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GeorgeReid
Helpful Review
8
Like an Open Art Gallery without Condescending Snobs
One day, I considered blind buys for affordable fragrances. By pure chance, I came across Guess 1981 Los Angeles for Men. After hearing mostly positive reviews, I pulled the trigger on the fragrance.
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The opening notes of bergamot, black pepper, and plum are sharp and hit the nose quickly on the initial spray with sweetness and spiciness.
As the fragrance develops and the heart notes of ginger and spearmint blend in with the base notes of vetiver, sandalwood, and amber, the sweetness fades in favor of a slightly mature spiciness and a hint of freshness.
1981 LA is like walking through an art gallery—except you do not have to whisper, and you can touch the art. It gives off a vibe of a person wanting to become more mature and trendy, without being snobbish.
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In terms of overall performance, 1981 Los Angeles performs about as expected for an Eau de Toilette.
The initial projection and sillage are strong at the opening, but after 15 minutes, it essentially calms down to a skin scent where one would have to be intimately close to smell. While there is nothing wrong with scents that project only as far as to intimate range, the opening sets up a massive letdown for anyone expecting a fragrance with superstar projection and sillage. This would absolutely suck for someone who is doing a store test, believing one thing, and getting something else.
The longevity is also typical for an EdT—it should last about four to six hours. The usual EdT rules apply; if one wishes to use the scent all day instead of a specific situation, expect to reapply it once or twice.
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In terms of the best situations for Guess 1981 Los Angeles, it is useable as a daily fragrance—the lack of sillage and projection makes it a safe office, gym, or leisure scent. In addition, it is a fragrance that smells good throughout the year. The scent is ideal for winter and cooler weather, but it does not become annoying or overbearing in the summer months or in a warm climate.
With that in mind, the fragrance shines brightly as an intimate date night fragrance, where a date or significant other is likely to get cozy and enjoy the fragrance.
That said, this is a scent that is meant for when a man has established the date, whether it is preparing for the first date, or dating a significant other in a relationship.
If a man tries to use this fragrance to help get a date at a club, bar, or any other event with many people, 1981 Los Angeles will disappoint. The fragrance already does not stand out from the crowd, as there are similar fragrances to it. However, the lack of projection and sillage means few will notice the fragrance unless a person is actively trying to smell it. That is not an ideal situation for a man looking to seek attention like a superstar.
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Overall, Guess 1981 Los Angeles, while not unique, is an amazing masculine smell with a solid blend of youthful sweetness and mature spiciness. Anyone, regardless of age, can pull it off with little thought.
That said, if someone is looking for a fragrance that stands out as a unique fragrance, or one that projects and announces their presence when entering a bar or a club, 1981 Los Angeles is not for you, as disappointment (and possibly consumer rage if you store tested it) is inevitable.
However, if someone wants a great value fragrance that smells amazing and stylish and will last through the end of a date or a solid fragrance that is subtle enough to provide versatility as a daily scent with little thinking, I would heavily consider 1981 Los Angeles.