Basenotes - Reviews by Basteri

Basteri

Spain

Showing 1 to 30 of 34.

Boss Bottled Night by Hugo Boss

forgettable... another vile Boss creation....

25th September, 2010.

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Cashmere for Men by Cristiano Fissore

if you like CDG 2 men and Gucci PH you will love this one.

26th February, 2010.

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Burberry London for Men by Burberry

I really like this fragrance a LOT. I was never interested in Burberry fragrances but after reading so many great reviews I decided to buy a bottle.
The fragrance is very well crafted but it does not last very long on me and that is a problem. For some reason this juice makes me think of Christmas I can almost "see" the Christmas light and trees. I love the sweet tobacco notes, very well executed, it is mildly boozy as well. I also get a tender vanilla note that plays in the background but since there is no vanilla it must be the lavender/cinnamon combined.
This one is a winner in my book. Well done Burberry!

26th November, 2009.

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The Dreamer by Versace

The plasticine note is killing me... reminds me to Le Male by JPG which I dislike tremendously. It should be called Le Mate Lite.
Sorry but this is a NO.

2nd March, 2009.

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Paco Rabanne pour Homme by Paco Rabanne

An old glory. A true classic 80´s powerhouse.
Green lavender with long lasting power and an impressive sillage. Very masculine.
Bewared that it has been reformulated ! the modern version lacks something... it does not have the same depth and animal punch!

2nd March, 2009.

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Vera Wang for Men by Vera Wang

very pleasant fragrance but last a couple of hours on me which makes it a no no no. This is something to wear after a fresh shower, very casual and harmless. If you are looking for something "masculine" this is not it... unisex for my taste.Green citrus.

1st March, 2009.

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En Passant by Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle

innocent, clean, virginal, fresh, a walk in a garden when those night aromatic flowers open.
I can picture a young woman dressed in white, barefooted with crown of lilac on her long hair

10th February, 2009.

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L'Anarchiste by Caron

This is the one that I wear to make an impression, it has never failed me to get people curious about what I am wearing.
The opening is brutal, raw orange or mandarin mixed with cinnamon with extra sugar. Then,add some lime or mint to give the madness a fresh touch.
It is warm and fresh at once, I don't really know how to explain it. It is also sweet but at the same time bitter, like biting cooper, or touching a battery with your tongue. It has also a strong wooden note, it is hidden somewhere in between all those different olfactory sensations.
One thing is for sure, this fragrance has a very strong personality, it is modern and ...alternative. The first few times I wore it I thought it will be offensive and "in your face" but it is not really the case, you can wear it in almost any place without upsetting people.
Caron is a great house.

2nd February, 2009. (Last Edited: 21st January, 2012.)

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Polo Modern Reserve by Ralph Lauren

Polo Classic was one of my first loves and I think I went through 10 bottles in the 80/90´s.
Polo Modern is greatly appreciate it, they have toned down the classic and have made it more approachable and versatile.
You can clearly smell the classic in there BUT this one has its own personality and deserves also its own respect and place.
The smoky pine note is pretty much gone. If you cannot without it you can buy classic and have both, that is what I will be doing.
Seems they really took their time to create something nice and well elaborated, not just a flanker to bust sales during Christmas. I am glad I got myself a bottle.

2nd February, 2009.

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Havana by Aramis

I have been wearing Havana on and off for 5 months.
It does not evokes Cuba in my mind although I get the rum and tobacco notes.To my nose and brain it brings memory of exotic waters and humid days.
Havana has a little bit of everything, woody, sweet, citrus, boozy , floral and very dry. It is actually a difficult fragrance, like one of those cocktails of all flavors and colors.
Very manly as well, sillage is great and longevity more than enough.
The bottle is simply awesome, so is the box. I give this one two thumbs up with pleasure.

29th January, 2009. (Last Edited: 10th December, 2009.)

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Versace l'Homme by Versace

This is some serious fragrance.
Where Armani pour homme fails Versace comes right, very right.
This fragrance is very sophisticated , every time I wear it I feel invigorated, it smells expensive and classy.
Light, citric and somehow powdery. L´Homme is a blurred fragrance because, at least to me, identifying he different notes is not easy , must be because they are perfectly blended and well balanced. I love it.
This is a mature juice and yet playful . A winner, in the morning, in the afternoon , in the evening , at night and after hours, it wont let you down.

22nd January, 2009.

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Bois du Portugal by Creed

I read so much about it, so many good things that I went out of my way to buy a bottle.
I got the phone call that it arrived, I went to the store and pick it up. Once I got home I smell it and .. what? I barely smell anything. I sprayed on me and same, weak and weir, like a fragrance gone bad. I panic and returned back to the store. The SA called her manager.He smelled the fragrance and said it was in perfect condition but if I wanted I could returned. I did not.
I was upset for the mistake and put it back on his box following some senior basenoters.The same day I reached to my beloved GIT bottle and got drunk on it to erase the sorrow of a very expensive blind purchase gone sour.
A month later I reached again for that BdP bottle. I sprayed myself all over, I was in cloud of BdP. It was then when I hit me, when all the sudden everything made sense. I was wrapped in a aura of magic. Sublime.
Woody, boozy , elegant, mature, luxurious, different , simply amazing.
This one will be for ever in my wardrobe. I only use it for special occasions and every time I wear it I feel, just that, special. A gift from Creed. This is the ultimate gentlemen fragrance.

19th January, 2009.

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Yatagan by Caron

Yatagan is a band apart. Nothing that I have smelled before comes closed. Yatagan is hard to understand, at least to me.
Very dry, earthy, woody, leathery and spicy.It is an explosive cocktail than never burst. You imagine a great sillage but it does not have it, at least on my skin stays very close to the skin. When you think is not there just smell yourself and it will come at you like a ghost in the dark.

This fragrance is very masculine, sort of old school and yet intriguing. It is masculine in a classy way far from barbershop or 70´s bomb. I dont get any floral or sweet note and for that I am graceful to the designer, a masterpiece.

15th January, 2009.

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Herrera Aqua by Carolina Herrera

aqua? what? this is very twisted interpretation of an aquatic fragrance. rubbish

2nd January, 2009.

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M7 by Yves Saint Laurent

YSL is one of my favourite designers house and I can say that with confidence after owning most of their offers for man.
Said that, my admiration for the house, M7 is somehow not for me. Perhaps I am over dosing on orientals for the past year and this one is another powerful oriental.
Oud, amber, some musk, some grass (vetiver ?¿?) , some flower... a little of everything in a blender with some medicinal syrup. Mix it for an hour and you will get M7.
Opening is very strong and goes all over the place, it is this and that, in one word : WEIR.
Sillage is strong
Longevity is strong
Reaction by other people is strong.
This one is provocative, to me, hard to understand. Do not over apply. I strayed 4 times yesterday around 17:00 and this morning 06:45 is still very present and annoying, I am jumping in the shower as soon as I finish typing. After I need a big those to Aqua di Parma or Green Irish Tweed for the M7 hangover.
I will give a neutral rating as this is different, potent and challenging.

21st December, 2008.

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Gucci pour Homme by Gucci

This is another one that I wish I like as much of most people seems to like.
It open with a burst of burned woods, incense, amber and some sort of asian spice.
Masculine? oh yes
Powerful? Too much in the opening , it promises a lot but ends up with a very generic dry down, like the one that I have smelled in a gazillion orientals.
It is an ok fragrance to be used with caution and in cold weather, wearing it in summer is like wearing a leather jacket to the beach.
Not my cup of tea. I am wearing YSL M7 today and I find them similar but M7 more versatile.
Sorry but a neutral rating is appropriate from my side.

21st December, 2008.

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L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme by Guerlain

L´Instant Eau Extreme.
This is a truly sensual and intriguing fragrance that can be perfectly used by women. Versatile ,it distils elegance without pomposity.
The opening is a sublet touch of lemon that last close to nothing and leaves the door open to a sweet, woody almond cocktail. However don't think it is very scandalous or loud, nothing like that, it is quite tamed and clean.
Then prepare for a rich and delicious cacao long lasting effect. Lovely. This is almond light chocolate with a spicy twist served in a wooden aromatic tray. I also detect hidden in there some floral note or ...cedar?
This one is a winner.
My only "but" is sillage, seems to have a great longevity on me but not a great sillage...pity.

29th November, 2008.

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XS pour Homme by Paco Rabanne

This is one of the nicest fragrances I have ever smelled. I have looked at the bottle hundreds of times and never bother to even try it, how wrong I was.
I like it from begging to end, I can wear it to a formal meeting, to a night out of just for everyday casual use. I never tried Himalaya but if it smells like this or better I will rush and buy a bottle.

I think this fragrance is simple perfect and just made it to my top 5 list.
The first day I wore it I got a couple of compliments.
However I did not like it right away, I liked it after one full week of wearing Opium pour homme Perfume, trying to figuring out what was the big deal about Opium. The big deal was no deal.
I gave up Opium and wore XS and it was like breathing again.
I am giving two big thumbs up to this master piece.

25th November, 2008.

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Kenzo pour Homme by Kenzo

Salt on top of salt, the most marine fragrance I know. This is not aquatic this is the sea. The flower note kills the marvel though,but... I understand it must have some beauty note.
I like it a lot but sillage is a big problem I have to smell my own hand in order to feel it, I have sprayed it more than 10 times and yet I have the feeling it is not there.
This fragrance is a great achievement that needs more power only....

25th November, 2008.

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Black XS by Paco Rabanne

bearing the XS name on it is a sacrilege.
tropical fruit cocktail , chewing gum and some candy gone bad. This is not black but strawberry. Monster sillage,noisy and almost offensive.
I just gave it away after wearing it twice. I dont even know why is that I got it... must be my infatuation with XS

18th November, 2008. (Last Edited: 25th November, 2008.)

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Kouros Cologne Sport by Yves Saint Laurent

this is kouros on valium, sleepy. The beast put to sleep.
I get some leather soft notes on the dry down..

18th November, 2008.

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Opium pour Homme by Yves Saint Laurent

This one is weir. It feels like a plane taking off that never takes off..... something is missing. The notes communicate in between them but seems they all speak a different language. What I get is a very strong citrus, minty , fruity opening but after the boozy effect fades away I am left with a very feminine vanilla sublet touch.
To be honest I am disappointed. I almost feel bad giving a fragrance with the name OPIUM a neutral rating but I have to.

18th November, 2008. (Last Edited: 15th December, 2008.)

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Polo by Ralph Lauren

I would say Polo is one of the nicest fragrances I have ever tried and I have the feeling it will remain like that for another couple of decades.
I first smelled it during a trip to the US in 1986. I love it then and I still do. It is hard to think of a fragrance so right. It is round, perfect from its opening. Masculine, classy, elegant, green, great longevity, great sillage, great smell. I do not want to go over board with my comments but honestly I cannot think of anything negative about it.
(It takes some control with the amount one wears but that is it)
I am actually surprised this one got a couple of bad reviews in here because I have never met anyone that did not like it.
Every time I wear it I feel like a million dollars, powerful and full of energy, this is an awesome work of art.
This is a timeless fragrance a classic.

30th October, 2008.

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1 Million by Paco Rabanne

I tried it last week. It left me indiferent because it smells very "generic" , nothing new under the horizon. This one was launched to be a Christmas best seller and I am sure it will. The bottle is cheap and classless.
Too sweet for my taste ... like eating a candy when in fact what you want is a salty note.

29th October, 2008.

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Le Mâle by Jean Paul Gaultier

overdose of plasticine. I hate it from day one, it makes me sick .

27th October, 2008.

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Narciso Rodriguez for Him by Narciso Rodriguez

This was a blind purchase and a mistake. It smells so much like Grey Frannel which is one of the fragrances that I dislike the most. Verey strong opening , sweet candy, violets, it gives me a headache must be the pachouli the one that gives it a "cheap" character.
I don't understand all the fuzz about it. If you wear it go easy on the trigger you can drive the people around you insane.

26th September, 2008.

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Chypre Rouge by Serge Lutens Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido

not for the fainted heart.
the opening is repulsive, like cheap red wine gone bad. Very strong and sweet, like a warm candy bar.
The dry down is... grape?
Longevity very bad on my skin,after two hours gone. strange.

26th September, 2008.

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Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent

It is one of the most complex (to me) fragrances that I have ever wore. I feel a love/hate dilemma, sort of speaking. I was first introduced to it by a former girlfriend from Haiti, she was very exotic and I think Kouros is just that exotic. There is something primal about it, perhaps is the urine that everyone talks about which does not botter me. Perhaps my nose is not trained enough to distinguish that part of the fragrance. To me is sporty,spicy and "difficult".
It get a lot of attention and not necessarily always good. I think Kouros must be used with caution and not for long period of time.
We like it or not, I think this is also a true classic.

9th September, 2008.

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Fahrenheit by Christian Dior

In 1985 I earned my first pay check , that very same day I bought a bottle of Fahrenheit. Sublime, exotic, warm, unusual, different, modern etc.
I remember that I wanted to smell all day long and Fahrenheit is up to the task because it last for a very long time. The only problem was that this fragrance is very strong and it can backfire if you over put it on you. I remember people telling me that they knew I was in the elevator or in certain room because my smell was all over the place. I slowly realize that all my clothing, house and car smell like me. You have to hold your horses and take it easy with the dose.

9th September, 2008.

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Cacharel Pour L'Homme by Cacharel

back in the 80´s after my love affair with Fahrenheit I found a new love and that was Cacharel. It was pure citrus and incense. Being a catholic, the first thing that came to my mind (when I test it) was "church", it smelled very much like the incense burn in church. It was also a long lasting fragrance. Sophisticated yet not very loud. It has some notes of vetiver at the end of its life. Today, I find some similarities with Acqua di Parma.
A true classic that I keep buying over and over.

9th September, 2008.

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