Story (2006)
by Paul Smith

Story by Paul Smith - One is initially treated to a blast of a lemony and slightly peppery, citric accord. The herbal and faintly woody aspects of ivy leaf intrude upon and commingle with this sparkling citrus, providing a crisp, leafy opening, which saunters to the awaiting middle. Here, in the heart, a floral potion from the sweet jasmine and cardboard-like mustiness of rose leaf tempers the jarring opening, and transitions to the welcoming base. An altering melange of grass-like and clean vetiver, white musk, with its laundered-linen illusion, as well as a rugged, mineral amber coalesce. With an errant metallic and faintly minty something fluttering about, the dry woodiness of cedar squires the cleanly mix to a refreshing drydown. This light and fresh composition has good projection and longevity, and will bloom in the spring, summer and fall. A very nice fragrance which can be had rather inexpensively.

28th January, 2012.

Is it only me that get a hint of black pepper in the topnotes? i love it! and everybody around me looks my way (in a good way;)


this is defenitly a unisex frag.
Boys & Girls just can´t seem to get enough!

OFFCOURSE it´s a thumbs up:)

23rd October, 2011.

This is an interesting compromise between the bright soapy green of Mugler or Creed OV, and the dark moist sharp green of Eau de Gentiane Blanche or Eau de Campagne. Initially it's like a sharper Mugler, with a wet, ivy-like soapy green, not very sweet but very astringent. Then, while other scents become soapier at this point, Story becomes greener: an earthy forest green, with some dirt but not much, so that it still remains clean. It's mainly ivy from this point forward, which is cool and refreshing for summer, but one caveat here is an underlying rubberiness, imparting that sense of "eau de shoe store" that I find in a small number of fragrances. It's not as bad as in some others I've tried, though. It weakens quite a bit after this, getting duller and dirtier as it completely loses that initial sparkle. There's a little bit of spearmint in what's left, and it feels like it's trying to bolster both the strength and the freshness, but not making much inroads toward either. Overall this isn't a bad offering, and is admittedly pretty cheap, but if you've got the money, I'd consider the four aforementioned scents, or even the archetypal Paco Rabanne. But if someone starts selling bottles of "Paul Smith Story Minutes 0-5", I'll buy one!

10th October, 2011.

The opening is nice and promising - citrus and vetiver, reminding me a bit of Mugler Cologne. The mid and base lose me a bit, as it moves into clean, contemporary "musk" territory (Iso-E maybe?) with some vetiver hanging around. All in all, it's okay, but doesn't really wow me or compose a unique enough narrative to make a statement.

21st May, 2011.

Story is a good idea run rampant. The ivy note I came to appreciate in the volumes of works under the Lolita Lempicka name grew monstrous under the limelight and became a scent akin to SlimJim snacks. This weird, beefy-spicy leaf note pierces the composition and gets in the way of everything else like an annoying child jumping in the way of a photographer's best shots. Wearisome and gross. And since his parents are either drunk or distracted, said child never goes away.

2nd February, 2011.

My wife adores Story and reminds her big time of D & G Light Blue. I agree with her assessment. I quite like it and find it refreshing and clean. It stays with me all day long. I go to Story when I need a break from my heavier frags such as Azzaro PH or Gucci PH.

4th January, 2011.