California Blues

California Blues is one of those scents that doesn’t try to be more than it is—and honestly, it pulls that off well. It’s said to be a take on Maison Margiela’s Jazz Club, and while I haven’t gone deep comparing the two, what I get here is a pretty consistent, strong profile that sticks around. From the start, it’s a steady blend of tobacco and sweetness. The mix doesn’t shift much, which might bother someone looking for a scent that evolves or tells a long story—but in this case, I think the simplicity works. The tobacco gives it a bit of grit and mystery, while the sweetness smooths it out. Neither one overpowers the other. It’s not a fruity sweetness or musky either—just a general warm kind that gives the whole thing balance. There’s edge, but it’s rounded. Projection surprised me a bit. After 3–4 hours, it still pushes out beyond arm’s length. That’s more than I usually expect, especially from something at this price point. Longevity sits around 5–7 hours for me. That’s enough for most of the day, and I’m good with that. Yes, it can smell synthetic at times. But in this case, that doesn’t kill the experience. The scent is clear about what it’s doing: no layers, no big twists—just a solid, sweet tobacco blend that leans more “cool evening out” than “office.” If you’re looking for complexity, this won’t be it. But if you’re into something simple that makes a clean statement—sweet with an edge—this one nails it.

~California Blues By Alexandria Fragrances Review~ I have now had this fragrance for 5 months at the time of this review. I want to mention like most AF fragrances the scent will macerate and the note composition will slightly change overtime. The opening is a candied tobacco note with what I’d describe as a sweet shaving cream vanilla accompaniment. With a lovely pure masculine vanilla base in the dry down, the tobacco takes a back seat but is still prevalent. Here the tobacco used is not at all Smokey or the traditional tobacco, more akin to a fruity candied tobacco but I wouldn’t say it is very fruity at all. A very pleasant and long-lasting fragrance, I don’t think it’s possible to dislike this fragrance, it’s very safe but in today's market, no one will smell like you. Easily 10 hours on skin and a day on clothes. Projection is moderate throughout the fragrance's lifespan but i guarantee you will leave behind an amazing scent trail. It’s not for everyone but for the distinguished gentleman who wants a relaxing day.

Before I got my full size bottle of Jazz Club, I had a 10ml travel size, and I loved it. Due to the cost of the Replica line (it has since gone up more) I bought a 30ml of this when it was first released. It is a solid take, deep wood, some sweetness, but not quite Gourmand. Vanilla is listed, but I get more of a boozy dry tobacco. I don’t feel it is bang on with Jazz Club, but close enough you will get the vibe, and in any case it really is an enjoyable fragrance. I consider this a cool, even cold weather scent, for a mature sophisticated male. This is not playful per say, but flirty and even seductive. Just keep in mind the price per volume of this clone is close to what the authentic fragrance costs, but this is the cheaper alternative for a 30ml that will last a long time, as IMO this is not a daily wear kind of fragrance, it is a TREAT!

Just received my small 30ml bottle of this today. WOW is it powerful!! Loving it so far!! When I sprayed this on the test strip I got a blast of this ancient smelling vanilla (guessing that's the tobacco mixed with the vanilla) and undertones of incense or smokiness. I haven't gotten any rum or anything yet, but I'm wearing it on skin when going out tonight...I'll report back with an update when I get back home! (Later that night...) Okay...back home after an evening out. This fragrance SLAPS!! I sprayed it once behind each ear and once behind my neck. PROJECTION PROJECTION PROJECTION!!! Not only did it last all night, it also projected all night! I went all over a building leaving a sillage trail behind me of "California Blues" and I KNOW that two people stopped and talked to me leaning in to smell the fragrance more. It was interesting to see people reacting to it and wanting to smell more! Yup...definitely picking up a big-boy bottle of this. Pretty amazing stuff! 08NOV22 Update: The balance of this bottle shifted somewhat over the past month. It's an almost all "Woody" smell when I spray it now. I am guessing that's the Tobacco note in the fragrance because I smell the same note (just a LOT LESS of it) in the "Upside Down" fragrance from Alexandria Fragrances. No more vanilla...just a minimal amount of the rum and then this nuclear level "Wood/Tobacco" note. I may relegate this 30ml bottle to being an additive to my own fragrance creations as a strong "Wood" note in the base. When I mix this with a vanilla frag at a ratio of 10:1 it balances out perfectly. The wood/tobacco note in AF compositions is hella strong... EDIT: This smells EXACTLY like the drydown of "E.L.D.O. - Frustration". 25AUG23: Wearing this today layered with "Lattafa - Khamrah" and "CH - Mystery Tobacco". It's giving the entire mix that woody-tobacco nuclear tone and I'm loving it!! I have to remember to get a large bottle of this frag this year during "Black Friday". This is the performance level that ALL tobacco fragrances should have.

Love the scent but unfortunately the performance is TERRIBLE (as is the case with most Alexandria Fragrances unfortunately). I apply it and within about 30min, it is barely detectable unless you are right up against the location you applied it to. I wouldn't pay $65 for a bottle of this again... my advice is just save up and buy the actual Jazz Club.