Fragrance Reviews by jathanas

I don't share the view that this is a "lesser" offering from Prada when compared to Amber or Infusion d'Iris. Infusion d'Homme opens with a very prominent almost too sharp neroli note. Very quickly the soapy iris accord comes to the fore and settles there for the whole ride. Being a fan of expensive-soap type fragrances I find this to be beautifully blended and will surely get lots of wear during the coming summer months.
I stays close to the skin but lasts well for 4-6 hours. It is very appropriate for the warmer weather, the office, or just when one wants a prolonged feeling of clean-comfort.
The packaging is very impressive to my eyes. Another nice product from Prada!

Fleur du Male has a very synthetic opening. I'd go as far as using the term cloying to describe the sweet chemical smell. This is quickly over and then much more is revealed.
Once it settles the floral heart comes to the fore and I find it to be a well balanced fragrance. As foetidus writes in his review it isn't overly sweet but manages to be quite unique. It does carry a "toned-down" version of the vanilla accord found in the original "Le Male" which agrees with my skin chemistry.
This is a "try before you buy" but thumbs up from me as I very much enjoy wearing it.

Lets cut to the chase: Ambre Narguilé smells great!
It opens with heart-warming, sweet gourmand notes; think danish pastry in the oven. As it evolves a radiant amber surfaces, but never dominates. Can't help but smile at how such a composition could work so well.
It is a very expensive fragrance but it dazzles both the wearer and those in intimate range.
Longevity will differ for each individual; most I would think should get 3-4 hours.

I can't help but feel a little disappointed by Tom Ford for men.
The "cologney" opening offers a promise unfulfilled. It aspires to a Colonia Intensa character with zesty citrus notes and a woody-leather-floral heart but unlike the AdP product it just fades from my skin in less than an hour. It is well blended but I just can't accept the total lack of longevity.
This is my first thumbs down.

Colonia Assoluta is an eloquent and sophisticated frag, it sparkles!
It opens with citrus and dries down to a spicy-woody base. While I can't say I read lavender to be one of the notes that's what I get at it's heart.
A gem for warm weather, how classy...
* Warning: This has to work on your skin; don't buy blind. I get great longevity where some don't.

Musc ravageur is a very powerful fragrance. I can detect the civet as well as sweet spices in the opening. As it evolves the cinnamon, vanilla, and tonka come to the fore; stunning development. It lasts for ages and projects all day. Honestly this is no aphrodisiac, but it is a very impressive fragrance indeed. Amazing!

Opens with a boozy bang but that's fleeting. It quickly settles to something more subtle; a spicy, woody heart. This one will not please the fans of the 80s powerhouse frags as it is too refined (didn't want to say weak). I too would wish for more "noise" and longevity from Burberry London but It still deserves the thumbs up due to its overall quality.

L'Eau D'Issey pour Homme is a very nice woody citrus. It has very impressive sillage for the type of fragrance that it is, as well as a unique drydown. I'd describe it as daringly floral! Great for the warmer weather or the office so thumbs up from me!
A point needs to be made about the negative remarks made about this fragrance. Perfume is such a subjective matter so it is normal to have people say: "This doesn't do it for me". However, when I read a reviewer make a comment that "this is too popular... for beginners only... my olfactory is too sophisticated and evolved to rate this highly" I have to ask where the problem lies; the fragrance or the reviewer?
Back to Issey Miyake: If you want to smell pleasant on a warm day, buy it. If you want to target the opposite sex - buy it. If you want to rate highly among the pseudo-intellectual "olfactory - black belts", save your money and buy a Creed (doesn't matter which one).

Fahrenheit is a masterpiece. It begins with a unique benzoin (read burnt rubber) note. As it evolves the green notes come to the fore. I detect sweet woody notes during the dry-down. The longevity is stunning. I would never have guessed that women love this fragrance, yet they do. Apply sparingly during the cooler months; best worn out of the office.
Impressive, a real man's frag!

Immaculate is the way I describe Jazz.
It opens with bergamot, and transcends into a spicy floral heart. The striking feature is the overall smoothness of the composition. It's never too heavy, nor too light! The soft woody dry-down is surprisingly pleasant.
Sillage is appropriate for a fragrance of this type.
Damn this is good!

Bvlgari pour Homme is an exceptional fragrance. I get the tea more than the bergamot, in the opening. It evolves in a subtle, close to the skin manner to a clean musky-tea accord. The strength of this fragrance is more about the sum of the parts and less about how many individual accords one detects. It projects so appropriately. An eloquent scent that doesn't need to scream. Exquisite!

Warm, smoky, and woody. The incense shadows the top notes. This juice evokes an image of an elegant setting during a winter evening. It manages to be formal but modern, dark yet surprisingly this fragrance gets compliments from women. This stands unique in my collection, furthermore it is a keeper to be sure.
Colossal!

I get passion fruit. The dry-down is pleasant, not as fruity but still sweet. A scent for the 20-30 year olds. Pleasant enough but it won't be remembered as a classic.

A groundbreaking classic. No other perfume of it's time better defined the era. I understand the criticisms i.e. cloying and synthetic. That however is to neglect the sillage, longevity, warmth, and uniqueness of this juice. In my mind this one sits very comfortably among the other legendary frags like Paco Rabanne, Aramis, Azzaro, Eau Sauvage etc. 2 thumbs way up!

D & G has a magic sillage. It isn't a heavy fragrance but the sweet tobacco dry-down puts it apart from today's fresh clones. The opening is unique, yes just a sweet citrus, but unlike anything else before and since. GIGANTIC - 2 thumbs fully erect :-)

This is my first purchase of a L'Artisan product. How natural! The ingredients must be top-notch. The citrus opening and the "clean-green-and oh so mean" dry-down impress me no end. I've purchased this for my wife, who enjoys fresh smelling fragrances but I can see myself wearing this one as well. Classy, a cut above.

One of the first frags I ever enthused over. The opening is awesome, love the cinnamon. It doesn't follow through on the woody drydown, stays very close to the skin. Still, an absolute classic!

Perfect post workout fragrance, especially layered with the body wash and deodorant. I ride my bike to work and use Mugler Cologne after I shower. Classy freshness in a bottle and the "clean" smell lasts all day at work. Excellent!

This is a quality scent. Exotic and woody it was one for the times; I wore it in the eighties. Apply sparingly - 2 sprays max and you can wear it on any occasion during the colder months.
Good value if you can find it discounted.

I'm not in line with the general view of "either love it or hate it". I can see the uniqueness of this juice. The strong sweet opening, the gourmand dry-down that lasts all day etc. Largely though, I can take it or leave it! I've worn it maybe 10 times in the last year...

Sweet opening and a vanilla dry-down. I get compliments about this one. The top notes remind me of the smell of my grandmother's kitchen when she'd bake biscuits. Very romantic and warm, apply lightly and you could get away with wearing it at work.

A very classy winter fragrance. I don't get the citrus at all! I'd describe it as sweet and powdery (must be the rose). Visualize a Xmas fireplace surrounded by loved ones; more warm than sexy...

I have a small bottle of this at my beach house. It just seemed to be the right location for an ideal warm weather fragrance. Best way to describe it? Clean citrus.

This is a smooth scent. Spicy (tea-cinnamon) opening and sweet woody dry-down, its a winner. I suspect that the "experts" who declare this to be bland or ho-hum refuse to acknowledge any fragrance that isn't strong in the traditional 80s power frag kind of way. GPH II is subtle and needs to be appreciated differently.

I've had this for 3 days and now I better understand the fragrance. The initial impression is of a masculine fragrance, not harsh but not like the generic aqua-ozone-syntheto-fruitjelly stuff the marketers think we should be buying either. The topnote I get most is the lavender / shave cream blend. It dries down to a sweet-creamy-spicy smell, you could almost forget it's there. This fragrance projects to others more than yourself, so be moderate in the application. A winner with it's cerebral nature guaranteed to create a lasting impression.

Summer in Tuscany. The frag starts and ends in the same place: Wood shavings, burnt orange, & dry country side. Classy!

I wore Cool Water during my honeymoon in the Maldives in 1993 (yes I'm old)... I recently become reacquainted with it. I appreciate it more now. It's a fresh frag but it has sweet woody dry-down that is just fantastic for day wear. A classic!

Use this on a summer day during a vacation? maybe. If I had to give one of my frags up this would be the first to go, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it at all...

Warm and inviting. A frag that will soothe on a cold night. Different but not for the sake of it - the basics are right. This doesn't last as much on me as A*men but it is not as challenging either. This juice could be the (illegitimate) grandson of Paco Rabanne or Azzaro. I know there are no obvious connections but it is more how men's fragrances have evolved.

Initially I thought "insect repellent". Then it occurred to me that I'm not being fair so on subsequent application I tried to understand the fragrance. The opening is fresh but not sweet or aquatic (good). The dry-down ... "insect repellent".

Starts off in a sweet red-lolly kind of way. Darkens in the dry down and it takes a more masculine character. Reminds me of the original Joop but not as cloying.

A modernised version of the 1973 classic.
This is the way to do subtle & fresh but still support some warmth and character during the drydown.
A fave for sure, especially during the warmer months...

"Horses for Courses": This is an ideal scent for the warmer months or for the office. Clean and crisp, remains nice and fresh - but close to the skin during the dry-down.

Paco was my first exposure to the subtle world of fragrances back in the early eighties. It was defining, opened up a whole new world.
Sure, it's not how they do men's product today but I find it to be a very sophisticated fragrance, timeless!