Category: Mainstream Monday

Categories
Fragrance Reviews Mainstream Monday

A*Men Ultra Zest Fragrance Review (MAINSTREAM MONDAY)

amen-ultra-zest

* The zest is what you get on top with a bold burst of juicy citrus – orange and tangerine.

* It starts off like a sports fragrance on steroids.

* After about ten minutes, the juice is literally cooled off by ginger and mint, as if you are chewing some kind of all natural gum.

* Then it turns left and goes into the standard Amen.  Patchouli, coffee, cinnamon, and chocolate.

* The base is just as strong as you would imagine and tenacious just like all of the other A*Men flankers.

Summary:  In any special interest or hobby, there quickly develops an inherent snobbery which criticizes the mainstream and popular.  As we all develop eccentric tastes, it is important to realize that just because something is popular doesn’t mean it is necessarily bad.  A*Men is a a classic perfume that has stood the test of time.  Every flanker (or remix) adds a new top note and then it resolves to what is known, expected and loved.  If you love A*men and want a fresh remix for 2015, give Ultra Zest a shot.  Do not expect a light summer fragrance – this is the same brilliantly heavy and tenacious A*men, butwith a brief intro of juicy citrus.

Other opinions:
Candy Perfume Boy
Colognoisseur
Mimi Frou Frou
Man Loves Cologne
Persolaise

A*Men Ultra Zest is available from Macy’s and Nordstrom.

Disclaimer: Sample provided by Nordstrom. Image courtesy of Nordstrom website.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews Mainstream Monday

Masik University of Tennessee Men’s Cologne Review

masik-university-of-tennessee

* Sweet fruit on the top- black berries and strawberries- with a hint of spice.

* It smells clean and fresh to me, very similar to what you would expect from a department store designer fragrance.

* The fruits fade away as lavender comes in with a spicy floral undertone.

* Guys shouldn’t be scared of the floral note – it isn’t that strong.

* The base is a clean, woodsy musk.

Summary: Although I live in Tennessee, I don’t make it up to Knoxville that often – so I can’t really gauge if these are REALLY the smells of the college.  Honestly, it could probably smell like bongwater and the ravenous UT Vols fans would still buy it up.  The MASIC company has discovered a great and loyal crowd who will buy signature fragrances – university students and alumni.  The scent smells nice and will please a lot of people who are looking for an easy to wear, everyday, work-friendly scent.  As stated above, it is very similar to a lot of the designer fragrances you see in a department store.  It isn’t groundbreaking, but that’s not its purpose.  For the target audience, it is a great fit.

Masik University of Tennessee Men’s Cologne is available at the Masik Website and Belk. Sample provided by publicist.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews Mainstream Monday

Dior Homme Eau For Men Fragrance Review (Mainstream Monday)

dior-homme-eau-for-man
* First whiff is a bit tingly and spicy.  Its hard to define the notes but it feels (but doesn’t smell) peppery with the way it makes my nose twitch

* Within three minutes, a semisweet grapefruit and citrus comes in with a bit of spice.

* The fruits mix and stay at the forefront, and a faint flower starts to come in.

* The original Dior Homme was an iris-based scent – so I am guessing the flower is a muted iris.

* The long-lasting base of amber woods lasts a really long time.

Summary:  Dior Homme Eau For Men is a safe and solid designer men’s fragrance. It is easy to wear, accessible, and will work for a lot of people.  I think it is better than most department store scents because what you smell on top is pretty similar to what you smell throughout the life of the scent and it lasts more than twelve hours.   Fans of scents like Chanel Blue and Dior Light Blue would do well to check this one out.  It is office-friendly and will no doubt be very popular as I’ve already smelled it on guys at the club several times.  The glass bottle is also quite attractive – in a modern masculine minimalist way with the black tube accent giving it a visual exclamation point.  This is one of those times when I appreciate a fragrance for its merits while realizing that it is not something that I personally would reach for.  

Other opinions:

Alpha M
Goodsmellas

Dior Homme Eau for Men is available at Macy’s.

Disclaimer: Sample received from publicist. Image courtesy of Fragrantica.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews Mainstream Monday

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Fragrance Review (MAINSTREAM MONDAY)

paco-rabanne-1-million
* The bracing intro kicks off as a citrus mint cocktail with some spice – I get some orange, mint, and cloves.

* Initial projection is loud and sweet – people around you will notice this.

* While it stays on the sweet side, it starts to mellow when a light leather and a hint of wood starts to mellow it out.

* The sweetness continues as a sweet amber and earth patchouli joins the woods in the base 

Summary:  When I went to the Amsterdam Dance Event in 2008,  it seemed like every guy at every nightclub was wearing 1 Million.  It had just launched in Europe, and clearly the marketing campaign was successful.  This is a clubbing fragrance with great projection and longevity – clearly not for the office.  Although it’s labelled as an EDT, it is as strong as an EDP.  I bought a bottle at the airport on the way home and absolutely loved dousing myself in it.  Just as I strive not to put gender restrictions on a fragrance (though they are sometimes obvious), I also try not to put age restrictions on them either.  But, smelling and wearing One Million – it is clearly targeted and designed for teens and twentysomethings.  Though I still wear it from time-to-time (I am 40), I really don’t think it’s appropriate for those past their mid-30s.  It is a scent for a guy who has grown out of Axe or Fierce and is ready for a going out fragrance.  The scent also has strong associations for me – scent memories – of clubbing not only in Amsterdam but in Miami as well..

Other opinions:

Mens Fashion at About
Styleite
Now Smell This
The Totality
Pop Sugar
The Scentualist (Intense Review)r

Paco Rabanne 1 Million is widely available at department stores and Sephora.

Disclaimer: No disclaimer needed, bottle purchased by me. Image courtesy of the Scentualist.