Richard James (2003)
by Richard James

This rose, suede and herbal composition is truly amazing – it smells both classic and contemporary at the same time. A very formal and classy fragrance that I would have dearly loved to add to my wardrobe.

So, what’s the problem? Well, after 30 minutes or so, I could hardly smell a thing. After a couple of hours, I couldn't smell anything at all! Forum posts have stated that this may be due to olfactory fatigue but, personally, I severely doubt it.

If it wasn’t for sillage and longevity issues, this would have been a sure addition to my wardrobe.

Please, please bring out an EDP version!

[Original submission date: 10 April 2008]

I don’t like this one. I think it is stuffy. I get plenty overwhelmed by the tuberose, which ruins it for me.

Wore this some years ago now and really enjoyed it's richness and individuality. There is one caveat though -- someone thought i was sucking 'Tunes' (cough lozenges) and I had to agree there is a similarity. The herb notes are maybe too strong and tend to dominate. Definitely worth trying though.

A wonderful fragrance, sharing top honors with Dunhill '34 and Jean Patou, though not as warm as either. Nevertheless, a mastepiece of elegance. Sooner or later the question must be faced: Do I want to smell like a worldly executive with impeccable taste, or do I just want to get laid?

Reading the Female Fragrance Forum, and its credo that " It's not the scent, it's the man." I believe it's a reasonable assumption that you will not be promoted to CEO of the Universe, nor even offered a free line of Saville Row suits, simply because you wear this EDT.

And yet . . .

A superb "blended" fragrance. It's somewhere between dusty and powdery, but not to the point of being overwhelming. There is a touch of "soapiness," but not in a bad way, and it's not sweet or too dry. Longevity and sillage are excellent, but it's not a "power frag."

A smoother Gucci Envy for Men? A toned-down Burberry Brit for Men? If there is such a thing, this is it. Subtle, suave and utterly intriguing. They throw everything but the kitchen sink in this one and you expect disaster. Quite the opposite. To my nose, four notes dominate and captivate: ginger, rose, suede & sandalwood. A very green Ginger starts the show. Soft and elegant, done well here not unlike Burberry Brit for Men. Slowly morphs into a floral rose that's so subtle you can miss it if you're not careful. Rounds out into dusty and powdery suede/sandalwood finale. Regarding the powder, this is so well crafted you don't mind being done & dusted. Just leave the wig at home! Great in the cold but can work in the warmer temps. Perfect in a suit at the office. Feels British in a Michael Caine sort of way.