Steel Sugar

Mmmm, I really like how this scent smells on me haha. Seems worth a lot more than what little I paid for it too. Anyway, I wouldn’t necessarily say this is a through and through gourmand like some of the other Aquolinas. It is but it isn’t because its kind of sweet but also a bit aromatic (lavender) that balances it into something in the direction of gourmand but not completely. Either way I love it! Its so easy to wear and feels like such a perfect fit for me! Overall I’d best describe the scent as an aromatic lavender that has a good dose of warmed up ginger operating in equal support. And a nice balanced solid stream of sweetness carrying it all along. Not at all cloying but just right sweetness. Some of the other notes are there like the cinnamon and tobacco that warm it up perfectly as it dries down (where the ‘gingerbread’ aspect comes into play a bit more) but you wouldn’t necessarily pick those notes out, they just undercurrent the scent to help give it warmth and body. The angelica adds a bit of sweet musky powderiness (think Prada Luna Rossa Black) and a very slight freshness lingering from the citrus and apple. But again not notes you’d pick out, they just serve to add more depth. The woods aren’t apparent to me. One of the best parts I love about this scent though is that as it dries down the notes tend to meld more and more - which only serves to make it nicer and nicer as the wear goes on. And the sweetness comes up a little more too, but still not cloying in any way, all of which I love. I don’t wear this in winter because it upsets the balance and I’ve consistently found kills off some of the best nuances of the aroma. On me it’s best with a little spring or autumn warmth to bring out its full proper flavour. Even summer nights (think dates etc), just not high heat as some natural suppression seems to help keep the balance. Overall I really do love it and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. Definitely one of the best budget scents I own!

I agree with bpmck78 on this. It sits in the realm of D&G The One and La Nuit de l'Homme. It also has a little hint of Rochas Man vibe and a drydown Musk of JPG Le Male. This really could've done without the Angelica in the opening. It adds a watery sweetness that gives off a chemical vibe. I rarely like anything with Angelica in it because it dominates other notes too easily. I really like the drydown to this. It's a great fragrance for days you don't really care what you are wearing or just want a break from the norm. You could easily never smell this and you wouldn't miss out on anything.

Love this! Its perfect for warmer weather, spring especially but very good for summer days as well. Nothing like the other more "gourmand-ish" Aqualinas. It's very fresh, fun, floral and sexy. A very happy and uplifting fragrance in my opinion. Even a little on the unisex side since it has that floral feel to it. I personally don't get the gingerbread note described, I get more of a sweet fresh feeling that I really do love. Sillage and longevity are pretty basic, nothing crazy but for the warmer months you really wouldn't want anything stronger.

This is very nice. I originally bought it for myself but it is too masculine. I love the gingerbread note and I also smell a lot of cedar, bergamot, tobacco and lavender. It is a really good scent so I am giving it to my fiance. It lasts forever too which is wonderful. Found it for 8 dollars at nordstroms rack which was awesome. Edit: The more that I spray this the more that I think I can wear it as a woman. The initial spray is quite masculine but the dry down is pretty sweet.

This smells a little like Serge Lutens Chergui to me! Does anybody else here have both, I am wondering if I am not the only one that thinks they smell similar, or maybe I am just stroking out. It definitely does not perform like Chergui, I only get an hour or two before it fades away. Powdery, tobacco, some sweetness. I can see this being very polarizing just like Chergui. I mean, who would clone Chergui, my nose must be broke for real!

This is soo soo Sexy to me! If I had a guy to baptize with this stuff I would!!! Its so manly and strong and spicy _with just the right kind of sweet. I'm wacky enough to put it on. It'd be an interesting contrast for my looks<3 One sprits will do though, this stuff packs a lovely punch*

This is the second Aquolina scent that I own. As much as I like this, this was a slight disappointment. Most people seam to feel that way. I and others assumed it would be sweet and gourmand like Blue sugar but it ended up smelling like axe. I like it though.

Smells like the metallic baking sheet you just finished baking gingerbread biscuits on. Spicy, warm, and sweet, but definitely with a metallic backdrop. Perfect for slightly warm/cool weather, creates a nice little bubble around the body.

This one was so good and one of my favs. I finished my bottle and am really sad about it. I loved it. I hate they discontinued such a nice fragrance. Smells so masculine but unisex at the same time which is what I adored so much about it.

Smells like niche or designer at a bargain price. This is a very sweet tobacco fragrance. I don't get gingerbread at all other than it is sweet. sweet tobacco fragrance with a little fougere mixed in, masculine but sweet

Sooooo strong but sweet. I like the notes in this but I disagree on this being unisex. Regardless I will find a way to wear it sometime. Edit 12/31: Ok I take it back it’s unisex plus it lasts long! I'm in love

i love this one it smells really good fresh,makes me feel good when i put it on , lasts a long time on me 8 plus hours one lady at my work says is smells real good so that is a plus

this is honestly unisex to me. I use it and I’m a woman who likes scents like this. They’re very very chill and for everyday use.

Yes very nice scent! AND LONG LASTING sweet and fresh. for 4 season. MADE IN ITALY SCENT. 5 STARS FOR ITALY. GRAZIE! LOVE IT.

it is very weak, it has no sillage and no longevity at all. It was a big mistake buying this.

WOW! LOVE IT! Sweet, sweet! and very long lasting. Stunning! Italy is the best!

very very unisex and friendly for females to wear too, not just for the guys!

Aquolina Steel Sugar EDT opens with a moderate projection of very sweet, citrus, spicy, woody, and tobacco notes. The opening is fresh, versatile, intense, delectable, unique, and very pleasant. The combination of tobacco and the gourmand gingerbread creates a very unique scent, bold, dark, delectable, sweet, and tasty, simultaneously. The bergamot and apple are brief opening notes, citrusy and fresh fruity apple but they don’t last long. The angelica is not a featured note but noticeable, and in combination with the cedar, it creates a woody, rooty, and slightly musky accord enhancing and sharpening other notes. Both, the tobacco, and gingerbread are the featured and most prominent notes, the tobacco is evocative of blonde tobacco, not pungent but noticeable; the gingerbread is the delectable note, it combines multiple accords, sweet, honey, cinnamon, ginger, spicy, and cookie-like, very tasty. As the fragrance dries down, the labdanum becomes noticeable introducing an amber, woody, light ambergris, soft leathery touch that improves the projection but smooths other notes. The fragrance has a few and important opening to dry down changes, the opening, is fresh, the citruses, lavender, and cedar are crisp and intense, the fragrance feels fresh, woody, and delectable. As time passes the gingerbread and tobacco continue their development, the labdanum comes soon after, turning the fragrance into a sweet, dry, ambery, and slightly leathery scent; the gingerbread loses some of its gourmand details becoming a note similar to tonka bean and caramel, mostly a sweet accord. Once Aquolina Steel Sugar EDT has reached its full dry down, it can be summarized as a moderate projection, sweet, tobacco, gingerbread, spicy, and ambery fragrance with woody and light leathery accords. The fragrance feels casual, comforting, common, dry, gourmand, slightly leathery, masculine, mild, moderate-quality, modern, playful, resinous, sweet, syrupy, warm, woody, and pleasant. BATCH REVIEWED: 2020. WOW RATING: 7/10. A good sweet tobacco fragrance, but not impressive. DISLIKE RATING: 3/10. It is very sweet and the tobacco is noticeable. UNIQUENESS: 5/10. Sweet tobacco fragrances are relatively common. MASS APPEAL: 7/10. This is a fragrance that many will enjoy. PROJECTION: 3/10. Moderate to low, about 3 feet around the wearer. SILLAGE: 4/10. Moderate, about 3 feet behind the wearer. APPLICATION: 6 atomizations. LONGEVITY: 5/10. Good, about 5 hours, it projects well for 2 hours. SEASONS: Winter, fall, colder days, daytime, nighttime, and climate-controlled environments. OCCASIONS: Outdoor gatherings, gym, office, casual, holidays, vacations. This is an office-friendly fragrance. VERSATILITY: 5/10. A good sweet tobacco fragrance ideal for mild or cold weather and casual wear. GENDER: Masculine, the tobacco, and slightly leathery accord lean it to the masculine side. AGES: Any. RECOMMENDATION: Aquolina Steel Sugar EDT can be found for $20, in essence, it is a nice sweet tobacco fragrance, the quality isn’t the best and the gingerbread loses most of its charm towards the dry down, but for its price, it delivers a reasonable value. It is nice to have. BLIND-BUY: Yes, but only if you are familiar with its main notes. SIMILAR: These are examples of fragrances in the same genre. Armaf Tag Him Prestige Edition Men EDT a very good, sweet, mild powdery, citrus blood orange, floral lavender, and spicy fragrance; Azzaro Wanted by Night EDP is fantastic very sweet, cinnamon, fruity/citrusy, leathery, tobacco and incense accords; Calvin Klein Obsessed is a great and affordable, very sweet, resinous, and leathery fragrance; Calvin Klein Obsession Men EDT is a classy, mildly sweet, myrrh, amber, spicy cinnamon, woody, and musky fragrance; Costume National Homme EDP is a good sweet, cardamom, spicy, and pleasant fragrance; Jacques Bogart Club 75 is a great, affordable, sweet orange and cinnamon scent; Charriol Pour Homme EDP is a good, mildly sweet, resinous, leather, and cinnamon fragrance; Aquolina Steel Sugar EDT is a good, mild, sweet, tobacco, gingerbread, spicy, and ambery fragrance. SUMMARY: A moderate projection, sweet, tobacco, gingerbread, spicy, and ambery fragrance with woody and light leathery accords. The fragrance feels casual, comforting, common, dry, gourmand, slightly leathery, masculine, mild, moderate-quality, modern, playful, resinous, sweet, syrupy, warm, woody, and pleasant.

At first spray, I was put off for the first minute. But once the dry down kicks in...You might love it. It's a big gingerbread scent mixed with a crayon type of scent. IMO...that's what I get. I'd give this some more time and see if anyone like it. UPDATE: This is a very different scent...I don't hate it or love it. It's sweet and manly, long lasting, and lots more. But I still get that crayon scent mixed in. Is it just me? I used six sprays...both wrist, back & front of my neck, chest, and front of my shirt. Will I buy this again?No. Does this fragrance enter BEAST MODE, good, just okay or weak sauce at best? Beast Mode! What's the strength of this? EDT. Am I willing to trade this fragrance? Yes. Should You Skipped It, Sample It First or Blind Buy It? You can blind buy it, it's only $10(maybe less than $10) - $14 bucks. But this scent might not be for everyone...Here's where I would say sample it. But you can get this for ten bucks. So if you're interested, skip the sample. Can you use it as a unisex scent? Yes. Is it the old, new formulation? New. What's its availability; in production, limited edition or discontinued? In production. SKU Number: 8004995632972 Batch Number: 05813014 (Production Date: 2013) Age: Any From: FragranceNet Size: 100 ML Scent: 3.5/5 (Okay). Value: 5/5 (Cost $10.00). Sillage: 5/5 (Fills the room). Longevity: 4/5 (Eight hours max). Creativity: 3.5/5 (Sweet, earthy, gingerbread scent). Projection: 3/5 (Two hours). Versatility: 5/5 (Anytime & anywhere). Compliments: 3/5 (No one around to smell it). Until next time, I'll catch you on the flipside.

My thoughts about the fragrance: Steel Sugar is arguably the flop of the aquolina house. Attracting gourmand lovers with it's sweet and foody blends steel sugar fell short of the expectations of it's fans. With blue sugar and black sugar being very unisex, I find steel more on the masculine side. Once again alienating most of aquolina's pink/blue/black sugar female fans.Which leaves our poor steel sugar abandoned to the sparse male market that would be interested in a "sugar" perfume. Of course I don't frown upon women wearing this scent...I'm just speculating because steel sugar ended up on the clearance shelf not too long after it was released. I think steel sugar is a nice men's fragrance. It is more aromatic than gourmand although the spicy gingerbread note is very pleasant. Oddly it gets more citrusy and lavendery and it wears on my skin instead of it getting more gingery. It is not very complex or especially well made, but for it's price range it's not bad. Sill with it's aquolina predecessor pink sugar being a longevity and silage monster, I expected more. Easily found forgotten in a clearance bin.