Basenotes - Reviews by Redneck Perfumisto

United States

Showing 1 to 13 of 13.

Mauboussin by Mauboussin

I am an instant fan of this scent, which I finally bought blind as the EDP. I have been brought full-circle back to it, via the men's scents, Mauboussin Homme and Mauboussin M Generation, which I bought after becoming curious about the popularity of the women's scent.

First of all, let me say that there is a house homage here, which I could smell as soon as I opened the box. There is a certain bit of spice and lavender which links it to the men's scents, but it's a tiny, tiny point, and forget that I even said lavender, because you probably won't find it if you haven't smelled the men's. No, this is a wonderful "flormand", which reminds me greatly of L'Instant de Guerlain. Those who call this unisex are quite right - I find this one more unisex and less floral than L'Instant (pour femme) EDT, which I think of as barely feminine. There is a bit of resemblance to some of the richer By Kilian scents - maybe half of them, so I won't single any out. Mauboussin is sweet, sharp, rich, and warm. Many people sense tobacco, but that's a very generic note - I would agree, even though I don't call it tobacco. It does smell like something that would be extraordinary in scenting pipe tobacco - I'll say that. Very sweet and fruity, but not in the sickly, sweet-tooth way of modern candyfloss feminines. More like honey, or honeysuckle. Maybe a touch of caramel, but not as an obvious gourmand. A bit like Dior Addict EDP in some ways - more in the feel than in the scent itself. Oriental but not ambery. It really works on my skin, too.

Honestly, a guy who wears this is going to smell unique and like a million bucks. This one reminds me of a slew of excellent men's dressy scents - Tom Ford private collection such as Noir de Noir and Tobacco Vanille, for starters. Black Orchid, Tom Ford, Tom Ford Extreme - this one falls within sight of them all. It has the classy borderline feminine feel of some nice masculines like Tiffany for Men and Derby, although neither the style nor the obvious complexity of these, nor the haze of any smoke as in the latter. I do get the rose on occasion - just a couple of facets - even more skeletal than Egoiste, and hidden under all the other things going on, which are legion. But - surprisingly - it's all very harmonious. I don't sense any discord in the thing. As people often say, blended nicely.

The bottle is cute in a Star Trek way - it has the coolness of the men's bottles, but some kind of feminine jewlery cuteness that truly rocks, yet it doesn't shout unicorns and pony puffs. Really fits the hand - I'll bet I could throw it a mile or skip it off a pond. See? It's unisex! Totally, dudes!

17th April, 2011.

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De Bachmakov by Different Company

This is certainly one of TDC's best. Similarities to Sel de Vétiver, Un Parfum de Charmes et Feuilles, Un Parfum de Alleurs et Fleurs, and Divine Bergamote are all palpable, yet the fragrance stands on its own as a novel creation. It has an immaculately clean and fresh feel, which is completely natural and pure. The fragrance opens with an impressive mix of cool, green, and herbal accords, which evokes fir trees, cold water, and brisk air. If Chanel no. 19 is somehow an herbal counterpart to no. 5, then this is the analogus light, citrusy, modern counterpart in relation to no. 5 Eau Première. In some ways, I find de Bachmakov to be a lighter and more feminine version of Fou d'Absinthe. Notably, there are no off-notes that I can detect.

My only complaint could possibly be that the longevity isn't particularly good, and the projection only moderate except at the beginning. There are wisps of fragrance for several hours, but never a substantial sillage. For many, this may not be a problem at all. The drydown is pleasant but faint. On the other hand, it is magnificently clean and clear, leaving no unpleasant residues behind. If longevity was the price, then I say it's a worthy tradeoff.

Quite unisex, there is no reason not to wear this at any time of the year, or under any circumstances. It has the versatility of a sport fragrance, but the sensibility of a niche feminine or high-end designer citrus masculine.

It's a glorious fragrance, and very hard for me to stop spraying and stop sniffing. The only reason I'm not giving it 5/5 is that the longevity is likely to bother those who don't like carrying a bottle around to refresh. Those who are used to things with a bit more oomph may find it a bit quiet. But I think it's perfect in that sense - a cool and gentle mountain breeze on a clear day.

6th September, 2010.

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Tommy Bahama for Men by Tommy Bahama

Warm, woody, spicy - but not too strong. This was a recommendation from one of my Macy's SAs - she loves to wear it, too. Technically a cologne, but there is much more of a base here. Feels like an EDT to me. Persists on skin much longer than a typical EDC. There is nice tobacco note which isn't common or overtly synthetic. Underneath it, a subtle ozonic note which adds an enticing freshness. Not a typical woody, not a typical aquatic, not a typical sport scent, and not a typical "beach-theme" scent. I don't get a lot of development, but the handful of notes is sufficiently balanced and long-lasting to remain interesting. Not sure I would pay full price for it, but at $19.99 it was a deal. Comfortably "masculine", but I can see this on a woman who wants to take advantage of the warm, sultry, exotic feel. I think the numerous good reviews are well warranted by the juice. My only reservation would be to warn some noses about the ozonic edge. It's a bit brisk, and some are likely to find it nostril-searing. Those who can't stand pepper, dry incense, or raw ozone notes should not buy this blind. Otherwise, I say go for it!

17th April, 2010.

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Windsor by Creed

Windsor is a modern retelling of a classic story, with every detail perfect for the time, and nothing sacrificed for the sake of modern appeal. Although it does not always appear so on skin, it is a masculine rose floral which comes across as very proper, very British, and very transparent. It is quiet, and matches Creed's description perfectly. Worn on cloth, the rose comes through spectacularly, as a pink satin cushion of perfect texture and color. Although it is of a quality which puts it in a league with Rose 31, it is a different rose to my nose - a very beautiful, moist, but not earthy rose. It has a balsamic, resionous side which matches the actual "moss rose" variety which was being emulated.

Many initially smell pine, but some never do. There is a eucalyptus note which is a bit distracting to some, and completely problematic for others. It can lend a nice barbershop feel, however, and is part of the unique character of the scent. There is a rare orange note in the base, along with a good to excellent cedar. The orange note is so very good, that some will wait patiently the entire length of the fragrance to be fully aware when it appears. Others never smell it. Worn on skin, which generally interferes strongly with the development, people have even smelled coconut. The citrus in the beginning is listed as lime, but is much different from most lime scents, since the citrus seems to interact strongly with the juniper berry (gin) note. Please note that the rose accord is not built to resemble "Duke of Windsor" roses - Creed is making a bit of a joke. The "Duke of Windsor" variety was actually named FOR the Duke, but were not his actual garden roses. His personal favorite, Nuits de Young, is what is actually being modeled here, and presumably that is why it's so unique.

This is simply Creed at its best. My respect for the Creeds as perfumers grew immensely with this scent. They are a true, hereditary perfumer dynasty with as much validity as names like Polge or Ellena. This may not be my favorite scent - there are other scents, including Creeds, that I love more. But it is by far one of my most respected scents - and one which gets respect from others who smell it. Worn with nice dress, it is simply impressive - as was always intended. This was, most surely, one of Creed's greatest performances. It is not a scent for everybody. It never was. It was a scent for one man. This scent tells the story of how Creed created a fragrance fit for him.

For the most authoritative review, please look for DULLAH's. He has lived and breathed this scent, and understands every aspect, note, and peculiarity. You should also look to the Basenotes discussion, in which this scent was dissected by a dozen or so noses.

It is my fervent hope that Creed re-releases this scent someday. In my opinion, it will always stand as a landmark of perfumery.

6th January, 2010.

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Côte d'Amour by L'Artisan Parfumeur

Let me start off by saying that this is a really enjoyable scent. It stands out, it smells nice, and it's very pleasant and very sniffable. I think it most certainly showcases the talent of Céline Ellena. It's just "not me." It is just a wee bit too feminine in a floral and powdery way. In that region of perfumery, my comfort limit is probably Kenzo Power. If you can imagine a seaside version of Kenzo Power with a bit more exposure of the florals, a bit more restraint on the powder, and only a hint of woody and traditionally masculine notes, you would have something close to Côte d'Amour.

The fragrance starts off with a fresh aromatic and slightly floral feel, which is quite nice. I detect some subtle notes which feel a lot like its sister scent, L'Eau de Jatamansi - but in a very nice familial homage way, not in a copying way. This may be the grapefruit and mandarin. In any case, it is a bit "zingy" (Mike P.'s word), but not quite as much as Jatamansi. It has that same clarity which foetidus noted in Jatamansi, too. As the scent progresses, it provides a significant shot of powder/soap. This is very sniffable, and it does seem to capture one's full attention. It is not at all incompatible with the maritime image. There is actually a bit of sillage - it was competing successfully with dog odor as my dog, overdue for a bath, was riding around with me in the truck. I don't detect a lot of wood in the drydown. The base is extremely subtle, but nice. I know that other reviewers get a strong marine or salt component for the duration of the scent, but I really only get a mild (but long-lived) maritime presence. This may be due to my skin. Nevertheless, I do get a very strong white and blue association with the scent - a color theme very successfully exploited by the scent's packaging. I initially feared some kind of sea monster - perhaps a beast called "Caloone" - but no - there is nothing here to fear.

This scent gives me the image of a beautiful woman on the deck of a ship in the morning breeze, while the sun is still low and obscured by lingering clouds. She's clean, and fresh, and wearing a white terrycloth robe. The wind blows her hair, and she smiles as she leans against the railing and looks out over the ocean, waiting just a bit before she plots a new course to somewhere exciting and adventurous. Meanwhile, I'm on the shore, skipping rocks, walking my dog, and breathing in my Sel de Vétiver. I imagine what it must be like to be on a ship. We will never meet, but it's OK. C'est l'amour.

26th September, 2009.

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Bois de Cédrat by Creed

This beautiful citrus scent is how I found my way back to Creed. All hype aside, Bois de Cédrat IS an extremely natural EdT, if not the most natural one in my wardrobe. Almost entirely composed of light, airy citrus, with just a hint of wood underneath, it's gentle, cool, and amazingly refreshing. I love wearing this one on hot days, but I always bring the bottle with me, because the citrus is SO light, the longevity is - in a word - terrible, and because the topnotes are just indescribably good. I enjoy wearing this one to bed at night, because it's so comforting, and also pleasant for my wife. An excellent choice for seafood dining as well.

There are other citrus scents which I prefer when I need longevity, sillage, presence, or complexity, but when I want something truly divine, this is the one.

19th June, 2009.

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Pokémon by Air Val International

This is a very light citrus which is surprisingly good for such an inexpensive fragrance. It is sweet and innocent, and suited to either boys or girls. There is a bit of synthetic "fresh" nature which shows through, but nothing truly bothersome. It dries down to a light, soapy, clean scent, and almost vanishes. The top notes hint at bergamot, cedrat, orange blossom or neroli, although I doubt that even one of these is present. I would not recommend this fragrance to most adults, but it is quite safe for kids. Men should also take note that my wife thinks this kiddie scent is a whole lot better than Axe Proximity Bergamot. Just sayin'...

14th February, 2009.

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Fleur de Liane by L'Artisan Parfumeur

A fascinating scent. Whereas Un Jardin Après la Mousson was more or less a green aquatic, this is an aquatic green. Disturbing and artistic just like Mousson, this one is both less joyous and less sad. It is not the survival of a tropical storm. Rather, it has the emotionally flat beauty of the jungle - life and death and beauty thrown in for no reason at all. My wife was actually shocked when she came into the house, wondering what the strange smell was. She refused to believe that it was this scent, diffused into the air, and kept searching for the source.

Just like the jungle, there is beauty and harmony in this scent when one examines it closely. Flowers peek out gently when one pays close attention. A very sniffable green accord maintains several clear notes for several hours, mellowing down to a faint green and musky base. Stays pleasant the whole time, although I prefer the lush beginning and middle.

One of the nicest and most interesting green scents I have ever smelled.

6th November, 2008. (Last Edited: 19th June, 2009.)

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Mahogany by Etro

I tried Mahogany because I'm a woodaholic and was looking for something different. I agree with the others that it's a rather synthetic smell - in my mind, it's akin to a hardwood floor with a pleasant but strong varnish. Someone else (the_good_life, I think) likened it elsewhere to being smacked in the forehead with a two-by-four, and I would concur, and add that the wood has been highly treated, sanded, turpentined, and varnished with something really, really synthetic. I will admit to liking it, as does my wife, but if you don't love wood in almost every form, I suggest care in choosing this scent. It's light, and projection and sillage are low, which are, to some extent, saving graces for something which errs on the side of being synthetic. Drydown gets better, not worse, so you have something to look forward to. But longevity is not great here, so those who are really put off by the need for reapplication should stay away. Glad I bought it, but not as much as I had hoped.

23rd August, 2008.

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The One for Men by Dolce & Gabbana

the one is a love/hate frag for me. I love the scent, but hate that it's not stronger. But there's always a solution - in this case, buy big and spray adequately. Seriously, this one has training wheels that can't be removed. One could cover every inch of skin with the stuff, and it wouldn't overpower. It's almost impossible to turn this one into a sillage monster. "Close to the skin" is hilarious understatement. But the scent you get when you sniff up close is divine. It's a sweet, warm, subtle, ambery fragrance that is mildly reminiscent of YSL L'Homme. If the version pour femme is anything like this, I'm going to buy it for the wife and sniff her until she has to shoo me away with a newspaper!

Here's what fragrancedirect says:

Occasion: Romantic wear
Launch Date: 2008
The One for Men perfectly reflects the Dolce & Gabbana man: charasmatic and seductive, elegant and sophisticated, he loves taking care of himself. A modern hedonist who never passes by unobserved. Oriental-Spicy Luminous, with sensual and elegant, the fragrance is created around a sensual tobacco note.

Well, I don't know about all that other stuff. But romantic wear sounds about right.

12nd July, 2008.

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H.M. by Hanae Mori

HM is a really fun gourmand that smells like some kind of toluene-menthol-vanilla-white-chocolate mixture. At the EdT concentration, it's a light scent that shouldn't offend anybody. At the EdP concentration, it gives an aura of frozen menthol vanilla cream ether. Not everybody's cup of tea, but I'm something of a sucker for vanilla creme doughnuts.

12nd July, 2008.

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Tokyo by Kenzo

I like it, but I'm going neutral on this just so I don't steer somebody wrong. This scent needs to be right for you, or else it will be a waste of money. The first time I tried it, I laughed. Kenzo Air? More like Kenzo Vacuum. Like, where's the beef? But when I went back in the store with my son, to show him just how much of a joke it was, it suddenly smelled great, and I "got" it. It opens like fresh fruit, goes to something fruity/woody and very interesting, and then dies down quickly to a faint wood. And Mokkie is right - ginger is always there. I like ginger, and I could drink ginger ale all day and I not even notice it, so I think that's why the other stuff comes through very interesting and I'm not put off by ginger notes.

My recommendation is to spray skin absolutely wet with the stuff to test it, and to spray strongly on skin if you buy it. In just a couple of minutes, you're OK for a crowded elevator. But if you baby this scent onto clothing, it's gone in 60 seconds.

21st April, 2008.

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Terre d'Hermès by Hermès

I love this scent. Even my picky wife loves it. For me, there is a cedar-like accord unlike others, which never gets too loud, but has great persistence all day long. I compared it to a good dozen other potential buys in Sephora, but just found myself going back to it over and over again. I can see why Ellena thinks it's so important. It's a soft but masculine scent that is outdoorsy and sophisticated at the same time. For me, it's now "my" scent. I bought the deodorant stick to go with it, so that it wouldn't collide with my usual deodorant, and I'm happy to report that the Terre d'Hermès deodorant is the perfect complement, and keeps the volume constant all day long.

Interesting factoid - when it was still in the box, in my luggage, it slowly gave off a strange, sulfur-like smell which really had me worried. I'm not sure what it was - it had to be unusual to get through all that packaging. Most scents stay in the bottle, but this one wanted out. But once I actually opened it up and used it, the balance returned, and the sulfur smell fell back to a single, weak note in the symphony.

21st April, 2008.

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