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Actually upon revisiting a really smart fragrance from Davidoff. I'm not going to go overboard with praise here but it's a very good woody/citrus for men and has a touch of the spicy to it. Aventure has all the elements a masculine scent needs. It opens with lemon citrus which then translates a bit mandarin orangey which I defy anyone not to like. Pepper, and pimento come though as it settles and in the base is a nice cedar and vetiver. Standard stuff you might think but Antoine Lie has done a stand up job here. I'll be honest the first time I tried it I found it boring, weak and seemed to evaporate in a mist of alcohol but second time around I've changed my mind. Not going to set the world alight but good all the same. Typical of Davidoff really... nothing spectacular just a safe pair of hands and a fool proof choice.
Recently revisited all the Clive Christians and gave them proper skin time to establish whether it was worth forking out a substantial chuck of change...and sadly for my wallet it is! 'v' is an outstandingly unique Frankincense and pepper fragrance with a vague oud base in a condensed summary. However, this doesn't tell the full story the pepper is a prominent, ridiculously dry spicy pepper and the resins are truly the main players in this scent but being a Clive Christian it has an added touch of olfactory sorcery that cannot be analyzed. Akin to dark matter some fragrances contain an unseen construct which can only be perceived of but never quite understood. I really don't relish the fact that I get a bit giddy and teary eyed about CC fragrances. I like to think I remain impartial and unswayed by the regal packaging and inflated price tag...but there truly is a touch of magic in these bottles! Funnily enough I revisited Bois d'encens from Armani in the same week as this one and they do indeed share many similarities. I'd say 'V' goes into some darker more peppered territory, it's definitely heavier and lasts longer on the skin...but they're both great if I'm honest. Despite such a gushing review I don't think I'll be adding it to my collection simply because I have my eye on 'X'. Very, very special nontheless.
Magical fragrance! Yet again the Armani Prive collection has delivered a wonderful fragrance of the highest order. Sharp Labdanum opening into Frankincense, dry peppery spice and dense luscious woods, I get from this fragrance. It's a mystical incense scent of superb quality and has a unique feel with it too. Took me a couple of tries to write a review but that's no reflection on the impact Bois d'Encens made on me because it was immediate. If you love incense, and precious resins without an overly smokey vibe this is definitely for you. Longevity is a little bit of a let down and that is probably the only minor criticism I have of these Armani fragrances. The only one that has great lasting power for me is Myrrhe Imperiale, followed by Oud Royale.
Smells almost the same as eau de parfum intense. It's too musky then powdery and neither are as good as the original which is weird but my favourite of the lot for sure. Just not my cup of tea this.
Woah! I'm not the biggest fan of the original but it has a certain odd appeal due to the fact its different and conjures a brave, mysterious vibe. All too often flankers with this monicker don't cut the mustard but this is one lives up to the title 'intense' by name and by nature. The opening is a super harsh eye watering musk which is nearly choking and not something which appeals to me. I'd imagined this would be subtle in the drydown and may create some magic on my skin, akin to maybe musc ravageur(again a scent I didn't like at first) unfortunately it doesn't. Contrary to what I'd expected from an eau de parfum this doesn't last at all on my skin and the muskiness dies away almost immediately to be replaced by a vague floral powder. So what are you trying to say Houdini4? Huh? The musk was too much for you to begin with and now you're moaning it's gone? Make your mind up!!! What I'm getting at is... I complained about the musk initially sure but if it had mellowed and given a nice animal backdrop to the ghostly powdery notes of the original, I may well have loved it, instead it's a disappointment! Too musky, then nothing and no violets in this either...I don't like it.
Comparisons with Tom Ford for men are entirely justified the mandarin opening and earthy tobacco heart are very similar. However, being a huge fan and avid wearer of TF I can spot the differences just as evidently, Yuzu nutmeg and a fig like fresher opening with a creamier nature coming from sandalwood being the major ones. So all this makes it less woody than the Tom Ford in essence and an enjoyable mens fragrance. I really love it and wish I'd have picked it up when I saw it cheap last year but didn't want to blind buy in case it wasn't good. Just to speak to the 'wedding scent' thing of course Vera Wang is going to tread that line due to her association with wedding dresses. Quite an understated and classy thing to wear for a wedding in my opinion.
Oh wow this is magnificent! The third fragrance I've tried from this house and it's a another absolute knockout. I bought White Leather on the spot I was so taken by it and if I had the money I may have bought this one too. My mind has been opened up to new possibilities and note combinations with these Oud fragrances and this one is a total surprise. Opens with an amazingly real and long lasting fruity, bergamot and an overwhelmingly rich amber, Oud and sweet vanilla. The saffron is and pink pepper combine to make an amazingly rich and complex scent which somehow evokes a green shimmering emerald. (Maybe that's my imagination going too far) Then amazingly the white floral neroli makes an appearance as a basenote in the long neroli/Oud/musky dry down. Odd I never noticed the neroli until after a few hours and smells totally amazing in the context of this fragrance. Brilliant fragrance! Couldn't stop smelling myself Emerald Is a powerful Oud which to me is totally unisex even though it's on here as a female fragrance. Not strictly a white floral fragrance but this is definitely the best neroli scent I've ever sniffed.
Just when you think you've experienced the entire range of violet combinations you're hit with this. I think it's safe to say I'm a big fan of violets and this is a new accord to me, understated, powdery yet wearable and utterly enjoyable. Armani have hit the spot yet again with this juice I'd say it gives me the feeling of a Violet centric juice that really doesn't have a 'usual' (whatever that is?) violet feel. What I mean is that it will intrigue violet fans like me but is different enough to appeal to people who don't traditionally like the smell of violets. It could be the combination with rose which maybe changes the character some...you definitely get the rose as it dries down. Smoothing this out is patchouli and vanilla with the darker touch of birch which does create a kind of leathery effect. I wouldn't agree that it is a smokey leather more of a smooth suede and birch has a woody undertone which makes this smell really good on me but would be equally at home on a woman and possibly better suited. A classy Violet then which I will recommend to my friend who would love this fragrance. I wouldn't wear it though, I get my violet hit from Hommage L'Homme and Fahrenheit stuff like that.
I kinda love the smell of Black XS it's sweet, fruity and densely woody with a hint of spice. The opening is sweet, sharp and quite unsettled frankly then when it does the fruitiness is really nice and a strange mixture of citrus sharpness and a strawberry note that is vaguely reminiscent of the fondant soft centres in roses/quality street chocolates. The dry spice coming from sage and a definite cardamom note. The overriding patchouli gives it a slight chocolately vibe and the rosewood base which to me makes this fruit/wood combo remind me a little of something like Thierry Mugler B*Men. I really like Black XS it's distinctive & different but I just don't think I could see myself wearing it. I've got about 5 sample vials so maybe a few more wears and I might want to add it to the collection if it grows on me sufficiently.
I don't know what it is about the winter but it also compels me to revert to these dated, manly fragrances. This one is awesome, it's a masterclass in Fougere. Paco Rabanne is herbal(rosemary,sage), fresh and a little green(lavender) and with overriding bass tones of musk and oakmoss. I really enjoy it and I can remember my dad and subsequently me, wearing it in years gone by. Long lasting and powerful this one is a real mans fragrance.