Reviews of 212 Sexy Man (2006)
by Carolina Herrera

The original 212 is actually pretty decent, but this flanker is quite disappointing. A sweet mess, in my opinion. Not vile or anything, but not something I'd wear or enjoy smelling.

I honestly really like this scent! I know its not fresh, or green like the original but who cares?! The world doesn't need another typically fresh scent anyway. The comparisons to Le Male are pretty valid but only to a certain extent. The beauty of this fragrance is in the key note that distinguishes it from Le Male: that musty, BO-ish, spicey note! It is this note that gives 212 sexy its sultry signature which is both compelling and divine. 212 Sexy is to the original 212 what Body Kouros is to Kouros. If you want to know what its like just imagine if Le Male had been created by a Spanish house. Muchos Gracias Senorita Herrera!

I doubt that any man would be even remotely sexy using this. It has a strong resemblance to Lanvin Arpege, providing the wearer with that elongated wet cardboard accord. It starts badly and goes nowhere. If only the fragrance was as interesting as the bottle that holds it.

I originally put ths review as I was reviewing 212 Men..(silver bottle) for some reason.This is not as good as 212,it's ok...but disappointing...as with the 212 Men...you expect something.This fails to deliver anything original for me...smells a bit like Joop Go Summer,and 1 Million by Paco Rabbane...The Joop Go summer is the best one...and the cheapest.Not bad...just disappointed

What a deceiving fragrance on my skin... At first I liked and so did my friend and then when the alcohol evaporated, about a minute or two later, I got a revolting fecal note rotting below an offensively synthetic top accord. I scrubbed this one off to death and still something lingered, and I must admit more than an hour after scrubbing it off, what was left was very nice but still uninteresting. It must just not like me because that fecal note/ body oder not screams from my skin.

If you smell it faintly, you may think it smells fresh, but with a closer smell it is TERRIBLE. This is one of the only colognes that actually makes me feel like I could throw up. It has this weird spice note that I can't even describe. Maybe its the green pepper and ginger. Why would you put green pepper and ginger and a 'fresh' frag? The worst part about this is that it lasts for weeks. HUGE thumbs down.

I recently became a fan of 212 Sexy Man as I was asked to judge some fragrances for a major men's magazine. Had it not been for that, I would have never thought to look at Carolina...shame on me. Sometimes we think niche manufacturers have the best stuff...not so here. From the first spritz I was caught by surprise. It reminds me Le Labo's Rose 31 in that there's a "funky" element underneath the smell good. That "funky" presence will offend some people...I love it. To me there's something carnal about it. Maybe its my diet or the way it takes to my skin but it works for me. Even better, i was recently wearing it and was told I smelt great.

The original 212 men is much better, this is cloying, linear and reminds of Joop that I hate..staying power is average but sillage is good.

This is almost a carbon copy of Le Male. Longevity and sillage are maybe slightly worse on this than Le Male. If you have one, don't bother with the other.

i cant say its bad ... but i cant give it thumbs up ... i dont find it sexy myslef ? may be women find it so ... i dont know .... i find it a light version of le male .....

I have got to say this is the most offensive fragrance I have ever smelt or worn. A guy I know did a big review on this stuff saying it was incredible, bla bla bla, and so I got pumped to try it.

Ashamed to say, it was absolutely revolting. I don't think its even worth the risk of trying and hoping others like it. I put it on and immediately felt disgusted, but kept it on for the dry down.

Two hours later and I was flat out SICK. This smelt like Armani code and Burberry Touch, only with more of a "crap" note. It honestly smells like fecal matter to me. Like a hot baby diaper simmering in the back seat of a car on a hot summer day. My girlfriend also didn't like this frag. She concurred the "crap" note as well.

I think Herrera took a major risk by releasing this infection. I can't say enough negatives about it. It shouldn't be called 212. It is nothing like the original 212 that is actually pleasant and inviting.

Don't let me stop you from trying this, just be sure to try it first before buying. You could end up real sorry.

i really hate this smell there is something about it that makes me feel sick. thank god i only bought a sample of this. the original 212 is million times better than this and is a fragrance im considering buying however i would avoid this at all costs.

Used it for a few months. Very generic. It has good durability and it's decent for everyday use.

nice but a bit like le male, still a bit different and good for winter. get this!

This is really nice on my boyfriend. He previously had a bottle of something by Anchor Blue I think ,in a blue bottle, forget the name but anyways it smelled almost exactly like this but a bit more tenacious. This is enjoyable from start to finish. My bf likens it to Dr. Pepper. It's really warm and a little spicy and yeah I actually think it's sexy. I would almost drink it. Definitely on my purchase list.

I m a little bit confused about this scent, but I have something clear: I will not buy it.
212 (the traditional) is very nice fresh scent, clean, excellent experience, but this one have something sweet and spicy....Thats the problem....Maybe I dont like the style of sweet fragances, but this is not for me.
Reminds me Emporio Armani for him.
Absolutly neutral...Absolutly indifferent.

I wore this for the first time today and a few things the top notes do smell like body odor like F_Frez stated but doesn't last long enough for concern but the 1 concern I do have everyone who complimented me asked if it was Armani Code (EVERYONE)so I would say try before you buy but all that aside I like it like every other Carolina Herrera product I've tried so for (212,Aqua,Chic,212Splash)so thumbs up

I'm a big fan of CH frags, I like CHIC FOR MEN, and 212 MEN very much and always looking forward to having this 212 SEXY MEN, and I did. The main attraction is I just love the deep/dark maroon color of the bottle, and the scent has a weak hint of the original version. The opening scent is superb, I would describe it as something that is fresh, and seductive, regardless of the notes, the opening is kind of a citrus splash with a touch of something that is sweet, (orange and honey perhaps?) The opening scent lingers for about only half an hour :-( Nothing much I can say about the middle notes, but the dry down is great, i would say that the dry down as something sweet and dark, it is like sandalwood, vanilla, coffee and smoke. All and all, the smell is really great but the longevity is extremely poor. Would last for about 2, 3 hours when applied on skin, but last for days on cloth.

For me, this dies after an hour. The scent feels skunky after a while. I don't like it at all, it made me gag. Too much vanilla and "green".

It's a fantastic scent.. I think it's really something to like. To me it feels quite exotic. I find it different enough from Joop! Jump which was mentioned in other reviews.
I really think it is sexy and spicy..good to indicate one's personality and the ladies like it too..

Just been bought this one by .... a special person...and it is a sexy scent all right..and a grower which I think are the best ones....it's in the same class as pursuit (Dunhill) and, of course J.P. Gaultier...bit Joop in there too

I liked this fragrance i thought it was ok, but i would prefer versace the dreamer. Although they do not smell the same, they sit in the same categories of smell, the masculine seductive kind. Also, i couldn't help but think that it smells like Lynx Africa!!! (If you remember it!)

I tried this in a store before I read the reviews / pyramid. Immediate impression was 'A Blue Cross (cheaper) Lolita Lempicka', with less finesse. Sweet, vanilla, and not much else, to my nose. (I have not tried Le Male.) Stick to Lempicka - similar vanilla base, but more liquorice and green notes at first; or Rochas Man - similar vanilla, but with unusual cappuccino and lavender tones. These 2 both feature longlasting vanilla.

A vulgar copy of JPL LeMale (but less Gay)... !what happened with you Carolina! isn´t It enough with: Op Blend, Cuba Blue, 360 White, etc etc. I prefer JPL it has best longlansting.

Tried this on my skin the other day. As the SA sprayed it on my pulse, Joop! Jump came to mind. It evolves a little different, but the similarities remain... Comparing both, I'd say Jump was nicer on my skin and lasts longer.

What a total disappointment. Why, oh why, would a reputable perfumer like Carolina Herrera stoop so low as to just blatantly copy a classic like Le Male by JPG? Especially considerring howmany other companies are launching 'new' frags that are nothing but copies of le male (hypnose, courduroy, 100% love, etc). As with all these copies, there is a note or two that gives the scent a wee difference from le male, in this case, you get a hint of the original 212 just as soon as you go "wait a minute, this smells like le Male" then it goes to just le male.
Bad, Caro, bad bad bad.

Hmmm, I (thankfully) don't get the Le Male comparison but I can understand that it has a similar "texture" to it. Very nice scent, Carolina does it again! Shares a little with Herrera Aqua me thinks. Love it!

Tested it today from a sample vile. It's longevity is good for about 6 hours, however I immediately smell "Le Male" by J.P.Gautier. I am not favorable to Le Male. Too putrid cloying and sweet.
Sexy Man is a very cloying sweet scent. If you like Le Male and Geir by Geir Ness you'll like Sexy Man by C. Herrera. Too cloying and strong as hell. Sorry guys but not my cup of tea.

It's a nice evening scent, but It's too similar to JPG Le Male... Heavy on vanilla with a nice green accord, It also has something in common with fragrances like Burberry Brit and even Gucci envy. I'd give it a thumbs up, but It'll be neutral due to the lack of originality.

Carolina herrera is stil making good scents, but in recent times they hava been watering up their latest offerings, making the brand less interesting than before.
This one changes the trend, and I’m very happy about it. It’s not something a lover of “classic masculine scents” would love, and it’s certainly marketed towards a “younger” audience…nevertheless I still liked it.
It’s a bit too sweet and a bit too sugary, in comparison with other masculine scents, but never like paco rabanne’s utraviolet neverending line of sugary sweets for men, Herrera made the rare attempt to create something that’s just the right amount of sweet, and that is achieved by the soft fruits in it.
The top is fresh and light but it quickly changes , the bergamot is very short lived as are the greens and the mandarine.
The rest is a very well blended, flowing scent of vanilla, woods and some flowers, and the very clear note of cardamom that never becomes too powerful.
The base is mostly amber and soft woods and it’s very much a comfortable scent to be with.
This scent seems right for those with an open mind –scentwise-.

It's my first time posting. I think this one is a great fragrance, sensual and long lasting too. I did not expect it to be this good. One of my favorites. I'm glad is not that popular yet.

Excelent!!!! It smells really to a MAN. It works great with the ladies. It is spicy, sweet and very sophisticated. Works great to give you that "sexy" look"!!!!-

TWO THUMBS UP

Actually I must agree with F_Frez on that "human odor" thing because it comes out sometimes but it dissapiers quite fast. I used to think that it was my imagination but i guess im not the only one here to cath that smell in this fragance. I consider that this fragance is only suitable for some occassion in a winter night event because is warmer and spicier than other 212 presentantions.

I like the fixation of this fragance on the skin and just a couple of sprays should go a long way.

i live in the area code which this fragrance's name commemorates (that of manhattan, nyc), but the irony is that i'm finding this one perfume everywhere in the world *but* in nyc. i actually first came across it in barcelona & haven't seen it in nyc yet.

the scent opens with a seductive oriental (indian) spice--the cardamom and pepper pierce through your nose, alerting you that A MAN is on his way: a seducer. this intrusion is altogether pleasureable (as the gentleman's will be), yet softened and sweetened by the bergamot top notes. in some ways this scent is a gourmand, but not in the new haarlem / rochas kinda way: more in the sense that it harmonizes the spice notes that mesmerize you in a indian spice market (without at all leaving you smelling like a walking curry dish). the dry-down is a sweet woody musk. the spicy middle and warmer basenotes work wonderfully together. two sprays suffice, as there's much sillage; longevity is wonderful. great winter scent for occassions in which you want to be really sexy, captivating, but in which you aren't being too formal.

I tested it on a paper yesterday, just passing in front of a department store and knowing nothing about their top, middle and base notes. Although it's not in my fragrance style, it's not a bad one... the first impression is a big main spicy note, with bits of fresh notes like lemon revealing later, and a final musk note. As its advertisement, it works as a sensual seductive fragrance due to the musk notes, which smelled very "animal", in conjunction with a cardamom note which felt like "human odor" (my wife words...). Later checked the Carolina Herrera's site and the whole notes are: Top: Bergamot, Mandarin, Green Leaf; Middle: Cardamom, Flower Petals, Pepper; Base: Sandalwood, Vanilla, Bois de Gaiac, Musk, Amber.

As I don't believe somebody would go to the office to seduce the secretary and every female crossing the hall, it's not a good choice for an office use (the "human odor" note, the same for sporty use), and more suitable for night events, nothing formal, like a pub or a disco. The range is young, for under 35 years old.