Antonio (2006)
by Antonio Banderas

The first spray was very promising as I was not expecting much out of it. But once it settled down it was nothing more than a sythetic scented soap. I sprayed thrice on my chest and I said wow! but after few minutes it turned into a very annoying soapy dry down and almost choked me. Longevity is good as I can still smell it on my skin after 8 hours. Thank God I bought just a 30 ml bottle..!!

12nd August, 2011.

I would not be as enthusiastic as Shamu1, but I would not trash this fragrance either. As s celebuscent, is better than most and it is actually very pleasant to wear, a little in the feminine side, but still masculine enough, if it was up to me, I would have launched this scent as unisex.
I can't figure out the notes, which to me is a mark of a well cnstructed and balanced perfume, but the fir is clearly the dominant note. No a single floral note is detected by my nose, but it is sweet nevertheles, possible due to musk.
I do like, but not love, and gets my, no so enthusiastic, thumbs up

3rd August, 2011.

Uniqueness is not a quality you normally think of when you're talking about celebrity or drugstore fragrances. That being said, Antonio deserves a thumbs up simply for the fact that it is unique.

I can't find a note pyramid anywhere for this, but it smells like an anisic, woody leather fragrance. Anise, wood and leather - it's a weird accord, but that's what makes this fragrance so interesting. I'll agree with TheCologneist that Antonio, at first, can smell rather feminine, sort of like lipstick or women's makeup. However, that's if you smell it up close, with your nose pressed against your skin.

Wearing this is a totally different story. When you catch whiffs of this while wearing it, Antonio smells dark, smoky, very leathery, and very masculine. The wood note smells like teak, due to its darkness, and I detect some vetiver in the base that adds some welcome but subtle bitterness to the scent.

You really need to smell this yourself, because it's quite unique and thus not easy to describe. The only fragrance I can smell any similarities to would be Canali Man, because Antonio's drydown captures the dry, woody, leathery feel that Canali Man has.

If you're looking for something at once different, masculine smelling and inexpensive, you can't go wrong with Antonio by Antonio Banderas.

MY RATING: 8/10

5th January, 2011. (Last Edited: 6th January, 2011.)

Very interesting fragrance as evidenced by the other reviews. Longevity seems excellent. Unfortunately it smell too much like scented soap to me.

18th October, 2010.

I’m not sure what to say about Antonio by Antonio Banderas. I find it different from most fragrances I’ve tested, and I’m not sure that I either like it or dislike the difference, but it IS an interesting aroma. I don’t get the listed citrus in the opening; in my experience, the absent citrus note usually means that there is a strong wood element in the fragrance… and a strong wood element is definitely here. I can’t identify the types of woods used because it is a massed accord of multiple notes that can’t separate one from another. This is not to say that I don’t like the woodnotes: I enjoy them, and there is even a decent element of originality in the accord. I don’t smell any green but I do get a background spice note, and since the pyramid says “cinnamon,” I suppose that’s what the spice is. I can believe there is musk and amber in the drydown, because the drydown is broadly substantive and definitely comes through. Antonio is an okay fragrance. It is woody, not too sweet, not noticeably synthetic, and its element of originality keeps it from being generic. It has its strengths, but I'm afraid "quality-of-ingredients" is lacking. It could only pass as an better than average celebrity fragrance. It’s interesting, enjoyable, and wearable... perhaps even worthy of a thumb's up, but my assessment is conflicted.

15th September, 2010.

Basically like a tangy rose and rosewood combination. Sweet while simultaneously pretty tangy; usually I dislike tangy fragrances, but Antonio's sweetness levels it out. This doesn't really smell like anything else that I've tried, so it gets an A for being original.

It get's an A+ in the longevity department as well, as it lasts for 12+ hours on my skin. Projection and sillage are above average as well. My only complaint is that it smells kind of feminine, so it makes it less wearable for myself. I'm the type of guy who usually has to wear a fragrance marketed for men that only smells like it was marketed for men. Although there are always exceptions. This is one of those fragrances that I like less and less as I wear it more and more. A must smell though for anybody.

29th May, 2010. (Last Edited: 18th November, 2010.)