Fran. Smalto, Salvador Dali, or Ted Lapidus?

The Salvador Dali is surealistic fragrance designed by an artist of the surealist genre. Check the notes. If he likes spice and incense this is the one I would go for and in fact I own this fragrance. Even the bottle is sureal.

I own all three and I'm very happy with them. I think the most versatile of them is the Francesco Smalto. After that I think the Ted Lapidus. The Dali is very good at what it does, but I find it a single track through the day and don't think it does much. I don't hesitate to wear it, and don't regret having it, but often by the end of the day I want to change into something else.

I really like the Smalto and Ted Lapidus for price, longevity, interest, complexity. The Lapidus is a bit thicker smelling so it feels more evening to me. That's why I say Smalto first of all.

Good ones to pick from!
--Chris

Very well put, and seconded by me.

I just got Salvador Dali (encouraged by the polarised reviews in the Reviews board). this scent is almost unreal. I have TL pour Homme and smelt the Smalto in the same shop i got the Dali, but was not too swayed. Nothing, IMO, (even Yatagan) comes close to this castoeum bomb in terms of starkness. You will need chutzpah to wear this though. On the other hand, maybe you will be endowed with a hairy(er) chest when you do As an aside, just last night i sprayed some on my hand and asked my wife to smell it, waiting with glee to see the look of shock and alarm on her face. She loved it!!!

I third the Salvador Dali PH.

I have two of them and would like to own Dali

Smalto is more formal and dry, Smalto is more sexy and romantic but also great for formal use

Yet another voice for Salvador Dali PH. If I had a cool young friend or nephew born in 1987 who liked woody, bold fragrances, I'd buy this for him in a heartbeat. It's a great fragrance in a super cool bottle and not nearly as scary as some of the reviews make it out to be. I love it and think it fits your description of what you want perfectly.

Ted Lapidus - longer lasting

Francesco Smalto, hands down.

Salvador Dali is the only one worth owning of the three, IMO. But none of them should be blind buys.

I kept smelling Salvador Dali for about three years, not knowing what to make of it, not knowing whether I even liked it or not.
Finally I bought, and I really do think it something special.
But it certainly took me a while, so I understand the mixed reaction to it.
Renato

Recommending Dali as a blind-buy for a newbie? Are you guys trying to lead him to the darkside? Unless you know what you're in for, I'd recommend Lapidus or Smalto which are more safe. We don't want our young ones messing with the dark stuff quite yet.

This is a really good question...you cant go wrong with Lapidus....or smalto these ones are amazing!!!! Try Ungaro 2 and Balenciaga as well!!!

One that would be an absolutely excellent candidate because of it's notoriety, excellence and rarity ... (Though, of course, because of those exact same things, I also very much doubt that you would actually be able to find a bottle anywhere) ... Would be Chanel's "Bois Noir" ! ....
Bois Noir was released in 1987 , but flopped and was soon retracted. It was then again rereleased (with a little light tweaking, but generally the same) in 1990 as Egoiste (L'Egoiste) ... and was a smashing hit ! ~ Stunning frag !
So my vote for an excellent "Birthyear Commemorative" frag goes to "Bois Noir" ... If only you could find one !? ... But happy hunting !!!

Then, if your spending could go a little "spendier" ... And you wanna go for more of a "famous" "classic". Then you could also go for the very woody ... Creed ~ "Bois du Portugal" ... also released 1987 ! ~ Very recognisable though !

From your choices : If ya like a slightly "greener" herby lavender/anise/mossy fougere ... then go for
~ Smalto ... (Personally I think this one's boring ! (But then fougere's aren't really my thing !)
Or if ya prefer something that you will never actually be able to decide if you actually like or not ??? Though certainly interesting ... and will certainly be noticed. & With the oddest best bottle out the lot !
~ Salvador Dali Pour Homme (It certainly is one "hell-o-va dark avant-garde" blend !)
Or, on the other hand ya really like Patchouli. Or Sandalwood ( a touch of leather), under a honeyed heart, and slightly odd fruity lemony/pineapple top ... Then I would go with the one I actually think is probably your safest "blind" choice ... the ~ Ted lapidus Pour Homme

Though I would really recommend sampling them all first ... for they really are all very different from one another.
But I do think the easiest one to wear for your age is probably the Ted Lapidus (But you really must like patchouli to enjoy it, otherwise steer well clear from it !)

You should indeed test Creed BdP when you get the chance.
To me, it's an okay scent, but I'd prefer Salvador Dali or Ted Lapidus to it any day (I'm in the minority here on this one).
Renato

perfaddict, are talking about the Ted Lapidus or the Dali here (i.e. the castoreum bomb)?

I must stress: Salvador Dali PH

Timkm1, PM me and I'll send you a mini of the SDPH so you too can be convinced