Michel Germain Deauville Pour Homme ( revised review from 2009 )

Clementine, Lavender, Sage.
Nutmeg, Pepper, Sage.
Amber, Orris, Oakmoss, Tobacco.

It was time I revisited Deauville pour Homme by Michel Germain. I didn't care for it much 4 years ago and since my tastes have evolved some, it's only fair to go back and re-sample certain releases. I have a nearly full bottle and as I wear it, it has either improved a few notches with age.......or..........I really am beginning to like certain elements I did not appreciate in the past. I still do not find it a "must have", but I'm warming up to it a bit. I wore it as my S.O.T.D and it performed well. It has occurred to me that this is better suited for colder temps and today was proof of that. It never topped 38 degrees and I was outside all day.

When I initially purchased Deauville pour Homme, it was summer of 2009 and I found it heavy. I don't mean buck wild sillage, but simply "thick". The note combinations, at that time, didn't exactly appeal to me either. Four years later and in opposite temperatures, Deauville works much better for me and for whatever reason, the overall aroma is also more suitable.

The opening gives me the illusion of "fruit" being incorporated in the top accord. It lasts only a few minutes before giving way to peppery spices and a subtle, underlying citrus. Nuances of berry and tobacco are on its heels, while other listed ingredients never fully come to fruition on me. They simply augment and afford some heft to the composition.

It's safe to say Deauville pour Homme is a tobacco scent accented heavily by sweetened spice and a berry-like quality. I'm glad I went back to this to learn this performs well in winter. Sillage is average, but the scent wears heavy and close. Longevity is approximately 5 hours plus on my skin. A positive neutral rating from Aromi since I still can't love this, but have found opportunity and a new respect for it. As always, a sample wear is highly recommended.

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