Reviews of Zino Davidoff (1986)
by Davidoff

I've owned zino for a while, and it's sat on my dresser top, and i really can't get rid of it.
Every now, and then i come back to it, as it in my opinion has a really pleasant woody/tobacco smell to it (subtle) maybe with a little soapy smell too?
anyhow, i enjoy it on a night out, as it has a scent that isn't overbearing, but just a smooth woody/tobacco-ey aroma.

blind purchase but not dissapointed or gracious either with zino being created 22 years ago i guess it's aimed at the older crowd but it lacks sillage as all davidoff's do. none last for over 2 hours and you figured the guy would have fixed this by now. anyway the legendary obsession wa created in 86 also so i am neutral about zino. p.s. i bought the 4.2 oz one. lucky me.

Unfortunately, I purchased blindly as did a few others and that's such a dumb thing to do. Sometimes you get lucky sometimes you don't. In this case I didn't. It sits in my drawer stinking. I tried again today to give it another chance and oh boy does it smell. Oh I certainly can smell fecal notes in this as someone earlier posted mentioned. Interesting and complex doesn't begin to describe the odor. There are many adjectives that come to mind to describe this one. I can't imagine giving it away because I don't know anyone who would want to smell like this.

The sharp, crisp scents of lavender and sage are quite shocking. I wish that lasted forever instead of getting the sandalwood and amber base accord.

This review is under revision.

The aesthetic here is very 80's, "more-is-more": the opposite of Jean-Claude Ellena's transparent recent fragrances, which give the impression of a steady murmur. <br>Zino talks circles, talks crazy, talks sexy, talks its way through all the sections of the Times, and then begins to explain occult diagrams from the Hermetic Museum. Zino motions you into a back room, claiming it has a flagon made of Byron's skull, it's a joke in dead earnest. <br>Zino is a beautiful companion for a dark and busy mind, a mad distraction for the already distracted.

This was a blind purchase and i failed don't like this one bit this is the first fragrance i actually washed off myself might even be the worst i ever smelled

Zino Davidoff starts out with a very bold lavender and citrus accord that recalls such classics as Bois du Portugal, The Third Man, and even Jicky (without the civet). Some sweet spices and woods join in over the next few minutes, followed quickly by a very rich and rounded rose note. Settling into its heart, Zino Davidoff becomes a sweetened rose and wood scent, seasoned with geranium and resting on an oriental base of vanilla and smooth sandalwood.

Zino Davidoff does not turn soapy as it dries down, as do Bois du Portugal and The Third Man, nor does it veer toward hyper-masculine leather in the manner of, say, Antaeus. It seems to me instead quite balanced - even classical - in its poised approach to the woody oriental genre. Granted, Zino Davidoff is potent, especially in its first few minutes, but it evolves into a versatile and wearable scent that's far less overwhelming than its oriental successors Opium, A*Men, Le Male, and Pi. These days Zino Davidoff is probably underused, under-rated, and deserving of a wider public.

In a dream, it was Autumn and I was walking on moist leaves in a graveyard. It was night where the cool, crisp air hangs heavy in the moonlight. I came upon an open grave. Roses and white lilies were strewn near the tombstone. I knelt down to peer into the abyss and saw nothing but darkness. I noticed that the leather on my boots was wet with mud and earth. A wave of melancholy overtook me, and I looked up to read the name on the tombstone. It was mine...

Just bought this thanks to reviews from here and all i can say is wow!! this is what a man's cologne should smell like perfectly blended and smooth. I have tried a few other Davidoffs and i think ZINO is it!!!
I love going back in time to discover fragrances and ZINO makes it worthwhile. Two thumbs up.

Great stuff. Woody, spicey, sweet and floral, all at the same time, without anyone note struggling for dominance. Smelles VERY 80s in my opinion, but NOT over-done.

Sweet and sexy in a bottle. I can detect a SLIGHT fecal note. Anyone else? Well, I think that it is a result of volitile and stable notes played off against each other very well. An indication of supurb blending.

I have worn this, in MODERATION, around a number of women and girls I have known, romantically and friendship-wise, and it has ALWAYS illicited great compliments. When I decided I was bi, I wore it when I went out with a guy, and he said it "...smells heavenly and dirty at the same time, very sexy..."

I can't say that it is a very well-rounded and seemlessly smooth perfume, because to me, it is not at all; but it is superbly balanced, CONSIDERING the essences of which it is composed, and it is suave, man-ish in a sweet, spicey and floral sense, and permits only men to wear it. Despite its sweet floral notes, quite prominent, it is NOT a fragrance for women to toy around with!

Woody, spicey, sweet, floral and anamalic notes balance suprisingly well. Once again, well done Davidoff!

Some odd reviews: " I wouldn't use Zino when meetingg a girl. "

Well, neither would I, if I just wanted to be friends with her . . .

Far higher on the machometer than Muscs Ravageur, to which it has been compared (huh?) or JHL, again that's just my subjctive, personal and infallible opinion.

Quite a sophisticated juice, not for daytime--unless it's winter; there's only one downside: Guerlian's Heritage.
Now that's one that I would compare Zino to--at drydown. I agree that Guerlian must have ripped it off--I mean, um-was inspired by Zino.

I'll let you in on a secret. Zino is far more complex and interesting.
It's certainly more romantic.

Along with Bois de Portugal and Heritage, Zino completes my "holy trinity" of rich, woody, complex fragrances that I reach for time after time. I wish I could merge the three into my idea of the perfect fragrance. Zino's bergamot/lavender opening and the tonka/vanilla finish perfectly bookend the floral heart and woods that run throughout. Yes, now that you mention it, there is that "wild, almost sweaty abandon" note, but it is so well hidden by the bespoke suit and inlaid humidor that you don't notice it until you are right in the middle of it... and by then it is too late to matter.

Dark panelled rooms, a pinstripe suit with cufflinks - pensive leader of the people thinking through his next move.
That's the aura that surrounds me when I wear this cologne - special occassions, brooding, contemplative.
Very, very woody - balanced by florals and vanilla. The only Davidoff worth having on your shelf - but this one is a doozy. Maybe because it is named after the master of tobaco himself, Mr. Zino Davidoff.

Discovered Zino after falling in love with Burb Brit...and now I know why Brit is so popular. Zino deserves all the credit. Granted Zino is a little dirtier and has some Joop in its drie down, it is still the bases upon which Brit was found.
Zino=old school Burb Brit

Having enjoyed Cool Water one point in my fragrance lifetime, I decided to give this highly regarded fragrance a try. What a fragrance it is! It's strong, sweet, and musky in all the right ways. It's very old school and I love it because of that. Unlike Egoiste and Ungaro III, I think the rose blends perfectly in this concoction, making Zino even more masculine. I wouldn't call this Musc Ravageur lite, but it's pretty damn close.

Revisiting Davidoff's Zino after developing my fragrance dissecting skills even more. Zino holds up well. Very well, infact.

Zino is a rich, luxurious blend which showcases what Davidoff is (was?)capable of if it ever diverges from its money making water (eau), the Cool Water (and its derivative spin-offs). Featuring one of the great openings in fragrances, Zino grabs you by the crotch - but in a good way. Such attention grabbing top notes can be gimmicky (like I just did with my previous sentence), but in this case are a prelude to the great experience that is yet to come. Bergamot and sage around a heart of lavender - and it smells exquisite. I would be more than happy if this was only what Zino offered. But there is more to experience here; a rich floral heart to indulge in, to be exact. The floral duo of rose and jasmin provide complexity and sophistication to the fragrance. A smooth base of patchouli and tonka lends a soft, sweet ending to this olfactory powerhouse. This is a potent juice; 2-3 sprays should be more than enough to put you in a distinguished state of mind.

Zino might not appeal to you if you dont like florals. But that fact doesnt diminish its quality. Like men who can get away with wearing pink, its a masculine fragrance despite being a predominantly floral composition. While it doesnt approach the regal heights of mens florals like Van Cleef pour homme (a subtle jasmin note blended with powerful leather and castoreum) and Czech & speake no. 88 (rose otteo + vetiver), its not far behind. But there is a wide gulf between Zino and Cool Water for sure.

comparing all the fragrances launched by this cigarettes and cigars company i would agree to zztopps review-still the best offering.nothing special but ok-not a work from a grat parfumeur but ok.If you look for a really well composed scent you have to go for works by roudnitska,polge,cellier or beaux-they were really great -and if you really wanna smell a good perfume:go for caron,chanel,estee lauder,carven,piguet,balmain,guerlain etc.but leave your fingers away from the cool water cigars company-what a shame......

Lush and dark and (surprisingly) both casual and formal at the same time. But n one here has, thus far, picked up on what I smell in Davidoff -- a wild, almost sweaty sexual abandon that others always attribute to Musc Ravageur. This is an almost feral scent I'm talking about, rather like a civet, or very like the uber-masculine ferality many (rightfully) see in Muscs Koublai Khan.

Whatever it is that I'm smelling (and I like it!), it renders this scent (at least for me) unwearable except in the most, eh, compromising of situations. NOT a frag to wear when Sister Mary Annunciata comes by to pick up charity donations for St. Vincent de Paul, if you know what I mean, and far too randy for even a Neighborhood Association meeting. No, this is definitely a rich, decadent, "down and dirty" sweaty sex scent, or at least a damn good cruising smell. (In my book, anyway.)

I really admire this one. It is so finely blended, balanced, and structured. It opens with a strong bergamot faultlessly joined with two strong aromatics (clary sage and lavender) and a powerful rosewood. I find this melding of four strong notes, while retaining the individual characteristics, quite amazing. The same with the floral middle…the individual floral notes are readily identifiable and wonderfully balanced—an accord of the prime floral notes: rose, lily of the valley, and jasmine each complementing each other and projecting clearly. And the dry down—Sandal, amber, cedar, vanilla, tonka—a rich, full accord, perfectly structured and balanced. The total progression of the scent is surrounded in smokiness by the patchouli that runs through it—a haze of etherealism for a subtle finishing touch to a beautiful, elegantly blended fragrance. I am impressed that so many strong olfactory elements can be combined and balanced so perfectly. Zino is an impressive fragrance—the best that Davidoff has to offer.

nobody mentions fennel or licorice. that's mainly what I'm getting and. . . not liking a whole heck of a lot. it sounds much better in these reviews than my experience has proven to me... alas

Based on the reviews here, I was really expecting this scent to be much stronger than it is. I found it to be a lighter, sweet woodsy tobacco scent with a prominent floral note. It is indeed very masculine, but in an old-school way. I can imagine a very debonair older gentleman wearing this as a signature scent. I wear it when I want something unique and soft, masculine but not overpowering.

Zino was the first cologne I really chose for me and I must say I went for it after having fell in love with Davidoff cigarettes years before. I first tried Cool Water and Deep and I loved them, but I wanted something more... More Davidoff! And Zino is that thing: I can spray it right under my nose and nearly reach ecstasy. Don't bother the ones who tell you that this isn't good when you meet a girl: intelligent girls will associate you with Zino's class and richness. Because classics always have something to teach.

I agree with some of the comments about how difficult this fragrance is to "embrace," or how you shouldn't use it when first meeting someone. There's no doubt that this is a very complex scent. In fact, this is the one fragrance I had the most difficult time understanding. The geranium comes across very "oily" to me. Also, at first, I had a hard time smelling anything beyond the combination of rose and amber. It was absolutely cloying and "dirty"...made me feel like a prostitute in ancient Babylon (fitting the description of the house in sensual terms). Over a period of weeks, I was able to go beyond that. With just the right amount applied (and yes, a surprisingly high dose), I got to the combination of lasting vanilla, amber, and woods in the basenotes. This is when I felt I understood it. I can see how this is a well-respected and much loved fragrance but most people can't appreciate it.

Unlike the chillingly, neutrally antiseptic watered-down Cool Water or the much too sweet balsamic notes of Good Life, Zino Davidoff is truly a fascinating male scent.
Dark leathery notes, a hint of tobacco, a proper quantity of musk, vanillla and wood mingled with lighter touches of citrus and herbs. Carefully crafted robust evening scent, slightly heavy but well balanced after a few minutes. Exclusive partly chypre, partly Oriental mix of timlessly masculine notes somewhat reminding of lavishly costly Davidoff cigar. A true indulgence, especially if combined with an equally indulgent formal evening wear.

Hahaha! Shame on Guerlain for creating Heritage, something unmistakably the clone of the classic Zino. Bold, sharp wood, with sweet and earthy notes that doesn't quit, unlike the fleeting concentration of Heritage's formula.

Zino is a brilliant and amazing fragrance. I can’t sing enough praise for this one. It’s easily a top three in my wardrobe. It’s a beautiful and rich floral fragrance that is like no other. I can make no comparisons. It smells like confidence and class. I will agree with the guy that said “This is the best cologne ever made”.

There is some cloying element in Zino that never made me embrace it. It also comes across as quite feminine, perhaps the strong rosewood? However it is very recognizeable and original, so I guess it could easily become the signature for anyone who isn't bothered by the aforementioned factors. Imagine Gaultier's Le Male with added florals and a sweet tonka base. It's definitely a quality scent, just not my cup of tea.

I wouldn't use Zino when you meet a girl...

The Baron de Charlus once told me: 'It was in the East End of London that I first encountered Davidoff's Zino. Two tough-looking young men thrust a bottle of it into my hands. "'Ere you are, mister," they growled, "we like it but our mum reckons it's a ponce's perfume, so you 'ave it." Applying said lotion to both wrists, I approvingly registered its suave golden glory, as well as its partial affinities with Guerlain's Heritage and the much older Crown's Sandringham. "Garn, mister," piped a scruffy urchin, "wossat the Kray twins just give yer? Gissa a sniff!" "My dear child," I riposted, "I fear you are so inured to the smells of poverty, so begrimed in the odours of chip fat, snot, unwashed clothing and ordure, that the scent of such a delectable fragrance as Zino would probably only afford you a seizure!"
At this, both he and his equally grimy gang of companions grew surly and menacing. I fingered my swordstick. Fortunately or unfortunately, two burly constables intervened at this point, arresting me for being in possession of stolen property and an offensive weapon.'

This is the best cologne ever made.

This one starts subtle and develops to something floral with a very strange note that is really annoying... If you are brave enough to face 30/40 minutes of it you will see it turns to a regular powdery/sweet scent. It's not my cup of tea!

This is an awesome scent, I bought after reading the reviews at a another site,get it

Spicy sharp at first it develops into good thick flowery spicy chypre with woody-ambery base note. Not that striking but makes a very good impression. Excellent lasting power. VERY masculine, could be worn all day long in fall and winter. Spray less when going to be in the office. IMO, the only one worthy Davidoff fragrance.

Strong and even a bit heavy at first cologne with notes of lavender, flowers (geranuim, lily of the valley, jasmine, rose), sandalwood, amber and musk. Dries down to very rich and smooth scent of tobacco and spices. I like this one a lot!