Cologne, Aftershave, Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, etc.

[Dale Seago]

Interesting...

...personally, I use no products that have a smell, and eat no strong-smelling foods.

Everything in its proper time and place. I used to prepare for military missions in Korea by spending 2-3 weeks cutting down on red meat and eating lots of kimchi and garlic. Paid off too, and not just in dealing with my ROK military counterparts. I remember one lass admitting quite forthrightly that she'd never have considered doing. . .that. . .with most Americans because she didn't like the way they smelled -- but I was fine.

[RAF]

My lass and I were trying to describe the essence of the kilt in terms of scent. We came up with things like: peat, whiskey, leather, tabacco, misty Highland air, wool, etc.

I then did some searching and apparently such a fragrance actually exists! It is an "anti-celebrity" scent made by Christopher Brosius for the Scottish actor Alan Cumming. The notes it contains are listed as: Bergamot, Black Pepper, Scotch Pine, Malt Whiskey, Cigar, Heather, Douglas Fir, Rubber, Worn Leather, Highland Mud, Burnt Rubber, Peat Fire and White Truffle.

Needless to say, I'm very intrigued. Has anyone ever smelled this one before?

http://www.cbihateperfume.com/2nd-alan-cumming.html

Oh and for all those who dislike perfume, Brosius' company is called I Hate Perfume

The original:


New packaging, same smell:

Purchased a sample of this as I was curious (and proceeds go to charity) - it arrived today. I like the top notes of leather and rubber, but the middle notes were a bit too powdery sweet for my taste (not sure which elements listed above would leave such a scent.) The specific base notes I can't place either, but the lingering scent is soft, complex and pleasant. Clearly I could never be a "nose"!
Glad I tried it, but not likely to purchase the larger size in the near future.

[Bigkahuna]

I was given some very good advice once to the effect that a Lady should only be able to detect a Gentlemans scent when she is laying on his chest.

[Zardoz]

I have to admit at this point that the vast majority of stinkum I've ever been exposed to in my life all smells pretty much the same to me.
For years I have bought my wife perfume based more on the advertising than the smell! I bought my wife Lancome Miracle for years because Uma Thurman was in the ads.

I'm the same way with wines, the bottle might be 5 bucks or 50 bucks, tasts about the same to me. My sense of smell and taste isn't broken, I can identify plenty of things by smell and/or taste, but not everything I guess.

[Ryan Ross]

Everything in its proper time and place. I used to prepare for military missions in Korea by spending 2-3 weeks cutting down on red meat and eating lots of kimchi and garlic. Paid off too, and not just in dealing with my ROK military counterparts. I remember one lass admitting quite forthrightly that she'd never have considered doing. . .that. . .with most Americans because she didn't like the way they smelled -- but I was fine.

Aye- There is, indeed, a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sky. Mine is currently the season to run silent and deep.

[CMcG]

Okay, the 2nd (Alan) Cumming has arrived, and frankly though it IS nice I find it a bit of a letdown. Seems almost identical to something my nose recalls from the '70s that I can't quite place; and it's much more "delicate" than the "1903" scent from J. Peterman.

Mind you, my smeller is not at its best right now, as I'm recovering from a cold; so others' mileage may vary considerably. I'm going to have to subject it to the "lass comparison test", along with the Caswell & Massey #6 once I have that.

Perhaps they may have oversold this scent in the advertising because it would be hard to live up to the description... is that where the letdown comes from? Or the similarity to another scent?

The "lass comparison test" is key though, so let us know what the lady(ies) says! I tried Jacomo - Aura on my wrist recently and really liked the dry spicey woody qualities, but my lady-friend vetoed it because the musk in the base smelled sour to her. A few of the testers on paper of other scents that I liked, she thought smelled too strong or somehow rank...

Did you get the tester or the big bottle?

Purchased a sample of this as I was curious (and proceeds go to charity) - it arrived today. I like the top notes of leather and rubber, but the middle notes were a bit too powdery sweet for my taste (not sure which elements listed above would leave such a scent.) The specific base notes I can't place either, but the lingering scent is soft, complex and pleasant. Clearly I could never be a "nose"!
Glad I tried it, but not likely to purchase the larger size in the near future.

I've read some reviews that suggest Cumming is best as a formal scent, not for everyday. It's not too strong but has a complexity that is intriguing: masculine leather balanced against sweeter elements, and some notes that are pleasant but hard to identify...

How long do you think the sampler might last if you only used it a few times a year for special events?

[RAF]

I've read some reviews that suggest Cumming is best as a formal scent, not for everyday. It's not too strong but has a complexity that is intriguing: masculine leather balanced against sweeter elements, and some notes that are pleasant but hard to identify...

How long do you think the sampler might last if you only used it a few times a year for special events?

The sample is small, but I VERY RARELY wear scent, so it could last me 9 months to a year, especially if I use it just for more special occasions. And I would agree with the masculine/sweet complexity comment. I do like that I forget it's on - the scent stays close, so it's more for me and whoever may be close to me.

[CMcG]

The sample is small, but I VERY RARELY wear scent, so it could last me 9 months to a year, especially if I use it just for more special occasions. And I would agree with the masculine/sweet complexity comment. I do like that I forget it's on - the scent stays close, so it's more for me and whoever may be close to me.

Hmmmm... I think I'm still interested to try it, though I appreciate the reviews from you and Dale Seago. Unfortunately, the online shopping cart doesn't do international shipping and one apparently needs to make a special arrangement directly with the shop...

[herminator]

It's the actions of the inconsiderate that lead to rules that affect everyone.

So true!!

I use Crabtree shaving soap a generic deo and shower gel from the drugstore and Drakkar Noir for the special occasions when I want a scent.

Shalom
Hermann

[BoldHighlander]

As a further consideration, how loyal are people to their smell? For example Alan H. says the only product he really uses is Irish Spring; is that a long term situation or does it just happen to be the soap that was on-sale last week?

For myself, I've been wearing Old Spice deodorant exclusively since I hit puberty.

Once I find something I like (whatever that maybe) I'm extremely brand loyal.

Like some others I'm a wee bit sensitive (not allergic) to some scents and try to stay away from "perfumy" scents. However, I do on rare occasion (formal etc) wear Stetson cologne (just a little). When at the centennial celebration of the Pendleton Roundup in 2010, I really liked the sample of the new Let 'Er Buck cologne they were giving out (it is rather pricey so I grabbed up all the free samples I could! ). It must be the buckaroo in me!

When not wearing a hat, I wear a pomade in my hair that usually has its own scent (as does my shaving soap). I've very recently started using Lucky 13's Swagger Cream in my hair, which gives off a mild scent. Ditto with my moustache wax (Oregon Wild Hair wax), which is made of bees wax, lanolin, & natural musk.

I also use a non-odor natural deoderant salt stone.