Freshman by Truefitt & Hill, 1815

02/01/13: I revisited this today. I was in a rush this morning and looking for something to spray and this was sitting there looking all forgotten and insecure. I think it's the dry down of this that marks it out from both GIT and Cool Water. Initially it sits in between both. It doesn't have the richness or wow factor of GIT or the more aquatic side of Cool Water. It's like a strange hybrid. That settles down however to a more floral theme that honestly I feel is rather unisex. It's still pleasant never the less. I might give Floris JF a spin as that seems to be lumped in with this lot as well. 28/04/09: 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!

This is what Cool Water used to smell like, almost to a "T". The only difference I can detect from old Cool Water is a toned down lavender accord and a very light mint note somewhere in it, that's about it. It is 98% of what old Cool Water was. I don't know what they are passing off as Cool Water nowadays but it has changed, and changed for the worse. If you want to remember what old Cool Water back in the 90's and early 2000's smelled like pick up Freshman.

Compared to GIT it is a little sweeter, also the Creed ambergis base is not here (Thank God!). Still close to GIT but Freshman is much closer to old Cool Water.

Much like old Cool Water the opening blast is strong and just downright sexy. It literally will seduce women with just a whiff, however just like old Cool Water it can also knock out everyone within a 20 foot radius for 30 minutes if you go a little crazy with over-applying.

When the dry down begins the magic really happens, it settles down from the initial strong blast into a seductive, sweet, aquatic affair that women will just want to bury they nose into, and so will you for that matter. I can't stop smelling stuff on me. You won't be able to get enough of it if these type scents are your thing, neither will women.

Freshman has great silage and longevity as well, overall a great offering even if is retro Cool Water. T&H claims Freshman has been around since 1815, if it has it has not been in this formulation. I just can't imagine the Cool Water scent being around since the civil war and old west era.

To wrap this up, if you love Cool Water you will love Freshman. If you hate Cool Water you will hate Freshman.