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!
I'll keep this simple. I like this. I concur with the majority of positive reviews on this scent it's good and conjures up some cosy christmasy imagery. Only a minor criticism of SL on the whole they're fairly weak and disappear completely from my skin within a few hours but they're still very well put together.
Jasmine, Neroli and rose? I should be predisposed to dismiss this off hand as too floral and not good man juice. However, this is Amouage we're talking about here and they always strive to make interesting creations from different perfumers which are obviously given a brief to fit with the brand image and yet again this one doesn't disappoint! It has that moving quality of notes swirling around in a tuneful harmony. I instantly liked this it has a lovely light touch not overly floral, some spice in there and a real freshness which is the best part for me. Intoxicating. This is the thing though...This one and beloved are both lovely fresh fragrances and I have lots of those already and the majority a fraction of the price. I think what I want from Amouage is masses of spice and pharaoh type qualities with Amber & incense, precious resins etc... It's my own hang up but I begrudge paying such a price for a fresh fragrance...saying that, I'm very tempted by this offering it just smells so nice. Update: this is the second occasion I've worn this and it's too much the florals are very overpowering and this scent gets weird and majorly sickly after a very short time...I don't find it fresh now either. Also when it opens it has a very synthetic banana accord...(yes you heard right fake bananas!!!) anyone remember those flavoured cold medicines that were mean to be nice as a kid? I hated the banana one. I also get a very mild smell of antiseptic cream specifically Germoline. Not good! Oh dear I did really like this at first this is why I can't trust my nose and have to wear a fragrance at least two or three times to know I hate it...it only takes one to know I love one though.
I've tried many Lutens creations but this is my first review as I never quite know what to make of them. Bois de Violette is one that I can firmly have an opinion on though as it's pretty straight forward to my nose. I like violet, two of my all time favorites Lalique Hommage L'Homme and Dior Fahrenheit both have sweet sharp violet notes at the forefront of their composition. Lots of people mentioning candy or sweets in their reviews and violet notes often remind me of Parma Violet sweets I used to get as a child and that you don't see anymore. I don't think this seems as chemical as that but not super accurate either. BDV has both violet flowers and leaves so I was expecting the most intense violet ever but it somehow isn't... it is quite muted which is kind of a plus because it would get cloying very, very quickly. SL were most likely aware of this and made quite a toned down and ultimately feminine scent which to be honest is quite lackluster.
Really don't like this at all....I'd like to offer more constructive criticism but I can't. I don't know why but I just don't like any Chanel fragrances (with the exception of the Allure's) and I don't Agree with comparisons with Mont Blanc Legend/A&F Fierce either. Update: Well if someone ever had to eat their own hat and words and a whole shop full of humble pies then completely revise their position in a totally giant U turn of epic proportions... it's me in this instance. Firstly, I totally get the A&F Fierce and the Mont Blanc Legend thing now this is absolutely similar to both my disclaimer is possibly that I tried the original egoiste maybe or my nose was totally fried that day...I dunno?? All I know is this fragrance is awesome and so much more refined than either its compared to(and I love fierce) it's less aggressive and has more of a kind of bubble bath vibe about it. It's amazing...sorry Chanel.
Sometimes names can be a bit deceptive but lets get it straight...If you're looking for a powerful woody, Oud centric fragrance, look elsewhere. I like the smell of Oud and it is strangely intoxicating but I don't know what all the fuss is about really? It's down to taste and what you look for. Is it the notes that surround Oud that give a fragrance it's character or is it vice versa? Well it depends... This is typical of an ADP Cologne, stylish, classic citrus in the top and wonderfully fresh feel with nice, gentle Oud in the base. So some pretty special juice and shouldn't be judged on the name because it doesn't deliver masses of Oud, it's great fragrance.
Bought this at the weekend and have worn it twice. My initial review below is fairly accurate as to how I feel about this fragrance...in a nutshell it's great smelling. I was convinced to fork out on it by my girlfriend, she absolutely adored it and as such was very persuasive. I will have to correct my playing down of the Oud element in my first review, this scent has Oud in abundance but it's not at all rough or full on it's soft and very long lasting. The mixture of amyris & coriander with oud is quite a dizzying, sickly combo which takes a bit of getting used to but when you do it's great.
The cypress tree is also a symbol of Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, young girls, and the moon. Copy n paste from Wikipedia...I'm not that insightful... as you would know if you'd read my previous reviews. :) Wow...Wow...Wow!!! This juice is incredible, it genuinely transports you to another place. I get the feeling of being a lumberjack high up in a tree in a north American forest rather than maybe the leisurely stroll though a beautiful Italian garden bordered by pruned Cypress trees. I think the citrus and mint give it that airy fresh feeling of altitude which adds to the super woody and green, sappy notes which are obviously the heart of this fragrance. It's stunning! Just the right combination as it could easily have been linear or boring. Tom Ford's Private collection strikes again with another hit for me....arrrggghhh can't afford them all!!!
I have a decant of this now and my opinion has not changed in the slightest this might be the greatest opening I've ever encountered!!! Simply unreal!!! The drydown is still really beautiful but because that opening is so monumentally epic it just serves as a mild comedown after a massive high. Dries down very masculine like fendi uomo or something along those lines. I still want a full bottle at some point.
I wanted to try this for the longest time and very nearly bought it blind due to the amazing bottle, have to say I'm glad I didn't. Although I don't find it overly feminine it does have a floral element which points toward it at times. Then with the sumptuous warm leather and it has a little spice from the incense it points more in a direction I like...mysterious if you like. It must be the rubbery balminess that completely puts me off this...I've never tried Bvlgari Black but the talk of rubber just makes me never want to. It's an interesting one and certainly not to be dismissed because it's such a mixture of notes there's probably something in there that's appeals but when you take the composition as a whole it isn't one I'll be adding to my collection...shame though I really wanted that bottle on my shelf.
Okay so this is a re review as I saw a 40ml bottle cheap and I love the bottle So much I wanted it for my collection despite not being mad on the smell the first couple of Tries. Well, I'm pleasantly surprised frankly whatever I didn't like about it originally was due to the Bvlgari black rubber comparisons which aren't here. The floral element was what I found prominent too and I can still really detect the lily of the valley after the initial opening of citrus. The Tonka is thick and easily the main player here as it dries down it becomes more and more leathery, problem is it's not a particularly sumptuous or like other leather fragrances I enjoy. So all in all I will wear this as it doesn't offend me but it doesn't excite me either.
The combination of rose and Oud is a classic one and when it's done by FK you know its going to be done well. Just not my thing yet again. If you love Oud & rose in a simple composition, oh and you can afford it then I recommend this. I think it's more suited to a woman due to the Rose and soft soapy effect created by the chamomile possibly? It needs spice and a darker edge for a man.
A charismatic and interesting fragrance but so HARSH it hits you like a sledge hammer. It's one of the most bizarre things I've ever smelled Labdanum, Benzoin and Oud create such a powerful accord that is unique in it's signature. I appreciate the skill that went into making this and it's superb quality but there's no way I could wear it on my skin it's too much of an acquired taste and I don't mean the Oud either! I like velvet mood and the original which may seem a little boring especially compared to Cashmere. The original has more of a raw Oud scent to me instead of a launchpad for other strong notes it has complimentary ones that in my opinion are more understated and suited to a man.
I felt I had to do a re write of my original review, although it's pretty accurate. The quality of this fragrance is undeniable, the ingredients used are of superb and the Oud from Laos which Francis uses in this line has a distinctive quality in my opinion. The labdanum is atomic in strength and the smokey dry down is so intense, complex, forever changing and projects insanely. Its quite amazing how it retains the sharp resinous qualities of the opening for hours constantly flipping between that and a darker smokey woody feel. I wore it today (a very minimal application I might add) I had a CRAZY sillage trail, everywhere I went I was very conscious of how I smelled. My girlfriend who adores Oud and this one was no different in fact she especially loved it. However, after spending a day with me she said it was too much and I have to say I agree. I had this down in my hate pile to begin with, simply because I found it so extreme and medicinal in the opening but once you let it dry down its a stunning scent, a showstopper really. Too expensive and barely wearable to add to my collection but a truly amazing piece of work, facets of this fragrance are spellbinding...check it out if you can, doesn't translate on a card so try it on your skin.
My first experience of Cartier and it began well. This starts out with lots of spice, cardamom being prominent and it makes for a really fresh opening. Then the rose starts to shine through and quite honestly...it's dominant. My thought process was initially (as in first 30 seconds after applying) wow this is mature, classy and interesting scent and despite the rose it's masculine. After than I'm afraid it really started to grate on me, the spice retreats into the background and the rose becomes air freshener-like and distinctly less masculine. I'm wearing it today in the office and I'm a little embarrassed of people catching a whiff of me. Don't get me wrong, I like the smell of rose but in order to work on a man it needs to be in a dark composition with wood and earthy tones, spice and incense. In conclusion, it's a brave scent being so sparse a composition but I would never wear it and although it doesn't quite go into Granny territory it's not far away. I look forward to trying the other declarations. Update: This fragrance has real endurance...I was fairly conservative with my application and 16 hours later I could still get wafts of rose and not just from my clothes it actually remained on my skin which is very good for me. Still don't like it all that much hahah...it's not bad just not for me.
I really enjoy this fragrance I loved Oud and velvet mood might just have pipped it as its a little bolder and less striped back. Unfortunately, I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't wear any of them despite them being lovingly and beautifully crafted and on the whole really well put together. As I mentioned with the original the subtlety of using the right notes to compliment and make the Oud wood shine. I cant get over the fact that they're VERY expensive and I just don't like Oud that much to bother.
This is heaven for me very very strong zingy opening from the bergamot and citron which settles in quickly. It's a classic combo of citrus & Musk with benzoin and vetiver to give it a lovely baseline and it works. This is a great scent I've not a negative thing to say about it. All of these EDT's are not massively strong but strong enough and have average longevity and sillage...just spray a bit more if you want? All in all Id have the entire collection as they're just spot on really really good stuff again from Acqua Di Parma.
Sweet, creamy, almondy but not in a marzipan sort of way and vanilla. This scent is truly gourmand in the way it makes you want to eat the part of your body you sprayed it on. This is not for everyone mind, lots of people will find it too sweet and sickly which it most definitely is. It matures nicely and dries down with gentle cedar wood but retains that wonderful almond, almost moist cakey smell. It's quite complex to be fair though and maybe it sounds a bit obvious from how I've described it but it really isn't. Try it you might like it! Update: I'm wearing this today and it couldn't be more fitting for a bright, breezy Sunday in autumn. I love this fragrance it's amazing it never tips over into too sweet, instead just remains lovely throughout your experience. ADP have a wonderful repertoire of fragrances and they all smell so natural and fresh the more I experience this I get fruity opening now, the citrus top notes that are in everything they do. The bergamot chimes well with the creamy almond and anise so fresh...it's amazing!
Nice...you still get the citrus notes that freshen it up but Myrtle obviously isn't my cup of tea. The heart of this fragrance is kinda moisturiser-like or like sun screen fresh, clean but not to my taste. I don't hate it. Had it on a couple of hours now and in the dry down it improves the myrtle settles to the back I think and it smells quite different from how it opened.
