Blue North Pour Homme by Michael Germain

Bergamot, Verbena, Coriander, Sage, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Saffron, Sandalwood, Cedar, Amber, Musk.

The few reviews found on this particular release ( and I mean a FEW) didn't exactly inspire me to try this. What propelled me to purchase it was the whopping $7 NIB price tag for a 100ml. bottle. I own a few other Germain releases, and while not "go to" fragrances, they have relevance; especially for their price point. My initial reaction to applying Blue North PH was that it reminded me of the ever expanding Nautica line. I could hit you over the head with the worn out terms of "Innocuous and Generic". I'll refrain, in spite of them being appropriate.

On the flip side of "Uninspiring" and even longevity-deficient, I actually enjoy the aroma of Blue North PH. Yes, the blending of notes is muddied, but I do experience ambiguous renditions of lemon-orange in the top. Also present is what I perceive as woods, subtle fruit and a low key aromatic quality in the first few minutes.

The heart and base seem to be one and the same. Once the opening dissipates, a contemporary and inoffensive woody musk digs in and has no intention on vacating the premises. There's a herbal element attached to this accord that accents the outro of this fragrance. All in all, not bad for the peanuts I paid for it and I also can't imagine this scent being inappropriate for any venue.

Sillage is very moderate with longevity approximately 2 hours on me before needing reapplication. Neutral rating from Aromi for Michel Germain's Blue North Pour Homme and 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...

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...

Il Mondo di Odore

Search This Blog