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Bel Ami is Really Great

post #1 of 37
5/8/10 at 7:22pm
Thread Starter 
I had to run errands at the shopping mall this afternoon. I went by the fragrance counter and there was nothing interesting to smell so I picked up an old friend, Bel Ami to check out the latest composition of it.

Splendid it is, I tell you. I've got an old-style bottle from I don't know how many years ago and it's fantastic of course, but what's sold now is nothing to worry about. I'm loving it. There's plenty of the wonderful tobacco and there's plenty of clean, etherial lightness with projection too. One spray of it has wiped out all Roger&Gallet that was on me from this morning. The one spray of BA has me spellbound.

No one needs to worry about wearing this beauty.
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post #2 of 37
5/8/10 at 8:08pm
It's good to see that I'm not the only admirer of the reformulated Bel Ami here. The current stuff is freakin' awesome - I love its warm spiciness. Of course the vintage stuff is great, but the important thing is that although there are differences, the current stuff still smells like Bel Ami, and that's what's most important. I agree that no one has anything to worry about with the current version of it.
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post #3 of 37
5/8/10 at 8:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by shamu1 View Post

Of course the vintage stuff is great, but the important thing is that although there are differences, the current stuff still smells like Bel Ami, and that's what's most important. I agree that no one has anything to worry about with the current version of it.

Let me give a full force YES to that. I'm talking myself into getting a bottle of the current stuff too. At the risk of being a heretic, let me say that the current stuff might even be more wearable than the magnificent old stuff. It's so fitting and even forgiving. It smells beautiful and is graceful, but doesn't demand that you live up to it. Not that there's any fault with the magical older stuff, so, again, not to be a heretic, but...
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post #4 of 37
5/8/10 at 8:29pm
Yes!!! This is a wonderful scent!!!
Gary
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post #5 of 37
5/8/10 at 8:35pm
Thanks for remind me that last week I found out that my BA decant had leaked and now there is only a drop on it.

Really great stuff, BTW.
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post #6 of 37
5/8/10 at 8:37pm
Man, I agree - I have a sample of it and have only had judicious wearings of it around the house, but every time I think "I need this." I'm not sure how it's been this long without me buying it. It surprises me every time I sample it - it doesn't share some of the cheaper aromachemicals that you find everywhere now, even after reformulation. This and Guerlain Heritage are a couple I need to add to my collection.
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post #7 of 37
5/8/10 at 8:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DustB View Post

One spray of it has wiped out all Roger&Gallet that was on me from this morning.

Hmm...maybe you should try layering that R&G with some bar soap/shower gel, shave soap, and talc?
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post #8 of 37
5/8/10 at 8:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Emlynevermore View Post

Hmm...maybe you should try layering that R&G with some bar soap/shower gel, shave soap, and talc?

Hehehe; it's good to be known!
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post #9 of 37
5/8/10 at 9:01pm
Incidentally, I had avoided sampling Bel Ami because of the complaints about the reformulation(s?). It's back on the list now.
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post #10 of 37
5/8/10 at 9:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by G.303 View Post

Yes!!! This is a wonderful scent!!!

Wholeheartedly agree.
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post #11 of 37
5/8/10 at 10:22pm
I got a bottle of vintage juice last year
... it is good to know that should the bottle ever finish the reformulated is just as good !
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post #12 of 37
5/8/10 at 10:37pm
Agreed! Glad to see some candid validation of the reformulated version.
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post #13 of 37
5/9/10 at 1:58am
I have never smelled the old/original version so can't compare, but I do love the new version. It's understatedly elegant and easy to wear.
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post #14 of 37
5/9/10 at 5:24am
Like many reformulations these days, I find the new version to be drier with a bit less leather, but a little bit spicier, than the original. The original had a bit of an oily smell to it, probably the heavy leather blending with the lemon. The original, in my opinion,qualified as a real Powerhouse frag, whereas the current isn't quite one, though it still is nice and strong.

If you're picky about the amount of leather in your frags (i.e., if you like a ton of it), you might be disappointed with the new stuff, but I look at reformulations in a general sense - if it still captures the overall feel of the original, I'm happy. I find the current version definitely does still feel like Bel Ami when I wear it. I'm not crying at all about this reformulation. I love it.
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post #15 of 37
5/12/10 at 3:04pm
I still have never given the new juice, a proper full wearing. I will soon, after reading this Chris.

Question: Can I comfortably wear this one, in hot weather?
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post #16 of 37
5/12/10 at 3:12pm
I enjoy the new version Bel Ami (and also the Maupassant book, too, BTW) but also like Equipage.
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post #17 of 37
5/12/10 at 3:22pm
I love Bel Ami too - it's on my shopping list...
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post #18 of 37
5/12/10 at 3:24pm
When was it reformulated?

I'd like to know if my decant from 2006 or so was the old or the new version (the bottle could have been from well before that, for all I know...).

I sort of liked parts of it, but at the time, found it much too heavy for regular use. Perhaps the new version would be more to my liking. It's one of those scents that I wanted very much to like, almost did, then ultimately didn't.

Does the new version tone down the heavy thickness at all?
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post #19 of 37
5/12/10 at 6:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeperez23 View Post

I still have never given the new juice, a proper full wearing. I will soon, after reading this Chris.

Question: Can I comfortably wear this one, in hot weather?

I wear it in hot weather without a problem. It's drier than the original, so I don't find it suffocating in the heat. I'm not sure I'd want to wear the orginal version of it in the heat, though.
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post #20 of 37
1/3/12 at 8:48am
I wore three sprays of this for a really cold day in GA today. My wife really liked it on me as I headed out the door this AM. Very classy scent that has a multi-layered approach. There are several notes going on at once, which is nice and entertaining throughout the day. I have the newest version, and I'm glad to have this classic alongside my other all-time greats (HR, GIT, etc).
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post #21 of 37
1/3/12 at 8:49am
I like it too. Not quite at "love" territory though.
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post #22 of 37
1/3/12 at 9:45am
I love it, but like so many others, use too much and the radiance becomes faintly ridiculous in a warm closed in area when the body heats up. Begins to flirt with another great Sieuzac creation in Opium, which spanned perimeters as well as any of them.

I found the newer Ellena stuff a little flat but still excellent. Sold it, but have plenty of vintage stuff anyway. There isn't anything much better for the outdoors when the temps are in the 20's - mid-40's (f). The warmth and spice is matched by very few, Knize Ten (vintage is the greatest smoke there is in cold temps) being one of them.
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post #23 of 37
1/3/12 at 10:55am
Bel Ami is right up there with Bois Du Portugal, Guerlain Heritage, Cartier Santos Concentree, and Vintage Tabarome as one of the greatest masculine powerhouse fragrances ever made. I admire and respect it from top to base.
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post #24 of 37
1/3/12 at 11:12am
Just noticed that the 3.3 OZ spray (the one I have) is going for $120 on the official Hermes website. Ouch!
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post #25 of 37
1/3/12 at 11:15am
Yes.....both versions are fantastic!!!
Gary
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post #26 of 37
1/3/12 at 11:51am
Good to hear--I love the old version and am just running out.....
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post #27 of 37
1/3/12 at 12:16pm
It`s astounding! A pole in the world of fragrances.
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post #28 of 37
1/3/12 at 12:40pm
Is there really some resemblance between Pure Distance M and Bel Ami?
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post #29 of 37
1/3/12 at 12:48pm
PS - I'm glad I revived this thread...it's nice to celebrate a grand champion!
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post #30 of 37
1/3/12 at 2:20pm
I've recently rediscovered this fragrance. I have the vintage formulation. It reminds me of Moschino pour homme (which I prefer, actually), but the Hermes frag has much better sillage and longevity.
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post #31 of 37
1/3/12 at 6:30pm
IMO no

Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckW View Post

Is there really some resemblance between Pure Distance M and Bel Ami?
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post #32 of 37
1/3/12 at 7:27pm
I wore Bel Ami today because of this thread. It remains one of the best. I get really good sillage and longevity and lots of compliments too. I never really thought much of it until one day I smelled it on a passerby and it just blew me away. I've only ever known the reformulated stuff, but even so, it's amazing. Easily a Top 10 scent for me.
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post #33 of 37
1/4/12 at 7:01am
Amazing longevity. I could smell it at least 15 hours after application. Just three sprays.
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post #34 of 37
2/29/12 at 8:26am
Every time I wear this, it impresses me. Just two sprays today and it's plenty potent. Bel Ami is the real deal. Could it end up in my top 5? maybe....
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post #35 of 37
2/29/12 at 1:07pm
It's very good news to hear that the Original version and the New version are wonderful.....Gary
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post #36 of 37
2/29/12 at 2:28pm
Tried the new version at the Hermes boutique on paper over the weekend and was quite surprised at its awesomeness. Rich animalic spice. Turin claims it was eviscerated, but maybe he was just in love with the old one. I am getting a vintage sample to compare.
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post #37 of 37
2/29/12 at 3:28pm
I remember beautyencounter selling this stuff for $75 not too long ago. I shoulda bought this instead of stupid La nuit which I ended up selling because im somewhat snobby now.
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