Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › The best Bay Rum......that doesn't turn into cloves
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

The best Bay Rum......that doesn't turn into cloves

post #1 of 23
1/19/11 at 7:09am
Thread Starter 
I'd really like to have a nice Bay Rum in my collection, and so far I've only tried Royall and C.O. Bigelow, which both end up smelling like potpourri on me. Suggestions?

P.S. Aramis Havana is more of a tobacco fougère on my skin.
Reply
Reply

Features on Basenotes

Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
post #2 of 23
1/19/11 at 7:21am
Well, Royall is very clovey. Bigelow, to me, is more about the synthetic woody drydown but very good and a bit spicy. Ultimately, the eugenol in Pimenta Racemosa will always wind up a bit clove-like. However, for a pure bay rum that displays both the green and spicy elements of bay, you have three options:

Cheap - Superior 70 - Available from Walgreens.com and a few of their B&M stores for under $3; 70% alcohol, bunch of bay oil
Still pretty cheap - Dominica - Available from many online vendors; straight bay, fleeting, oddly soothing as an aftershave splash
Still a damn fine bargain - Meehan/Bonny Doon - Magical melding of cane spirits (boozy!), rosewater (soothing and fleetingly fragrant), and bay oil (rich and deep and long-lasting)

The last of these three has excellent longevity for a bay rum and is my personal favorite.

You might also give Lubin Idole a spin; the saffron and tobacco take it out of straight bay rum territory, but a big boozy opening and a spicy middle yield the general impression of a bay rum with all-day longevity and superb wearability.

Regards,
T
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 23
1/19/11 at 8:44am
I second Superior 70.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 23
1/19/11 at 9:23am
Plain and simple Old Spice has a strong bay rum note, without any perceptible sensation of clove
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 23
1/19/11 at 9:37am
Dominica Bay Rum.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 23
1/19/11 at 9:41am
Second Dominca Bay Rum.

http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=2314
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 23
1/19/11 at 9:56am
Best cheapie: Superior 70
Best overall: St. John's
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 23
1/19/11 at 10:52am
Col. Conk Bay Rum
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 23
1/19/11 at 11:06am
I like St. John's but I find it clovey compared to Dominica or Superior 70. Conk is a clove (and cinnamon) bomb.

I also wanted to add that Aubrey Organics Spice Island is terrific, clove-free, and uses vetiver, nutmeg, and patchouli to round out the bay in a way that keeps even its clovey tendencies at...er...well, at bay.

Regards,
T
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 23
1/19/11 at 2:21pm
Perhaps not the best but my favorite is Under Control by J.A. Hard to get a hold of.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 23
1/19/11 at 2:29pm
Dominica is just the best straightforward Bay Rum. Its just very well blended high quality Bay Oil in alcohol.
St Johns is good too but much more complex with multiple ingredients - more iof a composed fragrance.
Mehaan is very good strong micro-brewed bay with cane sugar alcohol (rum) and rose water.

Clove oil and Bay oil (Pimenta Racemosa) do have a lot of commonality about them. I have both. The clove is deeper, more round and inedibly soft with a kind of dullness to it which helps it underscore bright florals so well. Bay is fresher, brighter, more astringent and medicinal. Thety are close though.
Bay oil is pretty cheap so it won't be substituted or adulterated for reasons of cost.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 23
1/19/11 at 10:58pm
Has anyone tried Malin + Goetz Rum tonic?
I received a bar of their Bay Rum soap a while back in a free goodie bag and found it excellent.
I'd be interested to hear how the perfume compares.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 23
1/30/11 at 3:28pm
The Dominica and Bonny Doon look promising.

I'm assuming one can use the Dominica like an EdT and just splash it on (or decant it into an atomizer?)
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 23
1/30/11 at 4:01pm
Cuba by Czech & Speake. How anyone can call Cuba anything but a fancy Bay Rum is beyond me.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 23
1/30/11 at 5:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeperez23 View Post

The Dominica and Bonny Doon look promising.

I'm assuming one can use the Dominica like an EdT and just splash it on (or decant it into an atomizer?)

Mike, you can just splash it on; that's what I've always done, sometimes as a true aftershave, sometimes on my chest as an EdT. It is fleeting, though, even on my skin, which normally produces excellent longevity with most frags. Great while it lasts, though! Bracing.

Regards,
Tim
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 23
1/30/11 at 6:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MOONB View Post

Cuba by Czech & Speake. How anyone can call Cuba anything but a fancy Bay Rum is beyond me.

I agree, but you also need to try Ogallala, esp. the limes and peppercorns and sage and cedar versions. The C.O. Bigelow one is also very good.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 23
1/30/11 at 6:53pm
How about the Pinaud? Also curious about the long lost Creed version. Commentary about either?
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 23
1/30/11 at 7:10pm
Old Spice, far and away.
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 23
1/30/11 at 7:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrcologneguy View Post

How about the Pinaud? Also curious about the long lost Creed version. Commentary about either?

I think the Pinaud is awful. I can find something to like about most any bay rum. Pinaud...I guess it's the label. The scent is all cinnamon and clove and very little bay rum. Cheaply-made and smells it. I detest it.

Regards,
T
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 23
1/30/11 at 8:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TRBeck View Post

Mike, you can just splash it on; that's what I've always done, sometimes as a true aftershave, sometimes on my chest as an EdT. It is fleeting, though, even on my skin, which normally produces excellent longevity with most frags. Great while it lasts, though! Bracing.

Regards,
Tim

So it sounds like the Bonny Doon lasts longer. I looked at the Meehan/Bonny Doon website. I'm assuming the one you're talking about is the Bay Rhum Cologne, not the 'Lotion'? This one?
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 23
1/31/11 at 7:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeperez23 View Post

So it sounds like the Bonny Doon lasts longer. I looked at the Meehan/Bonny Doon website. I'm assuming the one you're talking about is the Bay Rhum Cologne, not the 'Lotion'? This one?

Mike, that's the stuff. Very long-lived for a bay rum, certainly moreso than Dominica. Dominica showcases the green, bright, bracing aspect of bay. Meehan showcases its spiciness and depth along with the richness of rum.

Regards,
Tim
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 23
1/31/11 at 9:23am
Cool.

They both sound good but the Meehan/Bonny Doon sounds like more my speed.

The Dominica doesn't sound particularly rum prominent.
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 23
1/31/11 at 9:27am
Yeah, Dominica isn't particularly rum-smelling. Meehan is made with cane spirits, rosewater, and pimenta racemosa. Simple but boozy, nearly forming a shellac on the face if overapplied as aftershave. Very nice.

Regards,
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: MFD Archive

Features on Basenotes

Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › The best Bay Rum......that doesn't turn into cloves