EIGHT & BOB

I always love a perfume with a story, and this is certainly true of Eight & Bob. Some cynics have suggested that it is merely a romantic fabrication, featuring a young Parisian perfume enthusiast who befriended JFK, who, with his famed charm and charisma, managed to coax a sample from the Frenchman who, until then, guarded his formula closely. JFK later requested eight more samples for friends, and one for his brother, Bob - thus came the name Eight & Bob. This original scent was only released commercially in 2012, and is seemingly the same formula as the pre-WWII version that so charmed JFK. I bought the discovery set, and naturally, 8&B is my first one to try. An elegant, slightly unusual, aromatic masculine cologne, it is classic yet distinctive, and smells expensive, made from high-quality ingredients. 8&B has a spicy-citrus opening, more aromatic and warm than fresh - well-rounded and natural-smelling. Cardamom is used to perfection here, adding green, peppery spice without being dinner-y or discordant. Ginger follows, warm and powdery rather than freshly-grated. It becomes nutty and woody, slightly gourmand in a non-sweet manner like Cloon Keen Castaña - warm, well-rounded and very autumnal. As it develops, the clean floral heart comes to the fore. I get a nice neroli note, adding a citrus-tinged floral quality to the heart. Clean, natural-smelling jasmine rounds it out, complemented by the soft woody notes. The nuttiness and soft spices persist - it is well-blended throughout. The drydown is dominated by a soft, musky amber accord with a dash of earthy patchouli complementing it nicely. The woody notes persist. Dry vanilla gives the amber a balsamic quality, keeping everything smooth and well-rounded as it fades to a musky, slightly sweet skin scent with soft spices remaining. Sillage is moderate and the longevity is surprisingly long-lasting. A top-notch transeasonal masculine (that is soft enough to be unisex depending on taste), 8&B is timeless and classic yet slightly unusual. One of my favourite masculines - I'm glad that it is as good as its romantic origin story. 4.5/5.

This fragrance reminds me gentlemen from another era, it’s elegant, sophisticated, a bit retro but not in a bad way. This fragrance reminds me of an era I never lived in, the roaring 20‘s and 30‘s of the last century, when life was much better. Every time I wear 8&Bob I imagine Albert Fouquet and a young JFK in the south of France enjoying life surrounded by beautiful, elegant and sophisticated women. When tattoos and piercings were only for very few people, unlike today, unfortunately. This is a fragrance for an over 30, well put together man. It’s ok to be worn in the daytime, in spring, in summer (but not in the super high heat) and in the first weeks of fall when the temperature is still pleasant. Ideal for office wear and for leisure for a gentleman who is sophisticated but without being pretentious. It’s a slightly informal fragrance, but yet elegant and masculine, without being a macho man type of fragrance. Very good longevity and also good (but not super loud) projection. Not a fragrance for those who like modern frags, metrosexual and super sweet. Albert Fouquet did a great composition back then and I’m not surprised the American jet set in the 30’s felt in love for his fragrance. 8&Bob it’s citrusy fresh, zesty due to the ginger, floral, slightly sweet and woodsy. It smells classy, elegant, clean, masculine but not over masculine. It can be worn while dressed up but also if you wear more casual clothing (but not worn out jeans and T-shirt please). If this fragrance was a movie, it would be Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen. I imagine this would be the fragrance worn by Owen Wilson, jumping from the 20’s and the 2000’s. This fragrance it’s a bit snobbish, yes, but I’m in love with it, and I hope Albert Fouquet from wherever he is now, looking down here to me, wearing and enjoying his creation, doesn’t get too upset because an average guy is wearing a creation which was made for people like JFK and Hollywood stars of the roaring 30’s.

I first encountered this beauty in a favourite concept store in central Madrid not that long after it was released. I loved it immediately even though it somehow remains in my canon of "trustworthies" rather than on the far shorter list of lovers who could drive you to madness with desire. At the time - as now- I took the story with a pinch of salt. And please don't be offended if you can send me links to credible historic documentation. Somehow I think I will be even more impressed if it was all an invention of pure fiction as I still suspect it might be. That side bar addressed, the juice itself is impressive and seductive. Okay, so maybe I am an easy target: it has numerous woody notes to which I am clearly susceptible; it has a creamy, complex base; and it has a lovely combination of spice-citrus notes floating above to put that sparkle in your smile. It's its classicism that impresses me rather than the much more arriviste tales of a young JFK lounging around on the French Riviera in the 1930s. Yes, I was that little boy who loved nothing better than to be taken to an old-school barbershop with wood-panelled by my grandfather. And this veritably unravels those vaguely remembered scents. In my mind I experience it as very male because it connects to so many of those personal memories of traditional male grooming. But in pure fragrance terms such delineation is silly in today's world. It is a great fragrance for all who love it.

I went on a 9 hour road trip with my fiance recently. It was the peak of winter in NYC and I sprayed in the morning right before the trip. We'd arrived to our destination 9 hours later, got ourselves situated, socialized, etc. Right before bed that evening, she hugs me and says "you smell good". I didn't reapply nor did I spray anything else. Eight & Bob travelled with me in the winter and managed to stick around for +/- 12 hours. I think that's pretty amazing for what's categorized as a "Spring scent". This may very well be an all-year/signature scent afterall! As for the comparisons to Fahrenheit 32: There are PLENTY of fragrances that smell alike (Ambre Narguile/Dolcelisir; Aventus/Fresco; Green Irish Tweed/Cool Water/Floris JF; 1 Million/EVERYTHING; etc.), however every fragrance is its own creation with its own aura. I cannot confirm nor deny the claim of this being similar to F32, but I CAN form an individual opinion to my fragrances rather than simply tossing it under the very dismissive "smells like" category. Whether the story is true or not is really irrelevant, to be honest. If you like the fragrance, then ENJOY THE FRAGRANCE!

The whole JFK backstory doesn’t interest me at all. In fact, I would probably use that as an excuse for not even trying Eight and Bob. But try it I did, and was instantly rewarded. There is just this swoon-worthy combination of vanilla, woods, and citruses, underpinned by a prominent dose of ambergris, that instantly uplifts my spirits, no matter where I am or what I’m doing. I’ve found this to be a versatile fragrance that works well in all seasons, perhaps with the exception of a blistering summer heat. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so that shouldn’t be too much of an issue. 8 & B is also a unique fragrance, at least to my nose. The closest comparison I have found was Cartier Roadster, but haven’t done a side by side to confirm that hunch. However, at ~$175 USD for 100 ml, this is definitely not a blind buy. But I do believe this is a fragrance every gentleman 35+ would do well to sample at least once, and see if it strikes you as much as it did me.

Starts off as a spicy citrus, smells like a richer, more oriental spin on traditional masculine summer scent. Dry down becomes a spicy wood and fades into a somewhat animalic warm sandalwood. This is one of the few wearable masculine scents I have smelled that truly evolves over time and does so with grace. It remains pleasant and wearable the whole way through, never noxious or overbearing, even with the initial spray. As someone who tends to dislike the aquatics, greens, and aromatics that make up most standard scents catered to male audiences, this one surprised me. Its the kind of scent that people recognize as a familiar masculine scent, but simultaneously find themselves captivated by the subtle oriental and spicy notes that make it so unique. This scent is definitely a good introduction into the realm of niche masculine warm weather scents.

This is a true gentleman's fragrance, although it doesn't descend into pretentiousness. True class and moderate luxury with a price tag to match. As niche goes, $175 per bottle isn't terrible. I get some initial hints of citrus and spice with bergamot, lemon, cardamom and ginger. It soon settles into the luxurious heart of labdanum, woods and hazelnut. The drydown remains rich and luxurious with strong, smooth, slightly salty ambergris and sandalwood, with nuances of vanilla and patchouli. The whole experience with this fragrance is beautiful and rich from top to base and every stage in between. Remains slightly sweet throughout, but never cloying. Artfully blended and truly classy. Performs well for your money. This is a masterpiece of modern perfumery and should be in every gentleman's collection, even if only a decant. 10/10

OUFFF! where do I start. Firstly, the people saying this is "old school" frag you couldn't be more WRONG!!! When I was about 9-10 years old back in 2008 or 09 my dad's signature scent was Fahrenheit 32. My mom got it for him as one of the gift for his bday. He fell in love with it and wore it all the time. It was such a lovely vanilla, orange blossom, sweet floral bomb.Only recently when I started getting into perfume I found out it was discounted which is very sad as its one of the greatest scents in my opionion. I bought this hoping I can get the closest to Fahrenheit 32. It has the DNA of Fahrenheit but it's not it! It's similar in the qualities of its airiness. All in all it's a gorgeous scent that I will be wearing alot as a 23 year old male. This aint old school at all!!!!

I don't know where people are smelling soap in this. Has it been reformulated recently? I bought this about 4 years ago and it is straight up warm and creamy. Very similar to Cashmere Mist by Donna Karan. I only wear this once in a while, but it's always a treat when I do. Nothing sharp or aldehydic about it. I think you could wear this year round, but it is probably best for spring and fall seasons. I very rarely receive compliments on fragrances but I've received some wearing this. Slightly woody, ambery, a little sweet and more of a rich and deep fragrance that lasts for a long time. I can still smell it on my shirt the next day. Smells great on men but this could also go unisex no problem.

Recently purchased a FB after a sample from Mens Biz. I could start with bullshit backstory beggars belief, and I like a story as much as the next man. All fairy tales aside (even fairy tales have elements of truth, right?!) I really dig this juice. It's zesty but creamy, alluring but not hyper sexual, office safe yet different enough to have heads turn in the wake of your Sillage. It IS classy. I CAN imagine a figure such as JFK (or insert suave public figure here) wearing it. Turns out JFK and Bob weren't the last ones to enjoy it, signature worthy and familiar, definitely straight into my experience limited top 10 for now. Maybe forever?

I love this cologne. (I'm trying it for the second time from Birch Box.) One of my favorite fragrances is Love's True Bluish Light which is maybe a little too feminine for me. This reminds me a little of that with all the vanilla, but it's less creamy/powdery and less sweet, so I think this is a little more masculine. This is also a lot lighter sillage/lot shorter longevity than Love's True Bluish Light, but both are really vanilla heavy to the point of making you a little hungry. But Eight and Bob is a little more woody than a gourmand. I'm tempted to buy a bottle, but it's a bit pricey. I definitely recommend trying it.

No way to know whether the genesis story of this fragrance is true, though you would think the Kennedy estate might object to JFK's name being used for promo purposes if it were untrue. But enough on that - it's a fragrance after all. This is actually a really nice, balanced fresh fragrance. It's not overly aquatic or overly vanillic. It's not as distinctive as many niche offerings, but it does strike me as a great signature scent. All things equal, a great choice for spring. Bonus - great longevity. It doesn't have massive projection, but perhaps the longest lasting EDT I've tested in a long time - 12+ hours.

I love this fragrance! Whenever I wear it, it feels like I'm wearing something very luxurious. To my nose, there are some similarities between this and Acqua Di Parma's Mandorlo Di Sicilia, but I prefer this vanilla and hazelnut blend much more. The sandalwood, cedar and ambergris also add a nice complexity to the scent. This easily lasts 8-10 hrs on my skin, with strong projection for the first 2 hours. Although this is considered a male fragrance, I believe a woman can totally enjoy it just as much. I highly recommend this perfect spring & summer complement monster!

This may be my new signature scent. On first spray this perfume leans masculine HOWEVER within 30 minutes this becomes the most beautiful, delicate, feminine scent imaginable. I am reminded of the smell of Palo santo wood (not burned and smoky or incense), hazelnut, amergris, and sandalwood. There is something else brighter and more citrusy, reminiscent of a lemon drop candy. My skin has a tendency to turn everything sweet and this is no exception. Between this, Dalegerard Mannered, and Le Labo Santal 33...I am in olfactory heaven.

I see why JFK wore this. Smells like something a dignatary would wear. The opening smelled like pickeles to me, but after a minute or two I'm met with a crisp citrus and the drydown is this woody, arid, mild vanilla, earthy tones. I like it for sure. Not full bottle worthy, but definitely a 1ml. Update EDIT after 9 hours: I cannot stop smelling my arm OMG! It just keeps changing and projecting after hours and hours. Received 1 compliment from a delivery girl and caught a whiff when the wind blew. This is FULL Bottle worthy.

Eight and Bob is something that doesn't particularly stand out - it's clean and creamy sandalwood - but at the same time, it's absolutely addicting. The first spray is clean and lightly citrus, like dish soap or generic "laundry" air freshener. It gets more complex as it develops into a wet, creamy wood scent, though it keeps the same fresh airiness of the opening. I don't buy the JFK story, but Eight and Bob is great even without a history to it. It's light and refreshing and, despite the marketing, definitely unisex.

A dry woody opening with a veneer of lemon and a sprinkle of aromatic spices. It quickly settles into a powdery, slightly soapy white-purple floral experience. Something in the realm of iris, violet, jasmine, maybe lavender atop those dry woods and citric spices. Fresh, clean, airy. Strong projection for 2-3hr, longevity 6-8hr. Has a sort of irisy heart that I particularly enjoy. Kinda reminds me of Reflection Man, though that has more pink pepper off the top and lacks the same purple floral or soapy nuances.

My first fragrance purchase, and I've not smelled much that gets close to its creamy dry-down since. Zoologist's Squid gets close, but is otherwise quite different. I started wearing it in the heat and humidity of New Orleans, since I'd picked it up at Madame Aucoin's in the French Quarter, but I agree with others who say it's ideal for a cool summer night out, or the spring or fall. I don't wear this because of JFK, of course, but in *spite* of that rabid imperialist running dog and philanderer.

Hazelnut is for me the most prominent note. And a sweet woody thing. I like it a lot. Classic. Sophisticated. I only recently got the EdP, after having used the deodorant spray for a while. I suppose I was a bit disappointed that I could detect no more notes in the EdP. Smells pretty much the same. Not that I needed any more notes. This is also much more long lasting. I'm sure the bottle will last a lot longer than an aerosol as well, so it might end up actually being cheaper.

A cleaner Dior Fahrenheit. I'm almost certain this has an unlisted violet leaf note. I get a watery cumcumber-like and slightly-petrol-y smell, especially in the opening, along with the citruses and ginger. in the dry-down it's an ambergris or clean ambroxan soapy scent with still a bit of that slight violet leaf smell. It's a bit spicy, it's clean, masculine, soapy, and fresh. I doubt this is entirely a formula from the 30s, it smells pretty modern. It's an 8/10 for me.