osoliman

By no means a sophisticated fragrance, however, it is a significant cut above the sea of anemic "blue" fragrances. It's the quintessential summer scent, as you'll stand out from the rest of the crowd. Wearing this indicates taste for the art of perfumery. Ingredients are well blended, and it is of very high quality. This is the fragrance you'd wear when you're looking for something more relaxing, cooling, and uplifting; Wulong Cha is worn for yourself, more so than for others. That said, it remains incredibly easy to wear. It opens with a complex concoction of citruses, which then divulges into a musky, tea accord, with an added pinch of sweetness from the fig note. Performance is exceptional for a fragrance with citruses; expect about 8 hours of longevity, and projection that sits closer to you. This is what you'd go to for the summer/spring months, for any occasion. I have worn this in the colder months of the winter; can see how this may counteract any seasonal disorders by enveloping you in a scent sphere of Zen, a longing for the warmer months to come.

This fragrance is the epitome of old school masculinity. Though formulated in the late 80's I would still consider it timeless, but that's to say, it is not for everyone. Bois du Portugal is geared towards men of ages 30+, however, if you have the confidence to rock this at a younger age, more power to you. The most common criticism brought on by "fragrance reviewers", is that it has an "old man smell to it". However, I argue those who share this view, may either be of a younger demographic, or simply aren't man enough to appreciate the perfumery behind this work of art. It portrays a high class status, confident, aristocratic persona. You have to possess a certain swagger in order to fully embrace this scent profile. This is a classic fougere/barbershop scent, with citrus being the most predominant accord in the opening, which, then dries down to cedarwood/woody accords. It's made spicy with coriander; however, I couldn't personally detect nutmeg. Performance is excellent, with about 10-12 hours of longevity, and projection that isn't intrusive. Sillage is, however, incredibly powerful for the first hour of application. It is versatile enough to be worn in all seasons, though, I believe it may be cloying in the high heat. Bois du Portugal shines during the colder months. I typically wear this to important meetings, or professional settings, however, I do not think it is restricting enough to be worn solely for the pupose of asserting dominance. I am glad Creed still kept Bois du Portugal around; truly, a bastion of artistry, in a world awash with synthetic scents, and milder, yet, unimpressionable blue fragrances.

Many express disappointments with the performance of the fragrance, and there is merit to the general sentiment. This concentration lacks in performance (low sillage, longevity is poor). I typically only wear this fragrance in the office during winters, as the performance makes for a perfectly unassuming scent, or during indoor gatherings/events, where I want to be more mindful of my own scent bubble. I can also see where one might go so far as to call this the perfect date night fragrance. It's not pungent, and leaves behind an air of sophistication. As far as the scent goes, the darker amber, tobacco, and boozy accords really shine, and I do experience hints of spicy/citrusy notes. It is very sophisticated, and I would only recommend this during summer nights, or the winter/fall. I believe the intended use case for this scent is to leave an impression, while being subtle, refined, and elegant; a parallel to how I would describe this fragrance. It is meant to leave an impression up close, or in one's own personal space. Any other reason to wear this would go against the general ethos of this fragrance. This is not the scent for louder impressions, or for those seeking validation. This is not a confidence builder, but for those who exude confidence.

I would say there is good reason as to why the sauvage line is as popular as it is. It isn’t just due to the exceptional marketing (or Johnny Depp). The fragrance is incredibly easy to wear, versatile, performs well (great longevity and excellent sillage). Sauvage’s eau de Parfum concentration is a peppery fresh citrus that can be worn in all occasions, seasons, by men of all ages, and in most situations. Inoffensive, well blended, and demonstrates Dior’s prowess in the fragrance game. The non-scent related downside, is that you can commonly detect it in most places. I’ve picked up on it at work, at the gym, and even at a wedding. Certainly, a victim of its own success. For someone who prioritizes unique scents, unfortunately, this one won’t satiate your desire to stand out.

I've heard rumours that oud wood was reformulated, so that oud wood parfum is the original oud wood (with great performance), and the performance of this was brought down. No way to confirm this, but Aaron Terence Hughes seems to circulate this theory in his review of the fragrance. I love how this scent smells; creamy, gentle woody accords, without any trace of animalic properties. Calling it "oud" is somewhat misleading to me, since I can't really detect oud. It is an excellent fragrance for the office, or for a night out where you need some subtlelty. An ode to those who wish to be discovered, rather than announce themselves. I do not mind the weaker sillage, however, it is dissappointing to note that longevity isn't great. For this fragrance to project, you would need to overspray. 10 sprays to the pulse points gets me 5 hours of projection, and 8-10 hours of it being a skin scent.