunch of 40-something grizzly dudes in smelly leather jackets -- and is pretty much attributable to the combination of very powerful oakmoss and tobacco notes. The oakmoss alone ends up dating the juice. I like it, apart from the opening sharp "burnt" note, but it's too dated for regular wear. Nice for the occasional rainy day.

Cheap (cost wise) and typical soapy oakmoss and vetiver 80's scent. Actually very tame compared to others like Paco Rabanne pour Homme or *cough* Drakkar Noir.

This is one of the best of all the versatile fragrances ever made. Most of all, it's cheap and readily available when needed(by myself of course). A classic in the true sense of the word.

Very crisp and clean soapy scent without having too much sweetness. To me, it conveys confidence, and is versatile. You can wear it with some jeans and a t-shirt to the store, or you can dress up in a suit and tie. It's become a staple scent of mine, and it's cheap too.

An incredibly good buy that routinely gets kicked in the teeth here on the board. Very crisp, very masculine, very bracing. Outstanding sillage; unbeatable longevity.

I myself get both the soapiness and the much talked about tobacco notes, yes. And guess what? I LIKE them.

I hate this! Homme??!! It smells like a bouquet of flowers...nothing masculine about it at all.

I used to spray bathe in this whenever i went into a dept. store as a kid. Since my nose has moved up to more prestige smells, I save this as a bedtime spritz..to rmeind me of yesteryear..and it is overbearing in a workplace...it is very "discount store" and 80's

A very complex and multi-note fragrance that begins with aldehydes, citrus, green, herb, spice, and coniferous elements. I just don’t know what make of it except that, to my nose, the herbs / coniferous seem to be prominent plus there’s a strong cumin note in it. It’s not a particularly beautiful accord; it’s not masculinely dry, nor herbally-greenly natural, nor coniferously sharp. It doesn’t seem to strike any accustomed responses in me; it’s just a big blob of notes that don’t seem to be going anywhere. It gets a little better when the florals and spices of the middle show up—it becomes less complicated and more graspable. The florals are muted, the thyme and sage help create a tangible accord that actually seems to have an aim or direction, but my nose is still a little overcome by so many notes trying to grab its attention. With the dry down my olfactory confusion returns—way too much going on there.
I don’t get the soapy or clean notes that other reviewers talk about, and the fragrance smells much better on paper than on my skin. On paper it seems clearer and fresher and quite pleasant smelling. My lack of appreciation for Sung Homme may just be because of some mismatch with my skin type. Mostly what I get out of it is something extremely ‘cologny.’ Sung Homme is a champion sillage producer and has great longevity.

An interesting, challenging fragrance. I expected it to be like many of the bland, middle of the road fragrances on the market, but I was certainly surprised when I first smelled it. It takes some getting used to, especially these days, but it has a crisp, fresh note that is then mixed with something dark and a little frightening. Other reviewers have noticed that it smells like stale cigarettes and I agree. But, when mixed with its fresh notes, it sort of smells like what YSL Kouros would after heading down to a basement dive-bar after midnight.

in england you cant easily get ahold of this stuff which was given to me a few years ago by a friend following his visit to Canada..but it was great..strong lively tones,lush citrusy top notes and a sensual base note..perfect for evenings in my case..good stuff

My roomate in college swore by this stuff, so far as he annoited it "stud". Well, a decade later, I don't quite think it lives up to the moniker he gave it, but for the price, it certainly delivers.

Sung Homme is very weird to me. It smells, honestly, like soap and cigarettes. I love it. It’s a powerhouse of a fragrance that is clean and dirty at the same time. This is great for any man that values duality. It can be worn by anyone, anytime, which is unusual for many scents from the good ‘ol 80’s. Sung Homme is a great fragrance that can be had for cheap.

sprayed a little on at the store. smelled of soap. i can barely discern the spicier heart notes...definitely pass this one over.

Well, Sung is a good manly scent. Starts citric and then develops to something "lavender/spicy". I could say it's floral, but its spicy notes guarantee the masculinity of the fragrance! You can also smell "old school" notes in it that really increase its power and is responsable for the marvellous sillage produced! You can wear it anytime: good for the office, good for the evening!

I can see why this one is so popular after all these years. It's purple, for starters. :-> But it is quite masculine, sensual, and pleasing. However, it doesn't quite hit me with the same intensity and endurance as its closely-resembling scent, Paco Rabanne Pour Homme. I really want to like it enough to plunk down even just $20 for the huge EDT gift set with body gel that's all over the Ross/Marshall's/TJ Maxx circuit. But, maybe it'll grow on me. 8)

I recieved this as a gift and my first impression of it was really bad, it smells putrid coming out of the bottle, but once it stays on my skin for a while it starts smelling really good. This one has really grown on me, its a complex and intruiging scent thats very masculine and stands out from the overdone citrus that most other guys are wearing. I will definately purchase more when I run out, especially since its so inexpensive!

I was very intrigued about Sung Homme when I learned that he was a Chinese designer, but didn't know what to expect from his fragrance. Wildly surprised, I found his EDT to be difficult to approach...it's not for the timid. The top notes is a mysterious blend of citrus and herbs. The heart notes are spicy, infused with lavender. The base notes are earthy and long-lasting.
I found this scent too strong for me, but one that I am surprised to find amazing on others.

A very nice masculine classic scent. Mossy and spicy but not too sharp. To quote Scentimus: "A bright floral mossy chypre. The scent is never over powering but very long lasting."