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Between these two, which would you pick?

post #1 of 42
Thread Starter 
Would you rather wear a cologne that has amazing top notes but has kind of mediocre or lame base notes, or would you rather wear a cologne that has kind of meh top notes but amazing base notes, which one would you wear? There are specific colognes I'm talking about but just in the general sense I want to know what you think.
post #2 of 42
I'd rather have amazing base notes. I'm not nuts about most fragrances' top notes.
post #3 of 42
I think I'd vote for the basenote on this one. It seems to me that top notes don't last as long as the basenote phase so I'd rather have the highlight of the fragrance for the longest duration :P
post #4 of 42
Simple, the latter for me, if I had to choose between the 2. Top notes tend to blow away within an hour tops anyways, in most cases.
post #5 of 42
The basenotes. The topnotes are usually gone within an hour..
post #6 of 42
8/10 times I'll choose the basenotes.
Sometimes you just have to have those topnotes.
And in the case of Eau D'Orange Verte, thanks to Hermes fro not burdening those who wish to frequently re-apply with a strong base, as we're more than willing to re-apply often to get those incredible topnotes.
post #7 of 42
I'd definitely prefer outstanding basenotes.
post #8 of 42
Basenotes: top notes are fleeting.
post #9 of 42
good basenotes make you forget about the top notes
post #10 of 42
For me, the answer is obvious and definitive- even mediocre scents might have appealing top notes, to leave potential buyers with an initially favorable impression, not knowing they have been lured into using and buying something plain, at best (now I am not saying that all frags with great top notes are either mediocre/and or suspected not to have great base notes).
On the contrary, it might be subjective and a highly personal impression, but have you noticed how in many frags- irrespective if male, unisex or female- the first impression of the top notes might smell mediocre or even unappealing, or too spirituous, or too nondescript or too light, yet after a while usually and hour or a couple of hours, at most, the impression left by the base notes is lush, complex, long-lasting and enthralling, thus both demanding the wearers time, patience and connoisseur skills, while creating a personal relationship of interdependency and constructive anticipation between the fragrance and the user.
post #11 of 42
Base notes for sure. Top notes are the trailer before a movie.
post #12 of 42
Absolutely the base notes.
post #13 of 42
Basenotes
post #14 of 42
Basenotes. Think Versace Dreamer. Nuff said.
post #15 of 42
For much the same reasons everyone else has noted, I'd go with the one with the great basenotes.
post #16 of 42
Even if I don't like the top notes of a fragrance,but love the basenotes I still want to experience the whole progression of the fragrance as it was intended by the perfumer.So like a politician I guess my answer is a little evasive.
post #17 of 42
Definitely amazing basenotes ......
post #18 of 42
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larwiz View Post

Basenotes. Think Versace Dreamer. Nuff said.

Oh yeay, the inhalation of the dreamers drydown is better than orgasm. So satisfying! To bad that it is only for evening wear IMHO.
post #19 of 42
Heart/basenotes over topnotes any day! Aramis Havana, Versace The Dreamer, etc...
post #20 of 42
Heartnotes/Basenotes....
post #21 of 42
Basenotes
post #22 of 42
Makes no difference to me.
post #23 of 42
I cannot like a scent with bad basenotes. But I love many with odd and unpleasant topnotes. In fact, I enjoy the anticipation.
post #24 of 42
What are top notes? LOL.
post #25 of 42
The only exceptions I can think of to the general vibe of this thread are select Jean-Claude Ellena creations where there don't seem to be "top notes" and "base notes" to the perfume, rather a very much whole experience that seems to lose value if cordoned off into a pyramid. Like Angeliques sous la Pluie and Sel de Vetiver, where notes fade in and out along a few hours that don't strike me as being in any kind of competition with themselves. What are other people's thoughts?
post #26 of 42
Easy. Base.
post #27 of 42
I'm guessing if the Top notes were more important this website wouldn't be called Basenotes...
post #28 of 42
It's all in the drydown, baby!


nwatts88,
I do agree there are fragrances which are less classically structured, where the heart and sometimes even base notes bleed into the top. I'd then consider the quality and wearability factors.
post #29 of 42
I'm with everyone else. I love the top notes of Hugo, but don't care much for the Heart/Base at all. The result? I rarely wear it.

The ones I wear all the time Bvlgari Aqva, Versace Pour Homme, Bvlgari Pour Homme, Gendarme, etc. all have excellent dry downs.
post #30 of 42
I guess I'll make it unanimous.

Most definitely, basenotes.

I'm looking at you Tabarome Millesime!
post #31 of 42
basenotes!
post #32 of 42
Wearing just one fragrance, I'd go for the basenotes. If the top notes were mindblowing and unique, I'd consider buying it and layering with something that had the better basenotes and mixed well with the top note frag.
post #33 of 42
The latter.
post #34 of 42
I love The Dreamer!

Below average top.
Beautiful bottom.

Just like JLo.

post #35 of 42
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cygnus View Post

Would you rather wear a cologne that has amazing top notes but has kind of mediocre or lame base notes, or would you rather wear a cologne that has kind of meh top notes but amazing base notes, which one would you wear? There are specific colognes I'm talking about but just in the general sense I want to know what you think.

The latter for me.
post #36 of 42
Basenotes
post #37 of 42
Generally the basenotes, since they stick around longest, and usually develop from the very beginning. But I have many notable exceptions in my collection, too. Neroli Sauvauge - my my, exquisite opening. The drydown is great, too, but ahhhhh, that opening. . . it haunts my dreams. . ..
post #38 of 42
Basenotes, for sure. But really, we're biased around here. To get a balanced view, ask the folks at the Topnotes forums, too.
post #39 of 42
Quote:
Originally Posted by sajomo View Post

I'm guessing if the Top notes were more important this website wouldn't be called Basenotes...

^ This
post #40 of 42
Obviously basenotes
post #41 of 42
I want amazing notes thru-out the whole body of the scent.....but if I had to make a choice it would be for Basenotes.....Gary
post #42 of 42
Neither. A fragrance has to be great from top to bottom for me to wear it. There are enough fragrances with excellent top and bottom notes that one needn't settle for something that's lopsided.
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