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can you smell the difference

post #1 of 18
1/13/13 at 3:44pm
Thread Starter 
Between American, French, an Italian perfume? How can you tell them apart?
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post #2 of 18
1/13/13 at 3:55pm
I can't by smell. I read the labeling or research the company.
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post #3 of 18
1/13/13 at 5:15pm
It's fun to generalise:

American - often clean, often linear

French - often develops the most / generally not linear

Italian - tendency toward herbaceous and citric notes

Really though it's a house by house, and often fragrance by fragrance assessment that's required. Generalising based on the country of origin won't get you far.
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post #4 of 18
1/13/13 at 5:33pm
Thread Starter 
True I guess it would does not really matter although I think American perfumes are safer and not as floral as French. And Italian seem to be more rich with herbs, woods, and citrus.
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post #5 of 18
1/13/13 at 6:04pm
What laph said.
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post #6 of 18
1/13/13 at 6:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by laph View Post

It's fun to generalise:

American - often clean, often linear

French - often develops the most / generally not linear

Italian - tendency toward herbaceous and citric notes

Really though it's a house by house, and often fragrance by fragrance assessment that's required. Generalising based on the country of origin won't get you far.

Agree with you. And those from the USSR tend to use very heavy scented fragrances.
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post #7 of 18
1/13/13 at 6:39pm
American - Boring and fresh

French - In your face and different

Italian - citrus and fresh

Arabian - Incense

Asian - Oriental

- - - Updated - - -

American - Boring and fresh

French - In your face and different

Italian - citrus and fresh

Arabian - Incense, roses, saffron and woody

Asian - Oriental, woody, spices, incense, balmy
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post #8 of 18
1/13/13 at 7:22pm
I dont think anyone can tell the difference by blind testing.
What fragrances are American besides small niche companies based here and Lauder/Aramis?
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post #9 of 18
1/13/13 at 7:34pm
Agree with previous posts. Most perfumes are now developed by aromachemical companies in the same places, usually in France. But traditionally, I agree that Italian perfumes tended more towards fresh herbal and citric (as exemplified by the old Pino Silvestre) and Americans by a certain boldness and confidence, which in more recent decades became more resolutely clean. I guess American is not only Estee Lauder, but also many designers like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger etc.

cacio
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post #10 of 18
1/13/13 at 7:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hednic View Post

I can't by smell. I read the labeling or research the company.

This.
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post #11 of 18
1/13/13 at 7:39pm
I wouldn't say American fragrances are "boring" just less offensive and safer. We tend to lean more towards Sporty frags
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post #12 of 18
1/13/13 at 7:42pm
It doesn't work like that.

You could have an American company that has hired a French or of French decadence making the perfume.

Is it a hybrid? An American perfume? French?
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post #13 of 18
1/13/13 at 7:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by laph View Post

It's fun to generalise:

American - often clean, often linear

French - often develops the most / generally not linear

Italian - tendency toward herbaceous and citric notes

Really though it's a house by house, and often fragrance by fragrance assessment that's required. Generalising based on the country of origin won't get you far.

I think it is possible to guess what house a fragrance is from. There are some fragrances that can be identified as one of a kind. Anyone who smelled Aventus should be able to tell it from other scents. Same logic for AdG, TF scents, HM, Hermes, A*Men, ect.

This is like guessing what company makes a suit without looking at the label. I think it is possible to tell Brioni from Armani from Boss from RL just by looking at the design, feeling the wool, looking at lapels, looking at pockets, ect. Each house has their designers, and its possible to identify the creator of a product with enough familiarity. Creators tend to use the same style repeatedly across different products.
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post #14 of 18
1/13/13 at 8:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cacio View Post

............. I guess American is not only Estee Lauder, but also many designers like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger etc.

I totally blocked those out of my mind.....
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post #15 of 18
1/13/13 at 9:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cacio View Post

I guess American is not only Estee Lauder, but also many designers like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger etc.

What about Tom Ford?
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post #16 of 18
1/13/13 at 10:51pm
I can only tell the difference between middle-eastern style and western style of perfumeries
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post #17 of 18
1/14/13 at 2:16am
Maybe we should ask Karl Lagerfeld..

He designs Fendi for Milan,
Chanel for Paris,
and Karl Lagerfeld for New York.
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post #18 of 18
1/14/13 at 10:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kagey View Post

What about Tom Ford?

Tom Ford is my favorite house. I can instantly tell when I am sniffing something from his line of fragrances. The private line is rich, deep and full flavored! If I had to only pick one house to get frags from, it would be Tom Ford.
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