JHL

I love fragrances but I must admit I don’t have a strong enough palate. I think because a lot of smells I don’t know what they smell like in its pure essence. It’s not like tasting booze, cigars or coffee where you more then likely have had many of the notes. When someone says this cigar has notes of espresso with a leathery mouthfeel, or this wine taste like Unripe fruits, or this coffee has notes of allspice and dark berries you have a general idea of what to expect. So when I see all these notes for this or other fragrances I get confused because half of them I have no idea what they smell like on their own. So i like to keep my reviews simple, and tend to relate fragrances basic smells and experiences. I can say oh this so and so fragrance smells like tropical fruit, on a overcast day but can’t exactly tell you why it smells like an overcast day.So I guess this is a disclaimer I should have posted for my first review I ever did, but the only reasoning I’m posting it now is because I have and had may fragrances but this is the first one I’ve had where I notice it’s scent literally evolves and changes. Maybe I am noticing more because I have the week off of work and university is over for the semester, so I am not busy and have more time to actually focus. But this fragrance literally changes like a 3 in one. Many fragrances I’ve noticed do change but a lot of it is subtle until it gets down to the base notes. But this to me is different. I love this fragrance btw. At first not so much, but it grows on me. The first initial burst to me smells very musky and slightly fecal and urine like. Not like a toilet, but I remember reading somewhere the smell of feces and the smell of flowers are the same compound, but in different doses. It’s like this purple flower my mom used to grow that smells offputting and somewhat fecal but it you can’t stop smelling it. A kind of dirty wet clay smell. It reminds me of the almond oil stuff my wife puts in her hair she buys from the indian market. A dirty, pungent oily smell.That fades away quickly and then a waxy, soapy lemon smell comes that I kid you not reminds me of Canoe. A more nuanced, citrus rind version of Canoe. But after a few minutes boom, it changes into something that is heavy on the cinnamon, and a powdery smell that is backed up by sandalwood. That musky, fecal flower smell comes back but now it smells subdued like incense. It all sounds bizarre but it works. It’s a dressier, edgier version of Taylor of old bond street sandalwood. It has a warm and classic smell and I love it. The first few minutes aren’t my favorite, but as it changes it becomes something womderfull

JHL & JHL Vintage aren't similar to each other! & that's when i first sprayed them all on both hands. The vintage JHL is more on the creamy & oily texture, yet clean soapy musk side while the current JHL is more on the cinnamon dry side, and it's not that much of sweetness cinnamon as much as it's herbal with a touch of sweetness. Surprisingly, they intersect and crossroad on a certain point! i mean the current JHL goes quite similar to the vintage one when it settles down (after 3 hours) but on the top or middle note it smells quite dry cinnamon more than clean soapy musk with a creamy texture, while the vintage JHL is mostly linear from top to bottom which makes it quite amusing and alluring. The drawback of the JHL is that it's too weak as it almost vanishes within 2 hours max and stays close to skin but it smells like heaven and much better than the current one. The 2nd drawback is that the vintage JHL is almost extinct now and the ones you can find now is extremely expensive and splash rather than a spray. In general, the curent JHL has cinnamon as the dominant note, then comes the carnation, aldehyde, sandalwood, fir, labdanum, rose, bergamot, & benzoin, while the vintage is bergamot, carnation, amber, sandalwood, musk, rose, jasmines, & lemon. JHL vintage is a piece of heaven indeed and also the current version is superbly beautiful, shockingly, few years back (2 years) i was about to give the current version that i own away to someone! and i have absolutely no idea what kind of heart i was having back then to give up such an amazing blend! It was a mistake and i can't forgive myself for that :p (nah joking). Eventually, this is beautifully amazing. Edit (23rd March 2021) I visited my vintage bottle now, and i have splashed it on my skin.. what came to my mind when i sniffed JHL on my skin is "Musc Tonkin" by Parfum d'Empire (not the Extrait)! it is really musky with big doses of animalic, and i believe it is sexually intense! i can't say that it's quite similar to "Musc Tonkin" but definately has part of its DNA somehow! cause that blend came to my mind right away because i got the same tingly feeling that i usually get when i wear "Musc Tonkin".. Vintage JHL is a masterpiece, & Marc-Antoine Corticchiato is a genius...

Upon first spray on test blotter the comparison out of my collection that immediately came to mind is Chypré Palatin by MDCI. Then I compared their note structure as listed on Fragrantica and they are similarly complex, with both sharing aldehydes, amber dominance, a floral mid, and Chypré Palatin's plum and clementine being comparable to the fruity notes of JHL. I can see where MDCI would get their historical inspiration with JHL and it's inspirations Youth Dew, Cinnabar, YSL Opium. I had the opportunity to put my nose briefly on Youth Dew in a perfumery store this past weekend in anticipation of my bottle of JHL arriving today. I can smell why someone would vote a similarity to Paul Sebastian Fine Cologne, given the the common musky powderiness, and spicy oriental character. But I think Paul Sebastian Fine Cologne has a better analogue as a stronger, murkier classic Old Spice. And I think a less complex CK Obsession for Men (and I assume the women's Obsession which I haven't smelled) owe some of their inspiration to this JHL/Youth Dew/Cinnabar/Opium group. I do not, however, perceive much DNA similarity to the interesting, rougher original 1966 Aramis by Aramis (a fragrance my father wore back in the day and one I have and respect). But this JHL is great! Very pleasant and enjoyable scent. I love the DNA. And its historical context as Estee Lauder's gift to her husband, and its DNA ties to Lauder's Youth Dew, Cinnabar, and YSL Opium enrich its value and appeal just that much more.

This is my favourite Aramis considering I've used it the most of all the others. It's most poetic of all Aramis. This is somewhat a dirty scent than clean (in the way an electric guitar's clean tone can be saturated into the "dirt" stage before full blown distortion). I know the original Aramis was an overdriven scent, but the softer, yet more luxurious, JHL Custom Blended Cologne is that woman tone; the sweet, blue & brown bluesy tone that gets the ladies' attention and the guys because of the notes and melodic lines in the solos, the technicality us dudes love. It's a technical scent, rather than a simple and easy cologne. I'll use the electric guitar tone analogy in future reviews. JHL Custom Blended Cologne is now a love song to the '70s and early '80s chypres and smoked, leather, earthy bottles of the Opium and Cinnabar days which men were not allowed near. Those scents are unisex now, in a most masculine (when on a man) and feminine (when on a woman) way. They're sexy as hell because of that, and us finely cultured folk - at least on this review section - understand this clearly. Today, it's calling to the past to bring that style, that human touch, back to the present; the reality of computer formulated, blended, and fine tuned colognes that all end up smelling synthetic whether organically made or otherwise. JHL means Just Have a Life. Batch: B18 from January 2018.

Another stroke of beauty from Bernard Chant, JHL was preserved through the Gentleman's Collection relaunch in 2009, no matter how many would argue otherwise (cue the wailing "shell of its former self"). Six sprays of this is just as intoxicating as Opium or Cinnabar, its radiant and deep. In fact, Bernard Chant collaborated with Josephine Catapano on Estee Lauder Cinnabar, and took its template and like a producer at a mixing board, adjusted the levels, leveraging the cinnamon and carnation, and pushing the musks forward, making its dry down a bit more woody, rugged, and animalic. Spiced aldehydes, with somewhat hesperidic and coniferous undertones, cut through cold air as I apply this on my porch (I prefer to apply stronger fragrances outside these days) and now I feel like I am imbued with benzoin-rich incense, a bit smokey, with a facet that reminds me of Casablanca lilies. This floral stage is ecstasy to my nose, and over time it gets woodier and muskier. It seems to have that Tonquitone musk that I love, the one produced by IFF that mimics that of deer musk: warm, sensual, somewhat floral and definitely animalic. Sadly, as I write this, it seems that even the Gentleman's Collection version has skyrocketed in price. As much as I love JHL, I wouldn't recommend spending an arm and a leg on this, so I do hope that this is a passing phase and prices one day settle.

Aramis JHL is a beautiful darkly austere oriental. From the listed notes you would expect something more along the lines of a warm spicy oriental with a sweet tone. There are elements of that genre in JHL, but they are joined by prominent cedary and herbal notes, putting it somewhere between an oriental and an aromatic fougere. The top has a dark citrusy note with a slightly astringent waxy or piney edge, the middle is mildly spicy, dense, and rich, and the base has a more cedar and vetiver feel than the listed notes, with only a touch of benzoin-vanilla sweetness. It is very strong - spray lightly. Apparently this was named by Estee Lauder for her husband (Joseph Harold Lauder) either just before or after he died (depending on whether or not the release date is exactly correct). I like to think it is a memorial to him. If so, JHL would have been some comfortable mixture of Ernest Hemingway and Beau Brummel, and his memorial scent is a wild safari to the spice islands brought back to the fashion runway. Refined and urbane, but hinting of explosive passions in hidden places. (And then I have lunch with my daughter and have her smell my wrist, and she says "Nice!" and changes the subject. So much for my purple prose, but at least she said nice.)

Epic Journey Into the Bottled Yonder, 089 ------------------------------------------------------- Purchased July 2019 Hell yes, to keep it short as possible. JHL is super all year round fun, quite manly too. I understand this was everywhere back in the day, advertised a lot and lots of people wore it but those days are over. Stuff like this and Bijan (which is a smoky/clovey version of JHL) get you all nostalgic and somber about the old days, but in a positive uplifting way. JHL is basically a barbecue (cookout) thing, you'd wear this to open air meets and parties of all sorts. You wear it when there's something to celebrate about nowadays, but you can wear it most of the year, at least I can, and especially when you're just feeling good. This bottle simply makes you daydream when you shouldn't be. What a relaxing, gorgeous luxury. Definitely a must this. Batch: B18 from January 2018.

Let me categorize these men's things: most gorgeous goes to a Cartier, most excellent goes to an Hermès, most sensual goes to a YSL, most plush goes to a Bond, and most affluent goes to a Creed. But FAVORITE goes to JHL. This is an orange-cinnamon Youth-Dew milkshake that starts as a glossy homage to 80s excess and recedes to an aldehydic (electrical) aura of confidence. Nothing was spared in the making of this, but it is uniquely balanced and somehow not overdone: cinnamon oriental, brisk incense and balsam, gentle carnation, vintage vanilla rubbing a handsome and friendly musk, bitter citrus, rich wood, and even a greenish chypre in the background. Better, and less pricey per ounce, than anything.

This is a typical classic Aramis fragrance. What I mean by typical is excellent quality and performance. The fragrance is unique and smells is awesome and the longevity is huge, 12hrs plus! This is not cheap or mid-range but expensive and that is what you'll pay for a top end quality scent. I love this fragrance very much indeed and even though my bottle is 90% full I be buying a back up soon. I would this is for people over 35 but if a younger person can test it they may well like it because it's quite unique and it's certainly different! I don't give a 10 out of 10 often but this is well worth the grade in every way! Absolutely brilliant scent!!!

I found this at Dillard’s for $64 and bought due to the reviews here. Was excited to get home, shower, then throw some on for the evening. I do really like it and will fit in nicely with my classic Guerlains which I own. Definitely a classic, not saying outdated, because I do hate all the modern synthetic spice bombs that the perfume companies are producing nowadays! Being a true gentleman in my late 40’s I appreciate the classiness that this scent projects. It gives me the same feeling when I put on Habit Rouge or Santos! I don’t mind growing old and having these scents along for the ride! Great reviews fellow Fragrantica members!

This fragrance is one of my favorites. A classic thats been around for many years,but stopped being sold in stores in the late 80's. I bought a bottle back then,and still have the old bottle. The new re-formulated version is good,but the old version is a little better. It's a very elegant spicy woody fragrance. I smell mainly the spice of Cinnamon in it. I'de say it's the masculine opposite of Estee Lauder's "Cinnabar". I've tried other spicy fragrances;i.e.Vetiver-by Guerlain,and Habit Rouge--by Guerlain and possibly Terre D'hermes-by Hermes to name a few but JHL is the best.

Very hard to find. The ones i bought it was only in spain. Nevertheless, great perfume, long lasting and decent projection. I masterpiece from this house, along with aramis, aramis 900 (before the reformulation), tuscany and havana, though i think they ́ve mess with this gem. In fact, i think this has no longer the brutality of proejction it once had, but still is a good and solid scent. Go for it!

A very rich fragrance for special occassions. Feels like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket of masculinity. Not for boys or everyday use. For grown men, alpha males, who want to smell aristocratic. I can easily picture the guy in the Dos Equis commercials probably wearing this or something similar. Also probably worn by Don Corleone in The Godfather. Stay thirsty my friends.

excellent scent. blind bought based on the positive reviews and glad i did. excellent projection and sillage. drydown reminds me of Chanel Antaeus (which I love) and less so like YSL Opium pour homme. A lover of these scents could blind buy this and not worry

This is an incredible fragrance, similarities with Youth Dew and Opium for women. I have a 50ml vintage splash of this that still smells amazing. Have yet to try current formula but judging by the reviews it's still outstanding.

I'm surprised people don't realize this is Youth Dew for men. To me it smells nearly the same. Deep dark rich spices and sex appeal. A floriental soaked in class and elan.

Have a bottle of this for sale :)

I'm 57 and normally enjoy old school, traditionally masculine men's fragrances. So when I saw this being discontinued I asked my wife to pick it up for Christmas. The florals in it caught me off guard though. I'm not a big fan of the carnation, rose or jasmine. You can pick up the Aramis DNA for sure. But it does smell like a women's fragrance that's been adjusted for men as its history attests. It actually brings back memories of the many hours I spent with my dad hanging out in fine men's clothing stores- camel hair jackets- cuff links and a properly tied double Windsor knot. For many it will be labeled as dated. But JHL is a gentlemanly, rich scent of quality. My suggestion is keep your sprays off the neck as the opening can be a bit overwhelming. Hands and wrists or down your shirt is a better option with 2-3 sprays at most. it's not a beast...but too much is simply not the way it should be enjoyed. Truly a bit of history in a bottle and still available in Europe online. One bottle should last you a lifetime no matter how old you are. Winter and Fall/ 45 and up/ 6 hours plus projection on my skin/ cardigan, pipe and rocking chair optional. Update- After wearing this on and off for 2 months I've decided I absolutely love this juice! Maybe its the maceration time needed, but more likely my nose needed to adjust. I get a bit more sweetness and pick up the cinnamon better. If you like old school, give this one a chance. It has grown on me tremendously.

JHL is what YSL's Opium Pour Homme should have been, --- only JHL was several years ahead. It is the perfect consort to the original Opium for women --- rich, spicy, intense, elegant, sensual, sweet, and warm, with incredible lasting power. This is not for the timid, or for young men. It takes considerable panache, maturity and confidence to bring off a heady borderline-sweet scent like this. Obsession, Lagerfeld, KL Homme and Chaps are all close relatives, but none of them have the gravitas of JHL. This is one of those scents that should be saved for special occasions --- it's too intense for everyday wear. But for a night at the opera, or a tryst at an elegant hotel, perhaps a formal New Year's Eve party --- bring it on! JHL is at home amid rich velvets and brocades, heavy draperies, and crowds dressed to the nines. It conjures up a sultry night in a Sultan's palace in the Arabian Nights, although its heat and richness makes it more of a wintertime scent than one to wear in the summer. This is a 5-star classic if ever there was one, but only when used sparingly in the proper setting.

I got a sample vial of this some years back as part of the gentleman's collection. I've occasionally worn it when I'm home for the evening. I tried it again today. My impression is that it doesn't suit me. Although 'powdery' is down on the list of qualities of this fragrance, I find that it's very powdery from the opening through to the dry down. It reminds me of sachet powder my grandma used to use. I consider this unisex at best. I'm not great at picking out single notes, but the floral bouquet of this is too much for me. The three days before this, I wore Tuscany, another Aramis creation. Wearing JHL today makes me yearn for the comfort of Tuscany. Granted, it has good projection and is long lasting, but that makes me dislike JHL even more. Despite what some insist, this is not a masculine fragrance, nor would it have been considered one in the 1980s. I'm a ripe old 58 years old now, and happy that I can pull of some of the classic men's fragrances that are too much for youth. JHL just isn't one of them for me.