It's a Sniffathon!

Today is Mr. Colombina’s birthday and to celebrate it I decided to have a Sniffathon of masculine scents. This is not so much a present for him, because let’s face it, the man couldn’t care less about perfume, as an excuse to inject some more testosterone in the blog’s bloodstream and to finally review the scents, which have been sitting on the To Write About list for ages. There is no rhyme or reason to this list, these are the samples I randomly accumulated in my perfume drawers; neither should you expect any serious note-by-note analysis. The “reviews” are basically brief impressions, knee-jerk reactions, “I like” or “I don’t like”. I will start with a “true American classic for the man who is ‘Always in Style’”, Gray Flannel be Geoffrey Beene. Impression: Unexpected! Violets, leaves, twigs. A subtler version of Violette Precieuse or Iris Bleu Gris. Elegantly understated, always appropriate. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes Would I wear it: Yes Score: 4 hearts Eau Sauvage by Christian Dior Impression: Another classic. Fresh and bracing without being in the least sharp, it has that trademark Dior animalic note in the drydown that I adore. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes Would I wear it: Yes Score: 4 hearts Red Delicious For Men by DKNY Impression: Not as bad as the women’s version. In fact, not too shabby at all. Candied, boozy, evocative of a very sweet wine, this is Le Dandy’s much less striking great-grandson. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes Would I wear it: Maybe Score: 3 hearts Imperial Jade - Emperor Men's by Agatha Impression: More candies. Too sweet, too much anise. I am very surprised that this is marketed as a men’s scent. It won’t be out of place on the shelf next to all the sugared and uninteresting girly concoctions out there. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Not really Would I wear it: No Score: 2 hearts Rocabar by Hermes Impression: Sweet, spicy, earthy, woody, you’d think, what more could she want? And yet, something is strangely lacking. It is an Almost But Not Quite scent. Not enough character for me. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes Would I wear it: Yes Score: 3 hearts Quimbaya Homme by Jean Pascal Impression: Fresh in a savory kind of way, slightly salty and peppery. Pleasant but not interesting. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes Would I wear it: Not really Score: 2,5 hearts Jean Pascal by Jean Pascal Impression: Very smoky, unnervingly so. It makes me uneasy, I am scared of fires. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: No, I’d constantly worry that something is burning Would I wear it: Ditto Score: 2,5 hearts Kenzo Air by Kenzo Impression: Very nice! Subtle, fresh but not sharp, totally unisex. A lovely vetiver scent. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes Would I wear it: Yes Score: 4 hearts M7 by Yves Saint Laurent Impression: Earthy patchouli and vetiver, some smoke, some spice…Sexy and cuddly. Not quite as striking as the lad in the ad, but still I wouldn’t kick it out of my perfume cabinet. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes Would I wear it: Yes Score: 4 hearts Bursch by Acqua di Biella Impression: The name makes me think of borscht and such is the power of suggestion that I can't help but find this scent to be gourmand in a savory way. It is very spicy, the pimento note is wonderful as is the vetiver. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes, he’d smell good enough to eat Would I wear it: Yes, although it makes me very hungry Score: 4 hearts Pour Homme by Azzaro Impression: This is what I rather primitively call That Typical Men’s Perfume. It is strong, almost too strong to be pleasant to be close to. Too Wall Street Macho for me. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: No Would I wear it: No Score: 2 hearts Declaration by Cartier Impression: Now we’re talkin’! Soft wood, piquancy of cardamom, freshness and warmness all in one…aaahh, bliss! Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes, I might even be persuaded to share it with him Would I wear it: Yes Score: 5 hearts Centaure by Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier Impression: The name, the spiciness, the most delicious smokiness, the woody-honeyed note! This is what Miel de Bois should have been like. Incredible. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes! Would I wear it: Yes! Score: 5 hearts Le Nomade by Parfums d’Orsay Impression: Whereas Le Dandy was the most expensive cognac, warm, rich and sweet, Le Nomade is “cold” and dry. This is James Bond’s vodka martini, spritzed, not dabbed. He would like it with Russian or Polish vodka. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Pum puh rum rum puh pum puh rum rum pah … I mean, yes! Would I wear it: Not sure, it's too much of a Bond, James Bond, not enough of a sassy Bond Girl Score: 4 hearts Hanae Mori for Men by Hanae Mori Impression: Dry version of Thierry Mugler Angel. Much more appealing and wearable then the toothachingly sweet women’s version. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes Would I wear it: I might! Score: 3 hearts Magnetism for Men by Escada Impression: Another case where the men’s version of a scent is much superior to its female counterpart. It is rather on the sweet side, tame, very politically correct, but overall quite cute. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes Would I wear it: I might! Score: 2,5 hearts Siberian Barber No. 1 by Novaya Zarya Impression: This is a Russian scent, inspired by the movie The Siberian Barber. “Our Answer to Angel For Men”, it is a bizarre little gourmand scent with strawberries, chocolate, cider and god knows what else. To quote the movie tagline, "He is Russian. That explains a lot". I find it strangely appealing. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes Would I wear it: Yes Score: 4 hearts Boise by Patyka Impression: As woody as it gets and more so then even I would like. (The sniggering ones, please, get your minds out of a gutter!) Very sharp, very forceful. The smell of a newly built wooden house. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: No Would I wear it: No Score: 2 hearts Oud Cuir d’Arabie by Montale Impression: Regal. Dark. Full of oomph and smoldering va va voom. Leather and oud, a union made in a 1001 Nights kind of heaven, unabridged version. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes, please! Would I wear it: Yes! Score: 5 hearts Embruns d'Essaouira by Montale Impression: When Montales are good, they are great (see above), when they are bad…they are like Embruns d'Essaouira. A jumble of unattractive, piercing notes, bland and too sharp at the same time. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: No Would I wear it: No Score: 2 hearts No 6 by Art of Perfumery Impression: I expected much more from this line and that includes No 6, but the latter is certainly the best of the bunch. Dark-ish, piney, balsamic, smoky-salty-leathery. Something is missing, but the scent is still quite nice. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes Would I wear it: Yes Score: 3 hearts Basala by Shiseido Impression: Mmm hmmm. Basala gets my firm stamp of approval. Rich, dark, spicy as all get out, it is a stunner! Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes! Would I wear it: Yes! Score: 5 hearts The Dreamer by Versace Impression: I know that this scent has lots of fans, and certainly it is the most interesting of all Versace perfumes. But…I just don’t quite get it. It is a little too much of too many good things for me. If I could just have its dirty-sweet musk note and not much else, I’d be very happy. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes-ish Would I wear it: Not sure Score: 3 hearts Antaeus by Chanel Impression: Husky, dry, gorgeous! Antaeus is not hot, it’s HAWT! Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: He should if he knows what’s good for him. Would I wear it: Yes, although I find it so sexy, it’s actually distracting Score: 5 hearts Pour Monsieur by Chanel Impression: Chanel seems to be able to do no wrong with their men’s scents, as far as I am concerned. I love this balsamic, sweetly-spicy scent, it is a beauty. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes Would I wear it: Yes Score: 5 hearts Spanish Leather by Geo F. Trumper Impression: Huh? Inexcusably boring for a leather scent. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: No Would I wear it: No Score: 2 hearts Riverside Drive by Bond No. 9 Impression: Green, fresh, breezy, evocative of water without being in the least aquatic. Created by Maurice Roucel, which is always a plus. Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: Yes Would I wear it: Yes Score: 3,5 hearts Or Black by Pascal Morabito Impression: Yes, yes, yes, yes! (Excuse me, while I’m having a Sally moment here.) I’d never let Mr. Colombina wear this outside in the fear that he’d be hit on by every female out there. In fact, I might not find it in my greedy heart to share with him this wonderful scent at all. The earthiness of patchouli, the pitch-black leather note, the breathtakingly chic overall chypre vibe…Superb! Would I like Mr. Colombina To Wear It: No, for various selfish reasons Would I wear it: Yes, yes, yes, yes! Score: 5 hearts