basenoters hating on 1 million

[Ken_Russell]

In spite of the common outlook on this scent, I actually enjoy it and hardly care about the hype, the negative image etc., as long as I like its notes.

[The_Cologneist]

I don't think it's overly sweet like many others, actually, it has some spicy notes and leather in there, for sure. It's a good "fun" scent, like Magnetism, or Joop!. I see all of these as "clubbing" scents. Nice if you wanna be noticed for sure, but not very versatile. Regardless, a work of art imo, and a groundbreaking fragrance.

[chopwet]

Clearly with packaging like this it's for a very specific audience which doesn't include me. I do not like loud, shiny things.



The fragrance? It's loud, sweet and really nothing special at all. While I don't find it disgusting like some others do, I would just never spend my money on something like this.

One of the reasons it's labelled a club-scent is because many people who go clubbing wear it and indeed, one need only spend a few minutes inside a club to notice that many guys wear it for such occasions. Guys desperate to get noticed. Guys who wear gel in their hair and necklaces outside of their shirts.

[drseid]

It was a scrubber for me as I too found it way too sweet and cloying as mentioned by others. Its popularity, however, plays no role in my dislike. It wasn't for me, but as long as you like it, its all good.

[skism]

i bought a 20ml bottle over a year ago and still have 18ml left lol,i think it's just ok 5/10..

[silentrich]

1 Million is an attention whore. It screams attention whore in every way. I'm sure some people could wear it properly and not over spray, but putting something in the hands of someone who is used to spraying 6 to 8 sprays is like marketing pepper spray as a cologne. It's one of the sweetest fragrances you can put on which makes it polarizing. I think it does get bashed a lot on here, but if you like it then it shouldn't matter.

[martinijo]

I kind of agree with you Noirdrakkar.
I don't wear it myself but as far as big hype, in yer face recent frags go I think it has to be number one.
Most people I know who have bought a scent recently have bought this one because they loved it and liked the fact that it "didn't smell old fashioned".
I sometimes wonder how I would feel towards it if I hadn't had a Basenotes education for the last year or two. (And if I wasn't in my forties).
Anyway my scent of the day is Worth Pour Homme.

[Jack Hunter]

It's to loud and sweet for my taste too.

[bgoc]

I have no objections to the actual fragrance.

I have problems with the association of this fragrance. It's way too common and some of the people that I have seen wearing this have put me off big time.

Saying that, I may still one day decide to buy!

[ChuckW]

All the haters have spoken on my behalf.

[senore01]

One Million is a victim of its own success. It is not the most natural smelling fragrance, yet it is a good fragrance which is loved by millions of teenagers and mature men throughout the world.

[hreple]

I actually haven't sampled it, even though I guess I've had the possibility several times the last year. Some of the reason for that is definitely the reviews stating that this is a sweet and cloying fragrance.

At the same time, I'm pretty into the whole bottle-design and looks of my collection, and I'm wondering if I would even have it in my collection due to the looks. I know, judging the book by its cover is a terrible decision, but still, is it something in it when it comes to that beyond horrible package of a god damn gold bar?

I also associate it with people I really don't care for all that much. I'm not into the whole "clubbing" scene, and got fed up by it way back when I did some dj'ing here and there (just a couple of gigs, nothing major). For me, the clubbers often (but obviously not always) tend to be somewhat simple-minded in their likes and not likes. I'm pretty sure I don't want to be "one of them".

I should really try it out just to see if I like it, but I'd probably still try to find something similar with niche qualities rather than go for 1 million. Why? I tend to like those "last" 10% improvements a niche fragrance often brings over the designer equivalent (hello CW vs GIT etc).

I like the topic and the op's observations though, and I'm pretty sure lots of readers will develop a disliking to something if it's bashed enough, regardless of that being the truth about the fragrance or not. After all, it's all in the eye of the beholder, not Luca Turin or respected Basenoters.

[The Bark]

Never smelled it. Also never understood why some people are obsessed with the opinions of others. If you like the scent, great! Otherwise, it looks like one has an issue with being accepted...

[Possum-Pie]

There are those who don't like it b/c they truly don't like the smell, fair enough. BUT there are always those who don't like it b/c it is popular with the common man. I like and own it. I get more compliments with it than from GIT.

[Matheau]

I bought it when it first came out in the UK, enjoyed it for a bit but then a few years later stopped wearing it altogether.

I'm far from a fragrance snob, I don't own a single niche fragrance and I think the only one I've bothered to try is GIT. However the fact that every single little 16 year old kid is dousing themselves in 1 Million these days renders it unwearable for me. I don't care if that seems shallow that I associate what is/was an exciting youthful fragrance with a certain type of person but that's all it has become for me.

Perhaps in 10-20 years I'll sample it again and enjoy it, but when I see the type of people who attack everyone's personal space at clubs with this stuff I just can't enjoy it any more.

[SculptureOfSoul]

The sweet, almost butterscotch like note in this one is just a bit too prominent. Odd, as I think that same chemical is in one of my absolute favorites, Harrods Oud Patchouli, but there it feels more integrated to me.

I'm not calling out anyone in particular or pointing fingers, but I do sense the community as a whole, especially many of the big blogs, automatically give the short shrift to many scents based on the brand/heritage of the scent in question. Of course, their readership expects - dare I say almost demands such. I see so many scents slagged before they are even released if they come from a less prestigious house, and people lamenting things like the presence of a note du jour (eg: pink pepper) listed in the scent, while at the same time a Lutens or some other highly regarded brand launches with the same note, and everybody fawns over it and says things like "Oh, it sounds so interesting!"

The fragosphere, in general, is a huge echo chamber.

[Possum-Pie]

I have never "not worn" something I like simply b/c "kids" wear it. I generally only apply so that I can smell it, so I don't worry if others smell it on me, or others are wearing it. While not the longevity or complexity of a niche, it serves me well. Funny thing...I spent some time looking at wardrobes of some of those complaining that it was "sickly sweet" and they never wear sweet. Many of those same complainers own and like "sickly sweet" niche so...?

[Diamondflame]

There's always a herd mentality within every community. Why should Basenotes be any different? It takes a strong individual to take a stand because he truly believes in it, not because it is expected of him. You love 1 Million and that should be the end of it. Why bother trying to influence a herd? Or does it get lonely being one of the few BNer who loves it?

Personally, I don't care for it. It's just not my preferred style. Clearly personal preference has nothing to do with what the rest of the herd think.

[LEBRON JAMES]

For all of you in Europe and elsewhere in the world, I understand whole heartedly why you would never wear or buy 1 Million. It has the same popularity in Europe as Acqua di Gio has in the United States. Now, I still rarely smell AdG on other guys, but guys in my area dont seem to wear fragrances all that often. The beauty with 1 Million here in the U.S. is that the target audience is males between ages 16 and, say, 25. This demographic will most likely not want to spend $60-$80 usd for a fragrance unless they are plugged into the fragrance community. We are still rockin' axe body wash, deodorant, and body spray. Thats all I really smell. So yu think way too many people have it, but go through an entire day at school or work or the gym, and tally the number of times you actually smell 1 million on another male. I would be suprised if it hit even 3 because I have only smelled it once in the past two years.

[Kron]

I think its one of the more cheap chemical smelling scents out there, Its very well targeted to a certain demographic (15-25) where its primary function is to be loud and noticable and obvious.

Its pretty much the antithesis of everything I'd look for in a fragrance in my early 30's and I don't find it a pleasent smell.

[Rüssel]

Never have (knowingly) smelled it. Too popular and disliking the bottle I have no urge to try it.

Also have not tried Acqua di Gio, Armani Code, The One, most Boss/Calvin Klein, etc...I'm stubborn like that lol.

[Akahina]

I don't like or dislike the fragrance. What I really don't understand is the hate toward any perfume that results in rude rants about a particular fragrance or house. Hate is ugly. Expressing that hate in the worst possible way in any forum is simply a cry for attention. Does anyone really think that getting rude is really going to elevate your own status? Methinks not. If you don't like something, review it and tell us why. Leave the rudeness at the door. Just my opinion...

[PalmBeach]

I think its one of the more cheap chemical smelling scents out there, Its very well targeted to a certain demographic (15-25) where its primary function is to be loud and noticable and obvious.

Its pretty much the antithesis of everything I'd look for in a fragrance in my early 30's and I don't find it a pleasent smell.

Have to agree. I would replace obvious with obnoxious, just like the bottle.

I do not hate any fragrance, but I do dislike fragrances, and this one is high on my list.

[Kaern]

There's always a herd mentality within every community. Why should Basenotes be any different? It takes a strong individual to take a stand because he truly believes in it, not because it is expected of him. You love 1 Million and that should be the end of it. Why bother trying to influence a herd? Or does it get lonely being one of the few BNer who loves it?

Personally, I don't care for it. It's just not my preferred style. Clearly personal preference has nothing to do with what the rest of the herd think.

It's all about taking a stand for the right reasons though. It's similar to wearing terrible clothes or an ill-fitting suit. You are not being 'brave' per se, just 'wrong'. We are not talking idealogies here.

[Kaern]

^^^^^^^^^

[JiveHippo]

It's all about taking a stand for the right reasons though. It's similar to wearing terrible clothes or an ill-fitting suit. You are not being 'brave' per se, just 'wrong'. We are not talking idealogies here.

Nope, don't agree with that comparision. If you wear 1 Million a large majority of people will think you smell good, if a man wears a suit that is 3 sizes too big, or some other form of "terrible clothing", majority of people will think he looks ridiculous. I also don't think it's fair to say someone is "wrong" for liking a fragrance.

[L'Homme Blanc Individuel]

If you like 1 Million, enjoy it. You don't need basenotes approval. I like Corduroy by Zirh. I don't see THAT getting any love here, nor do I care. Why is there so much need for groupthink?

I do not agree with it not being niche quality, so it gets no love.

When I started into fragrance this was one of the many hyped up smell that I never heard of and pretty much told I needed to get my hands on this, which I did then Bam! I could not figure out How in the hell is this considered great Great? It smells rancid!

I had a similar experience, except it doesn't smell rancid to me. It smells way too sweet.

When I first started coming to basenotes last year, any question about which fragrances to try for going on a date seemed to be answered with Pure Malt and 1 Million. I never found Pure Malt locally, but when I sampled 1 Million I was blown away by how sweet it was. Way too sweet and way too loud for my tastes.

This is a great example of how snobbish some of us have become here on BN. The quality of a fragrance should not be determined by its popularity.

I don't think that's what's going on here. 1 Million is so sweet and so loud that many - myself included - literally cannot handle it.

I think that 20 years from now, the fragrance community will look back on this era and think of hyper sweet scents with cheesy looking bottles as the parachute pants of perfumes. Way too loud, way too desperate for attention. There's a difference between wanting to smell good and needing to use one's scent as a bullhorn.

On the other hand, viewing scents like 1 Million and Gucci Guilty from a marketing standpoint, I think they're both sheer genius. They reinvigorate a brand with an influx of attention and younger customers.

[Cylob]

[Matheau]

Nope, don't agree with that comparision. If you wear 1 Million a large majority of people will think you smell good, if a man wears a suit that is 3 sizes too big, or some other form of "terrible clothing", majority of people will think he looks ridiculous. I also don't think it's fair to say someone is "wrong" for liking a fragrance.

A large majority of people I interact with on a daily basis, myself included, don't.

It's become a victim of it's own success in certain circles. Sure it's still a top seller but so are these cheap and tacky chinos I see everyone wearing around my age here in the UK, the majority think they serve a purpose and look good in them, but personally I can't stand them just like I can no longer stand 1 Million.

A better example (and one perhaps the US reader can identify with) would be RL polos. Seen as somewhat exclusive and fashionable for a number of years then preppy pre-teens get a hold of their parent's wallet and suddenly that's what the brand is more often than not associated with (For people the same age as me anyway).

It's just such an obvious fragrance, and personally whenever I smell it on someone now I just see a walking cliche, the same obnoxious 16 year old kid violating everyone's personal space.

[noirdrakkar]

Well, LBI, if I had zero concern about the opinions about the community, I wouldn't be here posting at all. And that applies to everyone here as well.

I think this is more representing of the overall attitude of niche vs designers. There are plenty of people who genuinely dislike 1 million (or have distanced themselves from it). But unfortunately, many people shift their opinion based on what the niche community programs them to believe.

I may like One Million because I'm younger. I'm 21. I'm more open minded than most of my age demographic, but in the end, I am younger. I don't know if I'll be wearing this when I'm 40, but for now, I see it as a masterful fragrance.