Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › I tried Bel Ami for the first time today...
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

I tried Bel Ami for the first time today...

post #1 of 28
6/27/11 at 4:38pm
Thread Starter 
I have no idea why I have always dismissed Bel Ami the countless number of times I've been in a Hermes boutique, but today I gave it a shot...and boy oh boy, was I surprised! I guess I was expecting an extremely masculine fougere with a lot of birch or cedar, but what I got instead was a fruity, spicy, lactonic chypre oriental (if that makes any sense lol!) I immediately got a Luten-esque vibe of dried fruit along with something lactonic (ala Costume 21) and creamy (ylang?), and then it seemed to morph into Derby but perhaps with less moss and more leather; but still managing to maintain its fruity vibe throughout. Talk about a shape-shifter!

Now my "review" is based on a very brief encounter and I had slight olfactory fatigue due to a decent amount of aldehydes lodged in my nose thanks to Iris Poudre lol. I'll probably try it five or six times to get a final idea on what I'm actually smelling.

Note: the version I tried is the latest version in Hermes boutiques. I've heard the pre-formulation was heavier on leather, which frankly I probably won't care for because I found the fruitiness in the modern mesmerizing.

Any thoughts?
Reply
Reply

Features on Basenotes

Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
post #2 of 28
6/27/11 at 6:13pm
I have the original version and like this very much.....I have not sampled the newer version.....When I see this I will have to check it out!!!
The older version is a classic IMO.....The original is all about leather to my nose.....I want to see what others have to say!!!
Gary
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 28
6/27/11 at 6:21pm
I love Bel Ami and have full confidence in it. I only really discovered how amazing it was when I smelled someone else wearing it. That made me a true believer. I have the new stuff and that's all I've ever known, but it's leathery and works for me. I get regular compliments when I wear Bel Ami also.

Sometimes I feel like Bel Ami and Acier Aluminium are like cousins; Bel Ami inherited some leather, and Acier Aluminium got the vanilla.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 28
6/27/11 at 7:04pm
I just received a vintage vessel within the last week and it most certainly is a classic!Definitely not for the teen crowd.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 28
6/27/11 at 7:08pm
Only have the original in my collection and I love it.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 28
6/27/11 at 10:15pm
You must have been too distracted with the Hermesence line and other finely crafted leather goods

I too have deliberately overlooked Bel Ami. I guess because I feel that it doesn't really standout in its genre. I could be wrong.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 28
6/27/11 at 10:26pm
Hermes Bel Ami is one of the true 70's/80's Masculine masterpieces. It seems to have captured the essence of a certain brand of 20th Century western capitalist achievement and it's spoils. Right up there with Cartier Santos, Bois Du Portugal, Tabarome, and Guerlain's Heritage.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 28
6/27/11 at 11:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hednic View Post

Only have the original in my collection and I love it.

Me too. Recently I smelled the current version and find it pleasant but the polishing job they've done makes this formulation somehow lacking in mistery/depth IMO.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 28
6/27/11 at 11:36pm
I own the new version, and it`s inconceivable good!
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 28
6/28/11 at 7:44am
Like you scent, I have given my time & attention to almost all of the Hermes fragrances, except for Bel Ami. No reason, I suppose I always felt like the vintage one was the one to seek out, but it seems like you are really enjoying the new juice.

For those of you who see this as a 'leather' scent, is Bel Ami have a Knize Ten sort of leather? Or is it more subtle, like say...Eau de Hermes?
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 28
6/28/11 at 7:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeperez23 View Post

For those of you who see this as a 'leather' scent, is Bel Ami have a Knize Ten sort of leather? Or is it more subtle, like say...Eau de Hermes?

Bel Ami (vintage formulation) is way much harsher / strident in the opening (bergamot and citruses juxtaposed to a strong leather note). Knize Ten it's surely challenging during the first hour, but after that it's quite smoothered by a consistent amber note while Bel Ami it's pretty linear in its austerity because of a desweetened coconut note in the base joined by cedarwood / vetiver / oakmoss. Overall Knize Ten is definitely more animalic, but I find vintage Bel Ami more challenging.

Personally I wouldn't compare Bel Ami to Eau D'Hermes (it's just a matter of personal perception), but for sure its leather note is less intrusive than the Knize Ten one.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 28
6/28/11 at 8:18am
Mike, I'd say this a citrus leather and not a birch tar leather. Very different than Knize Ten and closer to Aramis.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 28
6/28/11 at 9:44am
Thanks for the comparisons.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 28
4/9/12 at 3:57pm
I have the new reformulation on right now. I can smell how much potential this has. Unfortunately I only sampled it on the top of my hand.

Is this reformulation working for anybody ? I am close to pulling the trigger but I am unsure of the sillage/longevity as always.

Any advice is much appreciated..HEDNIC ????
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 28
4/9/12 at 6:30pm
I have answered my own question.

After 30 minutes it turns into a sweet Rocabar type fragrance with barely any traces of leather. Then it starts to wither away. After 3 hours I can notice it...maybe heat will re active it but what is "it" ? Not much to rave about here but it definitely had potential before it settled into wimpy sweet scent.
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 28
4/9/12 at 6:32pm
I have answered my own question.

After 30 minutes it turns into a sweet Rocabar type fragrance with barely any traces of leather. Then it starts to wither away. After 3 hours I can notice it...maybe heat will re active it but what is "it" ? Not much to rave about here but it definitely had potential before it settled into wimpy sweet scent.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 28
4/9/12 at 9:12pm
I have the original and I like it a lot. Very restrained, warm and spicy. I think it has an airy, almost ethereal feel to it as well... it is the opposite of dense and cloying.
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 28
4/9/12 at 9:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thatmakesscents View Post

I have answered my own question.

After 30 minutes it turns into a sweet Rocabar type fragrance with barely any traces of leather. Then it starts to wither away. After 3 hours I can notice it...maybe heat will re active it but what is "it" ? Not much to rave about here but it definitely had potential before it settled into wimpy sweet scent.


I tried the reformulation.
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 28
4/10/12 at 1:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeperez23 View Post

Like you scent, I have given my time & attention to almost all of the Hermes fragrances, except for Bel Ami. No reason, I suppose I always felt like the vintage one was the one to seek out, but it seems like you are really enjoying the new juice.

For those of you who see this as a 'leather' scent, is Bel Ami have a Knize Ten sort of leather? Or is it more subtle, like say...Eau de Hermes?

Yes,in my opinion Bel Ami(vintage) is more subtle ,being classes above Knize Ten. Bel Ami is not Knize's sort of leather.
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 28
4/10/12 at 11:57am
I own minis of the vintage and have tried the new one in a store. To my nose they are different. The old one lacks the citrus, however maybe the top notes are victim of time... The new one is a bit sweeter and spicier with less leather. I like both. The new one might be more wearable, which is not a bad thing for the average consumer... Still excellent.
Well, the vintage juice I have is definitely very challenging to wear off in public for a lady. Not for whimps
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 28
4/10/12 at 1:48pm
Will have to try this one as I like some of the old classics.
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 28
4/10/12 at 4:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pirop View Post

Bel Ami is not Knize's sort of leather.

I feel the vintage is, while the new is not. I much prefer the new.
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 28
4/10/12 at 6:17pm
I'm curious about this one.
Reply
Reply
post #24 of 28
4/10/12 at 7:24pm
I'm pretty sure this has been reformulated more than once. There have been at least three styles of the bottle. To me, Bel Ami emulates a completely different style of 'leather' than, let's say, Knize 10. I'm now very curious now about the recent one, which I haven't tried.
Reply
Reply
post #25 of 28
4/10/12 at 7:26pm
This is one of the few fragrances whose reformulation
is an improvement over the vintage version.

The reformulation had better longevity and projection
than the vintage, for me, and I prefer the overall smell as well.
Maybe the best reformulation ever.
Reply
Reply
post #26 of 28
4/10/12 at 8:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DieNase View Post

I own minis of the vintage and have tried the new one in a store. To my nose they are different. The old one lacks the citrus, however maybe the top notes are victim of time... The new one is a bit sweeter and spicier with less leather. I like both. The new one might be more wearable, which is not a bad thing for the average consumer... Still excellent.
Well, the vintage juice I have is definitely very challenging to wear off in public for a lady. Not for whimps

The reduced leather is why I prefer Equipage of the men's Hermes scents.
Reply
Reply
post #27 of 28
4/13/12 at 8:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by fjord View Post

...To me, Bel Ami emulates a completely different style of 'leather' than, let's say, Knize 10...

I have to agree, when I think of Bel Ami, I don't think 'leather'. It is a very masculine, woody fragrance but overall it bores me a bit which is probably why I don't own a bottle.
Reply
Reply
post #28 of 28
4/13/12 at 9:08am
...and for the last time I hope...!
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: MFD Archive

Features on Basenotes

Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › I tried Bel Ami for the first time today...