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Best Cheapo/Drugstore scents

post #1 of 62
5/20/09 at 8:04am
Thread Starter 
We're talking those scents in and amongst the deodorant cans, the aftershaves/EDTs that are usually under a fiver and not considered swankiy enough to be included in the designer frangrance sections.

Out of all the current available ones, I like quite a few and think they are up there with some of the designer frags but a fraction of the cost!

I'm a fan of Brut (obviously) and think it has it's charms, as does Brut Musk, and Brut Oceans. You can get these for easily under £5 although, they are an acquired taste.

Other ones I found that are actually very good, are Adidas Victory League (Got 3 bottles of this on Saturday at £1.49 a 50ml bottle... I think they might be getting discontinued since all the other Adidas frags were nearly £5 each), Lynx Africa, Lynx Instinct and Umbro Skill. They all last pretty well and smell very pleasing.

I don't mind Mandate, but it is a bit overpowering and I personally wouldn't buy it.

I did try on a variety on Saturday but was amazed at how expensive some of the 'cheapo scents' are. Jovan Musk, Old Spice, Old Spice Whitewater and Tabac Original were all nearer the £10 mark, with TO actually nearer £14!!! For that you could get a lower end designer like Versace Blue Jeans or CK1 and they are infinitely better scents IMHO. I really didn't like any of the ones I tried on Saturday, other than Victory League. Tabac was the worst one and the most expensive!!!

It's a big shame they no longer make/sell Addiction Spice Fire or the other Addiction scents from the 90s... they were actually VERY nice scents.

Seems they like discontinuing the good scents (old Lynx, Addiction etc.) but the vile ones (Tabac, Old Spice) live on.

FAIL.
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post #2 of 62
5/20/09 at 8:59am
cheapsmells.com and extrascents have good value and very cheaper for your favourite brand frag im sure.
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post #3 of 62
5/20/09 at 9:09am
You can get a 125ml bottle of Iceberg Twice Homme for about £5 in any supermarket and that's supposed to be quite a nice scent.

Versus Blue Jeans is another just under £10. I think Diesel Zero Plus was also cheap but has been discontinued.

I think a lot of fragrances get reduced in price, some by quite a margin, around special occasions such as fathers day, valentines day, christmas etc, and I managed to snag a bottle of Emporio Armani He for just over £15.
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post #4 of 62
5/20/09 at 9:19am
Cusson's Imperial Leather, though only available now in soap form, hss a great, classic scent (and it is cheap).
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post #5 of 62
5/20/09 at 9:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robbo1979 View Post

Seems they like discontinuing the good scents (old Lynx, Addiction etc.) but the vile ones (Tabac, Old Spice) live on.

Yes, the vile ones are like the un-dead. Impossible to kill.
Seriously, beyond Brut and Old Spice and perhaps the Pinauds, the US doesn't have a great tradition of 'drug store' brands like Europe and the UK. I once tried Sir Irisch Moos in Germany and loved it for what it is.
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post #6 of 62
5/20/09 at 10:42am
Give Avon a chance, you might find a surprise.
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post #7 of 62
5/20/09 at 11:08am
  • KMF
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Bigsly, please pick up the white courtesy phone...
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post #8 of 62
5/20/09 at 11:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMF View Post

Bigsly, please pick up the white courtesy phone...

LOL!

I would suggest Pinaud Clubman Special Reserve.
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post #9 of 62
5/20/09 at 11:35am
Ones I was able to get very cheap and I really like: Samba Heat for men, Samba Kiss Me for men, Jacomo Silver for men (tester was $12 for 100 ml), Rouge Royal (same price for tester), Francesco Smalto ($8 for 100 ml), Cuba Red ($12 for 125 ml), Escada's original for men should be cheap (40 ml), Jacomo Rouge ($12 or less for 100 ml tester), 101 by Giorgio Valenti (men's), FUBU Plush for men used to be cheap but is getting rare, so grab one if you can find one for $15 per 100 ml or so.
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post #10 of 62
5/20/09 at 11:36am
What about the prestigious (LOL) Addias Victory League? Not a masterpiece but, not bad for under $10.00 for 3.4oz. For less than $100.00 you could buy a Liters worth, enough for a lifetime.
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post #11 of 62
5/20/09 at 11:52am
If you can find it in a store, Jade East is still a very good old-school aromatic fougere. Easy to find online too. I bought a 4 oz. splash bottle a couple of years ago in a drugstore for $8.00. I really like it, particularly for its excellent drydown (top notes are a bit harsh, though).
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post #12 of 62
5/20/09 at 11:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by petruccijc View Post

LOL!

I would suggest Pinaud Clubman Special Reserve.


I'd second that, particularly if you like old-school barbershop-style fougeres.

Careful with some of the Pinauds, though. They make this totally disgusting brew called "Lilac Vegetal" which is the worst fragrance I have ever smelled. To quote a fellow BN'er, it smells like an abandoned gas station toilet with old piss encrusted on the side walls - with a bucket of old boiled corned beef and cabbage poured down the shitter.
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post #13 of 62
5/20/09 at 12:01pm
Nautica Original! I found it at Walmart for $12.00 for a 3.4 oz bottle.
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post #14 of 62
5/20/09 at 12:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shamu1 View Post

To quote a fellow BN'er, it smells like an abandoned gas station toilet with old piss encrusted on the side walls - with a bucket of old boiled corned beef and cabbage poured down the shitter.

That's VIVID!
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post #15 of 62
5/20/09 at 7:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruggles View Post

That's VIVID!


You'd know that it's also ACCURATE, if you've ever smelled Lilac Vegetal.
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post #16 of 62
5/20/09 at 7:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shamu1 View Post

You'd know that it's also ACCURATE, if you've ever smelled Lilac Vegetal.

That's assuming I have experienced a corned beef enriched men's room.
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post #17 of 62
5/20/09 at 8:03pm
Also, Witness, Horizon, One Man Show, and Everlast Original 1910.
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post #18 of 62
5/20/09 at 8:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shamu1 View Post

You'd know that it's also ACCURATE, if you've ever smelled Lilac Vegetal.

Agree, it's total freekin' road kill rotting on searing blacktop on a blistering summer day. Buzzards even pass on this one.

To be fair, Pinaud classic original is very nice, on the lines of Canoe and Brut but slightly better with EDT longevity.
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post #19 of 62
5/21/09 at 10:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by petruccijc View Post

LOL!

I would suggest Pinaud Clubman Special Reserve.

AND Pinaud's Bay Rum. Posssibly the best of the Bay Rum's.
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post #20 of 62
5/21/09 at 12:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Markymark View Post

Agree, it's total freekin' road kill rotting on searing blacktop on a blistering summer day. Buzzards even pass on this one.

To be fair, Pinaud classic original is very nice, on the lines of Canoe and Brut but slightly better with EDT longevity.


I don't agree with the "searing blacktop" comment - I think that a searing blacktop top note would make Lilac Vegetal more appealing. It would be nice complement to the pee pee heart note and the corned beef and cabbage base notes.
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post #21 of 62
5/21/09 at 2:31pm
Jovan White Musk for Men - Very classy for a drugstore fragrance.
Royal Copenhagen - My father swears by this -- he absolutely loves it.
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post #22 of 62
5/21/09 at 2:39pm
Personally I'm always amazed what you can get on ebay for not many dollars/pounds/euros. Surely there's no need to go down the Lynx route?
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post #23 of 62
5/21/09 at 9:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by atrac View Post

Jovan White Musk for Men - Very classy for a drugstore fragrance.
Royal Copenhagen - My father swears by this -- he absolutely loves it.


I agree that Royal Copenhagen is a great one. Very underrated floral musk, in a similar vein as Caron's Troisieme Homme.
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post #24 of 62
5/21/09 at 9:38pm
I actually rather like Murray & Lanman's Florida Water for under $5.
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post #25 of 62
5/21/09 at 10:38pm
So now I have to go out and try all the Adidas offerings? I'm going to save this outing for a rainy day.
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post #26 of 62
5/22/09 at 4:30am
  • MFJ
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I have to repeat on blue jeans - one of the cheapest and best designer frags out there....
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post #27 of 62
5/22/09 at 12:58pm
Adidas Moves,
Old Spice Fraiche. I find this one to be quite special and I would have to go to niche brands to find something similar.
Ungaro III
A couple of the Beckham scents.
Carlos Santana.
Aqua Velva and AV Musk are nice and the two best alcohol based AS out there.
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post #28 of 62
5/22/09 at 1:40pm
One of my favorite summer frags is Adidas Moves, so that gets my vote. Hvent tried Victory League yet, will try to do so soon. Brut isnt bad as well.
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post #29 of 62
5/22/09 at 3:26pm
I find notes in common between Avon's Black Suede and Dunhill for Men: the last one being more citrous-- like in the top notes and leatherish in the dry down. Black Suede is subtler, not so long lasting and lesser sillage.
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post #30 of 62
5/23/09 at 4:08am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dazhel View Post

Personally I'm always amazed what you can get on ebay for not many dollars/pounds/euros. Surely there's no need to go down the Lynx route?

Well some people may actually *like* the Lynx scents. I for one like the older Lynx scents, and the current crop isn't too bad either. Instinct is a grower, and Africa is a classic. Lynx did go real bad between 2000 and 2007 though IMHO.
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post #31 of 62
5/23/09 at 4:16am
For what it's worth, I've always thought there is something pleasant about Tabac Original (it has to be worn for a couple of hours for this to be true; the beginning is a little scary). And I think 99% of the Lynx/Axe scents are vile, but there have been a couple that are not too bad. I really like the Nivea scents for men, apart from the new silver deo (it smells really headache-inducing for me).

For girls, the Impulse body sprays are actually not bad at all (the nose is Ann Gottlieb). Some of the Creed feminine scents smell pretty much the same as Impulse.
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post #32 of 62
5/23/09 at 6:03am
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I got 200ml ck one and 200ml ck be for about 35-38++USD each. its cheap by my standards, where im from. how do they fare in the West?
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post #33 of 62
5/26/09 at 10:16am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by matthewfoo View Post

I got 200ml ck one and 200ml ck be for about 35-38++USD each. its cheap by my standards, where im from. how do they fare in the West?

In the UK I'd say they are a mid-range priced scent... certainly not in the cheapo/drugstore category the thread is discussing. To me, cheapo is anything under £10, which is why I was amazed when I saw a bottle of Tabac Original being sold commercially for just under £15!!!! For that sort of money you could get something NICE like CK1 or Blue Jeans!!
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post #34 of 62
5/26/09 at 12:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by richard d View Post

AND Pinaud's Bay Rum. Posssibly the best of the Bay Rum's.

If you like cloves, you'll love Pinaud's Bay Rum.

To me, Pinaud's Clubman Special Reserve is their best offering. An awesome leather opening followed by a sweet vanilla/amber drydown.
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post #35 of 62
5/26/09 at 12:51pm
Considering that you can pick up Curve for $12 at some places, I'll have to add it to the list.

I bought it the day it came out, and still wear it all the time. It's my all time fave, and no amount of GIT will convince me otherwise.
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post #36 of 62
5/26/09 at 2:14pm
i did try some ulric de varens today. couldn´t find an tester for ulric de varens man but from black, extreme and vip.

find black the best of them. longevity is really good on my skin. extreme was a little bit like rochas man and vip was also to sweet for me. Longevity of both was weak.
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post #37 of 62
5/26/09 at 3:38pm
I think we should all move to Italy where the drugstores sell things like Brummel. Honestly? One of the best things I've ever worn and according to Dry Martini it's around just about every corner and priced accordingly.
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post #38 of 62
5/27/09 at 10:49am
i did try today varens vip again and did buy varens for men 2004 (100 ml for 6 €)

vip is flowery and i think it have similarities with Narciso Rodriguez for Him & Dior homme. Longevity is better than yesterday and i find it today not so sweet.

Varens for men is an allrounder not very woody but soapy. Longevity is fine especially for 6 €.
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post #39 of 62
5/27/09 at 11:45pm
Excellent suggestions.
Cuba Gold(known to be similar to Le Male) is a very good cheapo frag. Available @ your local perfumania for $4.
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post #40 of 62
5/28/09 at 12:33am
Iceberg Twice pour homme
One Man Show - Bogart
Jovan Musk
Lomani for Men

All of the above can be had for around $10 for a full size bottle and I think they are amazing value for money.
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post #41 of 62
5/28/09 at 12:34am
Could also try Tonino Lamborghini Mitico & Feroce. ( 50 ml for 10 € ) am surprized. they smell much better than i expected. Longevity was also good enough.

Mitico is rochas man like sweet.

Did find Feroce similar to opium ph but woodier.

I am now surprized how Forza and the new Explosive are.
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post #42 of 62
5/28/09 at 12:50am
The only Axe/Lynx frag I've ever liked is Tsunami (not sure what the lynx version is called). As for non-aerosol frags, I really like Brut, Adidas Moves, and Adidas Deep Impact. Never tried that blue jeans scent though...
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post #43 of 62
5/28/09 at 5:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMF View Post

Bigsly, please pick up the white courtesy phone...

LOL.......He is da king of bargain basement frags for sure.

I have Tomorrow for Men by Avon which isn't half bad. It's in the same vein as Michael Kors.
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post #44 of 62
5/28/09 at 2:22pm
Old Spice and Tabacß the initial, "original" version of both. Some C&E frags are not bad either- although it remains debatable up to which extent Crabtree and Evelyn is still mass market.
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post #45 of 62
5/29/09 at 9:30am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gekko View Post

The only Axe/Lynx frag I've ever liked is Tsunami (not sure what the lynx version is called). As for non-aerosol frags, I really like Brut, Adidas Moves, and Adidas Deep Impact. Never tried that blue jeans scent though...

You should try Versace/Versus Blue Jeans... it's awesome value for money these days!! Good call with the mighty Brut! Seriously good value for money there.
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post #46 of 62
5/29/09 at 12:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robbo1979 View Post

You should try Versace/Versus Blue Jeans... it's awesome value for money these days!! Good call with the mighty Brut! Seriously good value for money there.

With my recently ordered Cacharel Pour Homme I got a sample of Van Gils V.
To me it smells like a better, less synthetic Versace Blue Jeans.
It almost smells identical at some stage, although the dry-down is better balanced with its wood and vanilla tones, whereas Versace Blue is all sweet vanilla till the end.

Not that I'm gonna buy bottle, I can't stand the smell of vanilla on my skin for longer than 10 minutes or so.

But for anyone looking for a cheaper Versace Blue Jeans, Van Gils V is a good one.
Versace's bottle is cooler though.
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post #47 of 62
5/29/09 at 3:40pm
Blue Seduction/Antonio Banderas/Puig
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post #48 of 62
5/29/09 at 4:20pm
Quote:
I am now surprized how Forza and the new Explosive are

I dont mind Forza. To me it smells like a mix of Versace Man Eau Fraiche and Adidas Moves. A bit lighter and doesnt last as long. Good for the price though.
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post #49 of 62
9/24/09 at 11:05am
Thread Starter 
Just acquired Faberge's Denim from cheapsmells today... looking forward to trying this old skool classic for the first time! Faberge always seemed to hit the right notes for me in the past so I'm holding high hopes with this one!
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post #50 of 62
9/24/09 at 11:38am
The first range of Lynx/Axe I remember been the best with oriental, musk, amber, spice all good cheap body sprays for their day. But the company did not know when it was on to a good thing as a lot since have been awful. Though they have redeemed themselves with a few good fragrances since those days.

And I do like the new bullet size deodorants that Lynx/Axe do, handy for when you are out and about.
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post #51 of 62
9/24/09 at 11:54pm
Thread Starter 
Spot on Jack. Voodoo ('99) was the last good one until Dark Temptation in 2008, followed by Instinct and Fever late last year/early this year.

Thankfully Africa seemed to be unique in avoiding the Lynx cull!
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post #52 of 62
9/25/09 at 8:56am
To follow up on Brut: one of the things that gets way overplayed is the reformulation. True, the orginal was more dimensional and richer. I have said this before: the original was better than Rive Gauche, IMO. But the current more linear scent esp. in the cologne is fine. Compartively and proportionately, it is closer to its original sense than Old Spice's reformulation, IMO. What also gets overplayed with Brut is overapplication. In my experience walking around, I have encountered far more overapplications of Old Spice. While I can recommend Old Spice, there are few scents worse in overapplication results than Old Spice which as a skin scent is fine, IMO, only using the cologne.

Will be putting on some Brut in just awhile...
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post #53 of 62
9/25/09 at 4:54pm
Canoe, 2 oz bottle is about 10 dollars. it's a great Classic. Pinauad Clubman After shave / EDC. very large bottle about 8 dollars, Also Clubman Special Reserve. Stetson, Aspen, English Leather, Brut.
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post #54 of 62
9/25/09 at 5:49pm
Haha yeah Avon ftw!
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post #55 of 62
9/26/09 at 3:39am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ortho123 View Post

Will be putting on some Brut in just awhile...

Good choice!

As for overapplication... if someone wants to over-do it with the application, I suggest getting the splash-on lotion of Brut since that is designed for liberal application. The aftershave only needs a small splash by comparison for a good effect, and the cologne, well that really only needs one of two sprays at most IMHO.
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post #56 of 62
9/26/09 at 3:41am
Brummel!

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post #57 of 62
9/26/09 at 6:04am
I think the most satisfying thing is getting a good cheapo. Of course, you strike out most of the time, but what will you do? All of the following are readily available for ten bucks or under.

Everlast Original 1910
Bod Body Heat
Axe Lab
Adidias Victory League
Cuba Gold/Red
Paris Hilton for Men
Just Me Paris Hilton for Men
Hummer H2
Zirh by Zirh
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post #58 of 62
9/26/09 at 6:37am
Another underrated drugstore/mass-market frag my be Pitralon classic (the green package, containing reportedly genuine, pure cedar oil) sadly almost unobtainable outside the German-speaking European countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), but once available, real good value for money, sharing some common notes with YSL pour Homme Concentree and even YSL Rive Gauche, all this at only 3-5 Euros the 100 ml EDT bottle.
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post #59 of 62
9/27/09 at 1:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ortho123 View Post

To follow up on Brut: one of the things that gets way overplayed is the reformulation. True, the orginal was more dimensional and richer. I have said this before: the original was better than Rive Gauche, IMO.

I've heard people rave about Rive Gauche on here so tried it today for the first time. I thought it was awful. Dated and too feminine... and by feminine, I'm talking something my dear old Nan would have worn. Brut, even in it's current form is miles ahead of this over-priced out-dated scent of fail.

Ooops, think I may have just opened a can of worms! LOL

Back on topic... acquired one of the new ADDICTION scents today for a couple of quid.... Addiction Fever.... it's not bad. Well worth the cheap price. When Addiction was owned by Faberge, they had some awesome scents (especially Spice Fire) but I can't stand the new ones (especially the red one "with pheromones") but this one is at least okay.
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post #60 of 62
9/30/09 at 6:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robbo1979 View Post

I've heard people rave about Rive Gauche on here so tried it today for the first time. I thought it was awful. Dated and too feminine... and by feminine, I'm talking something my dear old Nan would have worn. Brut, even in it's current form is miles ahead of this over-priced out-dated scent of fail.

Ooops, think I may have just opened a can of worms! LOL

Back on topic... acquired one of the new ADDICTION scents today for a couple of quid.... Addiction Fever.... it's not bad. Well worth the cheap price. When Addiction was owned by Faberge, they had some awesome scents (especially Spice Fire) but I can't stand the new ones (especially the red one "with pheromones") but this one is at least okay.

Let me add some worms...

...the current Brut I also like better than Rive Gauche...with the patchouli in RG somehow either downplayed (ignored) or highlighted by its admirers.
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