I’m a huge fan of the classic masculine fougere, Pour Homme from Azzaro. The 1978 staple has stood the test of time reasonably well. Therefore, I was excited to try their “Sensual Blend” scents that borrowed the same flacon design of the 70’s masterpiece. I’d seen plenty of gushing reviews online of the fragrances. So, to see what all the fuss was about, I procured decants and got testing.
Azzaro Pour Homme – Ginger Lover, Hot Pepper, Naughty Leather and Wild Mint – Stupid names, average scents – 5/10
Unfortunately, none of these fragrances will stand the test of time. They are nothing more than adequate and, for anyone with an extensive collection, would probably get lost in the shuffle. I can’t recommend any of them over anything else in a similar category. Ginger Lover’s initial zing soon falls flat, so why buy this over something like Dior Homme Sport or even YSL L’Homme. Hot Pepper smells like a sweetened barebones Spicebomb wannabe that is missing much of Victor and Rolf’s depth. Nothing naughty about Naughty Leather. It follows the same bubblegum playbook as Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male and Paco Rabanne Invictus. Wild Mint is a toothpaste-like concoction with an ordinary aquatic drydown. Look to Cartier Roadster, Guerlain Homme or Mugler Kryptomint for your mint-fix.
So, I don’t think we will be talking about any of these in 40 years like the original Azzaro Pour Homme. They all failed to wow. I can’t write them all of, as I haven’t tried Amber Fever yet, but after my experience with these 4, I won’t be rushing out to sample it.
Note: Bottle images courtesy of Google