From a fragrance collectors point of view I want one of these He Wood bottles so bad just to have in my collection. I love woody fragrances but there's just something really wrong with the opening of these fragrances. To be fair they're all about the base notes and how they dry down but if the opening and first hour or two is awful then it just puts me off. This one is a real offender in this department, an astringently harsh paint thinner, turpentine type of a vibe in the opening. I love violet accords in various guises but this is all wrong! My girlfriend said it reminded her of ..."a damp wood working tool shed." and I thought...I wish it reminded me of that! I'd take that over what I got from it...I surpose you keep turps in your shed so maybe that was it? Anyway...gets woodier and better in the dry down and I get the wetness of wood that it's supposed to have but it's not sexy or weird like an Encre Noire. Don't like it...such a shame.
Okay....So I've revised my opinion on the He Wood range of fragrances especially this one as the others didn't irk me as much as Ocean wet wood. I just generally had a problem with the harsh, unnatural opening which to me went against what I considered to be the aim of the brand, I mean what could be more natural than wood? I don't like the misuse of the word 'synthetic' particularly as it displays a lack of understanding about modern perfumery but when used convey a 'cheapness' I understand the sentiment and to me this used to apply to this fragrance. However, I've changed my mind somewhat and the drydown and base notes of these woody fragrances are what they're all about. Wet wood is the most mellow and aquatic of the lot in actual fact with a milder violet accord from the original. I've taken it off my hate list anyway can't believe I was so offended by it in the first place? I put it down to olfactory fatigue and a badnoseday!
I have to reflect the sentiment of other reviews on this, truth is I'm not sure what the notes listed here are all about...dried fruit etc? Granted some notes are just evoked by others without actually containing those ingredients. I get a tobacco type accord with honey and Iris but this is not one of the better more distinctive Diptyques for me...and if you like these notes there's probably stronger choices out there. Having said that it really ain't bad either and will require more investigation to make a final decision.
My oh my oh my!!! I'd read and watched every review I could on this one before I got it as a blind buy. The amount of respected reviewers I'd listened to saying how amazing this fragrance was and how it surpassed expectations at this price point etc... I still had reservations until I got my nose on it. To be honest all those glowing reviews don't even come close to doing it justice this is a phenomenal fragrance and I don't say it lightly... a true MASTERPIECE. It's blown me away...I couldn't wait to unbox it and when I sprayed it on my hand I waited for a few moments before smelling it, all the while my mind racing at this exciting prospect. Before I could get my nose on it I was treated to a sneak peek, a waft emanating from my hand at about waist height...It was instant love at first sniff! The moment it entered my nostrils my first thoughts were disbelief at how expensive and opulent this smells, although the reviews I'd seen had warned me of exactly that, nothing prepared me for it. 24 Gold is such a magnificent blend of notes that you get everything in the opening a very, sweet amber, jasmine, ylang ylang and anise which create a kind of spicy, middle eastern incense vibe with the sandalwood in there too. This must be contributing to the sweetness and it's almost edibile sweet. The opening is so hardhitting... an epic bombardment, it reminds me of something from Amouage. The Oud is very evident to my nose it the first hour or so it has exactly the strange quality that lots of 'Oud based' fragrances lack (It actual smells of oud!)and that's not even what this scent is all about. It has a vanilla through it too which keeps it creamy and rounds off any sharp edges the vanilla gets more and more apparent into the drydown. It's a strange reminder of elements from lots of high quality niche fragrances I love...Clive Christian C, Amouage Interlude man, Armani Prive Royal Oud/Myrrhe Imperiale and MFK Oud...without being like any of them! So fairly complex you would think? Not really. It's because when a scent is this good you can just take it at face value and you don't dissect the notes just sit back and enjoy the experience. As for the image... a sweet scent with strong branding and massive projection and silage in a gold bottle...sounds familiar huh? Don't get me wrong and no offense to 1 million but this is in another galaxy. Finally, I've been aware of this line of frags for sometime and heard people mention the Jack Bauer connection I thought jokingly...even when I saw the digitally displayed letters on the box I never thought it was actually a concept based on the hit TV series. I never really watched 24 to be honest but if Jack Bauer smelled like this no wonder he was so effective at counter terrorism. The terrorists must've been mesmerized by his princely aroma, like a deer in the headlights. I'd have told him whatever he wanted to know, with no torture necessary. This fragrance has everything going for it and is an instant favourite.
Wearing this today and it's really good, fresh but not too fly away and with a definite masculine edge. The citrus opening is all too familiar to the majority of the ADP's I've tried. It's a very natural fruity smell that is sharp and bracing then becomes slightly spiced. I think this is a really well put together fragrance and oozes easy going sophistication without being anything special. After the initial citrus, there's a touch of soapy blossomy neroli but not too much. Then the ginger, benzoin and myrrh become apparent and I for one am happy with the way this fragrance is going. The drydown is amazing frankly...I love how that freshness and citrus beginning can mask all those subtle base notes underneath. I never imagined it would drydown with a deep spicy, leathery, warm skin type aroma that's incredibly masculine. This is the complete opposite of Essenza di Colonia which has a even more pleasant fruity/citrus opening then the base is totally aloof! Intensa is really good juice and the ideal gift for a man who likes to smell good but doesn't want to make a huge statement.
For anyone interested, Calyx is available but under the Clinique brand. Hopefully fans will still find it recognizably Calyx!
So...Zen at last I found you and I was not at all disappointed. A great fragrance, has a fresh sparkling feel with a fruity musk vibe. Definite nashi pear note in the top, vague florals (which is a good thing) and a soft musky suede drydown. What's great about this scent is it seems familiar but is actually quite unique as it goes and I'd rather wear this than some of the fresh designer scents out there. I have to say I really love the white heat edition version but I suspect this will have better performance in projection terms as it is a bit stronger and less subtle. Shiseido Zen is a casual scent that could be worn everyday and has a clean non intrusive vibe...great contemporary bottle design too! I enjoy it.
Been looking for somewhere that stocked this and the original Zen for a long long time. I've even tracked down rarer niche fragrances faster than this one but I was determined not to blind buy it even though I kind of knew what to expect. Was I right though? Absolutely! I'd have been happy with this as a blind buy. What a great smell! It opens with angel chorus, flourishing harps and birdsong! Nah... not really but it might as well do. It opens with a freshly squeezed, sweet, juicy tangerine and citrus note(well hassaku anyway) and a slightly floral vibe but very very soft with a minimal sandalwood. It's only the creamy element of the sandalwood and as I mentioned, very subtle indeed. I don't get much mint but I do get an Ice cold, refreshing vibe that for me makes Zen white heat edition a great achievement. If you can find it (I had to go to a Shiseido make up counter) get it! You won't find many better fresh fragrances, really the smell of this is excellent and a welcome alternative to the usual designer fodder. It's very soft, I only tried it on my hand but I could imagine the longevity to be avaerage and the scent will stay close to the skin. So soft in fact it could be considered feminine but not at all to me I'm definitely going to get this one.
No! Not for me this one. Too feminine and has the dominant white florals which to me are right on a crucial borderline between uplifting and headache inducing. Smells more like a room scent than for human consumption (so to speak) and I can't understand why anyone male or female would enjoy smelling like this? each to there own though huh? As with all the MFK scents it's well blended and the citrus opening works well with the soapy, waxy blossom smell. I love jasmine and it's definitely here sweetening up a neroli type floral fragrance but I never seem to find a TRUE jasmine especially in a male fragrance or even failing that, a unisex. I remember trying Aqua Universalis and quite liking that but I'll have to try it again to be sure. I seem to remember it being more citrus and watery notes than white florals and as such maybe less intrusive and more wearable than this. Update: I think I've been a little unfair above. I understand why someone would want to smell like this it's very nice and actually evolves, constantly changing and making you think. It's certainly more than just a white floral scent I can really smell the musk too. The flowers are so accurate and natural I'd go as far as to say this is the best white floral I've ever smelled but it's still not for me to wear. (although I am today.)
Having worn this fragrance today despite my initial skepticism about it not being manly enough for me...the quality and skilled composition of aqua universalis simply shines though and over 18 hours of pure delight on my skin. This white floral is well worth the price tag, I wouldn't wear it regularly but it's still an excellent fragrance.
Brave stuff! Full to the brim with spices, I thought I was going to love this one unconditionally but sadly I don't. It puts me in mind of a dry, sandy, beige colour landscape because of the association perhaps? I don't know why it kind of reminds me of sandpaper not the smell as such but it just creates a sensory, olfactory texture...if that's not too pretentious a comment? It's a pungent opening for me quite peppery which I usually like but not here as it's a little sneezey. The spices are hard and rough at first and as it dries down it starts to produce a really lovely incense vibe. I kinda love this fragrance but I couldn't wear it myself. Although this is a 100% straight down the middle unisex, I personally get a more of a feminine feel from it... like something a belly dancer would wear. It's certainly not because this is light or breezy it's pretty hardcore to be honest and far spicier and smokier than CDG series 3 Avignon to which I've seen some comparisons. My verdict is that this is a cracking fragrance...just not for me. I would recommend anyone who likes orientals or spicy, incense fragrances to try this one as it's very interesting.
This was recommended to me at the Kilian counter and was one I hadn't tried due to my habit of limiting myself to masculine or unisex perfumes. The reason I do that BTW is not because of any aversion to them, rather that I would be opening a Pandora's box of female focused possibilities and financial decline. The odd one is okay and this was one I made an exception for. I really, really like fruity fragrances and In the city of sin is great to be honest. It's a wonderful fruity/floral, sexy musk scent which to my nose is only slightly spicy, nothing offensive. Easily unisex, not for me though more suitable for my girlfriend... she liked it too.
Intense it isn't. A gorgeous balmy amber which is soft and has a wonderful sweetness coming from the patchouli. The incense and resin is fresh not smokey and the overall effect is soft. This is a gentle fragrance in no way intrusive or bold and for this reason, leans in a mildly feminine direction. That being said I would still wear Evody Amber Intense as I found it a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The first fragrance I've tried from this house and so far I'm impressed.
The below review was a while back and since then I'd always imagined Evody to be a pretty good house, well never presume anything because the rest of their efforts I've sampled since just don't cut the mustard. So I managed to get a proper set of samples and this was one I knew I had raved about and was expecting to be disappointed a second time around...but no...It's still pretty awesome. This opens with such a sweet warming presence that appeals to me but if it stayed that way would become cloying. Luckily it doesn't and quickly progresses passed the top notes revealing a pleasant amber accord and spicy incense with a hint of smoke and sandalwood. Where it lets itself down slightly is on performance, it's not bad but gets close to the skin quick and is too subtle for something labelled 'Intense'. However, I stick to my original thoughts...Evody Ambre Intense is a superb Amber fragrance that makes you let out an audible sigh of satisfaction. I'm still really tempted to add it to my collection, and I've got (let alone tried) loads of ambers so that's Praise indeed.
Well...Finally tried this flanker and I have to say it's very nice, not as impressive to my nose as Pure Malt but nice nonetheless. Sweet, slight cherry vibe to it very warming and again takes some of the edge off the original AMen much in the same way Pure Malt does. For me the Honey is prominent(not usually my favourite) but it's a pleasant honey that I actually enjoy. The tobacco is minimal to my nose and I was hoping for something more in this department. Overall, it's another good but subtle variation on the AMen theme and the price is agreeable too!
Update: wowee!!! I got this today and I must say my initial try did not yield much tobacco however now I've worn it properly I get a really cigar like tobacco like a smooth mild cohiba. There's a little smoke too and cherry really similar to Burberry London actually but creamy with cacao and vanilla. Frankly, I'm astounded by these A*Men flankers and how good they are initially they smell like the original but then the subtleties shine though especially in this one. It just goes to show how good the original is as it has all these different avenues to explore and make various flankers based on. This is really really good juice and I love it as much as pure malt if not more.
Okay so this is one of the classic Serge Lutens fragrances that I had tried but never really got to know until now. What can I say? Ambre Sultan is a very indulgent amber scent and frankly one of the best out there...No surprise really. Contains all the things I love in fragrance... Warm amber, resinous spice, a touch of creaminess from sandalwood and vanilla. It's a rare thing for an amber scent that is so in your face and yet I don't get the burning nostril sensation I get from even some of my favourite amber heavy concoctions. I think this due to a very good good composition which is strong yet smooth a really fine scent indeed.
Sparkling, sweet and beautiful! What a great scent this is... it's like quenching your parched lips with an ice cold, fizzy, San Pellegrino. To me this is a perfect energizing summer fragrance. I was expecting a very gin like, juniper vibe which it does deliver but it also gives a sweetness, clean vetiver and a spiced vibe too. It's expertly blended to create a really intriguing fragrance which is uplifting as many have mentioned in their reviews. This stuff will genuinely cheer you up! The only problem I have and it applies to quite a few Penhaligon's (some of them are stronger) they have poor longevity and projection. This is among a few that are slightly more expensive than the rest of the range and I can't see why really? I like it that much that I may well add it to my collection despite this. Update: I was very tempted to buy this today, instead I was given some samples by a lovely lady in the Penhaligon's shop and will trial it on my skin over the next couple of weeks and see how we go on. It is a summer scent for me so maybe not a priority purchase. Make no mistake though I'm still as in love with it as I was at first sniff...a wonderful fragrance!
Finally got to try this today and lets set the record straight! Is Encre Noire Sport in keeping with the aesthetic of the brand? Of course it isn't! However, forget whether Encre Noire should have had a sport version or trying to make out the launch of this flanker will somehow degrade the excellent reputation of its predecessor because Lalique have done it now! As for the smell of this? Well, I was intrigued to find out its not a million miles from the original in all honesty. The opening is totally different a sharp citrus, grapefruit and bergamot which is lovely, fresh vibe which suits the sport name. The citrus was long lasting too much more than just top notes a very rare thing, it seems to permeate for a long time into the dry down, a dry down which is very familiar. So...that dry down then! The smokey, peppery, ultra woody, dark signature character of the original starts to shine through and you think 'ah ha! There it is!' The longer it matures the more it becomes that wonderful vetiver and cashmere wood of the original. How you couldn't like this and enjoy the original, I fail to understand? Maybe if you don't like citrus at all? But otherwise this is a good fragrance. I love the weird, melancholic almost sombre vibe of Encre Noire but to lighten the mood a touch and maybe add some extra appeal to those who find Encre Noire too dark and woody...Is okay in my book. As sport flankers go no matter how inappropriate, Lalique have fulfilled the brief of a sport scent with this offering which in my eyes is to make something fresher and more versatile in a 'sport'/active situation while retaining critical elements of the original. This reminds me of another recent release, Tom Ford Noir EDT version which is the same principle applied here more citrus in the top but basically the exact same fragrance as the EDP. This fragrance is mega long lasting too, 10 hours on and I can still smell it, I have the original and I know it has great longevity too but I'm impressed by sport. To conclude I'll just say that I think this is really very good. I was apprehensive as I'm sure others were due to the name but Lalique are a quality brand and this fragrance is no different. Nothing cheap about this to my nose expect EN with a citrus twist and you won't be disappointed. UPDATE: INSANE!!!!! The longevity of this fragrance is huge over 24 hours I've showered washed my hands numerous times and I can still faintly smell it on the back of my hand where I tested it yesterday afternoon...that's almost unheard of staying power.
No doubt I was attracted to this juice by the bottle...I know I'm stating the obvious here because it's called roadster but it's seriously weird looking like a turbine or an engine or something. Yeah so I've just sampled it and I have a severe cold so my judgement maybe seriously impaired, however I got a very watery, cucumber type opening with metallic notes and citrus. The bergamot and labdanum are refreshing and to me create an almost melon smell not dissimilar to something like Kenneth Cole Reaction. I was surprised to be honest that cardamom was not listed on here as it seems a little spiced. The earthy woodiness coming from the vetiver with the citrus again giving a kind of classic male effect think L'eau d boisee or terre d'Hermes. This is one of the nicer juices from Cartier and probably because it's boring and in safer territory than declaration for example. I like the fact that they had a brave approach to male designer fragrance even if I deemed them unwearable on a personal level. This is pleasant and wearable but as such just a little ordinary.
Well I'll be honest...Somebody asked me what I thought about the new formulation M7 compared to the old TF M7. Well I've never owned the original despite it's legendary status and my time as a fragrance enthusiast. I remember smelling it in a shop and thinking it was great but I can't recall the precise nuances in my olfactory memory banks. Also having not tried the new one I couldn't really answer the question or have much of an informed opinion on the subject. Now that I have I can't comment on the comparison all I can say is that this is a superb fragrance full of class. This really puts a lot of highly priced and prized niche fragrances to shame. The opening is lush fruity madarin orange and patchouli the Oud is perfect and it's slightly resinous too. Great stuff, elegant and perfectly unisex, great value for the quality. YSL M7 Oud Absolu has a huge amount going for it and is revered with good reason. I'm adding it to my collection.
Okay it's expensive... £185!!! People will continue to compare it with TF Tuscan Leather because it's got 'Leather' in the name...for me this is an entirely different take on a leather fragrance. I get the sweetness of fruit and creaminess of vanilla and patchouli in this and personally think it's a triumph and nicer than Tuscan Leather in many ways. It's beautiful to my nose...but... Don't think I'll be getting it at that price...although I was tempted.
Not to my taste at all. I got a sample and to be honest I never even looked at the name as I wanted to test myself on the notes...not much of a test I can tell you. First thing that struck me, orange blossom....white blossomy waxy tuberose, sweet jasmine and in a onslaught of white floral. If you love that then you're in luck because it's here in abundance and I think the combination is good because it keeps the sweetness from becoming too much. However, to me it's quite soapy like Neroli/tuberose or other white florals and although the orange blossom is prominent it's too feminine for me and there's nothing else really to discover after the opening. Longevity and projection are insanely good on this I found spraying a small amount on my pulse points and it was unrelenting.
Complex, masculine, spicy but smooth and above all sophisticated. This one keeps me sniffing and the development of notes is wonderful. I can see the comparisons with brut but this has more depth and subtlety. Having said that for all it's complexity it is fairly linear I think that is due to being very well composed and balanced. I actually enjoy the slight honey note in the dry down which is unusual for me. The opening is pretty harsh though ozonic and metallic, aldehydes then lavender. The dry down is spicier and woody, clean too a little like a gentleman's soap. Sartorial settles close to the skin but is long lasting...I enjoyed this one a real classic.
I can't deny that Penhaligon are masterful at blending fragrances, this one is nothing out of the ordinary. It's a prominent lavender with delicate spicing to create a fragrance which is not in your face more dignified I'd say. Clean & masculine seems to be a theme which runs through all the male focused Penhaligons but nothing groundbreaking.
Fig is a strange one... two fig scents that I really enjoy spring to mind. ADP Fico and the Diptyque Philosykos...this is unlike either of them! It's starts out with a classy citrus blast, by that I mean expensive smelling not like a lemon cleaning product or a 'smelled it all before' designer fragrance. Citron and I get some orange too it's really nice! Then comes one of the greenest of green smells I've experienced, reminiscent of L'Ombre Dans L'Eau by Diptyque. You also get the wonderful freshness of fig but it's very vague in the mix, also there's a slighly spiced, peppery vibe. If this just dried down with subtle wood and faded quietly... I'd have been a happy man, having discovered a brilliant summertime fresh fragrance that I would definitely wear I may have otherwise over looked. Then the magic happens in the drydown!! My favourite part about this fragrance is that even while the citrus and green notes are settling that subtle spice is building to a crescendo of resinous glory! The galbanum is a huge player in the fragrance for me and I've come across mastic before but while I'm not familiar with it's specific qualities it obviously brings something special to the party and the combination smells a bit like myrrh...then changes as it matures further. So given this fantastic combination and journey through different olfactory stages I have to say that this is a magnificent juice from Annick Goutal and a combination of citrus/greens/spice/resins I'd like to see more often. Perfectly unisex too, something about the whole composition seems to be balanced and the drydown to me is masculine but would be totally at home on female skin by the same rule. Excellent stuff this!!!
This is too feminine for my tastes! Takes a braver man than I to pull this off. The name is so provocative and cool I was expecting something dangerous. Oh well nevermind.
Strangest perfume I've come across in viscosity terms... it's as thick as treacle!!! That's a bit of an exaggeration actually but even for pure perfume or extrait it's very oily and has a wonderful, rich maple syrup colour to it. I expected it to be massively potent and but the smell itself is actually quite reserved. When you apply to the skin it has a very oily consistency and DOESN'T dry down! I was sick of waiting so I committed a cardinal sin and rubbed it in slightly. I only applied a very conservative amount but I honestly don't think it's particularly strong just due to it's nature, a kind of exotic woody/floral scent. I honestly thought this contained some crazy rare orchid or something it certainly gives that impression. The main accord to me is a white blossom and tuberose smell with lots of fruitiness in the top notes which give it a lush exoticness. I'm in two minds while it's not offensive It doesn't tickle my fancy either. There's something lovely about it but then it's ruined by the floral notes being a bit flat. I'll try it again soon but my take was...'meh it's okay.
