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Fragrance Reviews Mainstream Monday

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Fragrance Review (MAINSTREAM MONDAY)

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* 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 Rive D’ambre Fragrance Review

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* Starts with a fresh citrus blend – orange, lemon, bergamot, and neroli.

* As usual, the citrus doesn’t last long, maybe 20 minutes.  

* The scent becomes really faint, and if I sniff my wrist closely I get a hint of light resins and mint.

* Somehow the scent turns around and comes back a little stronger with some boozy resins.

* It calms down again really quickly and lasts a little bit longer as a sheer skin scent.

Summary: Honestly, I am very disappointed with Rive d’ambre.  One of the original Tom Ford Private Blends – Amber Absolute was a masterpiece of incense and amber which kind of inspired the start of my fragrance journey.  It has since been discontinued.  For the Atelier D’Orient collection, the amber is a lot more toned-down, quiet, and possibly apologetic.   When you see Tom Ford ads – they are brazen, aggressive, and make a statement.   Rive D’ambre says next to nothing.  Although it’s an EdP, it wears like an EdT lasting barely 4 hours on the skin (and most of that as a sheer skin scent). If you are really meek and shy and afraid that your fragrance might be too strong, then check out Rive d’Ambre.  Honestly, you can find much better for 1/3 to 1/4 the price.

Other opinions:

The Candy Perfume Boy

Kafkaesque

Persolaise

Best Things in Beauty

Really Ree

Ca Fleure Bon

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.