Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ronin 
Shalashaska, thanks for the list of ingredients for Rive Gauche. If you would have ingested some of those things then I bet there would be harm. Your skin should absorb some of those ingredients. Maybe the absorption is insignificant but over time there can be harm. Perhaps I am overreacting considering all of the dangers we experience through the everyday environment. Maybe I am a bit paranoid but I still wonder why companies must toss in a bunch of ingredients that serve no purpose.
The first time I sprayed Burberry London it diminished rather quickly and I could only smell it when up close to the skin. The second time I sprayed on the hair of my forearm and it lasted a while. I'm assuming that if I spray on body hair and then put on my shirt that it will remain there for a long time. L'Anarchiste seems interesting. Anyway, would Opium be a good casual choice for someone in their early 20s? Seems a bit sophisticated from the description. Thanks for the suggestions.
I love L'Anarchiste *now*, but in the beginning I didn't get it and gave away my original bottle. Get a decent sized decant of it before you buy a full bottle, you may love it at first sniff or it may take some time to grow, but please don't make a full choice after one or two wearings.
Regarding Opium, try and find the Eau D'Orient EDT version from 2006,2007, or 2008. They are all lighter, fresher takes on the original that are meant for summer wear but work beautifully in the winter too. They also strike me as more 'casual' than the original Opium, more crisp, and less cloying. Definetely easier to pull off for a younger man.
If London doesn't last long for you but you still like the 'boozy' vibe, try John Varvatos Vintage. A scent in the same vein but a little drier, still perfect for winter. While you're at it, sniff out the original Varvatos too.
And as far as chemical exposure guys, many of the chemicals listed were preservants and enhancers that I believe help the scent go into aeorsol form easer. I think, I'd have to look them up though. The main thing is that the skin is actually tougher and more resistant that you give it credit for, and only minute amounts of any chemical there would actually be absorbed. You basically ingest far, far worse from food and inhale worse from walking outside in a city. Is there a risk from a fragrance? Sure, but it is so minimal compared to everything else or even by itself that I wouldn't worry about it. Also, don't think that the ingredient list on any fragrance is complete. They list 'parfum' as an ingredient, what does that tell us? Nothing at all, doesn't tell you which oils they used or even if they were synthetic or natural.
