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The Most Overrated/Underrated Fragrance

post #1 of 78
Thread Starter 
I guess in this post I wanted everyone to let loose and post the fragrance they think is the most overrated or overrated for that matter as well

to me Knize Ten I feel is pretty overrated
post #2 of 78
For me it has to be Terre d'Hermès it just never did a thing for me.
post #3 of 78
post #4 of 78
LOL, nsamadi read my mind
post #5 of 78
All you're going to get is a list of crap or unpopular frags (or the ones popular for hating because Luca Turin says so) being underrated and a list of popular and/or very good frags being overrated.

So I'll say Tommy Bahama for one and Light Blue Pour Homme for the other. You decide which is which.
post #6 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by PorkFat View Post

All you're going to get is a list of crap frags being underrated and a list of popular and/or very good frags being overrated.

So I'll say Tommy Bahama for one and Light Blue Pour Homme for the other. You decide which is which.

Based on your comment on the "Tommy Bahama" thread I'm gonna guess Tommy Bahama is overrated and Light blue is underrated. I completely agree that Light Blue is underrated, it's my favorite cologne.
post #7 of 78
Well, it's always refreshing to restart an already existing thread cause time can change one's perception.

Overrated- Encre Noir

Underrated- Marc Jacob for men
post #8 of 78
Perhaps on this thread we can define our terms more precisely. I'd say we should stick to BNers' opinions, and not take cost into account. For example, Adidas Victory League is not under-rated. Some BNers don't like it but more than half seem to think it's fairly good and well worth the price. Another thing, though I can't stand GIT, I won't say it's over-rated, because I can understand why others like it. So, what then can be said to be over or under-rated? I'd say at least some of the Etro frags are under-rated, in that they don't get talked about much here, yet are very well done. I'd say some clearly unbalanced niche frags are over-rated. Here, I agree with LT in that many are little more than "bases." However, this may be appropriate on a web site called "BaseNotes" ! LOL.
post #9 of 78
Thread Starter 
another one I could not get out of my mind is
Guerlain Vetiver
geez way overrated
post #10 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by dynastyd95 View Post

Based on your comment on the "Tommy Bahama" thread I'm gonna guess Tommy Bahama is overrated and Light blue is underrated. I completely agree that Light Blue is underrated, it's my favorite cologne.

I think he was saying TB is underrated and Light Blue Overrated...
post #11 of 78
I think Aqva Marine by Bvlgary is way over-rated. It's just a plain "deja vu" copy cat of Aqua di Gio only with better longevity and neither smell good!
post #12 of 78
Overrated- Eau d'Orange Verte
post #13 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by jasonx View Post

I think Aqva Marine by Bvlgary is way over-rated. It's just a plain "deja vu" copy cat of Aqua di Gio only with better longevity and neither smell good!

Where is Marine overrated? On BN it's getting slammed in the reviews.
post #14 of 78
I have never understood why Creed GIT has so many lovers.
post #15 of 78
Sounds awfully too subjective (i.e. I love Knize Ten and hate Light Blue Pour Homme). Also, whose ratings are we considering? I can't really speak to how basenotes rates things because I'm too new, but I know from general chatter what does and doesn't get credit. There are too many fragrances 'underrated' to ever list. Most feminines before 1970, for example, don't get nearly the attention they deserve for their exemplary beauty. Lancome Balafre is sorely underrated, as are most Etat Libre fragrances. Most fragrances by Creed (but certainly not all) are way overrated, as are most fragrances by Le Labo. Armani fragrances aren't well thought of and they are still overrated. Polo original is underrated. There are more for sure.
post #16 of 78
I have developed too much respect for the differences that exist in the way members here appreciate perfume to list what I think is overrated... no one wins. Who's to say my pet fragrance loves aren't considered WAY overrated by others.

It's allright to assert that you find a particular accord underwhelming, this is what this forum's about. Branding a fragrance or a whole product line as overrated brings other members whole judgement in question. It's too personal.

To answer the OP I think that Cacharel pour l'Homme is underrated.
post #17 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by gupts View Post

I have never understood why Creed GIT has so many lovers.

Me neither
post #18 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by gupts View Post

I have never understood why Creed GIT has so many lovers.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Amit View Post

Me neither

Ditto!

Underrated: Devin and Lauder for men
post #19 of 78
Overrated - Chanel Pour Monsieur & Dior Eau Sauvage

Underrated - Hermes Rocabar
post #20 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by dynastyd95 View Post

Based on your comment on the "Tommy Bahama" thread I'm gonna guess Tommy Bahama is overrated and Light blue is underrated. I completely agree that Light Blue is underrated, it's my favorite cologne.

Bingo. But as said earlier in this thread, the whole fragrance world is subjective and people take things personally and sometimes way too seriously. And that another person in this thread took my first comment to be opposite from what you think, you see my point?
post #21 of 78
I know of an underrated fragrance that's rarely talked about here (that I actually own)... but I'd rather keep it to myself...
post #22 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by PorkFat View Post

Bingo. But as said earlier in this thread, the whole fragrance world is subjective and people take things personally and sometimes way too seriously. And that another person in this thread took my first comment to be opposite from what you think, you see my point?

You are so right! The reactions to comments I have made in the past have actually put me off commenting on highly rated scents I don't like. I m talking about verbal abuse here.
post #23 of 78
overrated = GIT, Rive gauche , Kouros
post #24 of 78
over - AdG, CH 212 Men
under - Diesel Fuel for Life, Narciso Rodriguez for Him
post #25 of 78
Remove the blinders people this is all a marketing ploy.....
post #26 of 78
It's one thing to say one scent is horrible.
It's another thing to say there are stupid people here, who even love this scent.
Just my opinion regarding this question.
post #27 of 78
Overrated: GIT, TdH
Underrated: Versace Black jeans, Bulgari Aqua Marine
post #28 of 78
Don't get me started. Too many. I'll concur with already mentioned Pour Monsour, Eau Sauvage, GIT, RV, definitely Guerlain Vetiver, etc, etc, etc. Dior Homme, etc, HR, on and one all night. One note of contention though is AdG because it is seldom praised and so often trashed. AdG is underrated.
post #29 of 78
Definitely "Creed - GIT" as stated above.

That and all of the John Varvatos fragrances. I have read so many comments about these smelling "unique" and "different". I must be missing something, because to me they come off as smelling like your typical "fresh" designer fragrance with little innovation or originality.

For underrated I'm going to have to say Hotel Costes. I rarely see this one being mentioned on these boards.
post #30 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by IKL View Post

For underrated I'm going to have to say Hotel Costes. I rarely see this one being mentioned on these boards.

Agreed.
post #31 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by IKL View Post

For underrated I'm going to have to say Hotel Costes. I rarely see this one being mentioned on these boards.

After smelling it, I'll never stay there. Repugnant spices, smells like the kitchen staff got into a "food fight" and had a smoke afterwards and the scent traveled through the ventilation shafts.
post #32 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigdogsleeping View Post

For me it has to be Terre d'Hermès it just never did a thing for me.

I second that ...
post #33 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by SirSlarty View Post

Repugnant spices, smells like the kitchen staff got into a "food fight" and had a smoke afterwards and the scent traveled through the ventilation shafts.

Sounds nice to me. I'm usually into the raunchy stuff.
post #34 of 78
I'd like to quote several of the replies to this thread and comment on each of them individually but I don't have all night. But I do recall hearing and reading over and over again in books and on this website that we wear them because we enjoy them regardless of their implied gender, season, or whatever. So, I'm going to ignore all of your comments about fragrances I'm familiar with (I'll consider the comments on fragrances I am NOT familiar with though!) and put my two cents in:

Underrated: AdG - why? because although I'm a newbie at fragrances, this one was one of my favorites right from the start, even before I read any of the hype or discredits from BNers, before LT gave it only 2 stars, and before I found out it was the best-selling fragrance six years in a row. I have absolutely no problems with longevity and I love the cedary drydown. I'll include in this Unbound for men, because at $10, it's not a dead-ringer but a close second to AdG.

Underrated: l'Eau d'Issey (didn't do anything for me at all), Gucci pour homme II (blech! and it took days of scrubbing to go away), and finally, GIT, yes, I agree with many of you (or I just don't get it) but I've several others that smell just as good (if not better!) for considerably less money.
post #35 of 78
Most underrated fragrance (especially on Basenotes): SEAN JOHN - I AM KING.

iT'S ACTUALLY QUITE GOOD!

post #36 of 78
Well, GIT seems to me to just be liked by a large % of BNers. I don't like it at all, but I can't recall many threads where BNers who do like it argue that it's so much better than other frags, except of course the ones that are similar, like Cool Water. On the other hand, I do get the impression that a frag like Guerlain's Vetiver is considered by many BNers to be "on another level." Anyone else have this same feeling?
post #37 of 78
Ultraviolet Man by Paco Rabanne is underrated
post #38 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elgar Place View Post

Most underrated fragrance (especially on Basenotes): SEAN JOHN - I AM KING.

iT'S ACTUALLY QUITE GOOD!


Yes it is a great scent. But since the fact it is a rip off from Creed, it's hard to be accepted by the large.
post #39 of 78
OVER RATED:
GIT, POUR MONSIEUR, KNIZE TEN, CUIRON, ALL FREDERIC MALLE, ALL DIPTYQUE, TERRE D' HERMES, GUERLAIN VETIVER, ANY BOND NO. 9, BULGARI AQUA, BURBERRY FRAGRANCES, ORMANDE JAYNE FRAGRANCES,

UNDER RATED:
MOST AZZARO, ALL LESNEZ, ALL FARMACIA SS ANUNZIATA, BAUME DU DOGE EAU D'ITALIE, MPG EAU D ILES, MORABITO OR BLACK, ALL ETAT LIBRE D' ORANGE, CDG HINOKI, WODE BY BOUDICCA, AMAZE by POTL.
post #40 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by ImpalaSS View Post

Yes it is a great scent. But since the fact it is a rip off from Creed, it's hard to be accepted by the large.

I like Creed frags for their depth and complexity, but what makes I AM KING so pleasant is that it's much lighter and not as heavy as the Creeds. Some might call this a rip-off, but there are times that one doesn't necessarily want to wear a heavy, intense cologne.
post #41 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by IKL View Post

Definitely "Creed - GIT" as stated above.

That and all of the John Varvatos fragrances. I have read so many comments about these smelling "unique" and "different". I must be missing something, because to me they come off as smelling like your typical "fresh" designer fragrance with little innovation or originality.

For underrated I'm going to have to say Hotel Costes. I rarely see this one being mentioned on these boards.

I used to own the original Varvatos and just saying that I haven't come across another fragrance with dates yet, although I haven't smelled more than 100 fragrances. Its not at all fresh if you ask me.
post #42 of 78
Thread Starter 
an underrated fragrance to me is
Quorum
this stuff is just amazing
post #43 of 78
yatagan, i just dont get it
post #44 of 78
Underrated: Davidoff Adventure

A really unique combination of notes and quite spicy. Distinct phases of mate, sesame seeds, cinnamon (allspice, actually), and cedar, along with a great lemony peppery opening. Like L'Anarchiste, this one is perfect for fall.
post #45 of 78
Referring to Buzzlepuff underrated list-

MORABITO OR BLACK?

er... I thought this one has been praised so often and held in high esteem that I automatically seek out for this in the shop. But hard to find here.
post #46 of 78
I believe Rive Gauche is overrated with all of these great reviews but I still find it to be a decent fragrance. Azzaro Now Men is underrated and I want to get a bottle as soon as I can. It seems like some reviewers for this wanted to give it a positive but instead gave the wrong rating by reading the review.
post #47 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by jasonx View Post

I think Aqva Marine by Bvlgary is way over-rated. It's just a plain "deja vu" copy cat of Aqua di Gio only with better longevity and neither smell good!

ditto..I recall mentioning the exact same thing quite sometime back in another thread, glad im not alone on this. weirdly i have both of them in my cooler, one was a gift mistaken to be aqua ph, the adg has been ard for almost 2 years and still 3/4 full.


under rated: grey flannel
post #48 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by xmen View Post

Referring to Buzzlepuff underrated list-

MORABITO OR BLACK?

er... I thought this one has been praised so often and held in high esteem that I automatically seek out for this in the shop. But hard to find here.

To me a fragrance is underrated if no shops stocks it, and do not choose to sell it, and very few people buy it. OR Black has been talked up by a couple of people on Basenotes, probably mostly because it is overlooked. But how many people even on Basenotes have ever tried it? How many have it in there wardrobe? I can't find it in any shops in the U.S. at all! To me those are signs it's pretty underrated and off the radar generally speaking. These are all opinions anyway - UNDERRATED!
post #49 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by ImpalaSS View Post

Yes it is a great scent. But since the fact it is a rip off from Creed, it's hard to be accepted by the large.

It is NOT a ripoff of Creed, that is Unforgivable. And, no, I do not agree, I am King, is straight garbage.
post #50 of 78
Overrated- Fuel for Men, L'eau d'Issey, L'Homme, Piper Nigrum, Terre d'Hermes, Knize 10, C&S no. 88, Vetiver Extraordinaire, The Majority of the Penhaligons Line (except for Racquets and Castile), Most of the L'Artisan Line

Underrated- Idole de Lubin, Green Valley, Garrigue, Vetiver Pour Elle, Cuir Ottoman, Hugh Parsons Blue, Gendarme, Vetiver Babylone, Magnolia Romano, En Passant, The M.Micallef Line, Bleecker Street
post #51 of 78
Underrated: anything I like.
Overrated: anything I don't like.
post #52 of 78
Underrated- ....The M.Micallef Line...[/QUOTE]

Grievously so

Over-Rated: Terre d'Hermes,
post #53 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by dpak View Post

Underrated: anything I like.
Overrated: anything I don't like.

Perfect!
post #54 of 78
^ yes that about sums it up
post #55 of 78
Strange how some classics are being listed here as underated. I mean, they are considered CLASSICS, right ? What more do you want ?
post #56 of 78
underated-------> ZINO
post #57 of 78
Terre d'Hermes is so overrated it's becoming underrated...
post #58 of 78
over-rated: Dior Homme and Terre D'Hermes

under-rated: YSL L'Homme, Burberry Touch
post #59 of 78
Over-rated: Heritage and Silver Mountain Water.

Under-rated: Dark Amber & Ginger Lily and Vanisia.
post #60 of 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMF View Post

Terre d'Hermes is so overrated it's becoming underrated...

eh... what do you mean?
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