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The best basenotes reviewers ever!

post #1 of 90
1/14/13 at 7:02pm
Thread Starter 
For them we enhance...

Thanks to them we enjoy more...
We have more knowledge... and the task
It is easier
If they weren't, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack!
need them, us newbies, like a cane for the blind!



Thank them!

Which are the best reviewers,

that most helped you?

In my humble opinion...


1) Off-Scenter
with an abysmal knowledge and his matchless sarcasm (really I miss him a lot, already a year ago that disappeared without a trace... I remember I was one week crying...
If I had just copied old dog reviews

(2) Darvant /Alfarom the Italian pair, one all development notes, the other all historical context of perfumery2 geniuses!
Darvant is all wisdom and technicality in perfumery.
How do you make Darvant to be able to smell so many notes in a single perfume?

Alfarom is all common sense, history, humor and prodigious memory mixed with total knowledge of more almost 1000 perfumes!,

Currently there are those who I most consult
Thank you guys
!!! Grazie Ragazzi!!

(3) JTD... pearls in the world of perfumery seen from behind...

And yours?
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post #2 of 90
1/14/13 at 7:31pm
The honorable Mr. Foetidus. . . enough said. . .
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post #3 of 90
1/14/13 at 7:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrcologneguy View Post

The honorable Mr. Foetidus. . . enough said. . .

This. Love reading Foetidus
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post #4 of 90
1/14/13 at 7:38pm
Good one. SirSlarty is another honorable mention.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrcologneguy View Post

The honorable Mr. Foetidus. . . enough said. . .
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post #5 of 90
1/14/13 at 7:39pm
Mr Foetidus - Off-Scenter - Alfarom - drseid - Foustie - and I'm forgetting some.
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post #6 of 90
1/14/13 at 7:43pm
I think Foetidus and Alfarom could be professional reviewers.
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post #7 of 90
1/14/13 at 7:59pm
I really enjoy Alfarom's reviews. They are to the point and precise. But not to say most reviewers are great and doing a grand job.
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post #8 of 90
1/14/13 at 8:06pm
if im not on this list, it doesnt count haha
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post #9 of 90
1/14/13 at 8:06pm
I liked Dollars and Scents too
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post #10 of 90
1/14/13 at 8:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonghpafu View Post

I liked Dollars and Scents too

+1

Quote:
Originally Posted by mrcologneguy View Post

The honorable Mr. Foetidus. . . enough said. . .

+1!

Quote:
Originally Posted by sjg3839 View Post

Good one. Sir Salty in another honorable mention.

+1!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by bgoc View Post

I really enjoy Alfarom's reviews.They are to the point and precise. But not to say most reviewers are great and doing a grand job.

+1!!!

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:
Originally Posted by noirdrakkar View Post

if im not on this list, it doesnt count haha

-1

C'mon, you can't go trolling for votes.
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post #11 of 90
1/14/13 at 8:23pm
Vibert
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post #12 of 90
1/14/13 at 8:39pm
The usual suspects , Alfarom...Foetidus.....Darvant......

my favorite reviewer (though not many ) would be Oh Hedgehog . Very nifty prose coupled with a concise scent acumen
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post #13 of 90
1/14/13 at 8:51pm
Don't forget buzzlepuff
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post #14 of 90
1/14/13 at 8:56pm
HAHA I was just thinking the other day about doing a thread like this. It was because of Alfaroms reviews and his personal recommendations that I asked him to send me.

Alfarom is like a compass in a fragrant world that is so incredibly easy to get lost in. Seriously, he takes the risk out of blind buying. Just check out his wardrobe, point to anything, and you have a winner. If Im ever thinking about blind buying a full bottle, I always check his reviews of it first and if he isnt in to it I dont buy it with out sampling first.

If I cant find a review on something by Alfarom, then the above mentioned Mr Foetidus - Off-Scenter - drseid - Foustie are also excellent reviewers who really know their stuff, and can always be trusted.

That being said everyone who offers a review here on BN and beyond is contributing something useful and I appreciate having found this site and everything it offers. Thanks Basenotes!!!!!!
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post #15 of 90
1/14/13 at 9:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by L'Homme Blanc Individuel View Post

+1



+1!



+1!!



+1!!!

- - - Updated - - -



-1

C'mon, you can't go trolling for votes.

I like L'Homme Blanc Individuel's reviews he's very descriptive and honest. Not bias at all, he likes what he likes even if it's out of the ordinary.
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post #16 of 90
1/14/13 at 9:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by crispyjuicy View Post

I like L'Homme Blanc Individuel's reviews he's very descriptive and honest. Not bias at all, he likes what he likes even if it's out of the ordinary.

-/+1?
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post #17 of 90
1/14/13 at 9:19pm
I read: Darvant, Alfarom, Foetidus, Kaern, Sir Slarty, Odysseusm, Sunstespawn, JaimeB, Narais, Lucasai, Jack Hunter, Foustie, Diamondflame and many others (in fact when I am interested in a scent I read them all).
I tried to not read Dollars and Scents, but unfortunately he could not answer any question without dumping his always in the same way drawn reviews. I don't see him anymore; what happened?
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post #18 of 90
1/14/13 at 9:22pm
Off-Scenter (sorely missed)
Diamondflame
Foetidus
Alfarom
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post #19 of 90
1/14/13 at 10:17pm
oh. so much to enjoy.

JTD for reviews that read like the very best in art criticism. His incorporation of historic perspective, pop cultural savvy, keen and educated perceptions with a knowledge of the industry and manufacture of scent takes the appreciation of this artform to a serious level.

Oh Hedgehog! for apposite insights and hilarious comments.

Dollars and Scents because I read the reviews in befuddlement: are they the product of a piece of software that automatically generates reviews from note pyramids? or is there a sentient human at the helm??? As the topnotes segue to the awaiting heart, I remain undecided.

Naed_Nitram for the laughs. When he hits stride it's as though PG Wodehouse has reincarnated as a perfume reviewer with wry and accurate observations to make. A hoot!

gimmegreen for a fresh take mostly on ladyscents. She seems to write almost exclusively from her own observation whilst being knowledgeable as well. A rarity.
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post #20 of 90
1/15/13 at 12:09am
All of the above with bells on + Cacio and others ...
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post #21 of 90
1/15/13 at 12:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by noirdrakkar View Post

if im not on this list, it doesnt count haha

I actually was going to mention you. Not biased and we have similar tastes.
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post #22 of 90
1/15/13 at 1:11am
There are many genuinely great reviewers I enjoy reading, yet in my opinion, Naed_Nitram, The Good Life and Odysseusm are my absolute (and personal) favorites.
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post #23 of 90
1/15/13 at 3:08am
There are many but frankly I remember them more by their avatars than their user names, e.g. the Canadian guy with the drawing of a white haired bloke. Always looked out for, as I saw it, the reliable good cop, bad cop team of Foetidus and Off-Scenter. On the board that team is/was? Hednic and Petrucijc (whatever the exact user name is). It's a shame that some stopped posting.
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post #24 of 90
1/15/13 at 3:13am
must_read: alfarom, aromi_erotici, le muchoir de monsieur, hedonist222, Naed_Nitram, Swanky, drseid, ericrico ... heaps more. just love this place, swarm of very talented gentleman with passion oozing all over the url. Thank you guys, you rock.
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post #25 of 90
1/15/13 at 3:16am
Paco Rabanne Pour Homme
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post #26 of 90
1/15/13 at 3:23am
These.

scentemental
Pluran
hirch_duckfinder
Mario Justiniani
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post #27 of 90
1/15/13 at 3:29am
Adding some females to the list of great male reviewers here; Asha, ubuandibeme, & Purplebird.
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post #28 of 90
1/15/13 at 3:29am
You guys are seriously making me blush! I'm humbled and....speechless...

Basenotes still counts a solid bunch of great reviewers/knowledgeable people including:

Vibert/Off-Scenter (the one and only)
Hillaire (much missed)
JTD
Darvant
Naed Nitram
Drseid
Pluran
Mikeperez23
Persolaise
ericrico
The_Good_Life
Hirch-Duckfinder
Foetidus
Kevin Guyer
Redneck Perfumisto
Trebor
Sugandaraja
Diamondflame
Foetidus
Monkeybars
Ubandibeme
Scentemental
Brian Chambers
Hedonist222
Odysseusm
Mr.Reasonable
Petruccijc
Sculpture of Soul
Saripatates
Rubegon
Cacio
Foustie


...to name only a few...


thanks you all!
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post #29 of 90
1/15/13 at 3:34am
Nitram Naed. I would expect to find reviewers with uber knowledge of perfume in all it's aspects and people with good writing skills but his wit and eloquence sometimes transcend the medium. (His drunken shoe salesman review of Cool Water and the zen monk Kenzo PH immediately spring to mind.)
I should also mention the ones who reviews number hundreds or even thousands. You are a great help and I'll always factor in whether, for example Foetidus has given a fragrance the nod when I'm considering trying it.
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post #30 of 90
1/15/13 at 3:36am
Many great reviewers already mentioned , I will add here another great one imo, Bigsly.

I've forgotten another one, Rogalal.
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post #31 of 90
1/15/13 at 4:41am
Too many to mention, but I always scan for these reviewers first. Luca Turin would die to write their reviews!

Alfarom
drseid
JTD
ericrico
Darvant
Foetidus
cacio

My favorite newcomer is Johannes. I rarely agree with him, but his reviews are fun to read because he is so opinionated. Check out his reviews for the laugh factor.
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post #32 of 90
1/15/13 at 4:43am
There are many superb reviewers here and elsewhere that I follow, but below are a handful I particularly seek out and enjoy...

Alfarom
Darvant
Sculpture of Soul
JTD
AromiErotici

That said, I appreciate, read and admire many, many others.
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post #33 of 90
1/15/13 at 4:57am
Indeed. BN has some of the best reviewers who take the guesswork from a fragrance that might interest you. I remember cutting down on my own reviews 'cuz prolific reviewers like Darvant and Alfarom were doing such a splendid job!

Off-Scenter's removal of all his reviews must count as one of BN's worst moments.

Btw does anyone realize Naed Nitram is really 'Dean Martin' spelled backwards? Just a little OT piece of trivia.
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post #34 of 90
1/15/13 at 5:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diamondflame View Post

Indeed. BN has some of the best reviewers who take the guesswork from a fragrance that might interest you. I remember cutting down on my own reviews 'cuz prolific reviewers like Darvant and Alfarom were doing such a splendid job!

Off-Scenter's removal of all his reviews must count as one of BN's worst moments.

Btw does anyone realize Naed Nitram is really 'Dean Martin' spelled backwards? Just a little OT piece of trivia.

Why would he do that?
Being named Martin I always recognize Nitram as my name backwards.
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post #35 of 90
1/15/13 at 7:13am
I'm a big fan of petruccijc's 1-3 word reviews/opinions.

P.S. Where has he been? Haven't seen him in a while.
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post #36 of 90
1/15/13 at 7:57am
I always stop to read anything by Alfarom, Foetidus, Diamondflame, Darvant and Drseid. I don't alway agree with their conclusions, but at least I know I will get an honest opinion that I can relate to. I am looking for information and opinions that I can relate to in reviews and hope I can actually get an idea of what the fragrance is like before deciding to test or not. So many of the online reviewers are so pleasant and non opinionated that you can't tell if the fragrance is worth looking at or not (NowSmellThis for instance). I also check pretty much every review that is written by Octavian at 1000fragrances.blogspot.com, as well as Victoria at boisdejasmin.com - Victoria is the best analyst of fragrance and Octavian is just interesting to read.
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post #37 of 90
1/15/13 at 8:37am
Where's the love for shamu1?!?
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post #38 of 90
1/15/13 at 9:05am
Did Pluran delete some of his reviews? I always enjoyed them, but I'm not sure he's still an active reviewer.

Scentemental is another very good reviewer who, I think, doesn't write many (or maybe any) new ones.

I also like a bunch of the others that have already been mentioned.

- - - Updated - - -

Did Pluran delete some of his reviews? I always enjoyed them, but I'm not sure he's still an active reviewer.

Scentemental is another very good reviewer who, I think, doesn't write many (or maybe any) new ones.

I also like a bunch of the others that have already been mentioned.
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post #39 of 90
1/15/13 at 9:49am
Trebor -- he practically hated all fragrances so his 'thumbs ups' were always noteworthy
Pluran
The Good Life
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post #40 of 90
1/15/13 at 10:13am
I really enjoy reading alfarom reviews to the extent that if I come across something new, I'll look for his name on the reviews and check if he approves it lol

I also enjoy Drseid, Sculpture of Soul and hedonist222 reviews and comments. Hats off to you guys! I learned a lot from you.
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post #41 of 90
1/15/13 at 10:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rüssel View Post

There are many but frankly I remember them more by their avatars than their user names,

I hate to say it, but I'm really guilty of that too.

Anything by Redneck Perfumisto is one of my favorite reads here. Sculpture of Soul too. And Mr. Reasonable.
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post #42 of 90
1/15/13 at 10:27am
In addition to so many of those already mentioned... SomervilleMetroMan, Griff, Mr. G., and mrclrmind. Very helpful.
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post #43 of 90
1/15/13 at 11:12am
Good choices so far, and I appreciate the astute evaluations and lack of hype that many of the leaders provide.

But Im partial to the entertainers:

Oh_Hedgehog
Redneck Perfumisto
Stroll Your Lobster

Cmon guys... its been far too long.
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post #44 of 90
1/15/13 at 11:21am
I particularly like Alfarom and Persolaise... and lots of others too (can't remember all their names)

Some great reviewers here.
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post #45 of 90
1/15/13 at 11:24am
Good choices so far, and I appreciate the astute evaluations and lack of hype that many of the leaders provide.

I’m partial to these entertainers:

Oh_Hedgehog
Redneck Perfumisto
Stroll Your Lobster

C’mon guys... it’s been far too long.
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post #46 of 90
1/15/13 at 12:24pm
A great many, including -

Foetidus.
zztopp.
mikeperez23.
Alfarom.
Asha.
Diamondflame.
Hedonist222.
Teardrop.
Mrclmind.
Cello.
Odysseusm
Mimi Gardenia.
Off-Scenter.
Sugandaraja.
Naed_Nitram.
Quarry.
Ken_Russell
Redneck Perfumisto.
Somerville Metro Man.
Trebor.
Mario Justiniani.
Foustie.
Drseid.
Larimar.
Pluran.
JaimeB.
Caltha.
The Good Life.
Tvlampboy.
Jenson.
SculptureofSoul.
Decillisjl.
Perfaddict.
Joe_Frances.
Darvant.
Ubuandibeme.
Mr.Reasonable.

Respect and thanks

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post #47 of 90
1/15/13 at 12:44pm
Foetidus and Diamondflame have the best overall reviews imo. Shamu1 has a great nose, and is also a great reviewer, but he sticks more to the old school stuff, and powerhouses. Silentrich probably has the nose most similar to mine, and for that, I tend to follow his reviews.

What's best about Foetidus, is he is so accurate, whether you agree or disagree.. and oh so very diverse. Fragrances you have never heard of and hidden gems.

But, in general. I think anyone who puts time into a review should be appreciated.

Even you NoirDrakkar! I am impressed with your forum reviews, they are always helpful to me.

I do however wish that BN would include a thumbs up/thumbs down option for peoples reviews on fragrances, that way, we can see whose is really helpful.
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post #48 of 90
1/15/13 at 1:59pm
The ones that come to my mind right away are:

Off scenter (much missed)
Alfarom
Diamondflame
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post #49 of 90
1/15/13 at 2:52pm
Thank you so much guys. The greatest historical basenoters are in my opinion Foetidus and Off-Scenter. Huge also (not only for the enormous amount of reviews) the contribution from Odysseusm and Sir Slarty.
I appreciate even a lot the really glorious Somerville Metro Man. Great respect for Ubuandibeme and tvlampboy.
Currently great basenoters are first of all in my opinion my friend Alfarom (cultured, knowledged, clear, immediately informed and with an enormous passion for the perfumes), and the really fundamental quartet Drseid, JTD, Ericrico, Diamondflame. Other excellent reviewers/members are Naed_Nitram, Pluran, Cacio, Sugandaraja, Hedonist222, Dollars&Scents, Jack Hunter, Oproust, Trebor, Sculpture of Soul, Redneck Perfumisto, Kaern, mrclmind, Petruccijc, Scentemental, Mario Justiniani, Mr Reasonable, Buzzlepuff, Aromi Erotici, Grottola, Ken_Russell, Asha, Scentologist, Caltha, Bartlebooth, Shamu1, Senore 01, The_good_life, Cello, Bokaba, LifeJazz, IMaverick, Jaime B, Mimi Gardenia and others.
I appreciate also seriously the learned reviews written by the romantic/passionate Foustie and by the lovely Blood-orange.
Sorry cause probably i forget many in this moment. Allured by your compliments cooby.
Bye, bye.
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post #50 of 90
1/15/13 at 3:53pm
Haven't really thought about it but off the top of my head I'd say that blood orange is very thoughtful, very smart, and understands how notes affect us and sometimes have meaning for us. Naed nitram is fun to read and knows what he's talking about. I don't place a lot,of weight on the reviews, which is why the reviews are sort of a vague, amorphous mass for me. Shamu has written some great reviews, some of which are quite memorable, and I think I can recall that Oh Hedgehog writes stuff that I come away from thinking, "Boy do I wish I could articulate myself like he does."

Darvant, Alfarom. Let's see. The pilot. Diamondflame. Another one where I come away from the review feeling like a dummy. And I'm ok with that. Another five years and I might feel qualified to keep up with this group.
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post #51 of 90
1/15/13 at 9:45pm
Sugandaraja has such amazing, broad and vast experience and knowledge. It is always a pleasure to find one of his reviews as I know what to expect and how to translate it for me. Other than that, I find it harder and harder to go through the piles of reviews to find the substantial ones.
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post #52 of 90
1/15/13 at 10:12pm
Foetidus
Naed nitram
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post #53 of 90
1/16/13 at 3:10am
i have read many great reviews and i joined basenotes only becasue of great reviews!! whoever writes and waits for his/her review to be published really wanted to write something and i appreciate it, its not like hyperproduction on other sites!

and there are really great reviewers here, who made their name so to say , i love this site, it feels almost professional !
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post #54 of 90
1/16/13 at 7:32am
Jon, Darvant. Thanks for the kind gesture. I am humbled.
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post #55 of 90
1/16/13 at 8:51am
It's a CRIME that PigeonMurderer hasn't been mentioned yet!
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post #56 of 90
1/16/13 at 9:19am
Being new to BN one year ago, it did not take me long to discover one reviewer whose reviews were consistently spot on. whose style and format were uniform and dependable... ALAFROM!

Thanks Alafrom for your contributions to this community. I'd be wandering around blindly were it not for your insight and and rating system.
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post #57 of 90
1/16/13 at 9:31am
odyssseusm
the good life
foetidus
naed_nitram
diamondflame

tragedy when off-scenter disappeared

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post #58 of 90
1/16/13 at 12:08pm
When I need to know something about a Fragrance, I simply search for Ericrico's and Alfarom's reviews.
And I don't need anything anymore.
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post #59 of 90
1/16/13 at 12:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grungevig View Post

Where's the love for shamu1?!?

I enjoy very much shamu1 reviews as I am an "old school" fragrances lover .
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post #60 of 90
1/16/13 at 12:41pm
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Alfarom is a good gauge for me in terms of liking a fragrance, similar tastes I guess.

Off-scenter for the reviews themselves
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