Friktion for Men
Avon (2000)

Avon Friktion for Men (2000) is a spicy oriental men's fragrance that was the start of a DNA Avon would weave into future oriental and gourmand fragrances like Intrigue (2001), Passion Dance for Men (2004), and eventually Tomorrow for Men (2005). It was common in the 2000's, when Avon was cranking out somewhere like a half-dozen new releases for men a year (and double that for women) to shuffle around top and heart notes but keep about 70% of the base intact, forming iterative evolutions of a core idea. Part of me thinks this was refinement of mods from a single brief to form a low-key unofficial roughshod form of consumer testing, where initial sales determined if they should keep a scent in production or pull it six months later to remake it as something else next year; but part of me also thinks the increasingly frenzied release and discontinuation cycle Avon used to generate fear of missing out was the cause and not the consequence of such iterative perfume design, especially since it made R&D time for each scent into "crunch time". In any case, Frikton for Men lasted all of a single year in the US catalogs, and smells a bit ahead of its time in regards to design, plus got a larger product push than things borrowing its DNA, seeing a ton of accessories bundled with it in giftsets or sold separately. Frikton also seems to be one of the easier-to-find Avon masculines from this period, telling me nobody bought it besides the Avon ladies that liked to stock items for customers. Whoops.

The overall theme of Friktion for Men is to be an ambery oriental, but it has gourmand tones that would be more popularized into the latter half of the 2000's with designers like Kenneth Cole RSVP (2006) And Dolce & Gabbana The One for Men (2008). The opening is cinnamon and fiery red pepper, mixed with a bit of pink pepper; this last bit was very forward-thinking as pink pepper was years away from being a ubiquitous note in men's fragrance openings. This spicy kick is smoothed some with lavender and clary sage in the heart, two very safe (and very Avon) masculine note inclusions, but nutmeg, rosemary, a bit of cardamom, and sweetness bring in more of the gourmand goods. The base is that smooth Avon amber combined with tonka, musk, and a bit of balsam fir woodiness. The way Avon handles its amber here is the DNA between this, Intrigue, Passion Dance, and Tomorrow, as mentioned above. Being the first of this iterative processes, Friktion feels the least like a proper gourmand, especially with the odd barbershop tones sandwiched in the middle, but the pink pepper in such early form proves Avon can be forward-thinking despite their usual low-risk style. Wear time is about eight hours, and although most of the scent fades by then, a lovely peppery Avon amber laced with woods lingers behind until past the eight hour mark. Best use is in winter for sure, and Frikton feels like a good dating choice as it's spicy but subdued. The cog bottle is a bit cheesy, so don't let your object of infatuation see you apply your scent before heading out.

All told, Friktion for Men had stiff competition within Avon's own stables and from without as well, so it landed like a voice in a chorus and quickly became background melody. Perceive for Men (2000) and Avon Uomo (2000) also launched, even if the latter targeted more mature buyers, plus all the designer gourmands from Givenchy, Rochas, Yohji Yamamoto, and Mugler kept the guys with deeper pockets busy. I'm not saying Avon shouldn't have tried making gourmand orientals for guys, but maybe waiting until they had become mainstream enough for blue collar Joe to know what they are would have been better, and we were still a few years away from that in 2000. As for the DNA itself, Avon would perfect it in gourmand form by Tomorrow for Men, which was also a timely release in 2005, and naturally is the one that caught on and stayed (at least in European markets). I really enjoy Friktion, but my opinion is perhaps informed by the "newness" of this to my collection, since it's one I missed back in 2000 when it was released and I bought my first round of Avons on my own, making me 20 years late to the party on this poor fella. Intrigue was my first dip into this style of fragrance from the brand, and this feels like it's weird cousin. If a spicy ambery gourmand with traditional masculine elements spliced in sounds like a good time (aka Red Hots mixed with aftershave and amber), Friktion for Men may have what it takes to turn you on. Otherwise, this stuff may just grind your gears instead. Thumbs up.

Not bad, not bad at all- tough a bit too sweet for my personal taste, it is a good quality and less conventional youth-oriented casual scent. Partly, i find it better than most Bosses, Emporios and Davidoffs for the same target, age group and dress code, tough financially speaking for much less. More, unlike many of these scents, it has an extra touch of non-synthetic aromatics with a more manly, artistic and exotic touch. Somewhere in between the low- cost ( but often high-quality) Orientals by the Body Shop, chiefly Javari and all these iconic french Gourmand Orientals by Thierry mugler, Guerlain, YSL, Cartier, JPG that continuosly fascinate experienced and high standard perfume lovers. Inspite of the name, the commercial, the affordable price, it is only marginally triggered at energetic, easygoing, low-maintenance and horny young people, as it has a more outlandish, bohemian, dandyfied, conoisseur and mysterious twist. Not my favourite, but pretty close to being so.