Fragrance Reviews by Shade

Yesterday, I bought this. Yes, it is $225.00 CAN for a 125 ml. I was a little hesitant to buy it considering I have never smelled it and there was no tester and the place I got it. Nevertheless, I went ahead and made the purchase and I have no regrets.

Virgin Island Water is a very soothing and exotic scent that surely lives up to the heaping price tag. Needless to say, if you like sweetness or in this case the smell of malibu rum and also a fragrance that will not go away, pay the price and you got it. I put it on yesterday and the crowd I was with last night were all intrigued and blown away by it. This being said, it is not an everyday scent. I certainly would not wear this to work. It is more of an evening scent or something for a special occassion. If it was cheaper in price, I would make this my everyday scent for all occassions.

What is really amazing about this scent is the prominence of the different ingredients. When sprayed out you can actually identify the lime, rum, sugar and coconut. For the first several hours, I noticed they were quite sharp (which I like anyway) but around the 4th or 5th hour, it dryed down into a smoothness all the while still being able to identify the major components of the fragrance.

I never thought I would be able to justify spending $225.00 Canadian on a fragrance until now. I will certainly be a long time follower of this house and, particularly, this fragrance.

I'll start with saying I tried the original which was a mstake. Poor longevity. I really can't understand how so many people do not have an issue with this when 1 person who approaches it (me), does. For the amount of money forked out for the original, it is quite disturbing.

Nevertheless, I was hesitant when I approached the intense version however, the next day, was awe-struck. When paying 70-100 dollars for a fragrance, I expect it to last long (at least 8hours) and this intense version surely fits the bill. Plus, the scent stays true to the original in a better, well rounded and thicker fragrance. Absolutely wonderful.

From first blast is the citrus which warms up to cinnamon and incense, with a hint of the citrus. It is quite a unique scent and a compliment getter. Very inoffensive and perfect for anytime where. It is a thick scent so it need be appied sparingly.

After the first hour, the cinnamon really begins to make its appearance known. I've never really come across a cinnamon so well rounded before. The scent itself, is from what I believe because of the cinnamon and incense, a very exotic one at that. I own a few bottles of Opium Pour Homme EDP and this certainly reminds me of that. It comes across as an attractive remake of a classy scent which had no longevity or sillage but yet, does have much potential due to its fresh/smooth mixture of ingredients, only to make it unique thus, exotic.

I mentioned above if I spend the money, I want something worth it. With Issey, you pay a heavy duty price, but for me as I did with Opium EDP, went ahead and payed it because it lasts and lasts and lasts as if it were an EDP; and in addition, holds to the classy, well rounded, rich but exotic blend of ingredients that when you are in contact with someone, will make them wanting to getting closer to you, and perhaps you getting closer to yourself.

If you want a unique scent and for those Opium lovers who unfortunately do not have access to the EDP version of it or cannot afford to pay the high price of it, hunt down Issey Intense. It is somewhat difficult to find but is accessible and cheaper in price. You won't regret it.

....I wish I could have said that when I purchased the original.

OK...considering all the negative reviews, I thought I would put my thoughts here. I have read all the negatives and find there is the same problem with all; that being these particular people are spraying TOO MUCH and do not like the longevity. I feel like these are conclusions made in the Twightlight Zone..."hate fragrances that smell great, last long and you don't need to spray half the bottle".

Joop! is a fantastic scent, and yes, I agree with an earlier review that if it came out recently, it would be part of the Lutens line, or perhaps another verison of Opium as YSL has recently done.There is nothing wrong with this scent unless you make it wrong. Plus, I don't understand why people cannot respect the fact that a scent can last 24 hours straight, especially with one spray? Why are we spending money on fragrances?

Joop! has a soft but clean scent. Bergamot and Cinnamon really take over in the first blast, but in the dry down, the cinnamon lingers around while the basenotes appear. The musk is not the musk that offends people, to tell you the truth it is not even something that really appears. I believe it is there but in a tiny drop to somehow holds all the ingredients together. The base/dry down which will last forever produces great sillage and people will smell it. It is also very appealing; a mix of vanilla, cinnamon, sandalwood, and patchouli.

This is certainly a scent that should not be bought as a blind purchase however, it is not something to go crazy on negative reviews for. I find people that just jump to that conclusion really need to consider the point of joop! and what you get for your money. Can you justify spending $90.00 on a 50ml D&G bottle which several sprays last 2 hours on your skin or $60.00 on a 125 ml bottle of Joop! in which 1 spray will last 24 hours on your skin and smells exotic and attractive (these are the reviews people have told me). It is not a controversial scent unless the person wearing it makes it that way. But isn't the problem most of the negative reviewers represent?

Joop! is inofenssive and quite attractive. Maybe there would be more positive reviews if people knew how to use it and/or, if it came out under a different line like YSL or Lutens, which have and do make scents quite similar as Joop!

It would be interesting to see if one of the above bought out Joop! and re-released it as a different name and kept everything else the same....

Very inoffensive and pleasent scent. This can be worn anywhere for anything and people around you wont mind being close. I can't believe the lasting power and sillage on this. Very powerful indeed. I really do not see anything negative about this, and I am a very opened minded and diverse person in regards to fragrances. I own bottles of Polo Green to Quorum Silver to Gaultier 2 to Givenchy Pi to several versions of the Kouros family. Anything negative about this fragrance is obviously from people who just like one particular type and stick with it. In that case, why bother trying a clean, fresh, powerful and long lasting (I'm talking 8hours so far and sillage is still boasting) scent?

From first blast you get the bergamot and orange peel and they mix well for hours. After about 4hours of the spray, I detect the ivy creeping around and mixing with the other two. I can't really say when I started noticing the rosemary which crept up a while after (just recently in regards to time), but the other notes are still there...they probably ended up developing into the rosemary. I can detect sandalwood however, it is not sharp, it is actually soft.

It doesn't smell cheap but you can buy it cheap. And for what you get, I'll be buying more of this.

5 stars.

So, I wanted to pick up a reasonably priced aquatic scent and came across this one for a very very good price. I tested it and caught a blast of icy berry which was quite delicious! I did however not expect much from the scent...not even expecting sillage or longevity and was I surprised!!!

Coming from Nautica, I think most people like me would not be expecting much...well, throw your beliefs out the window until you try this blueberry colour juice. Its fantastic.

It starts off with a berry punch which smells like a berry field and turns aqautic hours later. Did I say "hours later"??? Yes. This stuff has excellent sillage and longevity...I cannot believe it! It has gone 7 hours and just started to dry down. This is a great scent, one which people around you will like and one which you will like whether or not you like aqua scents.

If you find it give it a shot.

Puig does it again! Another fantastic fragrance...among Aqua Quorum and the beast himself, Quorum.

The scent: think grapefruit creamsicle with a tiny hint of pine and orange peels...its like a fragrance smoothie. LOVE IT.

The notes are so well rounded you would expect this to be an expensive purchase, but as with all Puig's sales, decent price. This is perfect for any occassion and people will want to be around you...the other day in a meeting a few young women were hovering very closely and then asked, "what are you wearing? we want to literally eat you up!" Very inviting and not offensive in the least bit. Mature and young at the same time...and the longevity, just unbelievable how Puig makes this stuff last so long. It stays as a linear scent, but there' s nothing wrong with that...you don't want it to change. Each note just plays off each other...its harmonious, but aren't Aqua Quorum and Quorum harmonious as well? Puig knows what he is doing and he does it well.

Quorum Silver is the best kept secret out there....I guess I just let it out. The way I see it, if I can enjoy it this much, others might as well too....if they can find it.

Keep dishing these out, Antonio.

This is the best of anything I own and probably will ever own. At first spray, yes, you get the barbershop smell but after, what you get is such a fresh, clean, warm and inviting scent that no other fragrance house can match. If you go to the YSL site and see the advertisement for it, you get a little understanding of the scent and why it is and always will be a classy fragrance for any man. It is not easy to find here in Canada, so if you do find it or more, buy them all. I bought 1 some months ago and decided to return to that place and bought the other 5 and requested more. All of my other stuff is being sold on ebay because, now that I have Rive Gauche, there is no need for others (Mind you, I am holding on to the Kouros Fraichuers I was lucky to find).

Plus, the longevity is unbelievable....even exceeding that of Kouros. I spritz a few sprays in the morning around 8am and it is now 9:30 as I type this and it still projects the scent so others can even identify something, yet, it is simple and inviting because of the mature sweetness.

Thank you YSL.

Are you kidding me, D&G?????? You discontinue By for men to deliver this and The One?????

BRING BACK "BY" for men and get rid of this garbage!!! Please everyone, we must band together and stop D&G from continuing this nonsense!!! Next they'll discontinue Pour Homme for another line of junk.

I waited a long time to find this rare item and yesterday I found it, actually bought 2 of 100ml. Now my thoughts:

EXACTLY like the original in scent, only lighter in power. At times, one does not find the potent smell (which many call civet) however, it does pop up here and there. I do not notice any pineapple or orange blossom. All I get from this - the original Kouros, just fresher/lighter.

I like it because I like the original, so I'll give it thumbs up. Actually I think this is what Kouors SHOULD have been. YSL would have made more from it. If you like the original but can't wear it because of the strength, search for this and get it.

I am a little dissapointed because all I've heard is how much fresher it is and when I saw pineapple and orange blossom I was excited...then I opened the box and sprayed it. Oh well, still a nice scent and has the lasting power of Kouros.

Incredible...in both scent and lasting power...an example of the power - beats the original Kouros!
The vanilla is much more refined in this. I am literally blown away.

Next to the original Polo, this is the best of the best. Great for anytime, but best for the evening...trust me.

The BEST of the Best.

Clean and confident. This is NOT an old man's fragrance. If you think it is, you should rethink what you put on everyday.

Let's face it - Armani's Diamonds are NOT for him...it doesn't project confidence, it projects the candy kids eat.

I found the EDT for a very cheap price and I am really impressed with it. I really get the lavender, amber and grapefruit out of this. Plus the projection and it lasts very very long...3 sprays project like 5 sprays of Dolce and Gabbanna Pour Homme so if you know what that is like, you get my drift.

I am happy with this. Good price, nice scent. I don't think it smells anything like Cool Water. It is a unique scent, very different and wearable anywhere and any time. Like the Bourbon Vanilla in YSL's Opium for men, if this ever got as popular, it would be known for the Lavender.

If you find the EDT, grab it. You wont be dissapointed with the scent or longevity. For $20.00, why not - I get 12 hours from two sprays...12 hours of strong projection.

People have been asking and giving complements. Antonio Puig did well with this one. Nice hidden gem.

Since knowing of Kouros' existence, I've owned several bottles, all of which came in the same dark shade blue box, until recently ( a different shade blue) and from my latest experience with the scent, I have come to love Kouros. Here's the theory:

The first few bottles I bought were from an old outlet store, so the bottles probably were sitting there for a long time. The scent at first was nice, but as so many people point out, the civet is almost-most unbearable. You want to love it but that animal smell just ruins everything. I've been through the love-hate relationship, loving at first, then selling the bottle on ebay because I couldn't handle smelling like a racoon.

Recently I was at Holt Renfrew and came across Kouros and the box which had a different bluish shade. I was curious. Sure enough, the civet is gone. According to the individual working the counter, that god-awful stink is no more; she has found the scent to be updated - probably to attract more people to it...after all the other versions have been taken off the market. So depending on when it was made, you'll be sure to know the difference and actually come to love and respect YSL for its creation of Kouros. This is the way Kouros should have been made from the start.

If you come across even a gift set, it will be an updated scent. Since my newly found love for the updated scent, I bought one for my brother and sure enough - NO CIVET. Everything else about Kouros is the same - thank goodness!!! Kouros haters - give it a shot...you wont be dissapointed. No more smelling like a racoon.

The lasting power is the same - I spray one shot on and its there for at least 12 hours. Go to the YSL website to get the details of the scent. Even by viewing the promotion for Kouros, YSL has made something with potential into something great....a powerhouse.

By the way - thank you YSL for updating this great scent.

Just picked it up today. Interesting scent. Smells very nice...has a hint of the original somewhere in there. Probably the incense which is quite powerful. For those who love the original, beware, this is subtle. After about 3 hours, it is not so pronounced as putting on one of the other Kouros editions. Very distinct...some people say it is similar to JPG and Givenchy; I don't think so at all. JPG is pure vanilla and Pie is a little vanilla and a lot of tangerine. Body Kouros is very much the opening incense, which for me, has lasted about all day (I bought it this morning and put a few sprays on). Like a Kouros scent, it lasts a very very long time...so far 7 hours..good for any time of day or any event. I can feel the warmth of it...something I can see being a turn on for women (well, lets face it, this is a Kouros). All in all, a great purchase. Good for those wanting an alternative to Kouros or Kouros Cologne Sport...has the same longevity as they do, but not as pronounced and a warm sensual scent rather than the rather blunt message of sex and masculinity the other Kouros editions send off.

Besides the very masculine scent of Kouros (has Kouros been updated???? I bought a bottle yesterday and it smells awesome!!! No more civet smell!! Thank you Yves!!!), this is my soft/sensual fav. Very soft, elegant and sexy. Wore it on my wedding day and got more complements on how I smelled compared to how I looked! It is a very nice alternative to the typical male scents you find with the sporty stuff by Nautica and Polo or the "smells nice but lasts no more than 1 hour" stuff by Dolce and Gabbana (which sold out in discontinuing their one and only best eau for men, By), Armani and Versace.

If you don't want to waste your money on something that smells like everything else (examples above) and like the soft/sensual scents with longevity, try Gaultier2 (it lasts 9hrs and then begins to cool down). Yes, it is unisex but try it on your skin before you judge it. Goes great with any time of the day and any place you need to be, formal or informal. A great alternative to Gaultier's other fragrances for men which either give you a headache (Fleur) or Le Male which lasts as long as D&G One lasts...about 1 hour (if your lucky).

Don't walk by this one. Try it on your skin, not paper and then be the judge. Macho men, don't be scared because it is unisex. Really men, after all, wear pink and aren't afraid of Gaultier's scents.