Basenotes - Reviews by RJR

United States

Showing 1 to 9 of 9.

Bulgari Black by Bulgari

Hard to imagine that a scent as "black" as Bulgari Black could be appropriate for hot summer days, but that's when I'll use it most. Evokes memories of hot tar and pea gravel being used to resurface asphalt roads ages ago. The disagreeable edge is removed with what I assume to be a bit of vanilla. Forget the "burning rubber" references; there's nothing so acrid in Bulgari Black. Strangely, I could see wearing this for coat-and-tie meetings when my "oomph needs a boost," as one reviewer put it. Bulgari nailed this one: a powerhouse scent with low sillage.

24th May, 2010.

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Driven Black by Derek Jeter

The poor man's Eau D'Orange Verte. An abundance of orange in the top and middle notes sparks an instant connection to the Hermes' masterpiece, though this is not nearly as refined and well done. And the minty green note in EDOV is replaced by heavy powder in this one. Nor does this last as long as the concentre version of EDOV. Still, I like this, and I will find casual days to wear it.

14th May, 2010.

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Jazz by Yves Saint Laurent

Every now and then a BN review crudely compares a fragrance to the output of bodily functions, and I believe the author is exaggerating for effect. At least I believed that until obtaining a bottle of Jazz. It opens with a fragrant mess that hints at florals and a bit of spices but gives no clues where it's headed. The direction becomes clear a minute or two later when the fecal note pokes through, and that note grows stronger until it dominates and needs to be washed away.

I thought I had a bad bottle. So I sampled it retail, and there it was again. The SA smelled it, too. And I recently received a bottle as a throw-in in a swap, only to again find the fecal note in Jazz. I wish the pyramid shown here offered some idea where that note comes from. (Low-quality civet?)

My nose versus the glowing reviews here give Jazz a Jeckyll and Hyde quality. It remains a mystery, behind only the classic: "Yatagan, Beast or Celery Stalk?"

23rd March, 2010.

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Homme de Grès by Grès

While my other "lemony" scents -- Boucheron pour homme, Lacoste, Z-14 -- are bright, loud, happy fragrances that play best in the light of day, Homme de Gres is serious without being somber or stuffy. It slips easily from day into night, and sets a mood for intrigue and romance, not giggles. Plus, the moderate sillage works well in a crowd, adding to its suitability for a wide range of occasions. I'll be buying back-up bottles before this discontinued wonder becomes genuinely scarce.

24th September, 2009.

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Tomorrow for Him by Avon

Spray it on heavy, then keep to your cloying self for an hour. The drydown is worth it. Soft, warm and soothing, though close to the skin. Perfect for snuggling hours after application. Yes, Avon. Who knew?

20th August, 2009.

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Lacoste pour Homme by Lacoste

This is friendly elegance in a bottle. While Bulgari pour homme prefers a summer-weight coat and tie, Lacoste pour homme shows up in a white polo shirt. It's also one of the few summer scents that doesn't immediately go sour on my skin, a la L'eau Dissey, Red 360, Unbound, et al. Bonus points and a big thumbs up! I'm headed back to TJ Maxx to stock up on this warm-weather staple.

9th July, 2009. (Last Edited: 5th August, 2009.)

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Cool Water Cool Summer by Davidoff

Even among the refined noses inhabiting Basenotes, the utility of a fragrance has to count for something. And because this juice finds its way into my wardrobe and my summer rotation, albeit by default, I give it a thumbs up. Besides that, I like it. It's brisk, even bracing.

That said, I admit I had sworn off the original Cool Water after finding so many better scents. But in my recent hunt for a summer fragrance wardrobe, I found that L'Eau D'Issey, Red 360 and Unbound all turned terribly sour almost immediately upon application to my skin. Needing alternatives, I tested Cool Water Summer. The addition of the citrus notes makes a world of difference to my nose.

Despite all the trashing of Cool Water on this site, I'd recommend Cool Water Summer to others who have the problem of summer colognes turning sour on their skin. (And there ARE others, according to the board discussions.) This scent holds its own.

14th April, 2009.

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KL Homme by Lagerfeld

The comparisons of KL homme to Obsession for Men are on the money! If the pyramids from JaimeB and Basenotes are to be believed — and I believe them — these two fragrances share many notes. There are notes not shared, of course, but to the nose, these are twin brothers, born together in 1986, and I'd bet that most people (Basenoters excluded) wouldn't be able to tell them apart in a sniff test.

There are differences, but they owe to personality, not essence. Obsession certainly isn't meek, but it doesn't jump off the skin quite as boldly as KL homme does when both are freshly applied. On the other hand (or arm, in my personal testing) KL homme dries to a smoother middle and finish than its brother. While the spice in Obsession continues to stick up like a sharp tack piercing the other elements during the heart and dry down, the spice in KL homme blends with the surrounding notes to create a velvety, soothing quality.

I disagree with references to KL homme as a powerhouse. It certainly doesn't stomp into a room, demanding attention like Bijan for Men, or even the more composed Grey Flannel. Lumping KL with these, or Polo or Quorum, risks turning people away from a frag they just might like. In fact, KL homme might be a good "transition" frag for those looking to escape the watery depths of the current trends.

Truth is,KL homme and Obsession both odeserve thumbs up and a place in your wardrobe. But if cost is an issue, having just one of them will suffice.

As a practical matter, KL homme may have been discontinued years ago, but I recently found NIB, sealed product in a small fragrance store. I was able to test before buying, found it to be fresh, and bought multiple bottles. Apparently some of the good stuff is still going around. Buy it.

6th April, 2009.

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Bijan for Men by Bijan

No, this isn't for the guys who want to smell like flower gardens, watermelons or the ocean. To my nose, it screams INCENSE, the kind that fills the church during a Christmas service. Accordingly, Bijan for Men delivers a sense of dignity and refinement depicted by men in suits, but with a sense of emotional warmth rather than aloof detachment. Moved to a more casual setting, the fragrance provides an aura of calm and quiet strength. Not everyone will have the wherewithal to pull it off. To be sure, Bijan must be used sparingly. Too much enthusiasm with the plunger could lead to mass murder by toxic gas, or at least death of the wearer at the hands of bystanders in the name of self-preservation. But because it is superb when used correctly, it holds a place of honor in Powerhouse Row, right next to my Grey Flannel and Quorum. If the young bucks believe Bijan is only for the elders, so be it. Perhaps this is a scent that has to be earned.

On a practical note, Bijan for Men might be what tobacco smokers are looking for on the Basenotes boards. Though extremely potent, Bijan doesn't overwhelm or cut through tobacco smoke as much as absorb it, coating it with a dry, faintly sweet finish that renders it almost inoffensive (though still not safe). Try it and see.

Thumbs way up for those who can believe in being both daring and restrained at the same time!

31st March, 2009.

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