Fragrance Reviews by renperd

All I get from this brew is a thick brine. It's so salty I can literally TASTE it. This juice is more annoying than its male counterpart and it comes in a fittingly gaudy bottle inside a horribly cheap box. Like all Dalis I know, it essentially smells cheap. If it were $1 more expensive, it would've been a major rip-off. Come to think of it, it probably is a rip-off at any price. I seldom give a thumbs down, but here goes...

Man, this is so harsh with a sparkling bitterness that takes a long time to give way to some woody sweetness in the drydown. After about three hours One Man Show smells rather good and much smoother and friendlier than the initial olfactory assault. Wear it for the hell of it! That is, IF you have a pair... It's an anti-scent in today's context.

This Bal has been sending my olfactory bulb into a flat spin ever since I first sprayed it from a blind bought 100ml bottle. It pushes me away, draws me back closer, leaves me cold, makes me sniff my arm again and again. I want to like it so badly, and sometimes I do, but in the end it's just too damn dry. Interesting with the civet, flowers, sandalwood and all, but dry as bone. Perhaps I'll try it one more time tomorrow.

This is right up my alley: great heavy butch bottle, good spray mechanism, high quality juice, good longevity and sillage, doesn't get cloying and too caramel like A*Men, unique enough, positive feedback, etc. And the price is very attractive at the moment. I don't know why it's not more popular. Oh, a caveat (rare coming from me): be very careful not to OD on this one - it will spoil things a bit. Quite a bit.

Ladies love the EDP on me. The Sensuelle drydown reminds me of Dior's Fahrenheit 32 (they seem to have the same French vanilla note), but the latter may leave a more pronounced wake. Sensuelle is high quality stuff, but if you don't want to pay an arm and a leg, go for 32 instead.

If you have Boucheron pour Homme, you don't have to bother getting Lauder. I do think though that Lauder is less robust and gentler, but the drydown in particular is very close to Boucheron. I don't know who listed the Basenotes notes above, but I think it's very misleading. This is what the Lauder website says:First introduced in 1985, this clean, very masculine scent transcends time and place. The fragrance is bursting with the freshness and clarity of crisp citrus and brisk herbs. Floral accents and a rich woody complex lend depth and warmth, while oakmoss, amber and musk surround you with a confident, masculine presence.

Fragrance Type: Herbaceous/Woody

Top Notes: Lemon, Mandarin, Crisp Green Accents, Herbs, Spices
Middle Notes: Patchouli, Sandalwood, Subtle Floral Accents
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Amber, Musk

I agree with the above - the lemon is just as pushy as in Boucheron. It's good stuff on the days you're in a lemon mood.

Smells like every second under-arm spray. Other people won't give it a second thought smelling it on you, just thinking it's Axe or somefin' worse than mass market. I used it as room freshener when I'm in a cheap mood.

Generic par excellence. Exhausted. Tired. Smells like 100s of other low budget scents. Minty-mossy, off ye go. One wonders what the company brief to the perfumer was. The focus might have been on a cute bottle with cheap cap rather than on what goes into the bottle. Wouldn't pay more than US$15.00 for it.

It's unsurprising that this was discontinued. I worked my way through a bottle a few years ago. Got a compliment or two, but otherwise it never grabbed me. Just too flat. Rochas Man shares some notes with Yohji, but there at least the lavender picks things up a bit, not like champagne without the bubbles which is what Yohji was to me.

Turin's rating prompted me to go testing this morning. The SA tried to steer me away to Pleasures implying that BP for Men was actually for the 20-something, sporty type. Anyway, I persisted and got three good shots on my arm. It's unique enough, with some vaguely tropical top notes, but then it settles into something quite sour and run-of-the-mill on my skin. It's only 16˚C outside, so perhaps I'll give it another go in summer when it's over 30˚. I like sweet, I don't object to fruity. But for me there's just too little of either in Beyond Paradise.

It strongly reminds me of Clinique Happy for Men, but it seems to be lighter than that and Bright doesn't match the quality. I'll give it a miss. It's been though enough getting through my bottle of Visit with all that relentless nutmeg going on.

http://www.ysl-parfums.com/gb/index.html: a chypre, spicy harmony with coriander, clove, oakmoss and ambergris. There's a note in Kouros that's always captivated me, but I can't pinpoint it. Probably just the combination of the lot. Perhaps the ambergris. But there's also that nasty note that often makes me feel hot and bothered. The ambergris is more pronounced in Kouros Fraicheur, but the insistent pineapple note spoils it a bit for me. Ever since it took me captive in the 80s, I've been in an out on bail, but now I'm again toying with the idea of getting a bottle of Kouros. No suspended sentence possible with this one.

Initially I thought this was a real eunuch of a scent, but have been giving it more wearings and more time, and I've noticed that it does last but operates like a submarine, only resurfacing irregularly when you least expect to be reminded of the fact that you're actually wearing anything at all. BvlBlack suits those days when you're not really in the mood for perfume. It's not that linear to my nose - there's a unique topnote that's fresher than the rest of the marshmallow sweetness. The vanilla is also quite different from many others that have vanilla in the base. The bottle is ever so kewl and my spray mechanism is fine, thus far. I mean the spray mechanism of the bottle...

Thick blast of regular chypre, then a mild, calm drydown. I get quite a bit of cinnamon, which I enjoy in this inexpensive stuff...picked up a tester on eBay for exactly US$0.99. Great blind buy, be sure of that!

It's got the same sparkle as Le 3e Homme de Caron but Terre doesn't become cloying. It behaves very well even though longevity is comparable to Le 3e. And it smells much more modern and up-to-date. It's winter in the southern hemisphere now, so I'm looking forward to seeing how Terre does in the heat. I like the fact that there's a hint of the trademark Hermés note lurking in the background.

A*Men is too much: too much tar off the top and on my skin so much caramel in the base it's a joke. I've worked my way halfway down a 100ml bottle and then switched to Angel which is so much better. The drydown does resemble A*Men, but it's more balanced with less of that hideous caramel. And I haven't been looked up and down wearing it - yet!

I smell a lot of citrus here, and very few (if any at all) woody notes. The longevity is impressive, but it's one-dimensional and quite sharp throughout. It doesn't mellow or settle down. Good for summer.

It's warm to the point of being sticky aka cloying. I finished a bottle about six years ago and I won't be revisiting it. I've been toying with the idea of getting myself the female Allure because it smells wonderful, but I'm not sure whether a man could pull it off.

If this became a classic, I'd be very surprised. It's among the more expensive fragrances in this country, and Dior products are more exclusively marketed than in the past, so it might have some snob value. Otherwise I think it's feminine, strongly reminiscent of lipstick or a make-up bag...yes, intensely so. What interests me is that it's said to hinge on a pronounced iris note. I also believe iris oil(?) is expensive, so perhaps that justifies the higher price. BTW you won't find many bargains of this one on eBay. I don't know about projection, but it seems to last well. It does interest me, and I've been known to be susceptible to suggestion, but for me the jury's still out on this juice. I might eventually buy it simply because it's a bit odd and it might raise a few eyebrows when a man wears this.

What is that sour note that lurks within? Fahrenheit 32 was a disappointment. I was adamant to like it since the original and Dior Homme are great stuff, but 32 didn't make the grade. I hardly detect any orange blossom. Which is the spoil-sport - the vetiver or a sharp, synthetic vanilla? No redeeming notes to be found. What a pity. I haven't smelled it on others. Perhaps it's one of those that should be experienced on another. Thus, neutral.

Initial beguiling burst of orange blossom that reminds me of spring in the Northern Cape Province in a small town on the Vaal River. The later notes are quite synthetic, but I think Fleur du Mâle is much more pleasant than Fahrenheit 32. I had to choose between FdM and Chanel's Antaeus. Antaeus won by a long shot and I haven't looked back. Thumbs Up based on the delightful orange blossom notes and ignoring the petrochemical base.

The original is quite evident in ESE, to my nose. But of course the latter is heavier, unsurprisingly more extreme and lasts about thrice as long as ES original. I wish there was something halfway between the two Eaux Sauvage - that would've been perfect. But that's not the way perfumery works. I seldom wear ESE, but I respect it a lot. High Dior quality.

Pleasant enough, but FROM A SAFE DISTANCE. Linear and sýñthétíç! It shares the same oily, fuel, petrol type note with the Fahrenheits, Joop! and others I don't want to recall right now. I'll wear Cristobal when I know I'm two hours away from taking a shower. I'll be dumping my 98% full bottle soon... Did the same with that other benzoin slap-in-the-face Body Kouros.

Yes, this juice is huge. It immediately reminds me of the cheapo Jacomo. Must be the patchouli, but it's much more complex and sophisticated to my nose (or is it snobbery?). Jacomo smells great on others, but I don't enjoy it on myself...too rough round the edges with an insistent synthetic note that whispers 'cheap'. I haven't bought Narciso yet, but probably will soon. Should be fantastic in cooler weather. I'm looking forward to it ;-) OK, I bought it and it turns out it's one of those that I prefer not to spray higher than my stomach / lower chest, it's so pungent. The EDT for women is actually easier to wear though it's unmistakably feminine. The For Him bottle is heavy and could come in handy for self-defence purposes.

TL pour Lui is one of my favourite scents: interesting, quite unique, not annoyingly strong, but with great sillage and longevity. It’s amazing that so few Basenoters seem to be wearing it, or be interested in it!
The note that hits me first is that of a ripe fruit. I have a hard time identifying it, but it could be Catawba grapes - rich and full, but light at the same time. Could this be the orange flower and bergamot? Fortunately I don't get the pungent bergamot of Lapidus pour Homme. The vanilla in Pour Lui gives it a gourmand feeling…it reminds me of Cadbury's Chocolate Crisp.
TL Pour Lui is so special to me that I avoid wearing it too often. I don’t want to burn out on it…want to be able to keep on distinguishing all those great notes. This fragrance has powerful sillage, but that doesn’t mean it floods and turns off this wearer’s olfactory receptors like some other products do. I can smell it on myself the whole day. But I won't wear it for two successive days.
Although I've only tested Rochas Man, I believe Pour Lui has quite a lot in common with it. My next buy is going to be Rochas Man.

This is really loud, like any supermarket underarm spray. I don't think there's a single natural ingredient in Laguna. Hard-core synthetics. Spray this higher than your knees at your peril. Really saline. In fact, so salty hypertensives should take care! On others it smells above average, but I shy away from wearing it.

There's a lot of berry right from the top (or is it the bergamot-lime/lemon marriage?), much like Armani Black Code, and it doesn't let go. I don't get the leather though. Longevity is very good, as is sillage. This isn't really my type of perfume - can't get over the berry smell, but it seems to be high quality. Didn't strike me as very masculine, not that that should be an issue. Thumbs up for unique enough, quality, longevity, sillage.

People at work quite like Tuscany and it has been attracting some positive remarks,so off me there must be reasonable sillage. I apply about six double-taps to the torso and neck, and that suffices to last me the whole day. It's never cloying and quite dry to my nose. It's linear and I can hardly tell the notes apart. When you're tired of the omnipresent vanilla drydown in your gourmands, take a break to Tuscany.

After having bought it four years ago, A*Men bored me quite quickly: the topnotes were good, interesting, powerful but the base was just too much caramel. My mother said I smelt like caramel and nothing else. Not exactly a compliment. Then a few months ago I began wearing it again and each and every time it attracts lots of compliments from the ladies. Don't most of them just love sweetness... Now I often go for it in chilly weather on days I won't be going to gym late afternoon, because then it is just too much. A Caramel Classic, that sums it up for me.

Back in the 80s as a youngster I thought this was very daring and exotic and erotic even. That was after having discovered and worn Paco Rabanne pour homme, Kouros and Devin (Aramis). After having explored countless other perfumes through the years, I went back to Xeryus about a year ago and wear it about once a month. It's no longer exotic, but also not dated, never cloying, never too aggressive. Just easy to wear, day or night. Quite a bit easier to wear than its younger brother Rouge. Now that's an altogether different kettle of fish...

Reminds of CK One, but more refined. Comfortable to wear, especially if you need a break from powerhouses and have been OD-ing on your gourmands. The bottle also is stylish and the spray mechanism delivers a decent dose. Longevity is underwhelming, but I've had a compliment or two wearing this white tea, so I suspect sillage is OK.

The metallic grassiness of the topnotes doesn't appeal to me, but the white musk drydown is great. Hang your shirt on a chair or a door at the end of the day and experience the amazing sillage eminating from that shirt for the next day or two. What a work of art the 212 drydown is! I don't wear it very often since I'm more inclined towards sweeter scents, but when I do, it elicits a lot of positive response. Great for summer. More unique than Allure Homme Sport and easier to wear than L'Eau d'Issey, although the drydown of Issey is also top notch.

Spray responsibly and you'll be fine. I've worn this thrice, and it sits very comfortably with me. The top is fruity, quite edible. The bottom to me is grainy,in the same way as M7, but still soothing and comfortable. Nothing sharp or irritating throughout the drydown. I don't find it synthetic smelling and think it has loads of depth. To me it's intelligent and sexy. Certainly no prude, but no putain either. I haven't received any comments yet, let alone compliments. The packaging is great...not too feminine, but far from masculine. However, it immediately caught my eye in the shop, and that was where the affair began. I think it's going to last longer than most...

One of my colleagues wears Quorum and it smells OK on him: nothing fresh or brilliant or particularly interesting, but noteworthy nevertheless. It's got a nice wake and doesn't offend anyone. At least no-one I know of. Better than some cheap scents like Wings that easily could be mistaken for Axe or Ego or whatever. Quorum doesn't smell as synthetic as some much dearer modern concoctions. A good bargain.

You can sense the hand (nose) of an artist (Cresp) in this juice: well blended and smooth if über conventional, but very unlike its aggressive elder brother from the 70s. Conventional but unique in its own right. It lasts well and I suspect there's quite a bit of sillage to boot: got positive feedback from a date one evening. Clean, comfortable and highly wearable, even on a summer's evening out.

Réálly potent potable smelling stuff: cream soda as I remember it when I was a child. Neither elegant, nor tasteful. I imagine this on a loud, red lipped person sporting artificial nails and some other artificial enhancements... And then to proceed approaching her ever so carefully. Wear with care.

Biting, bitter citrus top, woods base, classy, strong, no-nonsense, high quality, natural, lasting, some perfumey topnotes, sophisticated, business like, hardcore style, all seasons. On me, quite wearable, but only just and not more than once a month.

Way back in the 80s I spent a lot of money (for me) on Jazz, and it left me 'unfulfilled'. It was is bit demure on me...a bit dour. I used to get a lot of carnation and some moss, and not much else. I'm about to try it again. I want it to work, because I'm so tired of synthetic smelling juices and I think YSL uses more natural oils than is the trend with many other design houses like Escada and Dunhill, e.g.

High quality, huge sillage. Great longevity. Elicits compliments.Fresh, with clear traces of the original coming through right through the pyramid. Complex enough. Not synthetic to my nose. A superb juice that I just don't wear all that often.

The most unique fragrance I've ever experienced. Very kind and gentle. I like the idea that it contains mainly natural ingredients. Don't know if it's true. At least I don't get that synthetic oiliness I smell in stuff like Hanae Mori, Fleur du Male, Joop!, Rykiel, etc. Prada reminds me of a soap we used when I was a kid. A very inexpensive soap I might add. It's the expensive version of that soap. It has good sillage and lasts long enough on me. And I think it's a good thing smelling of good soap!

It hopens with a medicinal blast of notes that I won't even pretend to recognise. On another it smells great right off the bat, but on myself I only enjoy the myrrh, etc. in the drydown an hour or two later. In this country it's commonly available, but interestingly enough, mostly in the 50ml 'cigar'. I wear Havana in winter since it's too thick on me in summer. And yes, it does remind strongly of Sung Homme. In fact, the other day someone asked whether I was wearing Havana when it was in fact Sung. The latter isn't available in S.A. Personally I think Sung smells much cheaper than Havana, and has a cloying stickiness about it. I'm inclined to spray Havana on the stomach or lower torso to avoid the initial olfactory meltdown... Good stuff, but handle with caution.

The first thing that hits me spraying this cheap edt is something metallic. It's like drinking soda out of a rusty old can. That note only vanishes after about 12 hours. The drydown after that is quite good: rich and a bit boozey. Last week I hit a handkerchief with three shots of Classic and three days afterwards sticking my nose in that hanky is great! Classic work for me provided I spray it no higher than the stomach or arms...

People appreciated smelling this on me, but to my nose the citrus was too harsh, and it never let go throughout the pyramid. What I used to like about it was the sandalwood & tobacco smell it left in the bedroom, for hours. Tested it again a few weeks ago, but no, won't go back to it.

This to me is like taking mouldy citrus rind, adding a dash of alcohol and allowing it to fester for a bit. Strain through a sieve and into an atomiser...spray if you dare. Bought it 'blind' after having used it 15 years ago...what a disappointment to a more 'sophisticated' (mature?)nose. Fortunately it stays close to the skin and isn't too cloying, so I'll spray it once in a blue moon. Haven't had any comments on it, unsurprisingly.

There are soft notes in here that I like, but I think there's too much clove or cardamom. It sometimes smells like salami - really harsh and too smokey. Ungaro III has a similar note if you spray too much - pepper I think it is. BUT (and this is where the thumbs go up) I've received many compliments from the ladies when wearing Jacomo. Seems to have good sillage.