Fragrance Reviews by sniffy

If you like Le Labo's vetiver 46 and Gucci Pour Homme (I) then, this is somewhere between the two. Not as flat and cedar-y as the Gucci, not quite as complex as the Le Labo. But a very sexy incense-y smoky scent - makes me want to put on a Ralph Lauren Wool Fishermen's Sweater, plaid wool pants, Hermes boots, and walk in the fresh snow down a Parisian street at dusk in December.

This is so disappointing. I love, love, love Cartier fragrances. But not this one! It smells like an old lady perfume (and a cheap one, at that) mixed, inexplicably, with mint. Although much has been written about the unsuitability of mint as an ingredient in fragrance (it just doesn't mix well with the skin) and the fact that certain fragrance houses have used it successfully, Cartier is not one of them. For a scent with mint to work, it needs a menthol note as well. When I first saw the gorgeous (and surprisingly heavy) bottle, I was expecting another Cartier masterpiece, but no such luck.

This is one of my all time favorites - certainly a good winter scent. Every time I spray myself with the tester I cannot stop sniffing all day. This is a very smokey fragrance, with a strong vetiver note, mixed with something church-y, like frankincense, myrrh or incense or all three. My formerly religious friends, in fact, do not like it at all as it brings back unpleasant church memories for them. Everyone else loves it. It is a bit like the Gucci Pour Homme (the amber-colored 2003 one in the black and white box) but tweaked with more mystery and darkness and without the flatness of cedar.

I don't get the comparison to Creed's Millesime Imperial, but I do think its a very close copy to Bond No. 9's Wall Street - In fact, I am sure that the creator had WS in mind. I think that the difference lies in that the ingresients used in WS are of a higher quality and have much greater staying power. But Unforgivable is a decent alternative if you cannot shell out the $$ for Wall Street.

On another note, I am reminded of the original D&G when I smell Creed's MI. D&G is a bit harsher, whereas MI has a more smooth, mellow basenote. Eventually, after the dry-down, they smell very much alike.

I get that this is supposed to be a sexually-charged scent, full of shock-value, etc., like the scent of a french prostitute on her balcony overlooking all of Paris at dusk. What it really smells like is an old homeless unwashed crack whore on the streets of the Bronx. I "get" that its not supposed to smell traditionally beautiful, but I couldn't wait to wash my arm where I had sprayed with the tester. The smell made me want to vomit. I think I also detected a vomit note mixed in there somewhere. This reminds me of one of those films where the shock value is so over-emphasized, that there is nothing else redeeming to it - all hype and no substance.

This might not be the most "interesting" of scents, but it is a good choice for daytime, especially if you work in an environment where a strong and noticeable fragrance might not be appropriate. After the drydown, it leaves a clean, soapy, just showered smell, not overpowering. I get a strong violet and musk impression. I can wear this on a hot summer day and still feel like I smell freshly showered at the end of the day.

This might not be the hottest cologne of the moment, but it has always been a very sexy scent, almost smoky, and has a great warmth in its drydown that is perfect for winter. The lavender and coriander give it a nice zing for the first hour or so. Then comes the warmth. the smell reminds me of Paris (the city, not the perfume) - I don't know if people there are wearing this, but for some reason, I always think I'm smelling this cologne all over when I visit Paris.

Technically speaking, this is not "pure" vetiver, but it is delicious. I sniffed real vetiver oil and then this, and found that it has a real vetiver scent, but also there is a subtle powdery element (carnation), plus a bright floral element (geranium), as well as an ocean note added. I have received many compliments on ths one - it was a great dry fragrance to wear on hot summer days, both for the office and for evening. I think this is my new summer staple. Oh, and it lasts a long time on me, even on hot days.

Yucch!! Too sweet. Too feminine. too overpowering. Cloying would be an apt description. Something in it repulses me. Although sometimes sweet/vanilla can be done well (Marc Jacobs), this has something that just misses the mark.

By far my favorite cologne EVER! Smells like Creed's Erolfa, but more pungent and better formed. Has incredible staying power. The only cologne I have ever worn that has caused strangers, both men and women, to ask what I was wearing. Repeatedly. A good scent for special occasions and goes well with formal wear. Very costly, but price is offset by very positive reaction by all who smell it. Only have a couple of samples, but this goes right onto my X-mas list!

Thumbs way up. I just bought this in London - I was going to pick one cologne that is not available in the US. After trying almost every new fragrance out there, and realizing that almost everything smells the same, this is the one that stuck out from the crowd. Imagine what you'd get if you combined Acqua di Gio with Ted Baker's Skinwear. Very strong scent of pine first, followed by a classy dry down of violet and maybe cedar. Starts with a sudden fresh burst, and stays with a woody, violet finish. Been smelling myself all day since I started to wear it. Can't stand those vanilla-based scents and this is the antithesis to them - fresh, but not in a tired "cool water" way. A Plus!!