Typical of Acqua Di Parma for me, a fresh, natural realistic scent which is amazing for summer. Not that I'd know that and strange for me to purchase a fragrance like this coming into the winter months but I was really taken by it. It's listed on here as being for women but I was always of the impression that all Blu Mediterraneo (in fact all ADP Frags) were unisex and this one is no exception. I can see why this one may lean toward the feminine lots of light fig noted scents tend to, and also the jasmine in here may give that effect too. This said I feel it's a really nice smelling scent, and despite owning it, It isn't actually my favourite in the collection but this is simply because some of the others are so very good. The one criticism I could wage is that ADP fragrances don't have a great deal of depth but they make up for it by just smelling plain great! I really recommend this sweet juice to anyone especially for the warm weather as the fig/citruses combo is so soothing and refreshing.

As a lover of violet notes I figured I'd like this and approached it with an open mind as my first experience of Cartier had not been to my taste I thought it was quite a brave and classy scent for the right guy. This however is not really outstanding for me, it's alright though, fresh opening and you do get the violet note which is not at all intrusive or sweet but for me creates more of a soapy neroli accord. This changes into more of a recognisable violet smell as it settles on my skin after 20 mins or so. I get Cedar in there too which does complement the fresh composition all in all. I'll be honest it's a tad on the boring side for me but not unpleasant if you like this kind of scent. It reminds me a little of something like Mugler cologne but somewhat less green. I was thoroughly impressed by the previous Cartier fragrance I tried in terms of sillage and longevity which were both huge! It might just be my skin but this was pathetically short lived.

I like to look back on old reviews from time to time just to check if I was completely off the mark or not? In this instance I think my original review below is pretty accurate and largely, I stick to those sentiments. One addition I will make is that the opening really does have a potent, fizzy, lemon note with all the extra bitterness of grapefruit... anyone familiar with Japanese cuisine will know as Yuzu. Then it settles to the mildly white floral and violets affair which is pretty classy and does alright by me. I have a horrendous cold today and in truth can't really smell much but the faint wafts I'm getting as I deliberately sniff myself are pleasant.

For the distinctly average aquatic (most agree) it is... Le Bateleur is really very nice. I enjoyed this one it's extremely fresh and is reminiscent of lots of bland designer aquatics, totally inoffensive but ultimately forgettable. That's a little unfair really because I think this is tragically overlooked as are lots of the fragrances in this collection. They seem cheap simple and a little cobbled together but I've tried six of them I think? and I've liked all of them even the more feminine ones.

I've been looking for this for ages! I remember when it came out thinking I hadn't worn the original 1881 for years so why would this interest me? Having looked at the notes though on here some 6 months ago or more I found myself thinking wow! That sounds like a bit of a fragrance wet dream for me...sweet almond, Oud and spice I have to smell this one. Unfortunately, no where seems to stock it anymore and would have to blind buy online, well I actually found it at a discount store in the end. The opening is great and you do get pepper and orange in there with some nice fresh spice. It settles into the marzipan accord almost instantly and the woody Oud gives the Almond note a creaminess that gives the impression of vanilla.(perhaps there's some in there? I don't know because you can usually tell in the dry down, 1881 Black seems to be getting woodier on my skin...if anything.) Having said all that it never once tips over into gourmand really as you still get the spices and lavender which just freshen it up and give more dimension. A really nice sexy scent and not too dissimilar to D&G The One...(not as popular obviously) Not really in smell, more in character. It was... and it wasn't quite what I was expecting... but in a good way. got 100ml bottle for £20 can't say fairer than that. Oh and the bottle looks great same as the original with a black tint. Update: wearing this again and the Oud is definitely present now, I honestly couldn't detect it for sure at first just a distinct woodiness but the more I wear it the more I get it. The interaction of sweetness and wood reminds me a little of Jo Malone Oud & bergamot but with almond instead of citrus very creamy, this scent is getting higher up my winter fragrance list!!!

The last one in my box of samples and I was aware this predated all off the others and was expecting a mega old Skool dose of manliness! Instead I was greeted by a floral explosion which put me in mind of Guerlain's Habit rouge just for a split second. Before the juice even had time to dry it strikes you...BABY TALCUM POWDER! In fact this reminds me of a rose hip talc my mum used to use when I was a kid...surprise surprise this has rose hip in it too and enough musk to sink a battleship!!! It's quite remarkable because then it changes yet again and the stinging habit rouge vibe comes back...then baby powder again...it's on a perpetual knife edge between the two and for me never once swings toward anything I would deem to be classic or masculine. I can't hate it though because its a very clean, kinda nice (if you get a little waft of it) kind of smell. It does Drydown with sandlewood and a vague amber, it changes subtly too while you strive to get past the powder and floral onslaught. I think comparisons with habit rouge are a bit harsh at least that has some teeth and very nearly a set of balls?...I'm afraid Amouage Gold smells like a baby's head coated with icing sugar and rolled in a flower bed. Vladimir Putin wears this?(sherapops comments below are the only thing that's "Gold" around here!) For me not the fragrance of a leader ...more a crying nappy shitter!

Oh no!!! This has dried down really far now and it's completely changed again the powdery talc is very low in the mix and a muggy, awful, dominant, animalistic smell has come though. The Civet has landed!!! and it's disgusting really the worst. Update: Dear oh dear...It's the next morning and I kept catching a whiff of this in the night. This stuff is LONG LIVED...that animal stink stays on your skin...well indefinitely?!?!?! I think it may have permeated my dermis like a tattoo. Once you put this on it doesn't want to come off! I hope I'm not stuck with it for life because despite me joking, I'm certainly not exaggerating this smells really really really bad! I have no clue why people want to smell this way...it's a total mystery.

My oh my!!! Couldn't wait to try this as we come into the winter months as I've been informed its a great winter fragrance. I'm jubilant right now....over the moon that this fragrance is in my life...I think I'm in love! The opening is a show stopper like all the Amouage collection whether I like them or not they explode out the bottle with an exuberance and fizz around changing all the while, it's maddening and difficult to get your head around. First thing I get is a tart, fruity amazing berry scent, spiced with cinnamon & Clove definite tiny bit of smoke(as in every Amouage to varying degrees) Oud might be subtle & creamy but I detect it straight away along with patchouli making the berries almost Carmel like! It's very resinous and a little balmy too...frankly it tickles all your taste buds and ticks every box I could imagine...except green & herby maybe? It has bloody everything in here florals, wood, ambergris I can't detect them myself but you must perceive of them because this concoction is complex...and yet somehow so well put together its simple by the same rule. Oh and if that wasnt enough? there's myrrh and musk in there too, which you do get a little of. I'm so excited about this one...I do get a vibe of something I've smelled recently in Jubilation 25....I thought at first it was BMen by Thiery Mugler (i spryed some on my hand) which has a tart fruity begining but that's where the similarities stop! Laughable that even tried to compare them, not being a snob now but BMen smelled like cheap shite in comparison...Jubilation is in another galaxy!!! I adore this fragrance it's simply any positive adjective you'd care to insert...I WANT to smell like this now! A joint favourite of mine with interlude!

Wow! Just tried this the other day and I was thoroughly absorbed by it! Fantastically opulent & transports you to a bygone era. It's quite linear in composition and delivers resinous spice with few surprises. It's Myrrh with carefully chosen complementary ingredients but that's what I like about this kind of scent. Smells really expensive...and actually IS really expensive!!! I only tried it on a little ribbon (which I felt a bit silly with) I'm sure more depth will come out on the skin. I love these precious fragrances I've lots in my sights which are similar to this (and more affordable) at the moment so I'm not in a hurry to get it. Still this is an amazing fragrance no doubt about it!

Just a brief update...got a sample of this the other day and tried it on my skin in the shop. Again...this is very much up my street, the opening is wonderful and I get my fix from that alone. The dry down however? I have to concur with Harmonia's review below it's actually a bit disappointing. The myrrh which is so great and ever present in the opening, does fade quickly. I'm not going to nay say too much because it's still an excellent, luxurious perfume that is far better than many. If only it lived up to the opening I would hail this as a favourite of mine for sure. Update: Having worn a generous application of this now for nearly 6 hours I have to say the ambery/peppery/resinous nature of this is so good!!! Myrrh has remained okay this time(although it's faded now) and this perfume is stunning!!! I really really love it and have to have it.

Wow!!! Just got a compliment off my mum praise indeed! She NEVER normal comments (positively) on my choice of fragrance. But she loved this one...as do I and asked me what it was...I just said it's a sample and it's expensive. Christmas present for your darling son maybe?

Must say I was quite impressed with these Armani Prive collection...only tried three or four so far but the one's in this collection and despite being pricey are pretty good value for money given the quality and the amount of juice you get compared to other high end collections or niche perfumers. The ones with the gold tops however are a little extortionate! This is a nice amber scent with warm accompaniments which make for a very good fragrance on the whole. Seemed potent at first but didn't last too long on my skin.

Re:review on this one and it's impressive. Great take on amber....Ambre soie is really dirty, like unearthing a chunk of amber from a dirty, peaty soil but with a slight sweetness. I get a peculiar liquorice vibe from the combination of ginger, cloves and pepper with a slight creaminess of patchouli it's really good I enjoyed it the first time and my second try of this has made me realise just how good it is. Very masculine on my skin, not the longest lasting or best sillage but not bad. I have lots of Amber fragrances already but yet again this one brings something totally new to the table. The entire Privé collection are really special.

I have to join the consensus with this one and a theme of Amouage fragrances on the whole...they comprise so many elements and such a symphony of notes that they sometimes run out of steam. By this I mean the openings are so fantastic!!! Sometimes I swear it's like hearing a choir of angels or harp strumming...actually scratch that...more like a Mijwiz or a Khalool. Anyway... The openings are so good but those initial top notes tend to retreat and quite quickly to (a couple of hours maybe?) You're often left with the more enduring sandlewood and frankincense. That's only a minor criticism though because Memoir is fantastic, it has all the wonderfully heady smokiness that you'd expect from the incense but it still manages to be light on it's feet with wonderful fresh top notes a hint of basil and mint which work really well. There's definitely a leather accord in the mix too...reminiscent for a fleeting moment of Clive Christian C...or Tom Ford Tuscan Leather. The base for me is kind of tobacco, amber, sandlewood combo. It's smooth anyway... maybe a little vanilla in there too. It's wonderful and definitely my second favourite after interlude. I think this is one for anyone who wants to get into this house for the first time... Memoir is a safe bet. It's classy, ancient middle eastern meets contemporary...Just brilliant! Update: Had this on most of the day now and I have to say its stunning, refined and still a little spicy into the drydown. I didn't put much on just in case it was very strong, it isn't but strong enough. It just smells SOOOOOOO GOOD!!!

As I said with FK Oud the other notes really complement and make it shine...The same is true of this wonderful Oud scent. Even though there is oud in the title it’s largely a resinous sandalwood. Smells incredible though, great stuff from Armani.

This is a re-review due to my silly nose and it's habit of making hasty decisions on my behalf. Having subsequently tried MFK OUD and Armani Royal Oud against each other in a more comparative and comprehensive trial. I must confess they are not that alike really. I'd sniffed out many Oud fragrances that day and this just chimed with me as being like MFK...without knowing what was in it. When I raced back to check the notes after the first time I tried them, I felt vindicated and quite pleased with my olfactory skills as I'd identified a similarity that I put down to them both containing saffron. This one is much smokier than the MFK for a start and the saffron is far less prominent. All of these are characteristics that I love in perfume so I actually really like this one judged on it's own merits. If you're a fan of the smokey incense type fragrance then this is not a bad choice I'd say. update: The more I wear Oud Royal the more convinced I am of it's worth and the more my faith is instilled in the Privé line as a whole. It's not as vivid with oud as the MFK in fact this smells more of a vaguely woody, synth material and sandalwood note but with such a choice of ouds out there why choose this one? Well because it's awell put together fragrance!