Sniff Fest - Hubby's Collection
9 years ago
Hi, guys. This is my first visit to the men’s forum. A sniff fest through hubby’s collection has been on my to-do list for a long while, so I thought I’d do it here. Too many times he’s put something delightful on, asked me to sniff, and I found myself unable to identify the fragrance—even when I’d given it to him as a gift. Time to educate my nose and improve my guesses. His is a small collection (33) of mostly staggeringly beautiful (IMO) fragrances ranging in price from bargain basement to let’s-not-mention-it. (Btw, if anything smart-aleck or scandalous gets said in these sniffs, it’s not me. It’s my bad girl alter ego, ScentGal. I’ll try to keep her in line.)
Here goes, in alpha order by brand.
Acqua di Parma
"Colonia Oud / Colonia Intensa Oud" |
In my early perfumista days a clerk had me sniff it and I was sunk. Let’s see how it strikes me now, almost two years later. Wow, on paper it’s a heady knock-your-socks-off citrusy, oudy, woody, wonder. Musk adds allure and by amyris I’m thinking they must mean the intoxicating balsam called Elemi exuded from the stems of the flowering plant. Elemi could make dirt smell good. From experience we’ve learned this scent does not wash easily off, so before applying it make sure you adore it. I do. Putting some on skin, the elemi/oud/cedar are pronounced. I just can’t stop smelling my hand. Not only is longevity incredible, so is projection, i.e., sillage. A whiff of this and many a female will look around for the alpha male who must be near. It’s a bit loud, I suppose from the cedar and oud, but I adore it.
Berdoues
"1902 Eau de Cologne Premium Collection - Vetiveria Herbacea" |
Saw this fresh and economical darling mentioned in a forum topic. The simple combo of tangerine, vetiver and woods creates a clean and delightful, almost herbal, scent as vetiver mellows the fruity tangerine. It’s a very inviting, even intoxicating, and distinctive spring/summer fragrance.
Bottega Veneta
"Bottega Veneta pour Homme" |
This quite sophisticated male scent will work in any setting. Bergamot and labdanum lend beauty to the intensely male pine, juniper, fir resin, leather and patchouli. Clary sage soothes. Pimento adds a bit of freshness. If Acqua di Parma Colonia Intensa Oud is the CEO, this fragrance is the sauve chairman of the board, while Berdoues 1902 is the extrovert V.P. of Marketing.
Coty
"Musk for Men" |
Hubby bought it blind and this is my first test of it. I like the women’s vintage Coty perfumes, so I’m optimistic… Well, to me, this scent isn’t on the executive floor. It’s that new guy in acquisitions trying to seduce all the young women. Mind you, the ambery, woody, muskiness is all right, if a bit pedestrian. Lemon helps a bit. Not sure I want to smell it on my guy.
Creed
"Aventus" |
Come the Creeds. I know I’d better have something good to say about Aventus or else. Oh, wow. Distinctive fresh pineapple with apple, black currant and bergamot announces something special about to come and sure enough, the woody-floral, junipery middle doesn’t disappoint. All are supported by my kind of base: oakmoss, musk, ambergris, sweetened with vanilla. Aventus is the CEO of a top competitor who hopes to trounce the Acqua di Parma CEO. More laid back and sophisticated, Aventus thinks the AdP CEO is too loud and intimidates people. Everyone likes the sharp and open Aventus guy, but is he tough enough? This is a not-to-be-ignored heck of a perfume, managing to be fresh and elegant all at once. It deserves its fame in perfumedom. Longevity is great.
"Millésime Impérial"|
However, this is the first one to close my eyes in pleasure. What’s in it? A trio of luscious citrus for a top note, Iris in the center with fresh and watery marine notes, and a classic amber, musk, sandalwood base, here not ordinary like in the Coty. It has a certain quirky complexity that speaks to my alter ego, ScentGal. It makes her think of that good-looking genius in R&D with all the patents, who makes guitars in his spare time. Maybe she’ll take him some sinful chocolate chip cookies, see what he’s inventing now. Whereas Aventus inspires admiration, Millésime Impérial captivates. Unfortunately, its charms don’t linger as long as those of Aventus. Soon enough the R&D guy is back in his lab, being mysterious again.
Re-sniffing all…there’s not a clunker in the group, though the Coty is on the lightweight side for me, compared to the rest. Otherwise, they’re head turners all.
To be continued…
Last edited by ScentFan on 01.07.2016, 15:24; edited 1 time in total