Fragrance Reviews by carlos-uk

I'd previously written this one off. I bought it awhile ago, didn't think much of it. Today however I found myself rummaging through my box trying to find it. I tried it again and I've changed my opinion. Cool Water is in there but this stuff simply commands hot weather. This is no good in Winter but in the throws of Summer, it's really quite nice. Kinda smells like overseas holidays. I love it.

Journeyman has hit this one square on the nose with his review. This is VERY similar to Cool Water (though it smells better than the current formulation) and VERY close to Green Irish Tweed (which is my all time favourite). This is my first Truefitt and Hill fragrance and one of the things that has impressed me is the ingredients listed on the side of the box. It's the most honest list for a fragrance I've ever read on a box and it simply says; Alcohol Denat, Aqua, Bergamot Oil, Lemon Oil, Rosemary Oil, Petigrain Oil, Menthol. That's it! What's remarkable about Freshman for me is that it may in fact pre-date Green Irish Tweed and that meens that Creed's No1 selling men's fragrance is in fact.....an expensive copy!! I've owned Green Irish Tweed and fell head over heels in love with it and I do believe that Freshman edges slightly closer to this than it does Cool Water. Whatever it's date of birth, I'm a massive Green Irish Tweed fan so Freshman is a winner for me. I recommend it to all!

I have a real love/hate affair with Cool Water.

On the one hand there is no way it's current formulation is the same as it originally was. It has changed, not beyond recognition but there's something in it (or not in it) that didn't used to be/used to be there that makes it wrong somehow.

On the other hand, it's the one fragrance I have bought continually and used every last drop of without getting bored of it!

Then I discovered Green Irish Tweed by Creed. Smelling that for the first time was a revelation. It was like the original Cool Water but so good, it became apparent to me that Cool Water was in fact an imitation of Green Irish Tweed that's so near and yet so far. I still think Cool Water works well on the right type of skin, it's just a shame that it's not my type of skin. Is it dated? I don't think it is 'dated' but it's so well known that it does make you think of years gone by. Having said that, I feel it's a perfectly pleasant fragrance in it's own right. I've just ordered a bottle of Freshman from Truefitt and Hill on the basis that many are comparing it to Cool Water and Green Irish Tweed. The general opinion is that it smells like Cool Water used to smell which is a big plus. And if it bares a passing resemblance to the prohibitively pricey Green Irish Tweed, I might have found my middle-man.

I say, go for Cool Water if you like the smell of it but do check out Green Irish Tweed if you can afford it or perhaps go for the Truefitt and Hill which is about the same price as Cool Water. There's some happy memories for me and Cool Water and I think it still smells good today, just not as good as it used too.

My first experience of 212 was so memorable I can tell you where I was, what I was doing and who was wearing it. I was in the Midlands having been dispatched by my company to do some recruitment. I met up with one of the Regional Managers who was there that day to help me with interviews. It was my first trip to the new Bull Ring in Birmingham. Whilst it is my home city I was not pleased to be back as I frankly don't like the place and moved away years ago vowing I would never return.All day long there was this smell that sent me spinning but I didn't want to ask what it was at risk of creating a bit of an uncomfortable situation.

Fast forward to today, it's Christmas Eve and I've just been shopping for some last minute gifts. Saw 212 in a box with a free watch for a bargain so I thought, what the hell? Got it home, opened it up and took the lid off.

There it was, that smell!

It's taken me almost 5 years to discover what it is and I am smitten! I think it's just fantastic. I've never been a fan of sweet scents and I think 212 is perhaps the arch-nemesis to Le Male by Gaultier. I can't stand stand Le Male, I often smell it wafting past me, massively over applied. 212 however, sweet though it is, is the right kind of sweetness to this nose. I think it's heaven and whilst I doubt it smells anything like New York, what I do know is that this is a gift I don't want to give away!

I shall be buying myself some in the New Year having finally discovered what 'that' smell was all those years ago that left me in a semi-hypnotic trance.

Have I finally found my signature? I approached Monsieur with a degree of caution based on my experiences of Givenchy Gentleman which whilst having the potential to be stunning is to my mind an affront to polite society in its current formulation. Such caution was not necessary.

I have a slightly strange habit with new fragrances that arrive mail order. After unwrapping the outer packaging I smell the cellophane wrapping and then after taking that off, the box itself. Then I go for the inside of the cap and the hole on the spritzer just to see if there's the slightest suggestion of what's inside. I think it has something to do with anticipation being half the fun! I got a slight hint from the spray hole of what was inside the Monsieur bottle and excitedly started pushing away on the top of the bottle.

Well, what can I say? If Gentleman was designed with the Englishman in mind and Monsieur with the Frenchman in mind, I have to say (as an Englishman) I'm insulted. Monsieur far outclasses the stinky and wafting Givenchy Gentleman and is eminently more wearable. Its lemony but subdued and makes me think of a toned down version of the original Armani Pour Homme (in fact I'm surprised nobody has yet made the comparison). I'd say its closer to Armani than Eau Savage as others have suggested. There is a slightly dry quality to this fragrance that is also impressive. The dry down I can't particularly comment on as it doesn't seem to last that long on my skin which is a great shame. All I can note is that the initial Lemon in the face subdues rather a lot and leaves a delicate air of pure class behind. I'm smitten. Sod the CK's,Ralph Laurens and the YSL's. This is where its at, this is what fragrance is all about. In answer to my question posed at the beginning: Yes, I think I may well have done. Rule Britannia :-)

I'm genuinely surprised at the few reviews this one has received. Cool Wave is cool, icy, fresh, sporty and lots of other exiciting words :-) Here in the UK its about £5 for a 50ml bottle ($10 at the current exchange rate) and as such, its a total bargain. It has that well groomed smell but without the cloud of pretense that more expensive smells have. I've been through Givenchy, Guerlain, Chanel, Creed, L' Artisan Parfumeur and whilst I wouldn't even suggest that this beats them, it is at least as good as in terms of wearability. What you have here is a wearable everyday scent that leaves you fresh from the shower and smelling zingy and clean for the rest of the day. It doesn't have that cheap smell that can so often ruin budget fragrances (I'm thining Old Spice, Denim, Hai Karate etc). Combined with the matching Shower Gel, Deodorant and Balm you have a complete hygiene regime for the cost of 1 bottle of designer stuff. Sadly, Cool Wave seems to be the only one of the series available in the UK. Its good enough though.....by a long shot.

I find this to be an almost carbon copy of Santal by Floris. Perhaps without the Black Pepper notes making an appearance but it's almost identical. Mileage on this was always bad for me never lasting more than an hour! On the basis of the mileage, I have to mark this with a Neutral rating.

I bought this recently having always found the Womens White Musk to be totally distinctive and intoxicating (both in a good way). This is unmistakeably White Musk but done with a difference that makes it wearable for a man. I can't say that I find it to be totally different from the Womens version but frankly, I don't care. One thing I have noticed with this is its longevity is far greater than any Body Shop mens fragrance I have bought previously. I could smell this the next morning and it wasn't the worst smell to wake up too (hell, it beats the smell of Cat Food first thing in the morning). What I would say about this Mens interpretation is that it's actually to my nose a borderline scent. I feel it could just as easily be a Unisex scent as it has those original qualities but does not stray to far into the heavy masculine notes. What can I say to convince you other than give this one a try!

I bought this in lieu of Avon Musk for Men which has now been discontinued. The two fragrances are somewhat similar though on initial application of Jovan, Government officials should create a no go zone round the wearer. After a good half hour it does calm down and that Musk note so similar to the Avon version is definately there though a little heavier and stronger. We only seem to get the Aftershave & Deodorant version here in the UK, cant find EDT Spray anywhere so I generally only use this in its literal sense i.e after shaving. It's not drastically modern and does have the potential to offend but such is the way of many great fragrances. Yes its cheaply priced but I like it. It is a Musk and as such calms down to a nice clean, sweet smell. Give it a go!

Now sadly discontinued, this fragrance has great sentimental value for me as my Father wore it. He didn't wear many fragrances and having grown up with a bathroom containing Old Spice & Denim, Avon Musk came as a welcome relief to my young nose! To me, this was always a simple, understated Musk scent. It never wafted offensively, just left a sweet trail behind that I doubt anybody could have found offensive. I can confirm (for the curious) that it doesn't taste anywhere near as good as it smells! One drunken night I decided to give the test a try. Perhaps it was the Vodka & Coke I mixed it with but I know it was foul and that it gave me a two day hangover. I haven't touched Vodka since! As already noted by EricM, how Avon can discontinue this and keep fragrances like Wild Country (and even Black Sued for that matter) in production is a complete mystere. To get anything near this fragrance I now go to Jovan Musk which after a good half hour has many of the same qualities, if only a lot stronger. If anybody from Avon does read this, please bring it back, please! If it were re-released I would buy it and I would wear it.

The second Guerlain fragrance in my collection, the frist being Habit Rouge.

I bought this as a gift set which came with a 100ml Shower Gel, 125ml EDT and a rather nice Wash Bag. I bought it blind on the basis of the reviews here and I have to say, thanks everyone!

My first Vetiver fragrance was by L'Artisan Parfumeur. As such it turned me off big time. I found it heavy, bitter and cloying. The Guerlain take however is nothing short of delightful.

Yes, it is soapy and clean and I like that. Now, without wanting to risk being slated I have to say I am reminded of YSL Kouros Cologne Sport. That particular fragrance has been well and truly panned in the reviews on this site. The Guerlain is similar to my nose but with all the Heritage (apologies for the pun) that Guerlain represents.

It's interesting to me how a single note can be interpreted in so many different ways. This fragrance couldn't be further from the L'Artisan Vetiver in that, for me at least, its wearable and enjoyable!

I find Habit Rouge to be perfectly delightful but without the wow factor of so many current fragrances. When I spray it on it makes me feel comfortable for some reason. It is not something however I feel able to wear everyday. Vetiver is that everyday fragrance that I'm looking for. Its clean, slightly sporty tones keep my arm going to my nose to smell more. Its something I can wear without fear of offending but without making too bold a statement. Yes, understated but self assured this is.

What a joy for me and solid evidence of the whole purpose and value of the Basenotes Review forum.

This was my introduction to Vetiver and I would have to say that it was a baptism of fire for me.

I wish I could agree with the previous reviews here but I found this fragrance to be dark, heavy, clying, acrid and generally unpleasent.

In fact it was a blind buy for me and perhaps the only blind buy to date I've ever truly regretted. I do however acknowledge that it didn't work for me due to it not being my taste and perhaps not great on my skin type. I would suggest that you get a sample before purchase as this is Vetiver in a very raw form.

I'll give it a neutral as it's hardly the worse thing I've ever smelt, I save that honour for Insense by Givenchy.

I agree with the previous observations on the boozy opening. That said it settles down to a very pleasent and individual leathery/sweet scent. I note that most fragrances can be overpowering if you go mad with the application and this fragrance is no different in that respect. You really need just a couple of sprays and your done. Ideal for more formal occasions.

No similarity to the original and a pretty bad effort in its own right. Neither remarkable or wearable.

I believe this fragrance to be discontinued now. It certainly can't be found on Trumper's website. This was my first and (to date) only Trumper fragrance. I have to say I found this heavy and thick on the point of being offensive and it would arrive in the room before I did with only the lightest application. It's a thumbs down from me I'm afraid.

As stated by so many others, not a scent for the teenager!

I totally get comments about the similarity between this and YSL M7. Its almost as if YSL isolated that part of Habit Rouge and released it as a fragrance in its own right.

Out of the bottle it's an explosion and no, not really in a great way. It reminds me of something that Floris would sell. It doesn't take long however for the Leather to come through and start calming down to something more acceptable. Of course the fragrance smells 'old', it was released in 65 but then it comes down too whether you want the faceless generic tripe that is being released today or something with some pedigree and style too it. Of course, a classic is not going to be everybodys taste and some will find this unacceptable but for me, this is a gorgeous, warm & sophisticated choice that marks you out from the crowd as an individual and to me that has a lot of weight too it.

A gorgeous, spicy winter warmer on offer from Christian Lacroix. Completely inoffensive and not drastically remarkable but simply clean and pleasent. I couldn't imagine this being suitable for Office wear, it has too much a nighttime feel to it. Therefore I would guess an ideal club or date fragrance. I'd say more casual than formal so unlikely to sit well with a shirt and tie but hey, perhaps an open topped white shirt, a steel Rolex and a Black Armani would work.

I want to like this one so much but everytime I wear it, lurking underneath that intoxicating smell is something that wafts of burning rubber! I don't know what the note is but I do know without it, this would be a stunner. Sadly, this will be the first thumbs down I've ever given on this site.

I took a huge trip down memory lane today, a 15 year trip back down memory lane to be precise. It all started on a trip to France when I was 14. Being in the local town I stopped by a Chemists. Even at the age of 14 I was a keen Fragrance buyer. The lady in the Chemists took me through some of the many fragrances they had but alas the number of Francs in my pocket didn't stretch far enough for the Hermes or the Givenchy. The only thing within my budget was Tabac Original. I tried it in the shop and liked it so bought it. As a slightly naughty side note I should add that it was on this trip that I lost my virginity, a very personal admission but smelling this fragrance today for the first time in 15 years brings back some great memories for me. This is a wonderfully clean, soapy fragrance. It is completely incapable of causing olfactory offence yet different enough to be totally distinctive and individual. As others have commented, the price is by no means an indication of the quality. Though it may be cheap enough to buy, this fragrance outclasses others costing 4 times as much and I do have a selection of Creed fragrances among other more expensive names to compare it with. This will sound strange but there is an aspect of this fragrance that reminds me of the smell of snuff tobacco. A slightly earthy quality but still very pleasant and without the constant sneezing resulting in Brown powdered tobacco shooting out the end of your nose. I tried to remember what happened to my original bottle from 15 years ago and along with smelling this today, it came back to me. My Stepfather took the fragrance claiming it was his and never gave it back. Aside from suggesting he's a total thief it does perhaps go some way to suggest how nice a fragrance can be when Guardian's are willing to steal it and swear that it belongs to them! Still, all in good humour. My advice if you haven't tried it is to do so as soon as possible. Designer fragrances come and go but some stand the test of time, there is a reason for that. They are timeless and shining examples of what can be achieved by the expert perfumer. Tabac Original is that to a tee.