Portos by Balenciaga

The mere mention of the year 1980, when discussing masculine fragrances, conjures up the big shouldered fragrances from the decade of excess. There is an aura to most of these scents that truly is indicative of the time.

Enter Balenciaga's Portos; a fairly macho leather chypre and one I seem to love wearing around the house so I can repeatedly smell myself and not worry that people are noticing a grown man constantly sniffing his appendages.

Yes.......I have quite a few power masculines that I wear while puttering around the house, toiling on my hobbies or sitting at the computer and smelling flat out awesome. I'll over-apply Portos when at home and simply reek for hours and not worry about sillage casualties. However, to wear Portos in public (and pull it off) takes a deft spraying hand. Cooler temps are also best suited for donning this terrific elixir.

Wormwood, Bergamot, Coriander, Cumin, Galbanum

Carnation, Cedar, Geranium, Jasmin, Patchouli, Vetiver

Castoreum, Labdanum, Leather, Moss, Musk, Myrrh, Oilbanum

Tell me those accords aren't substantial even on paper. They wear as strong as they look and there's no doubt Portos is an impressive masculine. When I spray this on, it's almost as if the entire transition comes out all at once. I said almost......but you get the idea. You are hit with a citric-wood accord that has hair on it and given an assist from a noticeable green note and cumin. That's a serious opening. The rest is a testament to either outstanding blending or outright olfactory fatigue because what I get is a conglomeration of mossy and leathery tones that switch from earthy to animalic at any given moment. It makes you say "YOWZAH" out loud.

Naturally a big thumbs up from Aromi for Balenciaga's take-no-prisoners chypre.