Reviews of Narciso Rodriguez for Him (2007)
by Narciso Rodriguez

I rarely despise a scent, but this is one of them. Smells like decaying greens and sewage. I cannot understand how anyone would be able to wear this.

I'm afraid it's wet blanket time for Narciso Rodriguez.

Narciso Rodriguez goes on with very bright, sweet citrus notes and an aquatic – melon accord that moves quickly into the foreground. This melon is thicker and less natural than that in Millesime Imperial, and it rests upon a powdery foundation that soon reveals itself to be cedar. The tutti-frutti accord doesn’t persist, and I have no complaints about that. Its retreat reveals the cedar more fully, along with a pleasantly bitter green note (violet leaf?) and a touch of fresh resin that just might be cypress. As it dries down the scent continues to dry up – becoming more stark, aromatic, and woody by the minute. What eventually emerges is a blend of still-bitter green notes, dry cedar, and sharp vetiver over a foundation of light musk. Nice enough, but far from earth-shattering.

It's alright.
Not too sweet, but a little too much flowers.
Also I smell fresh cut Green Bell & Poblano Peppers.
It's cool. Different.

For Him opens with a disturbing bouquet of both dry cement and wet concrete, unrecognizable spices and a honey note. The intrigue dissipates quickly when the scent becomes a familiar, I’ve-smelled-this-before modern fougere accord – a hint of fake herabceous water, a glimpse of violet leaf coolness. The dry down settles within about an hour – a close to the skin, rather soft, undecisive mélange of amber and musk (it is also said to contain patchouli, but I can’t say I am recognizing any). Nothing offensive in the drydown, and the sillage is soft and non overpowering – the contrary of what I’ve expected after the magical sillage and staying power of For Her (it has a tendency to stay everywhere after it was applied, and even withstand a laundry – yet it does it with a nice touch of mischevious elegance – almost like Josephine’s deliberate musk contamination before leaving Napoleon’s palaces). The only thing that truly stands out (if you take a very close look) is an animalic ambergris note, somewhat fecal, but with such low-key vibrations it can never offend and uness you’ve smelled it before it would be very hard to put your finger on it. And this might just be its chance for success, despite its overall rigidity.