Byblos Man

nice and beautiful I could smell tobacco even if its mention in the pyramids .

Very light and refreshing frag. Not a jaw dropper though, I'd say it is safe. Pineapple and apple are very dominent with something pepperish or bitterish lingering in the back that makes it different from other safe colognes. very good blend.

Plenty of Fahrenheit type violet leaf at first (not too harsh, as in Grey Flannel), but there's no "gasoline type quality here. After half an hour or so the violet leaf is almost all gone. Then it's a spicy/woody scent with a touch of fruit and floral. It is certainly dry, as someone else said, but it doesn't have that "chemical wood" dryness so common these days. Instead, this one actually smells natural! There's no dihydromyrcenol or other obvious aroma chemical, and its not sweet or musky (I detect no lavender either). Yes, some might say there's nothing special about it, but considering what's being sold today, that is arguable! Of course, if today's scents seem natural-smelling to you then this one might not have much to offer. Instead, it's for those who are tired of the aroma chemical nightmare scents so many designers are releasing at prices I consider ridiculous (the wood note in Creed's Viking is one that I find really "chemical," and that one costs several times more than the typical designer scent!). The only issue for some might be that it is more in the moderate range, in terms of strength, but at current prices that is not a reasonable complaint. Another way to think of it (the drydown) is as a much smoother Jako by Lagerfeld. UPDATE: Over time I think I recognize some cashmeran, but it's used much more judiciously here than in some recent releases. Also, it seems to be fruitier over time. which is unusual, in my experience. For me, this is definitely not a "must have," but I'd put it in my "good" category, which means I like it but could easily swap it off without a second thought, and if I reach for it once every two years that would be a lot. But I'll give it another chance and see what I perceive then.

One of the greatest thrills a fragrance lover will ever have is a blind-purchase that works. And did this one work for me... "Byblos Man" is quite an elegant, slightly dry juice based on vetiver from the same Italian house that conceived "Byblos in Black". "Man", however, takes it to a different direction: while "In Black" made its fair share of admirers (as well as detractors...) by mimicking some of the notes in "Terre d'Hermes", Man is an original. In my skin, it is pretty linear, starting more prominently with the spicy notes and (surprisingly) leaving more room for the fruity notes after a couple of hours. Longevity is good (3-4 hours with around 6 shots), sillage is average to low, but the scent is what really matters here. I highly recommend it to vetiver lovers. It showcases quite a surprising approach to an overused note, which proves that, opposite to such fields of art like music or painting, perfumery is still a very fertile one.

This one surprised me as I really didn't get the bright fruity citrus at the top. On my skin this went directly to the basenotes which were quite enjoyable – reminiscent of more classic fragrances from the late 80s and early 90s in its simple, dry woods and amber. I agree that this one is hard to dislike and think this would probably be a safe bet as a gift to someone who is just starting out in fragrances or has yet to sample the wider range of artisinal creations. And what a great price, too. Oh, and that bottle... The picture above just doesn't do it justice. The bottle alone is quite striking and would likely delight those who are attracted to fragrance not just for the aroma but for the design as well. Edit: I finally figured out what this reminds me of... The original Escada pour Homme, though neither as rich nor as boozy.