Fragrance Reviews by jenson

News Flash! GIT Clone!! ohh wait...everyone knows this already... hmmf..

well Go for GIT anyday. this is like a picture, static, theres no interplay of notes the way it breathes in GIT..oh well this is chez bond page..hmm..it is indeed a lame recreation of GIT.

Thumbs down for sheer lack of creativity.

what were they thinkin?

Top notes: lime peel
Mid notes: Lime peel
base notes: lime peel and musk

utterly boring.the intensity of lime reminded me of Live Jazz and Eau Sauvage...but there is no movement of notes..just fresh lime notes. if strong citrus us what you like wihtout any complications, thn you may consider. if you like to be kept interested thru out, thn Go for Live Jazz and Eau Sauvage.

thumbs down for the rate.

Fresh blast of minty sweet fruity notes with a heart of florals and a heavy bottom of musk and woods. this scent is very clear and transparent overall, no dark notes. in a nutshell, this is how you feel when you brush your teeth with those vibrant, fresh, flavored toothpastes. it smells just like tht, and it stays that way for a very long time with a very sweet interplay of notes which will keep you busy. Lovely scent for dates~! this is meant to be worn on dates or if you are planing to ask a girl out! Bond did it with this one for me. it's a must have at any price. Period!!

Corps et Ames (2006): opens with sweet rose notes..soon it progresses to an accord which has strong references to mid-basenotes of Black Oudh with the leathery touch of Gentleman...soon settles into a very powdery sharp leather note with woods, i detect lil bit patchouli too. hate to say this, but this too resembles BA and too some extent "Gentleman". the diff between this and Cuir D Iris would be the Iris which give the latter a powdery vibe(Dior Homme) with the former having the bite and stomach turning capacity of BA.

i give it a thumbs up coz its wearable, with interesting top notes and resembles BA quite a bit...so, for someone who doesnt like the intial blast of BA..this one is just for you.

Cadjmere: "Hate" to be such an A$$ H$%^&...but this is a toned down version of SandalSliver and Blue Amber. the very same milky, vanillic touch of Blue amber combined with rose notes and woodiness of sandalsliver. this smell very refined and powdery right from start...One has to have a sweet tooth for SandalSliver, however, once we pass half hour with SandalSliver, it exudes one of the best sillage and has very good progression of notes until the end...on the other hand Cadjmere is pretty linear with sweet rose notes and powdery vanilla (like Blue Amber)... for way too long. lovely scent neverthless. Viberts review is bang on target.

For someone who appreciates Cadjmere, and can live without the rose notes, i strongly Montale Blue Amber(as if my recommendations count...duh.. )

Opening blast is intense and very enjoyable...it's like a quick preview of the whole scent in one shot...whts interesting is this, the herbal midnotes is just like PDN New York..more like New York and to a lesser extent Chanel PM. the leather is very subtle and as others mentioned has got a powdery, soapy Vibe to it. no complex vibes going on. it by no means has any of the spicy warmth of PDN NY...but the trademark herbal Bite, is just there...PDN probably had this as an inspiration to build on...lovely scent, nothing extraordinary, yet, it goes back in time and has it's charm to it.

pretty light scent, but very lovely constrution. beautiful florals (ylang Ylang) done in a very realistic way...one could almost feel as if they were smellign the flower directly. but then again the downside is, longevity. i think one needs opt spray a good 10-15 shots to get this baby lingering whole day. lovely creation, coudl be brought for pleasure and close encounters in night.

one could almost mistake it for Rose31...

smells like H.M. by Mori, Period. hate these kinda candy like gourmands...if someone doesnt like these kinda scent but would like something in similar lines, then pls try Montales - Chypre Vanille (pls note: its not a gourmand typre, but very floral).

I was very eager to see what Carthusia was all about after reading thru interesting quotes in Blogs and the constant praise and admiration this House has. It didnt disappoint...however, it didnt smell unique..in other words, i was familiar with the accords in it and it reminded me of few scents it must have been possibly inspired from...

Numero Uno opens with a very boozy accord, in a very nail polish remover kind of way...this accord very soon progresses to a very tart, bright, citrus notes... the effect of Orange peel is very very similar to YSL Live Jazz with a healthy dose of Lavender..its some where in transition from Top to Mid notes that it Uses Thyme in a powdery, copperish way that we are so used to and done in a elegant way in one other scent. The scent that im refering too is PDN New York. Numero Uno relies heavily on this Herbal accord which was so well crafted by PDN in her Masterpiece New York...the mid notes is merely a combination of YSL Live Jazz and PDN New York, not as spicy and balanced as NY though...

somewhere in the base, the accords get very crowded and it almost a colossal display and disturbing collage of animalic notes on a base of mushy green vetiver and incense. somehow, it's very raw and real.. seems out of place..maybe it was intented to be raw in it's approach..but again, for someone who has YSL LJ and PDN New York..it'll be hard to ignore the similarities...at the same time, Fans of the same would rever this scent with same passion.

Does anyone else see the NY comparison...?

Divine Lhomme Sage:

L'homme Sage has a divine opening, like a white light, a Glow. A powdery burst of fruity notes and spices(mainly barks and roots kind). Fruity notes are so well rounded and delicately coated with spices with a hint of lime peel..the color and approach this scent evokes is very similar to Himalaya, however, all the similarities end in 15 minutes because, the Sage has finally come out of the white light and ascended to a divine forest on Earth..this scent take a complete u-turn after 15 minutes or so..one can encounter the earthiness, the wet nature, the smell of freshly chopped wood or maybe the smell of wet bark of a tree. The patchouli with the hints of vetiver adds to the earthiness of this gem. This scent stays dry and smells very real, smells of damp earth and woody notes, not scented woody notes, but just plain wood in a rain forest..as each minutes passes by..one can clearly see these notes wafting of the skin with clear notes of Incense, one of a kind, very real intense Incense notes that i have encountered. The smell is very very very similar to Lez Nez Let me Play the Lion. im not sure how many take my posts seriously or even take a note but, i had earlier claimed how disappointing LMPTL was for me..i just didnt get it. but Divine made it simpler for me, it is definitely superior than LMPTL and all counts in terms if exxecution. With Lhomme Sage, i understood, it was clear, notes were more visible and real. Sage has a very rock solid foundation of one of the best Amber notes and Oakmoss. The Amber in this could very well be compared to SL Amber Sultan in terms of the quality put in. ofcourse, SL takes a different approach altogether, but divine does it right too. I think with Sage, Divine tried to accomplish a Scent which would be a Sage in itself. Rock solid theme which, if one gave some thought would really make lot of sense. and Yes, i could very well relate to the name this scent represents.

Is it a scent to wear if you wish to impress someone? Maybe not, but fans of earthy and woody scents, please take a note. this not a scent for parties or office or an evening out wiht freinds, however, it definitely something you could approach once you reach home from work, something to wear after a shower, something for colder wheathers..something to wear under the sweater to give you the utmost comfort and warmth without interfering much but, at the same time be there for you when needed.

Sage lasts for over 8+ hours easy

Freshly mashed Eucalytus Oil extract provides the coolness to the opening and gives a very divine touch to the herbal opening notes. the heart forms a wonderful bouquet of floral notes along on a bed of earthy patchouli and iodzised vetiver...vanilla sweetens the equation a bit...this stays very intriguing thruout the journey and does smell very unique in it's approach. This has been an eye opener for me in terms of it sheer quality, Uniqueness, master blending and also, a right volume set on sillage, projection and o nthe way it diffuses and warms up on skin. overall a masterpiece which doesnt get the accolades it deserves.

quick references on how it smells like(just references): opening notes of Tauer LdDM & some parts of Gucci Ph.

a milder version of French Lover+molecule01+cedar? extremely close to skin with very mild sillage and minimal projection. is the scent beautiful? oh yes, it definitely is. a juicy fresh green scent with natural resins acting as incense. would require minimum 15 sprays to enjoy this scent. another lovely creation by Mr. Ellena

watery, powdery, synthetic smelling..dont know what to make of it. to an extent it smells like a mint flavored toothpaste. totally uninspiring. very hard to believe its an JCE creation. ignore this one with confidence.

opening is a nice innocent and powdery citrus blast with hints of rose 10 minutes into this scent and boy! this one turns into a Stuffy, dusty & Animalic scent! smells of unwashed cat fur up close. this is "CIVET" prominent scent(on my skin, its just civet). careful on the spritzer as a spray too much can have this lion consume you. an interesting scent which would work like a charm during winters. a bold release from the house of Ungaro.

WHOA!! there would not be a Single scent apart from this in your wardrobe which can match the freshness of one getting out of a warm water shower. not a single scent deserves to touch your skin after shower, other than this. This scent should replace water and should be used universally used in napkins, showers etc. ok ok ..ill control my emotions now.....but boy, what a scent!! blast of orange with tinge of herbal notes..orange with bitterness to it...*slurps*..gets only better thru the day..a wonderfully chirpy & complex, citrus based floral chypre which is sure to please...the base is again a "winner" with hints of powderiness and orange tanned leather !! give me a 30oz please!!!

eccentric is the word that comes to mind..this one is a unique, stark, myterious take on Iris which would take everyone by surprise. almost every scent that i have comes across with the Iris note seem to smell alike, one way or the other. But this is "Different?" the Different Company releases somethin different for sure. First thing that one would notice when this juice lands on skin is how transparent and effervescent the bergamot note is...now combine this with Iris, i cudnt even imagine how Iris would smell alongside Bergamot..with this it proves its a killer combination..a combination of twists and turns..soon the Iris warms up to the skin along with some vetiver...the bergamot and vetiver keep the Iris note from being overtly Powdery yet, iris manages to sneak out and envelopes the wearer in this wonderful domain. some woody notes sufarce by midnotes melting into Iris. JaimeB said it right, the combinations is stark and no, its not oriental, not by a mile. a must try for anyone remotely interested in Iris and most importantly, a wonderful scent.

Knize Ten: I usually spray my Sotd (especially decants) when I am settled in my car. 4 sprays of Knize 10...one each on wrist and two under neck...now, those who have this scent would already have a big smile on their face coz they know how intensely beautiful 4 sprays could be

Knize Ten took me back to my childhood. What it reminded me strongly of is,(dare i say) my Mom's dressing table, it's drawers and its contents, especially talcum Powders (there is one by name Cuticura which is remarkably similar), and leather "finished" makeup kits and purses. This scent literally sucked me into that era and time. The overall aroma is unmistakably captured so damn well for me in K-10. A fascinating scent. I would say this scent is quite easily unisex because of its powdery nature...it may smell tad old fashioned on a women (only some maybe able to carry it off) but on a guy, this is a sure shot winner. This scent has a pretty linear approach and is unmistakably (powdery fresh) Green in it's feel with the powder never loosing its sight. I do not detect any citrus elements in the top notes. When reviews says a “blast of Citrus” - its nothing like an Etro Lemon Sorbet or an Issey or a Live Jazz or anything of that genre... The opening notes is anything but powdery herbal which is green (almost intense fern like sweet note) with a smell of sandalwood talcum powder aged in a metal container...this accord is surprisingly transparent. soon the powdery elements soon take over and this scent lingers on and on in this phase...The leather note in it is not like Heeley Fine leather. It’s more of (dare I say), a women’s leather bag found in an attic kind of smell. this purse must have definitely stored some form of Talc in a metal container and nail polish remover, this accord seems to have stuck on to the leather and the leather itself exudes a very powdery aroma. It’s only in the base notes that this beautiful phase tones down *sigh* and it reveals a different kind of leather note (civet?), very unusual (two forms of leather?). it along with some dirty vanilla and amber create a very cloud like, rich, suave accord which is truly what completes this fragrance...a masterpiece till it's last breath. a scent worth all it's accolades....think of it as the Kouros of it's time in a leather Jacket of Chanel Pour Monsiuer..how could it be, right?

A refined oriental (same genre as Gentleman). Yes, it does smell like gentleman but minus the civet and boozy nature. For those who feel Gentleman is too dirty or dated, this should be the answer.

A spicy floral oriental revolving Patchouli note wrapped with the opening blast of floral elements with spices. The base is a rich layer of amber, incense & moss. I like Givenchy Gentleman a lot and this does resemble the same quite a bit but, this has a very different character altogether. The opening notes for e.g. it's very refined & clear with Giorgio, the sillage can drop jaws, the very same opening in Gentleman is quite dirty, boozy and loud. This scent gets softer and powdery towards the mids with a very controlled sillage & lovely set of notes, especially of the patchouli flower. Overall a lovely progression of notes and a one which can be used daily...did I say daily? Yes! It’s so good that it could be easily something that you could wear daily and a type which people would remember or associate with you. A winner.

opens with a herbal blast covered with citrus which is just refreshing to say the least. soon this scent progresses into a dense powdery note..something like iris but its not..the herbal touch still hovering over this powdery note soon begins to pale and rests on a cool mint note. the basenotes is quite thin in comparison with the opening and then then the dense basenotes...neverthless, a winner. a unique green scent with very controlled herbal note and a mint flavored base note. a wonderful scent for spring/summer which would linger exuding really pleasant notes. are their better scents out there? yes, but not many with a nice mint note except for Green Valley

a refreshing blend of citrus and (cooled)vetiver done in a very "Penhaligons" style. of the MPG stable i would say its made in the same vain as Fraiche Badine. delightfully summery frag this is with lots of quality and the staple MPG touch. hard to miss and you would definitely smell different than the rest. a must have. however, it doesnt warrant to have both Fraiche Badine and This in the same wardrobe unless you like to collect MPG's.

This scent is of the Geir, Himalaya, Fleur Du male genre. opens with a powdery, fruity blast..i would call it the "cloud effect"..will remind one of Himalaya for sure. its when the top notes wear out that i cud detect something with a very camphor like coolness to it...only closer look and its a wonderful note of Jasmine (reminded me of how this smell was done in Fleur Du Male by Gaultier). The blending of Jasmine and Neroli is done ever so beautifully. i always feel great when houses do excellent florals for men...especially when its something that is not rose. The overall feel of "white cloud" doesnt change..somehow the notes melt into each other and give off that impression. the basenotes add some bite to the midnotes and gives it a bitter quality..soon the powderiness begins to fade and a basenotes of decayed floral elements with patchouli and other subtle touches of woody notes is unvealed...not overtly impressed with the basenotes...but, i can still catch occasional whiffs of floral elements which is pleasing. worth the rate...? not for me..i can alwasy go back to Himalaya and FdM. but this maybe just the scent for someone who doesnt like the above two.
thumbs up for the scent. a thumbs down for the price = neutral.

first sniff of this and you would be taken back to lot of scents...quorom silver especially ..but give it 7 minutes and this morphs into a terrific earthy note..the incense is fresh...feels like incense sticks been made..the smell of wet mixture..now wait..this reminds of another earthy scent! Creed Silver Mountain water ! yes! thats it! the midnotes is a green incense version of Creed Silver mountain water, period. a thumbs up coz its a beautiful rendition and a wonderfully constructed scent. wow..im already loving it...Ormonde...i coming !!

herbal opening notes which reminds me of balms used in india..those ayurvedic ones which treats both with its vapors and warm healing qualities...for other references, think Amber Sultan or Spirit of the tiger...though they dont smell similar..but, they sure do are first kissing cousins. i enjoy such scents and it's always is welcome and my pockets are always open..but, just when i was opening my wallet...the hot wave of heat passed...a smell which is damn similar to something i hate...oh yes..Terre D Hermes...i just dont like tht treatment of vetiver and pepper...it's just not for me. however, this is much more fuller and enjoyable than Tdh or Red Vetyver..maybe when i develop my taste for this kind of vetiver..i wud firts appraoch LddM and not the other two..

smells exactly like Profumum thundra in its opening notes. the earthiness of patchouli, however, patchouli isnt listed ? hmm, but, make no mistake, this smells exactly like the basenotes of thundra the moment it lands on skin....wet smell of earth soons it morphs into a woody note again very damp...it stays this way for almost an hour before some sweet notes of spices pop from underneath....its kinda the opposite...the top notes come in mids and viz....all said, it smells like Thundra, which is a much better composition and a 100 ml of it is available at the same price as 50 ml of this. and one more thing...it doenst have any connection with other BD masterpieces like Dzongkha or Timbuktu...sigh..

aaarrgghh!! smells like pu$$! after sex...not tht i have sniffed it but..yucks..this smells disgusting..the blood accord with milk gives it a nauseating headache(actual headache)..dont even dare to spray this...take sample and dab it on..just for the curiosity factor...three thumbs down

creamy smooth citrus opening with a very elegant touch to it. the sillage is almost mesmerising. what is it? vanilla+tonka+lime? i have no clue. though it is citrus based, it's sillage keeps you engaged and makes you think, wow..this smells good. somewhere in the midnotes a odd lavender note pops up, giving its a rubber gloves effect..this is kinda off putting when sniffed upclose but, it doesnt bother with the sillage much...the base is a subtle leather note with hints of vetiver and lavender. i think, more than Gris clair, the lavender reminded me of Caron Unhomme. lovely scent neverthless and a definite buy for spirng/summer.

WHOA! :) intense blast, classic 80's style lavender (think photo) with a dirty floral heart covered with synthetically powdery leather and spicy notes (again think classic 80's style). the base notes is where this scent calms down a bit to soft powdery notes of woods and incense(pour lui?). a definite thumbs up...im finding myself drawn to scents of this era more and more...

spicy green, woody incense on a base of amped up Amber and musk...i didnt find it spectacular and i wouldnt care if it got discontinued...this one didnt inspire me. well, had high expectations on this...but since i've tried Floris Santal before, ill pass on this.

Aoud Flowers: This one opens with a sweet refined floral blast along with Oudh, Rose and Lime, almost medicinal and oil extract in nature..give it 5 minutes and it settles down to a very fine layer of Rose, quite unlike BA. The oudh Backs off quite quickly on this one (45 minutes on my skin)...only to reveal "polished woody notes" and oudh. it stays this way with not much developments except for the polish wearing out revelaing a very bright Oudh note with touch of gold powder...easily Unisex, but would be really drop dead sexy on a lady. spritz away! it's Montale Time!!

Red Aoud: the opening 5 minutes is where one feels as if they were smelling chocolate. i think its a mirage created by the combination of Oudh, Iris & saffron...in time this note subsides intoa very warm layer of spices. the oudh by itself is very less pronounced at this stage. we have a very familiar note once we are 15 minutes into this, it's here that it smells quite inspired by Dior Homme(im surpised no one made this comparison . one can clearly view Iris laying down on bed with pepper sprinkled and it being massaged by Saffron...the interplay of notes now take on full swing with the spicy notes interchangin places with Iris. This essentially stays on like Dior homme for the entire progression of mid notes with spicy undertones to keep one busy. this one has a heart of Iris surrounded by spicy notes on a lush base on Aoudh. for ref, this is a spicier/oudh version of Dior homme). not for me, but many out there may like it...

Greyland: Opening is quite promising. but, thats pretty much it. it is sort of a very ultra light version of SL Gris clair. i smell fumes emanating from a burnt wood from distant. Anyways. greyland has a very nice dry ash based incense with hints of green notes(which reminds me of Let me play the lion quite a bit). One has to be pleased with its close to skin nature with occasional whiffs..liberal sprays should solve this or else. a nice one, it might grow on me. a try before you buy types...

Mukhallat: represents a smell that i associate with Muslims(like all other montales). growing up around a loving Muslim family as neighbours, i can tell. it always used to intrigue me when younger..when i used to see uncle apply a lil part from a small bottle into a cotton ball which he would palce in between ears groove..then rub some under neck. mukhallat brings back strong memories. though it's a powdery gourmand (and people who know me, know how much i hate them), and it indeed is sweet, it commands respect and reflects festivity. To me, its s fun scent, to be worn specially on occasions and ofcourse when you feel like any other time. i definitely cannot associate it with sadness or daily chores or everyday wear..it has to be something special. this would be something very unique in ones collection, not comparable to any scent out there. notes of strawberry and almonds wouldnt make eny sense coz we arent used to smelling them this way...think of all the tropical dry fruits..like Dates..imagine them in their juicy sticky form..imagine this having captured the best of it all...mix them all in milk and vanilla ice cream till it becomes an elixir from heaven...the mere thought of it should send our tongue rolling and leave a everl;asting olfactory signature which is very hard to miss.. this one would be lovely on a lady and a man alike. it's all about the timing for this one. 50 ml should go long way and would stay enjoyable. a big thumbs up to Montale for introducing this already existing formula to everyone.

SandFlowers: Nothing to write home about. smells very dry yet has some life..maybe the smell cactus or some flower that im not familiar of. all that associations with Sand is true and it does evoke an image of shrubs in between sand on a very hot sunny day. there is something about the sillage though...it makes you come back to this one, somethign mesmerising in there...although i dont find it spectacular enuff to warrant a full bottle...20ml? yes, definitely.

i would give it a nuetral for now...maybe this one would grow on me in time...

Red Vetyver: jeez..is this hot or what..the image that i had after wearing this was that of a man in flames. is it the pepper? gosh this has all the hot spices one can think of..quite unbearable for me. and im talking two dabs from a vial. two sprays and i would run towards my freezer...it stays intense for almost 2-3 hours before relaxing a bit to earthy vetiver and patchouli base....however, couple of wears into this, and i'm kinda growing into likin it. i can imagine how people staying in colder places would find comfort in such "warm", "spicy" vetiver based scent.

btw, this is an denser version of Terre D Hermes and i dont like TdH either...maybe pepper done this way is just not my type...

something about the "pure series" just doesnt click. however, this is the bearable one of the lot. I think the culprit is the opening notes...they smell too synthetic and there is an off putting note in it...it's only when this one tones down a bit that it reveals its true accord. to me, it smells of freshly mowed grass with dew drop on a sunny day. yeh, it smells quite fresh, real and intense...with excellent sillage(needless to say with azzaros). not bad atall. i would rate it over Vetiver Hombre and to an extent on par with Mugler cologne..the only problem is? the opening notes.

Another masterpiece from the house of azzaro. The sweet, spicy opening is quite similar(exactly) to Mont Blanc Presense...only difference..MB stays tht way till the end and ends up being cloying...Visit has a different story to tell.
if one bases this scent on the opening notes or on paper...then what a mistake they are committing in making a judgement on this one. coz after the thin, watery sweet and spicy opening, which is sure to cheer one up...this scent takes a complete U-turn and morphs into a woody, Dry scent ! As hours pass by, this gets quite a bit drier with incense wafting on a solid base of Amber...the mid to base notes reminds one heavily of M7 by YSL.. Yes, the woody undertones gives of a feel of agarwood, or oudh. fantastic scent with definite progressions from one stage to the other. a remarkable and daring creation after YSL M7 & Lalique Encre Noir...somebody dared to dwell in this space.

what a disgrasce. how could they even associate it to the Original, which is a masterpiece. nothing remarkble..or even passable ot write about.

intense blast of citrus and lavender done in a very incense style (classic way). when i say citrus..this is not the sparkling drop of lime, this one is pretty dark! think of it as seeing this whole accord thru a reel of film used in cameras. heavy dose of aromatic fougere with floral blast, a blast which is so intense, it has a dark cloud of powder surrounding the wearer...this is one scent i love to over apply. such a wonderfully contructed scent, every accord is well done...all the way to the end where it's rich, musky, woody with hints of incense and leather. i have yet to smell a scent which smells soo cool close to skin. a must have in every wardrobe.

the first non-millesime that i tried and im totally bowled over. creed doing and Incense and doing it wiht some finesse and class. intense, flowery, incense based scent which is quite sharp inits opening...a perfect rendition of Angelica for me...a note that i will ahev in mind as reference...for someone who hasnt sniffed Angelica(like me)..think of it as a white flower...from a distant family of jasmine..slighty heady a a tinge of bitterness..the combination of this and incense is just too sharp and interesting. quite modern in approach for the time it was released..matter of fact i cudnt have imagined it was released in 1933. the base is a musky, vanillic, ambery accord with hints of spices softening things up.

however, as pointed out by others...a 8.4 oz would be too much to take.

uhhh...pretty nasty, cheap blast of Kewra flowers. it stays pretty intense and smells exactly like these flowers. it's quite powdery in nature as well...its only when this note tones down that this one is bearable. the basenotes is quite musky and then on handles the scent quite well. definitely feminine and must test before buy types.

Vibert is bang one when he compares this gem to Mazzolari or profumum, though not as interesting as the said two houses, this one is no sleeper too. excellent rendition and top notch quality. Patchouli and eucalyptus are the first to appear..and within minutes this turns into a very dense set of accord. one can literally feel the heady mix of eucalyptus oil in the equation which emanates like vapors ..quite a blend this one...throughly enjoyable.. the basenotes has a nice vanillic earthy mix of woods which turns drier with evey passin hour...references to amber sultan is very true. think of it as a milder version(herbs) of amber sultan with a good mix of patchouli and eucalyptus. a thumbs up! and definitely full bottle worthy.

being an ardent fan/admirer of New York..my expectations were high on this one....and it failed. smells like fresh ginger ale overall, with a subtle grapefruit note which steals the show. develops into a musky base with hints of wood and incense. it's just that im not interested in these kinda scents at this moment...theres too much action out there and very less money to spend. Ill pass.

red hot pepper spread out over vetiver on a base of woods left to dry out in scorching desert heat...i can feel the heat waves...not a hint of sweetness & pretty linear..the image it pictures for me is that of a desert with those handful of shrubs/weed growing at random..this aint for me...

Anise! it screams! then Nuts! some spices and we have mechant Loup....i'd back SirSlarty's feedback on this one. it is light indeed. if you feel smelling like Hazelnut shells with anise, then look no further. i'd pass. boring to the core. I cant believe this is a scent by the great Bertrand Duchaufour...

fresh green paste composed of Sage with a good amount of Jasmine mashed into it which forms the heart of this scent. Sage is quite amplified (much more than let me play the Lion)...the honeysuckle note, like Jaime said, is the one which tilts the equation and it reminded me of the Serge Lutens Chergui(it does have the green quality of chergui). the interplay of notes is pretty good upclose but the sillage is that of a pretty generic green scent. not bad, but there are better scents out there. for eg. Tauers Vetiver Dance eats this up in no time in terms of versatality. Chergui comes a close second. but then Chergui is pretty heady mix. a must try for lovers of nature and green scents. a neutral coz i don't find it tht exciting, others may very well do.

the original with Saffron amplified, i do not like this a bit. A total disgrace to even call it a intense version of the original. this can get quite cloyingly sweet too. thumbs down on this one.

One of the best Issey has to offer and the top one for me from this line. This one catches ones attention fight from when it lands on skin. Very powdery & to an extent herbal in a very cool way. This one has that unique quality which I have
seen in only few scents...the way this surrounds/engulfs the wearer. The other scent which created this domain for me was L'Instant. The peppery zing along with exotic florals and dash of spices lead you into a beautiful accord which forms the heart of this scent...the interplay is just plain amazing. The best part isn’t over yet, it has to offer one of best ambery, woody mossy drydowns ever, making you feel totally refreshed for another round. A classic somehow underplayed and ignored here on BN.

an amazing citrus based scent with the right balance of spicy and woody notes which still manages to keep this scent fresh. lasts forever on me. i think many overlook the basenotes. it has one of most musky, earthy & woody basenotes which to an extent is powdery. a winner in everybook there is. a must have in every collection. a great daily wear and yes, a hit with the ladies. this one is not my favorite if the Issey's, it's definitely is the second best. the firts place goes to Bleue

Composed by the great Mark Buxton (with Emili cooperman). scents created by
Mr. Buxton includes..
Biehl mb01 (2007?)
Biehl mb02 (2007?)
Biehl mb03 (2007?)
Comme des Garcons 2 (1999)
Comme des Garcons 2 Man (2004)
Comme des Garcons 3 (2002)
Comme des Garcons Eau de Parfum (1994)
Comme des Garcons Green Eau de Cologne (1995)
Comme des Garcons series 3, Incense: Ouarzazate (2002)
Comme des Garcons White (1996)
Elternhaus Moslbuddjewchristhindao (2005)
Le Labo Vetiver 46 (2006)

XS Extreme is a very unconventional scent. a heavy Almond oil based scent
with hints of spices and honey. On initial application it smells like coconut oil. It
stays this way for quite some time, almost an hour. The magic is in its
sillage. it weaves the wearer with this soft powdery cloud of almond oil and
Honey, leaving behind a trail which is sure to leave an olfactory signature on
anyone who experiences it. I think it would be ideal for winters, but it will shine
thru in spring too. Definitely up class and niche in it’s approach & classy all the way. The best part is its dry down...mmmmm i don’t even wanna tell how good it smells up-close. love it on my wife. A niche frag from a so called designer label. Paco R does it again.

wow ! this one stands right besides my creeds, SL's..you name it. opens with a blast of citrus spiked with mint and rounded off with coriander..thereby its pretty floral with a woody and musky sandalwood notes...this ones a very unique citrus based scent...in a way it cant be even called a citrus based scent..its a cross between being woody, oriental, floral & citrus based

excellent longevity, even on sweat soaked summers. the sillage often has curious looks and inquiries. smells just too good. perfect for office, evening, a date? suits it all. a true masterpiece by Paco.....and smells like Himalaya? huh? maybe a hint for 5 minutes..but this no Himalaya...

two thumbs up!

A citrusy, fruity opening with oomphs of tonka...the citrusy opening almost treads on a tightrope to being called gourmand or candy like...but luckily its not, it manages to cross the tightrope without being called candy. The heart is a touch woody with hints of green...with the candy like flavor still lurking though....now...picture all the above with a wax like quality to it and that's the twist Royal heroes has to offer.

It has some sorta eccentric quality to it which quite proudly says, "im Different". i was testing a lot of frags tht day but i ended up sniffing this up a lot towards the end. this scent has tht "X" factor to it. nice one.

feels as if one has sprayed this juice from a copper container half a century old..it opens with a blast of sweet aldehydic orange and opoponax (smells like a wet cigarette left in a metal ash tray)...smells good? YES! It does! don't ask me how! After surviving the initial blast, this scent soon gets it act together and behaves like a gentleman exuding soft, floral, copperish powdery notes of jasmine with intense "tobacco" and aldehydic rose notes...the base reveals a masterfully blended notes of vanilla, musk, amber with hints of patchouli. a text book scent if you will...a classic in other words. it has everything a Men's fragrance asks for.

Blast of pines and citrus creating an aura clearly reminding one of the powdery notes of PDN NY. This ones a herbal, floral chypre with terrific concentration of bergamot and pine in the opening...it take least 15 minutes for this gem to unveal it's true beauty behind the massive opening...it's floral bed..an accord which i haven't experienced with such clarity, radiance & Zing, ever. one never really comes to know how hours pass by and the floral elements melt into a earthy leather notes...feels like this scents was sprayed on saddle leather two days back...gently wafting and reminding the wearer of each phase it went thru..as if a flash back.
A true gem..this one will remain a a staple in my wardrobe and is a kind of scent that i will go to naturally...a classic.

opens with a (light) cough syrup kinda medicinal accord with a minty, floral touch(violets)...i dont really see any similarity to herrera aqua, it does remind me of Lagerfeld sun, moon and stars though (only a relative reference, i think its coz of the floral elements(freesia, violets) .

This ones a tea based scent by mid notes, slightly powdery at that. someone who is lookin for a floral tea based scent for mens, look no further( i'm surprised that the tea note is not mentioend in the pyramid) . its a release by St Dupont, they cant go that wrong now, can they? i don't think so.

This one comes in a 30 ml bottle too which is felt is adorable :) a nice one to have in wardrobe, especially if you like tea based scents.

gendarme x 20 times = vetiver hombre
mugler cologne x 10 times = vetiver hombre :)

well, this one has to be the undisputed king of soapy, intense vetiver based freshomania! dousing self on this one after a cold water shower on a hot sunday afternoon would have one smilin ear to ear!

lands on skin with intense vetiver notes and soap..really intense :) as time passes by, the intensity mellows down only a bit to reveal earthy notes with touch of herbs...as this scent proceeds to base the soapy notes becomes all the more pronounced revealing a very well rounded effect of oakmoss. excellent staying power and bang for buck for someone who "loves" vetiver based scents.

fresh blast of citrus and fruits with a tinge of herbs and green notes...something like lime flavored soaps...it does have tht out of shower feel/soapy feel to it. by midnotes the woody notes unveal itself with a touch of cardboard smell and lavender on a base of vetiver and amber...none of the notes are too prominent...every accord is blended to perfection.

really nice scent! not so nice price though! opens with a heavenly white cloud of florals, musk and amber...something in it whispers "sperms" too...weird...overall pretty neat and musky in the opening soon progressing into green notes with a rich base of incense which at time is very sugary sweet...not a single scent tht i cud refer it too. nice overall. worth the price? yes, why not?

"electrifying" peppery and lime peel notes which reverbrates and resonates like when you touch a massager..the notes are really vibrant and keeps jumping up and down with joy! its really a fun scent with woody notes too adding to its charm. its like they have "hit" a "note", which is sooo beautiful, that you cud hear it forever. a must buy for anyone who is looking for a fresh scent. you will pray for summers so that you could douse yourself on this and go out walking in the sun with your fav raybans on. a big thumbs up!

sparkling citrus with a heart of wood and lily, sourness of herbs and base of vetiver. will i buy it? no. is it unique? no. what is it then? its Bond No.9..come in a good bottle and you cud show it off to your freinds.

floral aldehydes with white musk. boring.

smells very very similar to Montale Oudh Ambre. matter of fact go for OA. this one a dry woody concoction with a light dusty, earthy touch. one coudl smell hints of burnt wood as well, maybe its the Amber. overall, it's manages to keep ones interest. its definitely not the kinds which would impress immediately...but couple of wears into it and i coudl imagine it would grow on you. i wud like to give it something between neutral-thumbs up...Montale OA is still better imho.

smells like dried fish...just cant shake off tht image. i dont wanna smell like this for an hour and then move to a ok to good phase. i do not understand this one.

i dont get any chocolate or coffee at all..all i get in the opening is - green chutney note(minus the chilli) with coriander paste and hint of turmeric. as it progresses it moves into a damp note of patchouli done in the same style as BOIS 1920 Patchouli or a Profumum Thundra not as earthy as the latter two though..soon one cud smell dried tobbaco leaves emnating givin this a very classic old style approach. the combination of patchouli and tobbaco is very well blended...settling finally into a very earthy base...

nothing to really wow about...i cant think of any ocassion to wear it as well, except for a Safari or treks. this is not my type of scent, however, i have seen that many people like these type of green scents. i would trust the majority and give it a thumbs up. personally, neutral, worth a decant, not a bottle.

Well, not a single review here comes remotely close to describing how this scent actually smells. I am really surprised by all the negative and neutral reviews on this one. Lame, that I am explaining how a scent smells but ill give it a shot considering this one is a scent that I like him a lot.

This is clearly a scent in disguise, by this I mean, it's heart which forms the woody notes actually spreads it tentacles to top notes almost immediately on application with underlying musk notes giving it a satin smooth powdery effect. The pear note emerges into forefront with a silver lining along with gentle citrus notes. The citrus is not done in an L'eau D'Issey or a CK one way...it very beautifully plays a supporting role to the entire progression. This one is very powdery and settles down to a very musky, woody note. just like SMW, there is a signature note in this one, maybe the pear. It adds character to this scent. 7-8 sprays last very long. a big thumbs up coz its different and not run of the mill types.

It’s for someone who likes green scents with a touch of darkness. I don’t feel it's boring at all. Opens with a sparkling fresh green, peppery grapefruit with hints of violets setting the tone for the scent (the trademark sweet note of plum). The fern note would remind one of the fresh accords of Montales Fougere Marines. The mid-notes have a spiked up spicy bite giving of a feel that the leaf has been freshly crushed. The overall tone of the scent is dark and has a plum like sweetness to it (think chevignon, lacoste ph?)..This settles down to a very comforting base of musky sweetness with good hint of vetiver and woody notes.

Boring? naaa. Matter of fact, not many scents out there can beat this one for formal occasions which requires one to wear suits. A very elegant wear. Perfect for office and important meetings. Not a date type unless you are wearing something formal.

fresh green fougere with a metallic note. it may smell common, but as an sotd it displays it's versatility. this one stays green thru out with a musky woody finish. amazn staying power and is a hit with opposite sex. safe buy if you are not very choosy about perfumes.

First spritz of Must de Cartier and the image that comes to mind is how soft and powdery it is...like a soft cloud of spice, the intial blast of citrus and Anise with "sweet and sour" notes of orange is softened by spicy notes of Cinnamon with the gentle bite of ginger. Cinnamon barks holds the rein quite well along with earthy, woody midnotes which gives off a feel of being a spicy, oriental, gourmand type of scent. The beauty of this entire progression is that, the top-mid notes is covered by a cloud of Tonka bean which gives this wonderful scent the feel of warmed up spicy sweet, powdery Vanilla. Such is the quality of this note that it enveloped me in a warm, powdery, spicy glow which strays sometimes in the gourmand zone.

This is a very classy scent for formal settings and is thoroughly enjoyable on an evening out...it stays as mentioned above for 4 hours easy thereby subsiding to a moderately close to skin scent with vanillic (tonka bean) and woody notes.

I have read that this doenst have staying power...i have to respectively disagree...this has a very mysterious sillage. one of the best that i have come across. many scents die out on me..but this, i could smell even after 10+ hours of application..this one is for someone who is looking for a well rounded, carefully blended, Spicy Oriental Gourmand with citrus topnotes, mid notes comprising of soft spices on a earthy, woody, vanillic base.

Geir is one sexy b****. it has one of the "coolest" opening to mid notes. Smells so "powdery fresh in a very old spice way"(strangely it reminded me of Creed's Himalaya too)...its the kind where you step in a party at your freinds place..and they'd be charmed!..You enter a car and the whole car lights up with it's freshness... you go for a date and the her eyes work like hands on ya!!! Lovely stuff! Spritz away!! it smells of youth, luxury and playful attitude.


The opening to mid notes remind me of a powdery version of Old Spice/Himalaya way..cool moutain breeze which carry mild woody notes with the hint of pepper and lavender, the scent on whole has a very talcum powder kind od powdery effect and at the same time one could feel the wet natuire of this scent..somewhere between the midnotes-basenotes this scent morphs into another character altogether..something like gunpowder/steel/metallic accord on a base of somethin which smells very close to Boss selections. i would buy this over and over for it's there to please. two thumbs up!

Noir Epices: huh!? plastic? even Comme des Garcons do bearable plastic notes...i didnt get this one a bit..the intial hour is synthetic plastic notes...settling down to mildly powdery spicy notes which reminded me of CDG2. i think ill need some time on this one considering many adore this scent.


Noir Epices is composed by the great Michel Roudnistka and the notes listed are "nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and pepper, Michel Roudnitska's scent is topped with orange and geranium and backed by precious woods, including sandalwood and patchouli. A woody oriental, a near chypré, its sensuality is elegant, never lascivious."

i give it a neutral only coz i think i need to give it more time..especially since my peers here on BN think its a great scent..but, if you ask me now..i'd give it two thumbs down.

Vetiver Extraordinare: ....close your eyes and VE does give an impression of moss and vetivers growing on the area of application, quite literally. smells very real and true. However, it smells very similar to Encre Noir (EN, please see my views on EN below). Im not indicating EN is Better than VE, what i'm indicating though is, i dont have the money for VE($210). both scents have enuff difference to stay in the same wardrobe...where EN may smell of Wood, Spices & Vetivers; VE smells of the very same vetivers used in EN + moss and damp forest smell. if you like EN, there is no way one is going to despise this one. nicely done.

Composed by the great Dominique Ropion and he quotes "a new essence of Vetiver, stripped of its bitter edge, which he matches with five woody notes to play up the scent's various facets. The result is something surprisingly fresh and crisp."

French Lover: wow! wOW!! WOW!!! if i'd been a girl i'd be doing a Marlyn Monroe legendary pose right now! yes! im that happy! "crisp" clean spices right out of the spritzer with sparkling citrus elements, a scent with such amazing tranparency & shimmering quality that would bring on a smile, ear to ear. The color that comes to mind in Green, that of a newly sprouted leaf on a tree against the morning sun with the dew drops still on...it smells that pure and radiant..the way spices has been treated on this one has to put a lot of releases to shame. half an hour into the scent and the incense notes which form the heart of this gem, embraces the top notes into its fold with the gentlest touch of woody notes, the base seems to be a very tradional vetiver with animalic notes...overall, if one appreciates scents like Floris Santal, and find peace in Vetiver based scents, then, this is none of them in terms of notes but the overall effect of it is sure to please lovers of the said. Clear Fresh Green notes with Clear, shimmering quality with an amazing heart of incense on a base of musk and vetiver is how i would like to summarise it, imho...Sillage of this one is an experience in itself. it stays close to skin overall if sprayed 2-3 times but, 6-8 sprays should set it right and make you feel good about the money well spent. Composed by the great Pierre Bourdon

one of the loveliest creations of Bertrand Duchaufour for L'artisan...what a beauty. this has been everything i wished CDG incense series would be like.

i would liek ot borrow what Vibert said here and i quote him "The initial blast of hot, dry, smoky incense is almost hallucinogenic. I’m immediately transported to some half-imagined, ancient landscape that’s at once faintly familiar and disorienting"

how true, take all tht and take certain elements and approach of Gucci Ph and you have Dzongkha. for those who know me, can tell, how much i appreciate Gucci Ph...but with Dzongkha...man..im willin to part my bottle of Gucci any day. its masterpiece...with wonderful incense notes on a enchanting base on woods..

There is something really mysterious about SM...it's a clove based scent yes..but there is a "X" factor in there...something tht my nose cant pick but my senses can feel...theres a lot going in here behind the wall of freshly grinded "Cloves" the image tht comes to mind is takin handful of cloves and rubbing it against a stone covered with moss...the journey fro mMid to basenotes is again one of the smoothest accords i have ever sniffed. pure class.

caltha is very right whn he said it reminds him of Hammam Bouquet..how apt...they don't smell similar atall...but its in the raw true nature of the accords that gives off the feeling its been made ages...or maybe centuries before...not an ordinary scent. For someone looking for "that" mysetrious scent...look no further.

doesnt anyone see the similarity in the Herbal Approach between this and Amber Sultan? :)

Santal Noble: What a scent. as true masterpiece. one of the most intriguing scents in my wardrobe with the capacity to draw you to it every time you open the wardrobe. it's very spicy/herbal in it opening gradually moving in to a very disctinct spicy concoction which is almost powdery, but transparent in nature...almost like a balm....people expecting Tam Dao kind of sandalwood would be suprised coz both are polar opposites in approach...think of this as a brother of Amber sultan(herbal approach) done in a very sandalwood barks (upclose) kinda way..it's kinda intense but yet manages to be beautiful. amazing accords all the way till end...one of the best scents ever...and longevity you ask? it stays forever :) get the vintage formulation while you can...this ones not to be missed.

it's a very unique take on fresher scent..no, its not an Aquatic kind...it's more of "citrusy fresh green" with an MPG touch. its doesnt smell anything like Urine as some proclaim...i mean, tht's very very misleading.

opens with a very controlled and blunt blast of fresh herbs and citrus..if i have to give a relative reference then, think of lemonade with just a touch of sugar and lil bit giner and coriander leaves and thyme...this scent in half an hour develops into a very unique accord, i think it has to do with the MPG touch...the middle accord of this scent is one of the most satisfying set of accords i have felt. i only have a sample and could only imagine how this must feel with 3-5 sprays...simply divine i must say...if you are lookin for something which is not run of the mill and will set you apart in a crowd wearing the so called fresh scents, then my freind, you have something special going on here which is worth checking out.

a quick note..this smells nothing like YSL Lhomme (i have a fullbottle of same).

nothing to rave about. actually one can royally ignore this offering. smells like a woodier version of Lacoste ph. only much lighter. somethign very plum like sweet in this, which i find vey irritating in scents like Lacoste Ph, Chevignon, John Varvatos...i tried to appreciate this offering, but it failed to impress. will try it one more time during winters to see if it shines then. but as of now, Pass. there are much better offerings that this.

i dont understand the popularity of this frag. what is so black about it...? it's mangoes mixed wiht lil spices. think of it as a spicy version of Jardin Sur le Nil by hermes..Polo DB is utterly bland and boring,

Hey Guys, I got a chance to sample No. 88 and boy! what an amazing frag this is. it reminded me of south india (south india comprises of states such as, Chennai, Kerala, Tamil Nadu etc)..people from Chennai especially have these mini temples in their houses...matter of fact in most cases these area of worship takes most part of a room, even if the house is small...offerings of Flowers and incenses burning is a standard part of daily morning prayer and after the pooja, there is a standard practise of applying paste of Sandalwood and Vibhuti(sacred ash, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibhuti) on forehead and sidearms as blessing. This paste would be freshly grinded in the morning along with the rose water to create the paste...No. 88 smells a lot like this whole equation..the soapiness that one mentions is in my mind the healthy dose of sandalwood...if one removes rose from no. 88, one could almost see the framework of Tam Dao.

it's very hard for me to picture No. 88 as "English"

Al lthey have written about it inTDC's website is true "It takes over one hundred pounds of precious Damascus rose petals to produce just one bottle of Rose Poivrée" how true.. the openign notes is just tooo real, i have yet to smell any scent with such realistic notes, ever. Rose 31 pales in comparison interms of the rose note.

Opening note is kinda rich, real and satisfying rose petal in maximum and realistic concentration...30-45 minutes into this scent the rose notes gets softer and one can feel themselves being in a rose garden. the bay and pepper notes ever reminded one of Costes..but beware this is not as spicy as costes soapy? to an extent yes...with tht combination is subtle vetiver, this gem takes an almost emotional turn, this is too beautful to ignore...somewhere in th mids..the coriander pops in and delivers a blunt cut into the equation...and all this while, its only supporting the rose note to decay with grace...soon one can feel the decayed notes of rose petals..so warm and ever so real...

a masterpiece from TDC...without a doubt.

melony fruity tops notes with a ultra lite hand of spices..i dont detect the chocolate and caramel notes...so its not at all earthy..matter of fact its very transparent, fresh, almost aquatic in nature. frutiy tops notes is supported by a very "cloudy" base of musk and vanilla. the vanilla in this doesnt sweeten the equation at all..matter of fact this isnt a sweet or cloying fragrance...quite balanced at that....would i buy it? No. i have so many other things ot look at which is much more interesting than this.

definitely for someone who visits beaches a lot and enjoys the pleasures there is in life. this will not offend anyone..your wife will love it, your kids will love it and your Girl freind might feel you are just plain sexy.

btw: Irish is bang on with the CDG Soda comparison, this smells just the way Soda smells after the initial blast of Ginger..

synthetic floral elements on a base of musk and vanilla. nothing special at all..there are many designer fragrances out there with better chemistry and interplay of notes...for those who can afford it, go for its musky base notes which almost glows... very comforting.

Fine Leather: the moment this juice lands on skin, it morphs in to a very powdery dense, saddle leather note. it's very realistic and true to that smell..all one can smell till midnotes is this powdery domain of leather...soon the leather note fades away to reveal a very earthy Vetiver..the way leather melts into vetiver is truly amazing...vetiver supports the leather note, breathing life into it as dusty floral elements come to life..any true fan of leather based scents would appreciate this one. great scent...and for $90 for a 100 ml this one is a steal. no flashy rose notes here..just pure leather with earthy vetiver...

No.4 is a light, efferescent, frsh out of the shower kinds Fruity frgrance. it has one the best, subtle citrus opening notes with apple flesh notes. doesnt smell all tht remarkable in the sense it's light..and not so "niche" but, leave the money out of the equation then it wont fail. Unmistakably, a great frgrance for office and for someone who is looking for the out of the shower kinds without any complications whatsosever. Test before you buy (only coz of the price, this one smells really good.)

reminds ones of the powdery heaven Caron Pour Unhomme is. thin Unhomme with out the rubber gloves note...

mild touch of vanilla pods over a very warm well rounded base of rich, suave amber

i was shocked when i first sampled HB.....any indian on this forum would recognise this smell with the age old hair oil formula that is quite popular in india and has been used for ages.

for a quick review, this product is quite popular in some parts of india and especially local head massage parlours in india.. the similarity ceases between two after the opening notes. (the mood of the scent)

http://www.herbalcureindia.com/produ...n-hair-oil.htm

HB for me opened with this accord that im not new to by any means. it's a very raw, herbal/ floral accord, done in the same vain/intensity as YSL Jazz (only a reference for the intensity, no similarity in smell)...this accord is quite invigorating and bright..like smelling 1000 crushed flowers mixed with tart lime notes and herbs at a time..it's sour to an extent of leaving a taste in mouth..its somewhere in the midnotes that this grabs one by their $@!!$... wow! the very same opening notes lowers it intensity and lays itself on a bed of powdery animalic notes(in kouros/gentleman way)...it has the same kind of powdery effect which kouros exudes (only the approach, not the smell)...once in this accord, it's then very hard to turn back. one of the most astounding fragrance ever released, way way ahead of time and a masterpiece to say the least.

i'm sure many fragrance houses of today would still look up and admire this fragrance for its construction, built, finesse and rugged quality.

Opens with a blast of sweet, medicinal notes of oudh, the oudh used here is kinda new to me of what i have tried so far from the montale line. i also detect bit of incense in this one...and by far this one has to be the Woodiest Montale that i have tried. it maybe the true form of Amber which is painting this Image of smelling the open part of a freshly chopped tree. half an hour into this and it turns in to a slightly sweet and smoky then progressing in a freshly made Amber notes reminding one of the amber base in Amber Sultan. the only difference is the presense of oudh, which doesnt really try to the the stage. is humble enuff to take the supporting role and walk away with the best supporting actor in this film. for anyone who is looking for a Amber based scent with more than one twist, look no further. as obvious, this one is not out there to impress anyone, it's a very pleasant amber based scent that could be easily worn by either sex. the base is pretty light compared to Montale standards. very comforting and cozy for Winters. i think it;ll shine in winters sitting by the Bonfire. for one of those days when you dotn want the Oudh to overwhelm but at the same time, be there for you. very close to a Thumbs up..

opens with a burst of Iodine based oinment which i didnt like a bit..it has that athlete rub ointment kinda feel...smoothens out after 45 minutes with some mild hints on vetiver, i dont get an woody notes atall..i would be curious to know everyones thought on this. this one didnt impress a bit.

Sexy or what!! this ones damn cool!! and by no means it's feminine..i mean ladies can wear it, but so cud a guy carry it off easy! the way it makes me feel is -> "smiling fresh"! damn good stuff! a must try for everyone who appreciates fresh, tranparent, uncomplicated version of Musk based scents!! Vijay!! where art thou!!

Sandalsliver: wow! this ones massive! the immediate thought that comes to mind (for topsnotes) is a ingredient called Gulkhand(it's made of fresh rose petals+powdered sugar+honey+lime), we use it here to make sweet paans.. though the composition may sound too sweet but, its not, the overall aroma that this exudes is just addictive. the opening notes smells like that...it stays there for 30-45 mintues then moving in a wonderful composition of sandalwood oil, musk and vanilla but, Sandalwood takes the spotlight away pretty easily.

as the name suggest! this one has a note which is quite linear and evokes different shades of Blue. it's has a very use of bourbon the way its used in By Kilian..this ones smooth (like Iris) to the extent of being very fluid in its sillage. it's only in the midnotes that the Patchouli and vetiver adds a sexy bite to the top notes on a base of one of the most beautiful Amber accords ever. this ones easily one of the best amber scents around. only word of caution is that, this may smell pretty linear till midnotes and only during close inspection would one realise the action thats actually taking place. 50 ml would be the best buy so that you dont get bored of it and come back to it in time..

Fougeres Marine: it's pretty clear that Montale had GIT as an "inspiration" for this one. im not atall indicating this smells alike but, one cant help but think that hey, this is such a nice interpretation of GIT. this is obviously done in a very Montale way..

Inspite of having Erolfa and GIT, I would still buy this gem coz it doesnt smell like any of those. there is a very cool mineral water feel to it.. like clean transparent approach...as if this is what silver mountain water should have actually smelled.. it doesnt exactly remind me of the sea..ocean breeze..hmmm well.. i cudnt picture it. im surprised by how underrated this gem is. this ones clean, fresh, out of the shower kinds with a very interesting interplay of notes to keep you busy all the way till it ends. this one is a definite must buy for me.

Vanilla Extasy: this is clearly influenced and is an exact replica of H.M. by Mori - Period. I hate gourmands of this nature...so, this one is definitely not for me. for anyone who likes H.M. this one should be right up your alley. Seems PM is a big fan of this release by H.M.

if one has to be introduced to oudhs, i think this would be the safest way to do so. Royal Oudh is well, Royal. a very familiar smell (kumquat), sweetened by grapefruit, its sweet to an extent, but its stops way before one would call it fruity or gourmand. i really loved the opening notes of this one. makes one feel like one of those rich sheik arabs. the oudh in it is massaged in the background with slightly sweet fruity notes along with rich spices...the oudh is very much put in background and acts as a rock solid base for other top and midnotes...the whole balance of this frag amazes me..to see how the intensity of the oudh is controlled from top to midnotes is to be witnessed...its only in the base tht the oudh and some kinda chilli notes rule the roost..giving us a totally different frag that it was in start.....overall, worth sampling.

Black Oudh: one of the most intense openings ever! hardcore OUDH blast from the past with heavy duty leather notes. The initial one hour or so, this stays pretty intense with the rose peeking out in middle...it literally "peeks" it may sound funny but thts wht happens. some where in the midnotes, the big bully finally allows the Rose to see the outside world...the rose in it smells a bit like the "Rose by crown perfumery" something like rose water...it's after couple of hours that BA reveals its true character and makes the entire journey quite interesting. it is here where the heavy dose of patchouli casts its magical base of earthiness along with the oudh..the combination of pathchouli, oudh and rose with leather notes cast a spell, so comforting, warm, earthy and woody