Basenotes - Reviews by krmarich

United States

Showing 1 to 10 of 10.

Mandragore by Annick Goutal

I like Mandragore in very small doses. It has this sneaky, dreamlike quality to it that could easily turn nightmarish. Very herbal, almost bitter. I wonder if mandrake is used in here somewhere? If not, it is just as provocative. Unisex? I suppose. It is a little more feminine for my taste. Goths would like this, black eyeliner and lipstick.

25th November, 2008.

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Les Nuits d'Hadrien by Annick Goutal

This is a very holiday-yuletiding scent. I detect pines, cedar, lemon, and vanilla with spices. It is the most traditional of th AG scents I have tried. Unisex? Yes. This one is more manly, however. It reminds me of Christmas Eve as a child. It could easily be used in the summer. It has an outdoor feel to it.

25th November, 2008.

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Eau d'Hadrien by Annick Goutal

I have to say this is one of the most pleasant scents I have came across. I like it, but would never use it to impress. There are other more bolder scents for that. No, this soft, fresh scent is as warm as a sunny day in a lemon orchard. Lemon is one of my favorite top notes. Here it last to middle. Quiet a surprise. It is unisex, which in my book renders it a solitairy scent. This is a day off treat, to use when indulging in your favorite hobbies like painting or reading. Uplifting? Yes. Universal? maybe not...

25th November, 2008.

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Tumulte by Christian Lacroix

I like this stuff for the ladies. It is rosy, sweet, fresh, and naughty. I think the under 30 set would really appreciate this. It has somehow been lost in the shuffel of "teeny-bop" generic celebrity scents. Lacroix is not popular in the U.S.A.
Perhaps that is why it has been overlooked.

The operning notes of rosewater it green mandarine make it bright and sunny. Rose, Heliotrope, and orris root, dress it up glamously. Finally the closing notes of patchouli and vanilla-musk make it elegant and unexpected.

Go ahead and treat yourself with this modern playful scent, besides the bottle looks great!

2nd September, 2008.

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Paco Rabanne pour Homme by Paco Rabanne

This review refers to the original formula before 2000 or so. I was able to find a large unused bottle of my favorite standby from my youth. I grew up on this stuff and never forgot it since my last bottle ran dry in 1991. I was a fool not to buy several bottles of it. I am rediscovering my old signature scent like that hasnt lost any of its strength. Wow. That is quality!

"Fougere" is an herbal class fragrance that set the stage for "green". It is very clean, that keep you fresh for hours. The opening is strong. Hopefully, you give it a few hours to dry down. The sillage lets other know you have arrived. Beware of elevators! It is strong. I like wearing it outdoors. It mixes well in the open air. Lavender and geranium delivers for hours.

The final notes are the real rewards. Patchouli, honey-vanilla, amber & musk last all day. The effect is comfortable, warm, and sexy. My younger nose was clueless to this magic. I would always give myself a new splash for the evening. I would usually stay out dancing all night and the effect would be there in the morning. It is discouraging that the refomulation is a pale echo of this classic.

2nd September, 2008.

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Fahrenheit by Christian Dior

For 20 years I have a love hate relationship with this stuff. When it first was introduced, my male contacts generously wore it. It smelled classy on some, overwhelming on others. I tried it a few times. It reminded me of burnt rubber sometime, others like a warm campfire. Ladies seem to go for it, following me around the mall. Hey, it gets attention!

I finally purchased a bottle in 2006. Somehow, it smelled different. Just as strong, with many of the same offensive notes. Almost bitter. Maybe that is it. Too many notes. It confuses my poor nose. I like the bottle and set it out for freinds to try in the washroom. It is dressy and casual. Brutal and sensual. Harsh and delicate.
Gasoline? Incense, sex...

2nd September, 2008.

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Jazz by Yves Saint Laurent

This luscious juice can now be called "retro" as it turns 20. How time flies. This formula is still classy in every way. The opening notes remind me of an elegant barber shop in Paris. Lavender and bergamont, crossed with artemesia are so clean and refreshing . Then comes some hypnotic heartnotes that still carry mystery to my nose. Nutmeg and cinnamon provide an exotic spice, almost turning it oriental. Carnation and geranium familiarize it, giving it classiness like none other. I am not familiar with European geranium, so all of these years I mistook that note as rose.
It still holds that romatic cannotation, causing me to stay on the dance floor until 2:30 Am or more in 1988.

Then after about 6 hours comes the most enjoyable drydown I have ever exprienced! Sandalwood, leather, cedar, amber and oakmoss provide a sexy time to wind down. Then it is still there upon awakening! In this age of synthetics, this is a welcome revival in my world. May a new generation rediscover this clever and classy love potion. May a new Jazz era begin!

20th June, 2008.

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Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent

YSL at its best! This is a "manly" mans scent. Not for the fient hearted. I purchased my first bottle in 1986. Ever since that day, it is my signature. On that note, lets deal with the negative reviews. "Fecal notes" and "urinal cake" seem to show up often. These reviewers need to have their noses checked. Either they are smelling it from the bottle, have the wrong body chemistry, or have simply not tried it. It is different, which is what makes it so popular worldwide.
Kouros-pronounced "Coo-ros", not "caress", is one of the most misunderstrood of men's scents. It is strong and unforgettable, with and opening notes that scares most users, including myself, if I am not in the mood. Bay laurel, artemesia, and bergamot mix effectively, and open like an opera, with clashing cymbals and loud choruses. After 20 minutes, the real production begins with cinnamon, carnation, geranium, and jasmine that gives off sillage that lasts all day! Usually carnation is bitter, but not here. The jasmine gives it the mystery. The wearer becomes like a "censer" bearing exotic incense. All of this, while maintaining, a clean, youthful appeal.
Then the best effect of this masterpiece comes the drydown, which lasts over 24 hours! Vetiver/amber, patcholi/musk, leather/honey and the final note of ambargris leaves one remembering the night before, lost loves, and other beautiful memories of a lifetime of use.
Overall, this scent conveys passion and strengths that are hard to duplicate. Virility and male sexuality, not in "gay" sense. My situation with that is how can something so masculine attract "gays"? Wearing it, I always get ladies come up to me smiling and asking for the time. It is a classic love potion in this sense. For bei ng so popular, I can honestly say, I have never smelled it on another man, That is good! Its not for everyone, just me, I will add selfishly!

23rd April, 2008.

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Rive Gauche by Yves Saint Laurent

This review is buy a man for the most modern and timeless ladies classic. In my youth, I remember my mother wearing it. I loved it then, 1977. Fashions change and as a special treat, I picked up a new bottle for her 80th birthday. I was afraid of the reformulation. How could one improve perfection? The only difference I could tell was the opening note with this "green note". It reminds me of ladie's hairspray. I didnt like it at first. Opening notes are generally wierd. Then came the wonderfully familiar and soothing middle notes, that remained intact.
Gardenia, honeysuckle, rose and jasmine do not fail in strength and potency, Simple and feminine. Truely modern and not just for "old ladies". That is the timeless appeal this conveys. Very chic and stylish, and this is one of the best bottles I ever encountered. It looks like class and success! Go ahead and try this treasure! You wont be sorry!

23rd April, 2008.

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Rive Gauche pour Homme by Yves Saint Laurent

One of the best mens fragrances of the new millenium! Possibly of all time. Why? The timelessness of the composition: bergamot, lavender, vetiver and patcholi give it notes of classical masculinity, Yes, it does have a clean shaven quality to it that is hard to beat. Then comes a most dramatic drydown that last for hours. There is a voice to it that whispers "come here and talk to me". Almost in a dirty way. Most modern men should have no problem relating with the retro-modern notes presented within. Put it this way, your girlfriend could not get away wearing this.
Next is the ultra modern bottle/flask that pays a worthy tribute to its female counterpart. It reminds me of how power can be conveyed in perfume. YSL may be retired but his legacy lives on through this trademark scent. I wonder it he approved of the final formula before distribution? I am sure he loves it! I do. Now if it was only marketed in the USA more profusely...

10th April, 2008.

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Showing 1 to 10 of 10.