Fahrenheit 32 (2007)
by Christian Dior

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?

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]

its a nice fragance. i love the vanilla drydown here. good choise for the summer.

A creamier and toned-down version of Fahrenheit. I agree it is a pale comparison of the original, but I find this enjoyable nonetheless. The floral notes somewhat over shadow the herbal notes that was what the original is defined by. Still I find the soapiness very appealing.