Fragrance Reviews by lasta

Creed Royal English Leather. I bought it blind based on the glowing reviews and my curiosity for a leather fragrance. While I've had disappointments with blind buys in the past, none reached the magnitude such as this. Let's just say; this is the only fragrance that I got rid of within a day of owning it.

It's a leather fragrance alright, very very fresh leather. So fresh that it smells like a freshly slaughtered horse. Upon first sniff it has an effect similar to burying your face in the cavity along with the entrails and taking a deep sniff/snort.

There's something about REL that literally had a vomit inducing effect on me. I tried to let it grow on test strip and my arm but the same nauseous odor persisted. No matter how much an acquired taste it can be, if it stirs my gag reflex, there's absolutely no way I can wear it.

I've sampled alot of controversial fragrances and I do wear such ones as Yatagan and Kouros with frequency but Royal English Leather marks the limit for me.

From the makers of Black Aoud and Greyland, this is a remarkably light scent. A smooth musky scent with slightly citrus and herbal overtones that upon first spray is reminiscent to Annick Goutal's Mandragore - fresh, sharp, but not bright.

The mid notes last quite a while and brings to mind classic shaving soap or perhaps a subtle powdery musk like that used by Loewe Solo. During this time, I also detect a hint of nutmeg also used by Solo but more pronounced in Azzaro Visit.

After about 3 hours: the citrus, herbal, and musk notes are all but disappeared. What's left is an ambery sweetness with a twist that is a faint reminder of the topnotes of MPG Jardin du Nil without the citrus.

The name is slightly misleading as I barely notice the sandalwood if at all. As a matter of fact, I'd hardly call this a woody scent.

I refrained from noting a floral component in the pyramid but it's definitely there and wafts up occasionally even until the drydown.

Longevity is very good but it is a "skin" scent and sillage is very subdued after the topnotes.

It's probably not one of the more romantic scents but it definitely has a "come hither" allure that would be appropriate during intimate situations. Plus it's one of the few that don't offend even if you were to sniff directly. While not a mind blowing olfactory experience, I think Skin surely has something worth digging deeper for.

Think maple syrup after you've added suger to it. Sweet, strong and heady but not the least bit cloying. This is one of the most addictive scents I've ever tried and the fact that it lasts a solid 24 hours only makes it more impressive.