Boss Number One / Boss (Eau de Toilette) by Hugo Boss

See Prices

More

We may earn a commission when you buy from links on our site, including the eBay Partner Network and Amazon.

Boss Number One
Boss
Hugo Boss 1985 Eau de Toilette

7.7 / 10 544 Ratings

A popular perfume by Hugo Boss for men, released in 1985. The scent is spicy-woody. It is being marketed by Coty.
Pronunciation Compare

More

We may earn a commission when you buy from links on our site, including the eBay Partner Network and Amazon.

Main accords

Spicy

Woody

Animal

Sweet

Leathery

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Bergamot

Caraway

Lemon

Tarragon

Basil

Grapefruit

Green apple Juniper

Juniper

Heart Notes

Honey

Geranium

Jasmine

Lavender

Orris root

Lily of the valley Rose

Rose

Sage

Base Notes

Oakmoss

Patchouli

Tobacco

Amber

Cedar

Cinnamon

Musk

Sandalwood

Perfumer

Pierre Wargnye

Ratings

Scent

7.7544 Ratings

Longevity

7.9441 Ratings

Sillage

7.6428 Ratings

Bottle

7.1433 Ratings

Value for money

8.2235 Ratings

Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 11/05/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Boss Number One / Boss (After Shave) by Hugo Boss

Boss Number One After Shave

Marbert Man Classic Eau de Toilette

Top Gun

Boss Concentrated Eau de Toilette

Kouros Eau de Toilette

Lapidus pour Homme Eau de Toilette

Reviews

51 in-depth fragrance descriptions

11/30/2020

7Scent 10Longevity 10Sillage

Kurai
388 Reviews

Kurai

Very helpful Review 6

Classic eighties power

I bought this one after reading all the appraisal in the online reviews. Fully aware that I got myself a new bottle, no vintage. This perfume itself isn't one that I remember from my younger days. This type of mossy musky power-slap-you-in-the-face overall scent is surely something that triggers flashbacks for me, being born in the 80's and all.

The opening is just harsh. Fruit and leather, I think. Combined with the classic moss base, it gets a bit sour and dirty. The sourness is gone after one or two sniffs, but it definitely scares off the young and insecure.

In the middle I get a wonderful soapy tobacco. With honey. And rose. I love it. It feels incredibly warm and pleasant. The tobacco and rose fade slowly. A powerful residu of musky moss remains and lasts forever. The more I wear it, the more i get used to the 'vintage' feel and learn to appreciate it.

It's just classic eighties power stuff. A must-have, mainly for sentimental reasons. I like the flashbacks to this era. I wouldn't wear it to any occasion, though. It's way too powerful, totally intrusive especially in indoor settings. Although during this Covid confinement, I dont have to care about any of that.

03/27/2022

8Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

MrHonest
118 Reviews

MrHonest

7

Eur-a-peein'

Picture this. A suited-and-booted man enters a vacant loo with a determined aura and leather satchel strapped across one shoulder. He walks straight up to the middle urinal - but instead of undoing his zipper and taking care of business, he slllllowly squats down until he's eye-to-eye with a little white cylinder lovingly resting on the glinting porcelain in front of him. He glances left...he glances right...making sure that nobody is watching as he reaches into his satchel and withdrawls a small plastic squeeze bottle half-filled with lightly coloured golden honey. It's not the expensive kind, but a small token from the break room at lunch and enough to flavour a drab cup of steaming tea on a slow day. With a single graceful movement, he reaches forward, upends the bottle and squeezes a thin stream of sweet deliciousness onto the eroded white mass. He withdrawls....chances one more glance around the room before licking his lips, closing his eyes, leaning forward, and taking the deepest inhale of his life.

The spicy and vaguely antiseptic florals fill his nostrils with pure joy, mingling beautifully with the thin layer of refined honey and lingering aroma of bathroom soap and stale urine that permeate the room. THIS is what it's all about - the moments when he can savour the goodness - the MOMENTS that remind him of who he is and what he can do. And as the man leans back, eyes closed and a massive grin upon his face...the bathroom door suddenly bursts open, jarring him out of his reverie and nearly knocking him on his ass as he scrambles to his feet.

The incoming gentleman pauses at the door, the blank expression on his face a result of just witnessing what appeared to be another man apparently squatting in front of a urinal and nearly toppling over in an attempt to deflect attention from his bizzare state. "Everything ok Mr. H?" asks the man. "Of course, of course Daniel." says the squatter. "I was just...examining the ahh....", his sentence quickly trailing off into awkward obscurity. Mr. H nervously shuffles over to the sink and hastens to wash his hands, avoiding making eye contact with his interuptor at all costs - even in the mirror. He quickly and roughly dries his hands on a brown paper towel and walks past the man, still rooted to the same spot, apparently unable to move out of bewildered amusement.

Out in the hall, Mr. H takes a deep breath. He needn't have worried. After all, he IS the boss - number one in a company that he's owned for nearly 37 years. He was an American before he entered that bathroom, and he remains one now that he's left. And regardless of what Daniel THINKS he may have seen, nobody would believe him if he told. His status and salary doesn't even compare. Nevertheless, a certain amount of caution seems warranted. He SHOULD be careful next time. And as he makes his way back to his office, the smirk already returning to his clean-shaven visage, he can't help but wonder where he smelled that wonderful smell before... the perfect scent he thinks, for Mr. Honeybunny.

Back in the bathroom, Daniel finally shakes off his stupor. His gaze immediately returns to the urinal that his crazy boss apparently found so interesting. As if in a daze, he cautiously makes his way over and glances down into its grimey depths. There, upon the crumbling white urinal cake below, rests a curious mound of yellow gel that somehow seems out of place. But of course, he knows the scent well. He's been wearing it ever since he started in the company. And as a devious smile crosses his youthful face, he glances left....he glances right....and slllllowly begins to squat down.....

12/27/2024

8Scent 7Longevity 8Sillage

Ceesie
131 Reviews

Ceesie

Very helpful Review 4

Vintage barbershop

Imagine yourself walking through a sunny Sicily. There’s this beautiful barbershop, with outside and all. Leather chairs, old tools and good old Antonino doing the shave. You decide to walk in, let him shave your 3 days old beard.
He’s taking his time, applying the foam, doing the save. Twice. A little chit chat. Of course you agree with him on everything, he’s the one wielding a razorblade lol.
When he’s finished, he applies this stingy but wonderfully smelling strong water. That’s exactly the picture Number One is painting. And I love it.

06/18/2013

9Scent 10Longevity 7.5Sillage

Chnokfir
214 Reviews

Chnokfir

4

The "Number One" among the German "Gentleman" Fragrances

At the phase of my development into a young man at the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were more or less only two olfactory directions which a man could follow. Either you embrace a full Main Stream with all these new directions like Calvin Klein or Joop, or you decide to go towards the classic group with Paco Rabanne, Azzaro or Boss. My number 1 choice was "Number One" by Hugo Boss. I have no idea why, but probably because my friends and classmates all went for the modern scents and I always aimed to make a counterpoint. As far away as I stood, then and now, from wearing a classic suit, I was comfortable in knowing that this scent went perfectly well with Levy jeans, a Diesel T-shirt and Adidas Allrounds.

The classic presentation of this scent is striking and has resisted face-lifts over the years. Deep black is the carton with subtle pin stripes, the BOSS logo proudly displayed on its chest. The bottle is edgy, clear and the pin stripe design is repeated. The color of the fragrance is a classic golden yellow. All in all, a statement not to be missed.

The scent opens up boldly with classic fresh notes, the bergamot taming the lemon. Other than the clean and spicy accents, there is an early appearance of a light fruity aroma whose sweetness soon is dominated by honey. Fresh and light flowery notes follow and spread in a wide range, which is almost overwhelming. With the basenotes, we have a panorama of notes which, although soft and warm, still maintain the structure of the scent. There are woods, musk, patchouli, oakmoss and most definitely tobacco. Like in an orchestra, the individual notes harmonize beautifully, perhaps the first violin is missing ... nevertheless, there is a full performance of the rest. I especially like the spicy notes with a touch of flowery bloom, as they are alternating with the woody accents. Most of all, I fancy the sweet tobacco note, and I'm saying this as a non-smoker. Today, this scent might seem a bit dated, but to label is as "old fashioned" would be a misnomer by far. It still remains as a classic among the "Gentleman" fragrances.

Being a youngster, I applied this fragrance in large doses which however is marvelously suited for overapplication. Only many years later, I did realize that the scent is functioning perfectly well in lesser amounts. The sillage is strong given a distance of two meters, without trying to fog up the whole room. Add to this a very good longevity - when applied in the morning, there is still a very recognizable "Boss Number One" trace left in the evening.

Over the years, many more scent directions and impressions have met my nose. Clearly, "Boss Number One" is not ranking as my number 1 choice anymore. But, it has my long appreciation as a "Gentleman" fragrance, and I have the pleasure of wearing it from time to time.

(Translation: Pipette)

10/14/2025

10Scent 9Longevity 8Sillage

JavSantana
65 Reviews

JavSantana

Helpful Review 2

The ultimate 80's 'house

I smelled this a few days ago in a good friend at the faculty. I bought it inmediately. DAMN!

Scent wise, i get:
Opening: Herbal blast with heavily animalic musk, urine - like undertone on it. Slightly aldehydic, much in the style of Kouros and Lapidus Pour Homme but much more manageable.
Heart: heavily honey - forward, floral and powdery.
Base / Drydown: Slight musk, dominated by oakmoss, smoky, pipe or ciggie butt - forward tobacco, woods, honey, earth from patchouli, slight amber sweetness. Never becomes cloying.

I like wearing it in fall and winter, while i do think it can be perfectly used in spring and summer. (I do advice other 80's powerhouses for that though, like Drakkar Noir, Cool Water and GIT)

Even when being quite animalic i don't think it smells particularly "outdated". I also don't find it similar to Givenchy Gentleman by any means. They go in two different directions.

Bottom line: Great bang for buck. I like it way more than Kouros and Lapidus because it gives you the same feel but is much more wearable. Salut

More reviews