Fragrance Reviews by opalsdad

The only reason that people call Tabu cheap is because it is inexpensive. It is definitely from another time and place and is a Classic. If it weren't for Tabu there wouldn't be any Youth Dew or Opium. Like Narcisse Noir, it reeks of sex and mystery and I can see the prudish finding it quite unsettling. While the cologne is still good, the perfume of many moons ago was superb and certainly one of the most powerful scents I have ever experienced.

This is a very refined and rich floral composition with carnation at the heart. Although the additional ingredients are subtle, they tone-down the strong carnation odour and alleviate the harshness that is so prominent in Villoresi's Garofano. The drydown is pure bliss - typically Caron.

So vivacious, so refined and so delicate, this magnificent fragrance has been a favourite of mine for fifty years. Made bright by the aldehydes, none of the complex mixtures of ingredients predominates. In my mind, this is THE perfect floral bouquet.

This is one Caron parfum that a guy - at least this guy - would wear with no problem. It is slightly reminiscent of Bernard Chant's chypre duo: Aramis and Gres' Cabochard. This scent is more refined than either and develops into a smooth and delicious melange with lots of sillage. Very androgynous - as are Caron's Poivre and Tabac Blond

What a beauty! This powdery mimosa-based scent is so comforting and elegant and feminine. By far, the best mimosa scent on the market. Superior to Mimosa Pour Moi and light years from Jean-Paul Guerlain's debacle Champs-Elysees, the scent dries down to the typical (superb)Caron base. This is how I imagine heaven would smell.

Not my cup of tea - or should I say very sweet latte. Like Dior Homme this has a nice beginning - especially the iris note - but then plunges into a syrupy mess. I tested it on my wrist and also took a card that was sprayed. Two days later I noticed a sickeningly sweet odor emanating from my desk. You guessed it: a sweet, sweet combination of amber, chocolate, vanilla and caramel. The card and the sample both went into the garbage. What annoys me most is not that the scent is that bad, it is just that it is a copy of something that is supposedly "on trend." What a shame that Lanvin didn't choose to re-release its three great scents from the Sixties: Lavande, Vetyver and Figaro.

Fruit de Bois is the softest and sweetest of the Homme Collection. This superb composition is not entirely unique: it shares many of the characteristics of Brosseau's Ombre Bleue. The fruits and woods and spices are very carefully mixed and none dominates. I can see many women finding this to be an ideal scent for the office or for casual moments. Another winner for M.Brosseau! While I doubt that the Collection Homme will be a commercial success, aesthetically it is spot-on.

This fragrance - part of the Homme Collection by Jean Charles Brosseau -is surprisingly the strangest scent of the group. I was expecting a true cedar scent something like Comme des Garcons would produce or a cedar dominated beauty like Feminite du Bois. However, while the cedar is evident in the composition, there is an equally strong fruity component which renders the scent much less dry than one would imagine. It is a very well composed and versatile scent, just not what I was expecting.

This beauty - created by Pierre Bourdon - is part of the Collection Homme, the other two fragrances being Atlas Cedar and Fruit de Bois. True to its name, it recreates the scent of a pot of Russian tea, one with more than a dash of lapsang souchong. The smokiness is quite apparent but does not totally dominate the scent as it does in Tea for Two. It is more submerged and gives a very well rounded, very well composed fragrance. Very nice, indeed!

This is eroticism in a bottle: definitely the most aggressively sexual scent I have had the pleasure of knowing. It is dark and mysterious and tinged with danger, about the sensuality of the Orient as imagined by a European, like the best of the paintings of the Pre-Raphaelites. On the right woman this aphrodisiac is well-nigh irresistible

This is one magnificent fragrance! It is somewhat similar to Diorella but has its own flavour. The scent of plums and leather gives it an unusual edge and it could be worn by either men or women - in my opinion. All of M. Malle's are made with the best ingredients available and it really shows in the quality of this and the other scents in the line. Roudnitska was a great perfumer and it is wonderful to see a new creation.

Kanon has been around for decades and still seems to be going strong. I don't see it being used as much as it used to but it is still relatively obtainable. The main notes are woody - cedar in particular. The squat bottle has a beautiful wooden cap. Although today it is usually found in drug-stores, when it was launched this was prestige merchandise. I don't know if this is still the case, but there were a lot of associated products with this one: shaving cream, deodorants, splashes, coolers, etc.

This classic is very similar to other pine fragrance such as Epicea by Creed and Aqua Brava. Very refreshing and cooling it makes a great scent for the warmer weather. The bottle is - again -a classic. Often this fragrance can be obtained in big sizes - like 8 oz. and up. I often see this at really good prices in Italian shops.

I purchased this beauty when it was available in Canada for a short time. The scent is green in the extreme and quite long lasting. Not sharp, though, as is Aliage, it has a smooth powedery quality. It is very difficult to obtain - at least in North America. The bottle is wonderful: smooth white glass in a rounded square and squat shape.

I bought this fragrance when it was launched and it has been one of favourites ever since. It is MY ideal of what a cool, crisp and fresh scent should be. Moss and woods are in abundance but the major thrust of this scent is an icey, minty construction. Perfect for a hot, hot Summer day. The cold silver and grey bottle is ideally suited to this fragrance.

I do not like Drakkar Noir nor have I liked it since it came out in the early eighties. I thought it was crude and the juniper-pine elements loud and obnoxious. I much prefered the original Drakkar which was a very green and classy fragrance. However, since Drakkar Noir has been around for over twenty years and is still popular, I am definitely in the minority.

A powerful leather fragrance, dry and animalic. A large and wonderful bottle encases this liquid. I prefer some other leather scents to this, but it is very nice and very masculine.

Etro's sandalwood scent is made from the finest ingredients. The true Mysore sandalwood is supported by musk and amber. It is very soft and clings close to the skin. I have heard people say that this scent has no longevity. This is not true - at least for me. It is very subtle and whispers rather than screams (as is typical in many modern fragrances).

Oyedo was the original name for Tokyo. It is strong citrus scent with a main note of yuzu. A number of herbs are in the background and the scent is extremely long lasting for a citrus fragrance.

The drawing on the bottle shows palm trees and number of sailing ships that look Arabic. The scent is a strong rose fragrance with a mixture of spices. Saffron is in there as well but it is not overwhelming. An unusual and intriguing scent for the adventurous guy. I think it would be ideal for evening wear. Or a hot date.

A typical Diptyque herbal scent with a very strong green topnote. Ideal for weekend wear and perfect for a walk in the country.

The combination of orange and lavender on a base is herbs is unusual - to say the least. This is not my favourite in the Diptyque line but it is well made and has longevity. The bottle is classic and all the Diptyque have a interesting drawing - in this case a centaur.

Yes, this does smell like green grass, freshly cut. And it probably smells that way for a least a minute. That is the longevity of this scent. I don't expect a fresh and light fragrance to last all day, but this is ridiculous.

Exactly as you expect - just like putting your nose is a pouch of pipe tobacco. Warm but with a very slight synthetic edge. Fairly long lasting - for a Demeter.

Demeter's scents are very true to the notes they are supposed to represent. Leather is putting your nose in a suede coat. It lasts a fairly long time and is very inexpensive.

I ordered this from France around 1990. It is a good fragrance but a little too feminine for my taste. There is a heavy floral sweetness that I do not find appealing, although the main note is definitely nutmeg. One the right guy, though, this might be smashing. It is still in production although it never made it to Canada. (I don't know about the U.S.A.)

Blv is another superb scent from Bvlgari. Again, like in the Bvlgari Homme, the scent is subtle and clings very close to the skin for a long time. The ginger - almost ginger-ale - notes give the scent sparkle while and citrus, tobacco and woody aspects keep the scent warm and smooth. Another ideal scent for daytime and office wear. The bottle is beautiful!

One of the first scents formulated with tea. It is a combination of the astringent and light notes of green tea balance against the heavier notes of rose with a base of lightly smoked woods. Yes, it is a little feminine - maybe androgenous - but it makes a really interesting scent for a guy - particularly for the Summer. All the Bvlgari products are made with the finest ingredients - quality all the way.

A unique scent. I love the heavy warm and smokey scent of Lapsang Souchong tea that first hits the nose and then there are touches of rubber and woods. Although bill as unisex, I can't see most women being able to wear this successfully. Bravo Bvlgari for giving us something that is not a clone of some popular fragrance.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Pure Vetiver indeed! I have yet to smell a vetiver perfume that had as little vetiver in it as does this. An undistinguished mis-match of scents with no discernable character. Both Pure Vetiver and Pure Lavender have been huge disappointments.

Like Pure Vetiver, this scent is another loser. Who are they targeting in this line? Young guys are not going to go with a lavender scent and older ones like me are put off because this fragrance has little to do with lavender. I was hoping for something like Pour Un Homme by Caron or Annick Goutal's Eau de Lavande. No such luck. The lavender notes do appear and fade within minutes - probably seconds. What is left is a typical boring and undistinguished blend.

I first purchased this in the late sixties and had not seen it for many, many years. I recently found it on-line and bought a fairly large bottle. It's like meeting an old friend again. It is a smooth, heavy mixture of lavender and sandalwood and would be ideal - in my mind - for a guy in a tweed jacket. Although discontinued, it can still be obtained at a number of on-line merchants.

I remember sitting in high school in grade 12 wearing this and thinking how terrific I smelled. The is nothing like it currently with the exception of Aliage by Lauder. These two are the greenest scents I have ever smelled and remind me of crushed grass and leaves. I can still conjure up the scent in my mind even though I haven't smelled it in thirty-five years.

One of my favourites. The odour is rich and full-bodied. It's similar to many potpourri fragrances but with a major difference: most potpourris have a strong clove and rose scent like Diptyque's L'Eau. The scent of the SMN centers on eucalyptus which gives the cologne a bracing, somewhat medicinal scent. Quite long-lasting and different from anything else on the market.

This is light years from the Guerlain version. It is much heavier. Long lasting, too. It smells somewhat similar to the Potpourri but with the addition of the strong note of earthy vetiver. Not a fragrance for a young man, I would think. (Not that they would choose to wear it.) Very off-beat and distinctly un-trendy. A lot closer to essential oil of vetiver than many others with this name.

Exactly what you would think it would be: a strong, pure scent of traditional patchouli. All of the Santa Maria Novella scents a powerful initial alcohol rush that fades fairly rapidly into a refined and sophisticated natural scent. All the fragrances in this line - at least the ones I have experienced - smell as they are described. No nasty surpises as with Azzaro's Pure Vetiver and Pure Lavander.

The best musk perfume I have ever smelled - and, believe me, I have smelled a lot. This is rich and pure, without an excessive sweetness. Long-lasting and extremely sophisticated

One of the more delicate scents in the line, this fragrance combines equal amounts of lavender and amber. It fades fairly quickly to a close-clinging sweet and clean scent. I have found that all of the Santa Maria Novella scents are best applied as you would a traditional cologne: a number of drops are shaken into your palms which are rubbed together and then on to your face or neck (or wherever.)

One of the more aggressive scents in the line, it combines both tobacco and leather to give a very full-bodied and rich odour. It is similar to the Peau d'Espagne but much sweeter. This would be an ideal scent for a date or for a party; I think it might be a bit too much for the office.

Extremely spicy with a prominate note of nutmeg. The coffee note is unusual and it was the first time - I believe - this was used in a fragrance. L'Artisan Parfumeur has always been innovative in their use of unusual material.

A very unusual and innovative scent. The background is spice but the main note is Lapsang Souchong tea with it's incredibly smokey texture. Ideal for Winter. The only scent that is close to this is Bvlgari Black but Tea for Two is a more natural scent and lacks the rubber overtones of the Bvlgari.

Santal is very smooth and refined. It is obviously a creation of Jean Laporte whose basenotes are as identifiable as those of the Guerlains. Similar to nothing - except the other fragrances of Laporte in this line as well as Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier.

Again L'Artisan Parfumeur scores with the first scent to have a stong note of hazelnut. It is warm and spicy and delicious. Unlike some of the other "gourmand" fragrances, this one is not in poor taste and is so well composed that none of the ingredients overwhelm the fragrance.

'Thief of Roses' - what a great name! The rose is definitely there, but is not overwhelming and the fruit and patchouli notes are equally strong. The perfect rose scent for a guy. The only fragrance that is remotely similar is Diptyque's new Opone but this is sweeter and more rosey.

One of the best citrus fragrances around. What makes it so distinctive is the herbal note. Again this obviously a creation of Laporte. When you smell this fragrance, it is immediately apparent that the perfumer loves quality and is only concerned with making the best product possible.

This is what a light, fresh and clean fragrance should be and light-years ahead of the usual scents in this catagory. Ideal for a Summer afternoon. It makes one realize what crap most fragrances houses are foisting on the public.

This is one sexy scent - at least this is what the ladies tell me. Very heavy with a multitude of unsual ingredients, it is very woody and spicy. Canadians can get this fragrance at The Shopping Channel for under forty dollars - a real steal for fragrance of this quality. The is really nothing like this fragrance that I can think of. Whether you like this scent or not, you have to applaud Ms. Miglin for creating fragrances that are not clones of the latest best-seller.

A classic. A refined and reserved combination of lavender and vanilla. The vanilla makes the scent more voluptuous and enables the lavander to last a lot longer than is typical with this herbal note. Probably not a scent that would appeal to anyone young, a mature man might find this an ideal fragrance.

Very, very different from any other scent - with the exception of Gigli's discontinued Sud Est. This fragrance contains no floral notes; the primary ingredients are woods and herbs, particularly those grown in the Mediterranean: rosemary, basil, thyme, juniper, etc. A great scent but try before you buy; it might not be to your taste. Yatagan is a Turkish curved sword.

A classical beautifully balanced citrus fragrance. The rose note really added to the distinction of the scent and it has been a favourite of many for a long,long time. After the lemony top-notes fade the long-lasting scent clings close to the skin and is very well-balanced and harmonious.

The late Annick Goutal made this scent for her husband. The main note is immortelle which gives it an edgy, extremely strong herbal note. This plant grows on the beaches in France - hence the name, Sables (Sand). Totally unique.

Goutal's version of Vetiver is very different from Guerlain's - in fact is is very different from any other scent I can think of. This may be due to the "Burmese spices" which figure in the mixture. I have also been told that seaweed is used as a base. It is very distinctive and very green and sweeter than most vetivers.

Another classic from the hand of Jean-Paul. This one is very, very cool - icey even. The dry citrus components are mixed with herbs. Surprisingly long-lasting for such a light fragrance. Perfect for a long, hot Summer.

I first purchased this about twenty years ago. It is a very full-bodied and sophisticated scent with a very stong heart of carnation. Probably a little too much for a younger guy, it would be perfect for a tailored mature gentleman.

The heavy influence of cedar and pine needles reminds me so much of the wilderness of my country. It's like walking in a rain forest on Vancouver Island.

Basil is the main ingredient in this latest from Jean Laporte. It's shares many characteristics of earlier scents but the basil makes it quite special and different. Very herbal and quite smooth. Very long lasting - I applied this just after breakfast and people were commenting on it after supper. Another winner from Monsieur Laporte!.

The smell of many woods with sandal being the most prominent. This is what Gucci was trying for with Rush and failed miserably. I would say it is somewhat drier than most sandalwood scents - perhaps this comes from cedar or pine? Regardless, it smells like the inside of some old wooden treasure chest or a room with heavy expensive wood panelling.

Although I may be in the minority, I find this scent totally undistiguished. The notes seem flat and synthetic.
And what's the connection with the name? This fragrance is neither cool nor aquatic. But the ads certainly propelled this into the minds of a number of people and it became immensely popular. While Green Irish Tweed is not my favourite scent, it is what Cool Water would - and should - be if artistry was involved. When you are charging as much as Davidoff is for this scent, you should at least give your clients a decent product. (And perhaps spend a little more time on the juice than the adverisments.)

I don't know anyone who doesn't like this scent. To me it is a classic combination of lavender and cedar. It is neither sweet nor dry and lasts very well on the skin with a beautiful drydown.

As I remember, not a bad scent but not particuarly good either. Spicy and woody. But what really gripes me is why someone like Elizabeth Taylor - with all the money in the world - would put her name on products she wouldn't use herself. I may be wrong but I can't imagine someone who has used Bal a Versailles, Tuvache's Jungle Gardenia, Femme by Rochas and Hermes products to be satified with White Diamonds. Why aren't these celebrities presenting their fans with scents like the Creeds or Guerlains? I think we all know the answer - and it's in the pocket-book.

I recently purchased an 8 oz. bottle of this fragrance which is supposed to be the original formula. It smells very similar to what I remember from the mid-sixties. This was very high end at that time and along with Brut and Jade East, pretty much characterized that era. It's still a good fragrance, full of citrus and woods and quite long-lasting. The female equivalent of this fragrance, Ambush, was also very popular and a very similar scent with added floral notes. The creator, Jean Carles, was also responsible for the classic women's oriental Tabu. All these were first presented by the Spanish company Dana.

An absolutely wonderful fragrance, very dry and woody. I have worn it off and on for twenty years or more. If you see the bottle as pictured, grab it. HOWEVER, this bottle is no longer in production and the newer bottle is oval and curved and has a metal cap. Moreover, the formula has been altered. The newer scent is sweeter and less complex - a major disappointment. Why do fragrance companies do this? Do they think we will not perceive the difference?

I got a sample of this last week and have been testing it. I think it is a good fragrance and certainly a refreshing shift in fragrance trends - if it does become a trend, that is. However, I can't see what all the excitment is about. I find the agarwood rather subdued. If one wanted a real agarwood fragrance, the way to go is Madini: Agarwood, Oud or Bouquet. I have been using the Bouquet for about a week and the heady, intense fragrant mix of agarwood and woody-spices is intoxicating. The Oud is a little more of a conventional mixture while the Agarwood is - as one would imagine - the pure, almost medicinal scent, strong and very woody. There are also the fragrances from Swiss-Arabian but all the ones that I have tried have such an overwhelming mixture of sweet, sweet florals - mainly roses - and oriental notes that the the aroma is quite nauseating. I find M7 reminds me of Opium Pour Homme but the spices have been replaced by woods.
Then, too, I am pretty jaded when it comes to Oriental scents since that is what I normally wear and have worn for the last thirty years.
I think that the ads that I have seen in the European magazines are audacious - to say that least - but Idon't think that North America is ready - or willing -to have a scent sold by a guy showing his genitals.

Eau de The Vert is a little too floral for me but I still like this scent and would wear it in the summer. It's is very refreshing, but a tad too sweet.

Bvgari Homme is superb. A lot of guys on the forum have said that it has no strength and lasting ability, but I haven't found this to be the case. It does not shout, however and remains close to the skin. But I can still detect the smell the next morning when I apply it at night. The musk notes really cling - at least to me. I think it is better - more subtle - than the Extreme version.

I do not care for Eau de Hongrie; it is too sweet and sugary for my taste. I prefer my citrus scents a lot sharper and cleaner. The jasmine just makes this too flowery for me.

This is one of my favourites. Very, very sophisticated and not for the kids. To me it reeks of money. There is nothing quite like it. For me, I would not wear this fragrance to work but would save it for special occasions and only with a suit.

The Baron is a typical Evyan perfume. If you know White Shoulders, Great Lady, Golden Moment, etc. you will know what I am talking about. It has the fairly dominant orange-flower note but on this are piled woods and spices instead of the usual floral notes. But it is obvious that the same perfumer who created the womens' scents also did this one. I think it is a great fragrance but it is not for the young (they wouldn't like it anyway) and is very unusual

I was not particuarly impressed. It's a nice fragrance but no better than a number of musk scents that are MUCH, MUCH cheaper. It smells very much like the Jovan scents - at least to me. If I wanted a really good musk fragrance I would buy: Caswell-Massey Musk Oil, Royall Muske or - if I were going abroad - Serge Lutens Musc Koublai Khan.

Yeah, this is spicy stuff! I like it OK but it is not my favourite of the Yves Rocher scents. My favourites were Samarkande and Trimaran (unfortunately discontinued) and Homme Nature which is one of the very few aquatic-fresh fragrance I can stand.

Moustache is very nice and is a citrusy mossy scent.

Monsieur Rochas was a particular favourite of mine for many years during my 20's. It is a classic dry fougere.

Globe has a beautiful presentation - a globe naturally. The scent has a odd fruity odour - I think it is fig. Very unusual.

I have seen that bottle and smelled that fragrance for over fifty years. My Grandmother had a large bottle on her dressing table - which only goes to prove that this fragrance is suitable for anyone regardless of sex or age. It's so refreshing and cooling.

I thought it was great: a really strong eau de cologne scent made from citrus and lavander. (At least that is my recollection.) I waited for it to come to Canada but it was discontinued before I was able to buy. Pity.

The is nothing quite like this; it is reminiscent of being in a Roman Catholic Church for High Masss. I have not bought it because I can't think a time that it would be appropriate to wear. It is just too over the top.

On my recent trip the only fragrance I found of moderate interest was Un Air de Java which smells the way Pure Vetiver should (and doesn't)

I don't like Pleasures - it's too Œwith it¹, trendy, etc. It's as if Lauder took a look at the success of Tommy and decided....
I don't find it has a lot of depth. And this isn't to say that I dislike all fragrances of this type: Issey is excellent, as is Rocher's Homme Nature and Lucky You. And I have been fond of a number of Lauder scents, both male and female. I really appreciate Youth Dew, White Linen, Knowing, Private Collection, Aliage. I have also worn Aramis, Tuscany, Aramis 900. Since Ms Lauder retired the quality of the products from this company seems to have gone downhill. The fragrances are brought to the public based on market research, not intuition. Estee Lauder never launched a scent based on market trends. If she like the fragrance it was simply put into production.

A-Men is a very high quality scent but I don't like it in the slightest. It becomes overly sweet on my skin and turns into pure vanilla on the drydown. Angel for Women affects me similarly. When I first smell it on a woman I think it is the most wonderful fragrance imaginable but after a short time I find it annoying and finally quite irritating and nausea-inducing. But enough on my feedback - you need to try the fragrance on your OWN skin. It might work really well for you. Fragrance is funny like that. I work with a woman who applies perfume and the scent - any scent - is gone within ten minutes. Other women can apply the same fragrance and it smells beautiful all day. Skin chemistry, I guess.

I got a sample of this a few weeks ago. I was not impresssed. It's typical of Estee Lauder's latest scents - totally undistinguished. It is a light, fresh scent - so what else is new? It doesn't compare with the original men's scent by Donna Karan. That was great! The only current fragrance that contains the very original suede note is Hugo Dark Blue. While I don't this is as good as DK Original, it [DKNY] isn't bad.

I was given a sample of Touch and it is exactly as you describe. Very fine - and the bottle with its wooden top is very handsome.

It was the standard Old Spice fragrance with a topnote of lime. This faded quite rapidly and did not disappear totally. Very refreshing and pleasant. Long gone.

An aromatic mixture of woods, fruit and spices. Somewhat similar to Poison but much more subdued and refined. It was not a success and I haven't seen it in years.
Unlike any other men's fragrance.

the most aquatic scent I know. Smells exactly like a walk along with sea shore. Salty, sea-weed-like scent that I do not care for but it is very well made for what it is. Comes in one of the best bottles ever: a stylized bamboo stalk.

A mixture of Mediterranean herbs. Rosemary, thyme, basil, etc. Very much like Yatagan by Caron. Thought this had been discontinued some time ago.

Very similar to Clinique's Aromatics Elixir. A dry floral and leather scent. Quite strong and long lasting.

May have been a failure in sales but is a definte winner in terms of quality. A beautifully made Oriental of vanilla, spice, citrus and sandalwood.

A rip-off of Jade East that was bought by the guys who didn't want to spend the big bucks to get the original. A floral Oriental scent. Harsher and less refined than Jade East.

A very different mixture of floral (violet), greens and musk. Very long lasting and sweet. A guy needs a fair amount of panache to bring this one off successfully.

I have a sample of Baie de Genievre and will probably buy a larger size in the near future. It is a very traditional and conservative scent. Very masculine and refined. It could be worn everywhere - to the office, in the evening, golfing, etc. I think it is a great scent that would appeal to most guys over a certain age. I don't think it would be appreciated too much by teenagers or those in their twenties.

This much maligned fragrance was a hit in the sixties. It was top-line with its dark green and silver bottle. Again, this one was copied a lot. The current Brut is but a pale reflection of the original.

I have never 'loved' Polo. I have never 'hated' it either. I am mostly just disappointed in the scent. When you put it on the skin it smells absolutely great. However the fresh, green note disappears almost immediately. I much prefer Caswell-Massey's Greenbriar which is quite similar. In fact when I have worn it people have asked if I were wearing Polo. But the green notes seem to last a lot longer.

I have been wearing Winter Delice for about a month. I do not find it particularly feminine; it contains no floral notes and the strongest impression seems to be one of spices mixed with frankincense and pine. My only complaint about it is that it doesn't seem to have a whole lot of punch; it would be a lot better if it were a little stronger.

I have tried Black Jeans and like it very much. It is different from just about any other fragrance I can think of. It has presence but does not scream. I really enjoy the fact that it is so dry.

I had a small bottle of Gigli some years ago. Very good scent but hard to describe. It's very Italian - full bodied with spice, citrus and wood. I would say there is a strong note of patchouli - probably in the base. A little goes a long way. I am sorry I can't be more specific but it is well made scent. It is probably a fragrance that would not be suitable for someone very young - too sophisticated. Definitely not in the current fresh, clean and oceanic mode!