Fahrenheit 32 (2007)
by Christian Dior

Uninspired, generic, synthetic… Fahrenheit 32 is a flanker that seems to have nothing in common with its namesake, except, I assume, that the “32” in the name is supposed to represent a cooled-down, fresher version of the original. In a sense 32 is fresh, but the opening freshness is backgrounded by an annoying vanilla note that removes any real sense of freshness from the olfactory picture. The “fresh” and artificial top notes meld into the generic mid notes – I do get a kind of orange-lifesaver type citrus from the heart notes, but I don’t get a recognizable vetiver because the vanilla gremlin is too active for me to smell through it. The dry down is a flat, characterless vanilla that, I’ll have to admit, is a little less annoying than the vanilla notes in the beginning.

While Fahrenheit is the unrepentant rabble-rousing rebel rocker, FAHRENHEIT 32 is the younger step-brother with an identity crisis. He can't seem to decide if he should major in herbals or vanilla and ends up failing at both miserably, coming across as uncertain, unimaginative, even weak. Other than the name, 32 just doesn't have the pedigree of the original to qualify as a bona fide flanker and reeks rather strongly of 'exploitation'. Time to ditch this coat tail rider.

When Fahrenheit 32 was released I didn't care much for it as I was still under the spell of the sublime Dior Homme. I only redesicovered it recently while sorting my samples.

This is one of the few fragrances for men in which I like the predominant orange flower note (I can't stand Infusion d'Homme and hate Fleur du Male even more). It starts of as a classic eau de cologne, with very soon a strange earthy note (vetiver). This duality is rounded out thanks to the vanilla. Dry and round notes are in perfect balance. There is something that reminds me of suntanning oil, the beach... it's almost salty. The mix of vetiver and vanilla is somewhat reminiscent of Tom Ford's Black Orchid at one point. It's sexy but not in a cliché way.

The advertising is stunning.

Horrid sharp, thin, artificial juice that doesn't deserve the Fahrenheit brand (and in any case, could anyone come up with a smell that has *less* in common with Fahrenheit than this?) Awful nose-hair-singeing drugstore vanilla, mint and orange blossom blend that may be acceptable on dryer sheets, but nothing more. Certainly different... but once you've moved on from the intellectual appreciation that this is unique and that it performs superbly, you're hit by the inescapable reality of how truly vile this is.

This is the Francois Demachy who created Ungaro II? Did something kill his sense of smell along the way?

Fresh, creamy scent with ever so slightly bitter undertones of vetiver. It has a kind of fougere-vegetal feel during the dry down as the scent gets crispier. Subtle hints of vanilla milk in the distance fits very nicely to the wonderful bottle of this fragrance. Really, a gorgeous presentation.

A very simple and long lasting scent that is undeniably pleasant but also very ordinary and quite boring without any compelling touch to it and, as a flanker of one of the most unique scents ever it just doesn’t reach for especially honourable presence.

They’ve certainly screwed over Geir Ness with this one. The power of Norway will soon be no more…

[Original submission date: 29 December 2007]