Brooksfield for Men Brooksfield 1993 Eau de Toilette

Brooksfield is a clothing brand from Italy. I wouldn't have thought that. It somehow comes across as British. Both from the name, the presentation, and many style elements of the fashion. Additionally, the name is not particularly well-known in Germany. So one thinks of a classic English gentleman's fragrance when it comes to the scent. I usually have a pretty good nose in this regard …

The box comes in a light brown tone with a label in British racing green and golden lettering, featuring a flying wild duck. Very simple, pure understatement, very British. Inside is a classic clear glass bottle shaped like a field flask with an embedded duck motif and gold-yellow liquid. Unfortunately, the silver cap with the duck motif is not made of solid and heavy metal, but rather light plastic. Still very nice to look at, a harmonious and atmospheric picture.

The scent is, fortunately, the expected gentleman's fragrance. Bergamot and cardamom open as anticipated, quickly followed by green notes of leaves and grasses. Despite the initial freshness, I think more of late summer and autumn with green notes in the cool dew, perhaps also of misty landscapes near rivers. Lavender, clove, tarragon, and oak moss contribute to this impression. The sweetness of honey and the woods round off the scent softly with a subtle amber.

The outer appearance did not deceive; the scent has a British flair just like the packaging, and although Grey Flannel smells completely different, these two fragrances somehow belong together for me in terms of presentation and scent composition. Sometimes you have such associations. The scent is masculine and has a wonderfully old-fashioned quality that makes it a typical representative of gentleman's fragrances for me. There is a rugged floral quality paired with fresh notes and herbal and woody accents. On one hand, it is understated, not loudly screaming, yet determined and clear in its appearance. Furthermore, it lasts all day long.

The fragrance has now disappeared from most shelves; recently, it was unfortunately increasingly seen in department store shelves decorated with thick percentage signs. This may be due to the brand's low recognition. Or perhaps because the scent tends to spoil even with good storage.

Once again, Brooksfield is based in Italy, contrary to its name. Perhaps that's why not many customers wanted to be fooled into thinking of this scent as an English bear. So it remains for many just a footnote among all the many fragrances, an exotic that wanted to survive through deceiving and camouflaging but failed to do so. It's a shame really; I find it delicious, masculine, classic, British.