Okay so sometimes you just have to concede that your tastes have changed or are so varied that you reject things you used to wear off hand...Kouros is one of these. It's strange that I wore what is quite a grown up manly fragrance in my teens and yet now in my 30's I don't have all that many masculine beasts in my wardrobe. I've not owned a bottle in several years and my memory of it in the 90's is pretty strong as it's the kind of scent that leaves a lasting impression. Anyway as soon as I revisited this classic I got all same feelings coming back which indicated to me that if it has been reformulated, it's not all that different. I have to admit that I'm not generally a fan of overly animistic or musky fragrances unless they have finesse and Kouros definitely has that. As fresh, interesting, complex, masculine and as relevant today as it was when released...I'm honestly considering wearing this again. Not going to say much more as there's some great passionate reviews about this one but longevity and projection are massive and my favourite elements of the composition are the strong oakmoss and leathery, powdery, musky drydown with the slightest hint of honey. Kouros is great!

I've never understood the overstatement of how musky and animal this fragrance is? If you are offended by Kouros I really don't think you've experienced many strong animalics or floral musks, because some of those really do warrant the fecal comments. I'm not of course referring to the current formulation which is a pale and slightly sad glimpse of the original, but it still smells fairly good and vaguely similar...while it lasts. No, I'm talking as someone who owned bottles in the 90's and 2000's and have always thoroughly enjoyed the stuff, without it being considered a favourite. I always figured I liked more flamboyant fragrances like Fahrenheit and these others in my wardrobe (when I had a much smaller collection) were just there as standard masculine fodder or filler, that all men should have. So I was overjoyed to find a popular, British Youtube reviewer has started a sample service and has a few good oldies on the books, one of which is a 1984 Kouros. I had to indulge and I could clearly smell it on the bag it arrived in, before I even opened it, bringing back great memories for me. However, if I'm honest the power of Kouros isn't important, it's the subtlety. I love the warm, animal civet smell left behind even though it's a little skanky and I hate fragrances like Amouage Gold which is pretty similar in spirit to Kouros. I think the crucial difference is that Gold is potently floral and mega powdery, making the clean, cleaner and the dirty even dirtier, because the civet in that is putrid, whereas here it's just manly and kinda comforting. I also get that sweaty cumin being heated smell, which when in the context of this fragrance... just works. Truth is I'd forgotten just how good the old formulation is, I hope designer perfumes have a true renaissance, maybe some IFRA guidelines change and allow for the resurgence of greats like Kouros.

I'd have to say that the opening of this fragrance is the best of the Zen's in my opinion. It's a fresh blast of Yuzu and mint but still with the pear note from the original...lovely. Zen sun smells really nice but not much in the way of progression in this fragrance though and the drydown is soft much like the others but it didn't quite have the longevity for me. Great summer fresh scent that is a good option for those who like designer fragrances but want something slightly out of the ordinary.

It's taken me a long time to finally revisit Guerlain Heritage So much so that I'd completely forgotten what it smelled like. Good is what! Very distinctive and complex yet effortless in it's composition, just a Guerlain throughout really. Floral and fruity notes in the top are fresh and the calming vibe or lavender gives way to a warmer heart of sandalwood with a kind of musky, oakmossy, woody drydown. A blend of classic 'male' type florals too such as carnation which I'm not overly fond of but are well handled in this scent. A great fragrance then... and something which I think everyman should aspire to wear at some point. A must for my collection a little sweet, powdery, creamy, floral and woody.

Okay so being thoroughly underwhelmed by the original I thought I'd better try this one and guilty black just to check I hadn't just dismissed the entire range off hand. First of all this fragrance is pleasant, very pleasant indeed I love the lemony sherbet opening and subdued gentleness of this fragrance, I can see why it would be a good crowd pleaser as to me at least, it's the dictionary definition of 'inoffensive'. It is VERY similar to Zegna Forte to me but lacking in one crucial area.... depth! Forte has more of a Tonka/tobacco/honey thing and this takes it a level above Guilty intense but other than that massively similar. The drydown of the Gucci just gets lemony softer and more powdery and longevity is poor and projection is non existent really stays close...where as the Zegna has a much deeper more sensual dry down and is by no means a beast but lasts a little longer. Basically if you like this fragrance and the original (which I do to an extent) but want something yet more 'intense' check out Zegna Forte.

Can't wait to get my hands on this! Fahrenheit has been a huge part of my life and although Dior have made some good flankers which have proved that you don't necessarily need the 'gasoline' smell none of them have surpassed the original. I was briefly charmed by Absolute and honestly thought I preferred it for a while but I can't get over my love affair with the original and non of them come close. I'm hoping this one amazes me, the note breakdown is interesting I think liquorice will accompany violet really well...I'm excited!

Got it!!!! Had to do it. Instantly loved it...has all the charm of the original for me with some complimentary new notes. The violet accord of the original blasts forth in the opening and you do get a definite rum vibe too but it's not as prominent to me as some reviewers have mentioned. La Parfum is also fruity almost berry like smell long into the dry down. A dry down which consists of a very elegant leather and vanilla combination which is fantastic but I also detect amber too! I don't really get the liquorice...maybe a little? It's the vanilla which is subtle but does enough to give a different smoother character to a scent which is strong, sweet and boozy but never over does it due to an excellent composition. As soon as my girlfriend smelled it she said "That's a 'YOU' fragrance." And my time of wearing Fahrenheit frequently was long before we met so she must've picked up on my tastes by now. I think it is a 'YOU' (me) kind of fragrance due to the fact it smells very classy and high end, not that the other Fahrenheit flankers don't but this one really announces itself! Projection & longevity are really good and I'm so glad I've got Fahrenheit Parfum in my life because it has the familiarity of an old friend with a enough of a revamped twist to keep me interested.

The more I wear this the more I get the cumin and coriander, dry spice against the sweet lush violet and elegant leather and soft vanilla this scent is so good. That spiciness could be what's putting many off this but I find it a welcome addition to Fahrenheit's note repertoire.

Hhahah! Nice review Scentedgent I was expecting them both to get erotic until they ended so abruptly. ;)

Woah! Can't wait to try this sounds bizarre!!! You gotta love any fragrance with a pistachio note. The combination of tobacco and salty notes with mint in an aquatic fragrance could be a complete disaster...doesn't sound right does it? Could be a triumph though and has to be better than the other Cool water flankers which have been abysmal. (except the unpopular Hot water which IMO is awesome!)

I don't know what it is about some of the new fragrances I've tried recently but Night Dive has the same insipid quality! I don't know why a cool water flanker now has this heavy clunky feel and a lack of originality. I honestly thought the note breakdown seemed interesting as you can see from my pre-review below. The opening is very much a complex, sea like slightly salty feel which attempts to transition into a sexy feel of tobacco in the heart. The tobacco note is not that pronounced but still quite nice, just doesn't work that well for me and it sadly becomes a bit of a creamy wash out. Night Dive is reminiscent of Versace Eros, which is also complex but totally dissatisfying. A vanilla and tonka feeling, nondescript woods and aquatic slighty fruity scent. From that description you might be able to tell that Davidoff threw too many flavours at Night Dive and as a result have ended up with something generic. Again don't get me wrong it'll probably sell well and is perfectly wearable for most and certainly not as bad as 'The Game' flanker which was just plain awful! I mentioned it has it's moments, the tobacco warmth is quite pleasant but untimately unrewarding in the end as the longevity is poor too. The best Cool Water flanker ever is Hot Water a sexy underrated scent for the evening.

Well done and hats off to Dior and Francois Demachy for making a rose/oud scent that is unique in an evermore crowded market place. It's a little unfair to call it trite as admittedly the rose/oud combo has been done to death but I think the patchouli and sandalwood in this become more prominent as it settled on my skin. This does enough to make it distinctive. Opens with a rose that is a bit too much for my taste but soon subsides to reveal the patchouli and dense oud. It's very opulent, strong yet refined at the same time, Oud Ispahan is very nice indeed. Having said that I'm not keen enough to wear it and have very specific needs in a rose fragrance ie: it has to strike the precise right balance. So Oud Ispahan didn't blow me away and it certainly isn't as bold as the other Oud fragrance from this collection but definitely worth a sniff.

My review of Pour Monsieur (The original) was very short and sweet and didn't offer a great deal of insight due to me only wearing it a couple of times from a sample I had a few years back. I had been looking for this Concentree for a while as they're usually said to be much better (Egoiste for example) but I'm not sure. Okay so this starts out from memory, very similar to Pour Monsieur in that it has a lemony citrus top which is actually slightly less sharp than the original. Lemon is not listed in the notes here which is surprising and could potentially be a mixture with other fruit and petitgrain for example which gives a slightly different character. My nose can detect the difference but not what's causing it...if you get me? A little spice, cardamom and resin in the heart as it settles maybe some vetiver? it's clean and pleasant. As it dries down the main player is oakmoss, for me the oakmoss makes this scent what it is... Masculine. I think mature but fresh is a good way to describe it. The oakmoss can also could be perceived as dated because of this but I think Pour Monsieur Concentree strikes a very good balance which gives it a timeless quality and definitely has the classy well blended feel of classic Chanel fragrance. Chanel will never be one of my favourite houses but having said that I own (or have owned)and enjoy many of their fragrances. When I think about it there's only Anateus that I don't enjoy (and even that intrigues me still!) so really they're not doing too badly. Longevity is good on this one on my skin and the projection is subtle and classy but I think people who get close will smell you.

Love this. I have a mini from 1991 and it's different from the current version and the original EDT. But is it significant enough to warrant finding an old bottle? This has the classic lemony scent but not that of the EDT it's fresh but creamy and rounded also from the get go, with a soft greeness, reminiscent of Balmain and Rochas classic cologne/green type fragrances. It has those mossy notes in the opening but it's by no means a proper oakmoss, masculine fragrance....It's very Chanel, very retrained. I get a creamed wood base I associate with sandalwood (or at least sandalwood AC's) but it could cedar and definitely vanilla, lending that milky sweetness. I really like it. I would perhaps seek out a full size vintage bottle but I know without looking it will be pricey, and as nice as it is, Pour Monsieur Concentree EDT doesn't make me desperately yearn for it. Really enjoying revisiting this one today though.

My initial reaction to the opening was one of surprise because it wasn't quite what I'd expected...not sure what it was that I'd anticipated but hey? Maybe it was the bottle design which I think is really cool. It's kinda chunky, heavy, compact and grenade like...maybe a futuristic angular tear gas but reminds me of V&R Spicebomb in any case. So back to what it smells like...unique is what! It's genuine complex and unexpected because I've found other Ferragamo's I've tried disappointingly ordinary and generic at best! This one is different though it opens with a very gentle musky, fruity mandarin vibe which then quickly reveals some spices, cardamom being the most prominent. I definitely detected the saffron in here although its delicate I always seem to pick up on it. No surprises in the dry down just standard really. It's a difficult one to call as the notes are not easily deciphered but you know what that means? Well it can mean two polar opposite things....Genius or poorly conceived. Luckily in this case it is the former. It's strange because my girlfriend loved it at first and if I'm honest so did I. Despite this I have a weird feeling that I could grow to become indifferent about it or just barely wear it. More suited to spring and summer I'd say. Attimo is elegant stuff well put together and certainly the best thing I've tried from this designer.

Okay so it's about time I commented on this classic juice which I did own a small bottle of in my youth and don't get me wrong I wasn't a huge fan even then(I think my sister bought it for me?) but I never remembered being so vile! Maybe my tastes have changed dramatically I don't know? I can usually handle sweetness and the oriental sweet/spicy combo of cinnamon (one of my favourite notes) especially with a creamy element of vanilla to it Joop Homme should be something that appeals to me. Unfortunately, I really don't like it, even the small bottle I had in the 90's never got used in it's entirety before being lost in a house move or something? No one note in this offends me...quite the opposite actually but the composition is somehow wrong and unpleasant. That just about sums it up really...utterly forgettable stuff apart from the strikingly gaudy pinky/purple juice of course. If you want a fragrance that does something similar and to me is a perfect example of the right way to combine cinnamon/sandlewood/vanilla then I'd go for Mont Blanc Individuel. Okay, when I say I don't enjoy Joop Homme or use words like 'vile' maybe that's harsh because it is okay on others when applied sparingly but I have to think 'would I wear it?' (and bare in mind I'm pretty liberal and not that fussy about what I do wear in the main) and upon revisiting it after years I have concluded that I wouldn't. Projection & Longevity are silly on this one too and the opening is worse than the drydown but it seems to open for hours it really is no nonsense juice this.