Oh dear I made the mistake of wearing this on Friday evening. It was among a quite a large batch of samples that I tried a while ago and thought George was one I had liked but was yet to review conclusively. I try not to make the mistake of just wearing a fragrance wtihout trying it properly and knowing for certain I like it. I'm sorry...but George is awful! Truly awful. Reminds me of Vetiver dance by Tauer but not quite as awful to be fair to George. If anyone has seen the way Thierry Mugler made their AMen les parfums de cuir by soaking off cut strips of leather in a barrel full of AMen and leaving it to infuse. Well imagine the same process but with beeswax, root beer, plasters and bandages! Medicinal is not even the word it smells anticeptic! I don't even think that's fair really because there's something nice about the smell of germolene or detol and this just has other weird facets which make it utterly reprehensible to my nose, namely....white florals! Neroli is massive in here also and adds to the waxy awful general body of the rest of the fragrance. Needless to say I was not happy when I applied it to my skin and realised I would smell that way for several hours and I like to think I'm pretty open minded olfactory wise. There's a honey/beeswax element to this fragrance, an aloof coffee vibe which if it was more pronounced might have redeemed George somewhat and awful white florals & heliotrope! What a mess! Some people might regard this as perfume as genius, I'm not convinced as it just goes against my tastes like trying to force feed me squid and mushrooms. I will say this for it... It's a complex scent and my girlfriend liked it. Oddly enough she had a similar reaction to me in that George has this car crash effect of not being able to stop sniffing at it. Obviously for different reasons mine just in pure disgust, trying to work out why anyone would make this perfume or want to wear it? And hers in awe of a complicated and strange alluring fragrance. Luckily for me the longevity wasn't brilliant, neither was sillage but I did realise it was bad as I was applying so maybe I didn't put enough on?
Feuilles de tabac is an odd one. If you're expecting an abundance of tobacco then think again, this is a well rounded perfume which is as much about tonka beans and patchouli in the base as it is about tobacco. The opening is a strange herbal creamy affair which has a distinctive peppery spice in there which isn't sharp but adds interest to what is a turbulent start. As with La Fumee, I was sure whether I liked it even after it settled but longer into the drydown is where it gets sweeter and revealed itself as something I'd quite happily wear. Nothing ground breaking here but I have to say it's unique and that's a big plus for this one, If you like Feuilles de tabac at all, you'll probably love it. If you're looking for a tobacco scent then it's worth checking out but might be a little tame on the tobacco element for some. I got a good few hours out of it so I'd say Longevity is pretty good and it does evolve so best to give it a chance to convince you.
My second Miller Harris fragrance and I'm not sure what to make of it? This should tread familiar territory balsamic/resinous and judging by the name smokey. I don't know if I expect masses of smoke now because I've tried some smoke bomb fragarances of late but La Fumee seems a bit tame. The opening is a bit unsettled and I wasn't sure it was balanced enough for my liking. It's soft sandalwood, elemi and labdanum which conspire to make a warming woody, incense type perfume which has a very subtle smoke to it. The drydown is sublime though, really lovely a classy sandalwood/herbal mixture and worth considering. Great drydown but didn't grab me to begin with, good longevity though. I like it, my girlfriend commented she wasn't that impressed.
This is a really well put together scent from Lyn Harris and I was initially fooled that it would be all about citrus with a name like Citron Citron. I was pleasant surprised when after a wonderfully natural refreshing opener of citruses you're treated to a drydown that I didn't expect to be as interesting as it was. The first few minutes you're fooled into thinking this could be a very pleasant but ultimately one dimensional & fleeting citrus. It takes about half an hour but you get a hint that there's more to this when the woods and oakmoss start to make an appearance. It dries down to a gentle spiced wood with a lingering citrus, it's very nice and seems effortless to wear & enjoy. It's my first Miller Harris and off to a good start. Great summer fragrance, Longevity is okay too.
Okay so I tried this today and brought some samples home. I really enjoyed the original wonderwood but felt it was a great but a little similar in spirit to Lalique Encre Noire to add it to the collection, still it's very nice indeed. Now the addition of Oud to this mixture of woody aromas and vetiver is either a bandwagon jumping one or a stroke of genius. I'm pleased to say I think it's the latter, this being CDG I have to say that generally they get it right and usual blaze their own trail. To begin with I wasn't sure, the opening is very similar to wonderwood but now with a feel of two stranger Oud fragrances one being AdP Oud colonia concentree and Tom Ford Oud wood (of which I'm not very fond.) that's my initial thoughts anyway. As wonderoud dries down though it reveals a very beautiful aroma which compliments the already excellent peppery vetiver of wonderwood. The lasting power is great I only tried it in the shop and can still smell it strongly now but I will update tomorrow when I wear it properly. Where as I'm not blown away by wonderoud I'm pleasantly surprised. Not a typical Oud to my nose but who cares?
Stunning! Wore this today and fell in love with it. Peppery and has a signature CDG feel which reminds me of the other fragrance I have in their 'normal' range Blue Santal. I will definitely be getting this one, the Oud is evident but just adds an extra bit of luxury, a cherry on the top if you will to what is a great fragrance anyway. Longevity is very good too.
Just to re re review this! I'm wearing it today for the first time in a while and I'm shocked that I didn't realise it before but Wonderoud not only smells like its underperforming and slightly poor older brother Wonderwood but it reminds me heavily of Versace Man and Oud Noir, can't believe I never noticed before. It has that same accord of licorice, slightly saffrony smell which reminds me very specifically of some type of sweets from when I was a kid. Yes peppery and woody it is but still reminds me of a mystery confectionary. For those who give this one a hard time, I don't know why? Even hardened CdG Lovers still aren't convinced by it...but let's face it it's much better than Wonderwood and even I thought that was fine until this came along.
Brilliantly put by @Gileshowe... 'Though you'd have to be very, very enigmatic indeed, and self-assured, to pull off smelling so unsettling.' So true. This fragrance is nuts! So metallic and unusual it beggars belief. The initial blast of aldehydes is weird but not unpleasant and lasting throughout. I can only really identify cedar and maybe some musk in the base but not a lot else. It's mainly about sharp metallic notes which evoke a cold stone or flint accord, with the majority of these fragrances bloody all the way. I don't think it's fair to compare this to Secretions magnifiques in a a negative regard because that is much more offensive than this. I can totally see the connection though, metallic and strange definitely applies to both of them. Red is not as much of a scrubber in my opinion it's fresher sweeter and more playful but still I'd never wear it.
Sharp grapefruit, Bergamot and green pepper in the opening of this fragrance and it's another wow! Strangely reminds me of something I've smelled before, like some generic masculine antiperspirant or something? Normally this would put me and others off, what is supposed to be an innovative and expensive niche fragrance but somehow it remains more complicated and too aloof to be pinned down. It's a musky, woods and some bizarre synthetic feel. This could be coming from a piperonial/heliotrope accord which TBH I usually don't like it is so odd and lends a new dimension to what is in effect, quite a simple composition. I really like that familiarity coupled with mystery in a stripped back juice which has a gentle freshness and close skin drydown. I'm not crazy about this scent and it's an interesting outing but not really for me.
Woah! This is some gorgeous smelling blood right here. Opens with ginger to me but the knowledge there's a deep thick amber fragrance behind those top notes. Then the coffee comes on stronger and it's a real dark, strong percolated expresso. Nutty deep and creamy base of amber and sandalwood is very pleasing to me. Really enjoyed this one from Blood concept, this is something I would wear.
I seem to recall some talk on the men's forum recently about cold fragrances, well AB is a frozen fragrance. This is like a turbo fizzy lemon sherbet verbena blast of greenness & aldehydes which is borderline unpleasant to my nose. The temperature is sub zero on this one I almost imagined my skin turning to a frosty white ice cube of flesh, as if submerged in liquid nitrogen. It's truly watery even a bit salted and very sharply metallic. Notes like 'slate' which anyone with a logical mind would think was nonsense, actually are evoked in this fragrance it's truly remarkable...but pretty awful in equal measure. I'm not just all about warmth(although I do prefer it) but this is not even particularly refreshing to me although some will love this scent I'm sure because of its sheer Avant garde bravery, I'm not one of those people.
Oh my word! I got a sample of SoOud Nur eau fine and I have to say right off the bat it's great! What a wonderful fragrance and a surprise as I'd expected something with Oud and rose perhaps or a super powdery urinal cake but no just a lovely warm fragrance. I'd wear this don't get me wrong but it has a distinctly sultry femininity about it. Herbal, sweetly floral from orris root, the vanilla is very strong and sweet in the opening almost gourmand, and the base is a warm, musky amber and leather. I've mentioned sweetness several times but Nur is never too sweet, perfectly balanced in fact and as it dries down becomes delicately leathery but more masculine on my skin. This is a very well put together perfume and gets my seal of approval.
Woah! I'm amazed that this fragrance delivers nearly all the notes listed in the promotional material and on here. I was expecting to be disappointed by these Blood concepts but so far so good. Frankly I'm amazed and I hope you know I wouldn't bullshit you folks, Blood concept B has great progression and complexity to it and isn't just about patchouli as I had feared. I love the opening, it's a blend of wintery cherry and cooked apples with a distinctive pomegranate note. These top notes are fleeting but you get a hint straight away of the depth contained in B, right from the start there's a feeling heavier notes are yet to come. You get pepper and metallic tea note wrapped in a deep, very woody almost tobacco type feel...it's really good!!! Then all of a sudden as it settles after a few minutes the patchouli bomb is dropped and that combination with tea and a little of the sweettop notes make it very palatable. I've tried some heavy patch fragrances, especially recently and it made me realise I'm not mad on most dirty patchouli dominated fragrances. B is an exception I really really enjoyed wearing it for the first time, even though the Patch has that characteristic, earthy, soil tincture. Amazing, long lasting and might even be one of my favourite patchoulis because of the way its handled with the addition of tea, fruits and pepper surrounding it. B gets and A+ from me.
I'll just kick off these reviews by saying that I couldn't wait to get my hands on these. I feared the (Blood)concept was a little stupid and gimmicky but hey I like the packaging and everything needs a gimmick sometimes to keep things interesting. Well I suppose it's as good a concept as any because I can almost picture blood in my olfactory mind. I enjoy metallic notes and more worryingly perhaps (???) kinda like the taste of blood. But before you get the wooden stakes and garlic at the ready...hear me out. Blood concept A opens with a lovely green note and the fragrance is pretty much based around this wonderfully natural tomato leaf smell which is shear magic! It reminds me a little of making vine tomato consume with a hint of celery and fennel...and the temperature of this fragrance is cold at all times. This is not necessarily the most wearable perfume around but I dig it. The opening then turns to a familiar herbal smell of basil with a fruity shampoo like vibe. It smells like freshly washed feminiine hair, head and all. Kinda 'natural meets unnatural'...If you get me? Then when it dries down a bit the tone becomes deeper, metallic with a hint of spice which truly does evoke blood. It's a really good and cleverly made scent which teeters between natural and synthetic. The drydown gives more of an aniseed quality and the basil is still going strong, which when coupled with the overall leafiness reminds me of fennel. Good longevity for such a ethereally light perfume but has the strange quality of metallic scents they don't project but stay close to the skin. Good first outing for Blood concept, gets my approval definitely not for everyone.
Gorgeous top notes on this one from Carolina Herrera. Luckily managed to find it in a store which carried lots of discontinued (don't know if this has been?) or scents you just don't see very much at least. I love the citrus opening which changes to a melon freshness that doesn't seem too cheap. There's a touch of pepper and cardamom, cedar and tonka bean lending some sophistication and Chic has a gentle musky base. The territory of this fragrance is a well trodden one and I can't say it sticks out all that much but I can't deny it's extremely pleasant and worthy of a wear. I'd choose this over lots of other mainstream fodder just for the fresh fruitiness of that melon note. Longevity and projection are average to subtle on my skin.
For me Sandalwood has three distinct factors that combine in differing amounts to form a trifecta accord. There's a dazzling array of different results which can be achieved and as a result lots of fragrances manifest sandalwood in different ways also depending what surrounds them. This is the closest I've smelled to my default sandalwood, the mental barometer if you will, to which I judge and perceive sandalwood myself. That doesn't mean this is great just that it has a more perfect balance of the three elements which are... creamy,spicy and woody. Sometimes sandalwood can come across weak and transparent but to me Santalum is as clear a representation as you can get. Perfect balance. I do detect the tiniest hint of Myrrh but no cinnamon. It's super minimal composition wise but that doesn't matter as sandalwood has it's own rich complexities... I have to say I really enjoy it. It's not the strongest in the world due to the lack of other notes and spicing usually associated with sandalwood based fragrances. Longevity is okay but doesn't project much above the skin.
Nostalgia has over run my senses here. Uono has got everything that inspires words like masculine, clean, soapy and most of all dated. Personally I don't care it's a wonderful mixture of a lemony citrus opening which soon turns to powdery geranium and a touch of greeness with fresh woody cedar. There's warmth in there sure but I can't say I detect an amber accord more like sandalwood. The kicker notes throughout, oakmoss and musk they keep it sour and interesting, not too barbershop soapy. Uomo is strong and long lasting and has something elegant about it which I'm really enjoying. Certhusia Uomo is brilliant I have to say! I'm very surprised because this is not especially my usual type of fragrance but for some reason I'm enjoying this one a great deal. It has all the great qualities of classic juices like Old Spice or Kouros.
Am I losing my mind here? After the initial opening swirling bit from some citrus perhaps? I get a massive hit of star anise. This is the most prominent ANISEED smell I've encountered and I for one love it! As it settles down No.14 becomes more herbaceous and that strong note seems to split into clary sage and taragon with a hint of violet leaf. It's an odd fragrance I must say but beautifully conceived the main thing about it is the woody Guaic and that herbal quality...I really really like it. There had to be a downside though and unfortunately it is that this fragrance is pathetically short lived on my skin, I mean it's a joke! I thought No.4 was bad but I can forgive it a little for being a citrus but even that lasts longer and projects better than No.14...such a shame.
Wow! Cereus no.4 what a lovely fragrance. Opens a bit strangely, kind of synthetic but not in an aquatic way more of a fruit cocktail sort of thing, reminds me of sweets and E numbers! It does have a slightly watery quality and a slight smell of papyrus but when it settles those fruits are nothing but pleasing. A blend of apple which comes off more like pear with citrus and frankly nothing else! I'm not disappointed in that its a lovely smell it's the lack of longevity that is an issue and at this price you'd expect better. I have to say the smell is addictive while it lasts.
It's very similar to Tobacco Vanille. I get a cherry & dried fruit opening that settles into a strong tobacco with honey. Good value, these Phaedon's are very reasonably priced and if I didn't already own TV I would certainly consider this stuff as an alternative for sure. Don't get me wrong it isn't exactly the same eg: No vanilla, prominent honey but somehow not as sweet (probably due to the lack of vanilla)and a more resinous quality all of which give a moderately different character especially in the drydown and I've tried them side by side. Truth is I don't like this or TV as much as I used to and in truth rarely wear the Tom Ford so I'd opt for something else from Phaedon, like the majestic Rouge Avignon.
I'm not a fan of Azzaro pour homme and I can even smell the similarities here but weirdly Tuscany per uomo has to be my favourite from Amaris. I love the bitterness of the lemon in the opening and it's truly a powerful citrus with a zesty lime to it as well! The base is the usual suspects, classic leather and oakmoss with a spicy sandalwood base and herbaceous basil and caraway too. I have to say I really enjoy this fragrance because it doesn't open harshly (except maybe the citrus) and it drys down to be more delicate and less butch than some other Aramis offerings, especially the original. I quite like this and the Longevity and projection are what you'd expect from Aramis.
Strong, classic Aramis fragrance. I had imagined I would like this take on the Chypre but instead it just wasn't to my taste. Strong leathery pine, oakmoss and carnation classic elements blended in such a way that they are not appealing to me. I think the reason being the opening is musky, too harsh and lasts to the point where I'm put off before I can reach a dry down, which in all fairness is nice. No doubt about it this is a purely masculine animal and some will love it. Great projection and longevity.
Nothing wrong with this scent at all, just insanely ordinary! It's pedestrian central Mont Blanc emblem has something inherently cheap about it. I've actually begun to revise my opinion of Mont Blanc, a luxury manufacturer with a great reputation and their fore into fragrance has to be deemed as a success to most due to the fact they have some winning fragrances. However, I've totally changed my opinion on Individuel for example and I'm not as keen on it as I used to be. Also scents like Exceptionel are frankly suffering from the same issues as Emblem...just too safe and maybe a little boring? Controversially perhaps...I think Legend is a pale version of A&F Fierce a scent which I like the smell of generally. I think if you're going to copy a fragrance at least make it on par with longevity and projection. Fierce is more intrusive for me and smells more industrial, which in a fragrance of this type is oddly better. Starwalker was 'pretty nice' but sadly discontinued I think... because I don't see it anywhere. The only one I still love is Presence which is just such an odd creamy, spicy oriental it's the only one for me with any novelty value. I think the most important thing to note is that they've never made a bad fragrance and there's not one I wouldn't wear so despite all the naysaying I do rate Mont Blanc. They choose good perfumers and solid concepts that sell. Anyway...Emblem! Emblem opens with inviting fresh citrus and maybe a hint of exotic fruit? The heart is another Tonka washout for me though very pleasant but all too familiar and very much the en vogue accord for bland designer fare at the moment. There's a hint of violet and spices, clary sage and cardamom, cinnamon is evident. This scent although not similar does lean toward Legend more than their other efforts. Likable, wearable and as many have mentioned the bottle is great and a perfect way to ram home the brands logo. I'll be honest I would like to try this fragrance again because I didn't really get much idea of longevity or projection and you never know it might grow on me?
Nah....not feeling it. I got some samples and have worn a couple of times now and I'm afraid I'm even going to revert on my original thoughts which were that this is average at best, it's not. Emblem is such a lacklustre outing from Mont Blanc very disappointing. Has that same synthetic, aquatic colone molecule thing which comes on strong in the opening and settles to a creamy Tonka affair...not good. Similar to many recent releases Invictus, Eros, and Burberry Brit rhythm. Surely there is more interesting olfactory songs to sing? Lazy stuff designed purposefully to have mass appeal, Mont Blanc have steered themselves in that direction after very original scents to begin with. Can't really blame them for chasing popular concepts they are in business after all, who cares about maintaining integrity with true fragrance fans who obviously weren't in big enough numbers to make starwalker, Individuel and Presence big sellers.
This Tauer is typically french like classic french cuisine or something? Simple elements brought together to create something multi faceted...Andy has nailed the brief on that one. An unfamiliar take on a lavender fragrance which from the name I had incorrectly assumed was going to be a very green affair. However, Reverie au Jardin is a slightly creamy vanilla/tonka/resinous base, sweet powder from orris root and rose but classic notes of oakmoss and lavender. It's clean, nice, interesting and great for a spring/summer fragrance but ultimately not to my taste. It lasts well and projects nicely too.
Andy Tauer just has this knack of making really unique scents. He's either a very gifted creative force or he has researched other fragrances massively because they seem to be very consciously different from anything out there...not an easy thing to do. His first two (Masculines) were great and could've been thought of as a one trick pony, not that Lonestar memories and L'air du desert Marocain smell alike but are certainly share the same signiture feeling. Having tried a few more of his fragrances now I see that he's very diverse and tackles lots of different accords in a unique way. This is not to say that they're always to my taste but I appreciate his innovative approach and commitment to the craft. So Eau D'Epices is a surprise package and strangely as complex and as many notes as it has, cinnamon is big player giving both sweetness and warmth. The opening is sweet swirling around with jasmine, orange and spices mainly of cinnamon/clove it's almost too much to bare. I think the orris root and ambergris are responsible for the sweetness too. I get labdanum and and overriding warm base of amber but here's the kicker...an orange blossom/tuberose white floral which develops and becomes the heart of Eau D'Epices. Just thought I'd mention I smell a definite tea in the drydown too...not sure what's giving that effect and it takes a while to come out but it's definitely there. That could've spelled disaster for this fragrance as I'm not a huge fan of them but it works really well with the spicing in this composition. I like this one but like many recent smaples I've tried...it's not for everyone. I'm gonna have to wear it again properly to see how it performs in a typical situation. Long lasting and good projection from what I can tell so far.
Wowee!!! What a sweet intense opening it's a fruity tangerine and bergamot then exotic ylang ylang and jasmine with labdanum. This beautiful amber accord is not for everyone and I can totally understand some being sickened by Mazzolari's Ambra. This could be construed as feminine and it sort of is but I really love it because it's warm throughout. The drydown is a total contrast to the opening, with all that stickiness and floral business out of the way it becomes a very deep and sensual amber accord with sandalwood. This for me represents a distinct gender shift because to me it becomes a more masculine affair way into the drydown. I really like the smell of Ambra it satisfies my love of Amber accords and super sweet fragrances with exotic floral elements, also expensive feeling resinous qualities...so it ticks lots of boxes. You know what though? I wouldn't wear it...far too sweet and cloying and I know it would get on my nerves after a while, this is one I can appreciate from afar. If I smelled this on a woman... I think I would fall in love. I understand why this one has the votes divided...not everyone's cup o tea.
