How much does body chemistry alter a frag's TOTAL development?

For my 100th post, I thought I'd spend some time on my possibly unusual, if not unique, experiences with the darker side of fragdom - those rich, heavy, unique, love 'em or hate 'em scents.

I've suffered from very dry skin for as long as I can remember, especially during the winter. And so it is my skin tends to drink up frags like there's no tomorrow and what is achieved in 5-6 sprays on most people takes more like 15-20 on me (this is not me just getting used to the scent - I have tested this with assistance from others). And just lately I've noticed that certain frags largely thought of as deep, scary monsters (C&S 88 and Cuba, Caron Yatagan and 3rd Man, Aramis Classic, VC&A Tsar and others) on me are very subtle. All of the above simmer quietly away on me all day - they don't shout, nor do they offend. They're very definitely there, but not there announcing their presence to the world.

Now, I know that certain notes and ingredients react to particular body chemistry (animalic frags, of course, are the most obvious), but does the ENTIRE development of a frag hinge on the wearer's skin type? Why is it that on most people, going by BN reviews and forum comments, C&S Cuba is a big, smoky frag fully living it up to its title and threatening to upset anyone else who smells it (even with those who give it a thumbs up and love it), whilst on me it's an almost conservative (in a nice way) gently spicy scent unlikely to offend anyone?! And this sort of thing seems to happen more often than not - the only heavy frags that haven't gone down that road on me in my 15 or-so years of wearing scents are VC&A Pour Homme and Old Spice, both of which can kill a rhino at a hundred yards with just 1 or 2 sprays to my chest.

I'd love to hear your thoughts...

Thanks matthewfoo!

Interesting thought peeps.

Ken_Russell and andym72 - can't say I've ever noticed that on myself, but how curious!

Well, I can't say I want sillage covering the earth either. As I've already said, the problem I have is incredibly dry skin so it completely sucks up the frag right away and I'm left with barely any scent at all - your 2-3 sprays on me, with the exception of VERY few VERY strong scents, at best will be gone completely inside of an hour and at worst will barely register, presumably because they dry up so quickly there's nothing for the scent to cling to.

I'm not entirely convinced about being a meat eater causing any problem for anyone, but it is nevertheless an interesting thought.

Oh, doctors and treatments were all done years ago in my early teens. Basically the "solution" was use moisturiser whenever dry skin came on (so I do, every winter). Nothing else touches it (the dry skin), but it's not enough of a problem for me to be concerned over my health and/or well-being, at least that's what all my doctors have told me. It simply means that, even with moisturiser, scents tend not to smell or last too long unless I chuck on loads. And, again, with me it's NOT anosmia - I've done enough tests over the years to be satisfied that the amount I spray now is not too much for me. And the regular compliments I get from both men and women is proof of that.



Good point andym, and one I hadn't really thought of before - I have a couple like this where I either get no top notes at all, or a very fleeting hint, before it goes straight down to the base.

I'm happy with my lot and I just have to accept that I'll get through frags much quicker than most and will have to spend more than others. Doesn't really bother me. On a positive note, at least it means I get to test more!

However, I'm straying off my own point slightly and we're getting into realms that should be over in the grooming forum. So back on track - last night I had a "proper" test spray (ie one small shot on all pulse points and one on the chest, rather than just one wrist and one in the cap as I did when I first got it) of C&S Cuba which I recently bought off another BNoter (along with some 88 - thanks Vinny!) and the whole thing didn't develop like how reviews suggested and how it developed in the cap. Don't get me wrong, it's REALLY nice and I'm contemplating getting a few other C&S frags, but far from this weird poo smelling concoction of odd notes which most people, even those who love it, seem to think don't work mixed together, I got a really smooth and balanced spice off-set by some zingy peppermint which just smelt great to me and everyone else around me - completely different than pretty much EVERY review and comment I've ever read about it, and not just one or two notes were different, the whole thing seemed to moprh on me into something else. In a good way.



Fascinating thoughts and observation, merry.waters. I think what all these comments prove is that we are all different, both in our experiences and ways of thinking. Which is good. Because we'd all be the same if we weren't different!



Hob Dobson - I think EVERYONE will agree with that!

Interestingly I went through a phase a couple of years ago of trying some natural oils as opposed to moisturisers on the recommendation of a work colleague who was a beauty therapist on the side. I didn't get as far as jojoba, but I did try coconut, castor, olive, shea butter and rosehip. I stopped because in most cases I found the extra oil was promoting acne (it's a lose-lose with me!), however I never noticed that any of them helped with improving frag sillage on me.

I agree with you about diet, JaimeB - I haven't really thought about it, but I don't think it's got any bearing on anything going on on the skin's surface.

So, today I thought I'd give the Cuba a proper SOTD go. Wonderful stuff. BUT - given that it's a completely new frag for me, I thought I'd better play it safe just in case a monster would be unleashed. 8 shots all told - one behind each ear, one on my chest, one on each shoulder blade, one on the back of my neck and one on the inside of each elbow. That in itself would be too much for most people, but for me it's less than half what I would normally spray. As I mentioned earlier, Cuba on me is not the scary beast it is on most people. One hour in and the scent was, to me, noticeably toned down. Two hours later (now) the scent has almost completely gone, confirmed by several work colleagues, one of whom can smell nothing at all. Proof, if any more were needed, that in most cases anything less than double figures is not worth me thinking about.

But apart from that, I LOVE Cuba and am looking forward to trying the 88 tomorrow, which I will also spritz on gingerly at first and report back.

The diet thing IS an interesting point, but I don't think it's the root/cause in my case. Yes I eat meat and fish, but my diet is not unhealthy and I get plenty of exercise.

This is all REALLY interesting stuff.

See, this is what I mean - there HAS to be something more going on than just "well, it just smells different on you" and, with testimonies, it sounds like diet could is a factor just as much as skin type.

Good replies peeps!