Fragrance Reviews by oolong

Fruity and Boozy really says it all. A really nice fragrance for a night on the town. It is fun, distinctive without being overpowering.

Everything a great man's fragrance should be and nothing it shouldn't be. It is long lasting but not overpowering; decidedly masculine without being Neanderthal; elegant without being pretentious; classic without being dated. I find myself reaching for me more then any other fragrance in my collection.

While I've never tried it, "Madame X" is one of the few fragrances out there with the three notes Civet, Ambergris, Castoreum recommended by the 20th Centuries top occultist (Alistair Crowley) as being effective at attracting love. I've used a fragrance with that combination, Andron by Jovon, and have had extremely good luck with members of the opposite sex.

Initially is more then a bit overwhelming. Really, this is not a fragrance you want to put on just before a date or going into a public space. You will drive people away. One spray and my housemate needs to leave the room. After about 30 minutes the monster settles down to one of the most amazing fragrances I've ever tried. Spicy, sweet, complex, unique... A winter/evening scent.

I recently picked up a bottle of Black by Kenneth Cole. The first thing which struck me about it was the similarities it had with another fragrance in my collection, Roots for Him. I checked and sure enough, both done by the same guy. Definitely not the same scent but a strong family resemblance. Black is more a pure effervescent fresh/clean scent where as Roots for Him has more of an evergreen forest take on the effervescent fresh/clean scent. The two are different enough that I could easily see both co-existing in the same wardrobe, especially if the effervescent fresh/clean scent is your style. Neither has great longevity and both smell a rather synthetic and simplistic fragrance.

I have a real problem with the bottle, it just looks and feels inexpensive. So much so that when I first got it I though I got a cheap copy. The fragrance itself is not bad, it reminds me of a cool afternoon hiking in an evergreen forest in British Columbia, so it appeals to the outdoors side of me. The fragrance lasting power is OK, nothing special but not bad. More synthetic then I would like.

A very masculine fragrance but with a refined edge. More Ivy league then Lumber Jack. The name Polo really catches the essence of what this fragrance is all about... Outdoorsy, sporty and masculine but also refined and cultured. Great longevity. It was extremely popular back in the late 70's and early 80's, to the point of over use and still suffers from a negative back lash because of that. It is a much better fragrance them most are willing to admit.

I've been using this since the early 80's. Of all the colognes that I've ever used, this is the one that receives the most complements. While I have no way of scientifically measuring it’s ability to attract women, I find that I have good success when I have it on. Interestingly enough, in addition to having the much talked about pheromone aspect of the fragrance, a much lesser known aspect is that it is based on a fragrance formula recommended in Aliser Crowley's book on the occult, "Golden Dawn", as a way to attract women.

Wood, wood and more wood with some smoke and leather mixed in for good measure. Very manly but a bit dryer then I prefer. There is also that pencil shavings aspect. I find Black Mark by Jack Black to be a far better option for this type of fragrance.

I really love the Pink Grapefruit scent, it smells just like a freshly cut pink grapefruit. It is so up beat and happy fragrance. I would use it for summer. The only problem with it is, at least on me, the scent just does not last very long.

Very definitely a relative of the original Polo Green but a different take; less green and more floral elements to it. I don't agree with the "more refined version of Polo Green" theory which other reviewers have suggested. Not really any more or less refined then Green. Unfortunately discontinued but worth looking for. Many consider it simply a variation on the original Polo Green theme and that position is not completely without merit but it differentiates itself enough from the original Polo Green that you could easily own both, which I do.

Last night my girlfriend nuzzled up to me and asked what fragrance I had on? Santos, and she told me how much she liked it on me. Strongly masculine but also smooth and sophisticated. If you have the presence to carry it off, get it. If money is no object, get the Santos Concentrée, if money is an issue the standard Santos is almost as good.

Le Male? Not so much to me, maybe Le Unisex would be a more descriptive name. Objectively speaking it is not a bad fragrance at all, but certainly not a definitively male fragrance as the name would suggest. Very much a product of the Metrosexual 90's.

Overall I like Rive Gauche pour Homme a great deal and I'm glad to have it part of my fragrance wardrobe. I would rate it primarily a spring fragrance and best in the evening but really the only time I would avoid wearing it is in when it is really hot. The only things which bug me about it is the longevity, while not bad, is less then I would like and it has a metal container. It just feels odd with almost everything else coming in glass; plus I worry about the metal being far less inert then glass.

This is not a smooth fragrance. It is somewhat harsh and very definitely an in your face fragrance. Don't get me wrong, it is not unpleasant, just a lot of raw, unrefined, elemental masculine energy. Not a fragrance that anyone (or even most) could carry off. In my opinion one of the most if not the most masculine fragrances out there.

I have to admit that this fragrance arrived as part of a swap and I really didn't have high expectations for it. As I've been testing it I've really grown to like it. Certainly my favorite fig fragrance, much better and far more wearable then Philosykos by Diptyque (in my opinion anyway!). A really nice summer fragrance.

It opens up with top notes of Eucalyptus which some people may find a bit medical. As it progresses I start to get a great pine smell and then sandalwood in the dry down. The first time I used it my girlfriend asked what it was and told me how much she liked it on me.

This fragrance is basically a better, longer lasting, less expensive version of Acqua di Gio. This fragrance type will never be a stable of my fragrance collection but it does have its place.

To me this is what Gucci PH should have been. If you are looking for something with the general character of Gucci PH but without the pencil shavings smell, I think you will really like this one. Longevity is OK, not outstanding but acceptable, similar to Gucci PH (on me anyway). Dominated by Cedar and Leather with Saffron and Coriander to spice things up. A very masculine fragrance

A very good value in a summer scent. It has a very pleasing fresh/clean/citrus smell and has reasonable longevity for a summer scent. It competes very effectively with a lot of summer fragrances that cost several times as much. Very well worth checking out if you want a value priced fragrance with a high end smell.

A classic and timeless fragrance which is just not for everyone and I'm one of the ones it is not for. I gave it a try, used it for three full days and REALLY wanted to like it but just could not. I expect it is worth a try but as with any fragrance with a strong personality, you really need to try before you buy.

I'm someone who really feels most at home with cool weather fragrances; deep resonant fragrances, unmistakably masculine, with complex notes and a strong personality. I usually find the fresh, aquatic, light fragrances of summer to be somewhat dull. As far as I'm concerned, if fragrances were music, the fresh/aquatic fragrances of summer would be soft rock or easy listening and in some cases elevator music. Acceptable as background music but nothing which inspires passion. That being said, summer scents have their place and very definite uses. Of the summer scents I've tried, this is one of the better ones. So I guess I'm giving this fragrance something of a back handed thumbs up.

As a general rule I prefer the more complex cold weather scents. I usually find summer scents to be simplistic and as a general rule, very similar to each other. Mugler Cologne is one of the best warm weather fragrances I've run across. A nice, clean, fresh, citrus scent, not too sweet but with good longevity for a summer scent. I find it a very linear and simplistic scent, but it does what it does very well. If you are looking for a nice warm weather scent it would be hard to do better.

A bit synthetic but overall not a bad fragrance. Fresh, clean and not a bad warm weather fragrance. Not something I would go out and buy but if I got it as a gift I would likely use it.

Best suited as a spring fragrance, it is light with fresh and clean notes. Unfortunately I find it dominated by sweet floral notes; much more then I would like. The sweetness would make it oppressive (to me anyway) in really hot weather. While it is listed as a masculine fragrance I would think of it more as a unisex fragrance. My 16 year old daughter tells me it is too feminine for me and I would agree.

Just can't get beyond the top notes. They are oppressive. A nice drydown but, I'm not willing to live with the top note assault to get there.

Oppressively floral, almost to the point of being assaulted. Rather like the top notes of the Dreamer but without the payoff of the wonderful drydown. Good lasting power though you may wish different.

I have something of a love/hate relationship with M7. I love it most of the day when I wear it but usually by the end of the day it starts to really get on my nerves with its sweetness. I just don't find myself wearing it that much.

I find it a much more balanced and accessible gourmand then A*Men. It lasts well and projects nicely but in the end it is just too sweet for my tastes.

A classic heavy oriental from the 80's. Long lasting and good projection. Nice enough but just too sweet for my tastes.

Certainly one of the classic of the uber-fragrance era of the 80's. Classy, masculine and powerful. Not for the faint of heart, but if you can carry it off it is a keeper.

After reading all the reviews of Bois du Portugal it sounded like an ideal fragrance for me. My tastes have been evolving towards the more masculine end of the spectrum. I gave it a try and it definitely was as advertised, a finely crafted, very masculine fragrance which I genuinely like. That being said, I also felt a bit of disappointment. While I do like it, I really don't like it any better and many cases less then several fragrances which cost me 1/4 as much: Yatagan, Cumming, Santos, Bel Ami... Based upon the Creed mystique I guess I was expecting "All this and a bag of chips too" and someone left out the chips. So very good fragrance but I really question the value.

Z14 is a very good fragrance given the low cost. It is strongly reminiscent of Santos and a good option if you are on a tight budget and can't afford Santos. That being said, if you can afford it, Santos is worth the extra money.

Surprisingly good fragrance and not at all what I would have expected from the rock group Kiss. I would have expected something a bit darker, more ominous. You don't have to have tattoos and black leather to carry this off. I find it extremely versatile (black leather to power suites), unique and assertive without being overbearing. It also lasts a long time. Unfortunately the association with Kiss will likely have people taking it less seriously then it deserves.

I find it a really great scent for when I want to fly under the radar and not stand out but still wear something. It is a little bit sweet but as someone who tends to avoid sweet fragrances, I find that its sweetness is more then acceptable. While it will never be a fragrance which inspires great passion from me, I view it as being both extremely pleasing and versatile so it will get used a lot.

Not a bad scent but not something which inspires superlatives from me. Starts out cool, adds some fruity smells (melon?), then the pepper notes appear. Over all a reasonably nice effect, but it is just not a fragrance I find myself reaching for in my wardrobe. Since most of the fragrances I do reach for cost far less, I just can't recommend it.

A find it an interesting fragrance. Opening up it smells a lot like that Muscle & Joint Pain Relief ointment, Bengay. I don't hate it but not really excited by it either. Glad I got a decant first.

I would tend to recommend this to guys who like Joop, Gaultier² and/or The Dreamer. I tend more towards the more macho fragrances like Yatagan, Santos or Bois du Portugal, so Body Kouros just does not appeal to me, though I do find it a fragrance I can respect.

Just giving Burberry London my first try today and I'm really likely it. It reminds me a little bit of Ungaro III, though it is clearly not a clone. Ungaro III is a little bit darker and I feel would appeal to a younger crowd then London. I could easily think of London as a more refined/grown up version of Ungaro III. Great for romantic evening use and the longevity on me seems good.

The impression I get from Yatagan is fall in a northern pine forest. A very masculine scent with an outdoor feel to it. No floral notes so it is not sweet but the pine notes keep it from being too dry. I fine it a real keeper!

Truly an exceptional experience. If you can get some, do. I just love it. MisterK posted the notes which he got off of a tester bottle and I though I would repost them here.

Top notes: Lavender, Pine, Bergamot

Heart: Patchouli, Wormwood, Precious Wood, Jasmine, Geranium

Base: Sandalwood, Tonka, Honey, Amber

Djin has a vague resemblance to Ungaro III in that the opening notes and the body notes seem to be a struggle between bright high notes and dark notes with the dark notes having the upper hand. This is followed up with a pleasing dry down. Unfortunately Djin does not do it with anywhere near the flare of Ungaro III. I find this to be the weakest of the fragrances from Michael Storer, with Monk being by far the strongest.

A very good fragrance when you are starting out; it is very easy to like, does not cost that much, is very easy to wear and is popular with the women (always a plus!). It is also good enough to stick in the wardrobes of many as they become more experienced. It is a little on the sweet side but not to the point of being a problem. If it has a flaw it is that it is too popular.

It combines bright/fresh notes with warm sweet notes. To me that just does not work that well, though clearly it does for a lot of others. I don't dislike it, just have a hard time getting excited about it.

I find this fragrance a little rough at the start (the first half hour or so) but by the time you get to the dry down it is pure heaven. The dry down is a sweet floral scent which has a slightly caramel note to it. I usually don’t go for sweet scents but this one works for me. The dry down lasts and lasts. I can put it on when I get up in the morning and still clearly smell it when I’m going to bed. It is one of the jewels of my collection.

I picked it up because my girlfriend said that she loved that scent and found it a real turn on. I have to say that I'm really enjoying it too. It has a really nice tang to it which gives it a really up beat but very sexy feel. Longevity is not that great but I don't find it as bad as some suggest. I don't regret getting it. Most appropriate for romantic evenings, especially when it is going to be a high energy evening.

It starts out dry and woody, slowly starts to add some herbal notes and eventually blossoms into a floral scent. Certainly the most dramatic evolution of a fragrance I've scene. Every phase of the evolution is enjoyable in its own way and it holds together well as a whole. Certainly one of the better fragrances I’ve run across.

If it is leather that you want, Cuiron delivers in a big way. A bit dryer then I would like but not bad and the Plum note helps. I think it is good enough to recommend, especially for someone really into leather but I still prefer Creeds Royal English Leather.

JHL is a classic. It is a rich, complex, warm, very masculine and very pleasing fragrance. It is certainly one of the most versatile fragrances in my wardrobe. Unfortunately it is now out of production so get it if you can.

Easily my favorite leather dominated fragrance. I think it is because it is not too dry like a lot of other leather dominated fragrances. It’s a strong fragrance so you want to be careful not to over apply, but it also lasts a long time. I usually get at least 12 hours. If you like good rich, freshly tanned, well oiled leather this one is hard to beat.

A very deep, rich, masculine fragrance, dominated by cedar, cumin and nutmeg but with enough spice/herb/floral highlights to keep it interesting. The fragrance is on the dry side but not too dry, striking a very good balance. I see it as a very good day fragrance which could also be used as an evening fragrance. It has good but not outstanding longevity, I get about 8 hours.

Monk is a fragrance which has a very similar character to Gucci Envy. That is not to suggest that they smell alike, they don't. You will never mistake Monk for Envy, but they do compete in the same market, the romantic evening fragrance. Both open with an assertive and pleasing mix of spices, a little sweet (but not too sweet) and definitely warm. Both have very good longevity, I can still clearly smell both of them 12 hours after application. Which is better, Envy or Monk? I think that will come down to how you react to the different mix of fragrance notes in each of them. I personally prefer the opening and body of Envy but I like the dry down of Monk. So for me it is something of coin toss which I prefer but they are different enough from each other that both could co-exist in the same wardrobe.

I got a bottle of Infusion, which is the cologne version of the Bombay Sapphire Gin, today and gave it a try. The botanicals used in both the Gin and the cologne are Almonds, Lemon, Liquorices Root, Juniper Berries, Orris Root, Angelica, Coriander, Cassia Bark, Cubeb Berries and Grains of Paradise. If you want to know how it smells, just sniff some Bombay Sapphire's Gin. It does not evolve as a scent, you get the same scent from start to finish, it just fades. The scent is fresh, crisp, upbeat and best of all unique. As with cologne, after a moment you don't smell the alcohol, only the botanicals. I’m very impressed the fragrance, I find it a big step above most of the fresh, crisp scents out there. Unfortunately it is not that easy to find.

Definitely a dark/gothic scent. I've not run across anything which catches the dark/brooding/sensual feeling better, but then I've not tried Czech and Speake No.88. My only real knock against it is the longevity is only average, about 6 hours on me before it is completely gone which is somewhat borderline to stay in my wardrobe.

Fresh, clean, upbeat... Nice enough summer type fragrance but to me anyway it is an undistinguished entry in a crowded area of the fragrance field. If I wanted something like this, I could easily find about 10 fragrances which are close enough that I would end up choosing on price rather then scent.

Some fragrances I love from the moment I fist put them on, where as with others it takes me a bit of time to get my head wrapped around them. Gentleman is very definitely a fragrance which took me some time. Some others have commented that it smells of urine. Yes, I can see that, but only for about the first 15 minutes or so. Gentleman, in my experience anyway, does not make a good first impression, but once you get past the first 15 minutes or so it turns into one of the most pleasingly masculine fragrances I’ve ever used. For me it is more of a daytime fragrance, great for the office, but it would also be acceptable as an evening fragrance.

I love the scent and so does my girl friend. I wish it came in an EDT rather then just the EDC. As it is, I only get about 2 hours before I need to reapply which is just not enough for a night out so I tend not to use it that much.

Basenotes describes it as a smooth oriental which I think really catches the essesce of it. Its not a fragrance which makes a bold statement, rather a laid back fragrace with a nice smell and an interesting evolution. I get about 4 hours of longevity with it, which for me is good but not exceptional.

I find Cool Water to be a wonderful fresh clean scent which is both pleasing but also restrained. It is not an assertive scent which boldly announces your presence but rather one which is very subtle and pleasing. I find it does a very good job of filling a valued niche in my fragrance wardrobe. There are a lot of comparisons between Green Irish Tweed and Cool Water, some even claiming that Cool Water is a clone of GIT. While I feel that they are in the same family of fragrances, I find them distinctly different. GIT is a more assertive fragrance with a bitter edge to it which I find off putting. I’ll take Cool Water over GIT any day.

If I was told I had to pick one fragrance to use for the rest of my life, it would be an easy choice for me, Relax by Davidoff.

I didn't find it bad but I really didn't find anything about it which excited or intrigued me. With so much out there that is better, why bother? The description of the scent as "indistinctive Christmas dessert" by a previous reviewer really hit the nail on the head.

I got a bottle of it, mainly as a joke. But after giving it a try, I find I really enjoy it. Don't judge it sniffing from the bottle or when you first apply it, it is initially somewhat harsh and takes a few minutes to settle down. It has a very earthy, masculine scent which makes me think of and evening out with the boys at a cigar club.