Poorly reviewed fragrance that you like?

[dagawami]

I'm sure you all have encountered fragrances that are very well-reviewed but that you just didn't like. What about the reverse - fragrances that you like a lot but just can't understand why they are so poorly reviewed?

*As a general guideline, poorly reviewed means either fewer than 50% of the total reviews are positive, or the public is so indifferent to it that it has very few reviews.

[Rüssel]

Fahrenheit 32. Slightly more than 50% positive.

Bvlgari Aqva Marine
23 Positive Reviews • neutral 20 Neutral Reviews • negative 18 Negative Reviews

[frostyicy]

Bond no.9 Hamptons comes to mind.

16+
17-
7 neutral

[Ken_Russell]

Another vote for Fahrenheit 32, also, On El- yes, it is vapid and with poor longevity, but even this adds little setbacks to the actual pleasantness of this scent's notes.

[tonghpafu]

Exceptional for Men

Kidding!

[DuNezDeBuzier]

http://www.basenotes.net/ID26129620.html

Serge Noire - at 22/11/11. It's really not the numbers as much as the reviewers that found it less than positive and their reasons. Surprising. Regardless of the lukewarm reception, I went ahead and bought after sampling and am glad I did. Sometime, I can't shake the feeling that I'm experiencing a very different scent than the picture that is painted in some reviews... and this is one of them.

[Diamondflame]

http://www.basenotes.net/ID26129620.html

Serge Noire - at 22/11/11. It's really not the numbers as much as the reviewers that found it less than positive and their reasons. Surprising. Regardless of the lukewarm reception, I went ahead and bought after sampling and am glad I did. Sometime, I can't shake the feeling that I'm experiencing a very different scent than the picture that is painted in some reviews... and this is one of them.

A HUGE +1 on Serge Noire. I'd wear it even if mine was the only positive review.

[foetidus]

+2 on Serge Noire. My review was a luke-warm thumbs up, but I bought SN anyway and in wearing it, it has become one of my top five of all time!

[renperd]

FCUK HIM (original)

[drseid]

Coeur de Vetiver Sacre by L'Artisan (2/7/1). I think a lot of folks were expecting a more pronounced vetiver heart and less spiced Earl Grey Tea... I love Earl Grey, and I love Coeur de Vetiver Sacre too.

[hednic]

Original Aoud

[mlsweeney]

Cefiro by Floris and Joop! Homme by Joop!

I won't defend Joop! Homme, I think it deserves to be slightly negatively reviewed just because it's so risky but I like it.

I don't get why Cefiro was so negatively reviewed. People complained about it being too feminine or too generic. It is a very feminine fragrance but of all of the fragrances I've worn, this has received the most compliments. I don't think it's generic at all, if you were to ask me what a generic citrus scent would be I'd have to go with LIDG. I've only wore it once though so it's an early "no" for me right now.

[Richaki]

Beyond Paradise Men

Not a 5 star scent however I do like this one.

[dougczar]

Exceptional for Men

Kidding!

+ 1. I would never buy it since it is really not my cup of tea, but the sample I tried really wasn't bad. Most negative reviews are probably due to where it came from. A solid neutral IMO.

[jeightseven]

Bleu de Chanel.

One of my favorite cool weather daytime scents.

[Renaissance_Man]

Roberto Cavalli man
Lemon, ginger, lavender, myrrh, leather, musk.

[Bartlebooth]

Crave by Calvin Klein. This is normally the type of fragrance I just know I will hate, but for some inexplicable reason I just smile when I encounter it. The fragrant equivalent of an ohrwurm.....a nasenwurm?

[Sylver]

JPG Kokorico -> i actually find the combo of green notes + cocoa quite unique.
T. Mugler Pure Shot -> i am one of the lucky ones that get very good longevity and projection out of it. I like its smell and received quite some number of compliments.

[Miket]

I'm sure you all have encountered fragrances that are very well-reviewed but that you just didn't like. What about the reverse - fragrances that you like a lot but just can't understand why they are so poorly reviewed? *As a general guideline, poorly reviewed means either fewer than 50% of the total reviews are positive, or the public is so indifferent to it that it has very few reviews.

Setting vintages aside that would be maybe half of the fragrances I own.

Off the top of my head: Lanvin's Avant Garde gets awful reviews and I'm quite fond of it, while their reformulated Vetyver was so widely poo-poo'd it was discontinued and I dig that too, Mandarina Duck Pure Black is one of my favourite modern designer scents and has less than ten reviews here, Cologne du 68 is another and it has maybe one review, D&G la Roue de la Fortune which I'm currently in love with gets poo-poo'd a lot as well, Chopard's Noble Cedar (divine!) is pretty much universally ignored and Noble Vetiver fares little better, while the Montale's I most love: Sandflowers and Wild Pears don't get much attention or love.

A lot of niche stuff I like doesn't get big love, but above two fragrances I paid $750 (shipping included) for namely Shaik no.77 and no.33, and which my wife and I were married wearing have only a single negative review between them, and an incredibly negative review at that. Though they get a bit more love on Fragrantica. However I see these are being about as good as perfume gets and mean to buy the rest of the range when I can.

The only time reviews annoy me though (although unfortunately this happens quite a lot) is when someone will say exactly the same about two fragrances yet in one review it's a good thing and in another it's a bad thing. For example I see quite a few negative reviews on BN which conclude that 'it's clean, fresh and inoffensive and thus boring stupid and worthless.' but then flip to something popular, say Mugler Cologne, and suddenly, 'it's clean, fresh and inoffensive and that's why it's a work of genius!' gotta love the group-think.

[MapOfTheWoods]

Roberto Cavalli man
Lemon, ginger, lavender, myrrh, leather, musk.

Yes. This one surprised me. I read a lot of negativity on it, but when I tried it, I was hooked. I can see how it would not be somebody's cup of tea, Cavalli Man (and Cavalli for Women) really do have something special going for them. You wear it, and it's virtually impossible to smell bad.

- - - Updated - - -

Azzaro Decibel.
I fought it and fought it. My girlfriend won in the end. I bought a bottle. I whined about the hype, and the fact that it just felt wrong... I wore it a few times. I now really enjoy this smoky, spicy, sweet gourmand fragrance, and it works very well in the winter. It's not as youthful as it's being made out to be, since I would personally find it hilarious to smell Decibel on a teen.

[THEREALJWIL]

JPG Kokorico -> i actually find the combo of green notes + cocoa quite unique.
T. Mugler Pure Shot -> i am one of the lucky ones that get very good longevity and projection out of it. I like its smell and received quite some number of compliments.

+ a BIG #1 to PURE SHOT
it has been hated ever since it came out.....it is a good good quality like most if not all of the Mugler for men scents
Bad reputation but it is VERY underrated

[AntonPan]

Fahrenheit 32
Davidoff Hot Water

[bigsteve]

This one gets a bad rap, but my wife and I really like it. Just wish the longevity was a bit better

[dougczar]

I just thought of another that I like quite a bit and seem to be alone on -- Dolce & Gabbana The One Sport. A wonderful sport fragrance (yes, a little soft, but the scent is quite good IMO).

[Jridgen]

Reflection Man by Amouage

[Dane77]

Chanel Jersey... gets 3/2/5 here and dismal reviews on most blogs. I like it a lot - not the best Exclusif, sure, but a rewarding intricate lavender, nonetheless...

[Odorloader]

Pure Shot
Fahrenheit 32

[Bossa Nova]

Legend/Mont Blanc

[silentrich]

I Am King. Ridiculous name, horrid longevity, poor projection, celebrity scent, zero complexity, and sold in drugstores. Should hate it, but I don't.

[mrcologneguy]

Serge Lutens L'Eau. Usually written off as "boring, fresh," it's actually high quality, subtle and complex.