Fragrance Reviews

Fragrance Reviews by Aaron01

Showing all 18 reviews

Sandalwood by Art of Shaving

Love it! Sure there's the eucalyptus note but it doesn't last that long and frankly it doesn't bother me. I grew up next to a grove of eucalyptus trees so the scent has never bothered me.

The sandalwood in this, as well as their other shaving products, is rather amazing; rich and full. The scent lasts all day, and then some more, has some good projection and sillage. Not overpowering but not a shy one. I get lots of compliments from the ladies on this one so that's always a plus. It also smells different from about 99% of all of the scents that people wear out there, so you'll definitely stand out.

If you've never smelled sandalwood this is probably a pretty good barometer to gain an understanding of the scent.

If you really like sandalwood, this is the one for you; no watered down mamby pamby sandalwood here.
18 July 2008

Royal English Leather by Creed

I wanted to like this one, especially because of the heritage behind it, but I just couldn't.

I don't detect any leather notes at all. The top is dominated by mandarin and then it dries down to a fruity, powdery base.

Smells remarkably similar to Knize Ten, considering the price difference if I were to buy one it would be K10.

Was not the leather scent I was (and am) searching for.
22 April 2008

Original Vetiver by Creed

Exceptional. OV is a clean, fresh, soapy vetiver. The vetiver isn't that noticable in the opening, you get a lot of the lime and soap. As it dries down the vetiver starts to blossom and really develop quite nicely and the lime (I believe it's lime) still lingers to add a certain panache.<br><br>Yes this frag is expensive, but it is one of the better vetivers I've smelled and is worth the money (it can be found for very good prices online). I find this frag to be perfect for the office. It's clean, refreshing and not "insulting." <br><br>It wears well with good longevity (9+ hours) and good sillage.
02 April 2008

Musc Ravageur by Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle

Hmmm...to give this a thumbs up or a neutral?

Well, this certainly isn't something I'd wear. I can see how this would be labeled unisex, some guys could pull it off, I can't. I would label this more towards the feminine side of the unisex frags.

The other reviews have pretty much covered the scent, not much else that I can say other than it's something I'd buy for a girlfriend, but not for myself. The vanilla-musk is very sexy and entoxicating.
19 July 2007

Bulgari pour Homme Soir by Bulgari

Smells a lot like Chrome by Azzaro which is an overused scent. I would expect this one to follow suit based on the smell and the name.
18 July 2007

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue pour Homme by Dolce & Gabbana

Another Aqua di Gio clone. No standout qualities over any other cologne I've seen at the counter.

I found it vile and couldn't wait to get it off my skin.

Don't waste your money on it.
03 July 2007

Santos Concentrée by Cartier

Very spicy and dark is this extremely masculine fragrance.

I don't think the nutmeg and cumin are as dominant in the Concentree as they are in the original Santos, but they're definitely there. This is an "in your face" type fragrance which seems common from those of that era (80s).

I use it all year round in nearly any type of setting; very versatile. Not one of my longer lasting fragrances but I get above average longevity out of it (~10hrs).

Defintely reccomended, not as easy to find as one may like, but I've found it at high end department stores (and of course online).
29 June 2007

Bel Ami by Hermès

They don't make them like this anymore! The 70s-80s seem to produce my favorite fragrances and this is one of them.

Bel Ami is a very masculine fragrance that bleeds sophistication, I think it best suited for romantic evenings or winter days.

The opening is remarkably similar to Yatagan, I believe this is due to the presence of wormwood, after that it changes into a very different leathery-herbal scent with a touch of lemon to top things off. The balance between the lemon and herbs seems to shift throughout the wearing and constantly brings you in for closer sniffings.

This will see heavy rotation in my wardrobe. An easy 5 stars for this one.
28 June 2007

R de Capucci by Roberto Capucci

Great fragrance in typical 80s style. I don't see the comparisons to Aramis, seems to be a little closer to Antaeus than anything I've smelled.

Very masculine, refined, elegant and classic. A great purchase and despite being discontinued it can still be found online.

I don't know why RdC doesn't get much attention but it should, it's a lot better than most of the scents people usually talk about.
28 June 2007

L'Eau D'Issey pour Homme by Issey Miyake

What a dichotomy. This is the scent that started me on my path of fragrance collection and connoisseurship, a perennial favorite of mine, yet I couldn't get rid of it soon enough.

Like all aquatic citrus scents this one is overly popular with the Abercrombie Generation, alongside Aqua de Gio you will smell this one everywhere.

I got the most compliments on this scent, but I just can't wear it anymore. I try to stay as far away from scents like this as possible now.

Good for the Sheeple, not for me.
28 June 2007

X for Men by Clive Christian

Not worth the money. Maybe it's the juice I was testing but I didn't think it was very strong at all. Not much sillage, projection or longevity out of it. The only thing I noticed was the pink pepper

If you want pink pepper, get Isfarkand instead. Your wallet and nose will thank you
27 June 2007

Gucci pour Homme by Gucci

The opening smells like root beer (or another soda) to me. I like root beer but I don't want to wear it.

I like woody scents, but this one doesn't do it for me. Not a bad scent, I notice more things about it each time I try it, I just can't get past the root beer.

A lot of people say this is a "cedar" frag, I don't know why, I don't smell any in it, but if that's the case Jack Black Signature Black Mark is far better.
27 June 2007

Vétiver Extraordinaire by Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle

VE is my favorite vetiver out of all of the ones I've tried. It has such a dirty yet clean smell to it that makes it intoxicating.

Similar to Creed's OV, but at the other end of the scale. No lime and soap, just vetiver and some woody notes. The opening is a little rubbery, but that dies down fairly quickly and paves the way for the vetiver onslaught.

There's not much that I can say that hasn't already been said. This is an extraordinary fragrance that lasts and lasts, I've gotten over 24 hours out of it.

2 thumbs way up! Worth every penny.
26 June 2007

Cumming by Alan Cumming

Like the man whose name is on the bottle, this frag is execptionally weird.

It starts out extremely strong and harsh, so much so that it was a little off-putting at first. As the fragrance dries down it morphs eloquently into a cacophony of odd, yet delightfully pleasing notes.

Definite "try before buy" fragrance. If you do try it, don't judge it from the first spray or even on the card. Spray onto your skin and let the notes blossom.

This smells like NOTHING I've ever smelled before. Which makes me like this even more. After this I'm definitely checking out some of Christopher Brosius' fragrances.

My one qualm is with it's longevity. The longevity is somewhat above average, but perhaps it's not as long as I'd like (~24 range). I wish this was an EDP instead of EDT.

Alas this an exceptional frag, Top 5 worthy, and may be one of the few fragrances that I add a spare bottle to my collection.
13 June 2007

Chanel Pour Monsieur by Chanel

An excellent fragrance that exudes refined class and good taste. Why the thumbs down then? It lasts 3 hours TOPS. This would be an exceptional fragrance if it lasted.

It opens with a burst of lemon and the drydown is a powdery moss.
Despite having lemon (a citrus) it's very original for this time period. It's just a shame that the longevity and sillage are absent with this fragrance.

Do I regret buying this? No, not really. Will I replace this once I've used up my bottle? God no.

I equate this fragrance to speed dating with a supermodel. Fun as hell, but it doesn't last for long so make it count!

If you want to buy this, decant into a small spray bottle and carry with you for touchups; they will be needed.
24 May 2007

Vetiver Eau Glacée by Guerlain

I find this one better than the original Guerlain Vetiver. The tabacco note is missing and there is an added mint and citrus to it. Because of the removed tobacco it loses that "sweaty" smell that the original can give off.
It's perfect for warmer weather in my opinion. Smells very fresh, clean and masculine. Has good lasting power with good sillage, not overpowering. It's an excellent casual scent.
20 May 2007

Yatagan by Caron

Possibly favorite fragrance! The slight celerey-esque note dies within minutes and lets loose to a barrage of woody-goodness; imagine walking through a deep pine forrest.

An unmistakably masculine fragrance. This one takes huevos the size of bowling balls to wear. I cannot imagine any woman wearing this. If you're tired of the banal aquatic citruses this is for you. This is the type of fragrance that beats up Acqua di Gio and takes its lunch money.
18 May 2007

273 for Men by Fred Hayman

I bought this blind (for $10) because of the reviews that said it smelled like Antaeus. It was not a lie, the top notes do smell like Antaeus. But, upon the drydown it becomes too floral and powdery for my taste.
It's not a bad cologne, great value, but it just doesn't work with me. I'll stick with Antaeus.
28 April 2007
 
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