Fragrance Reviews by Bigsly

I think Vibert nailed this one; from ash tray to a bar of soap, more or less. It's not a terrible fragrance, but the problem for me is that there are two other fragrances that are better, going in two different directions (one of which I would have liked BdP to go). There's the super-"cheapo," Lomani, on the one hand, and Carven Homme on the other. CH has rich rosewood, vanilla, spices, and amber in the drydown, with the lavender playing no more than a background role (and hence no "soapiness"). With Lomani, the lavender is much stronger, but it plays off citrus, spice, oakmoss, and amber, and I find that it's never boring. BdP is too strong initially in one way, then it's nothing special in the drydown, in a different way. If price is taken into account, I'd give this a negative rating, but I'll go with neutral, judging it as if they all cost the same amount.,

I am in general agreement with Vibert on this one. There's not much tobacco, and it's not anything special. However, there is a minty toothpaste/root beer thing going on here that I usually can't stand. I don't get much citrus or woods. Rather, it may be anise, mint, benzoin (slightly camphorous), and vanilla. It comes across as "synthetic," almost like candy flavoring gone terribly wrong, and it doesn't go anywhere. It does last a while, so if you don't like it, you are not going to enjoy it. I used to like this one, as a "newbie." It's funny how taste can change so much and so quickly, so I advise anyone who will listen to not "stock up" on these kinds of inexpensive fragrances (I bought two bottles, so no big deal) until you have done a lot of sampling. I'll give it a neutral rating because it's better than Brut, though similar in important ways, and it's really cheap. It's also not terrible, especially if you don't spray too much, but I would never call this "refined." And I just don't think it really comes together, like the great ones do. It remains a sum of its parts, and if you don't like those parts, you won't enjoy this.

I'm a guy and got this in a swap. It impressed me as the smell of cake icing the first couple of samplings, then as floral tea with heliotrope on my third or fourth wearing (after I understood what heliotrope smelled like). And there's also something that comes across almost as smoky or something burnt. I only use one spray, and that's enough for me. I'll freely admit to enjoying it, but I can imagine too many sprays leading to a migraine. Women I know who have tried this don't seem to like it much, but I don't know what to make of that, since none of them are perfumistas. Something similar but more "feminine" may be Today by Avon, which is more available and cheaper, so that may be the one to try before this one, and if you like it and want an "extreme" version, this may be it.

This is a fruity wood fragrance, similar to some "women's" ones I've sampled, actually. There are soft woods on the drydown (balsam?), and it's well blended, and just a touch musky perhaps. Longevity and sillage/projection are good but not overwhelming. It's very inexpensive, so if this is the kind of fragrance you seek, this is an excellent deal. I'd call it "unisex." The wood is pronounced enough for it not to be clearly in the feminine category.

This is a like a super-subtle version of the original Montana ("red box"). It's almost like they tried to tone down those strong lavender-based men's frags (like Lomani, Witness, Horizon, and as mentioned above, Montana) and succeeded, whereas I haven't done so well when I've tried to do this. "Power frag" guys will be disappointed in this one, though. Can be obtained now very inexpensively, so if those other lavender fragrances are too much for you, this is probably the one.

I'm a guy and got this in a swap, because I liked the note pyramid on it. I don't get much in the way of florals, though there is a minor presence clearly. The citrus is clearly there, as is what I'd describe as a dried fruit base. It's not sickly sweet, though I'm used to, and enjoy sweet fragrances. There's almost a burnt quality to this at time, like someone is cooking a bunch of different dried fruits. There isn't much development, but longevity and sillage are good (I've only used one spray at a time, to the chest). I can see how "ubuandibeme" didn't like it after wearing it for a couple of days in a row, especially if too many sprays were used. For me, this is definitely a once a month or fortnight fragrance, but it does have depth, and is interesting every once in a while. Luca Turin described it as similar to Shalimar Light in his (and Sanchez') perfume guide book, but I don't see any major resemblance (obviously, some of the notes are the same, but that's true of a huge number of fragrances too), so don't think that this is the same, or even close, really. I think this is a good example of the kind of fragrance that calls for several full wearings, spread out over time, required before a decision can be made about whether it is "bottle worthy" for someone.

Citrus, vanilla, and amber, with some light florals, and without the "synthetic"/rubbery note I smell in Shalimar EDC. Otherwise, it's similar to Shalimar EDC. Longevity is at least good, as is sillage/projection.

Vanilla and herbs, somewhat like Safran Troublant, but this is sweeter and less herbal (and no burnt sort of thing going on). There are also woody notes here that work very well, but not much in the way of fruit (which is good, considering how many fruity/woody fragrances I've sampled lately). One thing that's very important to me in these kinds of fragrances is what I call "rough edges," and many expensive fragrances have them, but not Devotion. Is it the blending? It's strong at the beginning, to be sure, but then settles down in an hour or so, yet it's never "rough." Now that I've sampled a large number of fragrances, I realize how good this one is, especially at current prices.

It sounds like Arneblaze is commenting upon Quorom rather than Vetiver de Puig in his review. The VdP that I have is very gentle, from top to bottom, with some minor floral element that I think is lavender. I agree with Foedtidus' review entirely.

This is really nice, but not for the "newbie." As a newbie, I couldn't get a grasp on it. Sometimes it would even smell like curry to me. I stuck with it, because it was so interesting, wearing it about once a month. Now I can distinguish clearly the mint and rosewood, which predominate. It also has a "clean" smoke quality to it, and can be light or somewhat heavy, depending upon how much you apply. This is nicely blended, with no "rough" edges, and you can get for incredibly low prices, so there's no reason to pass this one up (if you are an aficionado) !

Ken_Russel said: "Rather a concept fragrance, an unusual experiment than the classic formal-wear cologne... A revolutionary scent that will render your everyday life(if you decide to wear it regularly) into anything else but daily grind, into a sweet-spicy adventure or joyride." On the other hand, in the perfume guide book, Tania Sanchez calls it a generic masculine fragrance. How can this be? I think there are two possibilities. Either this one is really dependent upon "skin type" or else the way this fragrance is perceived varies widely, from person to person, depending upon slight differences in how we interpret smell. For me, there is a dessert-like quality to U?M, perhaps like lemon meringue, but there is also a woody quality, herbs, etc. It's not especially sweet, but for those who are used to non-sweet fragrances, it might seem sweet. For me, it's not sweet, because I like sweet fragrances and this one does not come across to me as particularly sweet. I do like a fragrance that is a bit "challenging," but in a "swirling" way, meaning that I can't pin it down and it's enjoyable. U?M is more up front in how it challenges you, almost as if it's saying, "I'm going to throw all these different notes at you and you've got to figure out what to do with them." Since it's strong, I suggest one spray on your first sampling, not on your chest though, and don't blind buy a big bottle. My verdict is neutral, because this is interesting and not horrible (if you don't use too much), but it generates an experience that I don't find optimal, and since I have so many fragrances now that do, I don't think I'd use this more than once every couple of months (or more).

Like Connoisseur, I also got a "strange sickly, pungent, rotting garbage smell," only it was "synthetic" on top of that! This is what I call a "challenge frag." It challenges your olfactory limits, and whatever you do, do not smell it up close on the skin! So, try before you buy this one, and wear it more than once before you buy a full size bottle. You might like it, and that's fine, just make sure you actually do like it, and don't get convinced that you like it after one wearing.

This one is a fragrance aficionado's lesson all by itself. This was one of the first fragrances I bought for my growing hobby. I tried to get several that were different. At first I really liked the top notes, but then could hardly smell anything. As my sense of smell became more refined, I found the middle/base notes to be a bit synthetic or just strange in some incomprehensible way. Then, a couple of months after not wearing it, I tried it again and the incense mix was obvious to me and very pleasant. I try to avoid the top notes of this fragrance to avoid having my sense of smell calibrated to them, which may be why some have said that this is all top notes and nothing else. For the price, it's an incredible bargain. I enjoy it much more than any of the super-expensive incense fragrances I've sampled. It may not be for the "newbie," however, unless he is willing to have patience with it, as his sense of smell becomes more refined.

I have tried the EDC version only. The first sampling did not go well. The animalic floral qualities were overwhelming and I washed it off within the hour. However, I was fortunate to get a nearly full bottle in a swap, so I took advantage of the offer, knowing that I could then re-swap it off again. Instead of wearing it again, I opened the top and smelled it every few days, before sampling it again. Doing this must have desensitized my dislike for the animalic florals, because when I sampled it again, over a month after the first sampling, I could handle the first several minutes. After that, it seemed to settle into a great spicy fragrance, with great "balance" amongst the different notes. I don't get strong vanilla at any point. Sillage is good but longevity could be better, though since it's an EDC I probably shouldn't complain about it. I enjoy spicy fragrances and this is not like the others, so I think it's got a permanent role in my rotation.

Very subtle and well blended, yet not a lightweight by any means. Not much in the way of florals (thank goodness), yet delicate in a way that one usually expects only in a floral fragrance. For me the longevity is good if not excellent and the sillage is just right (with one spray of the EDT bottle, to the chest). It could get boring if used every day, but for me, that's probably true for every fragrance I've ever tried. I'd call this more masculine than feminine, but then I can't imagine it smelling bad on anyone under normal conditions. Very high quality juice here!

There's something about Envy that I find distasteful, and it's also boring, and I like other, similar fragrances much better (such as Prada and Richard James Saville Row). I've sampled this four times and it is just unappealing to me. It may be a bit too sweet or "synthetic" smelling. A frugal application might be okay if you want to use it for a specific occasion, but I can't wear this to enjoy it by myself, because it's just not enjoyable in any way. This may be a good "training wheels" fragrance for newbies, and I think that's why there are so many good reviews. I thought I liked it on my second sampling, but the third time I found it boring, and the fourth time I found it flat, "synthetic," and inferior to other fragrances I enjoy that are similar. I also think it might be appealing to those around you, and so many people like it for that reason, which is understandable.

For me it was more floral than woody, but that might be what some call "soapy" in this fragrance. I do get the peppery/smoky qualities too. It's quite mossy, similar to Francesco Smalto in that way. I no longer find these fragrances very appealing, but this is certainly a quality one, especially for the prices I've seen it sell for.

This is undeniably a high-quality fragrance, but it reinforces my notion that I just don't like strong florals, though it may just be some flowers that I dislike. I'll give this is positive rating, but if you don't like florals either, I suggest Prada for men if you seek a similar fragrance, with a dusty/powdery/soapy quality, or Mustang by Dorall if you want smokey, mossy, earthy, peppery qualities. For a gourmand incense fragrance, go for Jacomo Rouge.

I agree with Foetidus fully. The clove is too much for me, and this is simply not the best "cheapo" of this type. I prefer Carven Homme, for example, though if you hate rosewood you should avoid CH. Longevity isn't great for JdJ and it's quite tame after about 45 minutes, so I'm not sure who this will appeal to, because those who like the strong clove won't like the timid drydown, while those who do like the drydown won't want to wait 45 minutes of strong clove before getting to that drydown.

I agree with wsr93 that this is not an "amber frag," but I disagree with SirSlarty about the sharpness. With one spray to the chest, it is very mild, yet quite pleasant. It's not a floral "soapy" either, and it doesn't really register with me as "soapy" at all, though I understand why some would think so (I only use unscented soap, so I don't have to worry about these associations). It's actually a milder version of Richard James Saville Row. It's got a dusty yet not dry quality to it, which is very nice. I enjoy this as a "change of pace" fragrance, but would get bored with it if I wore it every day.

To me, this has an "old lady" perfume quality to it. It reminds me of my Mom's perfume, Ysatis, when I smelled it as a boy. It would certainly nauseate me if I gave it a "full wearing." I sprayed once, just above the ankle, and that was too much! If I'm going to look for something like this, I'll reach for Habit Rouge EDC instead. This is a definite try-before-you-buy fragrance. I have to give it a negative because there was nothing I found pleasing or interesting about it.

In trying to conjure up an image for this fragrance, it struck me that if I took a potato skin, rubbed some spices on it, sprayed it with some sort of scented cleaning fluid, then let it dry out in the sun for a week or so, this is what would result. It's interesting, but I can't say it's pleasant. I prefer something like Witness instead, which is a lavender/cinnamon with a dusty quality, if I'm looking for something along these lines. It's well done, no doubt, but I can't help comparing to others, and while I'm wearing this, wishing I was wearing something else.

A superb "blended" fragrance. It's somewhere between dusty and powdery, but not to the point of being overwhelming. There is a touch of "soapiness," but not in a bad way, and it's not sweet or too dry. Longevity and sillage are excellent, but it's not a "power frag."

The teak and vanilla are strong. I don't get much of the top or mid notes; perhaps my bottle is old. Or it might be that the blending is extreme. One spray is all you probably need. Though "linear," it doesn't bore me, as other ones like this do, and this may be a matter of personal taste, rather than anything to do with the fragrance itself. However, it's something I only like once a week or more. If you use it for nights out, and are on a budget, this is probably what you're looking for. I enjoy the teak here, more than the vanilla, which is so common these days. It's very inexpensive too.

I found that this is too strong if sprayed on the chest; one spray to just above the navel seems best. Otherwise, it can smell "synthetic" and overpowering. I think it would work better if it was just a bit drier and had more of a dusty quality, and I can see why some would think it too sweet. However, once I came to find sweet fragrances appealing, I didn't find this to be too sweet. My guess is that this fragrance is good to use as a test. If it's too strong for you, you should avoid all the strong ones, whereas if it's a bit weak, you are a "power frag" person. The only thing I don't like about it is its "linear" quality. After a while, it gets boring to me, like the common citrus-woody "masculine" fragrances do (for me). It just doesn't have that extra special something a linear fragrance needs to keep you interested. Another Bogart fragrance, Witness, is a dusty lavender/cinnamon that doesn't get boring. Perhaps it's just the effect the tobacco smell has on me, and others may not feel this way. I'll give it a positive rating because it's certainly a great value. However, I do find other fragrances much more appealing, so I don't have much interest in wearing this often.

Yes, this is a creamy/fruity scent, along with a bunch of other gourmand notes, but everything is so discreet it doesn't smell like food. L de Lolita Lempicka, for instance, dries down to what smells like vanilla pudding. The complexity of The Parfum makes it never get boring, though it has no "rough edges." It's strong and has great longevity. I don't care if it's a "women's" fragrance; to me, it's just an excellent gourmand.

For those who don't like this, I suggest trying Cuba Gold (if you like the idea of a vanilla/tobacco frag). Won't cost you much and it doesn't have that "synthetic" top note issue that Dreamer does, but it does have decent longevity and sillage.

Seems quite mossy to me, and the musk is obviously there too. A bit of smoke, a bit of spice. Reminds me of Polo a little, but I find this to be more wearable. Not dry or sweet, well blended. Just complex enough not to bore me. I'm surprised at how good this is; I wasn't expecting much. Just to be clear, I have a green bottle that is similar looking to the one for Mesmerize for men by Avon. Since I didn't pay much for this, it's definitely got to get a positive rating.

Reminds me of prune Danish pastry with some mocha added. Very strong, and doesn't develop. After a while, it started to smell like pastry that had something wrong with it. Very cloying. I'm a big fan of gourmand orientals, but this may be too close to food for me, so I suggest sampling first, even if you are a big gourmand fan too. For me, NH supports the idea that if a fragrance is too close to smelling like food, it gets sickening. A*Men, for example, with the tar note, prevents this situation, and I like A*men (once in a while, not every day). I don't like Rochas Man either, but I think it's because of the sandalwood in it, making it too "perfumey" for me. However, I can see that some might like the qualities that NH possesses, so I'll give it a neutral.

This is a fragrance that many "newbies" will dismiss as glorified baby powder. It's only after you've sampled many orientals and spent quite a bit of time with them that you can appreciate Jaipur (I've only used the EDP version). As one reviewer said, it's best too use it sparingly and get a dispersed mist (I noticed this with Witness by Bogart too). After several wearings, you should be able to appreciate this really nice blend. If you are trying to appreciate it, don't wear it several days in a row. Come back to it every couple of weeks, and you should be able to detect more complexity in it than you did on previous wearings.

Wow! This one is special. Not much to add to the previous reviews. Excellent longevity and the sillage is just right (for me at least). I'll also mention that I got a splash EDT, and I thought there was something that just wasn't working, so I put some in an atomizer and that seemed give it that extra something that seemed to be needed.

The top notes are gone fairly quickly, and lavender is then pronounced, though it's not a really cheap, "synthetic" type lavender I've experienced in other fragrances (like Carlo Corinto Rouge), or perhaps it's nicely blended with other ingredients, though it does come through loud and clear. I dislike lavender, but it works fine here, and there is a slightly "soapy" quality to this as well. The amber is great here, not too strong as is sometimes the case. I like it more than most of what I sample in department stores these days, and this cost me around $7 for a 100 ml bottle. It's not my style, but it's great for the money, and it's not bad as a "change of pace" for me. Longevity and sillage are excellent. It makes me wish I liked lavender though !

Excellently blended ambery herbal fragrance. I think I detect some rosewood and vanilla, but because it's so blended it may just seem like that to me. There's also a mild, subtle sweetness to it. Don't overspray this one, or else it will likely ruin it for you. And if you like clearly defined notes in your fragrances, this might not be for you either. Another ambery herbal is Jovan Sex Appeal for men, but I'd rate Mesmerize much, much higher than that one, because of the sweetness, nicer mix of ingredients, and lack of a "synthetic" quality.

For me. there's something just a bit disagreeable in the drydown, and the top notes are not appealing to me at all (as another reviewer said, more like stale coffee). It's almost like an anistic coffee smell in the drydown Some might really like this, presumably, though. I was hoping for something like that aromatic sensation of sniffing a fresh bag of high quality coffee, but don't expect that kind of thing with PC. Instead, this is "heavier" than I thought it would be. It's certainly not terrible, and I'd gladly trade a bottle of a few things I have for this, but I don't think I'll feel the need to buy a bottle of it, unless I get a great bargain or someone wants to swap for it.

Strong grapefruit, and what I think is galaxolide. As Magnulus said in a thread on basenotes (not relate to Everlast Original 1910): "'...drugstore deodorant' sounds to me perhaps like the fragrance contains galaxolide, which is a clean, vaguely fruity/'white linen' or 'laundry detergent' type musk. It's similar to musk ambrette..."
EO 1910 seems to be "powered" more by vetiver than by musk.

EO 1910 is similar to Very Irresistible for him, though that one has mocha. I think I detect just a hint of chocolate in EO 1910, and there is a nice, mild spiciness to it. It's also fairly strong and has good longevity. One or two sprays is enough for me.

This is way too animalic for me at the beginning, then it softens up, but there's still too much animalic jasmine for me to want to wear this regularly. If it wasn't for that, this might be quite nice, though too feminine for some men. My guess is that this might work well for a guy who sweats a lot, unlike myself. I don't mind the spices or powderyness to it, but due to the animalic qualities, I much prefer something like Carven Homme, and since they cost about the same, there's no reason for me to reach for Stetson.

SirSlarty talks about a lot of different notes dancing around, and I'd say that is a good way to describe Mambo. I like it! Also, there's nothing unpleasant going on here, and I don't get a "synthetic" vibe from it either. It is a bit musky, so you don't want to overspray with this one, especially in warm weather. I can spray once and I'm set for several hours, at least. A good "cheapo" that's nice if you like a lot of variety, as I do.

Superb powdery rosewood fragrance. I don't like the top notes, so if you don't either, just wait about 20 minutes, when the magic happens. Warning: I don't think I would have liked this as a "newbie;" it's more for a "refined nose" (my guess is that I didn't appreciate rosewood back then). Also, the younger crowd might not appreciate this, if they want a "lighter" fragrance. A must for the aficionado though.

One thing I tend to dislike about these kinds of fragrances is that they are often "heavy" (like some by Cartier, for example) but this one is not. It's also fairly dry and not sweet, giving it a somewhat aromatic quality, which is uncommon in the powdery fragrances I've tried. This is very rich and yet there is nothing in it that is out of place or "rough," but again, I can imagine the rosewood causing problems for some.

I'd call this nondescript pleasantness. Blended to the point of boring. It sometimes smelled a bit like wine to me, but again, so nondescript overall. Not for the aficionado, unless he wants some sort of change of pace. Another thing this is good for is if you are worried that you have to do something that will lead to unpleasant memories. Wear this fragrance! What's the worst that could happen? Of course if you just bought a large bottle and intend to finish it, that might not be the best idea.

I wouldn't compare this to Carven Homme or M7 at all. Actually, it's about as close to Burberry London for men as I could possibly imagine. CH is ambery, with nice rosewood, and a bit of sweetness. M7 is powdery, with oud and a bit of a raspberry scent in the background. Cuba Red is not sweet, has a bit of succulence though (citrus?), and is grounded in cedar. It's very spicy, but dry. If you can sample Burberry London at your local mall, do that first, then I'd suggest buying Cuba Red (I got a 4.2 ounce bottle for less than $10), if you like BL and are on a budget. I like CR, but I like others more at this point, so this is a once a fortnight or once a month frag for me.

Very similar to a cheap bottle of Brut a relative owns (and I sampled). Sort of a cross between root beer and and minty toothpaste, possibly with some spices mixed in. Horrible stuff. It may be that on my skin, some fragrances don't seem to "progress," such as Kouros. They just get stuck in a stage that is nauseating. In any case, for vanilla, I suggest Ignition by Lomani (or Jaipur EDP if you don't mind forking over a lot more money). For an oriental that is spicy but well-blended, contains nice rosewood, a little amber, a little sweetness, and is not nauseating (unless you spray too much, of course) I suggest Carven Homme. If you want pungent spices and cedar, go with Cuba Red. The ultimate oriental for men is Witness by Bogart, though. There are just too many better choices that Opium.

With a fragrance like this, the key question is: am I going to get bored with it? I don't know if I like an aromatic sensation more than most people, but I find that if a fragrance has me breathing deeply once in a while, when I catch a waft, and it's a pleasant experience (no odd, sour, or "off" notes), it's something I'm likely going to want to wear at least once in a while. Compare this to my experience sampling Kouros. I found the scent unpleasant, and it was always there. With Gucci Pour Homme 2, I didn't get any aromatic experience. It wasn't pleasant enough for me to want to breath in deeply when I caught a waft of it. Something about Tumulte, on the other hand, makes me feel that it transcends a mere wood smell. It's like the essence of wood, an abstraction of the best wood, as a scent, has to offer. There's nothing unappealing about it, and I enjoy getting that waft once in a while. I haven't tried any of the CdG Incense frags, so I can't compare, but if money is a concern, try to get Tumulte on ebay, from a reputable seller, of course (and be sure to pay with paypal).

I've got Silver Black, not Onyx. No need to overspray, which I could see might cause problems. I use 3 sprays. Well blended, yet you get hints of individual notes, or at least you think you do. There is also a nice aromatic quality to it, but it's also a bit musky. When I think of other well blended frags, I remember that I get bored with them after a while (Pasha, Must, and Valenti's 101, for example), but that doesn't happen with SB. It keeps you interested in it, yet never becomes boring or overwhelming.

I didn't get much from this except for the incense and a little woodiness. After these notes subsided, about 2.5 hours later, there wasn't much going on. I prefer the sweet and spicy Oriental with a patchouli-dominated drydown (Adidas Victory League) or Cuba Red (dry, spicy wood), both of which have much better longevity (or it may be that Visit was too subtle on the drydown, which is basically the same thing, at least for me). I could've sprayed more, but the incense is not appealing at all, so I wouldn't want any more of it. This is definitely not a fragrance to take a chance and blind buy, unless you can't get just enough of fragrances that have strong incense.

This is solid, and I'd say Foetidus' review is right on the money. However, AA is not only linear, but it stays at the same level of intensity for hours, which some may like and some may not. I like A*Men better, because it is more intense at the start, then in about two hours you get nice, gentle wafts (assuming you only use one or two sprays, as I do). This is important for me because the chocolate smell can become irritating after a while if it's too strong. It may be that AA gets a bit weaker too with the chocolate after a while, but because you don't get the A*Men blast at the beginning, you don't notice the drop off in strength as much as you do with A*Men. Still, AA can usually be found at about half the price (if not better), so if you don't mind this difference that I described (or prefer the smoother ride of AA), I'd say go for AA instead.

I wore it for about two hours, but never experienced the florals and spices that Vibert did. Instead, I liked the powdery aspect of it, but the smell was like a sweet carbonated beverage or candy, and after a while it was irritating. I'll give it a neutral for those who think this kind of scent is exactly what they want. Since I washed it off after two hours, I won't comment on longevity. Sillage was decent but it's not a "sillage monster."

I envision a futuristic world, like the bubble-domed one in Logan's Run, where Kouros is sold in a novelty store, situated between the rubber chicken and the fake vomit. Or perhaps it will be in a museum, and visitors will be able to actually get a whiff of it, if they dare! By that time, public restrooms will smell much better than they do now (in most nations).

Kouros is a powerful, long-lasting, sickly chemical scent that features no subtlety and no development (on my skin, at least). Keep in mind that I'm not some twenty-something aquatic guy. I like Vermeil, actually, which I'd recommend to anyone who likes this kind of frag over Kouros (it's got powerful animalic notes and also that "fake clean" quality). Or Ungaro II, if you can find it at a reasonable price. I also like Carlo Corinto once in a while, which features strong leather and dark amber notes.

I recently tried Brut (before trying Kouros) and that is similar, in that you get a strong, long-lasting sickly chemical scent that has no subtlety and doesn't develop. It's amazing that these two fragrances are on the opposite ends of the spectrum, in terms of price and prestige. I can only image that if you sweat profusely, somehow Kouros will develop into something that is remotely tolerable. I'd also warn you that this kind of fragrance can cause your sense of smell to change, as Sung Homme did to me. Now I have such sensitivity that I usually can only stand one spray of an EDT, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, since it saves me a lot of money, though I don't appreciate the stronger fragrances the way I used to (when I really liked Vermeil and had to wear it once a week).

I don't know if my AVL is the same as this, because there is date listed. This is an Oriental, but a spicy (a bit hot even) one, and not like a mellow ambery one of the KL Lagerfeld variety. It has good sillage and longevity. There's not much development over time, which can make this seem boring. For the price I paid, it's not bad to have around, because it's not like anything else I have. However, because I dion't have experience with recent, high-end Orientals it's impossible for me to say whether this is a great deal or just a decent one.

In some ways, this is a light, more defined (and less muddled) version of Sung Homme (a couple of hours into it, at least). I'm wondering if foetidus reviewed the blue box or the red box version, because I get strong Caribbean style spices right from the beginning, then it settles down into a milder spice with a bit of muskiness. The other possibility is that he applied a lot more than I did. I just sprayed once on the upper chest. I got some on my finger when I sprayed, so I tried to get some of that on my neck. It was an excellent experience, though nothing earth shattering, in other words, nothing weird. I can't imagine not be able to experience this once in a while, at the very least. When I first tried it, I sprayed in on the back of one hand and smelled it every once in a while, but that is the wrong idea, because if you do that, you just get diminishing spiciness. If you sprayed it on the chest judiciously you get the musky, spicy combination, which is just great. I never tried Havana, but I don't like boozy or sweet frags anyway, so I don't feel I"m missing out there.

It started off like Montana (red box) or Witness, except with florals, then developed into something very similar to KL Homme (Lagerfeld). If you're in the mood for this, it's great, if not, it's too much. Excellent longevity, at least decent sillage. This is a love it or hate it, and the ozonic/aquatic guys are likely to be the ones to hate it. It's an excellent frag (some might find it too feminine, so if you want super-masculine stuff, this is not it), so I have to give it a positive.

Possibly a minimal application would lessen the unpleasantness, but I tried some that a relative owns, because I don't want to be a snob, but it smelled like an attempt at a new candy flavoring that went horribly wrong. I probably put too much on (back of hand) by accident (I thought it had a small hole on top, like the one I had when I was young), and it was like olfactory torture. Got to give this a negative, based upon the fact that I couldn't wash it off and tone it down, even after trying several times.