Fragrance Reviews
Fragrance Reviews by beau_mode_arome
Showing all 8 reviews
Chypre Rouge by Serge Lutens Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido
I've only just tried a sample of this, so I need to give it time ot grow on me, but the topnotes are really strange with this one. It reminds me of the smell of curried bread, which we used to use to go fishing for carp in our local dam. Its not necessarily unpleasant, but the association for me is rather odd.
18 January 2008
Caron Pour Un Homme by Caron
I must admit, of the three Caron men's frags I've tried, pour un homme was initially the most disappointing. I wasn't a fan of the powdery vanilla drydown. But after persisting with my generous sample from Les Senteur in London, I found it growing on me. When we moved into the colder months, I found that once the lavender note had faded, there was an animalic undertone to the vanilla which came out in lower temperatures and it tempered the sweet powderiness.
A few months on and pour un homme is my favourite, whilst I have grown a little tired of Yatagan and particularly the 3rd Man.
Yes, this scent is perhaps a little old fashioned, but it oozes an understated sophisticated class and is a comfort scent. Brilliant
A few months on and pour un homme is my favourite, whilst I have grown a little tired of Yatagan and particularly the 3rd Man.
Yes, this scent is perhaps a little old fashioned, but it oozes an understated sophisticated class and is a comfort scent. Brilliant
17 January 2008
Yatagan by Caron
I find it strange: so many reviewers refer to this fragrance as wild, untamed, in-your-face, rough, unwearable, and so on.
On my skin, Yatagan tends to go winey, a little like the initial fermentation smell you get when grapes start to go manky in hot early autumn sun. Then it dries down to a fairly standard woody scent, with a hint of the smokiness of Gucci pour homme.
To my nose, this doesn't come across as wild and daring as people make out. Although, in 1976, I could imagine this being a bit outre. Someone said that Yatagan is wild and uncouth while Knize ten is a gentleman, or something along those lines, but to be honest, Knize 10 was the surprise package for me: a blast of raw leather that knocked my socks off, and not necessarily in a nice way.
I certainly don't mind it, but I don't crave it enough to want to buy a whole bottle.
On my skin, Yatagan tends to go winey, a little like the initial fermentation smell you get when grapes start to go manky in hot early autumn sun. Then it dries down to a fairly standard woody scent, with a hint of the smokiness of Gucci pour homme.
To my nose, this doesn't come across as wild and daring as people make out. Although, in 1976, I could imagine this being a bit outre. Someone said that Yatagan is wild and uncouth while Knize ten is a gentleman, or something along those lines, but to be honest, Knize 10 was the surprise package for me: a blast of raw leather that knocked my socks off, and not necessarily in a nice way.
I certainly don't mind it, but I don't crave it enough to want to buy a whole bottle.
17 January 2008
Number 3 / Le 3me Homme / The Third Man by Caron
I must say, I agree with Ruggles on this one. Of the three Caron's I was sampling ( Yatagan, Pour un Homme and this one) 3rd man immediately appealed to me. However the second time I wore it, it also bored me, while the other two Carons grew on me gradually.
I also think that 3rd Man is trying to do too much, and in the end, it is neither here nor there and as a result, lacks character for me. If someone asked me what the main accord was for Yatagan or Pour un Homme, I could describe the scent, more or less, but the 3rd Man leaves no lasting impression on me and thus I can't even recollect what it smells like. And for this reason I give it a thumbs down.
I also think that 3rd Man is trying to do too much, and in the end, it is neither here nor there and as a result, lacks character for me. If someone asked me what the main accord was for Yatagan or Pour un Homme, I could describe the scent, more or less, but the 3rd Man leaves no lasting impression on me and thus I can't even recollect what it smells like. And for this reason I give it a thumbs down.
20 December 2007
Bulgari Black by Bulgari
When I first smelled a sample of Bulgari Black, I loved it, and bought a bottle on impulse. Although I don't mind the scent now, I find the vanilla dry down quite cloying and that puts me off. If there was more going on, once the rubber/smoke note fades, I might have enjoyed this more. I am not the greatest fan of vanilla at the best of times, but I do admire this mainstream scent for being a little out of the ordinary. If anything, I prefer wearing this in hotter weather, even though the vanilla would lead me to think it would be better in cooler weather, but for some reason it doesn't work like that on my skin - heat seems to bring out the smoky/rubber accord more, which I prefer.
03 December 2007
Knize Ten by Knize
I agree that this fragrance is extremely potent and long-lasting. It easily lasts 10 hours on me. I am not generally a huge fan of leather scents and those that I do like tend to be ladies leather, which is sweeter and less overbearing.
I thought I liked Knize 10 until I smelled it on another man on a train, who sat down next to me. The smell was repulsive, as he had obviously over-applied it, and since then my association has become a negative one.
I think the deciding factor for me is that on my skin the harsh, raw leather is constant - I smell it from the the moment I spray it on until I wash; I suppose some might say that is the point, or desirable effect of a leather scent, but it is too much for me. I prefer a hint of leather in a drydown, rather than a relentless blast of testosterone-fueled bovine.
I thought I liked Knize 10 until I smelled it on another man on a train, who sat down next to me. The smell was repulsive, as he had obviously over-applied it, and since then my association has become a negative one.
I think the deciding factor for me is that on my skin the harsh, raw leather is constant - I smell it from the the moment I spray it on until I wash; I suppose some might say that is the point, or desirable effect of a leather scent, but it is too much for me. I prefer a hint of leather in a drydown, rather than a relentless blast of testosterone-fueled bovine.
30 November 2007
Givenchy Gentleman by Givenchy
The jury is out on this one for me. I like the initial topnotes, but as it dries down, there is something about this scent that reminds me of the original Polo Green. Although I didn't hate Polo, it didn't do much for me either. Similarly Gentleman has the same connotations for me. So, I don't mind it, but certainly wouldn't buy it or wear it regularly.
14 November 2007
Obsession for Men by Calvin Klein
On a card, the drydown was particularly nice, but once I wore it on my skin, this fragrance turned extremely sweet on me - amber and vanilla were the dominating notes, not my favourites in any case.
This fragrance appears a little dated to me and while I can appreciate what it must have been like to wear this in the eighties, it is not one I would buy and wear for myself.
This fragrance appears a little dated to me and while I can appreciate what it must have been like to wear this in the eighties, it is not one I would buy and wear for myself.
14 November 2007











