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I Love NY for All may have opened me to gourmands... now what?

post #1 of 19
1/5/12 at 8:32am
Thread Starter 
Today I'm finally wearing a sample of Bond No. 9 I Love NY for All, and I'm a bit surprised at how much I'm enjoying it so far. I always figured I wasn't into sweet scents, and the IDEA of gourmands didn't appeal to me, but this is really nice. Still, I don't know much about this category at all, apart from sniffing A*Men on test strips a few times (and not necessarily hating it). So, the question is, would the Bond No. 9 be one to go for, or are there others I should explore first? Is A*Men really that challenging and divisive to wear? How would it compare to I Love NY for All?

(My blind-buy bottle of L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme Extreme is on its way, so there's that too.)
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post #2 of 19
1/5/12 at 8:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by onethinline View Post

Is A*Men really that challenging and divisive to wear?

I believe it is, yes! I'm not an A*men fan at all. I do however like NY for all very much.
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post #3 of 19
1/5/12 at 8:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by onethinline View Post

Is A*Men really that challenging and divisive to wear?

IMO I don't feel it is. It might just take a little getting used to.
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post #4 of 19
1/5/12 at 9:01am
Those are two of my favorite gourmands, NY for all and LIDGE (finally came yesterday). Me, I am not so much an A*MEN fan so i wouldnt be able to give it a fair comparison and have not reached the point where I would wear it. Maybe you could look into Pure Havane and Pure Malt as an alternative to A*MEN if you find it to be a challenge to wear.
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post #5 of 19
1/5/12 at 9:02am
A*Men may be a hate-or-love scent, but after certain testings, it is definitely not that hard to wear one gets used to it and decides that A*Men is likable enough to be worn
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post #6 of 19
1/5/12 at 9:07am
This scent was horrible on my skin...smelled like cheese ...gross...I like the original I love new york
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post #7 of 19
1/5/12 at 9:13am
L'Instant is wonderful, don't apply too much though! At first you will be tempted to but it changes and you should learn how to wear it starting with just a spray or two.

I wore New Haarlem yesterday for the first real wearing. I thought I would just like it based on a card sampling but it really works for me. You may want to try that one too.
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post #8 of 19
1/5/12 at 9:14am
You have the best on it's way to you in L'Instant Extreme, a fantastic vanille/cocoa semi gourmand fragrance. It smells great and lasts twelve hours plus. Good purchase.
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post #9 of 19
1/5/12 at 1:36pm
Tonka Imperiale is definitely my current favorite gourmand!
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post #10 of 19
1/5/12 at 4:37pm
If you like that one, then I also think that Bond no. 9 So New York, Bond no. 9 New Haarlem, and Rochas Man may be worth trying.
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post #11 of 19
1/5/12 at 4:45pm
Les Nombres d'Or Vanille by Mona di Orio is my favorite gourmand. Frapin 1270 is also one I like and recommend.
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post #12 of 19
1/5/12 at 5:06pm
ambre narguile is my favorite.
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post #13 of 19
1/5/12 at 5:25pm
AMEN will be potent if you are used to lighter scents
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post #14 of 19
1/5/12 at 5:32pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vince23heat View Post

AMEN will be potent if you are used to lighter scents

I actually prefer a scent to have some projection, letting me then control the number of sprays from there. Though from all I've read A*Men is a beast as far as strength. I haven't worn it yet -- only smelled it on strips -- but already it seems more complex and interesting than I Love NY for All. Though maybe it's not as much of a "high quality" experience? I have to admit, one of my hesitations about trying A*Men is that it's associated with guys much younger than me (I'm 34). Still, if its effect is similar to the lovely smell I got from the Bond No. 9 this morning, I may have to give it a go. It's certainly more affordable than something like New Haarlem. :-)
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post #15 of 19
1/5/12 at 5:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by onethinline View Post

I actually prefer a scent to have some projection, letting me then control the number of sprays from there. Though from all I've read A*Men is a beast as far as strength. I haven't worn it yet -- only smelled it on strips -- but already it seems more complex and interesting than I Love NY for All. Though maybe it's not as much of a "high quality" experience? I have to admit, one of my hesitations about trying A*Men is that it's associated with guys much younger than me (I'm 34). Still, if its effect is similar to the lovely smell I got from the Bond No. 9 this morning, I may have to give it a go. It's certainly more affordable than something like New Haarlem. :-)

sample sample sample. go to sephora or macys because Amen is not a good blind buy. Many dislike the burnt openning smell. new haarlem tho is a smoother scent but i would just get rochas instead because they are similar
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post #16 of 19
1/5/12 at 7:16pm
Rochas Man is a great inexpensive gourmand. I also enjoy New Haarlem, Pure Havane (a lot), Pure Malt and A*Men.
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post #17 of 19
1/5/12 at 7:20pm
I second Rochas man. Its underrated
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post #18 of 19
1/5/12 at 10:16pm
A*Men is very high quality, so you've got nothing to worry about there. In fact, it's a benchmark fragrance. Try it with a single spray to the chest, and go from there. I personally like the opening, but the drydown is absolutely brilliant.

New Haarlem is pure gold in a bottle, check that one out too.
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post #19 of 19
1/5/12 at 10:44pm
I really enjoy New Haarlem, Pure Havane, Musc Ravaguer, Back to Black and Tobacco Vanille.
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Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › I Love NY for All may have opened me to gourmands... now what?