The perfume is the work of the two perfumers François Coty and Vincent Roubert. This is one of the revival perfumes that is meant to bring tears to those that remember the heydays of the perfume. In this perspective we can consider the perfume as a reflection of the changing times and a look to the future of the perfume industry. The latest incarnation is somewhat softer than the older versions. Perhaps they have done this in homage to the metro sexual craze.

The Brand

The perfume belongs to the clothing firm Knize. They have been in operation from around  1858. However the perfume Knize Ten was brought onto the market around 1924. There have been various alternations to the perfume to ensure that it fits in with modern tastes and many of these attempts have been successful. The overriding principle is that the perfume has stayed the course of history.

The Fragrance

There is a complicated list of ingredients that make up the original perfume including lemon, bergamot, orange and petitgrain. We then move on to rosemary,  geranium, rose, cedar, orris, carnation and  cinnamon. A contrast is provided by orange blossom, sandalwood, leather and musk. The perfume then comes to moss, patchouli, ambergris, castoreum and vanilla. Thus one has the classic combination of soft yet sweet. This is the perfect combination for the masculine market.

The Packaging

The packaging is typically French and it gives the impression of wood for some reason. The bottles are simple but the focus is taken to the little pattern right at the top of the bottle in  the front which looks like something against the Trident Nuclear plant. However it is all done tastefully.

General Customer Feedback

Many of the readers were delighted that such an old fragrance is still making the waves. The nostalgia is there but the perfume itself has the merits to warrant such attentions. It has stayed the course through various tribulations and has retained an element of its own identity despite all the attempts to make it appeal to the modern general. It is really an example of how to create a long lasting perfume for the general public.

Popularity: 24% [?]

And now for something totally different. Azzaro by Loris Azzaro has been with us since 1978 but it does not have the brand power that you would associate with established houses such as Chanel. However the fact that it has stayed for such a long time means that they have something to offer. My own persona theory is that it is such niche perfume that it tends to retain all of its customers regardless of what is happening around the world in terms of fashions. In any case I like the concept of Azzaro as a masculine perfume for men.

The Brand

As I mentioned in the short extract above, the brand is not particularly well known outside the circles of those connoisseurs who patronize the fragrance. The strongest selling point for the perfume is its unabashed masculinity and its simplicity of execution which brings to the fore quite powerful elements in a non formulaic way. This is a perfume for men and it says so from the time you open the packet.

The Fragrance

The fragrance list for Azzaro is surprising because it is not entirely obvious that it will be  a very masculine perfume until you actually sample it.  It starts off with the mildest hint of lavender and then some spices. This is a perplexing combination but I have found that it is often used in these high end perfumes. Suddenly the perfume hits you with its full masculinity when it moves into wood, musk, basil and sandalwood. You then definitely know that this is a man’s fragrance but it also has lighter elements that will appeal to the ladies.

The Packaging

Although it looks like something from star wars, I absolutely  love the packaging on the perfume. The combination of jet black with the clear bottle and the golden liquid within gives the impression of planned luxury. It almost seems as if the precious liquid is encased within  a protective glass shield and I for one would give top marks for the packaging on this one.

General Customer Feedback

Quite surprising none of the men who reviewed this problem had any problem with the overtly masculine overtones. They all gave it the thumbs up  and encouragingly for the manufacturers some even said that they would continue using the perfume for years to come. All in all I think this is a spectacular triumph. It is not surprising to me that Azzaro is  set to remain a strong presence in the men’s perfume sector.

Popularity: 7% [?]

This is a rather old perfume but I have just taken the time to review it recently. I have to admit that I have always used it because of the effects that it is reputed to have on the ladies. I do not know whether it works but not to put too fine point on it, I think this is a great perfume that does justice to the brand that has created it. Even today it still resonates with the public despite being on the market for such a long time. That is the mark of a really great product.

The Brand

Giorgio Armani is one of those designer fashion houses that you cannot simply get away from even if you wanted to . It produces a wide range of cosmetic products for men including perfume and toiletries. It is one of these establishment brands that have decided to branch even further into clothing and other products. Essentially they are a good solid bet for perfumes and they produce products that you can wear again and again.

The Fragrance

By some of the standards I have seen so far the perfume has a relatively simple formula which contains lavender to start off with. I am not sure this is the best way to open a masculine fragrance but there you have it. It then moves on to more culinary flavors such as  juniper and cumin. Once again a strange combination but you have to go back to the final product in order to make a good judgment. The perfume then ends with  ylang-ylang, sandalwood and amber. This give the masculine element that appears to be lacking at first blush. I think generally the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts in this case.

The Packaging

I am afraid the packing is rather a letdown. The word that keeps coming to mind is a medicine cabinet or even a oil store. It is a white boring plastic looking thing with the now famous Giorgio Armani labels on top. It is a pity that they did not spend as much time on the packaging as they did on the perfume itself because the two could have been a winning combination.

General Customer Feedback

The word that keeps coming up in the customer reviews is “sexy”. It seems that everyone is convinced that this perfume is the way forward to getting a life partner because it is very attractive. Generally I found that everyone was a happy which is a great achievement in itself for such an old perfume.

Popularity: 7% [?]