212 Men

212 Men is a classic mens fragrance that was released back in 1999. The fact that it is still being sold today speaks volumes about how good it still is. I originally purchased my first bottle back in 2004, and I just recently purchased a new 50ml last summer (2024). I can honestly say, this has not seen any notable change in the scent profile, or even the performance 20+ years later! This current bottle smells and performs just the way I remember my original bottle! The performance is still great on me especially for a fresh style fragrance. I easily get 8 hours of solid active performance before it dies down to a skin scent by the 9/10 hour mark. From a projection standpoint, it pops off my skin at an arms length for a good 4 hours and leaves a good sillage trail during that span of time. I sprayed one pump on my forearm last night and it was still wafting up to my nose for 4 hours until I went to bed. The next morning I could still smell it on my forearm when I got in the shower after my morning workout. Granted, it was a skin scent at that point, but I could still smell it on my arm, so this stuff just sticks to my skin. 212 is well balanced with some citrus and is very fresh smelling, you can really smell the green in this which makes it perfect for day wear and works well for the Spring. It’s not too heavy on the citrus and is quite refined and sophisticated, with very slight woody notes coming through giving it a small masculine kick. If you’re looking for something for the Spring or Summer and you come across this, you’ll want to give it a try. While this is now considered a classic/older men's scent, I think many open minded younger buyers can appreciate this one if they are getting tired of smelling the endless array of cotton candy and pixie dust style scents filling the current marketplace.

Giving a thought about 212 Men for the last years through all my designer fragrance journey and all the scents I've put my nose on it, I've come to the conclusion that to me this is one of the most underrated designer fragrance I've ever come across. Yeah, you read it. Now you can hate on me or whatever you want. You might think I'm exaggerating or something. Not at all. It gives you basically everything you can ask for a signature-worthy fragrance. It gives off all-year round versatility and some uniqueness which if you think about it, it is REALLY hard having those 2 at once. That's not very common in a signature scent. There's not many perfumes out there that smell like 212 or at least very close to it and its scent profile hasn't been overused over the years. Also, it has complexity. It has projection. It has longevity. It has sillage. It's a compliment magnet and it costs a fair price. Only drawbacks you might consider: A. It still sells after 20+ years and therefore it might end up being somewhat "popular" or "familiar". B. It might not smell as high-quality as Dior or Chanel. But at the end of the day, you get what you pay for in that regard and that's just a fact. Having mentioned all of this, As I said previously, it's among the most underrated scents in the designer realm. It definitely deserves way more love and recognition. Nobody in the fragrance community ever talks about it for some reason. I guess it is because it's Carolina Herrera. This community is full of snobbish and pretentious people who think they know something. If this were Chanel every single one of them would praise the f out of it for centuries. 212 is not worse than the overpraised Bleu de Chanel. 10/10 Masterpiece. Best well-balanced designer perfume. My compatriot Alberto Morillas did a superb job with 212 Men

Alberto Morillas is the king of freshies and this is one of his most iconic creations in my view for something that was created in the 90s. Although people are forced to believe it's dated, I'd absolutely disagree. There's nothing quite like this in the market even after so many years. The bottle with its magnetic cap and premium metal covering itself is a collectible item. The juice only adds more reason to collect. The easiest way to describe the scent profile is by saying it smells like a garden full of freshly trimmed grass that has just been watered. Very green, slightly flint or mineral like along with a slightly aquatic touch coming from the violet note and petitgrain. The citrus notes plus a hint of pepper and ginger give the opening some fizz and push. The dry down is pretty linear with the slightly wet grassy green note turning ever so slightly dry and woody from the sandalwood and vetiver all beautifully rounded off by a clean white musk. It'll make you feel like you're in the middle of a green, Zen garden with a small waterfalls splashing water on smooth rocks. This is definitely not a blind buy so I'd recommend trying this somewhere first. Although potentially reformulated over the years, the performance on my 2025 bought bottle is more than acceptable. I get about 8 hrs of total longevity on both skin and fabric combined. I'll get a little more if I'm in air conditioned environments. The projection is pretty decent for the first hour or two after which the scent bubbles reduces although still very detectable. An easy all weather day time signature in my opinion that is absolutely unique and I haven't tried anything quite like this. Maybe a very expensive "in the ballpark" fragrance could be Amouage Reflection man and it's clones.

CH 212 Men can be considered as a work that has not received the value it deserves in the perfume world. This perfume has remained an original scent since its introduction. There is still no perfume like it today. It has an elegance that is very different from mainstream tonkali and bubble gum scents. Unfortunately, CH 212 Men, which remained in the shadow of marketing strategies, trends and "hip" brands, has remained in the background over time; most users evaluated it on the surface, thinking it was an ordinary "fresh" perfume. However, the real power of CH 212 Men is its unique scent that does not get lost in the crowd. The freshness of green notes, the energy of spices and the balance of the woody base are so delicately constructed that it creates an air that is both sophisticated and accessible. It is neither too heavy nor simple. Especially the fact that it centers on a flower note such as gardenia, which is rarely seen in men's perfumes, is an elegant detail that distinguishes it from its peers. Among formulas that are often either too sweet or stuck on intense masculine lines in the world of fragrances, CH 212 Men offers an alternative that is both original and balanced. Perhaps it has been overlooked because of this “middle-of-the-road elegance”, because it is not overdone. Yet it deserves appreciation and rediscovery precisely for this aspect: a perfume with character but without shouting. In conclusion, CH 212 Men is a classic that has been appreciated late, not only by nostalgia but also by today’s standards of fragrance, and stands out for its originality and refinement. Perhaps it is time to re-appreciate its “quiet elegance”.

212 Men es una Fragancia cítrica fresca y algo dulce a medida que va secando... siempre me gustó y nunca tuve por una u otra razón... Hace 1 día la adquirí, de 200ml, pues después de muchos años de conocerla y de gustarme, mi hermano la adquirió, y en una salida cada vez que se me cruzaba por mi costado dejaba esa rafaga que me dejaba enamorado y pensando en la fragancia... Me gustó tanto que termine comprandola también... Atemporal, elegante pero aún jovial... Me pasó que me puse 2 sprays, 1 en cada brazo a las 12 del mediodía... Al pasar el tiempo llegó mi novia a las 21hs y se sentó a mi lado y me dijo que se me re sentía mi perfume... A las 23 hrs me duche y el aroma persistía aún en mi piel... Por lo que por aroma le doy 10/10 quieres olerla todo el tiempo (pues es fácil enamorarse de la fragancia)... Duración 9/10 (dura más de 9 horas en piel, al menos en mi caso) y estela 9/10... Fragancia que recomiendo para fiestas y ocasiones íntimas donde atraerás a quien te propongas... No creo recomendar para eventos formales ni para trabajo, ya que el aroma es exquisito pero algo dulzón... Compra a ciegas seguro!!! La usaría en cualquier estación del año, creo que en cualquiera rendiría bien, dependiendo siempre del PH de cada persona... Espero haberles ayudado a decidirse... Saludos