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Favorite release year for fragrances?

post #1 of 24
9/4/07 at 7:38pm
Thread Starter 
There are certain years in music history when multiple, genius-level albums were released. For example, 1973 saw the releases of Dark Side of the Moon, Raw Power, New York Dolls, For Your Pleasure, and Innervisions. That is pretty incredible.

It got me thinking, "What year seemed exceptional for producing some of the greatest (IMO) fragrances?" I would have to say 1981. That year saw the release of some of my absolute favorites, including Cacharel Pour L'Homme, Kouros, and the original Burberry for Men. (What a year!!)

I know that there were many others, and for many other reasons. So, what would be your favorite year and why?
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post #2 of 24
9/4/07 at 7:44pm
I'm not making this up -- that's my favorite, too!

I would place the original Burberry's for Men alongside Musc Ravageur as a Holy Grail (right up there with New York, JHL, Bois de Portugal and the other pretenders to the throne) were it not for the fact that it's damn near impossible to find. Although other truly great frags (e.g., Kouros etc.) came out that year, 1981 should be remembered for Burberry's (the original, that is) if nothing else. And, oh, Cacharel!

But again, a truly top-drawer year for fragrance intros all 'round -- kinda the beginning of the "Big Eighties scents" that I love so much -- animalic, loud, spicy, complex, robust -- not at all like the hordes of namby pamby, melon-y, watery, flaccid clones and drones that are so in vogue with Joe Q. American these days.
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post #3 of 24
9/4/07 at 7:45pm
I agree with 1981. Dont forget Santos, Antaeus, and No. 88 were released the same year. Can you imagine that happening nowadays in addition to all the ones the original poster mentioned?
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post #4 of 24
9/4/07 at 9:35pm
Also from 1981: the highly-regarded Nombre Noir, and possibly my all-time favorite: Calvin Klein's Calvin.
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post #5 of 24
9/5/07 at 3:24am
Lord,
give us back 1981 :-/
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post #6 of 24
9/5/07 at 4:25am
God! Renzo et al!
We're getting old!
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post #7 of 24
9/5/07 at 7:49am
Thread Starter 
It is really incredible that in one year so many staples were produced. Were there any other years like this?
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post #8 of 24
9/5/07 at 8:04am
Virgin Island Water (Creed) and French Lover / Bois d´Orage (Frederic Malle)...the next scent will be Tom Ford for Men (I hope so)...please, let this smell good.
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post #9 of 24
9/5/07 at 8:27am
I saw the question and my immediate thought was 1981 as well. What a great year for perfumery!
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post #10 of 24
9/5/07 at 8:43am
Good thread!

For me not 1981 but definately more the early nineties, say from '89 till '95

Chanels Anteus and Egoiste
Guerlain Heritage
Ungaro's I, II,III.
Joop Nightflight
Calvin Klein entered Europe in '89, at least in The Netherlands, I believe ,with Obsession, and the rest was imensely popular, till Ck1

Paloma Picasso'Minotaure,YSL's Opium Homme, L'Eau D'Issey, Gaultiers Le male, Davidoff Relax, etc., etc.

Definately 1990-1995 for me. Good memories for me.
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post #11 of 24
9/5/07 at 9:08am
The 80s were the best years as far as decades go (the Creeds alone qualify it for that!). However, consider 1934, the year that gave us Dunhill Original AND Caron's Pour Un Homme.....
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post #12 of 24
9/5/07 at 9:48am
I like 1925 and 1990 myself...
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post #13 of 24
9/5/07 at 9:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by graffham View Post

God! Renzo et al!
We're getting old!

Oh no my dear Graffham,

we ARE old ;-)

But hey...don't worry...at least we can say we have worn the originals !! :-)

makes a bow,

Renz
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post #14 of 24
9/5/07 at 11:38am
Thread Starter 
castorpollux,

Why those two years? Which releases were your faves?
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post #15 of 24
9/5/07 at 12:19pm
1921: Chanel No 5; Molinard Habanita
1925: Shalimar
1934: Caron Pour un Homme; Dunhill for Men
1980: Patou PH; Creed Fleurs de Bulgarie (new)
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post #16 of 24
9/5/07 at 1:37pm
As soon as I read the title, 1981.
Kouros
Antaeus
Santos

Power
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post #17 of 24
9/5/07 at 2:33pm
Hate me for it, but I think 1995 also left quite a footprint:
Bulgari pour Homme
Creeds MI and SMW
JPG Le Male
Opium ph
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post #18 of 24
9/5/07 at 3:13pm
Masculine launches in 1981: 18
Masculine launches in 2006: 155

I think that says it all...
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post #19 of 24
9/5/07 at 11:35pm
1999:

212
pi
clinique happy
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post #20 of 24
9/6/07 at 12:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trebor View Post

Masculine launches in 1981: 18
Masculine launches in 2006: 155

I think that says it all...

Dunno if you pro 1981 or anti but its a valid point.

However.....

Masculine masterpieces launched in 1981.....
Masculine masterpieces launched in 2006.....???
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post #21 of 24
9/6/07 at 1:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rompip View Post

Dunno if you pro 1981 or anti but its a valid point.

However.....

Masculine masterpieces launched in 1981.....
Masculine masterpieces launched in 2006.....???

It was just an observation based on the quality vs quantity argument.

1981 frags are not for me but I wholeheartedly agree that they are embarassingly better than the majority of what's being released now.
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post #22 of 24
9/6/07 at 3:11pm
I have a soft spot for 1978.

Azzaro PH
Polo (yes, I do like it...in moderation. One spray is enough)
Lagerfeld Classic
L'Artisan Parfumeur Mûre et Musc

Looking forward to trying Royall Muske and Van Cleef & Arpels PH (among others).

The other years mentioned were no slouches either (1981 rings a big bell for me too), but I've been on a 70s kick lately - music, art, scent...everything except the actual debauchery I hear so much about.

Is it odd to be nostalgic for a time in which you didn't live? Oh well, brand me crazy:-)
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post #23 of 24
9/6/07 at 4:58pm
1981 is probably the most important in terms of sheer volume of scents that are generally considered classics. I'll agree with that.

But I also appreciate 1985 (the year I was born! with Guerlain Derby, Caron 3rd Man, and Creed GIT) and 1973 (with Paco Rabanne, Jovan Musk, Creed Acier Aluminum, and Aramis 900).
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post #24 of 24
9/6/07 at 6:34pm
1994
Some notables from that year include DK Men, Nicole Miller for Men, and Havana.
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