The honorable Mr. Foetidus. . . enough said. . .
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?
The honorable Mr. Foetidus. . . enough said. . .
Last edited by sjg3839; 15th January 2013 at 02:04 PM.
I think Foetidus and Alfarom could be professional reviewers.
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.
Life is too short to sample. Buy Blind| I am generally not interested in batch hunting or weak fragrances.
[UK] - FÈVE DÉLICIEUSE splits
Top 10 in no particular order:
Amouage - Epic Man
Montale - Black Aoud
Montale - Aoud Lime
Boucheron - Jaipur pour homme edp
Hermes - Terre d'Hermes pure parfum
Thierry Mugler - A Men Pure Malt
Serge Lutens - Ambre Sultan
Rochas - Lui
Davidoff - Cool Water
Mancera - Cedrat Boise
if im not on this list, it doesnt count haha
I liked Dollars and Scents too
Current Favorites (in no particular order)
Castile
Royal Oud
APOM
CurveAqua Universalis
Prada L'Homme
Petit Matin
Aqua Celestia1725 Casanova
Tom Ford Extreme
Hanae Mori H.M. EDT
Terre d'Hermes Parfum
Vibert
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
Don't forget buzzlepuff
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!!!!!!
Current Favorites (in no particular order)
Castile
Royal Oud
APOM
CurveAqua Universalis
Prada L'Homme
Petit Matin
Aqua Celestia1725 Casanova
Tom Ford Extreme
Hanae Mori H.M. EDT
Terre d'Hermes Parfum
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?
Off-Scenter (sorely missed)
Diamondflame
Foetidus
Alfarom
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.
All of the above with bells on + Cacio and others ...
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.
Last edited by Ken_Russell; 15th January 2013 at 08:44 PM.
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.
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.
Paco Rabanne Pour Homme
These.
scentemental
Pluran
hirch_duckfinder
Mario Justiniani
Formerly known as Inselaffe
Adding some females to the list of great male reviewers here; Asha, ubuandibeme, & Purplebird.
"What is this secret connection between the soul, and sea, clouds and perfumes? The soul itself appears to be sea, cloud and perfume..." - from Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis.
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!
Last edited by alfarom; 15th January 2013 at 11:06 AM. Reason: typos
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.
Many great reviewers already mentioned , I will add here another great one imo, Bigsly.
I've forgotten another one, Rogalal.
Last edited by Ciprian; 15th January 2013 at 10:43 AM.