Okay so now the 90's unisex concept of CK One has been scrapped for the his/her approach and frankly they needn't have bothered. This is a boardroom fragrance and by that I don't mean suitable for a businessman. This fragrance feels contrived and has more than an air of 'fragrance by committee' about it. Not only does CK One Red conform to the sex specific paradigm but it also has the bland flavour of the month, jump on the bandwagon feel to it...Namely Tonka bean. Burberry Brit Rhythm was uninspiring but CK One Red is not even as enjoyable as that. The blast of fresh but cheap smelling fruit and aldehydes which settle into a tonka, vetiver and musk, just doesn't work for me... there's no harmony there. Not bad as such, perfectly wearable and I'm sure will sell but it's never going to set the world alight. The reason for my (mini)rant is the lack of imagination shown here, to be fair to the house CK Shock and Encounter are reasonably brave efforts in recent years. I actually liked the original CK One & particularly CK Be just for being fresh, young and accessible. These new 'ones' just seem like Clavin Klein's attempt to 'reboot' the CK One brand/franchise in a similar way Hollywood is doing with increasing velocity.

I'm a little frustrated that there's fragrances I thought I'd posted reviews for, then when I check turns out I haven't! Nevermind. Nothing to dislike here. Voyage D'Hermes is a classy scent a woody, musk, spiced citrus, reminiscent of Cartier Declaration with prominent cardamom and fresh citrus. I wouldn't have thought it to be everyone's cup of tea, but with the relative popularity of scents like Dior Homme sport lemon & spice is a popular combo. I'm a real spice fan and as such enjoy this fragrance. I don't think it's as intrusive as the Cartier and slightly more wearable.The verdict then? It doesn't inspire me but I'd wear it. Great for spring and summer, Hermes deliver yet again.

Okay call me crazy but does Pi Neo have the almond/vanilla thing of the original? Are these additional notes listed here? Because I'm feeling some of them but with the definite accord of the original which is primarily a very sickly, supercharged amaretto/marzipan vibe. It's more than that though the original is so complex and tips the balance between supreme and awful on my skin. Something about Pi puts me in mind of a poisonous noxious gas that smells super sweet just before you succumb to the fumes. Well Neo has a complete different opening and indeed smells like a different fragrance entirely...namely a really nicely done mardarin and cedar fresh accord. However as it dries down the signiture sweet vanilla and almond of the original come through. Strange transition but it works and the cedar remains too making it slightly different to Pi in that it doesn't really have that off putting nature and Neo actually works on my skin. Not bad all in all but Longevity is not great like the original.

I'm sniffing around for some new summer fragrances already and this is one that had got away... until now. Very pleasant indeed, aquatic but not just a lightweight burst of alcohol and citrus with little character remaining after, Acqua Essenziale has more substance than that. I get a fresh, sparkling clean accord of lemon leaf and labdanum and sharp grapefruit in the top notes with a hint of lavender too. I can't say I got the mint but it definitely has a cool quality, temperature wise. I get the comparisons to Silver Shadow Altitude and Bleu de Chanel but it's by no means the same kinda reminds me of LOTS of fragrances citrus/marine/fruit/musk/vetiver you get the picture. I can't justify adding this fragrance to my collection as it just falls short on the imagination stakes but I wouldn't blame anyone for getting this and wearing it regularly because it smells good.

To my surprise this is yet another fragrance I thought I'd reviewed or at least posted my review for ages ago...but obviously not. I won't go on too much as pretty much everything that needs to be said regarding this fragrance has been. I get an overwhelming air of sexiness and an alluring quality which I think was exactly it's intention...the perfect mixture of cardamom, bergamot and a hint of lavender. The drydown is superb slightly powdery and a very clean cedar/vetiver. The citrus and fruity berry vibe comes more to the forefront than the spice which is probably what makes this fragrance so socially excepted and commercially successful. I for one can take a bit more cardamom (the likes of Hypnose) but obviously YSL wanted to strike up a balance that would appeal to many. It's funny how many of my friends who are not into fragrance (that's all of them!) own this fragrance. One of my very good friends told me he wears it almost exclusively now after years of searching for his signature. I should point out that he is a bit of a ladies man and I was informed on good authority that this fragrance was a lady killer and drives them wild apparently? I don't know about all that but I don't see why the average non collector or scent enthusiast couldn't wear this everyday in every situation, just smell incredibly good and be content. I need more variation in my life but I enjoy owning and wearing this on occasion it's an excellent fragrance.

Halston man has a metalic, herbal quality with fresh top notes and quite a curious mixture of accords...it smells okay, not great or even good... just okay. The citrus opening is sharpened further by labdanum which gives way to a gentle musk and patchouli in the base. My tastes just won't allow me to subscribe to this one, I suspect it would maybe grow on me after several wears. Amber is a better fragrance for me but they both suffer from poor longevity on my skin.

Halston Man amber is a soft, subtle, warm amber scent which to me has an air of sophistication to it. Not a nose burning amber but it has prominence, cedar, myhrr and oud give it an incense vibe but fresh and not smokey. I love it, totally up my street and verging on an almost sweetness but with enough bitter elements to keep it at bay. The problem I have is that it didn't last all that well on my skin compared with how good it smelled. What I mean is that my perception of the high quality of this fragrance was not matched by it's longevity unfortunately. Man Amber was gone pretty quickly which is a real shame.

I really looked forward to this fragrance from Jo Malone and frankly I'm a bit disappointed. It opens well and needless to say it smells very different on the card to my skin. That opening is fresh juniper and hints of sweetness against what I consider to be quite an odd cedar accord. I can't tell you why it's odd but as it settles down the woods go a little creamy(almost like there's a hint of vanilla in it) which to me is not indicative of the smell after it has rained, in London or anywhere else! I'll give it this though...it's long lasting for a Jo Malone and smells great at first, then I go off it then it comes back into favour for a cosy drydown. The smell doesn't transition or change really just my perception of it perhaps? The juniper does die away however after a bright, breezy opening. I don't know what Jo & her perfumers do to make things not smell like what they are but it's fascinating. I'll pass on this one it's a rare cedar that I won't wear and this is rare indeed.

Right okay then...Juicy couture... what a gaudy, utterly horrible brand it is. I remember a few years back girls walking around with those awful sweatpants on with the logo across the bum...although maybe that says more about me than it does them? Anyway...I'd heard good things about this fragrance mainly on here and thought I'd give it a try. Blind bought Dirty English as it was going cheap and I must say it's not that bad. Kinda reminds me of the sweet 'Dr Peppery' vibes coming from Dunhill Custom shame is it has similar longevity issues. Dirty English opens with mandarin it has a tobacco, vanilla and cardamom vibe with smokiness and above all leather. The dense woody base to this fragrance is remarkably deep and I expected great longevity but it fell short in my opinion...not too bad though. The first hour or so of this fragrance is the best but there's just something inherently cheap about it which means it will never excite me. I'll have to wear it more to form a better opinion but I don't get oud from it really, not what I consider to be an Oud accord anyway. Dirty by name, Dirty by nature and a pleasant surprise of a fragrance.

Obviously my initial review was too explicit and has been removed but I was compelled to profanity by how bad this juice smells. I will be more concise and use less expletives this time... Yagatan is awful!