I'm a bit shocked to discover that this is intended for men. I actually wasn't sure if it was a unisex but I'd figured L'Envol more like a feminine fragrance from the EDP concentration, the overall look of the packaging and the initial smell. I say initial smell, because I began to think it might be a unisex or aimed at men and if it is... wow is this brave and pretty classic, the Shalimar comparisons being very well founded. I think it opens up with a figgy sort of smell (although that could be the wet, earthiness of patchouli), coupled with honey and a floral musk and a civet type element. For the record I'm not a fan of this combination of animal, floral, honied notes most of the time but as a perfume fan I can't help feeling it screams a certain amount of quality. Cartier have made something classical from the last 100 years of (largely feminine) perfumery and squarely aimed it at modern man and they have to kinda be admired for that considering this goes against recent trends but I suppose everything comes in cycles and this sort of thing was perhaps due a renaissance. I mean puritans might say that this IS indeed, modern rubbish and not comparable to the likes of Shalimar but in essence that is what I took from it. The great thing about it too was L'Envol's ability to mellow and grow on me in the dry down, becoming a much warmer and more resinous iris and patchouli skin scent. Just a brief comment on the bottle, I thought it was a little gimmicky at first especially for Cartier but after being initially striking is really quite a thing to behold when you look at it for a minute or so. That design is not really something I've seen although mildly reiniscent of the recent CK release this is a much classier affair. Sadly I don't like enough of this fragrance to wear it but I take my hat off for Cartier reimagining men's fragrance with an interesting release which does eventually enter territory I enjoyed but only after several hours, which I suppose just speaks to the good longevity. I have a feeling this one will have folks divided but please do try because you never know L'Envol might just surprise you.

I dunno what happened here? I must not have given the EDT a fair crack of the whip because I dismissed it as a vaguely honey covered fig, a sort of non event of a fragrance really. Except for the bottle which is truly a unique thing to behold...in a picture. I'm afraid the execution leaves something to be desired, I think it's the plastic outer which I accept has to be made of plastic but just makes it seem a bit cheap and I'm no snob. Anyway this EDP was actually really nice opens kind fresh, floral and not immediately knowable. Then the violet and iris accord grows and it's classy, doesn't quite have the satin, cosmetic feel orris or iris can but hints at it. Couple that with a overt violet note and even a slight petrol tinge...can you see where I'm going with this? There's a classy powdered leather and yes It resembles Fahrenheit. However the sweetness and greek, honied fig and perhaps some vanilla? takes it more into Fahrenheit parfum territory but L'Envol EDP is less heavy and more aerated. I liked it, developed too just becoming a nice warm skin scent. This is better than many designer releases which is kind what Cartier do isn't it? Longevity was acceptable wouldn't call it good.

I adore this fragrance because it plugs into a primal need I have for baby sweet, soft fragrances which serve to calm as much as serve any other purpose. This doesn't mean that Rogart is devoid of sophistication because it's very grown up in it's approach. It's the softness and comfort I like about it and perhaps even bordering on the more feminine. The opening is really sweet, I don't know about Juniper berries (which I find quite bitter) Rogart is more like a synthetic blend of fruity berries just for that initial minute or so. Then it becomes clear what this fragrance is all about and it's creamy, woods. The unmistakable signature sweetness of maple is a welcome addition to this fragrance and works perfectly with guaiac wood, it really is a marriage made in heaven. Along with angelica and what I perceive as vanilla, these are the major players throughout the heart of Rogart and long into the drydown. Elemi is listed as the resin in here but I honestly think this comes off warmer and more of a benzoin/amber type smell as it settles out too. This is very interesting and rewarding fragrance, who's creamy woods is reminiscent of very high quality Guaiac and sandalwood fragrances. The main ones Rogart reminds me of is Donna Karen Fuel and Atelier Cologne Santal Carmin. I've worn this a few times since I purchased it earlier this year and I have to say the performance and silage seemed average. However, today I've been complimented on it, told 'your dog smells of your perfume...it's very nice' (obviously rubbed off when cuddling him) and I can noticibly smell it quite strongly on myself. This is due to a heavy application and is often (not always) the answer to a weaker performing fragrance...spray more! Another great from Molton Brown.

This fragrance was a blind buy (will I ever learn?)and it instantly reminded me of something. It's a complete dead ringer of another designer fragrance but I can't for the life of me place what it is? It's really frustrating actually. It has the weight and sensuality of a real heavy hitting oriental but with a cheap and synthetic nature, all at the same time. I kinda want to reel off a load of fragrances it resembles, none of them being THE one it actually smells exactly like... but first, the notes. The opening is a hint of bergamot but you can forget that within a nano second, Chambre Rouge is about a ton of powdered spice and a massive dose of sweet amber, loads of benzoin, loads of vanilla, musk and woods. I'd say the guiac and sandalwood are most prominent, just adding to the powdery nature of the santal/vanilla drydown. I have to admit I like it and my girlfriend absolutely loved it. It's almost sickly a slightly odd a beguiling mixture of The One, Le Male, Mont Blanc Individuel, and elements of the unnatural kinda plastic from Henae Mori or Versace Dreamer. I will update this review when I finally remember what this is essentially a clone of, after kicking myself. The facts are though, despite this fragrance having it's flaws it actually lasts well and for those who like Chambre Rouge, it would be quite easy to end up loving it especially at this price. I mean the bottle isn't bad, kinda reminds me of YSL Jazz but the tacky, slightly askew printed label with a font borrowed from a 1991 Terminator 2 poster just serves as a reminder this is a bargain bucket fragrance. I couldn't wear this fragrance often because I find it a bit too cloying but for occasional Autumn/Winter wear it's worth having in my wardrobe. It's a pleasant surprise which makes me want to delve into what else Pascal Morabito has to offer, some of which are not on the Fragrantica database.

It's taken me a while to come around to reviewing this fragrance and it's largely due to the fact I'm not that keen on Jay Z himself. This era and ethos of hiphop largely passed me by and despite respecting the fact he is a global star, and artists I do like, seem to respect him but I simply don't like his music. If I had to list greatest rappers of all time he definitely wouldn't figure, in fact he wouldn't even figure in top rappers from Brooklyn. Anyway...That aside I did try this fragrance not long after it's release and I initially liked it. I wore it properly the otherday and I'm not surprised to say I still really like it. The opening reminds of some kind of sweets from my youth and it changes from a sweetened orange/mandarin vibe, sharp grapefruit and that unmistakable blueberry note which without doubt makes this stuff memorable. It's kinda like when you get six different flavours of skittles in your mouth at the same time. The base is powdery so I can accept there's violet leaf present (although I don't smell it directly) it's more of a white musk, vanilla and maybe a bit of cardamom? It's pretty elegant but has a sports vibe to it and comes off like a summery, antiperspirant. That is in no way belittling Gold because I think it's one of the better sweet, fruity fragrances on the market. The performance however is not good, it doesn't project at all and is gone within a matter of an hour or two, even so I still think it's worthy of merit and would even go as far as to say I'd add it to my wardrobe if I saw it for a dramatically reduced price.

This is a fine, fresh aquatic fragrance very much in the mould of the Nautica Voyage and Versace Man Eau fraiche etc... Blue goes on with a heavenly opening which being someone who's perfume awakening (so to speak) was during the 90's I can't help but love and reminisce about. The aquatic, violet, citrus and white musk is nothing short of lovely in the opening, with hints of the patch and clary sage grounding it ever so slightly especially as it settles on my skin. The main issue I had was the emergence of a cucumber type note after the first 10 mins or so. Perefectly inkeeping with the fresh feel but also threatening to spoil this juice slightly. Luckily that goes away and this fresh scent plows on regardless into a very long lasting drydown. This is effectively a much better option for many people looking to buy similar scents, for the simple reason, it's better. Great stuff from old golden balls yet again!

I first tried this and marked it as a love earlier in the year and thought I had reviewed it already (obviously not) but don't let that fool you, it wasn't because Oud shamash didn't make an impression on me...this stuff is magic. The different company has always intrigued me and despite dipping my toe into them, in store I haven't really extensively sampled them. Oud shamash is totally tailored to my tastes as I get mainly incense and balsamic tones of tolu balsam, Labdanum and exotic fruits and pink pepper in the top. Then a boozy sailor Jerry spiced rum, on a bed of Oud which is unsurprisingly sourced from Laos, seemingly the Mecca of rotting trees. A curiously warm, rich, Amber Oud which is manages to be uplifting and light on its feet in that olibanum type way, fizzy and nearly green and mashing up these disparate concepts is no mean feat to achieve. It really reminds me of a high end and much deeper more complex version of Paul smiths Portrait. This comparison just speaks to how good Portrait actually is, because I absolutely love Oud shamash. The deep drydown mutates into a different fragrance it's a very deep, woody creamy, Amber Oud with only hints at what came before. You can tell the quality and the care that went into making this heavenly juice. Lasting power is great and I wore a very small amount and silage and projection was good. I'm getting a bottle, it's as simple as that.

oooh waves of hate here by the looks of the votes at least. I thought this was inoffensive, designer piffle at worst with glimmers of hope at best. Yes, it has that modern, chuck everything at it and it still comes out bland sort of effect. A mildly ambery base but I wouldn't say ambroxan is prominent and despite what some say it's definitely not like Dior Sauvage. The body of the fragrance is a bleu de chanel type affair of fresh notes with minor hint of some spice but very boring in truth. The main feature of this scent for me is the minty, menthol top note and the earth of patchouli, which in my opinion is the saving grace of what could be a very poor effort from Versace. I believe it's unfair to label this one as bad or a dislike but I won't be buying it that's for sure.

I can't say I think Zara have any stand out fragrances, at least not the ones I've tried in any case. However they appear to have jumped on the oud train, arguably too late but they are on it, so I will reserve judgement. Something they have done with this one is entice me to sample it with a great looking bottle...I mean look it at it!!!

I remember the old version of this with that walnut gear knob stopper, I'm sure my dad wore it at a point in time, being the Jaguar fan he was. Nostalgia aside, I had never owned this one myself but had a pretty good memory of the smell, something which wasn't my scene in the 90's. However, due to the lack of masculinity in modern releases, one does tend to come full circle steadily becoming our fathers and this is the sort of thing I can't help but dig. The opening is a little strange, borderline unpleasant but makes for something more interesting than Quorum, RL Polo or Krizia Uomo. It does have elements of all of these fragrances and after a turbulent start settles down to be much more subdued and classy...A fine, clean, gentlemenly soap. I'm utterly, loving wearing this something I can't always say about Krizia for example which can become grating as the drydown relentlessly churns on, rather than Jaguar which smooths out, getting nicer and nicer. I mean it's pine, oakmoss, leather, fir, sandalwood, methol, citruses, carnation...the list goes on but crucially the blending here is of the highest order and even the modern formula bottle I have is excellent. The longevity is good, not a patch on older formulations I suspect but good enough for this not to be a shadow of it's former self. Yes, it's like many, many other scents of the 80's but stands out due to a crazy opening which smells like nothing else and worth trying even just for the shock of the first few minutes. I love this fragrance so glad I got it cheap because I will be wearing it.

My local store which stocks all things Scent Story, usually at great prices never seemed to get this when it came out, yet the oud editions they were all over. However now they are well and truly old hat, I find this one in a bargain bin marked down so I thought why not have a punt? 24 Live another night is very similar to 1 Million, brimful of youthful energy. An opening of tangerine then the familar modern cocktail of the sweet and slightly cloying, with a warm, chemical edge of amber. Cinnamon spiced amber with the soapy element of Cardamom and creamy woods. What I like about this is that although a brazen & unashamed copy, it's not quite as brash as 1 Million but on the flipside doesn't last as long or develop as well as a result so it's a trade off really. For those who like the smell of the Paco scent without wanting something as in your face, this might be a viable option considering also that it's significantly cheaper. I have it in my collection now and although I'm not crazy about it, I'm wearing this today and it's okay. One small comment about the bottle, I figured these scents looked a little tacky presentation wise but the bottle is actually quite nice (exception being the cheap nasty stuck on label) the stopper is uber heavy and a nice touch.