L’edition Imperiale is a men’s perfume that was created by perfumer Alexis Dadier on behalf of the cognac brand that is Courvoisier. This is a very unique perfume which is a distinct advantage in an industry that regularly churns out average quality products. The perfume will definitely stand out from the crowd and the review itself will pay testament to this fact.

The Brand

Courvoisier is a luxury cognac brand which is part of the  Beam Global Spirits Group. It has been on the market since 2007 and carries a heavy punch within the industry because of its distinctive products and excellent marketing technique. The brand plans to launch more perfumes for men. Perhaps they are working on a niche here. In any case I think their initial attempts have been very successful.

The Fragrance

This is a rather simple list of ingredients but the final product is far from simple. This is quite something to achieve. We start off with a homage to the fruits in the form of mandarin. We then take a herbal tour with coriander and cardamom. This then gives way to the rather unusual combination of tagette and smoked tea. The floral theme is provided by  royal calla lily and violet. The scent list is completed by cedar, vetiver, fir balsam, leather and amber.

The Packaging

For some unfathomable reason the packaging on this perfume reminds me of New York. The glass is made of ornate lines that are not floral but rather elongated like long fingers. The perfume itself is a golden color just like some rich black tea. The whole package gives off the air of confident sophistication that fits in with the overall impressions created by the perfume.

General Customer Feedback

The customers were almost universally pleased with the product. They commented that the perfume remained with them for a long time after the initial application but did not lose its great fragrance. It actually acquired new colors as it stayed on the clothes and body for longer. There was a particularly surreal comment from someone who said the perfume was too masculine but this negative comment seemed to be in the minority view.

Popularity: 5% [?]

This is the latest unisex perfume from the jewelry house Omnia. It is a carefully thought through and marketed perfume that attracts both the sexes in different ways. Ultimately it something of a triumph because it avoids many of the challenges that kill off mixed sex perfumes. It is pleasant to look at and smell. A good buy for everyone who cares about perfumes.

The Brand

Omnia is a jewelry house of Italian extraction that has had some success in the perfume industry. They have only started as early as 2009 but they already have about nine perfumes on the go which shows a determination and diligence towards the industry. I find their products innovative but not shocking. They are one of those brands that will quietly last a very long time. That is what you want in today’s competitive perfume industry.

The Fragrance

The perfume notes start off with hawthorn and jasmine. They then move on to lilac, rose and gardenia. The fresh theme is developed by geranium and orange. We have the obligatory spicy stuff such as nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon and white thyme. This then settles into the more familiar anise, cedar, patchouli and sandalwood. The perfume is completed by vetiver, vanilla and white musk. It might appear that the flavors are just too many to bring out a perfume that is coherent. However I was surprised to note that the final product was quite exceptional in its ability to blend all these complex scents into a rather calm final product

The Packaging

The best description that I can come up with is beautiful. This is really a wonderful bottle that reminds me of pearls. The golden liquid within is almost like honey and the labeling is that of clean black or gold lines. The whole feeling is elegant without necessarily offending either the feminine or masculine aspects of its composition. This is packaging that is comfortable for both men and women.

General Customer Feedback

The customers really enjoyed the perfume and commented on its ability to satisfy both the male and female elements of the customer base. Quite surprisingly for a new perfume, I did not find negatively in the boards that I visited. They praised its versatility and the kinds of aromatic flavors that it brought with it. I think the makers are onto a winner here. If they can continue in this vein, I am sure they will be up there with the perfume greats.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Canali for Men is created by Pierre Bourdon on behalf of the men’s apparel company Canali. It is not always successful but many fashion houses have decided that they would like to make accompanying fragrances for the outfits that they make. I am particularly impressed that this time the gentlemen are getting a look in.

The Brand

Canali is a well known fashion house for men. They tend to produce good quality stuff without the need to make some of the more showy gestures of the bigger fashion houses. It is wonderful to see them venturing into the fashion business and I for one would recommend it. I believe that their fashion sense is well brought into the perfume and they do work together.

The Fragrance

The fragrance notes list for Canali reads like a who is who of the perfume industry.  We start off with the customary  bergamot. This then goes all fruity into tangerine, pineapple and apple. We then go spicy with nutmeg, cardamom and coriander. The floral theme is provided by lily of the valley, jasmine, violet and orange blossom. There is then an attempt to make the perfume masculine with leather, suede, iris absolute, guaiac wood and cedar wood. The standard ingredients are not forgetten such as sandal, vetiver, tonka bean, amber and oakmoss. I have to say that there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

The Packaging

The packaging is strangely boring. It has that horrible brown bottle with the green top and I really cannot see any color or vibrancy. However this is a personal preference and you might like the packaging. Besides if they are trying to make the perfume safe then boring is the right way to go.

General Customer Feedback

Unfortunately for the perfume the customers were rather scathing about the fragrance itself. They felt that it was too floral and did not give them the masculinity they craved. I for one thought that this was a decent perfume. Perhaps you might like to try it and make up your mind.

Popularity: 4% [?]

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: 5% [?]

When the highly dynamic Thierry Mugler was venturing into the world of men’s fragrances, he chose to start with Angel and the results are quite impressive. It was a hint of the great color and vibrancy that he was to bring to a fledgling industry. The perfume is meant to shock but then to calm down into an old friend with a maculate career. There is some mumbo jumbo about the inspiration of two legends moving between the past and the future. Apparently this is the inspiration for this perfume but I do not buy it for one minute. However the merits of the perfume quickly make me forget the kind of nonsense that the inspiration is made out to be.

The Brand

Thierry Mugler is not for his innovative style within the industry and his ability to work within different contexts depending on the perfume that he is trying to design. As I said earlier, he brings a dynamism to the industry that it has frankly been lacking for a very long time. Most of the younger designers are just too full of themselves but Thierry Mugler shocks with good quality so you really cannot lump him with the modern charlatans.

The Fragrance

I understand the thinking behind the perfume was that women liked chocolate so if they could get a perfume that smelt like chocolate, they could get the women to like those men who wore the perfume. It sounds all rather contrived but in any case the perfume starts off with the feminine lavender which then moves into  Bergamote, Helional and  Peppermint . The culinary theme is continued with a hint of coffee. We then go back to the traditional fragrance list with  patchouli and styrax. Finally we end with the heartening scents of caramel, tonka bean, musk,  vanilla  and the all important Chocolate.

The Packaging

Now this is a very interesting box. It is made of a silver color but with a dark, almost black star. I kept thinking what this all meant because you never know what messages the designers might have left behind. However  I think that it fits in quite well with the innovative nature of the perfume and it goes a long way to complementing what is really something that serves as a shock to the system.

General Customer Feedback

The customers talked about the relative strangeness of the perfume. Some of them could not quite get over the scent of chocolate in the perfume and they suggested that perhaps the perfume would only suit men of a certain moral latitude. There were one or two negative comments to the  effect that they did not feel entirely decent wearing the perfume. However on balance I think they achieved their objective of making the public think and query.

Popularity: 5% [?]