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Burr gives John Varvatos 3 stars/Mugler Cologne 4 stars & New Haarlem by BN9 5 stars!

post #1 of 20
4/28/08 at 3:32pm
Thread Starter 
...Scents for men are, like death and taxes, inevitable. Sometimes, given their smell, you’d take death. But every so often a perfume house has a masculine fragrance that is actually good. Even great. It can happen three ways....

Read more on the NYT Style Section here
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post #2 of 20
4/28/08 at 3:47pm
Well as Meatloaf would say "Two out of three ain't bad".

New Haarlem 5 stars? I personally do not agree.
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post #3 of 20
4/28/08 at 3:55pm
John Varvatos gets only 3 stars huh.... not done.... 5 stars worthy it is
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post #4 of 20
4/28/08 at 4:04pm
I think I'd save a few hundred $$$ and get Amen Pure Coffee instead...they smell the same to me.

And I find Mugler Cologne to last quite well???
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post #5 of 20
4/28/08 at 4:32pm
Do people really care what mr.Burr thinks? 3 stars,...4 stars,, who cares.
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post #6 of 20
4/28/08 at 4:46pm
He tends to be rather profligate with his five stars, I noticed.
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post #7 of 20
4/28/08 at 4:59pm
I agree across that list! I feel the same for each of those, though I actually dislike Varvatos and would only give it a 2 (and actually really dislike Vintage.. haha). It seems that the only thing keeping him from giving Mugler 5 stars was longevity, which can be found in the superior Original Vetiver.. though I do like the idea of putting it in your office. I may actually have to do that! Always handy to have a pre-happy hour bottle around.

For those that have such contempt for Burr's opinions.. why? That makes no sense.. does that mean you also go through the directory here poo pooing every review that doesn't line up with your thoughts? His opinions are just that.. opinions. If you disagree, that's fine, but there's no need to get up in arms


30+ tries to save this. ARGH!

40. this is ridiculous.
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post #8 of 20
4/28/08 at 5:00pm
Thread Starter 
I agree that New Haarlem does not deserve 5 stars, but I think Mugler Cologne and Varvatos have been rated correctly.
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post #9 of 20
4/28/08 at 5:13pm
I give Mugler and Varvatos both a "2"
New Haarlem is definitely a "5" for me.
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post #10 of 20
4/28/08 at 6:44pm
I think Varvatos and Mugler are 3+'s but not more. New Haarlem... nope... also a 3.
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post #11 of 20
4/28/08 at 7:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thebeck View Post

New Haarlem is definitely a "5" for me.

Me too.
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post #12 of 20
4/28/08 at 9:20pm
Deja Vu? I could have sworn I had read these reviews in 2007.

So Burr rates New Haarlem 5 stars, i.e., transcendent. Someone pass this man a bottle of Rochas Man please..
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post #13 of 20
4/28/08 at 9:30pm
Weird, I get better longevity on MC than almost any other frag in my collection. I was still getting sillage off my skin about 16 hours after applying.

Haven't tried the other two but I'm full up to here on gourmands so I'll probably skip the Bond No. 9.
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post #14 of 20
4/28/08 at 9:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by zztopp View Post

Deja Vu? I could have sworn I had read these reviews in 2007.

So Burr rates New Haarlem 5 stars, i.e., transcendent. Someone pass this man a bottle of Rochas Man please..

Me too - I felt a strange sense of deja vu reading these also...I couldn't put my finger on it, but I almost feel like I've heard him use his descriptions (especially of Varvatos) before. Hmm...
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post #15 of 20
4/28/08 at 10:20pm
JV is a 4 in my books ...
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post #16 of 20
4/28/08 at 10:55pm
I think the Deja Vu is from this thread http://community.basenotes.net/showthread.php?t=207160
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post #17 of 20
4/28/08 at 11:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisW View Post

I think the Deja Vu is from this thread http://community.basenotes.net/showthread.php?t=207160

Same number of stars? LMAO !
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post #18 of 20
4/28/08 at 11:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrd4t View Post

It seems that the only thing keeping him from giving Mugler 5 stars was longevity, which can be found in the superior Original Vetiver..

interesting point...no matter how great a frag might be...what good isit if it doesnt "last". i never thought about tht perspective and its quite a valid note...proabably that explains why LT rates Cool water, Azzaro PH among the best...coz its affordable, well made, has an appeal over generations and decades to comes and the best part - its last thru out the day making a perfume worth for what you have actually paid for in first place, to smell good. ...not like the $200 perfume which disappears on you in an hour or so...
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post #19 of 20
4/29/08 at 3:22am
Among all classical colognes which are intended to be light, Mugler lasts extremely well. In a moderate climate Mugler Cologne lasts all day (for the wearer, or in close contact). Four stars by Burr is an extremely good rating. Five is utterly crazy.
Remember his own star definitions? (I hope at least he does.)

zero = Do not inhale
* = Inoffensive
 ** = Eminently sniffable
*** = Breathtaking
**** = Total nose job
***** = Transcendental
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post #20 of 20
4/29/08 at 4:23am
based on those star ratings, I'd have to agree. I'm actually wrist testing JV today, and so far I like it. It's understated, slightly sweet, and projects a LOT better than my Polo Double Black. Since I'm running of DB, JV just might replace it.

I'll be testing Mugler today (since tomorrow Macy's is have a friends and family 20% off sale) so I'll see if that lines up with my thoughts as well.

I've had no interest in New Haarlem - although some BN9 scent intrigue me enough to want samples.
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Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › Burr gives John Varvatos 3 stars/Mugler Cologne 4 stars & New Haarlem by BN9 5 stars!