Il Mondo di Odore

Hard to believe that Eau Pour Homme has been gracing the shelves for 27 years now. You'd also think it would smell dated if you never encountered it before. You would be wrong. Seriously wrong. To me, Armani Eau Pour Homme is reminiscent of Eau de Rochas Homme. Both do basically the same thing very well. The Rochas came 9 years later, but both implement similar accords. Both have the capacity to escape being pigeonholed by the aromas of their respective eras. Let's just say they are versatile and call it good. Eau Pour Homme opens with a sparkling blast of citrus. It's like a gathering of citric stars. Bergamot, lemon and orange coming atcha whether you like it or not. Lucky for me, I like citric woodies, hence the accolades. I cannot say for certain if the original batches of Eau Pour Homme were different or superior. Actually, I could care less since the current formula is what I'm reviewing and it's fine by me. The heart is at a polite volume and reveals su...

Who knows how many times I may have smelled this 1982 Armani offering on the female persuasion. Sampling it as I am, it has an air of familiarity and it also effortlessly telegraphs quality to those in smelling distance. This is a chypre with a dominant floral theme. It is complex, rich and has a sheen about it that you won't find in modern, feminine chypres. Armani opens aldehydic with a smidgeon of zest. There's green mixed in with the citric accord that works rather well. What I find really interesting is the contrast of Marigold and Pineapple as well in the top accord. A little bitter and a little sweet all blended to perfection. The rose and tuberose in the heart are yet another rendition I find to my liking. These two are apparent, yet the volume is perfect and the ingredients have to be top shelf to smell like this. This is very good juice indeed. There's an assist from jasmin and orris but the entire floral heart is smooth with a capital "S". The dry...

From Armani's Prive comes Bois d'encens. It's expensive, it's niche......and it just doesn't work on me overall. By no means a bad scent, Bois d'encens is about incense, but it's the opening accord that's the deal beaker for me. This starts out with a conglomeration I can only describe as a citric incense. It doesn't last long and I don't believe citrus is utilized here, but that's what assails my nose. Within moments, the incense makes its presence felt. It's a flat rendition and seemingly evokes a gray colour to my minds eye. However....it does improve after about 10 minutes and I'll explain..... There's a combination of wood and dominant frankincense that, once the settling down has occurred, truly gives the wearer a remarkable rendition of incense (with the ashes) that you would smell in church. I can say this with certainty since I was an altar boy as a lad. I recall that smell and this version literally has ash and a fla...