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Which of your favorite fragrances have gotten the worst insults on Basenotes?

post #1 of 66
5/22/12 at 7:40pm
Thread Starter 
I'm always amazed at the range of opinion expressed on Basenotes. The most beloved and praised fragrances also seem to get the most scathing insults. Which of your favorites has been dissed the worst? "Eau de Men's Room" Kouros? "Bug Spray" Guerlain Vetiver? "Old Man's Back Seat" Bois de Portugal? "Grandma's Dressing Table " Habit Rouge? Then there is that all-purpose, ubiquitous, and enigmatic "French Whore" smell, so widely applied, though actually rather rarely hurled on Basenotes.

Personally, i don't have strong reactions to the scents I don't care for. They usually just strike me as nonentities of one sort or another. Aventus and Acqua di Gio fall into this class. To me, they don't smell bad they just smell more or less like nothing. It is still a bit shocking, though, to realize people actually detest fragrances that I really love.
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post #2 of 66
5/22/12 at 7:45pm
Dunhill Fresh - I don't get it. I live in the Midwest US and it gets compliments by men and women on a daily basis in the Spring - when I wear it on almost a daily basis. Someone here said it smells like 'new shoes'...which I really can't argue with. It's different, but I like it - and apparently so do my co-workers, clients and especially the wife. To each his/her own I guess...
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post #3 of 66
5/22/12 at 7:46pm
L'Eau D'Issey, which someone deemed "toxic waste."

And I've actually been guilty of slurring a scent I later came to really love. My first experience with Quorum was a disaster, with me declaring that it smelled like a dead body covered in moth balls and cleaning solution; it was easily the worst scent I had ever tried. However I retested it a few months later and really loved it.
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post #4 of 66
5/22/12 at 7:47pm
Thread Starter 
Is "new shoes" an insult though?
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post #5 of 66
5/22/12 at 7:57pm
Possibly Dali Pour Homme, but I have a vintage one and it may have been reformulated badly for all I know.
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post #6 of 66
5/22/12 at 8:16pm
FCUK him ... I enjoy it... However...
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post #7 of 66
5/22/12 at 9:37pm
My favorite house, pound for pound is Etat Libre d'Orange. Out of their entire line (around 30) of which I have samples, probably 20 are on my wishlist. However, I never get the sense that others share my enthusiasm, which is fine, because frags are an individual thing.
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post #8 of 66
5/22/12 at 9:46pm
Acqua Di Gio
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post #9 of 66
5/22/12 at 9:51pm
Normally I'm not that guy, but there is a pretty good one going already...

http://www.basenotes.net/threads/272...you-smell-like
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post #10 of 66
5/22/12 at 11:29pm
Joop! Homme
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post #11 of 66
5/22/12 at 11:46pm
A female coworker commented that she smelled Comet just as I was walking past one day. I was wearing Santal 33, which I love.

Not sure if it was me she was smelling or not, but the timing says "yes."
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post #12 of 66
5/23/12 at 12:07am
Not many, in fact, I was surprised that here on Basenotes most of my scents are being understood in a non-judgmental manner.
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post #13 of 66
5/23/12 at 12:23am
Curve Soul.
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post #14 of 66
5/23/12 at 12:52am
Seems like Xeryus Rouge has some haters around here... and I couldn't care less.
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post #15 of 66
5/23/12 at 12:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mesaboogie View Post

Acqua Di Gio

+1...
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post #16 of 66
5/23/12 at 12:57am
Easily Gucci Guilty pour Homme. No, it's not terribly original, it's not Envy, Nobile or pour Homme I or II, but it's very wearable and garners plenty of compliments. Sometimes we have to get over ourselves and just enjoy something simple.
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post #17 of 66
5/23/12 at 12:57am
I guess Drakkar Noir, some people around here euhm don't like it quite as much. Let's keep it at that.
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post #18 of 66
5/23/12 at 1:13am
I do remember some guy almost got into a fight with himself over Tiffany for Men. He'd bought it blind and berated everyone here for saying good things about it then turned the rage and angst on himself - I think pouring it down the toilet might have been mentioned - before running out of steam. Not sure if he's still with his - clearly this event shattered his faith in SOMETHING.

I am stocking up on Tiffany for Men, BTW - every time I like something they (the IFRA mafia) screw it up - just sayin'.
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post #19 of 66
5/23/12 at 1:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr. reasonable View Post

I do remember some guy almost got into a fight with himself over Tiffany for Men. He'd bought it blind and berated everyone here for saying good things about it then turned the rage and angst on himself - I think pouring it down the toilet might have been mentioned - before running out of steam. Not sure if he's still with his - clearly this event shattered his faith in SOMETHING.

I am stocking up on Tiffany for Men, BTW - every time I like something they (the IFRA mafia) screw it up - just sayin'.

That guy must have/had some serious issues then.
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post #20 of 66
5/23/12 at 1:35am
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Acqua di Gio, a long time ago. Got told that I smelt like burnt grass. Never bought it again, though it is a very common scent, perhaps too common.
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post #21 of 66
5/23/12 at 1:46am
None of mine get regularly slammed, but Giorgio for Men probably takes the most heat out of those in my wardrobe. Many on here love it with a passion like I do, but those that don't, tend to *really* dislike it... Not a lot of middle ground on this one, I guess.
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post #22 of 66
5/23/12 at 1:57am
Mambo
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post #23 of 66
5/23/12 at 2:24am
A*men
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post #24 of 66
5/23/12 at 2:41am
Was always surprised by the many poor reviews for Floris Elite...
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post #25 of 66
5/23/12 at 2:50am
Bond No. 9 Brooklyn
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post #26 of 66
5/23/12 at 3:07am
Probably not an extreme case, but one of my favourites is Polo Modern Reserve, which has had some pretty scathing insults levelled at it on here!
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post #27 of 66
5/23/12 at 4:00am
Kouros
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post #28 of 66
5/23/12 at 4:16am
Bleu de Chanel and any Creeds I suppose.
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post #29 of 66
5/23/12 at 4:36am
Womanity is the only one I can think of, strangely.
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post #30 of 66
5/23/12 at 4:46am
1. Kouros - love it
2. Chanel Platinum - love it
3. Cool Water - love it
4. Acqu Di Gio - like it, don't love it, but still a solid designer frag I wear from time to time
5. Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme - very nice sweet take on a sport fragrance
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post #31 of 66
5/23/12 at 5:29am
I find extremely wierd that some groups, ethnics, cultures or nationalities have specific perceptions.
For example, around here Jules, Kouros and Yatagan are usually found sweaty, urinous, unwashed, etc etc etc.
I love them but not due to their dirty profile. For me they smell absolutely INOFENSIVE. Wonderful, fresh, complex, barbershop-y, strong, or whatever. But NEVER dirty.
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post #32 of 66
5/23/12 at 7:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Halo View Post

I find extremely wierd that some groups, ethnics, cultures or nationalities have specific perceptions.
For example, around here Jules, Kouros and Yatagan are usually found sweaty, urinous, unwashed, etc etc etc.
I love them but not due to their dirty profile. For me they smell absolutely INOFENSIVE. Wonderful, fresh, complex, barbershop-y, strong, or whatever. But NEVER dirty.

I still try to 'educate'/train my nose to appreciate the wet wild wolfy celery campfire smell of my 125 ml flask of Yatagan....... So you find Yatagan fresh & barber shop like in scent ?!?
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post #33 of 66
5/23/12 at 7:44am
1 Million has taken one hell of a kicking, but I actually think it's OK.
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post #34 of 66
5/23/12 at 8:05am
Wouldn't say it's my favorite, but I think Un Jardin Apres La Mousson is better than people make it out to be
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post #35 of 66
5/23/12 at 8:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigtruck260 View Post

Dunhill Fresh - I don't get it. I live in the Midwest US and it gets compliments by men and women on a daily basis in the Spring - when I wear it on almost a daily basis. Someone here said it smells like 'new shoes'...which I really can't argue with. It's different, but I like it - and apparently so do my co-workers, clients and especially the wife. To each his/her own I guess...

New shoes??? Lol I don't get that from Fresh.

I get watermelon and pepper...lol go figure.

It is a very slept on fragrance imo. Fresh is a good word for it. I enjoy it as well and it has given me compliments.
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post #36 of 66
5/23/12 at 8:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CHSeifert View Post

I still try to 'educate'/train my nose to appreciate the wet wild wolfy celery campfire smell of my 125 ml flask of Yatagan....... So you find Yatagan fresh & barber shop like in scent ?!?

I find it manly but kinda soft. I think it has a similar vibe to Z-14 but with celery and more woods...but lovely and easy to wear.
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post #37 of 66
5/23/12 at 9:01am
+1 Kouros, Grey Flannel
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post #38 of 66
5/23/12 at 10:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Randall Flagg View Post

1 Million has taken one hell of a kicking, but I actually think it's OK.

Maybe, but that god awful bottle really puts me off. Way too much bling.
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post #39 of 66
5/23/12 at 10:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Hunter View Post

+1...

I suspect most people's problem with AdG is it's popularity with the public rather than the smell.
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post #40 of 66
5/23/12 at 10:14am
the dreamer and bvlgari extreme...who cares???
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post #41 of 66
5/23/12 at 10:58am
Aqua Fahrenheit maybe.
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post #42 of 66
5/23/12 at 11:14am
Probably Jicky: "dirty diapers, vanilla room spray, and lavender"

Quote:
Originally Posted by starshipvelcro View Post

Wouldn't say it's my favorite, but I think Un Jardin Apres La Mousson is better than people make it out to be

They only say that stuff because Turin didn't like it

Quote:
Originally Posted by Halo View Post

I find it [Yatagan] manly but kinda soft. I think it has a similar vibe to Z-14 but with celery and more woods...but lovely and easy to wear.

I get the connection there too! Which is not a surprise since they were created by the same perfumer, the ever-enigmatic Vince Marcello.
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post #43 of 66
5/23/12 at 11:16am
Probably A*Men and Dior Homme Intense (those that do hate it hate it bad it seems)
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post #44 of 66
5/23/12 at 11:46am
Clinique Happy Men (I guess men have something against the name; nothing that a therapy doesn't solve) and Pure Coffee.
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post #45 of 66
5/23/12 at 11:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonkeyBars View Post

Probably Jicky: "dirty diapers, vanilla room spray, and lavender"



They only say that stuff because Turin didn't like it



I get the connection there too! Which is not a surprise since they were created by the same perfumer, the ever-enigmatic Vince Marcello.

Have you guys read my post about Vincent Marcello and the link between Yatagan and Z-14?

http://www.basenotes.net/threads/295...ncent-Marcello

He also made Estee Lauder Private Collection, another positively perfect fragrance that I wear quite often.
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post #46 of 66
5/23/12 at 12:22pm
+1 L'Eau D'Issey,
Joop!
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post #47 of 66
5/23/12 at 12:40pm
Chrome is a favourite of mine that is regularly trashed.

Trashers come at scents from a number of different angles -
If it's not niche it's trash.
If it doesn't resemble a masterful women's scent it's trash.
If it's synthetic it's trash.
If it's perceived as generic it's trashed.
If the odor can be detected by other people two feet away, then it's trash and vulgar.
And in the case of Chrome, if it keeps you smelling out-of-the shower-fresh all day long, without conking out no matter how hot it is, it doesn't matter, it's still trash.

In my case, the only scents I've ever trashed are Secretions Magnifique, because it literally made me nauseous and to a lesser extent, the old version of Quorum. There are plenty of scents I don't like much, but I know someone likes them or may like them.
Cheers,
Renato
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post #48 of 66
5/23/12 at 2:57pm
For me,
-Burberry Sport (gets no love here, but it's probably my favorite sport fragrance).
-1 Million (my favorite winter scent, designer or niche. Just perfect)
-Chanel Allure Homme Sport Cologne Sport (lots of people complain about it being too lemony/citrusy, but I still think it's the best one in the Allure lineup, and my favorite Chanel overall).
-Serge Luten's Rousse (yeah, it does smell like red hot cinnamon candy and holiday potpourri, but what's wrong with that? Lol!)
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post #49 of 66
5/23/12 at 2:59pm
l'Eau d'Issey
l'Homme YSL
Kouros
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post #50 of 66
5/23/12 at 3:31pm
Forgot some:
Burberry Touch;
Prada Infusion D'Homme;
Emporio Armani He.
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post #51 of 66
5/23/12 at 3:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BurgundyMarsh View Post

Is "new shoes" an insult though?

Not to me. If it were old shoes my answer would be YES.
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post #52 of 66
5/23/12 at 3:47pm
+1 Aqua Fahrenheit.
+1 Burberry Touch.
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post #53 of 66
7/17/12 at 3:37am
Venezia Uomo
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post #54 of 66
7/17/12 at 3:53am
My favourite review of a fragrance I enjoy
Boss No 1
Quote:
I wanted a second shot at this one, as I don't believe I was sufficiently adamant the first time round' You might as well sprinkle yourself with warm hog piss, as you'd get the same effect. I present to you that there be a good chance that this substance was brewed in the very depths of hell. Thank You and Good Day.
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post #55 of 66
7/17/12 at 8:58am
A*men
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post #56 of 66
7/17/12 at 9:31am
Anything Nautica, especially Blue. A lot of people really despise tjis one but I actually enjoy it.
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post #57 of 66
7/17/12 at 9:38am
Bond no. 9 which I love get hammered but doesn't curb my enthusiasm
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post #58 of 66
7/17/12 at 9:42am
+1 for Aqua Di Gio.
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post #59 of 66
7/17/12 at 2:08pm
Kouros, Jicky and Muscs Koublai Khan
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post #60 of 66
7/17/12 at 2:29pm
I do understand the hate for Bleu de Chanel. I think it smells great.
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