Most Underrated/Overrated (Niche Only)

[rogalal]

In terms of Basenotes, as opposed to the real world, I'd say the most over-rated is L'Air du Desert Marocain. With no offense intended to Andy or LADDM, it seems like people constantly recommend it and no one ever says anything bad about it. It's a fine fragrance, but I wonder if it's the first decent incense scent many people here have tried.

I could say the exact same thing about Jubilation XXV, too.

Under-rated: Too many to mention...

[nsamadi]

Domenico Caraceni 1913

It's a pretty good fragrance but after using a quarter of my bottle, I soon found it heavily synthetic and lacking the quality (ingredients) I look for in a fragrance.

[Furriner]

I agree that Jubilation XXV is very overrated here.

The most over-rated niche house ( for me) is L'Artisan.

I really like L'Artisan, actually, but I think Timbuktu is extremely overrated.

[tracerbullet]

Over: Wallstreet
Under: Hermes Jardin su le Nil

[SculptureOfSoul]

Overrated:
Terre d'Hermes (I own it, I like it, but I can't believe it is so frequently and highly recommended here as its synthetic qualities become quite bothersome over time).
Hinoki
Montale (almost all of them)
Tam Dao
Allure Home Sport
Cruel Intentions & Straight to Heaven
Amouage Dia Man
Gucci PH II
MFK Cologne Pour le Soir (save me from the play-doh vat!)
A majority of the Xerjoffs. They are good but not amazing, and very few are particularly original. The ones that are original (Dhofar, Kobe, Modoc) are excellent, the rest are mediocre. The two 'clones' (Oesel = Fleur du Male and Mefisto = SMW) are inexcusable.

Underrated:
L'Artisan Navegar
Let Me Play the Lion
Romance Silver
Givenchy Play Intense
CK Contradiction
Davidoff Adventure (longevity issues? I think people have been sniffing too many Montales lately . Anyhow, this scent is one of my fall favorites and I think it's sesame note along with the heavy dose of spices make this really unique).
RL Purple Label
Kenneth Cole Reaction T-Shirt
Amouage Reflection Woman

[DavidBond007]

overrated: Green Irish Tweed even though it is great and wonderful some people make it out to be like God's fragrance

Underrated: Bois du Portugal by Creed, this is a wonderful fragrance one of the best they ever made and does not get the credit it deserves in my humble opinion.

[Tony the Tiger]

Overrated: Terre d'Hermes and Acqua di Parma Colonia Assoluta
Underrated: Floris Eau de Santal and L'occitane

[Matthew]

So, Guerlain is considered niche? I had always considered them very mainstream - but I sometimes have trouble with these distinctions!

[supperman]

So, Guerlain is considered niche? I had always considered them very mainstream - but I sometimes have trouble with these distinctions!

Good point, but I guess their exclusive line can be considered niche.

[WindyCity1014]

WindyCity, I hope you're not concluding that Guerlain is overrated simply because you don't particularly like the style of them or they don't work for you.

Underrated: Thierry Mugler Miroir Miroir Collection, The Armani Prive l'Eaux's, Biehl Parfumkunstwerke MB02, Le Labo Bergamotte 22, Nasomatto Silver Musk, Mure et Musc Extreme, SL Five O'Clock Au Gingembre, Mark Buxton Black Angel, Escentric Molecules

Overrated: Nasomatto Duro, Frapin Caravelle Epicee, CDG Zagorsk, Miller Harris, SL Iris Silver Mist, Knize Ten

Edit: I always struggle with these types of threads because they seem to be just a place for people to pump up their favorites and bash those that they don't like, there's no objectivity involved. So, when I see people mention things like: I like it and own it , but find it overrated or something similar, it makes me happy to know that people are capable of separating taste from quality. The many mentions of Creed being overrated lead me to believe that there are a good number of people who haven't found a Creed that works for them, so they lash out at its popularity.

Don't take it so seriously, this thread is just meant to be a fun discussion. Plus, I like finding out about underrated fragrances that I may not have considered before.

[derekp]

In terms of Basenotes, as opposed to the real world, I'd say the most over-rated is L'Air du Desert Marocain. With no offense intended to Andy or LADDM, it seems like people constantly recommend it and no one ever says anything bad about it. It's a fine fragrance, but I wonder if it's the first decent incense scent many people here have tried.

Could you please list a few others you consider decent? I was pretty sure I'd not find an incense scent that I'd like until LADDM (which I still don't enjoy enough to buy).

IDon't take it so seriously, this thread is just meant to be a fun discussion. Plus, I like finding out about underrated fragrances that I may not have considered before.

I'm enjoying the spirit of this thread for just that reason. Glad to see people aren't getting defensive for the most part.

Here's a couple more I thought of....

Overrated: Oud in any shape or form.
Underrated: MDCI (probably due to the preposterous pricing)

[scentsitivity]

Overrated: Terre d'Hermes.
Underrated: Mazzolari Patchouli.

[Kevin Guyer]

I'll try this:
Underrated/Overrated: Jean Claude Ellena, the most innovative and most repetitive nose working.

[blas]

Overrated: Creed, Bond No. 9, Guerlain, Montale
Underrated: Serge Lutens

[blas]

Overrated: Creed, Bond No. 9, Guerlain, Montale
Underrated: Serge Lutens

[trapper]

overrated: Green Irish Tweed even though it is great and wonderful some people make it out to be like God's fragrance

Underrated: Bois du Portugal by Creed, this is a wonderful fragrance one of the best they ever made and does not get the credit it deserves in my humble opinion.

Bois du Portugal is given a lot of credit here on basenotes, and regarding GIT, I must add that it's much more than that but you must give it a full wear from a fresh bottle not from the sample.

[trapper]

overrated: Green Irish Tweed even though it is great and wonderful some people make it out to be like God's fragrance

Underrated: Bois du Portugal by Creed, this is a wonderful fragrance one of the best they ever made and does not get the credit it deserves in my humble opinion.

Bois du Portugal is given a lot of credit here on basenotes, and regarding GIT, I must add that it's much more than that but you must give it a full wear from a fresh bottle not from the sample.

[sirsmellzalot]

For OVERrated, I'm gonna have to say Dior's Eau Noire (even though there hasn't been much talk of it recently).
For UNDERrated, I'll go with Les Nereides Imperial Opoponax. Utterly intoxicating.

[Surfacing]

Overrated ? Chergui for sure !! Snoozefest at the worst of times.

[WindyCity1014]

For OVERrated, I'm gonna have to say Dior's Eau Noire (even though there hasn't been much talk of it recently).

That hurts.

Overrated ? Chergui for sure !! Snoozefest at the worst of times.

So does that.

[sirsmellzalot]

For OVERrated, I'm gonna have to say Dior's Eau Noire (even though there hasn't been much talk of it recently).
That hurts.

I'm sorry Windy! It's just one of those frags that I "don't get." Too maple-ey syrup-ey for me. I don't get the fascination.

[Candy Perfume Boy]

Overrated: Creed, Bond No. 9, Guerlain, Montale
Underrated: Serge Lutens

I always thought that Serge Lutens was quite highly rated on these boards?

Overrated: It's hard to think of any because I admire everyones enthusiasm for the scents they love.
Underrated: A Travers le Miroir, Ladyboy, Geranium Pour Monsieur, Une Rose and most of the Etat Libre d'Orange line.

[megatropolis]

I definitely agree wholeheartedly with both categories! I have only recently discovered Xerjoff, and the ONE fragrance I have (at the moment, Kobe) is at least as original as anything Serge Lutens has managed to come up with. I do love my Serge Noire though. I feel the same way about Hermessence and H & G, as they are both complex, interesting, and very unique frags. Mega, you have great taste.

Thanks....so I aint just Trippen..LOL

[Maxpower]

Overrated: hmmm. Can't answer this one. There are a few that I don't like (ie GIT, TdH) that others love but not sure I can say they are overrated. If you like them... Then great!

Underrated: SL Arabie

I only say this because it is prolly my favorite and there should be no less than 2 posts a day singing its praises. lol Since there are much fewer than 2 threads per day then I have to say it is underrated. hehehehehe

[Force of One]

Overrated: Bond No. 9
Underrated: Divine

[rogalal]

Could you please list a few others you consider decent? I was pretty sure I'd not find an incense scent that I'd like until LADDM (which I still don't enjoy enough to buy).

Off-topic, but I'd say the 5 CDG Incenses, L'Artisan's Aedes de Venustas, 10 Corso Como, and, if you like LADDM (which I'd like to reiterate that I'm not bashing...), Costes.

But I really love incense frags, so I like many of them. If they're not your thing, these probably won't do much for you.

Oh, and I thought of an answer for underrated: reformulated Carons. They might not be as amazing as they were 50 years ago, but they're still really good and certainly aren't the swill the boards make them out to be.

[buzzley]

I think most fragrances, niche and non-niche, are both underrated and overrated depending on one's point of view, so it's kind of academic to even talk about it.