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.

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 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.

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.

Upon the initial first spray, bergamot and lavender dominated my olfactory senses right off the bat. Based on that aromatic impression, my nose picks up on a vibe that's very similar to La Nuit de l'Homme. I found this interesting. When the drydown arrives, a blend of ginger, tobacco and vetiver take over, thankfully. (I say "thankfully" for a little bit of a distinction here, away from the La Nuit de l'Homme smell I was getting.) To my nose, the vetiver is very toned down and relaxed. The ginger greets the tobacco with a nice "hello" in their mixed accord. Steel Sugar is a formidable fragrance that, for its price, is safe enough to buy blind. It's very masculine and a far cry from its brother Blue Sugar. If you like La Nuit de l'Homme, I am positive that you will love Steel Sugar. It's sweet enough without being overbearing. I sincerely believe the tobacco and vetiver are the two notes that mitigate the 'sugar' aspect of this fragrance from being too sweet.

I blind bought this. I was just curious about the gingerbread note. I mean seriously, this stuff is nice. When I first smelled it, since I had forgotten about the ginger bread note, I thought it smelled like baby diapers. (Non-soiled of course). But after I had a while to sort out the notes, it became clear to me that I liked the way that it smelled and it really has worked well on my skin. The main notes I pull out of the air from this are gingerbread, bergamot, leather, and labdanum. The gingerbread stays with it the entire time. It’s very nice indeed. I am happy to have blind bought this. I don’t have any other Aquolinas to compare this too. I’m getting about 4 hours of longevity out if it. I’m putting this in the gourmand column as the gingerbread takes center stage for me. Noteworthy, is that during the top I get a rubber scent that I really enjoy. That part doesn't last long. Cheers.

EDIT: This scent is not as sweet as Blue Sugar, and it's definitely more "manly". I got a sample thinking I could wear it, as I wear Blue Sugar, however I think this scent is more for men and I would not wear it again. That being said, I think it's a really nice scent for men. The lavender and bergamot are strong at first and then I get apple and gingerbread, but it never really gets that sweet. I am going to let my husband have the rest of the 2 mL sample and see if he likes it, because I think it will smell yummy on him. It's not the best men's scent ever, but it's inexpensive enough and easy to wear that it's a good one to own for everyday/casual events.

I'm so disappointed, my steel sugar is extremely poor (no one feels it, neither me), like a skin scent, nothing ysl nuit. I feel delicious spicy apple and also the base of Blue sugar without over sweet candy caramel. Not a typically winter fragrance, because enough fresh. Blue sugar is very strong, but this is nothing:( I don't understand, why is so weak, it's authentic for sure. Not masculine at all, rather unisex. I like the smell, but need more sillage and lasting. Maybe smells alike Boss bottled, fresh sweet apple with bergamot, Aqulina is more spicy:)

I see that it does not have a category. I would say that it's more aromatic then anything. A bit of freshness, a tad bit of spice and a pinch of sweetness. I agree that the gingerbread not should be more pronounced. At least that would have given it an edge. I also agree that it smells similar to La Nuit, but only for the first hour or so. This has very low sillage and longevity is about 4 hours max. This was my first impression of wearing this in cold weather, I am assuming it would be better in the spring/summer.

wasnt impressed...was very excited per the reviews..but..it just falls in line into the muddy mediocre mass of eaus...il b back on this..lets see..6 MONTHS LATER...BACK AT THE RANCH.....ok..just tryed it again and yes its weak..yes it smells ok but the way these reviewers have been licking the balls of this mediocre crap..stuns me..alas..i have read some reviews that agree with my assesment...its weak..plain..and blah really...i dont know what stuff your smelling..lol...its like a 4 out of 10 ....ciao

I had this sample for awhile and I thought I would try it again. It's a nice fresh sweet scent. I don't know what I can compare this to.? It isn't cloying. I like this better then some of the "Ed Hardy" fragrances that I have tried and they are also sweet. I was surprised to see that this has the "apple" and "cedar" notes in this. Usually, those notes don't go good with my chemistry but that's in the wrong combo with other notes.

Very similar to La Nuit de l'Homme with a sweeter opening. Hours in mostly I get La Nuit de l'Homme and a little bit of something in the realm of D&G The One. Probably due to the tobacco, amber and spice. Possibly better performing than both of those. At $20-$25 a bottle it's a no-brainer.

I am extremely picky with my man frags and dont like 95% of the ones I test. I really like this one though and the gingerbread note is much nicer than I thought it would be. I thought the Lavender would take control like it usually does but its very nicely blended.

Got this as a free sample. Wanted it for my boyfriend at first but personally I feel it has very unisex scent. Ended up giving it to my best friend who is a girl. She loves it and it goes really well with her skin. I highly recommend that women try this =^.^=

Steel Sugar is a beast! Super sweet and spicy with a warm tobacco dry down. Definitely gets noticed. Not for the faint of heart though, it's strong!

I rated this at the time, but didn't review it for some reason. It was #8 in my "Tour de Fragrance." I realized after I bought it that most retail sites listed it as a fragrance for women, which it very much is, and girls at that. It's likeable. Who doesn't like gingerbread? It's a very weak performer though, and I actually gave it to an acquaintance's seven-year-old daughter who now wears it all the time.

Felt the need to add here...I have TRIED to find something in this one, but really can’t. If you see the note listing you will think that their is no way this scent can’t be at least ok, but seriously do not be fooled. This is linear from start to end, and I rarely compare a legitimate fragrance to a body spray (AXE) but this is seriously in that realm. It might appeal to a young crowd as a body spray alternative, but at the end of the day just buy Nautica Voyage kids, that is a GREAT fragrance that shows you know something about maturity and appealing scent profiles that will not likely offend. I stupidly bought two of these based off the notes and ok reviews, especially the favourable comparison to other GREAT scents, this is nothing like those. If you are on the fence (this is a cheap scent usually) take my review to heart, you don’t need this one even if it’s a bargain...OR if you are a Frag Head, this might be the one you can throw legitimate hate at and help insure no one buys this by adding your own ten cents to the review pile?

Based on my like for Blue Sugar I gave Steel Sugar a try...Ha “Blue Steel”. Anyhow it kinda sucks. Now I am uncertain on Rochas, if it smells like this I am really glad I avoided it, however I do know Spice Bomb and YSL Homme and they are not close, as others have pointed out. I can get the notes that may trigger Spice Bomb, probably the ginger bread “note”, and the same for L’Homme, but in any case this is something on its own. Smells really off, it reminds me of Urbo Reveller, if anyone knows that brand of body sprays, they too smell off, a giant synthetic mess. Ultimately I don’t get much in the way of notes from this at all, pretty much the same state from start to end. This fragrance probably suits no one, it’s a hot mess.

sandycane is correct: It is most like the scent of Raid® from the perfumer SC Johnson. Another comparison: It is also smells like artificially-sweetened Play-Doh. There are no sugar cookies involved unless said cookies were sitting in the open on a greasy paper towel in the back of the 99-cent store when someone firehosed the room with a heavy layer of pest control.

Look, as much I love Blue Sugar I was disappointed by this one. Many people wrote that's weak and no longevity at all I was like:" noo! They must be wrong!" But after buying this I have to say there were f*cking right. It's not so original and specific like Blue Sugar.

Name fits perfectly. A sugary metallic scent is what I get. Not for me though, it is more of a feminine scent, but close to unisex I would say.

This is impossible to wear in hot weather. It is such a mess. I live in FL and had to get rid of it.

Horrible. Smells like Raid to me. I love the Gold Sugar, though. What a difference between the two!

A very sweet cedarwood smell if what I sense from this scent, which comes off as a cookie, a baked cookie scent with some sugar, ginger spice, smoke, and lavender, it smells nice. It smells fresh yet smoky, woody yet spicy. I love cedarwood scents and this is one of them, and this almost feels like an Atlas cedarwood scent, sweet, balsamic, so yeh if you like cedarwood, then this would do it. The sweet cookie scent is conjured up by the note combination, sugar sweetness, the smokey notes are there, all the notes are well blended. Despite being smokey, sugary and woody, it has very strong freshness, super fresh, like the lavender was spike lavender, and fresh, green bergamot, fresh. I suppose being the masculine scent of the Aquolina line it combines all the notes that are most noted for men, tobacco, cedarwood, vetiver, and that male freshness of lavender, bergamot and green apple, like aftershave and male products. All these notes are uber-masculine, now the sugar note is very strong, it is an Aquolina and with the woody-sugar combination, it is the perfect cookie, comfort, warm. fresh, male scent you want your man to smell like, thumbs up. This is a must-have for those who like cedarwood as a note., this would be a fresh, sweet one.

Parfumo has the notes as follows: Top Notes Apple, Bergamot, Angelica Heart Notes Lavender, Gingerbread, Cedar Base Notes Labdanum, Blond tobacco, Vetiver. With discounts/coupons a 100 ml new tester bottle cost me about $7 total, so with notes like these I couldn't resist. It reminds me of a take on New Haarlem. This is weaker and the notes are more "masculine," but at these prices there isn't much to lose if you like those kinds of scents or want one, though at a "bargain basement" price. I don't get any one note dominating here, and so far I'd say it's got moderate strength. If anything changes I'll update this review. UPDATE: Projection is moderate but longevity is very good. It's in that same ballpark as Rochas Man but the notes are a bit different. I do get a steel type note, but it's mild and offers contrast. Overall, I am glad I made the $7 purchase but considering what I've already got I wouldn't be happy if I paid much more.

I tried this through FragranceX and liked it. The colors I saw were gray, white, and purple. It reminded me a lot of a sugar cookie, so I was surprised vanilla wasn't listed, but I suppose there is the gingerbread. The image I got was that someone made a magic wish they could date the Pillsbury Dough Boy, and poof, he turned into a handsome Italian chef in a white hat. (Though he's now too manly to giggle if he's pooked in the stomach.) Perhaps it was a tiny bit metallic because I saw a gleaming chrome and aluminum kitchen. There were moments where this was a little soapy or shampoo-ish but if you like sugary fragrances and like lavender, I think you might give this a try.

Some reviews are right, it is smoky, however, I think it just smells like a sugar cookie. It is sweeter than most give it credit for, it is very sweet, and smokey, like a baked sugar cookie, with spices that are aromatic, the cedar is the cookie, and the tobacco is the smoke, there is sugar and lots of it, lavender, sweet lavender that seems French, the sweet kind, overall I love it, really, it smells so lovely, so sweet, romantic even, it is pleasant and aromatic. Your man will smell like a baked cookie, and that is good, it's just so good to the senses, I love this scent, it exceeded what I expected.

IMO, an under-rated gem. At first spray...I get all the notes thrown at me at once...lol....and it actually..works for me. I get cedar/lavender....apple..light tobacco.spices. I do not really get gingerbread....yet...maybe upon further wearings it will show itself.This also does have great performance. The dry-down is splendid. I love Black Sugar and Gold Sugar too !! (not Pink)

With this, there's a gingerbread note but the bergamot, cedar and tobacco forms a nice safe smell, it's just not what I expected. I would have liked even more gingerbread and sweetness, to give it that freshly out of the oven cookie smell

Loved Pink sugar, very sweet, much preferred the newer version - Pink Sugar Sparks which reminds me of Flowerbomb, I tried this on a card and after 2 weeks the card still smely lovely ... look forward to this new creation in 2013 !!!

Men who wear both Aquolina's Blue Sugar and Versace's Blue Jeans (they have a similar "theme" to them) smell absolutely amazing, so I'm DYING to smell this new creation! Let's hope Aquolina gets it as right as they go Blue Sugar.....

Sorry, but isn ́t for me. This have the same base of blue sugar, but without "sugar scent". I need more "impact" in this new fragrance. Mmm, really, I don ́t know what happened with Aquolina =(

wow the new steel sugar is amazing. and my girlfriend love them to. she love all aquolina ́s fragrances. for the summer i love it when she wear the "scented body water fresh mango"

top notes: angelica, apple, bergamot core: cedar, lavender, gingerbread bottom notes: labdanum, vetiver, blond tobacco sounds amazing