Reviews of Stetson Black by Stetson
Black hat, black leather.
Smoky wood and gasoline.
Fahrenheit Dark Light.
Smoky wood and gasoline.
Fahrenheit Dark Light.
Eh...it's okay. It's nice to have handy for casual days. It's Coty's version of a watered down Drakkar Noir in that the longevity is very short lived. Not my favorite but not my least favorite.
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Stetson Black by Coty (2005) is a strange and far-reaching masculine that tries to ape the style of many popular late 80's and 90's scents. I can gather that the target demographic Coty was trying to reach with this stuff was assumed to not particularly care about distinction or originality, but rather just the Stetson name as a brand they trusted. I can further surmise that these same potential buyers had probably never smelled any of the things this scent was attempting to emulate, let alone recognize their piecemeal addition to the Voltron-in-a-bottle that is this cologne. The entire "black" fragrance trope to begin with was pretty undefined, as all of the most notable scents within it were "darker" flankers to bigger and older marquee scents, and "darker" is defined rather subjectively in the realm of fragrance anyway. I can't hate this stuff, because my mother loves it so and won't stand without me having a bottle in my collection, so I'm more acquainted with it than I perhaps should be otherwise. I feel Coty was going mainly for a rarefied 80's breed of leather scents reliant on juicy top notes, floral hearts, and mossy leather bases. My first instinct was to call this a drugstore French Line (1984), but this is missing both the rose and the coconut of that obscure discontinued cult classic, and supplants them with woods and vetiver, even if it does somehow duplicate French Line's "cherry" ghost note, just in a drier format. I actually admit I like this more than I should, but it is if nothing else, somewhat unique in it's segment.
The smell opens with that aforementioned dry cherry ghost accord lifted from French Line. I know the official notes say otherwise, but the white pepper, basil, cypress, and nutmeg come across that way, so there must be something else here unlisted causing it. Maybe it's a combination of whatever aromachemicals are here, who knows? The primarily difference is the cherry impression is not as delightful, it's just a sour candy kind of cherry and not the rounded cordial cherry or cherry schnapps smell in the opening of French line that would have made this more of a gourmand scent. This dry and sour cherry is met with a heart of cedar, vetiver, and musk which all might as well just be Iso Super E to me because I can't tell them apart from each other. Moss, sandalwood, a suede leather note reminiscent of French Line once again, and a similar subtle patchouli all the way down in the base also help marry this to the 1980's, even if it's top and phantom middle are definitely more 90's. Therein lies the "dark" smokey base anchor this needed to fit it's description of a "black" flanker: the moss and suede notes. Stetson Black wears pretty fine for what it is, and overall smells like what one would get if Coty reformulated the much-better Preferred Stock (1990) to be a bit fruitier in tone and -even- sweeter than it already is, with a bunch more leather in the base to compensate. It sort of takes that same Preferred Stock route to the dry down too, going from soapy synthetics right up front (outside the ghost fruit), and ending in a haze of blended dry fixatives that make this the Walmart equivalent to a sensual skin scent. Again, not terrible, just not particularly original either, but certainly more unique than Johnny Q Aquatic or Mary Jane Ozone could ever muster.
If you always wanted a less-scary or more masculine Joop Homme (1989), this is a good surrogate, but you'll sacrifice a whole lot of quality for that more buttoned-down approach to a fruity floral blast. It's definitely close to being a chypre, but it's just missing too many chypre base prerequisites and too shrill for that classification. Stetson Black also works as a scent that's just meant to be pleasant, safe, and a bit more alluring than the citrus and fake sandalwood meat grinder that most commercial houses were still making us traverse even into the 2000's. The scent just can't be disliked, but neither is it really noteworthy outside it's plagiarism of obscure sources. It's a "black" flanker for a scent that really couldn't benefit from such a thing (Stetson original is furthest from anything that would impart edginess), and ultimately just becomes a cork board with a scattering of inspirations pinned to it. There's a bit of ozonic here, a bit of floral, maybe a touch of gourmand. Spicy cherry woods and musk in a black bottle. I can't really get past that initial impression. Take the best of the 80's underdogs and scan them through a 90's copy machine, and you end up with this. I guess if you really wanted to save that precious bottle of French Line (1984), you could get real good and drunk then douse yourself in this. You'd be too intoxicated to care that it's not. It's romantic if your idea of romantic is a dinner at TGI Friday's, and watching Miss Congeniality on Netflix afterward. Do yourself a favor and only wear it if somebody you care about likes it on you, which is my case. Good for being cheap, but not really all that good once you tasted better, just like TGI Fridays! Reluctant Thumbs Up
The smell opens with that aforementioned dry cherry ghost accord lifted from French Line. I know the official notes say otherwise, but the white pepper, basil, cypress, and nutmeg come across that way, so there must be something else here unlisted causing it. Maybe it's a combination of whatever aromachemicals are here, who knows? The primarily difference is the cherry impression is not as delightful, it's just a sour candy kind of cherry and not the rounded cordial cherry or cherry schnapps smell in the opening of French line that would have made this more of a gourmand scent. This dry and sour cherry is met with a heart of cedar, vetiver, and musk which all might as well just be Iso Super E to me because I can't tell them apart from each other. Moss, sandalwood, a suede leather note reminiscent of French Line once again, and a similar subtle patchouli all the way down in the base also help marry this to the 1980's, even if it's top and phantom middle are definitely more 90's. Therein lies the "dark" smokey base anchor this needed to fit it's description of a "black" flanker: the moss and suede notes. Stetson Black wears pretty fine for what it is, and overall smells like what one would get if Coty reformulated the much-better Preferred Stock (1990) to be a bit fruitier in tone and -even- sweeter than it already is, with a bunch more leather in the base to compensate. It sort of takes that same Preferred Stock route to the dry down too, going from soapy synthetics right up front (outside the ghost fruit), and ending in a haze of blended dry fixatives that make this the Walmart equivalent to a sensual skin scent. Again, not terrible, just not particularly original either, but certainly more unique than Johnny Q Aquatic or Mary Jane Ozone could ever muster.
If you always wanted a less-scary or more masculine Joop Homme (1989), this is a good surrogate, but you'll sacrifice a whole lot of quality for that more buttoned-down approach to a fruity floral blast. It's definitely close to being a chypre, but it's just missing too many chypre base prerequisites and too shrill for that classification. Stetson Black also works as a scent that's just meant to be pleasant, safe, and a bit more alluring than the citrus and fake sandalwood meat grinder that most commercial houses were still making us traverse even into the 2000's. The scent just can't be disliked, but neither is it really noteworthy outside it's plagiarism of obscure sources. It's a "black" flanker for a scent that really couldn't benefit from such a thing (Stetson original is furthest from anything that would impart edginess), and ultimately just becomes a cork board with a scattering of inspirations pinned to it. There's a bit of ozonic here, a bit of floral, maybe a touch of gourmand. Spicy cherry woods and musk in a black bottle. I can't really get past that initial impression. Take the best of the 80's underdogs and scan them through a 90's copy machine, and you end up with this. I guess if you really wanted to save that precious bottle of French Line (1984), you could get real good and drunk then douse yourself in this. You'd be too intoxicated to care that it's not. It's romantic if your idea of romantic is a dinner at TGI Friday's, and watching Miss Congeniality on Netflix afterward. Do yourself a favor and only wear it if somebody you care about likes it on you, which is my case. Good for being cheap, but not really all that good once you tasted better, just like TGI Fridays! Reluctant Thumbs Up
Not an essential purchase by any stretch, Stetson Black´s staying power is very limited, a maximum of 3 hours shelf life if you´re lucky. The somewhat synthetic leather and suede blanket the aroma the whole stretch, with a tint of berry-grape that manages to tone down things a bit and certainly can charm but all too quickly seems to fade after the first 20 minutes.
A nice, affordable alternative to the overpriced Polo and Kenneth Cole Blacks, Stetson certainly hits on the masculine element of what black should embody with this one. Sure, the scent is one-dimensional, a bit sweet, and guilty of using cheaper ingredients, but for a cheap drugstore fragrance this is a decent find and worth throwing into the rotation if not to keep things interesting.
Agree with Jenson from India, the aftershave is far more wearable. Works well as a splash on more than a feature scent. Stetson deserves credit for bringing the dark and black back into black.
Overall 6.25 (Scent 7.75/Longevity 3.0/Sillage 7.0/Originality-Intangibles 6.5/Value 7.0)
A nice, affordable alternative to the overpriced Polo and Kenneth Cole Blacks, Stetson certainly hits on the masculine element of what black should embody with this one. Sure, the scent is one-dimensional, a bit sweet, and guilty of using cheaper ingredients, but for a cheap drugstore fragrance this is a decent find and worth throwing into the rotation if not to keep things interesting.
Agree with Jenson from India, the aftershave is far more wearable. Works well as a splash on more than a feature scent. Stetson deserves credit for bringing the dark and black back into black.
Overall 6.25 (Scent 7.75/Longevity 3.0/Sillage 7.0/Originality-Intangibles 6.5/Value 7.0)
Highly synthetic, cloying, harsh and sweet.
Up front this smells very sweet. None of the listed top notes come to mind. It smells sweet and grape like.
I can notice a tad of the cedarwood and musk it the middle mixed with a harsh synthetic leather note.
The end has a sweet leather note, a touch of sandalwood and something I can't place but smells vaguely like glue.
IMHO this is a disaster that earns a neutral only because it isn't offensive despite its poor blending. Nothing about it smells good. It is like a cheap imitation of Gravity with worse linearity. About all it has going for it is it is not offensive smelling, and smells like some sort of cleaner. Something clean would probably be associated with good to most people.
The biggest drawbacks are it isn't cheap and it is terribly weak. Don't expect to get by on a spray or two for an 8 hour workday. It disappears in no time. Expect to go for about 6 sprays to make it last. This does nothing for it, it doesn't make it the drydown more apparent. It just makes it last longer. You get the same, sweet grape, fake leather and cheap woods. It is like an inferior imitation of Gravity. It isn't cheap. Regular Stetson, All American Stetson and the like all offer longevity for the price. Like Gravity this stuff doesn't last and it is just not as smooth. If you wanted a sweet budget scent that at least smelled acceptable go get something like Elizabeth Taylor's Passion for Men. Don't waste your time with this stuff.
Update... I finally placed what this smells like. Ever smell that copy paper, or carbon paper that has that weird sweet scent to it? That is exactly what this stuff smells like when it immediately hits your nostrils.
Up front this smells very sweet. None of the listed top notes come to mind. It smells sweet and grape like.
I can notice a tad of the cedarwood and musk it the middle mixed with a harsh synthetic leather note.
The end has a sweet leather note, a touch of sandalwood and something I can't place but smells vaguely like glue.
IMHO this is a disaster that earns a neutral only because it isn't offensive despite its poor blending. Nothing about it smells good. It is like a cheap imitation of Gravity with worse linearity. About all it has going for it is it is not offensive smelling, and smells like some sort of cleaner. Something clean would probably be associated with good to most people.
The biggest drawbacks are it isn't cheap and it is terribly weak. Don't expect to get by on a spray or two for an 8 hour workday. It disappears in no time. Expect to go for about 6 sprays to make it last. This does nothing for it, it doesn't make it the drydown more apparent. It just makes it last longer. You get the same, sweet grape, fake leather and cheap woods. It is like an inferior imitation of Gravity. It isn't cheap. Regular Stetson, All American Stetson and the like all offer longevity for the price. Like Gravity this stuff doesn't last and it is just not as smooth. If you wanted a sweet budget scent that at least smelled acceptable go get something like Elizabeth Taylor's Passion for Men. Don't waste your time with this stuff.
Update... I finally placed what this smells like. Ever smell that copy paper, or carbon paper that has that weird sweet scent to it? That is exactly what this stuff smells like when it immediately hits your nostrils.
While it's not bad, it didn't really leave me with a GREAT impression. For the price, its a good smell. Minimal lasting power. If you're looking for a slightly better "black" cologne for not much more cash, go for Corvette black.
I think this stuff is strange. It's a conglomorate of other popular colognes. Like Gucci II pH, Fahrenheit, even some traces of Le Male. Really weird I was very briefly and vaguely reminded of these. Odd spices on top and could be "violet leaf" instead of what's listed here. Weird leather drydown, almost fruity and brash. Like Kiton Black which is smoother. I't s OK, I don't hate it but I'm quite confused by the fragrance's execution on my skin.
Incredibly dark, brooding & spicy scent with a leathery drydown. not bad at all. Especially considering the price. i found it's after shave to be much more refined and wearable. if you like dark scents like de la Renta Pour Lui, then this ones right up your alley.
I enjoy the classic Stetson, so I was looking forward to this one. Stetson Black is disappointing. It opens with an overused, basil heavy accord. I can't understand why the makers would use such an uninspired opening accord. The middle is not much of an improvement because it uses a rather inferior version of cedar and vetiver. The middle's liquid suede?… I don't know what the liquid aspect is… I don't think I smell it unless it is that slightly annoying note in the background that I've smelled since the opening. Stetson Black never gets any better for me… Its drydown comes across as mediocre at best. Okay, it's not a terrible fragrance and my objections are the same personal prejudices that I have against most leather scents, so, trying to be fair, I'm going with a neutral. Solid sillage, poor longevity…
Definately one of the few "black" variants running around that actually smells, well, dark. It's a bit heavy-handed, though, with a peircing, hard-edged leather smell that crowds out the lower notes. Some have called this one sweet, but I don't really detect any sweet notes.Overall, it smells like three or four types of leather, all soaked in cheap whisky, which, strangely enough, I rather like. Still, liking it and liking it enough to be wearing it aren't really the same. I've put some on my hat once (cowboy hat, go figure), and that's about it. Good on things, more than good on people - sort of like that fake "new car smell" dealerships spritz around used automobiles.Kind of a bizzare use for it, I suppose, but it works. Adds depth to whatever I actually have on my skin.
Not bad, not great but not bad. A tinge of fruit at the top notes then a cheap suede in the middle and end. Longevity is kind of weak though, I wore several bottles, never a compliment so never again. I like Sierra better.
My dad wears this so my mom bought me some for Christmas last year. I really don't like it that much. To me it smells like a drunk cowboy. The biggest reason being it smells like whiskey to me for some reason. I don't like how it tries to be rugged and then goes floral all of a sudden and then it just dissapears never to be heard of again. Its cheap in price and in value. I only recommend this if you can't find anything better and if not just get some good deodorant.
Stetson Black - a lot more refined than regular Stetson or any other brand discount fragrance. Not offensive in top notes (which are usually offensive in expensive forage EDTs). I was pleasantly surprised, did not buy it b/c the lasting power was as bad as all other EDC. Is it an EDC or EDT anyways? I agree w/ Allen-at-home, this fragrance is better than Kenneth Cole Black and actually has a sense of blackness or dignity to it. It is as if the higher priced brands want to make money, while this one just to make a good fragrance. Stay is EDC grade on me, unfortunately. And then if I overapply, I would be no better than the average jerk who overapplies a Stetson. Its people who may kill this fragrance, the fragrance is great.
This is a very one dimensional scent for me. It starts off sweet, too sweet, and then just disappears. It does not last long and just too sweet
Matthew McConaughey is a beautiful man. When I saw the ad for Stetson Black with him dressed in his 'all American cowboy' gear I just couldn't help but try this fragrance! Admittedly, the topnotes were a bit generic and cheap smelling, but they weren't around for more than a few minutes. The drydown, however, was suprisingly nice. Suede, yep, the smell of SUEDE - soft & sexy! The scent of a true frontiersman puttin' on his best...I will probably buy some of this for my husband!
The top notes smell like whild berries, while the base notes have a baby powder smell to them. Scent does not last to long on me, maybe an hour or two. Not a bad frag. I need to give it some more time though.
I have to admit it, the best damn compliment I ever received was from wearing Stetson Black! The beautiful woman was nearly doing cart wheels for this frag. She even bought some for her hubby for Christmas. I've worn many of the best from Creed GIT to several Guerlain scents... and while I love those scents a lot - It still amazes me how great Stetson Black smells especially for the low price. It smells nothing like the original Stetson. The King of the cheapies! It's fresh, clean with a bit of pepper and leather.
Smells eerily like Kenneth COle Signature to me, but for $5, pretty damn good.
When I tried "Stetson Black" at a local discount store, I didn't expect too much, being another Coty drugstore fragrance. From the bottle, it smells peppery, sensual, and mysterious... very nice! But the second it touched my skin, it smelled completely different. Too bad it's not the same on skin (at least, MY skin). I wish a better fragrance house would take these same notes and make it with better ingredients, I would certainly buy it.
I saw this at WalMart the other day and tried the tester. It seemed to have a deep leather and woods smell. I bought it ($9.59 for 0.75 oz) took it home and tried it on my skin. Not like the Stetson of old, which for me seems too sweet, this was not sweet at all. Stetson Black is a dark wood and leather scent. I would classify this as a casual fragrance. Supposed to have - "Warm Spices and Fresh Woods with notes of Leather and Suede". I was surprised, it has a pretty good smell for a drugstore fragrance.