Westbrook
Byredo (2015)

Bright vetiver opening that reminds me of ELDO Fat Electrician. Later, the vetiver gets smooth and creamy, reminding me of Vetiver Fatale. I see some comparisons to Bal D Afrique but I find that one has a darker, sweeter, nuttier smell.

7-8 hours longevity with a little better than average projection, good performance overall.

The opening blast is quite bright, with the Gin being quite restrained and not really very boozy on me.

The drydown adds on the violet, not a particularly dark one, with a green touch that is of a nonspecific leafy nature.

The base raises the stakes, with the initial freshness being enhanced by a bright vetiver; the latter lacks any earthiness or soil components. Then a smooth soft nigh-velvety suede impression arises, that sees woodsy and caramel-like discreet sweetness thrown into the olfactory ring.

I get moderate sillage, good projection and nine hours of longevity on my skin.

The first parts of this summery creation are fresh, uncomplicated but not without originality. The whole mix's synthetic nature is not too much reeking of laboratory chemistry only, and it is blended in quite a balanced fashion. The latter parts are the best, with the brighter and non-smoky suede the highlight of the performance. Overall just a positive score due to this late peak. 3/5.

I envy you, well if you have the ability to detect all the notes or at least most of the ones listed here.

For the first hour after application all I can make of this is a generic ho-hum-smelling violet fragrance. Okay, maybe not just violet but I'm not sure if I'm also smelling osmanthus and/or gin?

A little more after an hour then an amazing woodiness kicks in, the Vetiver and suede join the violet note and turn this scent into something that is so much more than I was expecting after such an ordinary start.

The vetiver, suede and violet notes are harmonious and authentic. Where is the tobacco?

This one, from Byredo, projects and lasts.

Clean and airy, a transparent gin and vetiver scent, with a faint hint of dry green bitterness that in my mind places it firmly in the masculine territory. Nice and versatile, with modest projection. Don't be swayed by the listed notes though, they are red herrings.

I must confess I'm not a basketball fan. I don't know who Russell Westbrook is. If this fragrance is a reflection of the kind of competitor he is then I guess he must be a competent though not particularly outstanding player. A team player. My kind of player.

That's why I'm giving this a thumbs up.

I have completely re thought my review of Westbrook. It has taken me a year or so to really smell this scent. The fragrance has two primary scents that bounce back and forth in the aura cloud. Very light sparkling gin mint aromatic top note is relaxing and very uplifting and this light effervescent gin note shares the stage with a dry suede note that connects to the gin aromatics with a cool and dry purple violet which opens into osmanthus, ambrette suede and dried tobacco leaves. Both the gin aroma and the violet/suede/tobacco complex are very excellent smells. The scent is a little confusing because there is not much to bridge these two very different scents, but the violet note does connect them briefly. I like the fragrance. I am not a big fan of the basketball player who it is named after especially after he left my team for another last year, but no question he is a great player and has a very interesting perfume with his name on it. I am happy to have a bottle of this quite rare and hard to find two faced scent.

Wow. Is this what all celebriscents should be like? High quality and high out of reach versus the cheap junk that is the status quo.

It wears a lot like a modern EdC though the strength is closer to a very good EdP. It's light, delicate and def unisex...which is the problem I have with it: it doesn't say 'Westbrook' (rough'n'tumble and hard core, at least on the court).

That said, it works well in hot weather, lending an air of coolness even in humid weather.

Now the bad part: $300+ for a good solid air of smell good? Bal D'Afrique is a better buy at half the asking price of this. Should be in the $190 to $250 range tops. I guess it's all about exclusivity.