Frag Sample Mystery Box Revealed.

[jpipes3]

I snagged daverasi's frag sample mystery box off the BST last week, and grabbed the package out of the mailbox yesterday. Here's what was inside...

ADP Blu Mediterraneo Fico de Amalfi
AOS Sandalwood
Bond No 9 Eau de New York
Brecourt Agaressence
Brecourt Eau Blanche
Cartier Roadster
Chanel Jersey
Creed Epicea
C&S Vetiver Vert
Diptyque Eau Duelle
Diptyque Tam Dao
Diptyque Vetyverio
Heeley Cardinal
Houbigant Fougere Royale
L'Artisan Fou d'Absinthe
LT Piver Lavande des Princes
LT Piver Musc
Le Labo Santal 33
Mark Birley Charles Street
People of the Labyrinths Luctor et Emergo
Rance 1795 Le Vainqueur
Rochas Eau de Rochas (pour homme?)

I haven't tried, nor can I pronounce, many of these brands. I'm pumped to give them a whirl. At first pass, Dave seemed to magically hit a lot of the types of frags that I think I like. Extremely pumped about the Diptyque stuff and the Charles Street. Oh, and the Santal 33. I've been wanting to try those for a while. Any thoughts on some of these? You guys have any favorites in this bunch? I tried the C&S Vetiver Vert today, and I like it. Kinda incensy for the first little while, but liked it more and more later on. Don't think I would buy a bottle, but it seems like a great fall frag.

I looked up most of them on Fragrantica and/or Basenotes, and it seems like a several of them are listed as women's frags... the ADP, both Brecourt, POTL. Should I give them to my wife, or are they unisex maybe? I saw that the POTL one was compared to Guerlain SDV, which is listed a women's frag on Fragrantica but I know it has some fans here. I suppose it's all subjective?

Huge thanks to Dave for the samples. Feel like I snagged a smoking deal.

 

[jpipes3]

Trying out the Eau Duelle today. It's nice. I'm a fan, but I'm starting to realize that I don't love vanilla scents like I thought I would. Like, but don't love. It smells a lot like something else I've sampled recently, but can't quite remember. Zino maybe? I'll have to check and see if I still have that sample around.

 

[maxman]

Cool stuff. Mystery boxes are fun.
The great thing about the samples is you can come back to them a few times before you commit to a full bottle.
Give them all a good test.

 

[Gordy2]

Nice catch!!!!

 

[jpipes3]

Trying out the Eau Duelle today. It's nice. I'm a fan, but I'm starting to realize that I don't love vanilla scents like I thought I would. Like, but don't love. It smells a lot like something else I've sampled recently, but can't quite remember. Zino maybe? I'll have to check and see if I still have that sample around.

D&G The One Gentleman. I'm pretty sure that's the one I'm thinking of that is a dead ringer for Eau Duelle to my nose.

 

[jpipes3]

Charles Street today. This is one I had investigated heavily before. I am a bit disappointed in it. It has too much of a flowery scent for me in the top/mid. I like it a lot once it gets through those notes, but by then it is a little weak. I'll give it another try sometime soon with a heavier dose, but for now I am glad I didn't blind buy.

BTW, the Eau Duelle has fantastic sillage and longevity... 12+ hours yesterday. I don't know that I have every had that kind of longevity out of anything I have tried.

 

[jpipes3]

Le Vainqueur is awesome. Reminds me a lot of Carthusia Uomo, which I love. A slightly tamed version. Could definitely see myself snagging more of this.

Eau de Rochas is very good too. A lighter, slightly more citrusy Terre d'Hermes. If TdH didn't exist, I would buy Eau de Rochas.

 

[jpipes3]

My problem with the Rochas was the longevity. It is a great but fleeting scent.

Yep. If it was a bit cheaper, it may be worth it. As is, I'd splurge for the TdH instead.

 

[jpipes3]

If anyone is looking for an Arko EdT, it's called Bond No 9 Eau de New York. I don't mind the smell of Arko during my shave, but I don't want a frag that smells like it. Arko was all I could think of when I tried the Eau de New York yesterday.

 

[Rev. Jim Ignatowski]

After reading this, I'm wishing I had an option on a frag box. Without all of the typing, of course.

jpipes3, these are good play-by-play commentaries that you've provided. Thank you.

 

[Rorpen86]

I check the BST several times a day and can't believe I didn't see the frag mystery box. Nice score. Have fun sampling all of them.

several = every chance I can

 

[jpipes3]

Yesterday was Diptyque Vetyverio. Starts off a bit feminine for my tastes... quite floral. That faded after 30-60 minutes, and then I was left with a scent that I would best describe as "pleasant". I don't really know what else to say about it. It's nice, but just not the style of vetiver I would prefer. It teeters too much on the unisex line for me.

Today I'm wearing the LT Piver Lavande des Princes. I'd call myself a little bit of a lavender fan, and I do like this one quite a bit. It's pretty faint though... but that's probably to be expected since it's an EdC. I've had it on for about 3 hours, and it seems to be almost gone. If it was stronger, it might be one that I would consider owning.

I just realized that I never commented on the Le Labo Santal 33. Now that stuff doesn't suffer from weakness, that's for sure. It was strange... I went back and forth all day between loving it and being self-conscious about it. I'd think it's a bit of a polarizing scent - if you like sandalwood a lot, you'll love it. But if aren't a big sandalwood fan, it will be too much for you. That was my struggle with it. I liked the Santal 33 for the most part, but I wasn't sure I wanted other people to associate that scent with me. Maybe it was just that it shouldn't have been worn to work. That could have been a big part of it. I'll have to try it at night sometime.

 

[jpipes3]

L'Artisan Fou d'Absinth today. Oh man... loving it so far. This stuff just works for me. Green and piney, kinda warm and woody but still fresh in a way. Classy. Could definitely see me having this in my collection. Not sure about springing for it at full price. Anyone know of a cheaper alternative that may be close?

 

[jpipes3]

Sorry... been slacking on this the last few days.

Fougere Royale - pretty awesome. It's been a few days, so I don't remember much at this point other than that I liked it a lot. I prefer Fou d'Absinth, but the wifey likes Fougere Royale and didn't care much for the Fou d'Absinth. Go figure. Anyway, given how much I've liked Fou d'Absinth and Fougere Royale, I'm getting extremely curious about fougeres. English Fern is a bit more accessible than either of those, but my research seems to indicate that it's a bit more "bright" than FdA or FR? Any other recommendations there?

Tam Dao - good, but seemed to be missing something that would really put it over the top for me. I'd call it a dirty sandalwood. It smelled a lot like something else I've used recently, but I couldn't place it while I was wearing it. Now I'm thinking back and thinking it could have been Cade?