Geir (2000)
by Geir Ness

My worst blind buy ever!
Awful! Sickly sweet and floral. A very (bad) femenine fragrance.

24th January, 2012.

It is a very unique green to my nose. I agree with others that it invokes in my imagination images of Scandinavian valleys in the spring. It's unusual in that the opening notes do not disappear once the drydown takes over; they sustain themselves the entire ride. I think it gets a little warmer and pleasantly spicier during the drydown. I'm usually adaquate at listing the notes for a fragrance (at least the main prominent ones) but Geir is somewhat of a challenge and it resists my ability to deconstruct it; all of the notes blend so thoroughly that it's hard to distinguish individual notes. It is a light green/floral/spicy type of thing. I imagine that alone isn't very helpful (or interesting) to you but...you know how toothpaste has a sharp glowing "phosphorescent" character to its smell, the way it strikes the nose? Geir has that quality very much. I have no idea what notes are causing this, but there is no question that the sensation is present; in fact, it is the only cologne I have ever owned that has possessed this quality, and it is the easiest way for me to identify Geir. This sensation is assisted by the fact that the entire composition has a vague wintergreen gum smell. It's a very pleasant sensation. Also, this scent is unusual in that it suffers from none of the typical complaints common of greens. First (as I have already mentioned), the pleasant opening notes(?) sustain themselves for the entire course of the experience; it doesn't disappear but just gets spicier with the drydown. Second, there are absolutely no issues with longevity. It easily lasts the better part of a day and the sillage is great and noticeable by others in your presence without being overpowering (moderate applications are sufficient). And in a crowded category (greens) it manages to smell like nothing else on the market. It's remarkable.

18th December, 2011.

It is hard to describe the scent of this... Definitely well-made, fresh and unique. That said, I guess I am close to alone in my dislike of it. It may be fresh, but the fresh smell is not like anything I want to smell like. Not masculine to my nose (although I would not want to smell this on a woman either). Kind of smells like a spring breeze... Inoffensive, but uninteresting and mundane.

28th July, 2011. (Last Edited: 20th August, 2011.)

Clean, fresh, light, and airy. Floral, but in a wispy, cerebral, and almost etherial way. The reviews below that suggested that there is "nothing like Geir Ness" were spot on.

It is unique in the world of fragrance, and pleasantly so. Luca Turin called Givenchy Pi "sweet nothing" in his ABC's book. To me, Pi better deserves a "heavy vanilla" association. It is Geir, on the contrary, that is the true "sweet nothing."

Geir Ness is almost invisible, and yet pervasively and incontrovertibly present for the duration of its (impressively long) life. A true paradox and pioneer fragrance, and I dare say, a must-have, five-star scent.

2nd February, 2011.

Geir, smells like Joop! Jump to me.

Or rather, Joop! Jump smells like Geir. Geir is a bit more discreet with florals to create its sweetness, but after smelling Joop! Jump so many times this is a smell that is burned into my nose hairs. I think I'll just stick with the Joop!.

29th December, 2010.

The Power of Norway! Now how could a good Norwegian-American like me not love a fragrance with a tagline like that? It may put images of viking warriors in your head, but that's not really what Geir is going for here. Think more along the lines of rugged mountain landscapes and deep fjords, the power of Norway's natural beauty. Though suitable for any season, i have to say that I find this is a superb winter scent, even though it doesn't have a lick of vanilla, spice, patchouli, or leather, those big warm notes that I usually look for in cold weather scents. It has a bracing quality that is amazing when combined with cold, clean winter air. Other houses should take note - this how you make a "clean" and "fresh" scent!

28th October, 2010.