I really enjoyed this fragrance, it opens with a deep, spiced mandarin infused with ginger and some earth from vetiver and patchouli. It's nothing like Hermes TDH by the way, despite the similar notes, Eau d'Aromes isn't dry it's fuller, warmer and almost incense like. Very impressive considering I'm not that fond of the original, Nuit I'll have to try again and Cedre was downright disappointing. I'm glad I like one of this range but it's nothing super remarkable, it's quite the smooth, crowd pleaser really. Also, the longevity was an issue, not the worst in the world but only lasted a few hours before becoming a very low humming skin scent. All in all I have to be positive and say this Armani was worth a sniff for sure and if it was dirt cheap in a sale or something, I'd get a bottle.

Thank heavens Givenchy don't completely follow in the footsteps of other designer brands because when you think about it Pi and Play are quite unconventional male fragrances and then they have older classics like Gentlemen and Xeryus. The original Gentlemen Only is inoffensive and has never compelled me to purchase but this flanker of a flanker (of sorts) I have to say I really enjoyed. I don't really know what it is about casual chic that I was so impressed with because it's pretty standard fare. I think I was just glad it was a gagging, confused mess. The opening focuses on a peppered, fizzy gin & tonic juniper vibe which is just as refreshing as citruses and coupled well with the ginger which is fresh and spicy at the same time. I immediately associate that feeling with Dior Homme Sport a fragrance I rarely wear but when I do always enjoy. The base seems to be a more grown up hint of smokey birch and synthetic cedar which is masculine and works well behind those top notes. Lasting power is average and silage light but I'd say this is a decent fragrance and surpassing the original for sure in my book.

This fragrance is quite the enigma. It has a strange but familiar blend of characteristics one being a creamy sandalwood, guaic and oud splendor, a sweet vanilla and cinnamon, which becomes more evident as it dries down and similar to 24 Gold or Raghba, and a soapy floral element too. The powdered woods in the opening to me point towards a hint of rose but apparently it's not listed in the notes here? Something is giving quite a strong floral effect and I accept it could be jasmine, whatever it is it's very nice. This fragrance grabbed me as utilizing lots of middle eastern techniques and just had an overriding opulence which I love and would attribute to many more elusive and expensive fragrances. This fragrance is so far up my street it's ridiculous! I was so impressed in fact that I bought Khalis Oudi on the spot. Great performance a wonderful enveloping smell but without cloying or being too strong, I give this fragrance top marks and a welcome addition to the collection. Oh and on a side note, a really well package fragrance I throw nearly all my boxes away unless they are niche and very special, I still wouldn't keep this one but its nicely decorated. The bottle has actual cinnamon inside which I think is a nice touch and although I detect it in the scent it's not that prominent. This is the Lataffa for you if you like what Raghba has to offer without being too sweet, just get Khalis Oudi it's magnificent.

To quote that guy from Man Vs Food... "Oh my goodness...OH...MY...GOODNESS!" I've finally got this fragrance, blind bought as I couldn't find it anywhere in the UK, despite Bentley being a overtly British brand. I couldn't be happier unwrapping the satisfyingly chunky bottle and well thought out cap design, smelling a slight remnant on the sprayer as I was doing so. The first sparay to me was a magic carpet ride of sandalwood and spices and L'air du desert marocain immediately sprung to mind. It stays that way for ten minutes or so then becomes a boozier more amber focused manly scent. I'd say it's a beutiful fresh faced, love child of LDDM, Dirty English, Lubin Idole, and Tom Ford for Men...maybe with a hint of Amouage Epic in there for good measure. I think it's the incense and greasy (in a good way) drydown that reminds me of Amouage, praise indeed. Well , I've boarded the hype train well and truly, very glad I listened to the countless reviewers and champions of this fragrance on fragrantica, Tony T not least of them. When many informed people get behind something you pretty much know it has special qualities to offer, doesn't make you a sheep or weak minded. If I thought this was a dud or had no merit even if it wasnt to my tastes....I would just say so. Thankfully, Bentley Intense is an amazing fragrance, truly a wonderful addition to my wardrobe and something I will reach for in the future. Perfromance/silage and projection seem pretty good so far....It's a winner this one. Update: thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed wearing this fragrance today, what a treat it is. Good lasting power more complexity in the drydown, sweet booziness a hint of vanilla, rum n coke, Baldessarini Ambre/chambre noire...and an earthy patchouli. This fragrance is quite simply show stopping and I'm well and truly in love.

I thought I had reviewed this when it came out, turns out I didn't and subsequent re sampling has not changed my mind about Intenso. It's opens quite nicely if not generically with that lavender tinged aquatic vibe straight from the original D&G Pour Homme. I was a fan in the nineties but I think I've outgrown the original Pour Homme. The problem with Intenso is the attempt to shoehorn in some deeper, more sensual notes of Amber and tobacco. The problem is the 'tobacco' doesn't smell accurate and clashes with the whole fresh appeal of Pour Homme. The same argument could be made for Amber only to a lesser extent. Initially quite nice, then after 1/2 hour or so I found it irritating and sour on my skin. The longevity is pretty poor but don't get me wrong I can't say I hate Intenso, it's far from offensive, just not very good.

The opening is very green and juicy conveying something similar to a fig like smell but with somewhat of a lavender and violet powdery vibe. This one settles to something far less interesting, a lightly spiced soapy vibe of vetiver and geranium but with a bitter muskiness. I get the pink pepper not much anise though, it's a bit toothless to be honest and is a little confused...or confusing? I say that because I liked the opening then I hated the mid of this fragrance and now it's dried down to a whimpering skin scent it actually smells really good. The problem is it's barely there, I have to say it peaked my interest, transitioning absolutely so that's something at least.

I'd love to echo some of the positive reviews here and say that this new release from Armani is an antidote to the bland designer releases we are constantly subjected to but sadly I can't. I wanted to like this the minute I saw the bottle and was kindly furnished with 3 sample vials but it is sadly lacking and not really the classic cedar I had hoped for. It's a modern accord of fresh citrus opening, synthetic or faux, leathery, violet, sage...lavender...herbal...I don't know what? The composition is a little muddled for me and when settled becomes a clean spicy cedar and cardamom...but 'something' is just off about it...and that I actively don't like. Rare because I'm fairly easily impressed and like to think I go easy on many fragrances, slated by other critics in the fragrance community but nothing about Armani Eau de Cedre makes it stand out from the crowd. That would even be okay if it had something I liked in there to redeem it but it doesn't. I've tried it in store and once at home but I will persevere with my samples and who knows? perhaps I'll change my mind about it? For now though I'm not impressed.

Well, I'd seen a couple of YouTube reviews before I got my nose on this and I have to say I didn't have high hopes. The general concensus was that "...it's okay." and I have to say I think the same. It starts out with a fruity, fresh accord which I can't really attribute to the fruit (which I've never heard of before) but nevertheless is very pleasant. There is warmer tones and perhaps some ginger? But the scent inevitably turns into a generic smel that is vaguely reminiscent but hard to place. If usually jump on the bandwagon of haters and say ..."why can't the designer game come up with something original for a change?" Or words to that effect. Well...do you know what? As long it's not awful I'm going to can that kind of rhetoric. Boss have made a scent which maybe uninteresting but is it bad? No...it dries down to a vaguely boring lavender, and spiced rum accord mixed with a clean artificial musk/Ambery vibe, which in essence is a crowd pleasing, chemical blob, neither one thing or another but as such appeals to most (well not most Fragranticians it would seem?) is pretty warm and nice and actually lasts about 4 hours, projecting mildly. I've no hate for this one only luke warm "meh"

This is an amazing smelling fragrance absolutely top marks to Aramis for making something fresh and accessible, without the usual generic trates. It opens fresh, and even a little green but instantly sweet and uplifting with that combination of resins, elemi, mastique...etc...combined with juniper making for a really sparkling opener. The fragrance is warm boozy and with some sweetness too but it's not easy to discern notes, apart from the apparent balsamic, incense vibe. Aramis black is never a cliche though and I can honestly say these notes are a breath of fresh air making for a unique opening. I'm afraid the bad news is the performance...absolutely pathetic and I coated myself in the stuff!!! I could still smell it faintly but very disappointing considering how good this stuff smells. I've put myself down as wanting a bottle but I'd only get it out of the bargain bin. This is not an exaggeration on my part I'm usually forgiving even to the weakest of scents but this one does die down very quick...it might just be my skin...who knows? Don't get me wrong the opening is fantastic though so I'd recommend you at least check it out for yourself.

I've been familiar with this one for years, my dad never owned it or anything (at least I don't think he did?) but I distinctly remember sampling it on a market stall when I was about 12 and not really liking it. Well I think my tastes have changed because I don't think Pino has a great deal. To say it smells of pine doesn't really do it justice as a composition. It has that fresh juniper and pine in the opening which also has green notes of basil and mint. The main thing I get though is a tough, spiced, anise note which has to be coming from carnation. The drydown is a pine/cedar/mossy affair. I like Pino Silvestre a lot because it is unashamedly a gents fragrance and it's quite sour...maybe that's not the right word? It's pleasant ...but just a bit 'off' You can't argue it's poor on any front... price, performance, or development of notes. I have a bottle now and I'm more than happy to wear it.