Czech & Speake No. 88

[jakespoppy]

I'm trying the Czech & Speake No. 88 today from the sample TSMBA shared with me (thanks again, Tom). I must say I've been intrigued by the reviews of this fragrance.

First impression - it's very complex, and I understand the comments in the reviews about a "musty, dark rose". During the first half hour, the rose seems at first very subdued, but then starts to come through the "darkness" with a stronger presence, but doesn't displace the "darkness". I don't believe I've worn a rose scent before, and I'm looking forward to seeing how this one develops today.

 

[tsmba]

Glad you like it Randy! That scent has really grown on me (after a somewhat negative first impression), now its a favorite. I don't think of it as a strictly "summer scent", but I wear it, nevertheless. I'd have never guessed I'd like a rose scent, I discounted them as being feminine. I haven't tried too many, but #88 and Dark Rose now have their spot in my cabinet.
This one took time to appreciate, so the dinky sample straw is, IMO, totally inadequate. If you need a bit more to form an opinion, let me know. Maybe we could swap for some of the Tabac you speak highly of.

 

[GoldenMonkey]

My 200ml is on order...I love this stuff. My first impression was that it was a rose cologne, but the more time I've spent with it, the more components become apparent. To the untrained nose (lol) it IS simply a rose scent, but the layers and complexity are astounding. It's one of the few that work well with my body chemistry, adn even a little application will last all day. As much as I love the initial topnotes and overall scent, once it's dried down it becomes another beast entirely...dark, earthy, woody, grassy, more floras than just roses...it's not a cologne every guy can pull off with confidence, but... from me!

 

[Evbo]

...I love this stuff.

I'm with you. To me, it has an incense-like, transcendent beauty. I love it, too.

Unfortunately, my lovely wife has an intense, violent hatred of this scent. I got rid of my bottle -- one picks & chooses one's battles -- but I missed having it. So I wound up buying myself a 15ml decant from Chuck.

We'll see how it goes.

 

[drumana]

I actually prefer No.88 on my girlfriend but I wear it on occasion as well. Great stuff. I've been thinking of getting the shave soap.

 

[GoldenMonkey]

I actually prefer No.88 on my girlfriend but I wear it on occasion as well. Great stuff. I've been thinking of getting the shave soap.

LOL...for a second there, I thought you said you preferred No.88 TO your girlfriend...lololol....

 

[drumana]

hahaha... No no. No.88 is good but the girlfriend is waaaaay better!

 

[jakespoppy]

Glad you like it Randy! That scent has really grown on me (after a somewhat negative first impression), now its a favorite. I don't think of it as a strictly "summer scent", but I wear it, nevertheless. I'd have never guessed I'd like a rose scent, I discounted them as being feminine. I haven't tried too many, but #88 and Dark Rose now have their spot in my cabinet.
This one took time to appreciate, so the dinky sample straw is, IMO, totally inadequate. If you need a bit more to form an opinion, let me know. Maybe we could swap for some of the Tabac you speak highly of.

That's a deal, Tom. Of course, to keep it fair, I'll have to send you a gallon of Tabac in exchange for a drop of #88!

 

[Rudy Vey]

It is a great scent, I really like it, but it has - at least on me - not too much staying power. I think it stays with me for some 5 hours only. This is actually much longer than the Cambridge and Oxford, which is gone within two hours only.

 

[Sue]

It is a great scent, I really like it, but it has - at least on me - not too much staying power. I think it stays with me for some 5 hours only. This is actually much longer than the Cambridge and Oxford, which is gone within two hours only.

Both I and Wendy had the same problem. I thought it was me so I had Wendy put a dab on her wrist, it was gone in a heartbeat. I also tried carrier oil on my skin first, it didn't help. I've never experienced a fragrance other than a citrus that dissapated so quickly. Odd for a scemt that is so expensive.
Sue

 

[goose]

Strange. C&S 88 is one of the longest lasting scents I have sampled.

Clint

 

[Sue]

Strange. C&S 88 is one of the longest lasting scents I have sampled.
Clint

That's what I have been told too. Wierd.
Sue

 

[Evbo]

Strange. C&S 88 is one of the longest lasting scents I have sampled.

Yep. Sticks around for ages on me.

 

[adonnellyr]

I HATE hearing people say it sticks around forever. It disappears on me quicker than any of my other colognes, and it frustrates me so much because it's my favourite scent! Oh well, I guess the search for a signature fragrance wouldn't be so intriguing if it were easy..

 

[jakespoppy]

Well, for your benefit Anthony, I won't say it stuck around forever. But after 7 hours, the scent was still about 75% strong, and only faded away at around the 9 hour mark. The scent didn't seem to change too much throughout the day after the first half hour, but it is a scent that I really enjoyed today. I'll have to see if this ever goes on sale - a really huge discount type sale - as I like it, but it's a little/lot out of my desired price range.

 

[drumana]

88 lasts a very long time on me and my girlfriend both. It's very Knize 10-ish in that respect. Put it on in the morning and it lasts until late evening.

 

[The Nid Hog]

I gotta say that 88 is the longest lasting fragrance that I have. It morphs into something pretty different by the end--more of an incense-like scent--but it lasts a heck of a long time.

The problem with finding it on sale is that there are so few places that sell it. I don't know if Cambridge Chemists ever has anything other than the B&B 10% discount. If you order it directly from C&S, you can at least benefit when the GBP is weak. I seem to remember that they have occasional promotions, but I don't recall what or how much.

 

[Sue]

I gotta say that 88 is the longest lasting fragrance that I have. It morphs into something pretty different by the end--more of an incense-like scent--but it lasts a heck of a long time.

The problem with finding it on sale is that there are so few places that sell it. I don't know if Cambridge Chemists ever has anything other than the B&B 10% discount. If you order it directly from C&S, you can at least benefit when the GBP is weak. I seem to remember that they have occasional promotions, but I don't recall what or how much.

Frangipani.

Sue

 

[Emmett]

Frangipani.

Sue

Is that what the incense in New Spice is? It's lovely, whatever it is.

 

[Sue]

Is that what the incense in New Spice is? It's lovely, whatever it is.

No frangipani in it.
Caranel and chocolate, that's why we women like it
Sue