Category: Fragrance Reviews

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Fragrance Reviews Grooming

Canvas and Concrete Fragrance Primer Review

* Canvas and Concrete goes on with an alcohol smell, feels a bit sticky, and has a bit of shine.

* After it dries a bit, there is still a slight smell which reminds me of glitter hairspray from Halloween before it softens to a subtle sweetness.

* Testing it – the initial effect is to amplify the top notes to prolong how long they last.

* The effect with a lighter eau de cologne and eau de toilette were remarkable – tripling and quadrupling the duration versus just spraying the scent itself.

* It didn’t work so well with heavier concentrations as the scents didn’t retain their integrity.

Summary:  When I first saw Canvas & Concrete, it struck me as odd.  I understand the use of a paint primer (coat the wall surface and provide a base layer to make the true color of the paint come through) and I know that girls often wear foundation, eye, and lip primers.  Then I realized the goal was to create a barrier to delay the absorption of the scent into your skin.  In theory, this would make the scent story more universal as it wouldn’t react to your skin chemistry immediately and it would wear the same on everyone.  One of my favorite scents is Creed Acier Aluminum, but the refreshing metallic banana scent lasts all of an hour on my skin before it goes away.  Spraying it over Canvas & Concrete, it was projecting for more than two hours and still present more than 4 hours later. The all-natural citrus fragrance Honore’s Trip lasts less than two hours on me, but with C&C it was still present more than six hours later.  The problem comes when you put a heavier concentration eau de parfum on top of it – the scent changes.  Sweeter notes are amplified greatly, and the darker/spicier notes are almost cancelled out. When my friend tried it with Marley Herod, it turned into an overly sweet Britney Spears scent.  When I tried it with other heavier scents (Christian Dior Eau Noire, By Killian Rose Oud, Histoires de Parfums 1969), the scent story was quite different and felt cheapened.  This actually isn’t surprising as the goal of this product is to make your scent last all day – a heavier perfume will already last all day on your skin – so no primer or amplifier is needed.  If you prefer to wear lighter skin scents but want them to last longer, a $20 bottle of Canvas and Concrete would be a good investment.  Also, if you have an oily or darker complected skin that “eats” light scents, this would be a good product to experiment with also.

Other opinions:

Refinery 29
Cybele Says
Chick Advisor
Blush and Beakers

Canvas and Concrete Fragrance Primer is available from their website and CO Bigelow.

Sample provided by publicist. Image courtesy of Canvas and Courtesy website.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Von Eusersdorff Classic Orange Fragrance Review

von-eusersdorff-classic-orange-jovoy

* Initial focus is orange – not sweet – very ripe and realistic – a little grapefruit and tangerine.

* For a citrus scent, it has quite strong projection on the top.

* Then it grows sweeter – more like fruit juice with a bit of musk added in.

* As the musk comes in, it reacts differently when I wear it.  Sometimes it gets a bit sweatier while at other times it gets even sweeter.

* The dry down keeps some of the sweetness, which is balanced by the musk and a dry wood.

Summary:  I am a fan of the Von Eusersdorff line, having loved three of the four initial scents that lived up to the “Classic” descriptor by being well done with quality ingredients and superior execution.  The Classic Orange lives up to the standard of the original three because it takes the classic short-lived citrus eau de cologne splash  and transforms it into a longer-wearing and full-bodied citrus perfume.  The citrus smell lasts more than five hours on my skin which is very rare, as my skin normally drinks up citrus after the first hour.  The scent is also a bit of chameleon – reacting a bit differently (but not unpleasantly) on different days.  Normally, I would feel weird recommending a citrus fragrance at this price point because citrus scents are normally so short lived, but the longevity of Classic Orange makes it worth a test.  If you are looking for a winter fragrance that makes you think of the summer or a summer fragrance that will last without being overbearing, Classic Orange might be the one for you.

Other opinions:

Scent Epiphany
Ca Fleuerbon
Scentrist

Von Eusersdorff fragrances are available at select boutiques. Your best be is Jovoy in Paris. Hopefully it will come to the US soon.

Also check out:

Von Eusersdorff Classic Myrrh Review

Von Eusersdorff Classic Patchouli Review

Von Eusersdorff Classic Mimosa Review

Caminille Henflick Interview

Disclaimer: Sample provided by publicist. Image courtesy of Von Eusersdorff.

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.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Tom Ford Private Blend Tobacco Oud Fragrance Review

tom-ford-private-blend-tobacco-oud-nordstrom
* Tobacco oud starts off spicy – cinnamon/cloves and a bit of sharp wood

* It reminds me of the top of Bois Marocain and it projects massively.

* Then the tobacco starts to show up and overpowers everything about it.  Buoyed by a subtle oud, the tobacco really is the star for a lot of the fragrance’s life.

* While it begins to calm down at this point (around three hours), it’s still present and projecting nicely.

* The dry down to sweet amber and vanilla takes a long time and lasts even longer.

Summary:  I thought I was having flashbacks when I wore this scent because like AKafkaesque I realize that each stage of the development was another Tom Ford Scent.   Whereas AK sees it as a mix of Amber Absolute, Sahara Noir, Cafe Rose, and Tobacco Vanille – being the DJ that I am, Tobacco Oud feels like a wonderful mashup of Bois Marocain, Amber Absolute, and Tobacco Vanille with a touch of oud.  When I first heard of Tobacco Oud, I was hoping that it would be Tobacco Vanille, plus oud.  I am happier with the results as this is very oud 2.0 (oud as subtle supporting flavor, rather than an ‘oud in your face’ bomb). It feels more like a greatest hits medley (kind of like Julet Has A Gun Mad Madame, but much more well-conceived) and is far better in my opinion than anything in the last two private blend collections (Atelier D’Orient and Jardin Noir). Since I already own the three scents it reminds me of, I probably would not buy this for myself, but for anyone who is strong enough to handle a powerful long term scent (more than 12 hours of wear), this could easily be a signature.  Because of the projection, it’s not office friendly, but the strength can be downplayed by wearing only one or two sprays.  This is also definitely a scent that needs to be skin tested, as reading through the various reviews online, I kept scratching my head wondering if we were all spraying the same juice.

Other opinions:

Ca Fleure Bon
Now Smell This
Perfume Possee
Kafkaesque
Scentrist
The Candy Perfume Boy
Perfume of Life
Man Loves Cologne
Persolaise
Manface

Tom Ford Private Blend fragrances are available at Saks 5th Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Disclaimer: Sample provided by sales associate for review. Image courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

Fragrance Reviews – Page 9 – Notable Scents

Category: Fragrance Reviews

Categories
Fragrance Reviews Grooming

Canvas and Concrete Fragrance Primer Review

* Canvas and Concrete goes on with an alcohol smell, feels a bit sticky, and has a bit of shine.

* After it dries a bit, there is still a slight smell which reminds me of glitter hairspray from Halloween before it softens to a subtle sweetness.

* Testing it – the initial effect is to amplify the top notes to prolong how long they last.

* The effect with a lighter eau de cologne and eau de toilette were remarkable – tripling and quadrupling the duration versus just spraying the scent itself.

* It didn’t work so well with heavier concentrations as the scents didn’t retain their integrity.

Summary:  When I first saw Canvas & Concrete, it struck me as odd.  I understand the use of a paint primer (coat the wall surface and provide a base layer to make the true color of the paint come through) and I know that girls often wear foundation, eye, and lip primers.  Then I realized the goal was to create a barrier to delay the absorption of the scent into your skin.  In theory, this would make the scent story more universal as it wouldn’t react to your skin chemistry immediately and it would wear the same on everyone.  One of my favorite scents is Creed Acier Aluminum, but the refreshing metallic banana scent lasts all of an hour on my skin before it goes away.  Spraying it over Canvas & Concrete, it was projecting for more than two hours and still present more than 4 hours later. The all-natural citrus fragrance Honore’s Trip lasts less than two hours on me, but with C&C it was still present more than six hours later.  The problem comes when you put a heavier concentration eau de parfum on top of it – the scent changes.  Sweeter notes are amplified greatly, and the darker/spicier notes are almost cancelled out. When my friend tried it with Marley Herod, it turned into an overly sweet Britney Spears scent.  When I tried it with other heavier scents (Christian Dior Eau Noire, By Killian Rose Oud, Histoires de Parfums 1969), the scent story was quite different and felt cheapened.  This actually isn’t surprising as the goal of this product is to make your scent last all day – a heavier perfume will already last all day on your skin – so no primer or amplifier is needed.  If you prefer to wear lighter skin scents but want them to last longer, a $20 bottle of Canvas and Concrete would be a good investment.  Also, if you have an oily or darker complected skin that “eats” light scents, this would be a good product to experiment with also.

Other opinions:

Refinery 29
Cybele Says
Chick Advisor
Blush and Beakers

Canvas and Concrete Fragrance Primer is available from their website and CO Bigelow.

Sample provided by publicist. Image courtesy of Canvas and Courtesy website.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Von Eusersdorff Classic Orange Fragrance Review

von-eusersdorff-classic-orange-jovoy

* Initial focus is orange – not sweet – very ripe and realistic – a little grapefruit and tangerine.

* For a citrus scent, it has quite strong projection on the top.

* Then it grows sweeter – more like fruit juice with a bit of musk added in.

* As the musk comes in, it reacts differently when I wear it.  Sometimes it gets a bit sweatier while at other times it gets even sweeter.

* The dry down keeps some of the sweetness, which is balanced by the musk and a dry wood.

Summary:  I am a fan of the Von Eusersdorff line, having loved three of the four initial scents that lived up to the “Classic” descriptor by being well done with quality ingredients and superior execution.  The Classic Orange lives up to the standard of the original three because it takes the classic short-lived citrus eau de cologne splash  and transforms it into a longer-wearing and full-bodied citrus perfume.  The citrus smell lasts more than five hours on my skin which is very rare, as my skin normally drinks up citrus after the first hour.  The scent is also a bit of chameleon – reacting a bit differently (but not unpleasantly) on different days.  Normally, I would feel weird recommending a citrus fragrance at this price point because citrus scents are normally so short lived, but the longevity of Classic Orange makes it worth a test.  If you are looking for a winter fragrance that makes you think of the summer or a summer fragrance that will last without being overbearing, Classic Orange might be the one for you.

Other opinions:

Scent Epiphany
Ca Fleuerbon
Scentrist

Von Eusersdorff fragrances are available at select boutiques. Your best be is Jovoy in Paris. Hopefully it will come to the US soon.

Also check out:

Von Eusersdorff Classic Myrrh Review

Von Eusersdorff Classic Patchouli Review

Von Eusersdorff Classic Mimosa Review

Caminille Henflick Interview

Disclaimer: Sample provided by publicist. Image courtesy of Von Eusersdorff.

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.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Tom Ford Private Blend Tobacco Oud Fragrance Review

tom-ford-private-blend-tobacco-oud-nordstrom
* Tobacco oud starts off spicy – cinnamon/cloves and a bit of sharp wood

* It reminds me of the top of Bois Marocain and it projects massively.

* Then the tobacco starts to show up and overpowers everything about it.  Buoyed by a subtle oud, the tobacco really is the star for a lot of the fragrance’s life.

* While it begins to calm down at this point (around three hours), it’s still present and projecting nicely.

* The dry down to sweet amber and vanilla takes a long time and lasts even longer.

Summary:  I thought I was having flashbacks when I wore this scent because like AKafkaesque I realize that each stage of the development was another Tom Ford Scent.   Whereas AK sees it as a mix of Amber Absolute, Sahara Noir, Cafe Rose, and Tobacco Vanille – being the DJ that I am, Tobacco Oud feels like a wonderful mashup of Bois Marocain, Amber Absolute, and Tobacco Vanille with a touch of oud.  When I first heard of Tobacco Oud, I was hoping that it would be Tobacco Vanille, plus oud.  I am happier with the results as this is very oud 2.0 (oud as subtle supporting flavor, rather than an ‘oud in your face’ bomb). It feels more like a greatest hits medley (kind of like Julet Has A Gun Mad Madame, but much more well-conceived) and is far better in my opinion than anything in the last two private blend collections (Atelier D’Orient and Jardin Noir). Since I already own the three scents it reminds me of, I probably would not buy this for myself, but for anyone who is strong enough to handle a powerful long term scent (more than 12 hours of wear), this could easily be a signature.  Because of the projection, it’s not office friendly, but the strength can be downplayed by wearing only one or two sprays.  This is also definitely a scent that needs to be skin tested, as reading through the various reviews online, I kept scratching my head wondering if we were all spraying the same juice.

Other opinions:

Ca Fleure Bon
Now Smell This
Perfume Possee
Kafkaesque
Scentrist
The Candy Perfume Boy
Perfume of Life
Man Loves Cologne
Persolaise
Manface

Tom Ford Private Blend fragrances are available at Saks 5th Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Disclaimer: Sample provided by sales associate for review. Image courtesy of Neiman Marcus.