Is it safe to say the king of gourmands is

[Stew]

LIDGE?

[frostyicy]

I've never smelled it but I'm sure some would beg to differ.

New Haarlem, A*Men, TV... and plenty others would fit for many as well!

It's all personal opinion!

[Jack Hunter]

LIDGE is more of a semi gourmand imo, I think Tobacco Vanille and Frapin 1270 are good full gourmands.

[noirdrakkar]

new haarlem

[Stew]

I've never smelled it but I'm sure some would beg to differ.

New Haarlem, A*Men, TV... and plenty others would fit for many as well!

It's all personal opinion!

I can understand an argument for that in this case since there are a lot of goodies in this category, but sometimes I disagree. If someone says Curve smells better than Tonka Imperiale in their opinion and that it's a matter of personal preference, they might be more in the mood for Curve that day or something about TM makes them personally dislike it, but rational people know what the correct answer is.

[OctaVariuM]

I don't like these "King of ______" threads, since fragrance is totally subjective. For me, I love New Haarlem, TV, Back to Black, Pure Malt, etc. all a LOT.

[fit&frag'd]

Well, I know it's probably my favorite...although I do agree that it's more of a "semi" gourmand. For straight-up gourmand, I'd say New Haarlem ranks very high, and even though I personally also feel Tobacco Vanille is a "semi" gourmand, it's one of the best ever as well. Still though, LIDGE is truly a masterpiece of a fragrance!

[hednic]

It's definitely a very nice scent IMO.

[Dailey]

24 Gold by Scent-Story would give any of 'em a run for their Money ;-)

[Stew]

I don't like these "King of ______" threads, since fragrance is totally subjective. For me, I love New Haarlem, TV, Back to Black, Pure Malt, etc. all a LOT.

Yeah, I don't really like King either. Maybe LIDGE is the Superman of gourmands. (Everyone hopped on the Batman bandwagon after The Dark Knight, but then Bane snapped his back like a twig.)

[drseid]

While gourmands are one of my least favorite categories of scents, I would say, no, there are better in the group.

[Francolino]

don't like gourmands a lot, but yes! that's it...

[jellybean1973]

King of accessible gourmands = A*men

[thebeck]

No it's not safe to say LIDGE is king. It's okay. I'm a gourmand lover, and off the top off my head think of many more that are better to my nose.

Anima Dulcis by Arquiste
Sables by Annick Goutal
Borneo by Serge Luten
Mamluk by Xerjoff
Traversee du Bosphere by L' Artisan
Aomassai and Musc Maori by Pafumarie Generale
Cocoa Tuberose by Providence Perfumes
New Haarlem by Bond #9

......and I wouldn't put the crown on these either.

[Jonty Coppersmith]

Arabie, c'est le roi des gourmands!

[Igorbg]

Great said semi gourmand, can't be called king of grup in which he slips in ( great frag indeed ) ... King could be New Harlem in niche or A*men in designer...

[MarkStar]

Barely a gourmand at all...

[sjg3839]

2nd that!

new haarlem

[Neil4Speed]

24 Gold by Scent-Story would give any of 'em a run for their Money ;-)

Yes Sir! Agreed

The ultimate gourmand (in the true sense) for me is still A*Men.

[scentimus]

Gourmonds need to be made up mostly of food notes and reak of them. L'Instance though a nice scent but too bitter for me doesn't fit that bill. I would say that both Angel and AMen are the archetypical of the Gourmond category

[taint it sweet]

Great scent, but I think there are others that are more deserving. I feel like New Haarlem should definitely be a frontrunner.

[rubegon]

If pressed I'd say A*Men, but I don't think it makes any sense to talk about a king of gourmands.

The queen was crowned 90 years ago when Jacques Guerlain used a crapload of synthetic vanilla to create Shalimar. All the recent masculines are relatively insignificant and at roughly the same level - they're all sort of like the dandies that hang around looking pretty while the queen holds court.

[Kron]

Guerlain Tonka Imperiale surely.

[Primrose]

I would like to enter a new favourite into this category: L'Artisan Traversee du Bosphore.

Turkish delight with roses plus leather. A sweet treat with leather, yet not overly candied.

Perfect for my tastes.

[keagz08]

LIDGE is amazing! Maybe not the "king" but great overall. Definitely NOT A*Men

[The_Cologneist]

To me, the king of gourmands is Rochas Man. It's the most versatile and wearable gourmand I have ever tried; plus I don't know anybody (in my world) who doesn't like it.

[Zgb]

there are no kings but kings of short phases...

[kida2007]

I dont think i've come across the King! Most just arent 100% there yet. LIDGE isnt sweet enough.

["Scentapede"]

I don't like these "King of ______" threads, since fragrance is totally subjective. For me, I love New Haarlem, TV, Back to Black, Pure Malt, etc. all a LOT.

Thats a great point bc everyone's tastes are very different. If we all had the same tastes we would all be walking around with the same clothes on, listen to the same music, like the same women/men, etc....

[Ken_Russell]

L'Instant de Guerlain really might be the king of gourmands for at least one reason: hardly anytime before nor after
did I ever got to know so many fudge-like, candy-like, sweet notes, actually all or most in a pleasant, not too overdone way,
in one single scent.

[silentrich]

I see LIDGE and DHI as semi gourmands also. I'm a huge fan of gourmands, but it's hard to beat these two at what they do. As far as kings go it has to be A*men. The success of the flankers pretty much seals the deal.

[senore01]

I think one of the Kings of the Gourmands is Bond No. 9, New Haalem.

[Profumo Saggio]

Given the subjective nature of fragrances I'm not sure it's ever "safe" to say any fragrance is clearly the best anything. There have already been multiple fragrances mentioned and I'd personally like to say that I really love H.M. and I'm a little surprised it hadn't been brought up til now.

[Diamondflame]

LIDGE? Umm...yes? *ducks a flying tomato*

[rbaker]

Pure Havane - Amen to that!

[Sol invictus]

Surprised no-one has said Spiritueuse Double Vanille yet.

Pure Malt drydown is a lovely caramel.

[comfortablynumbbg]

Full blown gourmand kings: Tobacco Vanille, New Haarlem, Ambre Narguile

not counting stuff like L'Istant Extreme, Dior Homme Intense

[QWERTYOP]

I don't like these "King of ______" threads, since fragrance is totally subjective. For me, I love New Haarlem, TV, Back to Black, Pure Malt, etc. all a LOT.

This. There is no "best" or "top" when it comes to fragrances. Only personal preference.

[Profumo Saggio]

This. There is no "best" or "top" when it comes to fragrances. Only personal preference.

I absolutely agree. Thanks for simplifying a point I was trying to make in a different post.

[nfn1983]

I don't like these "King of ______" threads, since fragrance is totally subjective.

Nice.

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LIDGE is amazing! Maybe not the "king" but great overall. Definitely NOT A*Men

Definitely true, except that I think that A*Men IS a good candidate to be a king here!!!

- - - Updated - - -

To me, the king of gourmands is Rochas Man. It's the most versatile and wearable gourmand I have ever tried; plus I don't know anybody (in my world) who doesn't like it.

To some extent very true!

- - - Updated - - -

Another honorable mentions to me are New Harlem, TV and Pure Havane.

[badarun]

Frapin, Serge Lutens & Parfumeire Generale - all these houses have a few wonderful gourmands...

[juanderer]

I think it's safe to say that it's not safe to say it is.

[SevenDays]

For the mainstream, easily accessible designer scents, I'd say A*Men.

[kimo]

Not even close, it is a light sweet chocolate fragrance. Try Bond No9 Andy Warehole, that is sweet or TF TV

[HAllen]

Surprised no-one has said Spiritueuse Double Vanille yet.

Was just about to say the same thing.

I almost ate my arm when I tested that out for the first time. No other fragrance makes me want to drink it.

[fraghead93]

Aomassai.

[NenMaster]

I do like 24 gold. That smell has a lot of memories attached