So, Youth Dew and I go WAY BACK - it was one of the first fragrances that I studied in high school, for a term paper that I did on Estee Lauder (I guess my high school English teacher must have known I was a fragrance enthusiast!). I learned all about Ms. Lauder's entry into the world of cosmetics and fragrances with this scent - how she actually intentionally dumped some on the floor of a department store so that it would stink up the store and customers would ask what it was, just so that the store would stock it. The actual fragrance - well...let's just say that to my non-trained nose I thought it was STRONG, PERFUMEY and smelled like a womens bubble bath.
Anyway, when Tom Ford was given the Youth Dew fragrance back in 2005 I kept my eye on it.
The first time I smelled it (from a tester at the Estee Lauder counter) I actually recoiled from it - it was, SO FEMININE, I thought. I of course could smell the link to Youth Dew and naturally I could smell the amber, but it just seemed so 'lit up' and flat out 'girly' that I almost washed it off when I got home.
Fast forward to Basenotes, one of the many fragrances I explored when I arrived here was fragrances by Tom Ford. I actually made it a point to smell most of Tom Ford's fragrances including all 12 of his Private Blends, the scents he did for Gucci and YSL, and for Lauder. It seemed like a good idea to re-sniff YDAN. Plus many recommended it to me on my Cinnamon Thread (even though it doesn't officially have cinnamon as a note...weird huh?) So, I sampled it, thanks to Tim, and I've given it a couple full wearings. It's slowly wowed me.
- The top notes of YDAN are much more modern than YD, not quote so much stiff spice in this, the spice notes are glistening, shiny and bright. The coca-cola reference is there (that a few people have mentioned), although I might call it caramel soda. It's sweet and fizzy...whatever it is. I like this part.
- The amber from YD shows up, and this is the part of the scent that you either love or hate. When I first smelled Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens I immediately thought of Youth Dew - however testing them side-by-side YD is much more potent. The amber notes mix quite perfectly with some other 'green' note (galbanum?) and it really propels it off of your skin.
- There's another note that I keep getting whiffs of, that started out in the middle and maintain throughout the base notes. It's a little like Opium and/or Cinnabar...maybe it's honey. Its slighly smoky and it's extremely sensual.
- The drydown lasts forever - at the end it gets slightly chocolate-y with touches of sandalwood and patchouli. Sounds like a gourmand - but IMO it is not a gourmand. It also has a dry feel to it...whereas it is still warm and comfy.
If you're a guy and you want to try this, the trick is to only apply 1 or 2 sprays (I would give the same advice if you wear the original Youth Dew). Those lovers of Ambre Sultan (S Lutens), Opium for him and/or her (YSL) and/or Ambre Narguile (Hermes) will love YDAN.
One more thing: If I have my facts straight, due to Estee Lauder and Tom Ford Beauty not working together anymore, word on the street is that YDAN will be changed to a different name and rebottled, however the scent will be the same. I'm not going to risk it, so I'll be buying a bottle of the 'old' stock soon...just in case Lauder tweaks it post the name change.
So...any other guys out there wear Youth Dew Amber Nude?
Anyway, when Tom Ford was given the Youth Dew fragrance back in 2005 I kept my eye on it.
The first time I smelled it (from a tester at the Estee Lauder counter) I actually recoiled from it - it was, SO FEMININE, I thought. I of course could smell the link to Youth Dew and naturally I could smell the amber, but it just seemed so 'lit up' and flat out 'girly' that I almost washed it off when I got home.
Fast forward to Basenotes, one of the many fragrances I explored when I arrived here was fragrances by Tom Ford. I actually made it a point to smell most of Tom Ford's fragrances including all 12 of his Private Blends, the scents he did for Gucci and YSL, and for Lauder. It seemed like a good idea to re-sniff YDAN. Plus many recommended it to me on my Cinnamon Thread (even though it doesn't officially have cinnamon as a note...weird huh?) So, I sampled it, thanks to Tim, and I've given it a couple full wearings. It's slowly wowed me.
- The top notes of YDAN are much more modern than YD, not quote so much stiff spice in this, the spice notes are glistening, shiny and bright. The coca-cola reference is there (that a few people have mentioned), although I might call it caramel soda. It's sweet and fizzy...whatever it is. I like this part.
- The amber from YD shows up, and this is the part of the scent that you either love or hate. When I first smelled Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens I immediately thought of Youth Dew - however testing them side-by-side YD is much more potent. The amber notes mix quite perfectly with some other 'green' note (galbanum?) and it really propels it off of your skin.
- There's another note that I keep getting whiffs of, that started out in the middle and maintain throughout the base notes. It's a little like Opium and/or Cinnabar...maybe it's honey. Its slighly smoky and it's extremely sensual.
- The drydown lasts forever - at the end it gets slightly chocolate-y with touches of sandalwood and patchouli. Sounds like a gourmand - but IMO it is not a gourmand. It also has a dry feel to it...whereas it is still warm and comfy.
If you're a guy and you want to try this, the trick is to only apply 1 or 2 sprays (I would give the same advice if you wear the original Youth Dew). Those lovers of Ambre Sultan (S Lutens), Opium for him and/or her (YSL) and/or Ambre Narguile (Hermes) will love YDAN.
One more thing: If I have my facts straight, due to Estee Lauder and Tom Ford Beauty not working together anymore, word on the street is that YDAN will be changed to a different name and rebottled, however the scent will be the same. I'm not going to risk it, so I'll be buying a bottle of the 'old' stock soon...just in case Lauder tweaks it post the name change.
So...any other guys out there wear Youth Dew Amber Nude?
