Ordering some decants... need suggestions

[insomniac]

Hi,

I'm about to place an order for decants through Mudassir over at Basenotes; I went years without wearing cologne, and now want to try some different ones.

Mostly I'd like to get something that I'd either want to really wear to determine if I liked it or not, or can't really find locally.

What I already own: YSL Rive Gauche, L'Occitane Vetyver and 4 Voleurs, Guerlain Vetiver, Acqua di Selva.

Here is what I'm looking at getting samples of:

• Acqua di Parma Colonia (and perhaps the Assoluta as well)
• Aramis Havana
• Caron Yatagan
• Caron 3rd Man
• Creed GIT
• Creed 1948 Vetiver
• Knize Ten
• Terre D'Hermes
• YSL M7

Thoughts or recommendations?

 

[Fred Mertz]

Good choices!! I've been meaning to try that Knize Ten myself.
I'd add,

Gentleman by Givenchy
Salvador Dali pour homme
Antaeus by Chanel
Habit Rouge by Guerlain

 

[insomniac]

Good choices!! I've been meaning to try that Knize Ten myself.
I'd add,

Gentleman by Givenchy
Salvador Dali pour homme
Antaeus by Chanel
Habit Rouge by Guerlain

Thanks for the suggestions! I was thinking about Gentleman.

How about Givenchy's Vetiver?

 

[Fred Mertz]

Thanks for the suggestions! I was thinking about Gentleman.

How about Givenchy's Vetiver?

Not a big fan of vetivers so I dunno

 

[djh]

Czech & Speake's 88 or Cuba?
Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet or English Fern?

There are so many "classic" fragrances around and the idea of ordering decants is great. If I were to do it, I would really push the boat out and order stuff from way out in left field. Good luck!

 

[BarryR]

You may want to ask Mudassir for advice letting him know your likes & dislikes.

I think Maitre Parfumeur Racine is a great Vetiver blend and Maitre Parfumeur Route de Vetiver is an excellent more pure and very earthy / rooty vetiver.
I haven't tried Maitre Parfumeur Santal Noble but it gets some raves.

I like Diptypques stuff, especially Tam Dao and Philosykos.

Floris is probably my favorite vetiver, and he lists it, but it's discontinued making it hard to obtain if you decide you like it.

PS: You might be able to get a Terre D'Hermes sample from Nordstrom.

Enjoy!

 

[The Knize]

Hi,

I'm about to place an order for decants through Mudassir over at Basenotes; I went years without wearing cologne, and now want to try some different ones.

Mostly I'd like to get something that I'd either want to really wear to determine if I liked it or not, or can't really find locally.

What I already own: YSL Rive Gauche, L'Occitane Vetyver and 4 Voleurs, Guerlain Vetiver, Acqua di Selva.

Here is what I'm looking at getting samples of:

• Acqua di Parma Colonia (and perhaps the Assoluta as well)
• Aramis Havana
• Caron Yatagan
• Caron 3rd Man
• Creed GIT
• Creed 1948 Vetiver
• Knize Ten
• Terre D'Hermes
• YSL M7

Thoughts or recommendations?

I would say you are sure as heck on the right path with these.

 

[insomniac]

Czech & Speake's 88 or Cuba?
Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet or English Fern?

There are so many "classic" fragrances around and the idea of ordering decants is great. If I were to do it, I would really push the boat out and order stuff from way out in left field. Good luck!

Thanks. Actually, some advice on those "left field" fragrances would be appreciated!

I already have C&S samples... nothing from Penhaligon, but that's a great idea.

 

[Master-Classter]

most of the ones you have there seem rather green (herbal, fresh, etc) or a little spicey.

Just cause it sounds like most of the ones you're getting are rather classic/safe, I'll add Dior Eau Sauvage (lemon and leather), and I know that Acqua di Parma Colonia is a classic but generally doesn't last very long IMO. I prefer Hermes Concentree D'Orange Vert

based on a few you already have, you might like something such as Paco Rabanne Pour Homme, and Creed Bois Du Portugal, heck even original (green) Polo

As for Guerlain's Vetiver. I love the stuff, but other alternatives around tehre are Tom Ford Grey Vetiver which is a little boring/simple version, or Encre Noire for a sort of smokey vetiver.

if you're going around the woody route, then Dyptique Tam Dao and Gucci Homme are both must tries.

If you want M7, you might also consider Burberry London


anyway, I know that's a bit of a smorgosboard of things but some winners in there

 

[JaDo]

Just a recommendation based on what you have listed - Bel Ami and Eau d'Hermes. Both great, in my opinion. Azzaro Pour Homme? I saw you had a vetiver. Givenchy's vetyver is awesome.

 

[Tyronious]

Don't care for YSL M7 at all. It smells like a sweeter version of that barbershop powder they brush you with after a haircut.

Terre D'Hermes is awesome though.

Never tried any of the rest.

 

[The Knize]

Don't care for YSL M7 at all. It smells like a sweeter version of that barbershop powder they brush you with after a haircut.

Terre D'Hermes is awesome though.

Never tried any of the rest.

I would say that each and every item on your list is rock solid except that the M7 may be too sweet for a number of folks.

 

[thanks]

I'm newer to scents, but I just recently sampled Guerlain Vetiver, Penhaligon's English Fern, and Aqua Di Parma Colonia Assoluta. The vetiver was definitely my favorite, followed very closely by the English Fern (Of which I recently bought 100ml spray bottle of), and the ADPCA is great, but seemed a little feminine to me. I think it's a little too unisex for me, probably due to the white musk note in the dry down. I highly recommend English Fern if you are at all into Fougere.

 

[p.m.a.]

That looks like a great list! Muddasir provides top-notch service. I would give him my highest recommendation. He replied to my inquiry within minutes and had my order shipped the next day! I just received 17 samples from him, and he threw in one more for free. Great guy.

My opinion (based on newly-acquired and admittedly limited frag experience): Givenchy Vetyver is nice, though quite soapy. I love the tang of Floris, but for me it's way too powdery. I'm really liking Gucci Rush (discont.) and Lalique Encre Noir. They are deep vetiver woodsy scents, not dark-spicy as L'Occitane Vetyver. Not sure I would wear them in hot weather. I really enjoy Guerlain Vetiver, but unfortunately it doesn't last long enough on me. Creed Original Vetiver is one green machine! I would look forward to trying the 1948 formula.

Givenchy Gentleman is a very nice scent, not sure it's for me though - maybe a little too gentleman-y?

Creed Neroli Sauvage is a nice deep citrus-woods.

 

[The Knize]

I love the tang of Floris, but for me it's way too powdery. I'm really liking Gucci Rush (discont.) . . . .

Good notes including the ones I did not quote above, but I am really chiming in on Gucci Rush (discont.), which hardly ever gets any mention around here, although I understand it is highly sought after other places. Great woody but sort of light scent. Seems ahead of its time in a way. I think those that like things like Tam Dao or other woody, dry sandalwoods would like Gucci Rush. Great tenacity.

It was may favorite for quite a while, and unlike some scents I never got sick of it, and it is one I would not hesitate to wear now without any irony. I have plenty. I should wear it more often.

 

[Cuttingboard]

Thanks for the suggestions! I was thinking about Gentleman.

How about Givenchy's Vetiver?

Horrible!!

 

[JaDo]

Horrible!!

I think Givenchy Vetyver is great. I'm wearing it today, actually.

 

[StylinLA]

Two I'll throw out

Le Labo Rose 31
Habit Rouge Beau Cavalier (EdP)
(The Habit Rouge EdP is my most current fascination. Like it so much more
than the EdT)

 

[Cuttingboard]

I think Givenchy Vetyver is great. I'm wearing it today, actually.

No offense but it seems very synthetic to me but maybe it didn't mix well with my body chemistry.

 

[JaDo]

No offense but it seems very synthetic to me but maybe it didn't mix well with my body chemistry.

No offense taken, at all. I'm glad to hear your opinion. Hopefully, our conflicting opinions indicate to others that Insomniac is on the right track - you really have to sample fragrances and see how they react with your own chemistry and not just take recommendations from others. If I had done that and only taken others advice, I would have wasted a bunch of money on fragrances that didn't work for me and completely missed some others (e.g. Antaeus, Bel Ami - both of which I bought after ignoring the strange looks I got from the clerks who were selling them, as if they were too passe)

Getting recommendations from others on what to sample is smart move.