Fragrance Reviews by finsfan

Like Jenson, I thought that Le Labo 31 was rose water on first wearing. Second time, I got a little bit of that cummin note. My usual inclination is to try it once, maybe twice and form my opinion. I was thinking this would be a netural rating, in that while I liked it, given its price, it was not earthshattering. Well, it is just on my mind and having smelled more rose scents in the meantime, this keeps coming back.

Czech and Speake 88 is a darker rose for sure, more pungent, more earthy, more projection. But the 88 goes soapy on my skin, and reminds me of soap my grandmother used to have. The Different Company's Rose Poivree is much, much heavier on the pepper. Montales Rose Petals is perhaps more projection, longer lasting, but it is a more of a pure rose scent. Head up against each other, Rose Petals leans to feminine (but is not a feminine scent) while the Le Labo is certainly the more versatile.

I was able to smell this, as I was undecided about which Montale rose scent to get. I get more patchouli and oud than roses out of Black Aoud, and I got a sweet rose and a creamy Sandalwood from Attar. The roses in Damascus were sweet as well. I was wanting a darker rose to predominate and this, Rose Petals, is the answer. I agree with Trebor that it is the reverse of Black Aoud on the strength of roses - that is, this starts off with roses and the aoud props it up. I guess, Black vs. Rose Petals depends on where you come from, and what you want the scent to be, roses first and foremost, or roses in a supporting role. This is no girlie scent, at least not on my skin, a 48 year old businessman

I have a hard time getting to like Vetivers. I agree with Trebor's analysis, though I have not smelled Geir. I did not get the earthiness of many vetivers. However, this is an easy scent to wear, and one that, while many may not prefer it, I can not see anyone actually disliking it. It may disappoint, sure, but it is nicely done, a different take if you will. This is like Aromatic Limes, in that I do not get the vetiver. Minty, yes, and maybe light spicy.

I do get some similarity to Eau de Orange Verte by Hermes but this is a bit fresher, a bit tangier, but without being acidic as some citrus is on me. Also lasts longer than a typical citrus. If it was priced say at the same level as Acqua di Parma Colonia or Assoluta (3.4 ounces is now $140 vs. around $110 for the Parmas), it would outsell the Parmas since the Colonia peters out in half the time. I got mine on sell and am gonna get another bottle if I can score a similar deal

It is 68 outside, I am in the car, air conditioning blowing on me and I am wearing Idole. I am in short sleeves, so I sprayed it on my forearms as well as other areas. Wow. I had worn Idole from a sample and wife thought it bordered on soapy. Well, from a spray, it is not. Ladies, this is the scent for a guy. I love Miller Harris Feuilles de Tabac because of that fresh tabacco accord. Some fresh colognes can be soapy, or too linen-like. Feuilles is that fresh, green tobacco. Anyway, think of Feuilles as a tomato base for a sauce. Well, Idole is the refined French chef that comes and mixes in a naunced bit of spices, nothing heavy, but spicy. Makes you want to try to pick out the individual notes (which I am so, so bad at). A heavy hand and it ruins the sauce. But in the hands of a master, wow. The spices are piquant, but not in your face like Piper Nigrum. I think this would work in cool to hot weather, all but the winter. Now, admittedly, the air conditioning blew the scent around in the car, but hey, it is me and a 30 minute drive. With long sleeves and business wear, very appropriate for the office. My wife usually does not give a thumbs up to colognes (she loves her Coco, her SPring Flowers - and GIT and MI on me - and that is it) but she smelled it this morning and said, not bad. So that right there is a 7 out of 10 on the meter. Yup, gonna be a good day today.

Like Coastfansocal, I got the hint of Vick's Vapor Rub, but not all that much camphor. I did not get the cedar chips in the hamster cage, but after a couple of hours, it has subsided and I can get some smoothness. Redhot candies, maybe that is what it might be on some. But I do say that the scent is not one to throw away after your first wear it. Have to give it some wearing, maybe like a Piper Nigrum. Many scents, I can tell from first sniff I won't like them, and those that have vanilla or powder, easily get tossed. Not so. This is my first Jo Malone sample to test, and while I tend to think this line gets less favored status, well, this is well made. I am going to give this a neutral, as I do not dislike it, but that Vick's Vapor Rub at first gets me. Now, someone remind me to come back and revisit this fragrance.

My first impression wearing it today, was there is a note that is strangely familiar to the prominent note in Serge Lutens Chergui. Buttery is an apt, apt description of how it smells. This is not a scent that will make you thing, UGH, how could they bottle that, but then again, it is not going to knock your socks off. It may unfold today, but it is a very pleasant, pleasant scent.

I concur with Helder. Nice for 30 minutes, and maybe lasted 2 to 3 hours tops. But after that, really, I can not detect it. Warm perhaps, but really, I could not distinguish anything about this cologne. Now, your mileage may vary, but I'll not think twice about thumbs down on this. Not bad, but how can you say something is bad if you really can not smell it?

This one is a long lasting scent on my skin. Had a sort of pine needles start to it, and it is definitely manly. Pine needles that mellowed out, and I can see the smokiness in it.

Sam

I usually hate Vetiver, having been turned off by Guerlain's raw, earthy version. When I first applied this, I was thinking it might be more like Creed's Vetiver, which is a soapy sort of scent. Well, could it be possible that the Malle take is somewhere exactly in the middle? I will have to see about longevity, but this version of Vetiver is very wearable for me.

Sam

I can not add more to the similarity between this and SMW. SMW seems to have more tea at the initial application and seems to be a more pungent scent. In other words, the notes are deeper on SMW, so it depends on where you want to go. Longevity, sillage, go with SMW. A lighter touch, closer to the skin, go with Hamptons.

I think Matt is right about the Drakkar Noir as well as the posts on it being a better formed Erolfa. I do smell the Cumcumber Rob talks about. A nice aquatic summertime scent. If you could get a good price on it, a nice edition, but it does not have that WOW factor at a full price buy. One of those scents in my opinion that you would take if someone gifted you, but there are better things to buy out there. However, I will say if you prefer something safe for the summer, consider this scent