Skip to main content

Matchabelli Man's Cologne

Bergamot, Clary Sage, Lavender, Petitgrain, Rosemary.
Carnation, Cedar, Cinnamon, Patchouli, Rose.
Amber, Labdanum, Leather, Moss, Musk, Myrrh.

I have become reacquainted with Matchabelli for Men since I scored a bottle on ebay not long ago. This very nice, classic masculine is a leather woody on my skin, but fits the criteria for chypre as well.

The very first thing that I notice is the implementation of cedar oil. That ingredient is distinct to me and its usage seems to be rather common in fragrances from the 1970's and 1980's. Matchabelli is from the very early 80's, if memory serves, and its overall aroma is indicative of it.

I mean that in a good way however. This bargain bin masculine doesn't possess the baggage that some powerscents do from that period. This is ruggedly smooth and all rolled up into one, comfortable wearing experience. It's a personal space fragrance, yet has enough substance to cocoon the wearer in a polite, but sensual richness.

Matchabelli opens with a classic citrus-sage-lavender formula. It's friendly and familiar, never loud but still heard and understood. The cedar wastes no time inserting itself. It's a deep, dense wood rendition and effortlessly blends with the opening notes.

Another transition is quickly on the way. A spicy carnation, accented with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon, enlarges the accord and forges ahead with the masculine direction Matchabelli has been on since the initial spray. I'm smiling at this stage of the wearings because this cheap and completely overlooked release is easily superior than numerous, contemporary creations that cost much, much more.

An ambery quality lurks beneath Matchabelli, but never truly rises to the occasion due to the tuning of leather, cedar and earth tones. If anything, the amber enhances the woodiness and seems content to remain as a supporting player.

In totality, Matchabelli for Men is a nice find for anyone who enjoys classic masculines that are inherently smooth and substantial. I can see how a wearer could garnish compliments from this.

Sillage is moderate but full and longevity is approximately 4 hours before I'd consider reapplication. Thumbs up from Aromi for Matchabelli Man's Cologne and its sensual retro vibe.

Comments

  1. Sounds good. Has this been discontinued, or is this still available?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Discontinued, but I'm not certain when. It still pops up on the bay.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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...

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...

La Chasse Aux Papillons Extreme by L'Artisan Parfumeur

I read many reviews before or after I do my own and I seem to be at complete odds with the house of L'Artisan. I have previously said on basenotes that for me, L'Artisan Parfumeur is the most over-rated house I have come across. La Chasse Aux Papillons Extreme does nothing to sway that opinion. Yet another linear, floral dominant scent that does nothing to stir me up or inspire me in any way. This house has "pleasant" nailed down to an art form......but damn...can't we go beyond that? The only attempt at polarization so far has been Dzongkha ....and I found it a jumbled mess. At these prices, move me, anger me, hate me.......but please don't bore me. Extreme in a nutshell is a toned down tuberose with assorted "blossom" thrown in the mix. Is it bad? No, it's an acceptable floral scent that's very timid and just lays on my skin smelling like....well....a toned down version of tuberose with blossom this or that added to it. I'm almost a...