Most fragrances released during the Eighties were heavy and strong, and I think this explains why so many of them fall into the "love it or hate it" category. Boss Number One (originally simply called "Boss") is no exception. It's not only a dense, rich fragrance, but it also has a sort of underlying dirty smell, a quality that will automatically polarize opinions about this scent.
This was the first Hugo Boss fragrance, and it's so different from the rest of their fragrance line. Whereas almost all of the Boss scents smell cheap, synthetic and devoid of character, Number One is rich, heavy, elegant and smells like it's made of quality materials.
If I were to categorize this scent, I'd call it a tobacco chypre, because tobacco and oakmoss are the two most prominent smells in Number One. From start to finish, Number One is warm and super smooth, with an overall brownish hue to its scent. Honey and patchouli are also prominent in this scent, and together they add a sweaty, animalic smell that raises the testosterone level through the roof. It's also got a kind of subdued, dark and brooding feel to it, making this a perfect scent for nighttime.
Boss Number One has been apparently reformulated many times in its long career, and I do remember earlier versions of this being stronger. However, the smell itself remains intact for the most part, so this is still some uber-masculine juice. In terms of sheer power, Number One falls into the same league as powerhouse fragrances like Moods Uomo and Halston Z-14: smooth and strong, but not overpowering; this is not a brutal scent like Lapidus Pour Homme or Davidoff, but rather more of a borderline powerhouse. It may not have pounding sillage, but it's full of 80s powerhouse swagger.
I love this juice, and it's one of my favorite fragrances from the Eighties. I hope Hugo Boss never discontinues this.
MY RATING: 9/10
Good review. I almost bought this at the duty free this summer. I ended up buying CK One instead ( and I'm happy with it), but I need to get a partial of this in the future.
ReplyDeleteI've got the new formulation and two of the originals, which seem to be a little different (they are Boss Cologne). I like them all, but what's weird is that when I take the cap off and smell it, I don't think it smells great. Upon spraying, after perhaps 20 minutes, I find myself really enjoying it, and it just gets better over time. I wonder if it's because it's the kind of fragrance that take time for my mind to fully comprehend and appreciate. I think the thing is that I don't like some of the notes, but over time the great note contrast, dynamism, balance, and complexity are irresistible. Another great thing about it is that used bottles can often be had really cheap on ebay.
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