Can I get some second opinions on these?

[Matt555]

Some new frags I have been playing with....please offer your honest opinions and what you think of these (even if you hate them).

Penhaligons LP no. 9 - This is some interesting stuff! I generally do not like wearing fragrances with vanilla in them, but this one is pretty different. Lots of stuff going on in it. Lots and lots of spices. I have no idea what is in this stuff. It smells like a million things. Only got to wear it once so far, but looking forward to wearing it some more.

Penhaligons Hamma Bouquet - As strange and ridiculous as this may sound, I cannot decide whether I love or hate this one. I cannot decide if I am enamored or repulsed. I have never experienced a fragrance like this before.

Ungaro III - My sample from Scentedmonkey finally arrived I am glad I did not buy a bottle. It is a nice and unique fragrance, but not something I would see myself wearing often at all. I am glad I finally got to experience the "vodka" note in it.

Davidoff Zino - I was pretty excited when I first got this, but the excitement quickly wore off. I don't exactly know why I ended up not liking this one as much as I though, but it just does not seem to smell very appealing on my skin (especially after a few hours).

Michael Kors - I don't know, I am thinking about ordering some samples. What do you guys think? I am concerned about the "fruit" notes as I don't like fruity fragrances. However, most of the reviews seem to indicate it is by no means a sweet fragrance.

 

[Schad]

LP 9, from what I remember when I sampled it, came off as more of an evening scent than a day-to-day workhorse. I wasn't blown away plus I had so many night scents that I passed on it.

I absolutely hated Hamman Bouquet. Repulsed. Second to only C&S 88. If you like C&S 88, you might like this one.

I recently tried Zino and it is highly respected, but I thought it had a more mature vibe so didn't give it much chance. Plus I'd hate to fall in love with a frag that is known to be discontinued - long term it will be annoying trying to get more.

I have heard good things about both Kors and UIII but have not tried them.

 

[Matt555]

LP 9, from what I remember when I sampled it, came off as more of an evening scent than a day-to-day workhorse. I wasn't blown away plus I had so many night scents that I passed on it.

I absolutely hated Hamman Bouquet. Repulsed. Second to only C&S 88. If you like C&S 88, you might like this one.

I recently tried Zino and it is highly respected, but I thought it had a more mature vibe so didn't give it much chance. Plus I'd hate to fall in love with a frag that is known to be discontinued - long term it will be annoying trying to get more.

I have heard good things about both Kors and UIII but have not tried them.

I have not tried C&S 88. I am also highly suspicious of whether or not Zino is actually being discontinued. It is still available pretty much everywhere for very, very cheap. From your top ten lists you are always posting and updating, I think you should try Ungaro III. I think you would probably like it and it would end up fitting somewhere in your list.

 

[Obsessed]

Penhaligons Hamma Bouquet - As strange and ridiculous as this may sound, I cannot decide whether I love or hate this one. I cannot decide if I am enamored or repulsed. I have never experienced a fragrance like this before.

That doesn't sound strange or ridiculous. Hammam is pretty out there and much different from any modern offering. And it's much different on the drydown than it is when you first apply it. If you've only worn it once or twice, give it a few more tries before you make up your mind. I think it only works in cold weather.

 

[BillC]

The only one I'm familiar with is Hamman Bouquet. Love this one - best description I've heard is roses crushed into baby oil and I still love it. Unlike Obsessed, I wear this one in the cold and in moderate heat (not sweltering summer days, though). When it's warmer some of the animalics come out in the base that I don't pick up when it's cold.

When I first sampled it I thought it smelled like old ladies but as I developed a thing for rose scents I turned around on this one.

 

[StylinLA]

I've only tried a couple.

Michale Kors is solid. I get a nice tabacco and patchouli with it.

Hammam Boquet is an odd, really, really old school scent. I find it tough to wear. Sort of like an 1890s dandy scent.

 

[Matt555]

And it's much different on the drydown than it is when you first apply it.

Yup. The first 10 minutes is pretty gross. But then is starts to change and that is the point where I am trying to figure it out. Will keep wearing it for sure.

 

[Matt555]

I've only tried a couple.

Michale Kors is solid. I get a nice tabacco and patchouli with it.

Is the Patchouli blended well? Or is it an in your face hippie dripping in patchouli oil thing?

 

[BillC]

Another thought on Hamman Bouquet - if you're still doing a love-hate thing with it then check out Floris 89. 89 to me seems like HB's younger, less flamboyant brother

 

[tehtimmeh]

Penhaligons LP no. 9 - Haven't tried it.

Penhaligons Hamman Bouquet - Wish I had never tried it. I suppose I could potentially see this being pulled off in a formal setting, but I would literally never reach for it.

Ungaro III - Haven't tried it in a very long time, but instantly forgettable.

Davidoff Zino - Huge fan. One of the very best from the 80s.

Michael Kors - Very good scent. One of the best current designer offerings. Boozy tobacco with great longevity. I ultimately sold my bottle because there are other tobacco fragrances I would rather wear, but this is a good one.

 

[Taylor of Bank Street]

I dug up the sample I received of LP 9 and gave it another spin today after reading this thread.

As a forewarning, the impressions I had of this scent seem completely at odds with what most people had to say on basenotes. I scrolled through the basenotes comments at the end of the day to see how my views lined up with others. The result would seem to indicate that my nose is broken, so take this with a grain of salt...

I put a single drop on each wrist before work. My initial impression was of a sticky, sweet almost slightly floral scent. At this point it almost seemed a bit feminine for my tastes. My own experience has been that women seem to like the sweeter scents on guys, so perhaps it does have a bit of a 'love potion' effect.

By three hours in, the scent had dropped off markedly. Admittedly I didn't use much (scent sensitive workplace) but I have other fragrances which would not have dissipated that quickly. At this point, I was getting a bit of a mellow rose scent.

By the end of the day the scent was almost gone. If I focused on it I think there was what seemed like traces of a classy, English rose-based scent.

Again, these impressions are way off what others have found so perhaps I just don't yet have the olfactory experience or vocabulary to articulate what I experienced. For me, this wasn't a 'buy', but I could see it being popular with the ladies for the window of time while it lasts and if used more liberally.

 

[Matt555]

I dug up the sample I received of LP 9 and gave it another spin today after reading this thread.

As a forewarning, the impressions I had of this scent seem completely at odds with what most people had to say on basenotes. I scrolled through the basenotes comments at the end of the day to see how my views lined up with others. The result would seem to indicate that my nose is broken, so take this with a grain of salt...

I put a single drop on each wrist before work. My initial impression was of a sticky, sweet almost slightly floral scent. At this point it almost seemed a bit feminine for my tastes. My own experience has been that women seem to like the sweeter scents on guys, so perhaps it does have a bit of a 'love potion' effect.

By three hours in, the scent had dropped off markedly. Admittedly I didn't use much (scent sensitive workplace) but I have other fragrances which would not have dissipated that quickly. At this point, I was getting a bit of a mellow rose scent.

By the end of the day the scent was almost gone. If I focused on it I think there was what seemed like traces of a classy, English rose-based scent.

Again, these impressions are way off what others have found so perhaps I just don't yet have the olfactory experience or vocabulary to articulate what I experienced. For me, this wasn't a 'buy', but I could see it being popular with the ladies for the window of time while it lasts and if used more liberally.

Thanks for the input. I don't think your thoughts are far off at all (except that it sounds like I like it a lot more than you). It is somewhat sweet! It is also somewhat floral as Ylang-Ylang is supposed to be one of the dominant notes. Also, the longevity is not spectacular. However, it should last longer than 3 hours. It sounds like you may have used it a bit too sparingly. Nothing broken about your nose. Sounds like you just are not as impressed as some of us with this one.

 

[CHSeifert]

Penhaligons LP no. 9 - Haven't tried it.

Penhaligons Hamman Bouquet - Wish I had never tried it. I suppose I could potentially see this being pulled off in a formal setting, but I would literally never reach for it.

Ungaro III - Haven't tried it in a very long time, but instantly forgettable.

Davidoff Zino - Huge fan. One of the very best from the 80s.

Michael Kors - Very good scent. One of the best current designer offerings. Boozy tobacco with great longevity. I ultimately sold my bottle because there are other tobacco fragrances I would rather wear, but this is a good one.

Strange that you like ZINO, but find Ungaro III 'instantly forgettable' .... Hmmm Just shows how much frags are a YMMV thing, I guess

Regarding Michael Kors for Men, what is you Top 5 tobacco frags then ?
My list has to a Top 10, as I love tobacco frags

1. Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
2. By Killian Back to Black
3. Bogart Pour Homme
4. Aramis Havana
5. Michael Kors for Men
6. Boss No. 1
7. Serge Lutens Fumerie Turque
8. Dolce & Gabbana The One
9. Thierry Mugler Pure Havane
10. Versace For Men

Honorable mention goes to one of my old signature scents Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme (original version is far better), Santa Maria Novella Acqua Di Cuba & Guerlain Vetiver.

 

[Matt555]

Regarding Michael Kors for Men, what is you Top 5 tobacco frags then ?
My list has to a Top 10, as I love tobacco frags

5. Michael Kors for Men.

Is Michael Kors sweet from the fruit? Or is it a dark fruit, incense vibe?

 

[StylinLA]

Is the Patchouli blended well? Or is it an in your face hippie dripping in patchouli oil thing?

LMAO .... You guys and your "hippie patchouli" thing! Patchouli is in hundreds of scents, many of which are frequently discussed here. Kors is not "hippie like." The patchouli of hippiedom was pretty straight forward patchouli oil and/or incense. The patchouli of any semi modern EdT is blended in with other notes and doesn't have that "wanna hit the bong" vibe. Most of the 80s powerhouse scents combined patchouli/sandalwood in the base.

Discussing frags with a guy at work the other day who told me how much he hates sandalwood. And he really hates patchouli. He wears Bleu de Channel. Look at the basenotes of Bleu de Chanel...

Bleu de Chanel
Pink peppercorn, Citrus, Peppermint, Nutmeg, Vetiver, Grapefruit, Cedar, Labdanum, Jasmine, Incense, Patchouli, Ginger, Sandalwood

 

[CHSeifert]

Is Michael Kors sweet from the fruit? Or is it a dark fruit, incense vibe?

Ohhhh...difficult to say - depending on your nose and what you pick up from it.
I think it has incense in it, sweet AND dark fruit, but much in the background.

The tobacco and incense is what I pick up from it firstly, secondly the fruit vibe. You may pick up some other notes - depending on your nose and your skin chemistry.
Also the newer formulation is different from the old according to some - I have only smelled the new version..... YMMV

 

[CHSeifert]

LMAO .... You guys and your "hippie patchouli" thing! Patchouli is in hundreds of scents, many of which are frequently discussed here. Kors is not "hippie like." The patchouli of hippiedom was pretty straight forward patchouli oil and/or incense. The patchouli of any semi modern EdT is blended in with other notes and doesn't have that "wanna hit the bong" vibe. Most of the 80s powerhouse scents combined patchouli/sandalwood in the base.

Discussing frags with a guy at work the other day who told me how much he hates sandalwood. And he really hates patchouli. He wears Bleu de Channel. Look at the basenotes of Bleu de Chanel...

Bleu de Chanel
Pink peppercorn, Citrus, Peppermint, Nutmeg, Vetiver, Grapefruit, Cedar, Labdanum, Jasmine, Incense, Patchouli, Ginger, Sandalwood

Sandalwood is in 50% of all male fragrances in the base or mid.....so pretty much everyone wears something with sandalwood in it......

I think he meant a fragrance that has predominantly patchouli and sandalwood in it.......

For instance I enjoy sandalwood - but I dislike most fragrances from the shaving cream producers, that is called sandalwood - but to me smells like a chemical synthetic mess i.e. TOBS Sandalwood, TF&H Sandalwood, GFT Sandalwood - all these frags makes the ordinary Joe think that is what sandalwood should smell like, yet it has very little to do with real sandalwood......if at all.

 

[StylinLA]

Sandalwood is in 50% of all male fragrances in the base or mid.....so pretty much everyone wears something with sandalwood in it......

I think he meant a fragrance that has predominantly patchouli and sandalwood in it.......

Exactly my point Claus. But just the mention of patchouli or sandalwood makes him think he wouldn't like the scent.

 

[Matt555]

Exactly my point Claus. But just the mention of patchouli or sandalwood makes him think he wouldn't like the scent.

I don't dislike patchouli (I know you are talking about the guy at your work). I am discovering that I do not like scents that are patchouli dominant though.

 

[mchad21]

I'm a big fan of Kors for Men. Good tobacco and booze scent. May not be great for work but it's a winner for a night out.

Insane longevity and projection, so go easy at first.