Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › What Review has Sold You?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

What Review has Sold You?

post #1 of 36
3/17/09 at 10:24am
Thread Starter 
Was there a review that you read here on BN that just turned you on to a scent or pushed you from the edge into buying it?

Or one that just stuck with you?

This one worked for me, no names, you can guess the scent:

"i thought i was ready for this.... after reading all of the reviews i could get my hands on, after studying all of the dynamic nuances of various vetivers, after attending lamaze classes to learn the correct breathing techniques, i really thought i was ready for this... i wasn't... there is absolutely nothing in my advanced vocabulary to accurately depict this fragrance... this is the earth turned inside out and smacked with liquid nitrogen... this is what it smells like at the event horizon of a black hole... this is the coldest, dryest, most intriguing thing i've ever had the opportunity to smell, and i haven't even decided yet if i have the fortitude to wear it... but i love it... thumbs up for absolutely changing my swollen paradigms of what a fragrance can be..."
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 36
3/17/09 at 10:33am
man
thats a monster review lol!
but I still dont know what it is
but I will tell you it has to be some sort of vetiver fragrance
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 36
3/17/09 at 10:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hasupk@gmail.com View Post

man
thats a monster review lol!
but I still dont know what it is
but I will tell you it has to be some sort of vetiver fragrance

Encre Noir
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 36
3/17/09 at 10:52am
oh wow
I still have an unused unopened bottle at home.....
what am I doing
(leaves finals to try it on)
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 36
3/17/09 at 11:14am
Whenever I read reviews, I check if foetidus has written one... I find his writing clear and analysis complete. You can tell he's taken the time to get to know the fragrance and (I assume) how to convey his experience in writing. He also separates out his own personal taste from the quality of the fragrance itself, which is something not enough reviewers do. I can't say there's any one review that's sold me on buying a fragrance, but I've ordered many a sample based on his reviews.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 36
3/17/09 at 11:24am
In the first few months of my discovering this "hobby," I did buy several "cheapos" based upon recommendations, mostly in the BN directory. Some sites give you free shipping if you spend a certain amount ($59, $75, or $100 are common), so it worked out well. I've sold or swapped off just about all the ones I didn't like. I would advise newbies not to buy expensive frags just based upon anyone's review. Instead, get a sample. BNers like myself have a lot of them to swap or sell. I usually charge $1 or $1.5, unlike the sites that charge a minimum of $5, if the person has nothing I want in a swap (I'd much rather swap).
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 36
3/17/09 at 11:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bbBD View Post

Whenever I read reviews, I check if foetidus has written one... I find his writing clear and analysis complete. You can tell he's taken the time to get to know the fragrance and (I assume) how to convey his experience in writing. He also separates out his own personal taste from the quality of the fragrance itself, which is something not enough reviewers do. I can't say there's any one review that's sold me on buying a fragrance, but I've ordered many a sample based on his reviews.

He's a Godsend!

I do the same thing, I also check for Vilbert.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 36
3/17/09 at 11:57am
i completely trust reviews by Pluran (not many left, but i still remember some of them from the time i had joined)

for eg.




The review is for Ava Luxe Rasa Extreme by pluran

Notes:
Indian Musk
Kenya Musk
Skin Musk
Egyptian Musk
Peru Balsam
Ambergris
Civet
Orris Root
Russian Rose

It's a sublime fragrance. The general scent is similar to Muscs Koublai Khan, though Rasa Extreme is less oriental, even more animalic, with better sillage and longevity. It’s clearly superior to MKK in all respects really. Perceptions led me to believe that Ava Luxe fragrances wouldn't be that good. I was wrong. Rasa Extreme is complex with tremendous presence, and evolves for the duration of the scent, which is a strong twelve hours or more. Although it's heavily animalic, the creamy, luscious core (with a good dose of Peru Balsam) allows it to be worn in any situation without wondering whether or not someone will think you smell like a goat. It’s the best animalic/musk fragrance I’ve ever worn and I’m blown away by how accurate it is.

This is a great one. I love to smell it on my girlfriend (makes me want to rip her pants off and get all in it), but I also like wearing it myself.

If you like em animalic with loads of prime musk, this is the paragon of that category. The only way you’ll know is to get on it. All you need is a small sample.

This review is for the EDP. I’m goin nuts thinkin about the Parfum
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 36
3/17/09 at 1:17pm
I've bought a few Guerlain's blind, due to Mr. Guerlain's reviews.

I bought Purple Water by Asprey because of the review by the_good_life.

Many more, I'm probably forgetting...
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 36
3/17/09 at 1:59pm
In most cases I'll read the reviews and actually start having second thoughts, even if there are.. 50 positives and 3 negatives with a few neutrals.

But in spite of my reluctance to purchase Bois du Portugal I think the reviews and praise it receives here reinforced my desire to purchase a full bottle.

And I'd also like to give a shout out to Vibert, Foetidus, Odysseum and many others who have submitted so many wonderful reviews. Basenotes is a community with so much talent!
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 36
3/17/09 at 2:01pm
I don't know that any reviews have specifically lead me to purchase a fragrance, but before I buy a bottle, I ALWAYS check out the comments here.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 36
3/17/09 at 2:04pm
Burberry Touch
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 36
3/17/09 at 2:16pm
The better reviews often fall into one of two categories, the technical and the emotional. Foetidus provides us with a forensic analysis of the fragrance, detailing each nuance and stage meticulously. This is an invaluable tool when considering the merits of any given fragrance. Then there is the emotional, the reviewers reaction to the sample, and again this is a useful counterbalance to the technical review. Often this is done with humour, and this can have a tremendous impact. What you do get on Basenotes is a good balance of views from almost every perspective.

There are many reviewers on Basenotes who I consider to be better judges than messrs Turin and Burr. The esteemed gentlemen maybe be very good writers, but I do not feel that they are anywhere near as impartial as some of the reviewers here.

The only type of review that I find worthless is the kind I saw recently comparing Fendi Uomo to Gorilla piss. Unless I am Diane Fossey, this is not terribly constructive.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 36
3/17/09 at 2:25pm
Reviews have compelled me to give some scrubbers a second chance. Asha's my go-to girl since she's got the most complete descriptions and weighs opinion and quality well. Nostalgie, an_oud_girl, ubuandibeme, are also great for many female frags. JaimeB and Odysseusm are all-around well-respected opinions, with noses for quality!

Thanks to everybody that puts serious thought and effort into those reviews. It enriches the whole BN community.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 36
3/17/09 at 2:34pm
I too, love that review of EN, and it really is spot on. The scent is truly a masterpiece, and completely perfect in every way.

Edit: Another thing that I have finally figured out, is to find some other BN'ers whose tastes match closely with yours, and follow their reviews. It has helped me greatly.
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 36
3/17/09 at 2:37pm
Well, yes: reviews on Rochas Lui (RL) made my try it and buy it on the spot. The mention of smell - alike scents in RL's reviews made me try them.

I usually look for Foetidus' and Pluran's reviews since I like technical views. On the other hand, I share Odysseum's and The Good Life's tastes. So basically, I tend to look for reviews by them. I can say I am quite influenced by them.

EDIT: Inselaffe mentions technical and emotional reviews, I look for the first ones since emotions are too personal. However, I can not agree more with his dislikes with unconstructive reviews, specially those stating facts like "this is, for sure, horrible: it is smells like gorilla piss". Guess the challenge is to look for the reasons why you choose some scents and not others, and at least do some effort when it comes to exercise your olfactory skills and the capability for being critical.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 36
3/17/09 at 3:03pm
I was just thinking about this. I think a lot of you right good reviews. I was sold on Live Jazz based on the reviews but I found that frag unwearable.

No offense to anyone else here on BN, because, like I said, a lot of you write good reviews and I am glad that so many of you do write reviews however, whenever I read about a frag, I always first read Vibert's review.

As far as any specific one, I can't think of one that has turned me to buy a frag. I always have to sample first.
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 36
3/17/09 at 3:12pm
Pasha's review of Versace Man sold me. Also the reviews and differing opinions of Kouros got me interested and I bought it blind. It's one of my favorites.
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 36
3/17/09 at 4:26pm
"For some reason ( boredom maybe) I decided to try it yesterday. Since I figured I was going to dislike it, I applied a microscopic amount on my wrist. I remember thinking "How can ALL THAT SMELL come from such a tiny amount"??? An instantaneous assault of patchouli,vetiver and civet that was IMPRESSIVE to say the least and made me say "DAMN!!!' out loud."

This is why I bought Gentleman....thanks for the great reviews!
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 36
3/17/09 at 4:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by scentaddiction View Post

"For some reason ( boredom maybe) I decided to try it yesterday. Since I figured I was going to dislike it, I applied a microscopic amount on my wrist. I remember thinking "How can ALL THAT SMELL come from such a tiny amount"??? An instantaneous assault of patchouli,vetiver and civet that was IMPRESSIVE to say the least and made me say "DAMN!!!' out loud."

This is why I bought Gentleman....thanks for the great reviews!

I believe that is AromiErotici....a fine example of a free thinking Basenoter. It is always a pleasure to find his reviews when i am researching a sample. One of many good reviewers here
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 36
3/17/09 at 4:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inselaffe View Post

I believe that is AromiErotici....a fine example of a free thinking Basenoter. It is always a pleasure to find his reviews when i am researching a sample. One of many good reviewers here

He is a great asset to the community...plus I think he is a citizen of Big Sky Country, where I grew up. He must have good taste....
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 36
3/17/09 at 6:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by scentaddiction View Post

"For some reason ( boredom maybe) I decided to try it yesterday. Since I figured I was going to dislike it, I applied a microscopic amount on my wrist. I remember thinking "How can ALL THAT SMELL come from such a tiny amount"??? An instantaneous assault of patchouli,vetiver and civet that was IMPRESSIVE to say the least and made me say "DAMN!!!' out loud."

This is why I bought Gentleman....thanks for the great reviews!

This one did it for me too. I had to go to Sephora and sample it - then bought it happily.
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 36
3/17/09 at 9:35pm
I love reading, and learning, from the many insightful reviews written by Vibert and bbBD. I have bought many frags blind, and without regrets, based on anything endorsed by foedidus and Asha. A special nod to Asha who has submitted some of the interesting and spot-on frag-to-frag comparison reviews, even on men's scent. Way to go, girl!
Reply
Reply
post #24 of 36
3/17/09 at 9:57pm
Scentemental's review of Opôné. I had Opôné on my 'maybe' list but his outstanding review sealed the deal. I ordered a bottle within a few hours of reading his review for the first time. Opôné has been a favorite since.
Reply
Reply
post #25 of 36
3/18/09 at 1:43am
There are several reviewers who have started to review in the past year or two who are doing exceptional jobs with their reviews - impressive. Not only do they make me want to try out the unfamiliar fragrances they talk about, their reviews can even send me to my already reviewed samples which they have convinced me to try again. I won't name names because I'm sure to forget one or two names and that would be embarrassing. But their excellent reviews are showing up more and more frequently.

In fact, just today another new reviewer who shows a lot of promise has shown up.
Reply
Reply
post #26 of 36
3/18/09 at 2:12am
As everyone has said, yes! There are several reviews that have driven me headlong into buying a scent. Blind. And like everyone I do tend to seek out certain reviewers because I've developed a great respect for their writing skills and their ability to describe a fragrance so beautifully. Like foetidus just said, I won't name names because I'd be sure to leave someone out.

Whenever I contemplate purchasing a certain fragrance I always check out the words of my favourite reviewers. In the short time I've been here I've discovered a handful who 'share my nose' (what a thought!). Only once have I been disappointed... with Arpege.
Reply
Reply
post #27 of 36
3/18/09 at 2:17am
Thread Starter 
I enjoy reading them and building a picture of it in my head. From the Cartier Declaration L'Essence reviews I swear to you when I smelt a sample of it it matched what I had built up. The strange thing was I have limited experience in actual lone scents like vetiver, sandalwood and musk. I built the idea of the scent based on the metaphorical and emotional descriptions.

When I gain a small olfactory cache of singular scents I will be able to build a slightly extensive pyramid from the more technical descriptions and the notes listed. That's when I will appreciate the guys with +400 reviews who tend to use the industry jargon. Also there is someone who has started giving the scent a x.x/10 which I find slightly more helpful then the thumbs up, down system. Of course it all subjective but there's some that scrape into good and there is some that are above thumbs up you know.

Also I find myself questioning what makes a thumbs down scent. For example Eau Sauvage, despite my owning it, it is undeniably a classic. When you rate a scent how can you decide something like ES is actually a 'thumbs down' scent. If you can or cannot see yourself wearing it is one thing, but separating it from being a marketed scent by Dior and purely experiencing it as a smell. Smelling the transition through the notes. It doesn't deserve the reputation as a bad scent. But yet it gets a thumbs down? It bewilders me.
Reply
Reply
post #28 of 36
3/18/09 at 2:43am
yay!!! as the proud (blush) author of that review for Encre Noir, I am extremely humbled to have even been put up there with the likes of Foetidus, Vibert, and Aromaerotici... for me it is akin to a baseball player in his rookie year being compared to ted williams or babe ruth... in the past year i have fallen in love with olfactory stimulation, and writing reviews is a wonderful form of expression that might hopefully encourage (or discourage) my fellow basenoters in the quests for their perfect scent... also if i could leave my two "scents" it would be to put sirslarty up there at the top also due to his affable yet intelligent take on more fragrances than i could ever dream of sampling... thank you all so much for providing me with my new addiction!
Reply
Reply
post #29 of 36
3/18/09 at 5:14am
Whenever I read reviews, Jaime or Mr. Guerlain tend to be the ones I look for. I like to know a lot about the history of a fragrance, and Mr. Guerlain has loads of background knowledge when it comes to scents. I find Jaime's analysis of fragrances to be very clear and detailed, especially for a guy like me who is just beginning to notice "notes" as my collection of fragrance samples becomes larger.
Reply
Reply
post #30 of 36
3/18/09 at 11:15am
Tvlampboy's review of Tocade was spot-on. I read it while preparing to write my own lil review of it, already knowing I like it alot. Reading his, though, made anything I had to add superfluous. He described it perfectly.

Jenson's review of Mukhallat made me completely rethink that fragrance. It still doesn't work for me, but it did open my mind. Priceless!
Reply
Reply
post #31 of 36
3/19/09 at 12:30am
sweet jesus! Thanx Sunnyfunny! you have no idea how much that means to me..
Reply
Reply
post #32 of 36
3/19/09 at 5:37am
There are truly some pretty terrific reviewers in this community for male fragrances. I didn't realize when I joined last year just how good, but as I get to know scents and learn, it's apparent there's an array of folks with their own style and penchants.

I have purchased alot of fragrances in the last year and numerous buys were blind from reviews. If I'm looking a "modern" scent, I'll see if Slarty has a review. The classics I look for Vibert or foetidus.....but these are just to name a few.

Jenson and Dimitrios for powerbombs. Eclectic I look for TwoRoads. Scentemental's are in depth and spot on.

Of course I'm leaving folks out, but not to slight them in any way. There's too many experienced members who submit accurate reviews. This is why basenotes is where I come for info in lieu of googling "The Professional writers".
Reply
Reply
post #33 of 36
3/19/09 at 11:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AromiErotici View Post

...Of course I'm leaving folks out, but not to slight them in any way. There's too many experienced members who submit accurate reviews. This is why basenotes is where I come for info in lieu of googling "The Professional writers".

Of course, some of us here are professional writers - just in other fields.

(Of course you'd never know it from my typooos and spelling gaffes. Perhaps professionals rely too much on copy editors. )
Reply
Reply
post #34 of 36
3/19/09 at 11:25am
i alwasy PM AromiE and check his latest findings on vintage/unknown scents. his inputs are inspiring and so are his passionate and humble reviews which are straight to the point.. :wave:
Reply
Reply
post #35 of 36
3/19/09 at 3:29pm
Not a review of any particular scent, more the style of almost an review by Naed_Nitram, I mean, speaking in an objective way, without any form of neither praise nor criticism towards him, his fragrance reviews have often influenced me in many more ways than any other factor in noticing a scent and, often, buying it.
Reply
Reply
post #36 of 36
3/19/09 at 4:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken_Russell View Post

Not a review of any particular scent, more the style of almost an review by Naed_Nitram, I mean, speaking in an objective way, without any form of neither praise nor criticism towards him, his fragrance reviews have often influenced me in many more ways than any other factor in noticing a scent and, often, buying it.

My favorite of his: Monsieur Rochas (which I now own and love!)

"Everybody's favourite uncle, so his niece Clothilde once observed, he bore the marks of a superb distinction, impeccable taste and rumours of royal connections. Yet he was the most modest of men and possessed of such quiet warmth and charm that you could hardly help but bask in his amiable presence.
Ladies always smiled at him, men acknowledged him respectfully, children felt comforted by his gentle shadow. His symbolic colours, despite that pink and delicate hue, murmured of soft browns flecked with warm tints of gold. His smell: smooth and kindly harmony of reserved herbs and spices, soapy and clean, full of gentleness, nobility and depth.
As his housekeeper so frequently reminded me: 'Ah, that Monsewer Rochas, wot a gent! We'll never see his like again!'
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: MFD Archive
Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › What Review has Sold You?