02/27/2013

Apicius
224 Reviews

Apicius
Top Review
8
Puristic Liveliness
Bvlgari Man when released was advertised for the middle-aged gentlemen. Brilliant white and piano laquer black were the colours, with plain polished metal applications and a grey-haired guy in a casual outfit. The message seems clear – Bvlgari Man claims to be straightforward, with a simple look and feel, but nevertheless noble and stylish and without any chi-chi. We must not expect anything too opulent or oriental. This is about a certain style, a cultural identity is to be sold along with the perfume. Presumably these simple messages work out – at least I felt attracted by the simple elegance of it.
Nevertheless, I hope that this presentation does not affect my evaluation too much, because it is positive. For a few years now, and especially for the colder seasons, a certain kind of gent's perfumes have been released which I would like to call puristic: Wonderwood, Bang, Michalski and others. Bvlgari Man follows this path as well – no citruses, few notes, and not a lot of development.
Bvlgari Man is all about tart and bitter woodiness. There is something lean and spicy-herbal like fennel, juniper or gentian in the top, but then comes the very bitter woodiness. Woodiness and herbal or spicy aspects interchange a little. During drydown, you might realise that there is something more to it as well. I guess it is a basically musky blend of something that adds some warmth to the bitter woods, as well as volume. This is what makes Bvlgari Man an after all balanced fragrance, despite the focus on bitter and dry woods. It makes this fragrance attractive and a little sexy. I dare say it saves this fragrance from being just boring. Although it is marketed as Eau de Toilette, Bvlgari Man has a considerable longevity of 12 hours and more. The longer you wear it, the more attractive it gets as the warmer aspects of it come into view.
Bvlgari is not really my favourite brand. One can blame them of some of the sins that are so widespread in mainstream perfumery. Having tested most of their line-up I would value Bvlgari Man as their currently best gent's cologne. Bvlgari Man is availabe in different sizes, even 30 ml. This will do if you are just looking for one reference of this rather new, puristic style in gent's perfumery. Otherwise, Bvlgari Man is recommendable as an every day or office wear which keeps modestly in the background, but adds a little bit of attraction to the wearer.
Nevertheless, I hope that this presentation does not affect my evaluation too much, because it is positive. For a few years now, and especially for the colder seasons, a certain kind of gent's perfumes have been released which I would like to call puristic: Wonderwood, Bang, Michalski and others. Bvlgari Man follows this path as well – no citruses, few notes, and not a lot of development.
Bvlgari Man is all about tart and bitter woodiness. There is something lean and spicy-herbal like fennel, juniper or gentian in the top, but then comes the very bitter woodiness. Woodiness and herbal or spicy aspects interchange a little. During drydown, you might realise that there is something more to it as well. I guess it is a basically musky blend of something that adds some warmth to the bitter woods, as well as volume. This is what makes Bvlgari Man an after all balanced fragrance, despite the focus on bitter and dry woods. It makes this fragrance attractive and a little sexy. I dare say it saves this fragrance from being just boring. Although it is marketed as Eau de Toilette, Bvlgari Man has a considerable longevity of 12 hours and more. The longer you wear it, the more attractive it gets as the warmer aspects of it come into view.
Bvlgari is not really my favourite brand. One can blame them of some of the sins that are so widespread in mainstream perfumery. Having tested most of their line-up I would value Bvlgari Man as their currently best gent's cologne. Bvlgari Man is availabe in different sizes, even 30 ml. This will do if you are just looking for one reference of this rather new, puristic style in gent's perfumery. Otherwise, Bvlgari Man is recommendable as an every day or office wear which keeps modestly in the background, but adds a little bit of attraction to the wearer.
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