Basile Uomo Basile 1987 Eau de Toilette

My goodness, I certainly have a penchant for bold fragrances, but this opening takes my breath away. Spicy, soapy, and dark green, Basile Uomo starts off with a mossy, earthy color palette dominating the scene with great determination. A hint of honey adds a rather restrained sweetness, and the otherwise very compact army of citrus defenders is fighting a rather lost cause.

I don't want to resort to clichés here, but the first half of the scent's development clearly favors those among us who are naturally blessed with a strong chest hair and stride through life sun-kissed with an open collar. I say this completely neutrally, but a subtle appearance doesn't seem really feasible with this fragrance.

It takes a good while for the strict spiciness to settle down, allowing individual components from the scent wall to become more distinguishable. I was able to identify rosemary, thyme, and lavender, as well as a very distinctive cinnamon note, which I found quite appealing.

Overall, I would like to ascribe slightly anachronistic traits to our friend. For my taste, it is somewhat too coarse over long stretches, and pleasing nuances are not its strength. This is all the more regrettable, as there are indeed very successful examples of a strong presence paired with the necessary style. I would like to mention the green Polo or Santos by Cartier here.

Thus, Basile Uomo ultimately remains reserved for the Tom Selleck/Magnum Nimbus, which I find quite charming, but over time also somewhat one-dimensional.