Fragrance Reviews

Fragrance Reviews by jalexhrovat

Showing all 109 reviews

Calvin Klein Man by Calvin Klein

Not bad. CK has put out a lot of crappy fragrances in the past few years, but this one I actually like. I can pick out the rosemary and mint from the start which instantly draws me in. The cypress in the base also comes out withing 15 minutes of application, and I'm a sucker for cypress. The dry down is decent and longevity as well. Sillage is average.
02 August 2009

Exceptional Because You Are for Men by Exceptional

Blah is all I got for this one. I get samples of it with my FragranceNet order, and wish they would stop sending me samples of it because it is yet another generic smelling fragrance to me. Nothing really stands out. Doesn't smell bad, but again, just not worth buying.
02 August 2009

Blu pour Homme by Bulgari

Blu is not one of Bulgaris' best. I think they were trying to create a good oriental fragrance but ended up failing in that regard. I have some friends that like it, but to me it just doesn't smell all that great. Its not bad, but I wouldn't spend my money on it
02 August 2009

Bulgari pour Homme Soir by Bulgari

A very light, clean and refreshing rendition of the original. The tea note is most distinguishable to me with this one. The fragrance overall is indeed discreet. I like this in a fragrance because it doesn't scream "I'm walking in the room" when I wear it. Again, its an intimate fragrance that stays close to the skin and is for the more close encounter. I think this version, the original and the extreme are all very excellent fragrances that anyone who is considering a good, non-offensive fragrance for work use, or just to freshen up a little bit. IMO, Bulgari scents in general are very well put together with the exception of Blu, which rubs me the wrong way for whatever reason.
02 August 2009

Bulgari pour Homme Extreme by Bulgari

Different than the original. This usually isn't supposed to be the case with "extreme" versions of fragrances. With this rendition, the pepper really stands out to me. Its a great warm weather fragrance because it has a little better sillage in the heat than the original. It still retains the gentleman factor for me by not being over powering and is an intimate fragrance that's draws a person in for a better smell. Longevity is better than the original as well.
02 August 2009

Hugo XY by Hugo Boss

Not bad, but again this is too generic. I want something that will make me stand out, not just be another person on the sea of indistinguishable fragrances. The opening is the only part that is worth while in this one...then it just dries down to a run of the mill patchouli base. Not impressed at all.
02 August 2009

Hugo Element by Hugo Boss

Yet another generic mess of a fragrance. I couldn't distinguish any notes from each other at all. This stuff is crap. But I guess if you're young and don't know any better, then this is the stuff for you.
02 August 2009

Guerlain Homme by Guerlain

I don't know why so many people are hating on this fragrance. Yes, it may not be on the caliber of most Guerlain fragrances, but I don't think its a flop like many are implying it is. It starts off sweet and sour with the lime and "mojito" accords. I agree with the fact that the "mojito" accord really isn't all that prevalent, but it IS there. It adds a bit of sourness to the top/middle notes that makes it stand out. There is a sweetness that lingers below it along with some very light floral notes. These notes last for about 2 hours before the woody accords start to come out. What remains is a nice cedarwood base with a touch of the lime and floral from the drydown. Depending on how much you apply, this fragrance lasts about 5-6 hours on me and is great on a hot summer day.

Again, not Guerlain's best, but a good warm weather fragrance.
21 July 2009

Acqua di Parma Colonia by Acqua di Parma

Like everyone has already said, this is a very excellent fragrance. I am in love with all of the notes it's composed of and try to hold onto their memory as they fade away in far too little time. I really really wish they made an EdT or parfum version of this so it would last longer. But oh well.

Excellent and timeless with notes that accentuate the aura of a gentleman with good taste.
10 July 2009

Acqua di Parma Colonia Assoluta by Acqua di Parma

This one has indeed been knocked around a bit on basenotes. IMO, this rendition of Colonia is good, but not great. It adds sort of a more clean finish to Colonia by adding ingredients such as vetiver. It also is a bit warmer in the drydown. Some spicy notes have been added, perhaps some cardamom and pepper. It does last a bit longer than Colonia, but it is still an EdC.

It is a great fragrance, and if you really are interested in Acqua di Parma's Colonias, you should try all three because they are all excellent fragrances.
10 July 2009

Blu Mediterraneo Tuscan Cypress / Cipresso di Toscana by Acqua di Parma

This is a beautiful fragrance. I've been sampling it all week, and it is probably one of the refreshing fragrances I've ever tried. I've been finding myself smelling my wrists over and over again because of just how "therapeutic" this fragrance is. The cypress and eucalyptus at the beginning really sets the tone. The transition happens fairly quickly though to the other notes including pine, lavender, rosemary, mug weed and oakmoss in the middle and base notes. The base reminds me very much of Paco Rabanne with the musky oakmoss finish.

Great fragrance, and I think it's probably going to be one of the new staples of my collection.
10 July 2009

Eternity for Men by Calvin Klein

This one is a more recent classic and often imitated. I think Curve is almost an exact copy of this one. But yet I have both. No point in describing it, because just about everyone knows how it smells and have experienced the guys who have bathed in it. Longevity and sillage are decent, but if I want to boost them, I wear some of the after shave balm as well...this adds a little more depth to the fragrance.
Other than this, the fragrance is a synthetic mess that gives most people around me headaches. There is just something about this fragrance that is notorious for giving people headaches....something in it. But I still like it.
07 July 2009

Pi by Givenchy

This one is ok in my book. At the time of its release, it did bring something different to the table.

I disagree with this one smelling like "caramel," or heavy in the vanilla department. There is no vanilla in this fragrance, its actually benzoin.

The opening isn't all that impressive to me, but once it dries down a bit, the middle and basenotes are where this one gets good. It is a tad sweet, but I wear Gaultier^2 and this isn't nearly as sweet as that one. This is a bit more classy that G^2. G^2 is vanilla, Pi is not.
Great every once in a while, but I could warm up to wearing it more often.

Good quality, decent longevity and sillage is average.
Thumbs up.
06 July 2009

Allure Homme Sport by Chanel

I bought this fragrance as a blind buy. I rarely do this, but I was looking for some good summer fragrances and came across this one with some good hype.
I think what they did with this fragrance was that they added a heavy citrus topping to Allure and called it a "sport" fragrance. This tends to be the trend for sport fragrances, but since Allure is such a great fragrance to begin with, the citrus creme topping was a great addition and works well. The aldehydes make is "sparkle" as some would say, making the fragrance somehow "fizzy" for the first 30 minutes or so. Then once the heavy citrus drys off, you get into the heart of Allure. The fragrance develops a creamy and spicy accord that I find very enticing. The base is very, very similar to Code, and I've already had a couple people ask me if I was wearing Code. Got a little put off by it, but I guess the bases are very similar with the tonka that really comes out, especially when its warm out.
Overall, a great fragrance for a "sport" revision.
06 July 2009

Armani Code / Black Code by Giorgio Armani

This fragrance and Acqua Di Gio are my two favorites of Armani. I don't wear this one as casually as AgD, but I wouldn't save this one for only formal events like most people suggest. IMO Its a good fragrance to wear almost anytime.

It has a nice spicy, elegant tone that drys down to a somewhat sweet and slightly floral finish. It is sort of an oriental fragrance, but I wouldn't say that it is a typical oriental. Its a hybrid. Event though it's technically classified as an oriental fragrance, I think of it as sort of a gourmand as well. It's pleasant in many ways.
It is also a simple fragrance in that the drydown isn't composed of a lot of notes. I smell the lemon when I first apply it, then the olive flower lingers for around an hour or so, then the rest is the tonka and guiac. Simple...and remember that a lot of the time you just got to "keep it simple stupid."

This one lasts about 4-6 hours on my skin. Makes a good fragrance to wear to work (if you put a little on), and great to wear out to the club or formal events (put a little more on). I can pick this out of a crowd of people now, and smell it more and more wherever I go. Its getting that popularity that Armani usually gets because of AdG. Wish it wasn't so, but oh well.
06 July 2009

Dolce & Gabbana pour Homme by Dolce & Gabbana

This is a very fresh clean and crisp fragrance. It is very youthful and modern. It starts out with a great citrus opening and drys down with a somewhat smooth finish with a hint of tobacco. Overall, this is a great fragrance and actually lasts longer than many other youthful fragrances out there. Sillage is excellent as well. Anybody who knows this fragrance can tell I'm wearing D&G from across the room because the sillage is so create and the fragrance is so recognizable. But either way, the fragrance is great.
Thumbs up.
04 July 2009

Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent

This was a blind buy for me. I honestly thought that if a fragrance was sooo highly rated, that it must be great. So I bought a small bottle of it and I was quite surprised. This fragrance was created for the European consumer in mind. US consumers hate fragrances that create controversy and aren't quite pleasant or clean. Kouros does indeed smell like urinal cakes by US standards and nothing more. I gave this fragrance an honest try....tried to take the higher route in the sake of art and fragrance, but I can't get past the dirty scents that this fragrance creates. I might not be sophisticated enough to appreciate this fragrance, but perception is everything....and the perception I've received from this fragrance is that I smell like an airline bathroom or like urinal cakes. My wife even makes fun of me if I try to wear this fragrance by calling it the urinal cake fragrance.

The US market is just note "sophisticated" enough for this one. Maybe if I was a little more seasoned in the field of fragrances I could appreciate it, but it certainly isn't for me.

Sorry....Thumbs down.
03 July 2009

Bulgari pour Homme by Bulgari

This is truly an elegant fragrance. It's sillage is perfect if you don't want everyone around you to be smelling you.....its for a more intimate interaction. The progression from the top notes to the middle and base is where the magic happens. The cirtus/floral/tea notes of the top give way to the spiciness of the pepper and cardamom of the middle...then for a perfect finish, light musk in the base. You can easily call this a gentleman's fragrance....perfect for any occasion.

Thumbs way up.
03 July 2009

L'Eau D'Issey pour Homme by Issey Miyake

The word "zing" comes to mind when I tried this. I'm a fan of well composed citrus fragrances, and this is definitely one of the best, if not the best.
Slightly reminds me of Clinique Happy, but much, much better.
I could use this one as a pick me up on those dreary days.

Thumbs way up.
03 July 2009

Envy for Men by Gucci

I tried this at a friend's house not too long ago and it lives up to the hype. Perhaps one of the reason's why oriental fragrances are so popular today was the inclusion of ginger in this fragrance. Ginger seems to be one of the ingredients that "makes" an oriental fragrance, and ginger is the dominant note throughout the life of this one. I get hints of cardamom and anise in the middle, but the ginger is right there. The base is nice as well with patchouli, amber, musk and incense notes that I can distinguish. Overall, this is a great fragrance that lives up to the hype. But it is very synthetic...which is not always a bad thing.

I recommend wearing it out at night or for you're own personal pleasure. Day wear isn't completely out of the picture, but the fragrance may seem a bit heavy on a hot day.

Thumbs up.
03 July 2009

Terre d'Hermès by Hermès

This is definitely just like what most people have described thus far. I get a very nice orange note at the opening that lasts for about an hour on me. This slowly melts into the middle and base notes that when combined makes a sort of woody, earthy note. For me, these don't really separate. I don't get one isolated from the other...it all pretty much runs together.
I like this because I can take in the majority of the notes for the life of the fragrance.
I couldn't possibly find anything offensive about this one; thus it is a great all-round fragrance for anytime, anywhere. The orange gives it a feeling of a warmer weather scent...but the warmth of the middle and base notes balance out so that it would also make a great cold weather fragrance...much like the smell of orange spice (I'm not talking about the Creed orange spice). I'm talking about the warm smell of orange spice from a candle or scented heated oil during the cold months.
This one is worth the hype in my opinion, but you really need to test it before you by it. Blind buys are a bad thing with a fragrance as eclectic as this one. Honestly, the best website I've found for fragrance samples and decants is theperfumedcourt.com; and I know they have it.

Great fragrance if you're willing to give it a try.
03 July 2009

Habit Rouge by Guerlain

Tried this at the Guerlain boutique at Epcot, and I was very impressed. I never really had any desire to try Habit Rouge, but I found it to be a very pleasing fragrance. The spice/vanilla accord makes it lean towards the oriental side, but not too far. The vanilla note lasts for the pretty much the life of the fragrance and is fairly dominant near the end. Great fragrance.
02 July 2009

Eau Sauvage by Christian Dior

I now know why this is a classic. Great fragrance of masculinity that I'd wear anytime, anywhere. Awesome fragrance!
02 July 2009

L'Homme by Yves Saint Laurent

Definitely liked this one when I tested it. Other YSL fragrances tend to be a little out there (i.e. Kouros, M7...). Bright opening with the citrus and light drydown with florals. Great stuff.
02 July 2009

Bulgari Black by Bulgari

Pretty much just as what others have described. A hint of rubber, tea, vanilla and musk. No more, no less, not bad.
02 July 2009

John Varvatos by John Varvatos

There is alot going on in this one and it really doesn't slow down at all. I definitely like the spice and leather....goes well during the winter months.
01 July 2009

White Musk for Men by Body Shop

Pretty much just as it is described. Its a light musky fragrance. Nothing fancy, but it isn't bad. Wouldn't spend the money on it though....
01 July 2009

Laila by Geir Ness

I definitely like this white floral fragrance. My wife fell in love with it when she smelled it and she has a sensitivity to overpowering fragrances. The drydown is great and would recommend this one for anyone looking for a good white floral fragrance.
01 July 2009

Geir by Geir Ness

I tried this in "Norway" at Epcot in Disney World. I found it to be surprisingly good and based on other's opinions, that seems to be the consensus. I really cannot pick out any specific notes, but the overall affect is very good.
01 July 2009

L'Ame d'un Héros by Guerlain

I don't know why this is listed as a women's fragrance, because when I went to the Guerlain boutique at Epcot, they said this was a male fragrance. Other websites say its a male fragrance, and its predecessor Coriolan, is a male fragrance as well.

Honestly, when I tried this, I was blown away. The opening was amazingly crisp, then transitioned into the floral notes, with juniper, cypress and basil. Absinthe gave these notes a bit of an edge. The base notes of patchoulli and basalm came out and complemented the middle notes very well.

I found the fragrance somewhat hypnotic and couldn't stop smelling my wrist. I've never tried Coriolan, but if it was even half as good as "Soul of a Hero," then I would have to give a try as well.
30 June 2009

Héritage by Guerlain

As been said many times over, this is a tribute to all of the great Guerlain fragrances of the past. You really can't go wrong with this one if you are a fan of Guerlain.
28 June 2009

Shalimar by Guerlain

Certainly timeless. When I tried this yesterday at the Guerlain boutique at Epcot, I thought that I was going to be smelling that cloying old women type fragrance that I all too often smell. This is an awesome women's fragrance and all of its derivatives as well.
28 June 2009

Habit Rouge Sport by Guerlain

I was at Epcot yesterday in the France section of the World Showcase and low and behold they have a Guerlain boutique there! They had this fragrance, and I gave it a try and I loved it. It takes the essence of the original, like most sport fragrances do, and then makes it a little more "youthful." It is a very good sport fragrance, unlike the citrus messes that most "sport" fragrances end up smelling like. I highly recommend it.
28 June 2009

Champs-Elysées by Guerlain

I actually found this fragrance to give off a young women's vibe. Even though its over 100 years old, it still captures the essence of youth. I totally disagree with everyone who puts this down as a old women's fragrance. But hey, perception is everything.
28 June 2009

Xeryus by Givenchy

Finally got around to trying this one. I was afraid that it would come off smelling like Kouros, but it isn't anything like it. The fragrance definitely projects itself on my skin and the cypress jumps out giving it a fresh herbal scent through most of it's life. Love it.
28 June 2009

Eau de Givenchy by Givenchy

Tried this one yesterday, and its a women's fragrance I actually like. Doesn't smell to "old" like many other praised women's fragrances smell. My wife loved it too, so I think this one is a winner.
28 June 2009

Givenchy Play Intense by Givenchy

Gave this one and the regular version a try yesterday. It comes off smelling like a gourmand, and the intense version even more so. The sales rep said that the regular and intense versions were made to complement each other, and you can put them both on at the same time to create a third fragrance. Thought it was a good concept, and I certainly wouldn't put the fragrance down just because it comes off smelling a bit synthetic. The intense version is much better than the regular in my opinion.
28 June 2009

Givenchy Play by Givenchy

Gave this one and the Intense version a try yesterday. It comes off smelling like a gourmand, and the intense version even more so. The sales rep said that the regular and intense versions were made to complement each other, and you can put them both on at the same time to create a third fragrance. Thought it was a good concept, and I certainly wouldn't put the fragrance down just because it comes off smelling a bit synthetic.
28 June 2009

Blu Mediterraneo Mirto di Panarea by Acqua di Parma

I truly liked this one as well. The opening isn't unique, but the transition to the floral side of the fragrance makes it stand out. I too got hints of jasmine and rose. The juniper does indeed add some bite to it and I'm a sucker for juniper. Couldn't really pick out the major components in the base, but if I could make and educated guess, it would probably be a cedar base, because it usually goes well with a citrus/floral opening. Great fragrance from the Blu Mediterraneo line that is put down too often.
28 June 2009

Blu Mediterraneo Capri Orange / Arancia by Acqua di Parma

Love the orange. If you want to smell like one, this one is for you. The notes of the drydown keep you from smelling completely like orange through the life of the fragrance, but it remains to the end.
28 June 2009

Blu Mediterraneo Fico di Amalfi by Acqua di Parma

Very, very citrusy. Couldn't imagine wearing it at any other time than during the warmer months. My wife liked it very much, so I might consider getting it...but it reminded me much of Happy except with a more natural citrus scent.
28 June 2009

Acqua di Parma Colonia Intensa by Acqua di Parma

I thought this was well put together when I tried it. It had a citrusy opening with a nice spicy dry down and a musky finish.
28 June 2009

IZOD by IZOD

Blah. Very generic, but good, clean and refreshing. Its hard to hate a fresh smelling scent, even if you've smelled something like it hundreds of times before. Still won't have a place in my collection because I already have a generic smelling fragrance along the same lines (Nautica Voyage).
21 May 2009

Hugo by Hugo Boss

Wasn't impressed with this "modern classic." I'm young, but I don't find myself liking this one too much. People have always told me that the two fragrances that they most noticed pine scent was Hugo and Polo green. Maybe I just got a bad batch of Hugo, but I didn't really pick up any pine scent in this one. Otherwise, the notes pyramid displayed here would imply that this fragrance is pretty well put together...just not all that exciting. Still gets thumbs up though because it doesn't suck.
21 May 2009

Fuel For Life pour Homme by Diesel

This fragrance is nice, but for some reason I really wasn't feeling the opening. It was very sweet, and considering the bottle comes wrapped in leather, I would have assumed that it would be a little more masculine...or at least have a leather note in it. Very weak dry down with a weak base. Not bad but ain't great.
21 May 2009

Only The Brave by Diesel

I tested this fragrance and I immediately found a similarity with another fragrance that I couldn't quite put my finger on at first. After a couple minutes of contemplation, I realized that this smelled very similar to Chanel Allure Homme Sport...almost identical. Its a decent fragrance, but I wouldn't want to add such a similar fragrance to my collection when I already have a better one anyways. Nothing unique about this frag.
17 May 2009

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue pour Homme by Dolce & Gabbana

Not an improvement on the original. More like a lighter, sportier version. Not has powerful or overbearing as the original, which can be a good thing...but this isn't any better. I think the consensus is that this one is not a step in the right direction for what the original was. I think they may have been trying to put an oriental spin in it, but didn't quite accomplish it. Not bad, but ain't great. Still a thumbs up though.
17 May 2009

Touch for Men by Burberry

Smells like all the other Burberry fragrance. Its slightly spicy with a hint of fresh. Nothing special, but I guess if you like other Burberry fragrances, you'll probably like this one.
17 May 2009

Romance Silver Men by Ralph Lauren

Not any improvement from the original. Still has the "blah" effect on me. Nothing special.
17 May 2009

Romance for Men by Ralph Lauren

This one had the "blah" effect on me. It really didn't leave a lasting impression and was a little too floral for me. Came off smelling very synthetic. It really didn't have any distinguishing notes that I could tell, so this one definitely isn't one of Polo's best.
17 May 2009

Polo Explorer by Ralph Lauren

An excellent spicy oriental fragrance. I was surprised that after some of the other Polo "failures" that they came up with something like Explorer. It comes off clean and spicy with good sillage and longevity. Couldn't find anything bad to say about it.

Thumbs up.
17 May 2009

Polo Double Black by Ralph Lauren

Despite what people have said about this fragrance, it isn't bad but it ain't great. Its a mediocre fragrance that tried to distance itself from its predecessor "Polo Black" by adding the dark notes like coffee, nutmeg and pepper. Personally, I like this one better than Black, but I wouldn't shell out the money for it. Goin neutral on this one.
17 May 2009

Polo Modern Reserve by Ralph Lauren

I love the original and this is an awesome "remake" of it. Definitely more versatile with the depth, warmth and masculinity of the original. Much less smoky, which I guess is complaint of the original but I never had a problem with it.

Excellent fragrance. If you are trying Polo for the first time, try the original first then this one and you'll truly appreciate this remake of a classic.

Thumbs way up!
17 May 2009

Platinum Égoïste by Chanel

What I got from this fragrance was an alteration of CK Eternity much like many other popular fragrances. Now with this said, there are differences. I found that this frag is much more complex but it isn't different enough to make me want to get this one if I already have Eternity and others like it in my collection.
17 May 2009

The One for Men by Dolce & Gabbana

Eh...what is to say what hasn't already been said. It definitely strikes me as a big coconut fragrance. Much like Creed Virgin Island water, but without the complexity.
I think you could only wear this one in the warm months because of it.

02 October 2008

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana

It definitely could be a unisex fragrance, but it is masculine in its own right. Fruity with a powdery dry down. Pleasantly fresh.
Great longevity like DG pour Homme as well as great sillage.
Thumbs up.
02 October 2008

Infusion d'Homme by Prada

I was given a sample of this when I was at the store a couple weeks ago and I originally wasn't even going to give it a try. Had a change of heart and put a bit on my wrist and it was pretty good.
As far as composition goes, it is pretty good. Longevity is ok and sillage is alright as well. Definitely better than many of the other fragrances released this year.
02 October 2008

Tea for Two by L'Artisan Parfumeur

I had the pleasure of obtaining a small vial of this one and I absolutely love it. I love tea fragrances and this one is just that. You really can't go wrong with it unless you bathe yourself in it.
Gonna save up some to get a bottle of it.
02 October 2008

Joop! Homme by Joop!

STRONG. Do not go overboard with this one. It is pleasant with one spray. Definitely has a warming affect, and I recommend it for the colder months.
Don't hate, don't love it....its just Joop.
02 October 2008

Le Mâle by Jean Paul Gaultier

This is an easy one to get along with. Its refreshing and not a clone of anything else I've tried.

Decent longevity and sillage. Bottle is a little different, but I'm not holding that against this great fragrance.
02 October 2008

Fahrenheit by Christian Dior

Theres alot in this one and is great for colder weather. I don't care much for the oily/gasoline note that many have complained about...but the rest is decent. Its fairly unique...I'll give you that...but not for me.
02 October 2008

Dior Homme Sport by Christian Dior

Tried this one the other day and it was quite a let down.
Generic, synthetic and uninspiring.
Thumbs down.
02 October 2008

Burberry London for Men by Burberry

I do like this one when compared to Brit. These are the only two Burberry fragrances that I've tried thus far, and this one is indeed very pleasant.
I have a problem with many fragrances not lasting long enough on my skin, and this one definitely doesn't help. Lasted only about 2 hours on my skin before it's presence died down to a whimper.
Love the composition, but don't like the longevity and sillage. I'd get it if it lasted longer.
Still a thumbs up though.
02 October 2008

M7 by Yves Saint Laurent

Besides the interesting agarwood note in this fragrance, it is a typical oriental style fragrance. I do agree that the agarwood is what makes this fragrance as unique as it is. I like wearing this one for any occasion, not just the cliche "romantic night out."
It is once of those fragrances that draws some questions of someone is close enough to get a whiff of it. Longevity is average and so is sillage. I usually put 3-4 sprays on the neck and two on the wrists and this isn't too much for me.
Thumbs up.
26 September 2008

Gucci Pour Homme II by Gucci

I absolutely love the tea note in this one. Its much better than I expected. Great drydown, but is plagued by the longevity issue that PH1 had...doesn't last as long as one would like.
Either way, this one is excellent while it lasts.
22 September 2008

Pi Neo by Givenchy

I tried this at the store a couple days ago and it really isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. It is a strong, fresh fragrance with a citrusy opening and a generic dry down.
I personally like fragrances that are significantly different as not to have what I'm wearing confused with something that everybody wears.
Pi Neo is a run of the mill modern fragrance, but is better than most IMO. I wouldn't get it if you are trying to be different and I sense many similarities to Azzaro Chrome, which again can be confused with many other average modern fragrances.
I'm going neutral on this one. Not bad by any stretch, but ain't all that great either.
11 September 2008

Chrome by Azzaro

I like this one, but it does indeed smell cheap and synthetic. But of the cheap and synthetic smelling fragrances I've experienced, this is probably the best. The opening is your typical fresh citrus, but the middle and basenotes are where this one shines. The middle notes are a bit floral smelling with a hint of earthy notes. This gives it a more unique, fresh and clean smell. The base is decent...typical sandalwood and rosewood create a good lasting finish.
Great casual fragrance.
Thumbs up.
10 September 2008

L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme by Guerlain

This fragrance sort of has an identity crisis because it fits the category of many different types of fragrances without being exclusively one. If I had to choose one though, I'd say its closest to a gourmand. But the wood, spice and floral notes do stick out. It seems like the fragrance is constantly shifting its focus from sweet gourmand, to wood and floral. Its somewhat of an enigma to me.
I love it! It keeps me guessing as well as my wife as what exactly is going on with it. Its sweet without being cloying and floral without being too feminine. The wood and spice notes hold it all together and the star anise makes it sparkle. Once it drys down to the base the fragrance is resinous. Definitely get the contrasting warm and cold vibes with it.
Excellent fragrance if you want something different. Great Guerlain choice if you ask me.
Thumbs way up.
06 September 2008

Passion by Elizabeth Taylor

Not bad, but I think its because my mom has been wearing this for years and I've gotten used to it. Its a bit overpowering and smells like many older women's fragrances. Not for the younger crowd. Its a bit funny, but the smell of this one reminds me of the color purple...guess its just the association with the color of the bottle. But I find that whenever I come across a fragrance that is even remotely like this one, I think of a purple cloud lingering around the person wearing it.
03 September 2008

Red Door by Elizabeth Arden

My mother owns this one and it works for her. I really didn't care too much for it...it seems a bit on the cheap side. I think the only reason she has it is because she got it as a gift because she frequents the Red Door spa. I'm indifferent. Probably wouldn't get it for my wife.
03 September 2008

Ysatis by Givenchy

I haven't been very fond of the Givenchy women's fragrances, but this one is one of the better ones. It does seem a bit dated though. It is fairly elegant and produces an aura of confidence. My wife liked it and didn't give her a headache like some of the other Givenchy women's fragrances did.
Good stuff.
03 September 2008

Absolutely Irresistible by Givenchy

This fragrance was so darn overpowering, it almost made me sick! It smelled like a generic old woman's perfume. I definitely didn't find it very appealing for my wife to wear and is very, very, very floral.
Lasts for freaking ever. Blah!
03 September 2008

Organza by Givenchy

Organza isn't a bad fragrance by any means, but I found it to be a little overbearing even with one spray. Very floral with a base of amber and vanilla. Wouldn't consider it for everyday use, but great for a night out. My wife likes vanilla fragrances and she thought this one was much like Shalimar...except not as deep.
I didn't care for it one way or another...I personally prefer more citrusy fragrances for my wife to wear. But as far as quality goes, this is up there.
03 September 2008

Curve for Women by Liz Claiborne

This one is pretty decent for one of the many Curve iterations over the past few years. I really couldn't distinguish many of the notes, but the magnolia stood out a bit. My wife was a little indifferent towards it, so I suppose its ok, but nothing really special.
At least it wasn't a complete turn off.
03 September 2008

Island Capri by Michael Kors

Of the few women's fragrances I sampled one day, I liked this one the most. It was pleasantly fresh and my wife particularly liked it. Its a great modern fragrance for a younger woman. Probably only good for the warmer months though.
03 September 2008

Eternity by Calvin Klein

Complete turn off for me. I thought this would be much better than what I experienced. Most would say its better than the male counterpart, but I think this wasn't even close.
Smelled like an astringent to me...but maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance to open up to me. Oh well...probably wouldn't have been very impressed either way.
Thumbs down.
03 September 2008

Armani Eau Pour Homme by Giorgio Armani

Classy masculine fragrance. Opens with a fresh lemons and drys down with the classic masucline fragrance combination of sandalwood, cloves and oakmoss. I love fragrances that incorporate oakmoss into the base. This gives it an nice, earthy scent that is just lovely.
Longevity is average and sillage is about the same. Great for casual and office use.
03 September 2008

Brit for Men by Burberry

Another mainstream generic. Didn't stand out too much for me. It smells pleasant enough, but I like fragrances that are significantly different. Again, since this is fairly mainstream, people were able to identify this one on me.
Its ok with decent sillage and longevity. But it really isn't creative.
26 August 2008

No. 5 by Chanel

I really couldn't get a good sense of what this actually smelled like in the store when I sprayed it on a tester card.
It did have a sparkling opening which intrigued me...but I'd never get this one for my wife.
I know its a classic, but I just don't care for it too much.
26 August 2008

B*Men by Thierry Mugler

I liked this one a little better than A*Men, but I still didn't care too much for it. My wife felt the same way.
Again, too much going on and wasn't all that pleasant in my opinion.
26 August 2008

A*Men / Angel Men by Thierry Mugler

Not sure what the hype is about this one. I guess I'm one of the many who just don't like it. There is too much going on with it and my wife surely didn't like it on me.
Longevity and sillage is a plus, but since I didn't like the scent of the fragrance itself I obviously can't approve.
Thumbs down.
26 August 2008

Acqua di Giò pour Homme by Giorgio Armani

Its an ok scent. Very, very easily recognizable. Lasts for max of about 2 hours on my skin with generous application. I think the only way I can get better longevity out of this one would be to use the after shave...but even then it only adds maybe two more hours of longevity.
I liked this when I was younger and inexperienced in the fragrance world. Not my go to anymore since I've started using Bvlgari Aqva and Erolfa. Doesn't stand up to the depth, sillage and longevity of these.
Used to be a thumbs up for me, now its a thumbs down.
26 August 2008

Paco Rabanne pour Homme by Paco Rabanne

This is an excellent, clean, masculine fragrance. I consider it a classic men's fragrance that hasn't gotten the hype as many other fragrances of its time. Before I tried it, I was surprised to find the Azzaro PH, used this one as inspiration and improved upon it. I do find them fairly similar, but Azzaro PH is much more complex. This fragrance is linear in comparison, but what it does contain that makes it stand out is the resinous, green notes that last the entirety of the life. Sillage is about average and longevity on my skin is about 5 hours.
Great for everyday or for work.
Thumbs up.
22 August 2008

Aramis by Aramis

This as many have already have said isn't for the younger crowd. I fall into this demographic, but I have an affinity for classic fragrances and their complexities and strength. I wore this one today to work, and I felt a little more mature wearing it. This isn't a bad thing and I think that it projects my inner gentleman a little bit better than other fragrances. This is a strong one. The opening is somewhat astringent with the strong bergamot note. This lingers as the middle notes come out and this is wear I detect the spicyness. I do get a hint of cumin, along with cloves and sage. This stage is beautiful. As the dry down continues, the base comes out to play with spicy, woody goodness. I have indeed smelled this fragrance in the past and had no idea what it was. This is in my work collection along with Azzaro PH, Paco Rabanne, Polo, and Creed BdP.
Thumbs up to a classic.
21 August 2008

Gucci pour Homme by Gucci

I love the smell of this fragrance! I do get the pencil shavings note throughout the life of the fragrance, but I like the woodiness. It is very warm and peppery as well. Unfortunately the longevity and sillage are below par. I wear the after shave to help out in this department a little bit.
But as far as the smell of the fragrance goes, this is a thumbs up.
19 August 2008

Gaultier² by Jean Paul Gaultier

This one does start off pretty sweet, but after about 10 minutes it turns into a great warm vanilla fragrance. My wife and I have matching bottles (corny, yes I know). She loves it both on her and myself.
It is a sensual fragrance that drys down to a vanilla-musk base that lasts hours. I only wear this one for evenings spent with her.
Thumbs up.
19 August 2008

Curve Crush for Men by Liz Claiborne

I unfortunately own this. Got it before I knew better. The original Curve is decent, but this isn't good at all.
I now use this one as an air freshener in my car.
19 August 2008

Azzaro pour Homme by Azzaro

This is a great masculine fragrance from a time when they knew how to make a good, solid men's fragrance and wasn't afraid about it being too overpowering.
When I wear this, it casts an aura around me that says gentleman.
I'm not afraid to put a few sprays of this on for work. It is stronger than most contemporary fragrances, but not too strong. I think any man would be very comfortable wearing this one. Sillage is ok and longevity average.

Great, classic fragrance. Thumbs up.
19 August 2008

Green Irish Tweed by Creed

I just received a sample of this fragrance in the mail and I must say it is quite enticing. It is almost as if some one bottled Irish Spring soap in a bottle as a fragrance...but yet it is deeper than that.
From the get go I could smell faint similarities between this and MI. Though obviously they both dry down to scents that are totally different. I feel that this is a great fragrance for any time of day and any occasion. I couldn't believe that anyone would find this offensive, but as with any fragrance, body chemistry can ruin any good fragrance that works well on everybody.

It's clean, crisp and I feel and smell shower clean after I put it on.
17 July 2008

Mugler Cologne by Thierry Mugler

In all honesty, this one is so light that I couldn't smell it over the other fragrances lingering in the fragrance dept. at Macy's. By the time I got to a smell-free zone, I could barely smell it on the card. It is very fresh...like irish spring soap, except a tenth of the strength.
This really is for people who don't want to project themselves too much, but still want to be fresh smelling when someone gets uncomfortably close to them.
15 July 2008

Givenchy pour Homme by Givenchy

I like this one. The blue label version only takes a small bit of this as inspiration.
This fragrance is slightly spicy, woody with a hint of green notes and citrus. I mostly get the spicy-woody notes from the base, which I really like in a base.
Great for everyday use.
15 July 2008

Givenchy pour Homme Blue Label by Givenchy

This one isn't bad, but it really isn't unique. Its a generic aquatic that has an interesting pepper note somewhere in its dry down. Unfortunately, that pepper note is a little irritating to my nose and causes me to sneeze, even though pepper usually doesn't make my do so.
I think that if you want to get a mainstream aquatic that is slightly different, get this one...otherwise, its nothing special.
15 July 2008

Cool Water by Davidoff

I'm not a fan of this so called classic. I know there are similarities between this and GIT, but I side with GIT.
This is, on the other hand not a bad fragrance in the least. It is refreshing and has decent longevity. My problem with it is that its way overused. Yeah, its great and all, but I smell it everywhere. I like more unique fragrances...and of course with close similarities with GIT, I get thrown in the group with those who wear cool water, when someone doesn't know better.
15 July 2008

Armani Attitude by Giorgio Armani

This one is just overpowered with patchouli. I don't find it enticing in the least. This would probably be better for those guys who already have a naturally strong body odor. I can imagine this one on a hairy chested, middle aged man and no one else.

Two thumbs down.
15 July 2008

Love In White by Creed

I like this one. I love white flowers because they don't force a really power floral scent. The white flowers in this fragrance creates a creamy and sweet fragrance.
Unfortunately, for whatever reason this one turns sour with my wife's body chemistry.
The fragrance by itself or on a card is amazing, so I can recommend it for any self respecting, younger woman who is looking for a great quality fragrance.
Thumbs up.
15 July 2008

Obsession Night for Men by Calvin Klein

I am in agreement with those who say that Obsession Night does not have real roots in the original Obsession. They seem to be two different animals to my nose. Ob. Night is a very masculine, woody fragrance that has a very strong opening to me. The dry down reveals a leathery scent that lasts till the end. This isn't one of my fragrances I wear often, but IMO it can be worn anytime. I'm not one to only wear a fragrance only at night or only at day....its is only recommended that you wear this for evening events.

It stays close to my skin after the initial blast with the top notes. The middle notes are only there for a hot second before moving on to the adequate base. In the base, the first note I can detect is the vetiver. Its subtle, but its there...along with the musk and patchouli. Overall the fragrance lasts about 3-4 hours on me...and is only slightly detectable for a couple hours after that.

Its good, but not great like the original. Should have named it something else because it kinda taints the name of Obsession. Still gets a thumbs up because it doesn't suck.
15 July 2008

Bois du Portugal by Creed

This one is different that most of the fragrances I own, but if I had to pick one its closest to, I'd say POLO green. Now this is not to say that they are identical...they just have similar notes. They are totally different other than this.
From the opening I can pick out a hint of citrus and what I'm assuming would be the lavender. I know what lavender smells like, but for whatever reason it comes out a little sharp in this one. Its very spicy with woody undertones. After a little while I can detect a little bit of vetiver and the sandalwood base. The sandalwood, amber and musk really come out in the base and lingers for hours. This is another one that WILL last until you take shower. The first day I tried this one, I put it on right after my morning shower around 6AM and this one was still going till I got up the next morning....simply amazing.
This is not for those who are looking for a sweet fragrance. I don't find any part of this bad boy sweet. It is woody, spicy, dry and very masculine. LOVE IT.

IMO, you can wear this one anytime. You don't need a suit or tux, but of course it would go great with one. I rock business casual on the daily for my job and this goes perfectly with it. It creates an older, sophisticated aura around me that sends out the signal that I'm not dependent on big name, mainstream designer fragrances that everyone wears. I get more questions about what fragrance I'm wearing when wearing a Creed fragrance than anything else. Great stuff....multiple thumbs up.
15 July 2008

Erolfa by Creed

This fragrance sorta caught me off guard when I first tried it. I wasn't really expecting the strong opening that Erolfa has to offer. I was expecting to smell something along the lines of Acqua Di Gio, but I was mistaken. On my skin this fragrance smells very fresh. The bergamot and sandalwood are the main notes that I can pick out for the long run when I'm wearing this one. I don't know what they mean by ozonic notes, but when I can make out in the opening is "green" and a little bit citrusy...so I guess that would be the tangerine I'm making out in the opening.
Its great on a warm day. I don't really get that whole mental picture of being at the beach when I'm wearing it, but it is definitely a comforting fragrance. It only lasts a couple hours on me, so I have to re-apply it if I want it to last all day. After the dry down mixed with a little sweat, my wife and my friends girlfriends seem to flock to me and flirt....so I guess this one is attractive to the ladies.
You can't go wrong with this one.
15 July 2008

Millésime Impérial by Creed

I'm new to MI. In fact, I'm new to Creed fragrances in general. I've fallen in love with them though. They are intriguing to my nose and the complexity of the dry down I really like.
MI starts out very sweet to my nose (on my skin). It doesn't really start smelling more masculine till the dry down when I get a hint of some sandalwood and musk in the basenotes. But for the most part, this is definitely a unisex fragrance to my nose. I love it on my wife and she loves it on me...so it works out.

It is definitely refreshing to smell a fragrance that isn't bogged down in spice and woodsy, leathery smells that are atypical masculine fragrances. This is light, fruity, floral with a hint of the usual masculine scent. I would find it great for a spring or summer day outside...a couple sprays on the neck and one on the wrists and I have my wife hanging off of me for the rest of the day....

If you can pony up the cash for it, I recommend it as an alternative for most of the cliche, run of the mill aquatic fragrances that seem to be pushed out on the market. Its unique and many other fragrances have tried to copy its great scent. Like I said, I'm new to Creed, but I'm sure this is one of their best along with GIT and Silver Mountain.
15 July 2008

Obsession for Men by Calvin Klein

This is the first fragrance that I was exposed to. As a young child my father only wore this fragrance, and its kinda funny to look back on it because he hates fragrances. I think he wore it soley to please my mother. Never the less, it was the first fragrance I was exposed to, so it is deeply rooted in my memory. I absolutely love this fragrance. I will always have it in my collection as a go to for special events like dinners, weddings, etc. It is classy, elegant, and has a dry down to die for. It starts out a bit sweet and a bit spicy. It drys down a spicy woody finish that lasts for hours.
I have a problem with fragrance longevity on my skin for some reason...fragrances that for others last 6-10 hours only last about 4 on me...but Obsession is notoriously strong and lasts all day on me. Love it.

Must have for any man, single or not!
15 July 2008

Polo by Ralph Lauren

So I tried this stuff first when I was back in high school and like many people my age, I put WAAAAAYYYYY too much of this stuff on! Sometimes you can get away with this with a weaker fragrance, but since this one is so potent, there really is no excuse for putting copious amounts on.
After wearing this stuff for about a week and wearing too much, I got sick and tired of it because it was very overwhelming and of course people cracked jokes saying I smelled like an old man....and compared to the crap they were wearing marketed to youth, Yes, it did smell more mature. They were wearing crap from AE, Abercrombie, Lacoste....you know, all the Atypical "young and modern" fragrances.
So I gave it up for about 4 years. Nearly forgot about it until a couple days ago when I found it in my medicine cabinet...separate from the rest of the fragrance collection. I tried it on, and it smelled different to me. I suppose now that I've become a fragrance collector and have tried many, many fragrances, I have a greater appreciation for this one now.
I no longer see it as an "old man's" fragrance. It is a very manly fragrance and when I wore it yesterday, I felt as if I had masculinity dripping from my pores. Many men's fragrances today have lots of fruit (citrus) and floral ingredients that take the edge off of the stronger, sharper components. Polo does too, but other stronger notes overpower them. It starts very strong with coniferous scents and actually has a very slow dry down. The change between notes takes much longer than more modern fragrances. The woody, coniferous notes never go away; they are there for the life of the fragrance. But the other notes you take in subtly change to floral then to the base of patchouli, leather, musk and oakmoss. The floral notes are there, but hidden behind the woody notes, so the fragrance stays very masculine.
I wouldn't where this fragrance everyday, but on days I really feel like projecting my masculinity, I wear Polo.
My wife likes the fragrance, which actually surprises me a little bit because she likes my more floral and citrusy fragrances, but doesn't really care for my other stronger fragrances like Obsession night. She says this one makes me seems to frame my maturity a little better than my other fragrances do. So I have no complaints here.

Anyways, I'd say this is must have for any fragrance collector's collection. Use sparingly and honestly you don't have to get the big bottle. A 1 or 2oz bottle will last quite a while since you only need 1 or 2 sprays max per application.
10 July 2008

Bulgari Aqua pour Homme by Bulgari

I really don't know how to describe this one. It has a quick citrus opening, and quickly goes to the lower notes. The middle and basenotes are slightly floral with a hint of herbal and woody. I find it intoxicating and a soft, delicate fragrance that maintains its masculinity by incorporating amber and tea notes.
Great for casual wear on any day.
01 July 2008

Vetiver by Guerlain

When I first got this fragrance, I was somewhat surprised with what it actually smelled like to me. I felt a little put off by what smelled like "Afta" after shave. But, I've heard so many good things about this one that I thought I'd give it a while and not dismiss just yet. I tried it again a couple days later when it was nice and hot outside and boy did this fragrance take off.\

The opening was sharp and citrusy which lingered for about 15 minutes. This top note faded into what I can best describe as green and spicy. This I would assume would be the vetiver with a hint of cedar as well as the pepper and capiscum in the base.

In general I have longevity problems with most fragrances...but not with this one. I put it on at 8AM and it was still going strong around 3PM. By the time I was going to bed, it had not completely faded away and was still very distiguishable....of course it was close to my skin.

This one definitely grew on my quick. I quickly dismissed my original impression of this fragrance and realized that even though it slightly smelled like "Afta," the other notes dominated this. And to someone who has never smelled "Afta" or other cheap aftershaves, they would make no association with anything like it....or the stereotypical "old man smell."

This is a must have for anyone's collection. Great for hot days and I'm sure I'll still be wearing it well into the winter months.
01 July 2008

Tommy Girl by Tommy Hilfiger

This is one of my wife's long time favorite fragrances from when she was growing up. I love the way it floats off her skin when she wears it.

It has a soft citrus opening with a dry down of soft floral. Its nothing offensive and its pretty safe to say the least. I really can't smell it on her unless I'm really close, such as giving her a kiss.

It lasts all day on her with only one or two sprays...so I'd say that's pretty good.

Good, safe, young woman's fragrance.
27 June 2008

Nautica Competition (original) by Nautica

I tried the fragrance back maybe a year or two after it first came out. My best friend growing up had it and he let me try it out a couple times. From what I remember, the fragrance was decent...but of course I was only 13 at the time and had no concept of what a good quality fragrance smelled like. I would try it again now, but they don't make it anymore.
27 June 2008

Happy for Men by Clinique

Its definitely a sweet, slightly floral fragrance. The opening is very fruity and as it dries down, it gets a little less so, but I don't get a very strong woody scent as a base. Maybe its just me. But it pretty much maintains its sweet scent throughout the life of the fragrance on my skin.
I know it is just a marketing ploy, but you can't help but feel a little "happier" when you wear this fragrance. It is very different than pretty much all of my other fragrances in that it isn't "as masculine." It is light, fresh and fruity....which is pretty much the opposite of what most fragrances have to offer. I like this, and I honestly get more compliments for this fragrance than most of my other fragrances. My wife definitely like this fragrance on me and she wears Happy for Women...so maybe she's biased, but who doesn't like a sweet scent that isn't too overpowering? Even though this fragrance is light, it is very easy to think you are putting too little on, when you really are applying way too much.
Sillage is really good with one to two sprays on my neck and one on my wrist. Longevity on me is about 4-5 hours.
For something a little bit different, I'd recommend this fragrance.
16 June 2008

Voyage by Nautica

It has a great fresh opening and then I guess with my skin it really doesn't develop into much afterwards. It dries down to a very typical, fresh smelling fragrance. It does, in my opinion remind me very much of Kenneth Cole Reaction...which has already been said, but if I had a choice between the two, I'd choose this one.

It doesn't suck, but it really isn't noteworthy in my opinion. If you get it as a gift or something, don't toss it. I wouldn't necessarily categorize this as aquatic...but it just strikes me as very generic. If someone was wearing this, I probably could name off a handful of other fragrances that smell very much like it.

If you are looking for a good aquatic, try Bulgari Aqua. That is probably one of the best aquatics out there.
11 June 2008

Emporio Armani He by Giorgio Armani

This fragrance is interesting. It certainly isn't bad by any means. It starts off spicy and sweet to my nose. I get hints of sage and vetiver from the start. It has a very quick dry down on my skin though. It only lasts about 3 hours max, so I find myself putting alot on in the morning, and if I want it to last longer, I have to re-apply around lunch to make it through the afternoon. It is definitely a great fragrance to wear to work. It gives me a sense of a professional, clean cut gentleman. I don't wear this one out very often at night, but I'm sure it would be fine. The wife isn't crazy about this one, but doesn't hate it...so I guess it is safe for most uses. You can wear it any time of day, casually. I wouldn't go out of my way to get this one, but if you do, you won't regret it either.
05 June 2008

Very Irrésistible for Men by Givenchy

When I first put it on, all I can smell is a sort of pine scent mixed with chocolate. This is what attracted me to this fragrance from the start because I haven't really encountered anything with this sort of combination in the top notes. This melts away to a more woodsy middle and base notes that last on me all day.
My wife didn't like it at first because I put too much on and she said it smelled a little too much like bug repellent. But once I toned it down a bit, it has become more tolerable to her. This is one of my go-tos for most occasions. I've been asked what it is on several occasions by some female friends of mine because they were intrigued by the combination of scents in the fragrance.

Some have said that instead of this, you should use GIT. I disagree in that GIT and VI are two different animals and other than the green notes; they have totally different dry downs. But I must say, this is a fragrance that you should try sparingly and definitely check to see how it works with your skin type before committing to it.
04 June 2008
 
© copyright 1999 - 2009 Basenotes • www.basenotes.net • BCM Box 1111, London WC1N 3XX, United Kingdom