Only the Brave is the latest brave attempt from Diesel. Sporting the image of Serena Williams’ alleged boyfriend, it is a fantastic perfume for gentlemen across the spectrum. It is not one of the standard issue fragrances that do not have any particular distinction apart from a celebrity endorsement. This is a rather solid and dependable perfume for men.

The Brand

Diesel has built a reputation as one of the leading providers of perfumes that appeal to teenage boys in particular. They tend to have sweet smelling perfumes with a definite masculine flavor that makes them the teenager’s dream. However this is not to say that grown gentlemen cannot enjoy the great products from Diesel. It is in fact a very good choice for all occasions in terms of building the customer base.

The Fragrance

The fragrance opens with lemon, leather, cedar and amber. I like the simplicity of the ingredients which start with the fresh lemon. This is a flavor that never fails to make a perfume fresh no matter what else is added to mask the distinctive flavor of lemon. In my book it is always a winner no matter what the occasion is. The leather is an interesting theme because it brings in the masculinity that is further emphasized by the presence of cedar and amber. All in all this is a well balanced perfume.

The Packaging

The packing is quite striking with a glass fist that is topped by the elaborate silver cap. I think this is a great packaging because it says that the perfume is definitely masculine. Moreover it is something that would interest someone on the mantle or drawer because it has such striking features. Some people might find the fist a touch aggressive for their tastes.

General Customer Feedback

This is not a perfume that was ever going to fail the customer feedback test because it has been well set up and delivers a good punch. The feedback is universally good and many gentlemen promised to buy it, even if for the purposes of owning the brave fist. I would buy one sample for myself if I was near the shops.

Popularity: 11% [?]

If there was a name that was suggestive then the top prize has to go to illicit.  Unfortunately this was the only fragrance from the company to date. This is such a shame because they showed such promise when they brought out illicit that we thought the dream would go on forever. I would definitely like to see more of Billy Jealousy in the perfume business.

The Brand

Billy Jealousy is a manufacturer of men’s grooming products in the great state of Texas. They debuted illicit and then gave it a miss. The company targets the modern man with products that are practical and stylish at the same time. Their grooming products emphasize the all American wholesome values but with a hint of naughtiness as seen by the titling.

The Fragrance

Illicit starts off with bergamot followed by ginger . The masculinity is emphasized by the presence of sandalwood and musk . This creates a perfume that is just too standard to create any lasting professions. It could be any number of sports fragrances that lie on the market. You could then wonder why I thought they had promise. My idea to give them a thumbs up for showing promise is that they are able to create a quite competent perfume from very simple ingredients. I am afraid that this is an art that has been lost in the modern age of experimentation therefore anyone who tries has to be commended.

The Packaging

Strangely enough the packaging looks like a spirit bottle. In particular it reminds me of Vodka with the black dragon like labeling. I suppose they wanted to maintain a link with their clothing industry in general and the jeans section in particular. It is a sporty king of packaging but it does not raise the temperature.

General Customer Feedback

People who tended to like this perfume were those that always preferred the simple things in life. One customer suggested that it would be a perfect perfume for the busy teenager. I couldn’t agree  more with this sentiment. I wish that the makers would go bold and create a stunning creation that would launch them firmly in the perfume world.

Popularity: 8% [?]