Van Gils (1988)
by Van Gils

Quite temperamental animalic patchouli scent. Shares a similarities with Dali PH, Givenchy Gentleman, Laura Tonatto`s Re plus some other scents that are heavy on patchouli.

Indolic jasmin dancing along with amber (plus that patchouli) can cause serious problems to some.

Very very masculine. Apart fom patch and animalics, I get herbs (mainly verbena) and woods (mainly cedarwood).

Wonderful when very moderately applied. Horrendous in larger amounts.


And here is the personable pyramid for this (jasmin and orange are quite rare as Basenotes) :

Top : Lemon, Bergamot, Vervain (Verbena)

Middle : Thyme, Rosemary, Coriander, Cardamon

Base : Orange, Patchouli, Vetyver, Cedar, Jasmine, Amber


Btw, the bottle of this can`t get anymore masculine.

This scent is very unknown because the clothing house of Van Gils is based in Holland, and to my knowledge, doesn't export much. You only might see it in the UK.

The fragrance is much darker and stronger than those before me described. For me, it doens't really feel like boss no.1, it's maybe heavier, and maybe a little sweeter on the floral part. The florals are done VERY well, like in aramis, very subltle. The other notes on the other hand, are DARK

This scent doesn't nearly get the reputation it deserves, it's like a better version of Trussardi Uomo! Not only in terms of strength, but also lasting power and balance.

Enough raving about it, it's just a try before you die, if you like the 80's powerhouses!!

If buying anything by Van Gils buy this one. Powered by roaring 80's engines proud of the smoke they generate Van Gils is a bit on the dark and sweet side. But at the same time it is fresh and uplifting. Van Gils is an augmenting sensation of elegance, and sentimentality that celebrates what is lost rather than weep over it.


The energy has a sentimental or travelling aspect, like you are following a trail to a .

this has got to be my "lucky pants" fragrance,whenever i wear it i always get compliments.i love the woody/leathery dry down,and it lasts for ages.the body products are amazing,especially the shower gel.

Allow me to preface my ramblings by saying that prior to my most recent purchase of this fragrance, the last time I experienced it was a good 15 years ago in a duty free store at an airport I was passing through. I remember clearly trying this on one wrist and Ted Lapidus on the other. I liked neither on application but some hours later, at 38000 feet with a trolley stocked only with Kouros, Jazz and Lagerfeld Photo, decided that I liked both.

Now, my first impression is of Boss No1. In fact I had to get the bottle of Boss No1 from my bathroom to check I hadn't been sold a dud product. The two are undeniably similar...at first! Both are warm and earthy but where Boss No1 maintains a sour/bitter element, which is part of its charm, Van Gils gives way to a sweeter note that settles in nicely.

This is the first fragrance I've found where one spray is adequate, two is lavish and three is a social faux pas. This scent does date from 1988, a time when mens fragrances were designed to arrive in the room before their wearer did. Nowadays we are much more used to lighter, often more aquatic scents and so this is where I feel Van Gils may strike some people as too much. In this day and age it is quite safe to go mad with a more current fragrance and hose yourself down in it but with older fragrances it isn't required. This fragrance does have a perfume like quality, perhaps in the same way of Santos de Cartier or Eau Savage. That said, despite its heavy, formal smell, it can be pulled off in any situation but only with the right amount.

The Van Gils site doesn't give much away regarding individual ingredients but its safe to say that is a fragrance suited to colder weather, is clean and to my nose at least, inviting. It is old school and to be fair I dont think an 18 year old could pull it off with much charisma. The other safe bet with this is that hardly anybody else wears it. There are only 3 existing reviews on this site!

If you want something different, individual, that makes a statement, that harks back to an era when fragrances were heavy and serious, this is the one for you. Buy a bottle and join me and the other 3 reviewers below and join one of the most exclusive fragrance clubs its seems there is.

I think this is the dirty version of Antaeus. Much better than its cheap reputation. Best suited for winter.
benb