Halston 1-12 (1976)
by Halston

I normally wear Z-14, and received 1-12 as a gift and mistakenly did not realize it until I actually sprayed it on (since the bottles are identical..and I never read the box closely). Too bad it has been discontinued. I actually like 1-12 a little more than Z-14. It's not as sweet, lasts longer and OK, its a throw back to the days of "truly masculine cologne." I found out where it was purchased and I will try to pick up a few more bottles before they disappear.

Green and smoky. This is from the 70's? Feels more contemporary. Hints of citrus. Not very potent due to the cologne concentration. I do not like this one.

Miss this fragrance. Once of the first I owned and was happy to wear it. Can still find it but it doesn't smell the same anymore.

An old beau used to wear this. I miss him AND this scent.

The opening reminds me a little of Eau d'Hermes with its mix of chypre and citrus; then it gets darker and more complex and better than the Hermes. And yet, I am not smitten with either one. Neither seems quite finished. It is as thought the perfumer got each to a point and then just stopped. Z-14 is less mysterious but more complete. That said, 1-12 would probably be fine for afternoon gatherings or a day at the races. It's inoffensive and pleasant.

It would be sad if Casa de Halston discontinued 1-12, but it would be understandable. 1-12 has always been overshadowed by its evil twin, Z-14. The identical bottles have never helped 1-12's cause either. Now it seems that Halston Inc. has gotten behind Z-14 big time, what with the NASCAR connection and the free hat with purchase (really, how tacky! I bet Halston would be aghast. Or maybe he would think it was pure genius, who knows? (he definitely had his white trashy side!) So, 1-12 has been flooding the discount bins at local low-end fashion chains probably en route to wherever Halston is now. Which is great news for lovers of 1-12, of which I am one. Actually, I thought it was all ready gone, but one day I found a big bottle of it in Ross and I wasn't even looking for it! It was kind of by accident, which is the same story as to my original circa 1983 acquisition. In truth I had asked for Z-14 for Christmas and wound up with 1-12, a mistake anyone could make, especially my mother. I ended up loving it.
Halston 1-12 is the very definition of "crisp". It's like the olfactory equivalent of a starched shirt. But it's not fussy or twee. Just clean, almost to the point of medicinal, but then after a while a kind of sexy note kicks in. It's kind of intellectual, if a fragrance can be that. Nothing like it's dirty older brother (he was born a minute earlier, and thus got all the attention). It's one of the few colognes you can use with a heavy hand and still not overpower innocent passersby. And it seems to change with the amount you use. A little or a lot, either way it's great. It even layers really well with Z-14, if you're feeling kinky. Or thoughtful. Or thoughtfully kinky.
The bottle is fabulous too. Pure 70's (oooh, that smoky brown glass!) but a classic for the ages. It has great "hand feel" too! Not much of a fan of the other Halston's though.