Taylor Of Old Bond St - Luxury Sandalwood Cologne

[HDS1963]

I smelled this for the first time yesterday.

I bought it today.

There have been few fragrances which have quite blown me away as this one has.

This has got to be one of the best Sandalwood gentleman's colognes out there. It really is THAT good.

I am quite astonished that this is not lauded in every corner of every perfumisto's wardrobe.

It harks back to a glorious era of elegance, where men went to the barbershop and freshened up with this afterwards. They wore immaculately tailored suits and smelled distinguished and elegant.

This Luxury Sandalwood Cologne is described on the box as a "A true gentleman's discreetly fragranced cologne". And that is exactly what it is. But don't think for a second that this lacks longevity or sillage. It announces its presence with a polite cough and then commands your attention, because to ignore it... well, frankly that would be just rude.

What I love most about it is the way it drys down. The sandalwood takes on a creamy warmth to it, but gloriously above it is sweet, sweet rose note with just a hint of spice/pepper to it.
I don't know what the full pyramid to this is - but I swear there is a sweet undercurrent of patchouli in there as well.

Regardless, this should be ranked up there with Heritage, BdP and others as a true gentleman's cologne.

It is fantastic and I heartily recommend it.

And the real clincher?

It's only £16.95 for a 100ml bottle. Shocking. It's worth way, way, WAY more than that.

[TRBeck]

I couldn't agree more. This was the cologne that set me off and got me interested in fragrances. The official pyramid includes lavender, rosemary, jasmine, rose, sandalwood and cedarwood. These last four are easily detectable, and the rosemary is at times, too. It's a somewhat conservative scent but not at all dull and its complexity and gentlemanly nature make it versatile (though it is better suited to the office or dressy occasions than casual wear IMO). Hard to beat for value and great longevity.

[knightowl]

Can anyone compare this with the Trumper version?

[Mudassir]

I smelled it a while back, and found the drydown quite similar to Elizabeth Arden's Sandalwood. Can someone confirm?

[evogel]

I smelled it a while back, and found the drydown quite similar to Elizabeth Arden's Sandalwood. Can someone confirm?

Well, if you are comparing it to the old version of Arden Sandalwood, I'm there.
mudassir, do you know which version of the Arden you smelled? I think the newer one is a shadow of it's former self.

I have never tried any of the Taylor fragrances, this may be the place to start.

[HDS1963]

Well, if you are comparing it to the old version of Arden Sandalwood, I'm there.
mudassir, do you know which version of the Arden you smelled? I think the newer one is a shadow of it's former self.

I have never tried any of the Taylor fragrances, this may be the place to start.

It may well be.

Seriously guys, this is a seriously beautiful cologne. Yes it has a floral and sweet aspect to it, but in such a manner that a man can wear it.

Having recently sold my bottle of Pour Un Homme by Caron because it wasn't elegant enough, this makes that look clumsy by comparison.

I recently reviewed PuH by Caron and I gave it a middle rating because it was technically a superbly crafted perfume, but its execution scent was wise clumsy. I didn't like the lavender and I thought the vanilla sickly sweet.

This, on the other hand is masculine up front but with such a romantic journey into elegant sweetness into the far drydown, where it never turns on you and just fades with quiet assuredness.

A really over-looked masterpiece.

But not any longer, because I am going to champion its cause, and I hope that those who similarly fall under its spell will do too.

[TRBeck]

Can anyone compare this with the Trumper version?

Trumper's is sweeter and creamier, and I detect notes of ginger and cinnamon. I like it a lot, but it is to me not an everyday scent.

Taylor's is a bit drier - the cedar helps here - and has deep (but not overly sweet) floral notes. The result is something elegant enough to be worn on formal occasions but subdued enough to be an office scent. If you've smelled Brooks Bros. 1818, that's close, but it's a touch more leathery than this.

To be fair, I have more experience with Taylor than Trumper, but those are the chief differences I notice with these.

[HDS1963]

Trumper's is sweeter and creamier, and I detect notes of ginger and cinnamon. I like it a lot, but it is to me not an everyday scent.

Taylor's is a bit drier - the cedar helps here - and has deep (but not overly sweet) floral notes. The result is something elegant enough to be worn on formal occasions but subdued enough to be an office scent. If you've smelled Brooks Bros. 1818, that's close, but it's a touch more leathery than this.

To be fair, I have more experience with Taylor than Trumper, but those are the chief differences I notice with these.

I think that's a very good assessment actually.

What makes this soooo good is that it's not too sweet. It's just so well rounded. And my God does it last! I last applied this six hours ago, moderate application and it's still going strong and smelling good.

How this goes so un-noticed and under-rated I think is a crime.

[mikeperez23]

This sounds intriguing.

Do you know if Taylor has a sample program - I couldn't find any info on the fragrances on their website?

[atrac]

Interesting that this thread appeared. It was Sandalwood day for me too!

I bought several bottles of "Woodland" from Bath & Body Works, then ending up smelling "Tricorn" by Caswell Massey and just had to buy that one too. NICE Sandalwood in that one!!!

[mlt.perfume]

This sounds intriguing.

Do you know if Taylor has a sample program - I couldn't find any info on the fragrances on their website?

I e-mailed them once, and I don't think they do have anymore

It's a shame cause I want to try all their stuff!

[the_good_life]

I suppose this is the cologne version of the "Luxury Sandalwood Aftershave Lotion" I have. Which is a very classical English barbershop thing, basically soapy-powdery. I get a brief aromatic citrus top, slightly minty bay, light florals, consipuous clove and a generic woody drydown with some smoky cedar. I was disappointed in it for a lack of a more prominent sandalwood and personally found it not to my tastes - too generic. I feel Crown, Trumper and Penhaligon's are a notch above quality-wise. Glad others are enjoying it though.

[HDS1963]

I suppose this is the cologne version of the "Luxury Sandalwood Aftershave Lotion" I have. Which is a very classical English barbershop thing, basically soapy-powdery. I get a brief aromatic citrus top, slightly minty bay, light florals, consipuous clove and a generic woody drydown with some smoky cedar. I was disappointed in it for a lack of a more prominent sandalwood and personally found it not to my tastes - too generic. I feel Crown, Trumper and Penhaligon's are a notch above quality-wise. Glad others are enjoying it though.

There is a difference between the Cologne and the Aftershave, which is why I bought the Cologne.

The cologne lasts a long time - I don't pick up the mint element at all. It's more of a sweet rose with a peppery top edge that is in the far drydown. I don't get the citrus top either, you get a strong sandalwood top edge which softens to allow the floral heart and base to come through.

I am a big wearer of Penhaligons and would say this is at least as good as their best and is certainly better than the likes of Quercus or Blenheim Bouquet (which I own).

A female friend of mine smelled this on me yesterday and just sighed "Oh God, you smell wonderful, what's that?"

[sniff]

This is really a great scent.Bought a bottle and use in in rotation now.Very nice after a good shave.Gives a mighty nice rich feeling.Unexpected good,listen to the poster,he's right in everything he wrote!

[mikeperez23]

Gosh I can't still believe I have not smelled this one. I just need to buy a bottle already.

[mikeperez23]

Got my bottle in today, I'm gonna wear it tomorrow and report back. Anyone else own this?

[Merely]

Australian sandalwood, I suppose? I haven't explored sandalwood colognes at all since becoming interested in perfumes. I used to use real Mysore sandalwood as part of my morning toilette - I would infuse water with a few drops of the oil and wash my face with it, and run it through my hair. There is nothing like it - alas, it has been years since I last had the pleasure. Having read so many comments about how sandalwood fragrances now are heavily adulterated with lesser woods like cedar to create a sandalwood 'impression' has put me off trying any. But this is worth sampling, you suppose? I'd like to hear a more neutral or critical opinion.

[Marais]

I've given this a full test today. It is a rather unusual EDC in that it features clove very prominently. Once it dies down a bit, after a few hours, the smooth sandalwood is more apparent, in the long-lived drydown. It does smell very natural and the quality is surprising, given the price.

It's a nice scent, but I would have preferred more sandalwood and less spice.

[mikeperez23]

I am afraid to post my impressions of this too quickly but I am not liking it too much initially.

It has a vey strong geranium accord that is present from the very beginning all the way through the basenotes. Is that what all of the comments above about 'rose' are referring to? It's a very old school geranium, nice in a soapy-British-old school way (I happen to **LOVE** No. 88 by Czech & Speake) but it was not expecting this to be a soapy/geranium scent I was expecting this to be woody (as in sandalwood). I waited til the very end to discern the sandalwood and yet I couldn't.

Will be testing again soon, but for now I'm disappointed.