 | Jungle L'Éléphant by KenzoThis is one of the most potent animals out there. Dare to overspray and it will trample you to a sorry pulp. To me it's linear with nuclear fallout parading as sillage and a halflife measured in weeks. It's spice mecca. It's Coco's streetwalking elder sister who refuses to retire. Enjoy. 23rd March, 2010. |
| | The Dreamer by VersaceTop Notes 2nd December, 2009. |
| | Silver Black / Onyx by AzzaroThe cardamom that dominates in Onyx reminds me of Kiss Him. The latter is milder though, with less overall depth. You get what you pay for, I guess. The other note that I pick up clearly in Onyx is the anise. Onyx is going to be one of those perfumes I reach for when I can't make up my mind about what to wear, and when I'm not in the mood for making a statement. It's neither a comfort scent nor very unique. However, I think the quality is good and the formulation solid. It's a firm thumbs up here, provided you apply lightly since it packs quite a punch. 12nd November, 2009. (Last Edited: 21st March, 2010.) |
 | Habanita by MolinardThe EDT is very hard-core. Rock-hard. Unrefined. I can't believe people call it soft and smooth. I get the vanilla, which is sweet enough. But then there's the nasty bite of the vetiver. I don't really smell the tobacco mentioned by others. This perfume, IMO, is only wearable when sprayed no higher than one's stomach. And then only just. Good stuff nevertheless, if you want to push the limits, and don't mind the feverish, systemic irritation that even one spray can cause. 28th October, 2009. |
| | Black XS by Paco RabanneThe hyperbole regarding Black XS doesn't resonate with me...that it shrieks '¡candy!', is overly sweet, has unlimited staying power, nuclear sillage, etc. etc. On me it's just a wonderfully easy-going, undemanding scent that I'm often eager to reach for. I get a lot of fruit, yes. Grape to be precise, and some synthetic freshness. Love it. 23rd September, 2009. |
| | Kiss Him by KISSCumin is indeed the culprit here, but I thought it was OK for the money. I wouldn't associate it with sweat and armpits and other stuffy areas. It's got something 80s about it, but not that heavy, with the oakmoss missing. I'd buy it again for US$10, no problem. 1st September, 2009. |
| | Guerlain Homme by GuerlainBulgari's Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert is already in my fridge (150ml of it!), so there's no need to get a bottle of Guerlain Homme. Sure, there're some differences, but these two resemble each other too closely to warrant a purchase if one already has either. Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert is fresher and drier, and I suspect more distinguished and of higher quality. Hellena did a better job than Waßer. Full stop. 23rd May, 2009. |
| | Antidote by Viktor & RolfIt's OK, but smells too much like too many other perfumes. I already have Prada Amber pour Homme (which I seldom wear), so I won't be buying Antidote. 10th May, 2009. |
| | Eau Parfumée au Thé Rouge by BulgariPinkmimosa hit the nail on the head with calling this 'pure tea party'. This is what I thought entering a colleague's office after he had let loose spraying Au Thé Rouge. It was as if there were a huge pot of rooibos simmering on a burner. Very homely, comforting and unique. I do get some fig and other sweet fruit wearing it, but on others that teapot smell really makes an impression. Clearly not everybody's cuppa as the plummeting price on eBay may indicate, but for me thumbs way up. 9th May, 2009. |
| | Dune pour Homme by Christian DiorThere's a top note in there that never stops fascinating me. But then there's something so sour it makes my teeth blunt. And this sour, very dry wood type note doesn't give up. How often would one be inclined to wear a scent just for a top note? I'll give it another try in stifling hot weather just to see if there's something else to enjoy, lurking deep inside, hybernating. Thumbs up just for one note and that overall Dune smells less synthetic than some other fresh/marine/ozonic perfumes. 3rd February, 2009. |
| | Polo by Ralph LaurenMy goodness, this is such a hugely excellent cologne. Beautifully blended and laden with notes. I've just sprayed it after about 15 years and it almost brought tears to my eyes, jolting me back to the day, back to the memories. Polo Green is one of those that you don't dare smell close to the skin. Give it time to settle and evolve, revealing its kind heart, reminding you of its presence throughout the day. Even the bottle with its smooth lines feels just right. An undisputed American classic! 22nd October, 2008. |
| | Flowerbomb by Viktor & RolfEvery afternoon in a local gym a ripped, rich, middle-aged estate agent with loads of attitude struts her stuff in a cloud of Flower Bomb, in the firm belief that she's da bomb. This cloud to me reeks of grainy, unclean patchouli on wilted flowers. Not at all objectionable, but perhaps a bit too much in a semi-crowded gym where ventilation can be an issue from time to time. All this doesn't mean to say that I won't be testing it on myself soon, make NO mistake... 21st October, 2008. |
| | Kelly Calèche by HermèsRight off the top I got a load of beeswax and honey. Later on it was still there, but drier with some dry leather. It's interesting and good for when you're not in die mood for sweet. I doubt if I'd buy it though. It's not friendly enough for me. It cracks the whip too much, especially after an hour or two. 18th October, 2008. |
 | Good Life by DavidoffFig to Davidoff for concocting this. No wonder it's going for rancid peanuts these days. Oh for fox's sakes, it was one of the few fumes up to date that I couldn't stand one bit. To this day I don't know why I ever bought it. I love figs, but that relentless fig tree leaf was hugely unpleasant. If you're thinking of buying it, my advice would be to get a life please! 16th October, 2008. |
| | Spellbound by Estée LauderSpellbound grabbed my attention with a vengeance when I began exploring Lauder fragrances. The first thing I thought was 'prostitute'. Streetwalker's juice. Amazing stuff that pulled me closer and pushed me away with equal intensity. I wonder how this would smell on a man, and what people would think of a guy reeking of Spellbound if they don't recognise the perfume. Intriguing, and the vulgar power of it is beyond ostentatious. So brazen that I can hardly think of a suitable situation whence it could wear one. Because wear you it will, unless you're much larger than life. Perhaps a fancy dress going as our whore? 15th October, 2008. |
| | Magnifique by LancômeIt reminded me strongly of Escada's Magnetism pour Homme. Not magnificent in the least, especially not on an elegant woman. 9th October, 2008. |
| | Fahrenheit by Christian DiorSmells the same as in the 80s. Goes on sweet with the honeysuckle in the forefront of the charge. Lasts long. Powerful sillage. Never cloying. Garners compliments. Unique smell. I don't associate it with fuel unless I put my nose too close to a sprayed patch of skin. Long in the tooth but not at all dated; nothing 'old man' about it. Excellent bottle and spray mechanism. Have seldom been without a 100ml the past ten years. 9th October, 2008. |
| | Cool Water Woman by DavidoffThis smells aggressive and sharp. The perception it creates is that the wearer is pushy. Not attractive at all with all that sour fruit and ozone. I'd give it a wide berth. 18th September, 2008. |
| | M7 by Yves Saint LaurentFar too much of an excellent thing for me. Hit the trigger more than once and you're most probably guilty of overkill. I like to take M7 to bed, but wearing it by day proves to be too much for me. Almost too rich and relentless, but without the sillage that some people seem to detect. It will take me an æon to work my way through my 100ml bottle. 12nd September, 2008. |
| | Magnetism for Men by EscadaThey really pulled out all the stops making this one. All the stops on the petrochemicals, i.e. Don't smell it up close or you'll get a blast of synthetic oiliness between the eyes. Otherwise Magnetism has OK sillage and can be considered sexy on the right person. Quite possibly female person IMO. I wear it about once a semester, and wish I detected it on others more. Very informal and even playful. 8th September, 2008. |
| | cK be by Calvin KleinMy goodness, how I used to pump the hell out of the trigger of my 200ml bottle in a vain attempt to get some sort of spark or kick or character out of this perfume. But to no avail. No sillage to speak of, and longevity measured in minutes. Quite linear with a safe, pleasant, kind, darling white musk from head to toe. Endearing, but just so damn flát. And now I'm considering buying another bottle to take me back to the 90s. Crazy! 8th September, 2008. (Last Edited: 13rd September, 2009.) |
| | Laguna by Salvador DaliAll 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... 23rd August, 2008. |
| | One Man Show by Jacques BogartMan, 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. 22nd August, 2008. |
| | Bal à Versailles by Jean DesprezThis 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. 12nd August, 2008. |
| | B*Men by Thierry MuglerThis 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. 11th August, 2008. |
| | Allure Sensuelle by ChanelLadies 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. 7th August, 2008. |
| | Lauder for Men by Estée LauderIf 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. 27th July, 2008. |
| | Wings for Men by WingsSmells 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. 23rd July, 2008. |
| | Altitude by Swiss ArmyGeneric 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. 9th July, 2008. |
| | Yohji Homme by Yohji YamamotoIt'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. 7th July, 2008. |
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