Oxford & Cambridge (1994)
by Czech & Speake

Love the opening… herbally aromatic with its lavender, rosemary, and peppermint. As the green herbs mellow, the lavenders grow stronger, but the accord remains variably balanced between the aromatic green herbs and the aromatic lavender herb. With its opening, Oxford and Cambridge has joined Royal Scottish Lavender and Gris Clair as only the third lavender fragrance that it is possible for me too love. This is the herbal, not the floral lavender version… it is aromatic, not creamy, and the use of the herbs – peppermint and rosemary – echo the lavender’s aromatic qualities. For a short time I’m in lavender heaven, but this particular heaven doesn’t last long enough. The aromatic herbalness lasts about an hour on my skin and I get very little more… The oakmoss appears intermittently in the top or the middle, but I don’t smell it in the base, nor do I smell the sandalwood of the base. Consequently the fragrance is finished in an hour and during that time it grew disappointingly weaker. This is a linear fragrance, which is a very good thing in this case, but its longevity is very poor.

I realize that this kind of traditional lavender fragrance is a fleeting experience, but I did expect more sillage and longevity for a fragrance of this price.

What makes this lavender scent interesting is a potent peppermint note. While there are a fair number of fragrances that use mint, this is the first peppermint I have encountered. Here it blends very well with the lavender. The peppermint is very pleasant smelling and deflects from the sharpness of the lavender. Recommended, although there are certainly excellent lavenders at lower prices; just none that smell quite like this one.

Restrained, classic but very much a stiff upper-class school boy scent. O&C initially reminded me of shaving cream and after-shave.
Oxford and Cambridge didn't immediately come to mind, but Eton definitely did.
I detected hints of bitter grapefruit and faded lemon-lime hints which made it very tangy, but balanced with bits of lavender. It was like a growing teen, probably graduating from Eton and heading off to Oxbridge.
Old world cologne. Ideal for just reminiscing the good old school days.

Oxford & Cambridge is very a pleasant mint and lavender creation, although it’s a bit too sharp during the first few seconds. I would recommend this to anyone seeking a good old-fashioned eau de cologne but, alas, it’s too polite and Eton-esque for my tastes.

This is an unqualified thumbs up. Czech & Speake is making a believer out of me - these are luxury items but I will try more of their fragrances after this. This one is LAVENDER. It's natural, it's crystal-clear, peppermint and lavender. It doesn't change much as it dries down. I could pick up just a hint of the moss and sandalwood but the prominent note from top to bottom is lavender. The peppermint starts out as a blast and hangs around for a good long while, but it's a very pleasing, austere and eminently natural peppermint. You get the clear and immediate impression that you are wearing something of the finest quality. It's a fresh scent without being an annoying 'aqua'. Is it the fragrance, or the branding? I could very clearly and accurately characterize this as a stately, respectable fragrance. This one is in queue to wear to my next 'high-power meeting'. Despite the price, I believe this is a bargain for the quality of the juice. I just can't stop smelling it and I'm dazzled every time I do. If you can absorb the price, this is one you SHOULD have.

By the by, I ordered 4 fragrances directly from C&S in London. It arrived in about a little over week on the U.S. east coast. Not much more than a typical U.S. retailer. No need to pay the exorbitant markup some are charging.

Enjoy!

Of all the C&A, I think this is the one I would put down my money for a full bottle. It doesn't start promisingly (like all the other C&A)- the off-putting incense 'house note' is just grating and quite repugnant. The drydown however is marvelously exquisite and this ranks as one of the loveliest lavender scent I know.