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Interesting
I have never smelled the fragrance, but the following excerpt from a BBC report is quite amusing in the context of the mediocre review here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhln3UCKU7U
The video shows Tommy Hilfiger testing the fragrance for the first time and reacting :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhln3UCKU7U
The video shows Tommy Hilfiger testing the fragrance for the first time and reacting :D
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Rainy Day in London
The question of why I associate Gentleman Only with rainy days is like the question of the egg or the chicken: I no longer remember whether I first smelled the fragrance or saw the advertisement featuring Simon Baker, where he (very much the gentleman) offers his umbrella to a lady in pouring rain. The association has definitely made a lasting impression - Gentlemen Only is my fragrance for rainy, gray days. The woody, slightly spicy aroma makes the composition quite masculine, yet it is very gentle and for me a true mood lifter on gray days.
Last summer, I experienced an absolute rainy day in London. In the morning, on my way to my then workplace, in a suit, wearing Terre d'Hermès - and torrents of rain from above. Near St. Paul's, the rain suddenly lightened and the sun broke through the clouds with a few rays. At the same time, a construction company's vehicle was playing a slow song from the 40s or 50s, filling the street with sound. A scene one would imagine in a black-and-white film. The song and the sound of raindrops on the umbrella were at that moment the only things my ears perceived. This calm made me serene - in that brief moment, the weather was not bad, but rather very pleasant. I wished I had been wearing Gentlemen Only - there couldn't have been a more fitting fragrance for that day.
Whenever I pull out and apply Gentlemen Only now in bad weather, it always brings back the memory of that rainy day in London - of the wonderful city, the tranquility, the serenity...
Last summer, I experienced an absolute rainy day in London. In the morning, on my way to my then workplace, in a suit, wearing Terre d'Hermès - and torrents of rain from above. Near St. Paul's, the rain suddenly lightened and the sun broke through the clouds with a few rays. At the same time, a construction company's vehicle was playing a slow song from the 40s or 50s, filling the street with sound. A scene one would imagine in a black-and-white film. The song and the sound of raindrops on the umbrella were at that moment the only things my ears perceived. This calm made me serene - in that brief moment, the weather was not bad, but rather very pleasant. I wished I had been wearing Gentlemen Only - there couldn't have been a more fitting fragrance for that day.
Whenever I pull out and apply Gentlemen Only now in bad weather, it always brings back the memory of that rainy day in London - of the wonderful city, the tranquility, the serenity...
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"Unites the men and the boys"?
I have held Bottega Veneta Pour Homme in my hands several times and have been impressed each time by the fresh wood-leather note that resonates in the top notes. However, I have always been deterred from purchasing it by the often-criticized short lifespan of the fragrance. No matter how good a perfume is - if it only shines for the first half hour and then quickly fades away, it simply isn't worth it.
When I learned that the "Extrême" version of the fragrance was being released, I didn't hesitate long - either this version gets it right, where the predecessor was a bit too timid, or the BV Pour Homme theme will be laid to rest.
And the purchase was worth it - BV PH Extrême is impressive. Right after spraying, bergamot dominates the top notes, with juniper following immediately. Not gin-juniper, but rather a fresh spiciness that creates the transition to woodier notes. In the background, there is a powdery nutmeg that gives the Extrême an almost ordinary note within the first half hour. I'm still not sure if I like that - but it moderates to the good as the scent develops. Slowly, the woodier tones push forward through the top notes, giving the fragrance a masculine core, while still possessing enough freshness. The heart of the fragrance is a smoky, resinous note that does not appear in the predecessor. Together with the leather that gradually comes to the forefront, it creates a warm, sweet-smoky accent that is hard to grasp and makes you want to keep smelling the fragrance. In my opinion, the sillage of the Extrême is precisely aimed at this accent - if you could perceive the fragrance from five meters away from the wearer, it would be overwhelming. As it actually presents itself, however, it invites you to come closer and take a sniff without being aggressive.
Is the designation "Extrême" appropriate? Perhaps "Intense" would be a better fit. Even though the "Extrême" is by no means just a stronger version of its predecessor - it is also not truly "extreme." When I think of this name, I envision loud, heavy fragrances that primarily aim to compete successfully against the "1 Millions" of this world in clubs. That this is not necessarily the case is taught, for example, by Chanel's Allure Homme Sport Eau Extrême. In my opinion, the BV deserves more of an "intense" label - for an intense fragrance that comes across as distinguished and self-assured.
The bottle also contrasts with "Extrême." The already aesthetically minimalist bottle of Pour Homme has been further reduced to a minimum of elements. Only the matte relief base makes a quiet statement about the intense contents. The smoky glass is a subtle nod to the smoky-resinous note of the "Extrême." Unfortunately, the sprayer of the bottle is somewhat lacking - it seems as if its output aims for maximum entropy rather than the targeted application of the fragrance. However, one can get used to that.
Who can wear BV PH Extrême? Baldessarini advertises its fragrances with the claim "Separates the men from the boys." Whether that is true is debatable. However, one can claim exactly the opposite about the "Extrême" - it does not draw a clear line regarding the age of the wearer. Both younger and more experienced wearers will discover "their" side in the fragrance. The possible occasions are equally versatile - BV PH Extrême works just as well with a suit as it does with lumberjack flannel.
When I learned that the "Extrême" version of the fragrance was being released, I didn't hesitate long - either this version gets it right, where the predecessor was a bit too timid, or the BV Pour Homme theme will be laid to rest.
And the purchase was worth it - BV PH Extrême is impressive. Right after spraying, bergamot dominates the top notes, with juniper following immediately. Not gin-juniper, but rather a fresh spiciness that creates the transition to woodier notes. In the background, there is a powdery nutmeg that gives the Extrême an almost ordinary note within the first half hour. I'm still not sure if I like that - but it moderates to the good as the scent develops. Slowly, the woodier tones push forward through the top notes, giving the fragrance a masculine core, while still possessing enough freshness. The heart of the fragrance is a smoky, resinous note that does not appear in the predecessor. Together with the leather that gradually comes to the forefront, it creates a warm, sweet-smoky accent that is hard to grasp and makes you want to keep smelling the fragrance. In my opinion, the sillage of the Extrême is precisely aimed at this accent - if you could perceive the fragrance from five meters away from the wearer, it would be overwhelming. As it actually presents itself, however, it invites you to come closer and take a sniff without being aggressive.
Is the designation "Extrême" appropriate? Perhaps "Intense" would be a better fit. Even though the "Extrême" is by no means just a stronger version of its predecessor - it is also not truly "extreme." When I think of this name, I envision loud, heavy fragrances that primarily aim to compete successfully against the "1 Millions" of this world in clubs. That this is not necessarily the case is taught, for example, by Chanel's Allure Homme Sport Eau Extrême. In my opinion, the BV deserves more of an "intense" label - for an intense fragrance that comes across as distinguished and self-assured.
The bottle also contrasts with "Extrême." The already aesthetically minimalist bottle of Pour Homme has been further reduced to a minimum of elements. Only the matte relief base makes a quiet statement about the intense contents. The smoky glass is a subtle nod to the smoky-resinous note of the "Extrême." Unfortunately, the sprayer of the bottle is somewhat lacking - it seems as if its output aims for maximum entropy rather than the targeted application of the fragrance. However, one can get used to that.
Who can wear BV PH Extrême? Baldessarini advertises its fragrances with the claim "Separates the men from the boys." Whether that is true is debatable. However, one can claim exactly the opposite about the "Extrême" - it does not draw a clear line regarding the age of the wearer. Both younger and more experienced wearers will discover "their" side in the fragrance. The possible occasions are equally versatile - BV PH Extrême works just as well with a suit as it does with lumberjack flannel.
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