Original Men s.Oliver 2011 Eau de Toilette

Since Douglas was closed again, I decided to visit the drugstore and at first glance found nothing worth testing or fragrances I had already tried... but then I noticed the little S. Oliver corner, from which I hadn't tested anything at all.

So I grabbed the prettiest bottle that also had "Original" on it. And I must say, it could have been much worse. Of course, you shouldn't expect anything surprising, but the scent has good longevity, a decent bottle, a drugstore-typical low price, and a medium to weak sillage.

It's a fresh scent at first, almost sporty. Later, a spiciness comes in with a blend of musk & amber. Not bad at all and it doesn't smell as cheap as the price of the fragrance, although it is still far from being high-quality or even good scents in the mid-price segment.

Clearly above the average of Bruno Banani but below the average of Playboy, in my opinion. A nice everyday scent, but also suitable for the office and the gym.

Now that I have tested the most important low-priced fragrances, only perfumes from well-known manufacturers are left, as I find less and less nice options in the regular drugstore, I am becoming stricter, and it would almost only be negative reviews. This one just barely makes the cut...

I'm still not that enthusiastic about the s.Oliver fragrances, and the "Original" certainly doesn't change that. Well, it's truly not bad, but it's definitely not a "flagship" (THE Original, after all) for the line.

So what is it? A nice, affordable everyday perfume, somewhat fresh, somewhat spicy-herbaceous, and completely inconspicuous, it gets better the longer it stays on the skin. It doesn't hurt, but I wouldn't shed a tear if it were to disappear.
I don't really like the bottle at all - rather, it seems to be forced into looking elegant (and not very skillfully), by slapping on an old-fashioned lettering.

in search of a new Bruno Banani scent for my brother for Christmas, I stumbled upon the fragrance Original Men by S.Oliver. It was sitting on the shelf at DM nearby. I tried it out and was immediately convinced I had to take it with me, a distinctive scent that expresses masculinity and convinced both me and my girlfriend (who is actually not a fan of drugstore fragrances). I wore it to work this morning and must say that anyone who likes strong, distinctive men's scents will be surprised by the price-performance ratio. It's worth trying out. Even if it doesn't become my new favorite scent, it's really very, very, very decent for a change and in between.

OK - fake is a harsh word in this context. Original, too, because this scent bears more than just striking similarity to Desire blue by Dunhill.

Both develop a blend of fruity and woody notes along with light marine accords. The latter are slightly more in focus in "Desire blue," while "Original Men" leans a bit more towards the woody side and seems a touch creamier. Additionally, the raw materials in S. Oliver give a less premium impression.
Otherwise, this could very well be the same formula (and possibly the same perfumer?).

At least the fragrance pyramid has been tampered with, as both scents have completely different compositions. However, who has written the truth here must be determined by each person for themselves. At least it becomes clear once again that one cannot unconditionally trust the stated contents.

Personally, I have an aversion to the scent - whether from the house of Dunhill or S. Oliver. Perhaps I overdid it with the original, which in this case is not called "Original," or I have unconsciously negative memories associated with it. But that is just my very subjective opinion.
Objectively speaking, "Original Men" is a decent drugstore scent that once had a more expensive Dunhill product as its predecessor. And for those who miss the original Desire blue because it is too costly or too rarely offered, they can look forward to an affordable alternative with minimal compromises (quality, longevity, sillage).

I can't really say exactly why I tested Original Men. I was standing in front of it in the supermarket and apparently I just saw it too often in advertisements...
The top note takes a little time to "settle," but then it is really convincing. The citrus notes are dominant, but they are pleasantly rounded out by the herbs. I could have sworn I was smelling an orange.
After that, it gets sweeter and a bit woodier. After about an hour, however, the scent reaches its limits and just feels flat and limp, somewhat sweet, almost powdery, but without any edges or contours.
Lasts at best medium-long, but more likely significantly shorter. Considering the price-performance ratio, it's a really nice scent for pretty much any occasion.