Tom Ford Lavender Extreme** - Everything old is new again at Tom Ford. Following on from last year's fougere Private Blends, Tom Ford releases his take on the aromatic note of lavender, with the new Private Blend scent, Lavender Extreme. A clean, sweet take on the note that mixes in tonka and cinnamon for a … Continue reading First Impressions – Tom Ford, Amouage, Maison Trudon, Les Liquides Imaginaires, Penhaligons, Room 1015
First Impressions – Dior, Chanel, YSL, Tom Ford
I'll preface this post by noting that I'm much more enamoured by and with the women's section of the designer fragrance department in 2019 than the dreck that is currently in the men's section. Having said that, some of the new releases from the big designers such as Chanel and Dior play it too safe. … Continue reading First Impressions – Dior, Chanel, YSL, Tom Ford
First Impressions – Armani, Davidoff, Salvatore Ferragamo, Guess, Joop, Victor and Rolf
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Absolu Instinct - This is better than last year's flanker, Absolu. It is still a wishy-washy woody watery scent that does little to add to the legacy of the original Acqua di Gio Pour Homme. Thumbs down. Davidoff Cool Water Intense - This is one of the disappointments of the … Continue reading First Impressions – Armani, Davidoff, Salvatore Ferragamo, Guess, Joop, Victor and Rolf
First Impressions – Dolce and Gabbana, Bvlgari, Issey Miyake, Guerlain, Trussardi
Dolce and Gabbana K - K is Dolce and Gabbana's new fragrance to go up against the likes of Savage and Dylan Blue. The hideous monstrosity of a bottle should have warned me to stay clear, but I had to try it, and sure enough the juice is a fairly run of the mill men's … Continue reading First Impressions – Dolce and Gabbana, Bvlgari, Issey Miyake, Guerlain, Trussardi
Mini Reviews – L’Artisan Parfumeur, Eight and Bob, Shay and Blue, Elie Saab
L'Artisan Parfumeur Tea for Two - Gingerbread Spice 9.5/10 As with many L'Artisan scents the magic happens in the dry down, and in the case of Tea for Two it's when the sweet notes come into play. Spices, tobacco, Lapsang Tea, gingerbread, cinnamon, honey and vanilla combine to provide an irresistible brew that never fails … Continue reading Mini Reviews – L’Artisan Parfumeur, Eight and Bob, Shay and Blue, Elie Saab
First Impressions – MFK, Miller et Bertaux, Atkinsons 1799, Van Cleef and Arpels
MFK Gentle Fluidity Silver - I'm a little late to the party with Maison Francis Kurkdjian's latest releases. The two releases, Gentle Fluidity Gold and Gentle Fluidity Silver, share the same notes but in varying different degrees. The notes are juniper, nutmeg, coriander, musk, woodsy notes, amber and vanilla. It's an interesting concept on paper, … Continue reading First Impressions – MFK, Miller et Bertaux, Atkinsons 1799, Van Cleef and Arpels
Mini Reviews – Joop, Rasei Fort, Diptyque, Killian
Joop Wow - Surprise designer release 7.5/10 They say to never judge a book by its cover. Case in point Joop Wow. I was reticent to try Wow as Joop fragrances are notoriously tooth achingly sweet, and the ad campaign involving a black panther was somewhat cringeworthy. But try it I did, and I was … Continue reading Mini Reviews – Joop, Rasei Fort, Diptyque, Killian
Worthy Sequels
Ask anyone in the movie business and they'll tell you that it's hard to get a sequel right. We always remember the originals so fondly. To a certain extent, the law of diminishing returns can be applied to the world of fragrance. It's hard to capture lightning in a bottle twice. However, of course there … Continue reading Worthy Sequels
First Impressions – Calvin Klein, Burberry, Guerlain
Here are my first impressions of some new releases I've tried recently. Calvin Klein - Eternity For Men Flame: Calvin Klein continue to release second or even third-rate flankers to their 1990 classic, Eternity. Last year's Eternity Air left a lot to be desired. The latest effort includes notes of pineapple, leather, rosemary, labdanum and … Continue reading First Impressions – Calvin Klein, Burberry, Guerlain
First Impressions – Creed Aventus Cologne
It's always an event when Creed releases a new fragrance. When Creed Aventus was released in 2010, it quickly became an iconic men's fragrance. A smoky, pineapple, musky scent that has been dubbed "The King". A fragrance that became the de rigueur in every man's fragrance wardrobe. A must have niche scent for collectors and … Continue reading First Impressions – Creed Aventus Cologne