Reviews of Feeling Man by Jil Sander

I find that this works wonderful in the heat and is geared more toward spring and summer despite the heavier notes. Excellent performance for an EDT. Fresh, woody-sweet, lightly spicy with a distinct dry fruity (berry-like) warm amber trail that lingers on clothes all day. I’m somehow reminded of a cross between Drakkar Noir, Caesar’s Man (Classic from Las Vegas) and a touch of Rasasi La Yuqawam.

SANDER – FEELING MAN

To my nose this is a pleasant barbershop fougere from the glorious 1980s, but it refrains from being a powerhouse statement. It is quite subtle in its blending of notes that seem to me to be from all over the place; however, they work together. The combo of raspberry and tobacco seem to me to cling to each other and float over the whole, giving it a very comforting and warming effect. There is a slight, very slight, herbal/floral sweetness (most probably the jasmine and tarragon) that parallels the raspberry/tobacco note.

Feeling Man manages to be both bracing and calming at the same time. It positions itself as a transitional scent, between the powerhouse and the oceanic. The name is unfortunate, as is the ugly bottle and box. However, it seems to be prolifically available on the internet and with all the other positive reviews here, it is certainly one for every man to expose himself to.

Recommended.

This is like serenity in a bottle. The very long lasting dry down is like an anti-anxiety med. So pleasant, warm, soothing, and comforting. Very fitting name. Not tremendous evolution or note separation (vaguely spicy,sweet-fruit, powder, woody, warm amber, tobacco leaf), but the amalgam is like a reassuring hug from your mom/best friend.

Surprisingly pleasant scent from Jil Sander!

I recently purchased a set including the full-sized EdT splash and a full-sized deodorant lotion. Lavender, aniseed, oakmoss and tonka are quite evident here, resulting in a sensuous fragrance that is a truly unique experience. Every time I apply several dabs from either bottle, I fall in LOVE with the ambery, warm, and tastefully sweet character of Feeling Man.

It is a sweet-woody-fruity-aromatic, with dominant tobacco and raspberry notes. Considering all the elements that went into it, Feeling Man smells very simple and solid, evoking feelings of relaxation and confidence.

Now discontinued, there are a suprising number of the bigger bottles floating around online going for various prices, as well as the mini-sized bottles. Enjoy this jewel while you can!

This is a cousin to Joop Homme. Where Joop is cocaine, Feeling Man is coca leaves.

My reading of Feeling Man is that it was a sort of prototype for Jil Sander Background. A potent mix of fruity notes and woody / ambery elements assembled around a classic oriental-fougerey bone structure. Sweet, potent and at traces overwhelming. Given when it was originally released, I think it was quite creative and while I respect both Jil Sander as a line and Feeling Man for what it represents, this gets just a *like*. No love.

A Dark Fruity Sensation with a Fougère EndThe top note is iconic: Lavender freshness with dark prunes, berries and a raisinous syrupy thickness form a beautiful aroma. The lavender has some sharpness, not very much but sufficient to provide an ideal balance. In the drydown dark wood is followed by a wet pipe-tobacco note - another intriguing phase that lasts well into the fifth hour. Later these notes gradually fade and the lavender remains mixed with classic moss notes, which are very gradually fading out in a more traditional fashion. Projection and silage are good, and on my skin the longevity is phenomenal: thirteen hours. I wore this enthusiatically in the years after it was released, and after a long break it is still a masterpiece. One of Sander's supreme fragrances.Pros: LongevityCons:

A top that smells like Escada's Casual Friday, a middle that reminds me of Gucci's Nobile, and a base similar to Claiborne for Men - Feeling Man is such a cool fragrance. It has so much going on but it's not at all unfocused - it's just really interesting. I like Tanto's assessment of this. For anyone out there looking to graduate from Burberry London, or if you are curious to try something that is green, woody, AND sweet, this is the one.

This stuff certainly persists : 12 hours later and unlike most that I have, still going strong enough that I expect to smell it in the morning.

Fairly massive projection in the case of the sample I got, so take it easy to begin with when it comes to experiments with application.

Mini's of this green juice seem still fairly common on e-bay for reasonable prices, even at this late date, so if you're going to go retro, get it while you can.

Although I haven 't had the chance to wear this for almost 2 decades the scent remains unforgettable. Since Calvin Klein's Contradiction is similar and maybe even sort of a copy of this I would agree this sexy fragrance should make a come back, there are too many on the market that leave no impression at all.

This used to be one of my signature fragrances in the 1990s (when it was simply called 'Man'), and it's still my all time favourite male scent alongside Tsar. This teutonic masterpiece had a dense fruity & spicy smell, like ripe plums and mulled wine, with a warm base of moist pipe tobacco, amber, patchouli and leather making it utterly masculine and best suited for evening or winter wear IMO. I also thought the smell was a touch synthetic, that I liked to think gave it an inspired modern interpretation of a traditional masculine powerhouse e.g. a Quorum. I thought a fragrance like this was too good & stylish to use every day, and so kept it for special occasions only - when it always garnered compliments. The highest compliment I can give is that I'd take this hands down over any current classic in the genre like Joop! Jump, or even the great Azzaro Pour Homme. Great minimalistic bottle design too (keeping to Jil Sander's design ethos) and startlingly deep purple colour of the liquid. Nirvana. Who the @%£* decided to discontinue this?!

Just a quick note on some of the threads I've noticed below: As I've strongly hinted in my review already, Jil Sander "Feeling Man" used to be called Jil Sander "Man" for a while after it first came out. I know, because I've had several bottles of both and can tell you that I noticed absolutely no difference in their smell, silage, longevity, scent colour, (a greenish purple), bottle design, or packaging (red box). The only difference between them was in their names and the script used: "Man" was in bold block capitals, and Feeling Man in title case italics. BTW, I wasn't too happy with the unexpected name change as "Feeling Man" still sounds a bit sissyish to me.

extremely tenacious, thick, smoked berries and plum accords in it's openign to mids.., which means, even though the opening accord is fruity, it still has this smoked accords to it..as if it were rubbed by charcoal.... YUMMMMY !! fruity accords soften up and adds a bit of grit provided by dried tobacco leaves. the stark contrast of berries and tobacco is pure delight. accords turn pretty vanillic ambery here after and stays linear. classy, suave and sexy. wear it for casual evenings out or parties. no wonder this is highly sought after. the quality of ingredients are top class too.

Since it was my original quest to find this discontinued fragrance that led me to BN, it is only fitting that I write my very first review about it. FM is a sweet floral(lavender, raspberry & plum) perfectly paired with a warm tobacco base. The scent is intoxicating and has brought many many compliments from women every time I wear it. The lavender is sharper in the opening, but becomes milder as it drys down, perfectly balancing the sweet fruit and tobacco notes. FM's silage is somewhat restrained but perfect IMO, because it's personality isn't the type to scream for attention. Whoever is within arms reach will reach to be in your arms! The longevity is great, as it will last all day. This fragrance ranks among my top 5. I'm clinging to my last few minis that were purchased on Ebay...wish they'd bring it back.

This a great scent. I purchased it at Bloomingdale's in Dec '92. I really enjoyed wearing it. It's a mixture of cotton candy and tobacco. It was very avante garde for that time. I would definitely buy it again but I can't find it anywhere.

Sweet fruits and tobacco. Quite nice and I wish my sample had a little more to go on.

I used to own this, and I would buy it again if only I could find it. The fragrance was great! The bottle design never really fit the fragrance and was bit on the cheap side.

One of my all time favorites. Cotton Candy and Tobacco. Very masculine.

Every few months, the forum will have a "Bring it back!" thread about discontinued fragrances. After Patou PH, Feeling Man is usually right up there in terms of requests. Given that kind of publicity and the generally favorable comments, more than once I've had my finger poised on an auction to buy bottles ranging anywhere from $75-150. Luckily, I refrained and spent my money elsewhere.Receiving a decant of it from a fellow Bnoter, I can see why members enjoy it. It's a nice scent overall. BUT, it is by no means a brilliant scent, nor is it one to search the earth or pay a high price for. It feels very much like a late 1980's designer scent; in the same universe as Antaeus, Baie de Genievre, or even Quorum (for a lower priced alternative). Actually, given the choice between Feeling Man and Antaeus, I'd take Antaeus. FM is interesting, yes (and considerably better than the bland JS offerings still in production), but it does feel a little dated and hardly worth the high cost a discontinued bottle will cost. Spending close to $100 for a bottle, given all the other options out there, would seem like a waste. While we like to lament some discontinued fragrances and chide the "suits" who make those decisions, sometimes these things happen for a reason. The search for the long lost Holy Grail continues...

It's that lavender / bergamot / herb beginning that I didn't really care for in several of the fragrances I've encountered. It's not that this accord is terrible–it isn't–it's just that, for some reason, this combination of smells “plastic” and artificial to me. I think I would like it if the lavender was a little sharper and not so creamy, and I've never been a big fan of tarragon, either. The heart notes are very well done–green and light floral and sweet, fruity raspberry; it doesn't project much, and it is just such a pleasant, balanced aroma. At this point and beyond, the fragrance is a casual, relaxing, comfort fragrance. The base is restrained, earthy, warm, and suave. I, also, find a smooth, moist tobacco note in the base, adding a little laid-back sultriness to the over all feel. Feeling Man doesn't throw an awful lot of sillage and it has good longevity on my skin; it performs as excellently and naturally as I have come to expect of Jil Sander's fragrances. Even with the somewhat disagreeable opening, I think this is definitely a thumbs' up EDT.

Bought a bottle around 2001. I scratched and sniffed the scent on some magazine and I knew I had to get it. Didnt like the top notes though and was teased by friends of it's too strong perfume-y scent. But as it wore off, it became a little less warmer like 4pm sunshine.

Unusual Sander juice that for some reason reminds me strongly of my familys country-house on the coast. It is hard to cathegorize but I'd say Feeling is a sweet aquatic with a moist, earthy base. Original and cool, like the others pointed out extremely hard to find unfortunately.

Was able to get ahold of a bottle of the after shave on Ebay. It's good stuff. The original cologne guy said it was similar to Perry Ellis 360 and he wasn't entirely off the mark. It seems to have a slight aquatic, citrus sweetness over top of the tobacco. It's a shame it was discontinued. The packaging is cool too. The basic red box and square bottle with the slits cut into the side is very contemporary looking. A winner.

It's one of the best fragrances(among the 5 best) in my opinion. Sweet,tobacco notes.It's not like others that have an exasperating smell to vanilla.

I completely agree with Trivletj 2002/07/02!!! This is ECACTLY the same reaction that I had to this great scent. The only problem is, that it's very hard to locate. But if you can find it...try it. It's a winner!!!