Reviews of Jockey Club by Caswell-Massey
Sampling Caswell-Massey Jockey Club EDP, a fresh spicy men’s scent from this now-revived classic American house, with a simple note breakdown of bergamot, honeyed rose, basil, and orris root. I certainly get the rose, along with a greenish woody powdery background, and it has a bit of an oriental-meets-chypre vibe to it, a less-woody-and-spicy-than-usual men’s offering from this house that makes up with some headiness and sharpness coming from rose and orris. Its opening is fairly bright but it dries down to being a bit more midway between bright and dark.
I think it’s great, even if not quite as compelling as Number Six or Oaire, my two favorites so far, but I still quite like in a sort of heady, old-fashioned way that’s high-performing, interesting, and one I would consider buying a travel size of to consider further. Still, it’s probably my third favorite of the line and very strong, overall.
As with most of the house’s EDP lineup, this is pried at $200/40 for 100/7.5ml, sold seemingly exclusively via the house website. There is also a Jockey Club Cologne, but this is rather the EDP.
8 out of 10
I think it’s great, even if not quite as compelling as Number Six or Oaire, my two favorites so far, but I still quite like in a sort of heady, old-fashioned way that’s high-performing, interesting, and one I would consider buying a travel size of to consider further. Still, it’s probably my third favorite of the line and very strong, overall.
As with most of the house’s EDP lineup, this is pried at $200/40 for 100/7.5ml, sold seemingly exclusively via the house website. There is also a Jockey Club Cologne, but this is rather the EDP.
8 out of 10
According to legend/PR, Caswell-Massey introduced its Jockey Club in 1840. Maybe, maybe not. I can find no reference to the original English version prior to 1850. (The “Jockey Club” in question is that of Epsom Downs, Surrey, and 1850 was the club’s centennial.) But, I have little doubt that the 1840 date is only off by perhaps 2–3 decades, as both the English and a competing French formulation were well established (and published) by the 1860s, and Jockey Club was popular enough as a generic in the US to be read into the congressional record of 1882 in a debate of tax policy.
That original English formulation called for orris, rose, cassie, tuberose, ambergris, and bergamot, while the French eschewed orris, ambergris, bergamot, and cassie in favor of jasmine and civet. Either way, that’s rather different from the mixed white florals, sandalwood, and musk in the BN pyramid—which in turn hardly accounts for the “350 different aromatics” claimed by C-M president Ralph Taylor in 1959.
None of that matters with regard to wearing the stuff, of course. The dark green juice in my mid-20th century bottle is stylistically archaic now, whenever and however it was formulated. But damn if it doesn’t smell good: a velvety, soapy, mossy bouquet that suggests a 19th century barbershop even if it would’ve been anachronistic then.
So, it’s REALLY old man smell. And I’m cool with that.
That original English formulation called for orris, rose, cassie, tuberose, ambergris, and bergamot, while the French eschewed orris, ambergris, bergamot, and cassie in favor of jasmine and civet. Either way, that’s rather different from the mixed white florals, sandalwood, and musk in the BN pyramid—which in turn hardly accounts for the “350 different aromatics” claimed by C-M president Ralph Taylor in 1959.
None of that matters with regard to wearing the stuff, of course. The dark green juice in my mid-20th century bottle is stylistically archaic now, whenever and however it was formulated. But damn if it doesn’t smell good: a velvety, soapy, mossy bouquet that suggests a 19th century barbershop even if it would’ve been anachronistic then.
So, it’s REALLY old man smell. And I’m cool with that.
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A review of the Heritage re-issue:
The opening combines a floral set - jasmine, geranium, carnation - with a citrus dyad - lime and bargamot, with the latter two brightening and freshening up the top note experience. Lovely.
The drydown adds a sweeter component, which is owed to an ylang-ylang impression; it has a smooth and somewhat creamy touch but lacks strong intensity and richness. This makes it not as dominant as it could be, which results in it fitting in well with the rest as a team player.
Later on, and ambery ambrox-laden notes develops, which, later on, morphs into a restrained sandalwood effect that is contrasted it's an undertone of white musks. After the the development has run its course for about four hours or so, a soapiness develops slowly that remains the hallmark of this composition until the end. This soapy note gas a bit of a barbershop character, but with a distinctly green tinge and a herbal undertone.
I get moderate sillage, very good projection, and an astounding longevity of twelve hours on my skin.
This reformulation keeps sone of the original feats, but is streamlined and veering towards the less deep and less textured side. Nonetheless, this version of the old classic - reportedly a favourite of John F Kennedy - is still attractive with a superb longevity. 3.25/5
The opening combines a floral set - jasmine, geranium, carnation - with a citrus dyad - lime and bargamot, with the latter two brightening and freshening up the top note experience. Lovely.
The drydown adds a sweeter component, which is owed to an ylang-ylang impression; it has a smooth and somewhat creamy touch but lacks strong intensity and richness. This makes it not as dominant as it could be, which results in it fitting in well with the rest as a team player.
Later on, and ambery ambrox-laden notes develops, which, later on, morphs into a restrained sandalwood effect that is contrasted it's an undertone of white musks. After the the development has run its course for about four hours or so, a soapiness develops slowly that remains the hallmark of this composition until the end. This soapy note gas a bit of a barbershop character, but with a distinctly green tinge and a herbal undertone.
I get moderate sillage, very good projection, and an astounding longevity of twelve hours on my skin.
This reformulation keeps sone of the original feats, but is streamlined and veering towards the less deep and less textured side. Nonetheless, this version of the old classic - reportedly a favourite of John F Kennedy - is still attractive with a superb longevity. 3.25/5
Interesting and old-world smelling. When I smell JC I think of the old library at Trinity College...monocles, moustaches and art deco fashion. I like this fragrance. It is best for special occasions like weddings, anniversaries or a trip to the races. The bottle, label and packaging are superb.
Jockey Club by Caswell-Massey (1840) was the first scent not created by founder William Hunter to be introduced by the venerable Caswell-Massey, after the Hunter family sold the business to new owners Roland Hazard and John Rose Caswell. It changed names from Dr. Hunter's Dispensary to Hazard and Caswell when this scent was launched, then Caswell-Hazard upon Mr. Hazard's death, and finally Caswell-Massey in 1876 when one William Massey joined John Caswell in ownership. During this tumultuous period of renaming and reorganization, the emphasis also shifted from the original Newport, Rhode Island shop of the late William Hunter to shops in New York City, where popularity for this scent flourished among the growing upper-middle class of the American industrial age. Jockey Club differs a lot from many other cologne-style fragrances that men used in the 18th and 19th centuries, acting like something of a bridge between classic floral perfumery and the late 19th century/early 20th century barbershop scents that would be the new male standard upon arrival. It's not a fougère, but Jockey Club is very similar to the composition of one because it does contain some tonka; however this raw note isn't comparable to the pure extracted chemical coumarin used in proper fougères, and acts only as part of the fixative. The real stars of the show here are the florals, talc notes, and musk. The term "Jockey Club" itself was not unique to Caswell-Massey, as much like "Musk", "Sport", "Black", or "Intense" are used to describe a type of smell, so was the term "Jockey Club" used to denote a sporty, bracing, male-friendly fragrance in those days. The scent itself was patterened after the prize bouquet awarded to winning jockeys after a horse race, and "Jockey Club" itself synonymous with the upper-class sporting gentleman's lodges of the day.
Caswell-Massey's take on the "Jockey Club" trope was the only one I know of that survived through post-WWII and until the modern day, since most such floral powder bombs had been deemed obsolete by the perfection of perfume chemistry and the fresh fougères or aromatic chypres that men started to prefer, as they were more succinctly masculine. Some more-recent selections like Swank's Royal Copenhagen (1970) would recall this kind of florals-meet-talc feeling, but not quite to this extreme. The smell of heliotrope-heavy powder had been relegated to baby products and bath talc used by old folks by the time fougères began appearing en masse, but somehow this endured when others had perished. In much in the same manner as Penhaligon's Hammam Bouquet (1872) with it's very antiquated rose-heavy construction, this remained a dinosaur walking among us. Jockey Club honestly smells more dated than the even older Caswell-Massey Number Six (1789), but I feel that has more to do with the basic elements in this not carrying over into modern perfumery for men like those in Number Six, which has notes like lemon, pine, and neroli that are still very much in use for men. Jockey Club contrary-wise is quite the period piece with it's heavy use of florals such as iris and ylang-ylang juxtaposed with lilac, heliotrope, carnation, and that heavy talc note. Lime and bergamot opens this but stays most fleeting and is soon replaced by all those delicate flowers that fill the scent's heart, which is then balanced and made masculine with the musk, tonka, and slight sandalwood. There isn't much to really describe beyond that, as this is definitely within the realms of the Victorian-era dandy; but considering it's from pre-Civil War America, I think the closest you'll get to that is the southern gendarme or various mason societies of the north, back when mutton chops were acceptable grooming for men.
Jockey Club is still nonetheless charming for what it is: a fragrance meant to deliver the bracing feeling of being at the horse races, but gentle enough to take a lady out to a dance later that evening at the ball. Purportedly it was the preferred scent of President John F Kennedy (who also liked Number Six as well but to a lesser extent), and made this his signature at functions. Jockey Club had already tipped over the 100 year mark by this time and had much more efficient creations to compete against, so I wonder if JFK liked it simply because of its antiquity? Regardless, if dry flowers, talc, and musk are your thing, then this has you written all over it. If other Jockey Club scents smelled similar in style then I can see why most of them didn't make it, and while I give this my approval, I do so more on originality and quality than being wearable in a modern context. Despite what the packaging says, this one is to be worn only because you want to, as I can't see how something this florid and powdery would ever be acceptable to anyone in any context outside a perfume collector, unless you're at a period reenactment. I enjoy smelling like the past, which is a subjective statement in and of itself, but even I wouldn't take this to work or to the mall with friends. This one's evocation of frocks and waxed mustaches are better left to lazy Sundays where only my roommates have to tolerate my fragrance of choice. I recommend you make the purchase of this similarly personal, or for the sake of history, because you're going to get stares if you take it around outside. As an aside, this was briefly discontinued when Caswell-Massey launched "Heritage" reworkings of all their still-produced men's classics, with alleged superior-quality ingredients. These really ended up being modernization and many fans took offense to that, so Caswell-Massey quickly returned the original "gold cap" versions to production. Thumbs up
Caswell-Massey's take on the "Jockey Club" trope was the only one I know of that survived through post-WWII and until the modern day, since most such floral powder bombs had been deemed obsolete by the perfection of perfume chemistry and the fresh fougères or aromatic chypres that men started to prefer, as they were more succinctly masculine. Some more-recent selections like Swank's Royal Copenhagen (1970) would recall this kind of florals-meet-talc feeling, but not quite to this extreme. The smell of heliotrope-heavy powder had been relegated to baby products and bath talc used by old folks by the time fougères began appearing en masse, but somehow this endured when others had perished. In much in the same manner as Penhaligon's Hammam Bouquet (1872) with it's very antiquated rose-heavy construction, this remained a dinosaur walking among us. Jockey Club honestly smells more dated than the even older Caswell-Massey Number Six (1789), but I feel that has more to do with the basic elements in this not carrying over into modern perfumery for men like those in Number Six, which has notes like lemon, pine, and neroli that are still very much in use for men. Jockey Club contrary-wise is quite the period piece with it's heavy use of florals such as iris and ylang-ylang juxtaposed with lilac, heliotrope, carnation, and that heavy talc note. Lime and bergamot opens this but stays most fleeting and is soon replaced by all those delicate flowers that fill the scent's heart, which is then balanced and made masculine with the musk, tonka, and slight sandalwood. There isn't much to really describe beyond that, as this is definitely within the realms of the Victorian-era dandy; but considering it's from pre-Civil War America, I think the closest you'll get to that is the southern gendarme or various mason societies of the north, back when mutton chops were acceptable grooming for men.
Jockey Club is still nonetheless charming for what it is: a fragrance meant to deliver the bracing feeling of being at the horse races, but gentle enough to take a lady out to a dance later that evening at the ball. Purportedly it was the preferred scent of President John F Kennedy (who also liked Number Six as well but to a lesser extent), and made this his signature at functions. Jockey Club had already tipped over the 100 year mark by this time and had much more efficient creations to compete against, so I wonder if JFK liked it simply because of its antiquity? Regardless, if dry flowers, talc, and musk are your thing, then this has you written all over it. If other Jockey Club scents smelled similar in style then I can see why most of them didn't make it, and while I give this my approval, I do so more on originality and quality than being wearable in a modern context. Despite what the packaging says, this one is to be worn only because you want to, as I can't see how something this florid and powdery would ever be acceptable to anyone in any context outside a perfume collector, unless you're at a period reenactment. I enjoy smelling like the past, which is a subjective statement in and of itself, but even I wouldn't take this to work or to the mall with friends. This one's evocation of frocks and waxed mustaches are better left to lazy Sundays where only my roommates have to tolerate my fragrance of choice. I recommend you make the purchase of this similarly personal, or for the sake of history, because you're going to get stares if you take it around outside. As an aside, this was briefly discontinued when Caswell-Massey launched "Heritage" reworkings of all their still-produced men's classics, with alleged superior-quality ingredients. These really ended up being modernization and many fans took offense to that, so Caswell-Massey quickly returned the original "gold cap" versions to production. Thumbs up
This is another barbershop classic in the Canoe and Clubman mold, closer to the former in its talcum meets vanilla aura.
Although every scent company from the 1820s on had its own "Jockey Club," the only one that, to my knowledge, survived into post WWII society was CM's. I used to have a list of all the florals that were in it, over two dozen as I recall.
It is both floral and wistful, the herbal bouquet giving the flowers an autumnal shade of "almost gone by," similar to smelling a dry floral potpourri. At the same time its citrus ingredients (lime, bergamot, verbena) gave it a crispness.
One of the most sophisticated men's scents ever created. I haven't smelled it in over a decade so don't know if current bottles have been reformulated, but in its time it was one of the best and has always been one of CM's very best sellers.
Very worth trying.
First Edit: Beware of the recent "Heritage" re-formulation. It has nothing to do with the original. Rather an oud/herbal melange. And avoid later re-issues of the cologne, which is watered down more and more through the years. Do not buy clear or amber liquids. Buy only Jockey Club with a green/blue color as that is the true rich vintage formula.
It is both floral and wistful, the herbal bouquet giving the flowers an autumnal shade of "almost gone by," similar to smelling a dry floral potpourri. At the same time its citrus ingredients (lime, bergamot, verbena) gave it a crispness.
One of the most sophisticated men's scents ever created. I haven't smelled it in over a decade so don't know if current bottles have been reformulated, but in its time it was one of the best and has always been one of CM's very best sellers.
Very worth trying.
First Edit: Beware of the recent "Heritage" re-formulation. It has nothing to do with the original. Rather an oud/herbal melange. And avoid later re-issues of the cologne, which is watered down more and more through the years. Do not buy clear or amber liquids. Buy only Jockey Club with a green/blue color as that is the true rich vintage formula.
I tried all the CW colognes, but this was the only one that worked well on me.
It seems I am enamored of old-fashioned barber-shop scents. In that line, this is one of the most venerable, and, unlike my dear Pinaud scents, still made by the same company with the same formula. At about $35 for 3oz, it's perceptibly well-made.
Because of the high quality, the rather floral smell suggests 19th century dandyism with (for modern noses) perhaps a touch of gender dysphoria. The ideal accompaniment to a ramble in St. James' Park with the Earl of Rochester.
Personally, this is the price range I am at ease with, and the quality I require for formal occasions. Long-lasting, well-perceptible without imposing itself, this after-shave is, though not astonishing, truly flawless.
It seems I am enamored of old-fashioned barber-shop scents. In that line, this is one of the most venerable, and, unlike my dear Pinaud scents, still made by the same company with the same formula. At about $35 for 3oz, it's perceptibly well-made.
Because of the high quality, the rather floral smell suggests 19th century dandyism with (for modern noses) perhaps a touch of gender dysphoria. The ideal accompaniment to a ramble in St. James' Park with the Earl of Rochester.
Personally, this is the price range I am at ease with, and the quality I require for formal occasions. Long-lasting, well-perceptible without imposing itself, this after-shave is, though not astonishing, truly flawless.
Another interesting old-fashioned scent from Caswell-Massey. Jockey Club goes on with a floral smell, a mix of rose and jasmine made a bit fusty by a shot of talcum powder. It ends up settling fairly quickly into a lilac smell. But it's not that modern lilac that shows up in aquatic florals - instead it's quite dirty, smelling of wood and, well, dirt. It's not unpleasant, and the dirty aspects, along with the barbershoppy powder, actually make it more masculine than you'd expect from an upfront floral. It eventually dries down to gold musk, that smell of old French soap that's simultaneously clean and animalic.
I think Jockey Club deserves a thumbs up, but if you're willing to try women's scents, there are much better powdery musky florals out there (Joy and No. 5 spring to mind as obvious benchmarks, distant relatives that don't smell much like Jockey Club but that fit the same basic bill).
I think Jockey Club deserves a thumbs up, but if you're willing to try women's scents, there are much better powdery musky florals out there (Joy and No. 5 spring to mind as obvious benchmarks, distant relatives that don't smell much like Jockey Club but that fit the same basic bill).
It might have been JFK favorite scent but JC CM is awful regardless.
The opening is so tart that fries my nostrils, the heart sucks big time and the base is a powdery mess. According to its notes, it is a perfume I should have loved, but I don't.
I like barbershop style perfumes, but this one IMO must have been the scent that Sweeny Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street, used.
Sillage and longevity are deficient, but that is a virtue on this mess.
The opening is so tart that fries my nostrils, the heart sucks big time and the base is a powdery mess. According to its notes, it is a perfume I should have loved, but I don't.
I like barbershop style perfumes, but this one IMO must have been the scent that Sweeny Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street, used.
Sillage and longevity are deficient, but that is a virtue on this mess.
Reputedly JFK's cologne. Jockey Club is like comfort food... it evokes fond memories that are probably disproportionate to its actual quality. Its talc smell is clean and fresh.
Here is a very powdery, very warm, extremely long lasting and powerful scent. Jockey Club is history in a bottle. This scent has a very textured history, from being worn and loved by politicians, actors and musicians to being used in Hoodoo ceremonies as a good luck, prosperity and gambling potion. Jockey Club is one that I hope never goes out of production. It's old school in the best sense of the term. If you want something fresh and modern, you have definitely come to the wrong place. This scent is so retro (1840) that it is almost avant-garde.
An unforgiving lilac and musk stinker, wafting from the depths of a "mature woman's boudoir".
Almost a thumbs up. This stuff is flawlessly barbershoppy and lasts pretty well. I don't know why they made the juice green though. I think it has less anise/licorice and more clove/cinnamon than some of the other old barbershop ones, or the neo-barbershoppy Rive Gauche...those notes are usually the dealbreakers for me in this genre. So it's a little less sweet, or maybe sweet in a less pungent way, than the others, and for me that means it's slighly more refreshing. There's some creamy orange peel in there which is a little different from the others as well. Still, it's inescapably old-fashioned so "old man scent" haters may want to beware, even though it's not one of the 70s-type that seem to be the biggest offenders. In the end, the orange peel becomes very prominent and it reminds me of Equipage more than anything else. I'd take Jockey Club over a lot of its kindred, but it's still a tad too much licorice for me to enjoy reguarly. I'm hoping to find an alternative from among the Trumpers line.
The definitive "barber shop" scent. Very dry and powdery and very green. Runs the gamut of light green to deep Polo-esque greens. Smells like a primo talc powder. I find that it lasts a long time, even after subjecting it to a smoky environment. Very old fashioned, in a good way. I don't wear it much, but I can't ever be without it. Classic, in every sense possible
Never before have I seen such a disparity between the published fragrance notes (copied below) and reality. Not that this a bad scent. I will join other reviewers in their positive comments on what is essentially a powdery old-timey barbershop post-shave refresher. Light florals with perhaps some citrus in the background are all I smell. A pleasant, clean smell that lasts an hour or so. Fragrance Note(s): Sparkling Citrus, Bergamot, Green Notes, Waterflowers, Sheer Woods, Amber, Patchouli, Soft Mousse
My initial impression of this cologne when I sprayed it was panic! Get it off of me! But once it dried down, I was extremely impressed. Others have mentioned "talcum powder" in reviews for Canoe, Clubman by Pinaud, and Lagerfeld Classic. THIS cologne really smells like talc, with the others paling in comparison. I absolutely love this frag and it's easy in my top 5. I have yet to smell anything similar to it (including the colognes/after shaves mentioned in the reviews on this page.
This is a scent that I always keep around even though it's not particularly complex or sexy. It's simply a nice green, powdery barber shop scent. If you don't consider "powdery" and "barber shop" insults, you'll love this scent. It's longevity and sillage on me is pretty good, too. If you're ready to move up from drug store fragrances but are not yet ready to spend mucho dinero on stuff that might offend your less educated co-workers, this might be a good choice for you, but even if you're an expert in this area, you still might like it. It's a bit like Lorenzo Villoresi's Musk if you stripped it of the rose and added a green note instead.
De-LISH! I love the powdery drydown of it -- very reminiscent of Lagerfeld Classic in its overall effect (if not its exact notes, granted). I wear this one all the time, both in formal and informal settings. (One of the few fragrances I know of that effortlessly crosses that line.)An earlier reviewer compared it (albeit a little unreasonably) to Dana's "Canoe"). Nothing wrong there -- "Canoe" is, in many ways, a less expensive and (IMHO) a less complex version of "Jockey Club."Good buy for the money all in all, but I don't recommend it if you dislike powdery scents.
I like it. It is a light, airy fragrance that doesn't last long, but still has a comfortable, inviting quality. It might be borderline barbershop, but I think my barber used to slap my ears with Jeris or something equally awful.
Sorry, but an utterly average scent to me. There seems to be something similar in nature between this scent and Newport (old). Nothing distinctive about either scent. Barbershop-like scent, but if I wanted barbershop, I would use Canoe instead.
Is this stuff really 164 years old?? Hard to believe, it's awesome!! It does remind me just a bit of the smell of grooming products in a barber shop. clean and sweet. I highly recommend it and look forward to trying Green Briar and number 6.
Bracing and clean. Fresh out of the barber shop. Wonderful. My favorite C-M next to Number Six