Wowie!!! This is gorgeous...ADP certainly know how to do freshness. These Blu Mediterraneo are magnificent a burst of fruit cocktail oranges, mandarin with a hint of musk and caramel as it matures. Amazing...the perfect scent for a summers day...edible freshness. I love wearing my samples of this I may just get it when the summer rolls around again.
Unless I'm mistaken does this have a hint of Green Irish Tweed about it?? And I don't just mean a lavender note, the whole herby deal. Just for a fleeting moment??? My nose was a little fried when I tried it to be honest I'd sampled lots of juice that day. Can't offer a review at the moment but I know Lalique ooze quality in whatever they do and this fragrance impressed me...I'll have to get a sample to give a proper appraisal. Please someone tell me am I imagining the GIT similarity? Or is it another Lalique...? I'm sure it was this one.
Hey Thanks FreddieFingers! I'll put that down to a nose malfunction...I need a proper sample of this to try properly anyway.
Okay so my last review(if you can call it that) didn't really give much insight into this fragrance but having tried it extensively I had to add it to my collection. Now I have done, I think it may even be my favourite Lalique simply because of pour homme's wearability more than anything else. It has a wonderful soft yet masculine woodiness which opens with grapefruit and rosemary then quickly into the heart of peppery cedar and oakmoss. This fragrance has the Lalique signature of never once over stepping the boundary with any one note and keeping things exceptionally smooth at all times. The opening is complex with notes I can't really pick out but can be perceived in the overall picture displayed by pour Homme...like lavender and vanilla I'm sure they're probably there but don't stand out to me. It's the dry down that is magic for me very subtle and close, it managed to smell even better than the opening to my nose, gorgeous in fact maybe due in part to the vanilla showing up a little more and making for a creamy smooth, woody herby finish. This fragrance is fresh and manages to stay a little warm at the same time...brilliant stuff! I'd recommend this to lots of people as I think it has a broad appeal to fragrance heads, those who are looking for something classy but respectively cheap or even a relative noob who enjoys a masculine fragrance but doesn't want anything too extreme...Lalique pour Homme is perfect. Great fragrance and very versatile works all year round and any occasion but I'm going to give it heavy rotation in the spring I reckon.
I know it really doesn't matter if you like the fragrance but I'd always thought Black Orchid was for women. However the lady on the Tom Ford counter assured me that it was unisex and when I tried it I was totally blown away. This is a stunning scent which at times maybe does feel a little feminine but it has such wonderful complexity that it changes and becomes warm and masculine on my skin in the dry down. I've had it on for a few hours now and it has a tender vanilla dry down which is very pleasant indeed. It opens with complex mixture of fruity florals and a burst of well....Orchid? I assume? I'm not very good with floral notes whatever it is it's beautiful...the composition is great I get lots of different notes spice, incense, sandalwood but not lots just bits here and there. The patchouli is really well used in this it becomes creamy and very much a chocolate accord develops with the woods in the base coming out and changing to something which is absolutely amazing, and more masculine. It lasts much much better than the other Tom Fords I've had (in the same style bottle) although this one is an EDP and has great longevity. I think this is one women will love to wear and smell on a man too...I love it!!!
Oh my La Nuit! Why do the best fragrances are the ones getting discontinued?! My quest for La Nuit started with my love for skank and the quest for something stronger than Kouros. Even though Kouros stands out even today, not only among masculine fumes, but as a chypre, it's not what it used to be. I have memories from my childhood of men smelling of Kouros and it has definitely been castrated. The essence is there but it has had its voice muted. I prefer the memory of what once was... So the idea of La Nuit intrigued me until I finally found a vintage (the only formulation known to me, as it was discontinued soon after it's launch) edp, sealed, 100ml, ready to come home with me. I don't recall Tabu, though I'm sure that as a child I must have smelt it, but La Nuit fits the description of a powerful animalic. The opening blast is a full on rich civet, covered in real oakmoss, along with a touch of honey to further dirtify things up, just how I like my animalics. For the first hour or so the sillage is huge, embracing me in a warm furry way and making me swoon until it settles down a bit letting the indolic jasmine and rose take center stage for a while, before settling in a leathery muskiness. The animal has growled, and now even though it still makes its presence known, it murmurs, never shouts, unless you lean closer. Civet is up front from beginning to end, which on my skin is about 12 hours. This fiery animal has some similarities to Bandit mainly from the leather-oakmoss-civet trinity, but where Bandit is a cold hearted dominatrix, La Nuit is a warm, skin-on-fire wild cat begging to be caressed. Highly sensual, it evokes thoughts of desire, lust, erotica... One of the best animalic chypres I have ever tried, and one which I will definitely use without moderation, as I don't believe such a torrid love afair should be kept secret. Still easily available on ebay, if you love perfumes of yore and the sensuality of a REAL perfume, don't miss out the chance to try it, it's a breathtaking perfume!
Great to see Amouage changing tack a little from bewilderingly complex fragrances with lots of spice and quite frankly odd juxtapositions. This is a little linear...One might almost dare to say a bit boring for them and their freshest outing to date. I like this sort of creative variation and use of different noses for each new release, it makes for an unpredictability and chaos which seems to be a brand theme. The opening of this fragrance is quite simply heavenly and taking the fruitiness to another level. The only thing I can compare it to is maybe something like millesime imperial, or Agua de Loewe EL for gorgeous fresh fruity vibes that are just devine. It has more depth than your normal fresh fragrance which you would expect from Amouage. Cedar wood and musk in the base highlighting the fruit with touches of saffron, spice and a little floral quality...it's lovely, lovely stuff. I remebered all that from one try so it definitely left a lasting impression on me. Now I'm not sure when this was released officially but It only just arrived the other week at Selfridges in time for winter when Beloved to me anyway is clearly more suited to the summer months...suppose that's not important. I look forward to trying it again...and maybe one day making it mine.
I had the option to get this or the more expensive Clive Christian C and I chose the latter. I couldn't wait to try this as I had heard how fantastic is was and knew that it was potentially a fragrance I would love but I must say I was slightly disappointed. Only disappointed in comparison to C...If I hadn't smelled that this would be one of my all time favourites. Unfortunately I can't justify having two quite similiar, very expensive perfumes in my collection I do like to mix things up a little. The leather is beautiful but it's harsher than I'd anticipated at first but once it settles it's nice and smooth with that lovely raspberry note coming through too. However, It lacks the complexity and wow factor of Clive Christian C which is simply stunning. If you have the money to get this you can afford a little more for a hell of a lot more fragrance.
Every Loewe fragrance I've tried to date has impressed me, Just something I like about the attention to detail in the branding and packaging not to mention the quality and thought put into the juice itself. At this point I'd just like to say I think Sculpture of Soul's review is excellent, so scroll down and read that if you don't want to hear my nonsensical opinions. Having said what I think about Loewe, 7 for me is their most disappointing outing to date. To be honest I have a love/hate relationship with cloves (I know, I know it's pimento berry) and a faint waft of clove is really lovely but when it's too strong (like when you accidentally eat one in pilau rice) I really can't abide it. This being said I really don't get an overpowering clove (type) note with this, it's there but by no means intrusive. All I get is a little fruit in the top, smokey spiced incense (which I usually love) and musk. Don't know why this doesn't work for me...just doesn't. I've only tried it once so I will have to revisit it as I really want to like everything they do. Update: Tried this comprehensively today and I have to say the cloves are much more than the 'faint waft' I described above. Cloves (not usually my favourite note) are prominent but sweetened enough to become enjoyable. I think this fragrance is okay, it was worth revisiting the top notes are sharp and the base is nice but a touch weak. Interesting for a designer.
Well the first thing I picked up with this one was a strong note of cannabis. Not sweet green, herbal, sensi type cannabis either more of a dark, afghan black type resinous hashish vibe. In fact just to be specific (I only know this due to a misspent youth) it smells like a hashish that I only came across once called 'manali' it was a spiced Thai stick kinda hash and came in triangular sticks like a toblerone. Anyway It starts out really strong... earthy and woody but once that top note mellows it's very much a straight sandalwood dry down, pretty lack lustre frankly but as I've worn it now and changed my mind about it...and I don't hate it. It's similar to 'Devotion' from the Achtung collection in that its very heavy smelling but the difference is as I've mentioned, it gets better as it matures. Just not for me...I can't understand wanting to smell like a sandalwood incense stick...give us some more notes please!!! Anything different this fragrance had to give is gone very quickly after 30 mins or so. Ambre Vie is much more wearable for a man to me.
I've got to say looking back at my original review of Alpha I've changed my mind somewhat. I wore it again recently and found it to be an absolute treat, not that it smelled any different and not really that my perception of the fragrance had changed but my tastes and appreciation for the care taken in delivering these naturals, definitely has. I don't want to disappear up my own bum here but to quote myself..."Who wants to smell like an incense stick?" ME!!! I do!!! The 2018 version of you, thinks 2013 you, is an utter boob not just for that statement but because I should've bought a bottle back then as sadly, Alpha is discontinued. It's a sweet unicorn now.
I've not been able to find this very easily finally got the opportunity and I must say I really love it. It's an interesting fragrance I like the other two the original one was good but not great and the platinum which I have is a beautiful resiny, amber type which love...I must say I think this one is my favourite. It's kind of like a mixture of the other two in a sense, the mandarin in the top give it a lovely freshness reminiscent of the original and the deep, sexy, oriental heart coming from platinum. That maybe too simple a description because this has it's own thing going on but I'm impressed by this fragrance and I would urge folks to shop around for these Solo's, rather than going with the usual staple of men's fragrance as you will stand out from the crowd.
Okay so I've had a little look though the reviews on here and the notes too and no mention of pepper? I find this to be very dry and peppery especially in the opening...could that be the cypress & vetiver? Anyway... As you'd expect from Lalique the bottle is a work of art and the juice inside is stunning and totally worthy of being held in high esteem. I expected it to be darker and more pungent but it's actually musky and light on it's feet but heavily rooted in woodiness all the same. That's what we like see...complexity and good composition. Update: I had to buy this...A master class in woody scents dry and dark but with a forest freshness to it at the same time... wonderful!!!
Unrelenting Patchouli opening and I can't believe Rhubarb isn't listed as a note on here, for me it's the first thing you get from the top notes... a very jammy and sweet flavour which is spiced and oriental not dissimilar to the original AMen. In fact it's very much like AMen and I find it hard to believe you don't like this if you enjoyed the original but what do I know hey? After the hot firework of an opening it's a great fragrance and drys down with a little woods in the base...mmmmm...it's yummy! I'm actually really glad I got this as a blind buy, I'd tried some of the other popular AMen flankers/alts and this one seemed to be quite rare and not easy to find in shops, even at the Thierry Mugler counter in large department stores. Maybe it's destined to be discontinued or perhaps already has? BMen's elusiveness is probably why it appealed to me and I got a gift set very cheaply from Ebay so I thought I'd give it a whirl...not what I was expecting but I'm more than pleased.
Without doubt the best Oud centric fragrance(with Oud in the name) I've ever smelled. Saffron & elemi compliment it beautifully and make for a subtle and gorgeously smooth scent. The patchouli in this is handled really carefully and works as a catalyst for other notes rather than being too harsh. Francis Kurkdjian has some amazing fragrances under his own banner not to mention his legendary status with other houses...This one is a favourite of mine and yet another expensive niche fragrance I desperately want but can't afford. Oh well maybe one day. Update: Tried Armani Prive Royal Oud and I have to say it's another smooth and stripped back composition which lets the Oud really take centre stage and put me in mind of this one...Praise indeed! Re update: Having had a chance to sample royal Oud again although it's nice and has saffron in, It's not a patch on this. I adore this fragrance and even though it's £195 for 70ml I will have to bite the bullet at some stage and get it, too good to miss out on.
This review is only a draft due to only having tried this once and not reaching any firm conclusions...this is my gut reaction. Been looking forward to getting my hands on this for a while now and despite the Oud trend in the perfumary business for the past several years I've yet to find one (at least with Oud in the name) to blow me away. My hopes were high...but sadly were dashed when I tried it. I have yet to give it a fair run but I found it to be dark and harsh in the opening. No denying it's a wonderful smell, Luxurious and refined but do I want wear it on my skin...Not right now...the jury is out. I can't believe my reaction to this as a lot of Oud's are too subdued for me but this one goes a little too far. Update: Okay so my original views on this are fundamentally the same I'm not really a fan of Oud wood. As for it having a 'dark & harsh opening' I think what I meant was a sharp opening which is more accurate. Oud wood is such a straight forward name that it makes you think you're maybe going to get something of an authentic Oud experience...In my opinion, you don't! I'll give it this it's unique, strong & long lasting. So an okay fragrance that is wearable but a little grating on me after a while and I certainly don't understand all the praise it gets.
My man Redbeard says it best...This is suave! A real mans fragrance and usually I'd come out with some tired cliche about respecting the old skool but not really liking it...which is totally the case and true in most instances. However, this fragrance is absolute magic! My thought process was... Love it on the card tester... very unique Creed manage to squeeze out something different despite being a classic mixture of heavy sandalwood & Lavander. Tried on my skin...That unique signiture was a little heavy on me and I satrted to change my mind about it. 1 Hour into the drydown the love had returned with abundance. This is a manly, mature beast and ages like a fine cognac or wine on your skin...it's brilliant. It's the top notes of bergamot that set it apart because although fleeting, give the whole composition sharpness. I get comparisons with lots of classic mens fragrances but this is not Aramis by any stretch it's yet another example of how good Creed are. This is the best interpretation of a manly scent because something about it is interesting and intoxicating.
I would love to find a neroli based fragrance that was more woody and masculine because I like the smell. I think uplifting, soapy, floral and green are it's characteristics and it maybe wouldn't suit being that bit darker. Otherwise TM Cologne is just too much of a wash out for me, it smells clean and nice though. Comparisons with Creed Original vetiver and TF Neroli Portofino are spot on, although the Tom Ford is even more floral and full of Neroli (If that's possible) and the Creed (although not my favourite) has the quality and depth you would come to expect from them and the soapy nature comes from another accord as it contains no neroli...but If I'm honest is not that great either. Also despite being a cologne I found this to be longer lasting than Neroli Portofino. Just quickly on the advertising poster...It's hideous!!!! I mean WTF are those creepy, androgynous, Avatar humanoids? Doesn't make me want this product at all.
Call me pedictable but I love a good citrus fragrance with a woody, musky base and that's exactly what this is. The best citrus fragrance I've ever tried in fact. It has so much zing it quite simply has to be smelled to be believed. It's not just lime though, it's a wonderful blend of citrus fruits and you get them all...It should be called Azure sublime really! A few people saying it's like Neroli Portofino...can't see that myself, other than it being fresh and having some citrus in. Oh and the bottles are very similiar. ;) Although I love citrus scents... is this really original enough? I don't doubt there's other more affordable options out there and some that stand up to this or are indeed better so I won't be rushing to get it. The only thing you need to know is that the Tom Ford private collection is great and Azure Lime is no exception.
I have to well and truly eat my words on this one. I have a proper sample now and after recent wears have discovered that neroli is obviously a key component in this fragrance but I wouldn't class it as a white floral scent. The neroli has to be there to compliment the lime and give a clean feel but also as a key for the citrus to grip on to and prolong their scent. This works very well and I get decent longevity from it but I've changed my mind about wanting this fragrance in my collection, and that's simply because of the price. It's always been something of a sticking point about Tom Ford scents but if something's worth it, it's worth it. Unfortunately this is not quite worth £140 for me but I have to say Azure Lime's dry down is very nice and above all very masculine, at least on my skin anyway.
Peppery, hard, very dry, spice is what hits you first and like a freight train! The cardamom and fenugreek is huge and borderline unpleasant. The theme with these fragrances are the top notes of dry spice exist as a thin veil which mellows and thins out further but never quite completely goes away until deep, deep into the drydown. Somehow yet again Amouage have created something that conjures up all the imagery and feeling of the Middle East and yet again when the spice subsides a little after an hour or so the heart and base of the fragrance are revealed and it's wonderful!!!! The Oud is lovely and works well in this composition. Unfortunately this is the first and only one I've tried from the library collection but it seems like an educating and thoroughly worthwhile spin on the Amouage carousel. Need more samples of the others. Update: Having worn this again since my first review I have to say although I would never accuse any Amouage fragrance of being linear and not possessing depth, I couldn't get past that heavy cardamom opening. As this thing changes though you start to pick up on a creamy, Oud, sandalwood, definite leather coming through after the first hour or so and smoke it's really really really good!!! There's almost a sweetness coming from something deep under all that dark dark heaviness and it's also quite green too. Very complex, completely bonkers, almost satanic in its darkness I can just imagine Al Pacino wearing this in that devils advocate movie! (I nicked that from another reviewer BTW, can't remember who but thanks because that chimed with me)
I'm so in love with Amouage on the whole, I figured they could do no wrong in my eyes. Even the one I don't like is fascinating in its composition but sadly Fate does not have me as mesmerised as Interlude (which is simply magnificent!) but it hasn't let me down either especially on the complexity front. The spices in the top of this are very prominent if you don't like Indian food and cumin you won't appreciate this. Luckily I do! Fate is quite challenging at first because of those prominent spices, 20 minutes later though and they settle down and fade to reveal a gorgeous heart, I mean so many notes, it becomes like their other fragrances a constantly moving tapestry. The heart is stunning I get incense, sandalwood, a hint of fruit and rose too...there's lots more in there and its hard to pick out individual notes. All I can say for sure is you are rewarded in the dry down after a bold and polarising opening. Update: wearing this again and I'm in love!!! The dry down is very fruity which is unexpected and it's pretty light compared to others in the Amouage range. After trying the likes of jubilation, epic and memoir this one faded into obscurity but Fate is certainly back in favour with me.
Great way to finish off my reviews of this collection ending on a high. I have to say I can't afford to get more than two of these and I had my heart set on Sexmagic and Gateways but this is giving me food for thought. Firstly, this scent is infectious it seems to linger inside my nose for a moment like I'm breathing in smoke or a dense fog, that's not to say its aggressive though the top notes, they are delicate which is probably what allows and adds to the 'breathing it in' effect. Again a natural, realistic floral this time with something called hidcote pink lavender and lily And I must say it's a fantastic combination...this is a floral that is definitely suitable for a man to wear. I've just noticed the first reviewer here saying the perfumer described it as 'masculine floral' and it is! In fact the first I can honestly say I genuinely like a maybe would wear. It's certainly an epiphany too as I can't believe how much I like it! You can detect the oud as it dries down, getting a little earthier on me and yet more masculine but still retaining the awesome lavender (which I like anyway but this has to be the nicest and least intrusive I've ever smelled) along with lily which again I love but can go a little muggy...this doesn't have that and just captures the lovely initial fragrant bouquet. Something I haven't mentioned a lot is the silage, projection and longevity on these perfumes is absolutely MASSIVE!!! I'm not used to such concentration they are insane. House of Matriarch have created a very artistic and thought provoking series here and have made something worthy of attention and intrigue. I like continuity in art, narrative if you like which leads you through whether you enjoy all the content or not and this has that.
Woah! Immortal is mossy...very much like dewy, wet moss. I'd describe it as a Forrest floor with a few florals peeping through. Interesting stuff...but I couldn't wear this its not at all my cup of tea.
Again I'm no expert on florals...far from it in fact! To me this is a scent which is like a exploding bouquet of strong floral notes to the point of unpleasantness and one which I thought would remain that way. To my suprise the drydown is very pleasant and has a woodiness to it, you still get the florals but they tone down to a lovely realistic and soothing flower scent. It's like the smell of walking past the door of a florists on a damp day...or the plant section of a rainy garden centre. Not really for men this one I certainly wouldn't wear it. It's long lasting though I put a tiny amount (and I mean tiny) on my wrist about 4 hours ago and its still going strong.
An other worldy scent! By that I mean it genuinely takes you away on a magical journey. I'm keen on the very occasional cigar and the tobacconist shop I go to has the same wonderful quality as this fragrance. It has a kind of dark cherry thing to it as well although I don't know if that's imagined because I used to get black cherry and vanilla flavour tobacco from there too? (when I was a habitual smoker.) This is a faltless composition from Tom Ford...I haven't tried many of the private collection but this was one I knew I'd love...and I wasn't wrong. There's a little spice in there too not too much though... it's super smooth and creamy all the way. This stuff is to die for...don't be put off because its pricey, its well worth it! Update: Wore this last night own on the town and got masses of complements, I swear this stuff had the ladies creaming...and a few dudes too!!!!
Well it took me a while to get around to reviewing AMen and can't really add anything that hasn't already been said can I? Sweet, oriental, spicy juice that is definitely worthy of its legendary status as a classic modern mens fragrance. I think it's success is due to it's orignality and signiture of quality which runs through the Mugler range. Also I think when this came out it was so different to the other designer fragrances available at the time, aquatics, fresh citrus and sport ones etc... I had a bottle in the late nineties and liked it but never rebought it. I got a load of sample vials recently and this was among them...I'm wearing it today and it's transported me back. To be honest the mixture of spice and caramel is a bit sickly at first, even for someone like myself with such a sweet tooth. It sours just after the initial sweetness and gives me something odd, I can't say I'm keen on it. I like the drydown because it mellows but only slightly with coffee notes coming through and the patchouli gives it great longevity but might also be what makes it a little hard going for me. My conclusion is that I get why people love this fragrance. It deserves praise for being mainstream but also being very interesting from the unique look of the bottle to the brave use of notes. It's the kind of fragrance that I would appreciate smelling far more on someone else...I would think they were cool and had good taste.
Absolutely out of this world!!! Love at first sniff and it just gets better and better as it drys down. A wonderful fragrance that is very similar to Dior Fahrenheit due to that violet note but there's so much else going on its quite different and somehow fresher...like a sparkling champagne Fahrenheit almost if that makes sense. Lalique have some very impressive and complex fragrances amongst their range. I think YSL L'Homme Libre cologne tonic has a similar vibe but paler by comparison. Update: Woo hoo! 8 people concure with my YSL comparison in 12 hours...They truly are close and have a real quality, when you try them side by side you realise the differences...but both are niche quality compositions and if you like violet and want a change from Fahrenheit these are the best two out there. I still prefer this though it just has an added magic.
Weirdest thing! Been wearing this for a while now and saw the oud note on here but never detected it until now. Bam! There it is..a really subtle oud note behind the sparkly violet and musk and a sweeter nature I've never picked up on before. A hint of tonka prehaps too? This stuff was highly prized in my collection anyway but I have a new found appreciation for it. I'm really surprised I could pick up on more in this fragrance after so many wears I really thought I'd gotten to know it. Just goes to show it can happen at anytime.
