Perfume Reviews by funhuntr

Emporio Armani He by Giorgio Armani

Interesting juice from Armani where the usual bright and sunny yuzu is mized with spices and sweet woods. This to me makes it somewhat tea-like and and somehow parallels itself to the sleek zen packaging.

Its discontinuation makes it even more appealing to the fragrance hunter. Grab what you can find.

The One Sport by Dolce & Gabbana

I usually give most fragrances a fair shake. I live in a country where most niche fragrances are not available and if they are; they are exorbitantly priced, so my wardrobe is mostly designer. All of my bottles are equal opportunity- whether its a Middle Eastern dupe or a Diptyque, as long as it smells good and has something about it.

This only smells good. Bordering on meh.
And there's absolutely nothing interesting about it.
It's a fragrance for those who don't give fragrance any kind of thought. An aquatic, just a tad heavier with a hint of sweet, not bright, zingy or zesty. Boring as f*

Why I have this in my 250 plus bottle collection is a mystery. I mustve gotten it dirt cheap. Or as a gift.

Beau Gosse by Fragonard

Safe citrus aquatic scent, a bit dark at the start (reminiscent of 90s frags, even reminds me a bit of old school Cool Water, has that heavy handed herby marine note in the beginning) but settles quite quickly to become a skin scent. Smells good but doesnt last long on me. Reluctant thumbs up.

Truth Calvin Klein Men by Calvin Klein

Truth is like a freshly cut stalk, dewy, sappy and green. Quite uplifting and vibrant, like the sun is out, weather is clear and you broke off a bunch of plants (not grass, something else) in a meadow.

Turns into a skin scent veryyyy quickly but I won't hold it against it, this is a Calvin Klein.

Come to think of it, its quite reminiscent of Calvin's clean aesthetic in the 90s.

Quasar by J del Pozo

It's supposed to be an aquatic but has a twist to it at initial sniff that you can't place exactly, because of the Acqua de Gios and the Kenzos that seemingly commercially represent and corner what an aquatic should be. It's sweet, but also slightly dark or heavy, like a fruit thats on the cusp of just getting ripe. Commercial aquatics are supposedly light or airy but Quasar after first application seems denser and darker than the usual. The color of the juice/bottle with its blue green hue certainly adds to the mystery. Love this fragrance, very interesting and not at lot of people wear it.

Breath of God by Gorilla Perfume [Lush]

Put your nose to a church pew.
Closer.
No, closer.
Breath of God.


One of my favorites, hands down.

Reaction by Kenneth Cole

It’s sharp, green and fresh but not in a watery way, more piquant and bright, though sometimes I’m confused if its turning sour or not

Aigner Man ² Evolution by Etienne Aigner

One of those fragrances that get produced just so bargain hunters can find something at discounters. Yes it smells good but why, how, what does it remind you of, does it spark joy, etc etc none of that. Plain and average.

Night pour Homme II Sport by Zara

An easy grab and wear. The lavender - cedar mix is prominent. Yes it smells like something else, as most Zaras are dupes for another. Holds on for a while inspite of the price.

Intimately Beckham Men by Beckham

This is a sweet, slightly boozy scent out of the bottle thats shows some promise at first spray. Hold that spray in memory as after 30mins you won't be able to smell it anymore. Performance is abysmal. Yes its a cheapie, but can't we at least hold a two-hour mark? It's like spraying fragrant water!

Mizyaan by Ajmal

This sweet smelling little gem is both smooth and potent, like a beast that purrs. Dab on the oil at strategic places and it'll last the whole day. I was getting whiffs of it from morning till night, with only mini mini dabs on my wrist, chest and undershirt. It was like a hug several times a day. Very surprised considering how little I put on, and I usually get anosmic very quickly. Try it. Unknown and underrated.

Green Tea Bamboo by Elizabeth Arden

Trying to place where the citrus is at top, the bamboo in this refreshing juice peeks right away from first spray. At tad bitter on top (probably the grapefruit), it's a great complement to the grassy tones. Very much like all the Green Tea fragrances of the brand, it's much too fleeting, although I only see it as a pick me up spritzer and don't mind reapplication during the day.

Dunhill Custom by Dunhill

Boozy, warm and sweet that's not overtly so. I get more of a candied or caramelly apple, but not so much of the black pepper (there's a hint of sharpness but just a smidge). A great choice for chill overcast days but works well also in the heat, just tame down on the sprays. Reminds me of Dirty English, which I also love. Classy bottle. Rather hard to come by I believe so I'm glad I added it to my 'drobe.

A*Men Pure Havane by Thierry Mugler

Pure Havane to me is a good fragrance, but not a great one. As much as I want to believe that there is tobacco in there, I prefer it smokier, duskier, like a humidor, a gentleman's scent. I don't smell that all with Havane, it might as well be called Pure Cherry. It does have the A*Men DNA, making it smell like a chocolate bonbon with a cherry filling (or with the way it develops, the other way around). Still a thumbs up, but a hesitant one.

Banana Republic Classic by Banana Republic

One wears Banana Republic Classic with no expectations to break new ground or to floor anyone with a unique scent. This is a great daily work horse for people who are not necessarily into fragrance. Wear it to the office, wear it to an interview, wear it to church, wear it with a white button down and jeans. It's sharp at the start, citrusy crisp, mellows out and becomes a skin scent soon enough. I appreciate it for what it is - easy and uncomplicated with just enough character to not be dull. Come to think of it, it's a great complement to their clothing.

White Citrus by Bath & Body Works

Tart and zesty, a great pick-me-up scent for hot days. A very easy wear.

Love and Luck for Men by Ed Hardy [Christian Audigier]

An easy wear & an even easier buy. The only thing thats off-putting is the garish art on the bottle, but I ain't knockin this frag off just because of that. Refreshingly sweet & bright, with a hint of sharpness. Great for a hot hot day like today, and a great pick-me-up scent or something to wear on a casual day. And take note, THESE are the type of scents women dig here in the tropics, not those thick syrupy concoctions many BNers hold so dear (of which I am guilty of owning several beyond-my-budget bottles of as well). Will always have this in rotation as long as it's around.

Claiborne for Men by Liz Claiborne

Throwback greeneryI don't smell the citrus in this at all, since I associate citrus with brighter, "happier" scents. This one evokes dark green forest smells, probably from the oakmoss. Herbal to my nose, rather dark. It does have some zing, a kind of sharpness, but not the Lemon Pledge type smell most people usually associate with citrus. Although to me the first hour or so is rather heavy and brooding, it does drop off rather rapidly and that's a good thing ... in tropical climes like here in Manila stronger scents are rather off-putting. Throw in a throwback scent like this and it's going to put quizzical looks on people around me. I like the drydown better than the top. Reviewing this w/o an unfair bias on how it's a cheapo and widely available -- where I'm at it's not and it's really hard to find...bought this blind based on readings I encountered here on BN and I'm pretty happy with it.

L'Essence de Cerruti by Cerruti

The best of what I like in a bottleLovely creamy leather scent that is still under the rader for a lot of BNers. It's a smooth and buttery leather, as opposed to jarring animalistic leathers which I have little experience with (and I don't think will have a place in my closet). Nice blend with the woods and amber - the drydown is soft like a warm hush. Gives a sophisticated air and a quiet confidence to the wearer, also to me it's very comforting. This short review doesn't give the fragrance any justice at all. I'm so happy with this purchase.

Eau de Rochas Homme by Rochas

Eau de Rochas Pour Homme first editionLuckily I got a Eau de Rochas Pour Homme (vintage? it's from '93! well, pre-formulation at least) on retail, which is sort of a miracle in itself, purchased it primarily because of the raves here on BN and citrus scents are a good fit for the tropics where I'm from. Sadly the hunt and the joy of purchase was a greater high than the frag itself. Citrus yes, but it's also rather bitter and green to me, heavier than I expected, and it does carry a note that makes it feel rather dated (it's from '93 but it feels older than that). Also, there's something in it that rather feels haunting and stale (and no, I don't think I got a bad bottle). It does get a few plus points from me for being distinctive. Will the "vintage" (still can't get over this tag) Eau de Rochas Pour Homme be able to exist in today's aquatic and gourmand-sickeningly sweet frag market? Definitely not. Still a good purchase, but for me, I'm feelin' it for the sake of owning it. For now. Hopefully my nose turns around and gains a better appreciation of it in time (it better, I only have a 50ml!)

Versus (new) by Versace

Fruity sweet but not too girly and not too screeching loud in the club scent sense. Projects well and lasts really long on me. The kumquat and star apple make this a bright day scent -- the initial way it smells holds off really well -- some might think it may be too linear -- rounds off softly way till the day ends. If I didnt have a strict rotation I'd be reaching for this much more than I do now. Two thumbs way up!

L'Eau Bleue d'Issey pour Homme by Issey Miyake

With all due respect to the previous reviewer, I don't agree that this is weak at all...after a raucous opening -- yes, bracing is very very apt -- it quiets down a bit but movement throughout the day brings those sharp sweet green herbal elements back. Wearing it today, and expectedly, I can still smell it under my shirt more than 12 hours later, which I definitely can't say for many of my other frags. If you're a sucker for topnotes, this packs a wallop (and yes, some people wont like it; it is indeed sharp) ... If you're a sucker for longevity, then this will stick around with you through the workday and then some. Great for hot sunny days or balmy afternoons ... Might be too sharp and metallic for fall or winter. Strangely, its chrome cap is rather representative to me what the juice is on the inside.

Essential Sport by Lacoste

Quite surprised with this one, as I normally don't have high hopes for Sport fragrances (BN - induced snobbery perhaps) with the exception of Lanvin L'Homme Sport.

Anyways, what struck me most about this is how resilient it was, it's sillage and longevity are above average, which is already a surprise coming from this house. Yes, it's kinda generic, yes, that fresh accord has been done before, but Essential Sport's freshness has a zing and a tenacity that's quite pleasant -- like a charming douchebag friend that exists in every clique.

Marc Jacobs for Men by Marc Jacobs

It takes an effort just to figure out what this is like, it smells hollow. It's pleasant enough overall, but at first spray I was like, "uhm...is it supposed to smell like this?". When it settled it was "this is it?" -- expected more for this frag, too bad.