Horrible ambroxan funk
Shalimar squared. As if Shalimar wasn't exquisite enough already, Chanel goes and does Guerlinade as well as, if not slightly better than Guerlain. Fight fight fight! Le lion devours the likes of Grand Soir (which is great but less great), then casually sits licking its paws. Yummy.
I love fig leaf based fragrances and this is definitely one of the best I’ve ever smelt. It’s just horribly let down by very low projection and longevity. This is why I always get a 10ml decant before buying a bottle of anything, on scent alone this is a straight up buy but when you take into account the performance vs cost of this it’s hard to justify.
Acqua di Gio is a timeless classic, beautiful masculine citrus and florals which is both nostalgic and contemporary. It opens with its iconic salty marine accord and a multitude of citrus with jasmine and neroli. As it begins to dry down, an aromatic musky profile of rosemary, cedar and oakmoss starts to shine alongside a touch of fruity sweetness and a deepened heart of various florals. It’s somewhat synthetic across the board and isn’t particularly complex, but this scent is one of a kind and has continued to be a best seller since the 90s for a reason. People love this and it definitely gets compliments. While the performance isn’t great, the scent is good enough to look past this in my opinion. The new EDP version is pleasant, but it lacks that iconic salty scent profile which makes the original so addictive. I definitely think this is still worth owning today and is a summer staple for me.
Cedrat Boise opens with a punchy burst of synthetic fruitiness, with blackcurrant and lemon at the forefront. As it begins to dry down leather, cedar and ambiguous spices creep into the base which combines nicely with the sharp fruitiness. I’m not sure why people compare this to Aventus, I guess the combination of lemon and blackcurrant on a woody base reminds people of it. However to me they don’t smell alike, Cedrat Boise is far more synthetic with more fruitiness going on. It’s a pleasant scent and gets positive attention from those around you, however the performance has been gutted these days. Personally I think Mancera has far better fragrances to offer than this one, but it’s nice nonetheless.
I have a new metal cap bottle, batch F000315. The opening is a gorgeous mix of juicy pineapple and bergamot, as well as sweet blackcurrant and apple. It starts off very fruity and invigorating, and smells high quality. As it settles on the skin, the musky undertones of birch, oakmoss and ambergris are thrown into the mix. These new batches seem to be noticeably less smoky than previous iterations of Aventus, while being a lot more fruity. I’ll be honest, I compared the dry down of this with Club de Nuit Intense Man EDP and while the openings were noticeably different, the dry downs were indistinguishable from one another. Scent-wise, I love this fragrance but it has obvious drawbacks. Creed Aventus is one of those modern classics that was revolutionary when it was first released, but has since become a shadow of what it once was. It still smells fantastic but considering the performance is shockingly bad, and how close clones come these days I don’t think it’s worth buying anymore.
Addictive, delicious, blustery ylang and iris-forward scent. Very salty and brisk but with sweetness from the vanilla combining with the banana side of the ylang. Absolutely wonderful and totally unique. Where there would typically be coconut, here there is salt and cloves (I think there's a song called Salt and Cloves...must Google later). I get ambergris vibes too. Performance is spectacular. Update: such a strong perfume, and I'm getting strong similarities to Ambre Éternel, that sort of leathery, buttery orris base.
Loud and synthetic, absolutely not for. me.
Absolutely stunning frag. Gives me aventus vibes mixed with allure Homme edition blanched but BETTER than those 2. This is how a "creamy lemon meringue" should smell with some added fizzyness quality to it. Summertime gonna be seeing a lot of this
This is my personal fave from the house. 4 others that come close but this one was my first "I have to get a full bottle" from the discovery kit haha. Slight chocolate nuances with a very little freshness and aromatic feel. It does remind me of something but can't seem to place it🤔🤔 Edit* This reminds me of Armani Prive Cuir Zerzura. Had it a few months now and yh a stronger similar frag to the Armani Prive.
Gourmand to the fullest. Nutty, chocolaty, and slightly fruity. This is what I call a gourmand banger!
Infusion D’Iris Cèdre has recently been renamed to simply - Infusion de Cèdre; as far as I know the scent remains identical. It opens with the bright, soapy iris that Prada characterises so well, with a clean and sharp neroli accompanied by hints of cedar. It’s quite a simple scent that stays pretty linear throughout, but fantastic nonetheless. I wouldn’t say the benzoin and incense are at all noticeable, it’s all about the soapy florals and cedar. The performance is fantastic too, it lasts all day and will never offend anyone so it’s very oversprayer-friendly. This scent is the epitome of soapy cleanliness. The florals are of exceptional quality, and it scratches that itch for clean laundry style fragrances. This is probably my favourite fragrance from Prada, and one of the best iterations of iris on the designer market.
Terre D’Hermès opens with an overdose of tangy orange and juicy grapefruit before developing a bitter, masculine edge of pepper and vetiver. It’s intensely refreshing and sophisticated without being overly complex. These notes persist through the life of the fragrance, however a smooth and earthy base of cedar and patchouli give it some lasting power and added depth. This fragrance is a modern classic, the epitome of a classy gentleman. It’s got enough freshness to be worn all year round, with plenty of character to make you stand out and make a lasting impression. Terre D’Hermès really is one of the best designer fragrances on the market currently, and a must have for any collector. The Parfum concentration is also fantastic, longer lasting with more maturity however less appropriate for the summer months in my opinion. The other flankers in this line just don’t feel the same as the original scent profile, this stuff is just fantastic.
Smells like a weak Le Male Le Parfum. Disappointed.
Like a cheap version of Black Orchid. Not good. Also, as others have said, heavy coconut.
There's a negligible difference between this and Homme Idéal Intense de Guerlain EDP, and I already own the latter, so it's redundant for me.
I love Habit Rouge Instinct, this is just hackery for money. There's really nothing new or interesting here at all. Same with the new Homme Idéal. I'd go as far as to say it lacks the magic of the original but aside from that it's identical, like an insipid watering down.
The soft, Joanna Lumley-esque Aunty of L'Instant Homme by Guerlain. Sumptuous, creamy, citric patchouli with mould (the same musty tone as the aforementioned Guerlain) and white chocolate (whereas the Guerlain is bitter cocoa). Update: Aldehydes! How did I never notice them before. Perhaps my perfume is aging although I'm pretty sure it smells the same as last year when I bought it. This is a very strange perfume, as it should be sweet and voluptuous, but there's a frosty sheen to it that makes it aloof and grandiose. Whereas often I perceive iris as orris, here it's the reverse, the orris having a twinge of powder I'd normally associate with the flower. I've always had a love hate relationship with Coromandel. Love the perfume, hate to wear it, or perhaps I should say I struggle to find any occasion or moment in my life where I would wear it. It feels like it should be worn by some crumbly aristocratic dame in a Hercule Poirot story (in fact, yes, specifically the Princess from Murder on the Orient Express).
No coconut at all. This is a strong white floral and very feminine. Sun tan lotion? No. Not unless is smells of flowers.
I've learnt a lesson with this perfume. I went from loving it, to hating it, to loving it again, and I realised the thing I hated was what happens when it gets on clothes, namely that it becomes permanent and I can only smell the harsh fixative base. On skin, however, it's marvelous, as the same aroma-chemical reacts with my skin creating a warm, slightly green, woody aura that complements the thin rose up top. It's a shame that I have to be careful where to spray it, but I can live with that. Just don't judge it on a card strip, as it gives me the same horrible result as on clothes. One thing is for sure, this perfume doesn't smell remotely like anything found in nature, but if you're a fan of that sort of Serge Lutens floral esoterica, or you like perfumes by Julian Rasquinet based on hardcore amber fixatives, you'll probably love this. I'd advise against shoving your nose into your wrist to smell it. Try to experience it as others would, it's great.
Amazing quality and tiny price. What's not to love?! It's delicate and floral, but not sweet or simple. Honestly it doesn't smell unlike some of the extortionate rose perfumes by the likes of Tom Ford or Francis Kurkdjian.
This iteration of Dior Homme opens fresh and spicy with juicy bergamot, pink pepper and sharp elemi before settling down to an overdose of addicting Iso E Super and cedar. Once this dries down, the Iso E Super is greeted gently by vetiver and a light musk. This fragrance got a lot of hate upon its release as most people were expecting a re-release of the original Dior Homme. While I don’t believe this fragrance really fits in with the Dior Homme line, as a stand alone fragrance I really enjoy it. The Iso E Super in here is really addicting and leaves a fantastic scent trail. It reminds me of Molecule 01 but with a bit more going on in terms of notes. It’s perfect for easy daily wear, and a great freshie that’s just a little bit different from the rest. Personally I’m a big fan of this release and think it deserves more love, but they probably should have released it under a different name.
Scandal starts off very bright and invigorating: a burst of juicy lemon and aromatic lavender take charge ahead of a green backbone of mint, petitgrain and basil. A soft and sparkly heart of jasmine, violet and Rose de Mai then gives the scent that classic Roja signature that he does so well. The lemon, lavender and mint stay strong throughout the life of the scent, but in the dry down they mingle spectacularly with soft oakmoss, sparkly ambergris and earthy vetiver. Scandal is the perfect iteration of the modern fougere. It smells very classical and masculine, but at the same time is very mass appealing and contemporary. The lemon and lavender in here smell photorealistic as if the real thing is right in front of you, while the oakmoss and ambergris lay a soft and slightly powdery bed for everything to rest gently on. Scandal is undoubtedly a mature and sophisticated scent for a modern gentleman, but the Parfum Cologne version seems to be brighter and more youthful as all the scents in this collection are. This is a must have if you’re a fan of fougeres, it does this classical French scent profile fantastic justice while still keeping up with the times, all with fantastic quality throughout. A must have for spring in my opinion.
Richwood is the perfect name for summing this scent up - it’s woody and makes you smell rich. It opens sharp and tangy with bergamot and orange, with a lingering fruitiness in the background coming from grapefruit and blackcurrant. In the heart you’re gently greeted by a fantastically soft rose and sweet vanilla of the highest quality, before drying down to a base of buttery sandalwood and a slightly earthy patchouli. I am in love with this scent. I’m a big fan of rose and sandalwood, and the marriage of the two in this fragrance is magical. It has good performance and will get you noticed, all while giving the impression of refinement and extreme wealth - Richwood is definitely a confidence booster. The price of this fragrance is laughable, but it’s one of my favourite fragrances of all time and one of the absolute best from Xerjoff. I find the house to be a little hit and miss but this and the entire 17/17 Stone Label collection is magnificent. I would strongly recommend this to any lover of rose and sandalwood.
