Perfume Reviews by Professor Value

Cefiro by Floris

Magnifico! I've been looking for soapy scents and this one really delivers the suds. 🧼🫧 I had a bottle of vintage but sent it back as it smelled "off." The current NIB version I purchased instead is wonderfully clean and citrusy. Performance is okay; projection could be better but it maintains a close envelope so you'll get very pleasant whiffs for hours. This has some similarities to CK One as they're in the same neighborhood, however, it's definitely different and stands on its own; I happily have both. Highly recommend.

Re-charge Black Pepper by Molton Brown

I added this fragrance to my collection as a result of my pepper-forward jag a few years back. I own this EDP as well as the EDT. I see mixed reviews everywhere for the EDP. I like how the pepper and leather notes nicely come together with the others, and it even produces a hint of tobacco to me. Performance is very good. Nothing bad here. The only reason it might not be safe for a blind buy is due to price. Recommend.

Chevignon by Chevignon

Chevignon reminds me very much of Polo Green; they are houses right next door to each other in the same neighborhood. Here I go: I actually prefer Chevignon to Polo Green; scent is smoother, more versatile, performance is good, and prices for vintage are decent. Highly recommend.

Prada Amber pour Homme by Prada

I sometimes read reviews for fragrances that claim, "clean and soapy," and then, when I sample, they don't match that description. So, I am very happy to say this one IS clean and soapy, giving off a just-showered-with-a-high-quality-European-bar-soap scent. PAPH is very well blended, performance is excellent, and prices are reasonable. This one has quickly placed itself in my Top 20. My original purchase was a 50 ml bottle and have been liking this fragrance so much, I decided to go for a backup 100 ml bottle. I only have the purple liquid and not the newer gray version. Highly recommend trying.

Pour Un Homme Le Matin by Caron

I picked up a three-pack sampler: Pour Un Homme de Caron, Le Soir, and Le Matin. I'm thinking I really like Le Matin! I get a peppery scent at the beginning, and I thought it was going in that direction, but it dries down to something like a sweet barbershop fragrance that's very similar to Enrico Coveri Pour Homme or Borsalino, both of which I like very much. Le Matin has pretty good performance as well. I definitely recommend trying this one.

Chaz by Revlon

This came on my radar after a fellow posted it as their #SOTD on Basenotes. Intrigued, I made a deal with a seller for a vintage gift set (cologne and aftershave) by Revlon - Chaz Division. If there's a clear distinction between masculine scents of the 1970s and 1980s, Chaz makes it. This has an older classic vibe which I'm guessing is a result of the musk note in its base. It's very nice and I very much like it. Recommend. 👍

Horizon by Guy Laroche

I only recently discovered this delightful fragrance when a Basenoter posted it as their #SOTD. Soon afterwards, I pulled the trigger on a blind buy and I'm very happy with the result. Depending on which way the whiff is blowing, this either smells like Zest® brand soap or a fresh Santos de Cartier. It's in the great cheapie price neighborhood along with Lomani Pour Homme, Roger & Gallet's Open Black, and Jacomo's Aura for Men; Horizon on ebay at $7.50 delivered for a 50 ml bottle distributed by Cosmair makes it a very good buy. Performance is strong as well. Highly recommend.

Barbershop by Authenticity Perfumes

Did I need another barbershop scent? Yes. This Barbicide-colored, 50% oil concentration starts out with a blast of anise and then settles into a clean, fresh-shaven scent that's unlike anything else out there. Performance is excellent, bottle is solid, and sprayer works well. Prices are very reasonable for this 60 ml bottle and there's a continual 10% discount code offered as well as a 15% one during holidays. Recommend.

Driven by Dunhill

On Fragrantica, this perfume has a rating of 3.69 out of 5?! That's crazy. Do not allow that hold you back. Another thing, if I we're to see the main accords prior, I probably wouldn't have cared to even try it as I'm not a huge fan of warm spicy-fruity-citrus-sweet-vanilla fragrances, instead leaning more dry-green-herbal in the fougère/barbershop category.
I sampled every bottle on display at our JCPenney Sephora a few weeks ago and this scent spoke to me the most; performance is very good and can be worn year round; only $26.35 with free shipping on eBay. Recommend.

Adolfo for Men by Frances Denney

After my first wearing, I'm thinking this is nice (okay), but boarding on good as the scent is growing on me. AFM is a dry, green, herbal fragrance that's in the neighborhood of classics like Bogart (Signature), Basile Uomo, Maxim, and Equipage. Performance is decent. I purchased this on eBay for only $12.99 including free shipping for a lot of three bottles, and that is excellent.

New York Intense by Nicolaï

This scent is fabulous; it always puts a smile in my brain every time I get a whiff. While versatile, it has a slight air of sophistication that aligns well with special, formal occasions. A kind fellow BN member gave me decants of NY EDT and NYI EDP; both are good but I opted for the latter as it's definitely more of everything good, making NYI an excellent fragrance and a true "intense" version. Performance is very good and prices are reasonable. Highly recommend.

Toy Boy by Moschino

I had a four-hour layover in Detroit and discovered that they have a World Duty Free store, so I spent an hour sampling fragrances. This one really struck a cord with me, but decided to ease into it with a 5 ml mini bottle purchased on ebay for under $10 including shipping. Toy Boy ever so slightly reminds me of Royal Mayfair, which I love. I like TB's rosey-floral-spicy scent, and performance is good, but I'm not feelin' a full-sized bottle is in my future. I recommend test driving this one first.

Hero Eau de Parfum by Burberry

Overall, a well-performing, very pleasant, sweet tobacco-type scent that reminds me of Herod by Parfums de Marley and 1 Million Privé by Paco Rabanne. Since I already have a bottle of the latter, as well as Oakcha Moira, CK Shock, and Alexandria Fragrances Arabian Horse, redundancy is a factor here, so I'm not compelled to pursue Hero EDP. Recommend.

Invictus Victory Elixir by Paco Rabanne

Received this in a box of samples from Macy's. I'm not a "modern fragrance guy," but this has a note or two in it that I find very pleasant, and those notes remind me of another brand I like but it's not coming to me. The scent is on the warm spicy side. Recommend.

Design for Men by Paul Sebastian

While not awesome, it is adequate; similar to Iceberg PH, plus a slight spicy sweetness, and I'm getting better performance with Design.

Power by 50 Cent

Back when I was on a pepper-forward scent search, I purchased a small, capless bottle on ebay for dirt cheap, including shipping. I get a peppery-citrus-spicy fragrance with okay performance. It's nice, but not one I'll be replacing. Mild recommend.

Sir Irisch Moos by Sir

Irisch Moos is okay; I'm not gaga about it and I believe it's a overpriced. It has an unexpected funky, old smelling note that's a little less than appealing and makes it more like a drugstore cologne. I love green fragrances and fougères, and there are less expensive, easier to find ones out there. Recommend trying before buying or starting off with a partial bottle at a lower price. It does make a nice novelty scent to wear on St. Patrick's Day! 🍀

Escada Homme by Escada

I kind ebay seller included a 10% full bottle with my order a year or so ago and I finally emptied it. This is a pleasant "classy" spicy-woody scent that has good overall performance. It's a little less than masculine, IMO, and maybe one to use for special events and occasions.

Denim by Denim

As a result of a kind fellow Basenoter who sent me a decant, I just ordered a bottle on Amazon at a great price, only $18! IMO, it's in the Fenti/Antaeus/Trussardi neighborhood with a masculine, rugged, dusty-powdery base (the only "powder" I like). If this was called something like "Bellabravio," I'd bet it could be branded as a more sophisticated, upscale scent. Performance is very good. Highly recommend.
UPDATE: I just purchased a backup bottle.

No. 89 by Floris

Been wanting to try this for a while. Purchased one carded sample and the seller kindly added a second one free.
Kinda flowery, kinda powdery, kinda not full-bottle worthy, IMO, and performance is lackluster. I'd like to add that it is pleasant and totally understandable how others may like it very much. I find the "skin scent" it becomes, fairly quickly after the dry down, is better than the initial blast; it's at this time the notes come together better and produce a unified scent that leans citrusy-powdery.

Spark for Men by Liz Claiborne

Meh. It's another warm, spicy scent for fall or winter, with just okay performance. Overall, very mediocre. It's low price and widespread availability are its best assets. I'm glad I only paid $3 and only got a mini bottle.

L'Homme À la rose by Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Received a sample in my Bloomingdale's freebies box. A little of this goes a long way; performance is great. After a few wearings, I decided I really liked it and was watching it online for a full-sized bottle buy. However, I eventually came to the conclusion that it's just too much rose and not enough of any other notes to make it more interesting and lean a little more masculine. So, I'm passing. My favorite is this neighborhood is still Creed's Royal Mayfair.

Defy by Calvin Klein

At this time, I see that six of us, deservedly so, pooh-poohed the EDT in its reviews, including me. However, I'm really liking this EDP, and I'm not typically a "modern fragrance guy." I find it to be a very pleasant spicy-leather scent that leans citrus fresh. Performance is very good. While I only have a Macy's sample now, I'm very seriously considering going full-sized bottle. Recommend.

Furyo by Jacques Bogart

I blind bought this based on reviews here and on that other site that starts with an "F," and I am very happy with my purchase! Furyo is a "funky" fragrance that's right up my alley; for reference, I also like Yatagan, Chypre-Siam, Quorum, and Kouros which Furyo immediately reminded me of. I see "powdery" in its note tree which would normally make me hesitate, but this is more "dusty" and I like it. Performance is really very impressive as is it's price point on Amazon. Recommend.