Fragrance Reviews
Fragrance Reviews by jathanas
Showing all 24 reviews
Bulgari pour Homme by Bulgari
Bvlgari pour Homme is an exceptional fragrance. I get the tea more than the bergamot, in the opening. It evolves in a subtle, close to the skin manner to a clean musky-tea accord. The strength of this fragrance is more about the sum of the parts and less about how many individual accords one detects. It projects so appropriately. An eloquent scent that doesn't need to scream. Exquisite!
20 August 2008
Comme des Garçons 2 Man by Comme des Garçons
Warm, smoky, and woody. The incense shadows the top notes. This juice evokes an image of an elegant setting during a winter evening. It manages to be formal but modern, dark yet surprisingly this fragrance gets compliments from women. This stands unique in my collection, furthermore it is a keeper to be sure.
Colossal!
Colossal!
01 August 2008
Sunset Heat for Men by Escada
I get passion fruit. The dry-down is pleasant, not as fruity but still sweet. A scent for the 20-30 year olds. Pleasant enough but it won't be remembered as a classic.
30 July 2008
Le Mâle by Jean Paul Gaultier
A groundbreaking classic. No other perfume of it's time better defined the era. I understand the criticisms i.e. cloying and synthetic. That however is to neglect the sillage, longevity, warmth, and uniqueness of this juice. In my mind this one sits very comfortably among the other legendary frags like Paco Rabanne, Aramis, Azzaro, Eau Sauvage etc. 2 thumbs way up!
22 July 2008
Dolce & Gabbana pour Homme by Dolce & Gabbana
D & G has a magic sillage. It isn't a heavy fragrance but the sweet tobacco dry-down puts it apart from today's fresh clones. The opening is unique, yes just a sweet citrus, but unlike anything else before and since. GIGANTIC - 2 thumbs fully erect :-)
08 July 2008
L'Eau de L'Artisan by L'Artisan Parfumeur
This is my first purchase of a L'Artisan product. How natural! The ingredients must be top-notch. The citrus opening and the "clean-green-and oh so mean" dry-down impress me no end. I've purchased this for my wife, who enjoys fresh smelling fragrances but I can see myself wearing this one as well. Classy, a cut above.
20 June 2008
Cacharel Pour L'Homme by Cacharel
One of the first frags I ever enthused over. The opening is awesome, love the cinnamon. It doesn't follow through on the woody drydown, stays very close to the skin. Still, an absolute classic!
19 June 2008
Mugler Cologne by Thierry Mugler
Perfect post workout fragrance, especially layered with the body wash and deodorant. I ride my bike to work and use Mugler Cologne after I shower. Classy freshness in a bottle and the "clean" smell lasts all day at work. Excellent!
16 June 2008
Xeryus by Givenchy
This is a quality scent. Exotic and woody it was one for the times; I wore it in the eighties. Apply sparingly - 2 sprays max and you can wear it on any occasion during the colder months.
Good value if you can find it discounted.
Good value if you can find it discounted.
04 June 2008
A*Men / Angel Men by Thierry Mugler
I'm not in line with the general view of "either love it or hate it". I can see the uniqueness of this juice. The strong sweet opening, the gourmand dry-down that lasts all day etc. Largely though, I can take it or leave it! I've worn it maybe 10 times in the last year...
22 May 2008
Sculpture Homme by Nikos
Sweet opening and a vanilla dry-down. I get compliments about this one. The top notes remind me of the smell of my grandmother's kitchen when she'd bake biscuits. Very romantic and warm, apply lightly and you could get away with wearing it at work.
20 May 2008
Brit for Men by Burberry
A very classy winter fragrance. I don't get the citrus at all! I'd describe it as sweet and powdery (must be the rose). Visualize a Xmas fireplace surrounded by loved ones; more warm than sexy...
06 May 2008
Acqua di Giò pour Homme by Giorgio Armani
I have a small bottle of this at my beach house. It just seemed to be the right location for an ideal warm weather fragrance. Best way to describe it? Clean citrus.
05 May 2008
Gucci Pour Homme II by Gucci
This is a smooth scent. Spicy (tea-cinnamon) opening and sweet woody dry-down, its a winner. I suspect that the "experts" who declare this to be bland or ho-hum refuse to acknowledge any fragrance that isn't strong in the traditional 80s power frag kind of way. GPH II is subtle and needs to be appreciated differently.
20 April 2008
Rive Gauche pour Homme by Yves Saint Laurent
I've had this for 3 days and now I better understand the fragrance. The initial impression is of a masculine fragrance, not harsh but not like the generic aqua-ozone-syntheto-fruitjelly stuff the marketers think we should be buying either. The topnote I get most is the lavender / shave cream blend. It dries down to a sweet-creamy-spicy smell, you could almost forget it's there. This fragrance projects to others more than yourself, so be moderate in the application. A winner with it's cerebral nature guaranteed to create a lasting impression.
13 April 2008
Terre d'Hermès by Hermès
Summer in Tuscany. The frag starts and ends in the same place: Wood shavings, burnt orange, & dry country side. Classy!
10 April 2008
Cool Water by Davidoff
I wore Cool Water during my honeymoon in the Maldives in 1993 (yes I'm old)... I recently become reacquainted with it. I appreciate it more now. It's a fresh frag but it has sweet woody dry-down that is just fantastic for day wear. A classic!
07 April 2008
Virgin Island Water by Creed
Use this on a summer day during a vacation? maybe. If I had to give one of my frags up this would be the first to go, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it at all...
04 April 2008
John Varvatos by John Varvatos
Warm and inviting. A frag that will soothe on a cold night. Different but not for the sake of it - the basics are right. This doesn't last as much on me as A*men but it is not as challenging either. This juice could be the (illegitimate) grandson of Paco Rabanne or Azzaro. I know there are no obvious connections but it is more how men's fragrances have evolved.
03 April 2008
Vetiver by Guerlain
Initially I thought "insect repellent". Then it occurred to me that I'm not being fair so on subsequent application I tried to understand the fragrance. The opening is fresh but not sweet or aquatic (good). The dry-down ... "insect repellent".
03 April 2008
Black XS by Paco Rabanne
Starts off in a sweet red-lolly kind of way. Darkens in the dry down and it takes a more masculine character. Reminds me of the original Joop but not as cloying.
10 January 2008
Eau de Paco Rabanne pour Homme by Paco Rabanne
A modernised version of the 1973 classic.
This is the way to do subtle & fresh but still support some warmth and character during the drydown.
A fave for sure, especially during the warmer months...
This is the way to do subtle & fresh but still support some warmth and character during the drydown.
A fave for sure, especially during the warmer months...
18 December 2007
Versace Man Eau Fraîche by Versace
"Horses for Courses": This is an ideal scent for the warmer months or for the office. Clean and crisp, remains nice and fresh - but close to the skin during the dry-down.
06 December 2007
Paco Rabanne pour Homme by Paco Rabanne
Paco was my first exposure to the subtle world of fragrances back in the early eighties. It was defining, opened up a whole new world.
Sure, it's not how they do men's product today but I find it to be a very sophisticated fragrance, timeless!
Sure, it's not how they do men's product today but I find it to be a very sophisticated fragrance, timeless!
06 December 2007




