06 Black Platinum

This was another blind buy that I found on clearance at some rack store a while ago and stashed away (until finally opening it today). However, I was inside a Banana Republic store a few months ago, and they had a tester of this on display. The cashier handed me a tester strip, and after spraying it, I remember saying out loud "Ugh! This smells AWFUL! Like a pimp in the 80's!". The cashier laughed and agreed that it was also her least favorite of the selections they had there (I think Vintage Green and Pure White were the other options). I quickly handed the tester strip back to her and walked out, feeling forlorn for the day I would open this, and wondering if it would immediately turn into a bathroom spray. I wish I had a camera on my face to capture my expression as I opened this up today. Nervous and scared, I probably winced as I sprayed this on, my mind (and nose) harkening back to when I smelled it in the store. "Yup...that's what I remember..." I thought to myself. "Thankfully this is only a 30mL bottle, so it won't take long to go through it. They can't all be winners, right?". I walked out of the room, feeling defeated that I let my urge to save a few bucks cloud my judgement. Then something strange happened...I went into the kitchen to make coffee, and as my arm reached up, close to my nose, to grab a mug from the cabinet, I smelled it again. Maybe 5-10 minutes had passed, but it had already changed into a much softer scent that was way more pleasant than the initial opening was. I had hope... This fragrance reminds me of the scene in The Devil Wears Prada, where Andy is first pitching herself to Miranda and says: "You’re right. I don’t fit in here. I am not skinny or glamorous and I don’t know that much about fashion. But I’m smart. I learn fast and I will work very hard for you." I honestly don't know why I am getting slightly emotional as I write this, but I feel like this particular BR fragrance, if it were a person, would say something similar. This is far and away not what I would expect from Banana Republic. Then again, I've only ever finished one bottle, and that was Classic, which neither wowed nor disgusted me, but left me indifferent to its linear blandness. I currently have open bottles of Vintage Green, Neroli Woods, and Midnight Hour. Each of those seem like the other actors in the movie. They know what to do to get praised and not thrown a coat and bag to hang up like some inept lackey (or put in a bathroom). Eventually a new scent emerged. This soft, comforting, almost baby powdery-like scent made me stop and smile, like Miranda did in the final scene when she saw Andy walking alongside her car, and noticing how much she changed. I misjudged this fragrance at first, but I "took a chance and hired the smart, fat girl", and of all the Banana Republic fragrances I've ever smelled...this was by far my biggest (initial) disappointment...and, if you don’t give it a chance beyond the first few minutes, you're an idiot. It must have done something right... 9/10

The Banana Republic Icon line has been something I am surprised by more and more as I get more of the fragrances. They are $20 at my local Burlington/TJ Maxx/Marshall's. Black Platinum is my latest pickup and I'm very impressed, this doesn't smell like something that you'd think Banana Republic would put out. It doesn't have the typical designer DNAs that are popular now either. It reminds me of a toned down version of Greenwich Village by Bond No 9 for some reason. Greenwich Village is very loud, and similar to BR540, but not a clone of it. Black Platinum has the sweet floral vibe to it that I smell in Greenwich Village, but much softer and more powdery. So Black Platinum smells like its inspired by Greenwich Village, which smells like it was inspired by BR540. Black Platinum doesn't smell like BR540, but it gives off a similar vibe, IMO. This is a soft scent, but I feel it actually projects pretty well, better than the others in the line. It's powdery, leathery, ambery, white floraly... kinda hard to describe. It's a unique scent and for the price you can't go wrong. I draw the comparison to Greenwich Village, but only for that sweet/floral component. It has a lot going on, and the cactus note is new for me. This one, for me, was love at first smell. It's definitely something I will be wearing in the spring, but probably not in the summer as much because maybe it could be cloying. Could be a fall scent too, maybe too soft for winter. EDIT: some more thoughts after some more wearing Def the strangest and most unique scent in the collection. Oud Mosaic I do dislike, but the rose/oud is a beloved accord. I find it extremely hard to describe and put my finger on as to what to describe this fragrance with. There's no "one" note that just pulls it all together, It is listed as being animalic and I definitely get that, in an odd sense.. maybe the amber/leather and the powdery notes... there's just the lightest bit of funk in there, but it doesnt smell bad. Gonna smell weird to some, and strangely alluring to others.

Man that cactus 🌵 note is so unique and delicious smelling! When I first tried this I thought it was okay. But I found myself going back and back to it. I tend to reach for this on warm rainy spring days. It starts out more masculine unisex and drydown into a more fem unisex. But to me I love it for the cactus. And I enjoy the light almost smoky leather/patchouli drydown. Kinda smells like a light musky cigarette smoke left on a jacket in full drydown nearing very end before you can’t smell it anymore. But it’s nice. Great quality for the price. Niche level transitions. I haven’t smelt anything like this yet. 8.5/10

Erhhhh Mah Gherrrd! I have no idea what I’m smelling but this freaking rules! It’s by far the most unique of the series. Decent longevity unlike the other three I owned: Pure White, Linen Vetiver & Neroli Woods. I still have a mini of Oud Mosaic which is quite good and lasts awhile but it’s not nearly as as interesting as Black Platinum. I’m def gonna buy a backup bottle of this if I come across it again. I can’t think of anything I can compare it to tho! Weird!

I think this smells really nice. It seems to feel a bit feminine to me - but I wear it nonetheless. It is a light floral with a slight bit of powder. Oddly enough, I kind of understand the habit Rouge comparison, but I don’t know how or why - as I feel like HR is a fairly strong woody. Regardless, this is fairly unisex - maybe on the feminine side - but very pleasant. I’m pretty impressed with the line. 7/10