Dirty (2004)
by B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful

I have Gorilla re-issue for Lush.

It does exactly what it says. Very refreshing and a bit spicy. An interesting and clean smell that stands out on its own. Great price I think, 160g body spray but lasts surprisingly long.

A nice pick-me-up!

19th November, 2011.

Gorilla Perfumes are trying to exploit mint's awkward position in our collective sensibilities with the re-release of Dirty: on the one hand, they'd like us to perceive it as a serious perfume, but on the other, they're selling it as part of a cheekily constructed range of male grooming products which includes an 'Italian shower' body spray in a Febreze-style bottle, complete with chunky pump. Has their gamble succeeded?

Well, the first few moments of the fine fragrance are a chuckle-inducing herbal blend of such monstrous proportions, a few drops are enough to convince you that you're being chased down the street by a giant sprig of tarragon. When the mint comes into play, the mental images start becoming even more surreal. (I stopped writing notes when I began picturing a dolphin giving me a wink and offering me a stick of chewing gum!) With its freshness cranked up to fascist extremes, this is a strident juice that says you WILL feel cleansed and uplifted whether you like it or not. But ultimately, it makes the same mistake as Lutens' L'Eau, allowing the top notes to outstay their welcome. It's tenacious and it does have some character, but it's also one-dimensional and predictable.

[Review based on 2011 Gorilla Perfumes re-issue.]

11th November, 2011.

Well, hardy har har! I get it…Dirty is anything but.

Did the folks at Lush really think they were being funny slapping the “Dirty” label on this immaculately effervescent citrus-and-herb composition? If I ignore the utterly inapt name I can enjoy the brisk blend of tarragon, lavender, mint, and thyme over a plain woody base note, but Dirty doesn’t hold a candle to the more stimulating green herbal arrangements that anchor scents like Eau de Campagne, Calamus, Virgilio, or Silences.

On the other hand, it is pleasant and extremely cheap, so if you’re looking for a green pick-me-up on an Axe budget, Dirty just might be your thing.

26th August, 2011.

Review of the re-issue in 2010 by Gorilla Perfume, previously B Never Too Busy Be Beautiful:

Gorilla Perfume's Dirty – with its dominant accord of tarragon, spearmint and lavender – is like a decongestant for the mind. One spray feels like de-cluttering one's desk with a calm but determined swipe of the arm.

The mint note is handled well and certainly holds it own alongside other respectable mint-themed scents, such as Heeley's Menthe Fraîche and Guerlain's Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca. The Gorilla range also contains another excellent, more symphonic, mint-oriented scent, this one using peppermint instead of spearmint, and is called The Smell of Weather Turning.

When it arrives, the drydown of Dirty smells to me like clean bed sheets – that credential of a well-ordered life if ever there were one.

8th June, 2011.

Dirty is pretty bizarre indeed. It smells like stale mint, bitter marine notes (?), sandalwood and thyme. Dry and fresh, kind of odd but somehow compelling and distinctive. It sells for $17 in a 180ml size and it comes in a Windex Glass Cleaner-like spray. If you don't take it too seriously it is worth a try!

26th April, 2011. (Last Edited: 4th September, 2011.)

A fresh, sweet take on mint. It certainly stands out from the mostly dire 'sports' fragrances it's aimed to compete with. The lavender and tarragon stand out very clearly on my skin in the first few moments, framing the mint so it doesn't get carried away. Overall a lovely addition to anyone's collection (women too), but I prefer it as a frisson to enjoy once in a while, rather than as a devoted partner for life.

17th January, 2010.