Alain Delon Classic

Basil, Bergamot, Wormwood, Juniper, Lavender
Cinnamon, Carnation, Aldehyde, Geranium
Amber, Benzoin, Cedar, Honey, Moss and Tonka bean

The first thing noticeable upon applying Delon Classic is that it genuinely is classic. There's no mistaking this woody fougere for anything else. Some of the younger set will likely call this dated and that it smells like "dad". In spite of there being some truth to that statement, your dad should be so lucky as to smell this good.

Celebrity scents are releases I usually ignore because I have found them to be mundane overall. Alain Delon is an exception and has put his name to more than a few excellent creations. The ones I own are quality fragrances that possess good throw and longevity.

Classic opens with a short lived citrus and hints of spice. An extremely clear accord of Juniper, Lavender, Carnation and Aldehyde immediately follow. This accord is the fragrance's signature. The lavender only asserts its qualities once the base and drydown arrive with a slight soapiness, but until then is content to liven up the heart.

The woody-floral theme continues into the base and is helped along by a soft rendition of resiny amber and additional wood notes. I have been wearing Classic in my rotation now for years and I have never noticed the oriental direction suggested in the accords. I have no complaints that these are M.I.A. on my skin and their absence seems to keep Classic on the fougere path.

I give kudos to this scent as it easily could have been constructed in an unremarkable fashion like most celebrity fragrances. Yes, it smells like the late 70's and early 80's, but since when it that a crime?

Thumbs up for Alain Delon's Classic. It's exactly what its name suggests.

Comments

Black Suede by Avon

Nutmeg, Clove, Amber, Musk, Moss, Wood Notes. Yes.........I am reviewing one of the Rodney Dangerfield's of fragrance. Black Suede has been gracing medicine cabinets, for better or worse, since 1980 my friends. If you're expecting me to inform you ( like others may have already ) that Black Suede is a nasty scrubber, you will be disappointed. On the other hand, if you're expecting a glowing review claiming it's a diamond in the rough, you won't hear that from me either. I will say though that Black Suede doesn't deserve the hate it's received and most of that is due to snobbery aimed at Avon products in general. I kid you not when I state that a close relative to this fragrance is Cacharel Pour L'Homme. The array of spice in both ensure comparison, but the "smoother" of the two is Black Suede due to its implementation of Amber. While wearing Black Suede, one can detect a hint of "drugstore". That quality doesn't manife...

Oriental Lounge by The Different Company

Bergamot, Curry Leaf, Pepper, Red Rose, Tonka Bean, Labdanum, Satinwood. I suppose the first thing I noticed about Oriental Lounge is that as a man, this is a bit of a stretch to pull off. Since the core of Oriental Lounge is a powdery tonka and amber duo, it really does lean a bit too far feminine for me to wear. However, it would smell just as lovely on a woman and more appropriate as well. I bring this up simply because it's marketed as shared. I was wondering about the curry leaf. Actually, this "note" brought nothing to the table with the exception of possibly enhancing the pepper note just a bit. Even so, the pepper note itself was low key ( at least on me ) and both blended nicely with the citrus opening. From the onset of Oriental Lounge, it's unmistakable that this fragrance is.......well.....an oriental. From other opinions, I read some gripes about longevity, but it lasts on me quite awhile. This fragrance is uncomplicated and without much movemen...

Chanel copying Guerlain. Why?

Last month, I had the pleasure of trying Comète by Chanel, the latest addition to their prestigious Les Exclusifs line. This fragrance follows the release of Le Lion in 2020, another standout in the same collection. Like Le Lion , Comète is a beautiful perfume that captures the essence of Chanel’s refined elegance. However, both fragrances bear a striking resemblance to classic creations by Guerlain, leading me to ponder the direction Chanel is taking. Chanel has a great fragrance history. Not as hallowed and old as Guerlain but for past three decades it has far outshone Guerlain. In my view, no other perfume house has come close to Chanel’s excellence in this century. This makes their recent approach of echoing Guerlain classics somewhat perplexing. Have they run out of fresh ideas? Is Roger Dove at the helm of their fragrance division, or have they perhaps...

Il Mondo di Odore

Search This Blog