Powerhouses of the past

The discontinued giants of yesteryear garner a lot of attention it seems by being compared to the more current releases. Some threads I read boast lovers of these mega-colognes while others, of course, believe they should stay extinct. Personally, I thoroughly enjoy the Powerhouse masculines. Naturally, they are indicative of a time gone by, yet quite a few of them are timeless and will no doubt come back into style in some fashion. This is the circle of life and even new releases will undoubtedly follow this course ( and are doing so ) while using modernized ingredients and working around restrictions to accomplish the goal.

To be truthful, both powerful and more sedate fragrances are necessary simply for the sake of disparity. I would not want all masculines to be along the lines of Kouros or Lapidus simply because I like strong cologne. Their testosterone is evident due to the existence of all the other genres. On the other side of the coin, the fragrance world would be very shallow if all it had to offer was the likes of Davidoff.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Davidoff or the scents that house releases. They have a fan base and the creations coming from it are targeted to them specifically. Same goes for the Kouros's of the world. They need each other for a variety of reasons and seasons. The bottom line is that the fragrance world is a healthier place with Powerhouses in it than it would be without their ferocity and tenacity.

Rank and file is a necessity of life. If all were doctors, who would nurse or clean up the mess the doctors inevitable make? If all were actors, who would be the fans and pay to watch? I write this in response to detractors of Powerhouse fragrances, whether they be designer or niche. I am not a big fan of "unsubstantial" scents, yet I am glad they are here for the sake of disparity, comparison and when a situation or climate calls for exactly what they bring to the table.

It's all good folks. Powerhouses of the past should be admired as opposed to being ridiculed and despised. They reflect the tastes of who we used to be.....and will most assuredly influence creations not yet on the drawing board.

Comments

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...

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...

Paco Rabanne Pour Homme

I am reviewing the original Paco Rabanne Pour Homme ( circa 1973 ) thanks to a generous basenoter who sent it to me recently in a swap. He also sent me the current formulation in order for me to do a side by side comparison. The side by side resulted in what I had already imagined would be the case. Not that the newer formula is terrible by any means. The original version simply is better by being deeper and a bit more masculine. No......you shouldn't go to ebay searching for the vintage formula and paying stupid prices. It's simply a notch or two better than the current and noticeable by comparing the two in real time. Rabanne Pour Homme opens with a slight shimmer in conjunction with lavender, spices and a subtle woodiness. It's an old school introduction, however a good one. The lavender takes about 5 minutes to raise its volume and evolve into a soapy rendition. I dislike when a boatload of soapy lavender takes over a composition, but here it doesn't go over t...

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