Edifier

People have said that this is an underrated fragrance and I agree. I regard Burberry fragrances along the same level as Azzaro's; they are reliable cheap fragrances that are rarely revolutionary. But the Mr. Burberry line would have fared better if it was released by the likes of Azzaro and Ralph Lauren. Some just like to hate on Burberry despite some solid offerings like Touch and London.

I imagine when Burberry commissioned Kurkdjian to start a new line for them, shortly after he did Baccarat Rouge 540, that the conversation went something like this... Burberry: "We want a blue line of fragrance that is distinctly Burberry; it captures the shower gel experience and evokes a well-groomed English gentleman." Kurkdjian: "So a fragrance that makes the wearer smell like he's just got out of the shower and straight into a classic London barbershop."

Kurkdjian has effectively created a blue barbershop fougere with Mr. Burberry EdT, which is why it has also been criticised for being generic since it is the combination of the two most popular men's fragrance categories. But how many blue barbershop fragrances are really out there? Mr. Burberry EdT smells way more expensive and luxurious than the measly price I paid for at the discounter, and performs like an EdP. If they create a Parfum version, I would certainly like to see the addition of vanilla, leather and/or tobacco for a sexy evening Mr. Burberry, which Mr. Burberry EdP sadly was not.

Scandal must be what fragheads refer to as "screechy". The caramel sweetness combines with the aromatics to create a nose-tingling and head-splitting concoction. The bombastic opening is reminiscent of Paco Rabanne Phantom. I am not a fan of sickly sweet scents such as these but I would pick Phantom over this if I had to. These scents smell like something children would wear but apparently adult men wear them to go clubbing and to impress the ladies. If I understand correctly, men wear sweet scents only because women like sweet scents and they want the ladies to move in for a whiff. To that I say, it is a good thing men do not have to dress like women to attract them.

Y EdP remains the most popular and highest rated among the five releases in the Y series. While Y EdT has been harshly criticised for being too mainstream and unoriginal (especially when compared to its two illustrious older siblings, L'Homme and La Nuit De L'Homme), I think the praise and hype heaped upon Y EdP are equally undeserved. I received a sample with my order of Bleu Electrique and was I underwhelmed.

I purchased Y EdT when it was released in 2017 because I enjoyed its fruity and airy nature. With the EdP, the lightness of the EdT is gone with the removal of aldehydes, and the sweetness is amplified with the addition of juniper berries, tonka bean and amber wood. The result is fresh sweetness combined with warm sweetness to produce an overall dense sweetness, which I find rather unpleasant. They succeeded in making a more intense and sweeter version of the EdT but it is still to me very one-dimensional. Y EdP could have been better if it was more oriental or woody or aromatic or citrusy or even floral, rather than simply relying on an overabundance of sweet notes.

For the warmer weather or daytime or to wear to work or the gym, I think Y EdT is the more versatile and inoffensive option. For the cooler weather or evenings or to wear on dates, choose Bleu Electrique instead of this; Bleu Electrique is much more refined and appealing, and costs less than Y EdP.

I received a sample of Phantom with my order of Acqua di Gio Profondo. I love the zesty Profondo, and vanilla, lavender and vetiver are some of my favourite notes. On paper, I should like Phantom; but I am also aware of its criticisms having read reviews elsewhere. Intrigued, I spray it on and tentatively put my nose to it. The opening was sharp, sugary, vanillic, waxy and very synthetic. It smelled of something very familiar and it took me a moment to realise what it was. A vanilla scented candle.

As a fragrance novice, I am very easy to please. I tend to enjoy scents that have been criticised heavily (for example, Y EdT) and I do not take my fragrance journey very seriously. Unfortunately, not even I can will myself to like Phantom. I like lemon, but not like this. I like vanilla, but not like this. I like lavender, but not like this. If the opening smells like a burning vanilla scented candle, the dry down smells like the candle when it is cool - faint and chemical. I cannot imagine anyone rushing out to buy this, unless they want to smell like a scented candle.