Well, I went to Indianapolis today for an appointment, and I also stopped at the Fashion Mall. After dinner, I stopped by Saks while my dad was looking for iPod accessories at the Apple Store, and I sniffed several fragrances, including two previously unsniffed ones. One of them was a "yay!" and another was a "nay".
The "Yay!" goes to Narciso Rodriguez for Him. At first, I was skeptical... it started out green. Make that VERY green, with a prominent violet note a la GIT, but still likeable. Then, the greens softened down in favor of a musk note. Finally, when the greens went away, the musk note stayed, and a soft, sweet amber emerged a la Thierry Mugler's (sadly now-discontinued) B*Men, albeit much softer and not in-your-face like the Mugler. Take 2 parts GIT, one part B*Men, some Iso-E Super, and a big dash of actual originality that has been lacking in many a designer release, and you've got Narciso Rodriguez for Him. This has to be the best new designer release by far this year, much like Terre d'Hermes took the cake in 2006... B.P.I. regained my confidence with this one, to the point that I can now forgive them for the mediocre L'eau d'Issey Pour Homme Intense. I also got a sample vial from Stuigi in the mail today, so I'll be giving this a full-body wearing tomorrow.
The "Nay" goes to Creed's Virgin Island Water. I spritzed this on, and I got L'Artisan's Ananas Fizz mixed with Sprite. Then, the coconut came through a few seconds later... all of a sudden, it smelled like Banana Boat sunscreen. Yes, stuff you can get at Walgreens for $6 a bottle, as opposed to the $225 for 4 ounces that Creed is charging. And, with the Banana Boat, you'll still have room in your wallet to buy a bottle of Malibu Coconut Rum at the liquor store (and some Alka-Seltzer for the hangover). Thanks, but no thanks, Olivier and Erwin.
In the end, it was two very different fragrances, and two very different reactions. Guess what will be coming next in my wardrobe...
The "Yay!" goes to Narciso Rodriguez for Him. At first, I was skeptical... it started out green. Make that VERY green, with a prominent violet note a la GIT, but still likeable. Then, the greens softened down in favor of a musk note. Finally, when the greens went away, the musk note stayed, and a soft, sweet amber emerged a la Thierry Mugler's (sadly now-discontinued) B*Men, albeit much softer and not in-your-face like the Mugler. Take 2 parts GIT, one part B*Men, some Iso-E Super, and a big dash of actual originality that has been lacking in many a designer release, and you've got Narciso Rodriguez for Him. This has to be the best new designer release by far this year, much like Terre d'Hermes took the cake in 2006... B.P.I. regained my confidence with this one, to the point that I can now forgive them for the mediocre L'eau d'Issey Pour Homme Intense. I also got a sample vial from Stuigi in the mail today, so I'll be giving this a full-body wearing tomorrow.
The "Nay" goes to Creed's Virgin Island Water. I spritzed this on, and I got L'Artisan's Ananas Fizz mixed with Sprite. Then, the coconut came through a few seconds later... all of a sudden, it smelled like Banana Boat sunscreen. Yes, stuff you can get at Walgreens for $6 a bottle, as opposed to the $225 for 4 ounces that Creed is charging. And, with the Banana Boat, you'll still have room in your wallet to buy a bottle of Malibu Coconut Rum at the liquor store (and some Alka-Seltzer for the hangover). Thanks, but no thanks, Olivier and Erwin.
In the end, it was two very different fragrances, and two very different reactions. Guess what will be coming next in my wardrobe...
