Only The Brave

I've smelled this so many times at my local boutique, had so many "peel and apply to skins" and so many opportunities to review this, i'd say it's about damn time i finally did it. While at my favorite boutique last weekend i decided to make a nice size decant for reviewing purposes (i don't know why i haven't bought a big bottle yet) and actually having it so i can enjoy the fragrance whenever i please has made me fall in love with it 10FOLD. Every time i smell this i can't help but think how perfect it is for me, not to mention my skin doesn't eat it up in three hours (like it does with most fragrances). This, on my skin, lasts a good 24 hours+. Lets just say i was "impressed" with fuel for life...I am BLOWN away by this offering, which is weird considering how simple the composition is. One can also understand why some compare this to Allure homme sport. The top: Juicy, seething, sugared mandarin orange oozes out in a viscous, jelly like manor into my nostrils upon first application. Not exactly natural smelling, but definitely not unappealing or unidentifiable by any means. Almafi lemons, fresh from the freezer are crushed, ground, and splattered into a crude tart frozen creamy custard. The middle: Things begin to soften up here. Not so much in a way that detracts from the composition, but in a way that keeps it from acting too juvenile. Nuances of violet and coriander may be confused for the "smokiness" that some users are smelling. The base: (drools) Oh, styrax(storax) how i love you so. You are misty, cooling, slightly nutty and sophisticatingly sweet. Styrax(storax) and benzoin are really the wonderteam here in the base, and are the star of the show with no doubts.(if you want to pick out the note "styrax" i suggest you smell this up against Davidoff "Hot water"). Leather asserts the notion in the middle notes, and forces the two accords to act just as such. Nothing smells quite as nice as a smoked in leather jacket. ;) I approve Smell: 10 Longevity: 10+ Sillage: 9

Diesel Only The Brave Eau De Toilette is a must-have if you are a younger guy in his late teens or early twenties. I can’t imagine a scenario where a young guy wouldn’t make a good impression with this one. You can still pull it off if you are older like myself, it's all how you present yourself as a total package at the end of the day. For me personally, I still wear this once or twice a month typically for daytime and work uses. I have so many better and higher quality options for my evening fragrances now, so this one just doesn't make that line-up anymore. This is arguably an iconic fragrance, I still own the first bottle I purchased back in 2010. I suspect it is probably due to my age and the number of fragrances I have smelled over the years (not that I am a snob or anything), that it doesn't get as much use as it once did years ago. Having said that, I do respect it and remember my younger self loving this stuff and spraying it weekly for day and night use. The performance of Diesel Only The Brave is very good and has always given me a very solid 8 hours. It’s not a room filler, but it will get you noticed; there’s no question about that. It’s quite a loud fragrance with a long lasting strength and will continue to pump out for most of the day, so sillage and longevity are slightly above average. Considering that my bottle is now 14 years old and it hasn't spoiled, or lost any significant performance, it's safe to say that it's well made and probably doesn't possess any actual natural ingredients that do tend to spoil and disappear over time. Granted, I've also never abused my fragrances and store them in a dark room at a consistent temperature year round.

Esta FRAGANCIA ya es un icono de la Perfumería moderna, de cuyo equilibrado y componentes son una perfecta guía de como debe estructurarse un aroma masculino. Desde su salida citrica se sienten matices leves que denotan suavidad, frescura y naturalidad en las succiones evolutivas del aroma. En los primeros mitutos del secado ya se descubren matices ambar que van a ser junto con el cilantro y cumarina, el nexo de unión y continuidad, a un sinfin de matices de cuyo equilibrado es digno de los mejores trabajos perfumisticos. La Violeta es como el aderezo de un cuerpo que se va acuerando y volviéndose más formal he incluso más maduro y menos floral, amaderadose sin perder luminosidad. Careciendo de aristas ni salidas de tono. No aparecen siergias inapropiadas, sino que la fragancia tiene una evolución lenta y sin ecalonados. Se ha catalogado como una fragancia oriental, pero personalmente no siento esas densidades orientales o especiados opacos típicos, más allá de un cilantro ligero. En definitiva destaca por su ambivalència todo terreno ya que todo es sutil y suave, siempre en el rango medio de todas sus notas características. Resulta deliciosa y agradable destacando por su conjunto total y por su fondo persistente pero ligero. Es como que tiene un poco de todo el ABC de la perfumeria masculina y por tanto se queda para jovenes porque los hombres maduros suelen tener preferencia por aromas más intensos y resinoides amaderados. En definitiva una fragancia que estará por los siglos de los siglos en las estanterias comerciales de cada Navidad durante muchas generaciones, combirtiendose en un clásico .... Un saludo 🎉 ....

Para los que buscan un perfume con clase y distinción de alta gama especiados y con cardamomo y tonka o sándalo, definitivamente este no va ser de su agrado porque es prácticamente su antítesis. Es un aroma muy floral, amaderado limpio y con notas afrutadas de piña ambaradas que se proyecta muy bien. Es agradable y embaucador a través de su frescura ozónica que se siente expansiva y luminosa. La ausencia de notas claramente verdes se ve apoyada por un toque violeta ahumado. Es un aroma lineal que no tiene grandes cambios. Durante las cinco horas siguientes a su aplicación y después de su impetuosa salida donde marcadamente recuerda a Versage Eros pero menos hormonado y denso, va desapareciendo sutilmente ambarándose con notas animálicas de cuero, maderas de cedro y ambroxan que para algunas personas les puede parecer sintéticas, pero se siente bastante natural y muy floral sin ser nada femenino. En definitiva, es marcadamente juvenil y muy agradable, que engancha a la primera impresión por su limpieza y proyección. Por su versatilidad es un acierto si sólo quieres tener un perfume para todo. Es perfecto para el día día, salidas nocturnas, citas, oficina, y salidas al aire libre y aunque es duradero, su intensidad baja al cabo de unas horas y aconsejo reaplicar porque es un gustazo reanimarlo aunque se llame la atención tan agradablemente. Y como siempre.... Para el cavernícola, esto huele a rodajas de piña en un ramo de flores.😁😀😂

This one started it all for me. Actually first discovered it from a scent strip in a magazine before it was out. Instantly fell in love. If my memory serves me, I got this on the first day of release back in 2009 at Sephora. Now, I am too uneducated to meaningfully comment on reformulations but I do feel the original batch I have from 09 has a more pronounced freshness to contrast the syrupy heaviness and layers of this scent - making this an absolutely stunning fragrance. Regardless, this cologne newly made or not has always stood out to me. There is something so beautiful and bold here that I can’t seem to put into words. A masterfully crafted balance of light and dark is the best description I can muster. Also, the greatest wafts of magic come at unexpected moments with this one and I love that. The art of the bottle design... There is so much creativity to applaud. The fist is so dang cool. Life is too short to not enjoy “tacky” bottles like this. To me this is not tacky at all since there is so much purpose in the design, from the in-your-face fist that perfectly illustrates the concept of “only the brave”, the option of vertical or horizontal placement, the stunning colour, to the metal accents. I still remember that initial magazine ad and tester, thinking to my younger self “that cologne bottle is a fist!? I gotta have it” It drew me in then and still captivates me now. Just awesome.