Oxford Bleu

First off, let me start this review with a preface. Fashion & fragrance have been entwined since the beginning of the 20th century. Lest we forget, COCO CHANEL was, first and foremost, a fashion designer and her fragrances were meant as olfactory accessories to accompany her sartorial elegance. Myrurgia (Spain) was the first fashion House (according to their designer page here in the database) to create fragrances: think Maderas de Orient ('20s),Joya ('50s) and Maja ('80s). WEIL manufactured perfumes meant to cover the odor of real furs, making them pleasingly fragrant as opposed to primal or fetid. Not much has changed, nearly a hundred years later, yet people continue to "dis" fashion houses who release perfumes. And, it's true to an extent: many are mass produced "off the rack" releases meant to make money but many live up to the legacy of legendary iconic brands; despite IFRA meddling and the bean-counters constantly pointing to the bottom line. Some companies, just like many fashion designers, throw the budget to the wind creating posh and over-the-top designs that, while flamboyant and interesting on the runway, would never be worn by someone of the rank & file...let alone be afforded. Others take simple designs emblazoned with pop culture symbolism and add a three-digit price tag. Why? Because a) they can & b) someone will pay it just to say "Oh this? It's an original _____!" Somewhere, isn't there a happy medium? A just right scented "Goldilocks zone" where fashion and fragrance balance each other? Where the accessory costs significantly LESS THAN the fashion itself, while still radiating the same panache and class? I thought those days were behind us, both as a parfumista and fashion-ista; that is, until I recently was gifted a 4 piece 20 ml men's coffret from English Laundry. (Thank the gods for Macys one day sales!) Two stunning metallic EDP's and two gradient colored EDT's were handsomely packaged in tight foam in a faux (but tres chic) leather chocolate-colored box emblazoned with "English Laundry by Christopher Wicks". Before I removed a single cap or pressed an atomizer I knew I was in for a treat! Though the caps were silver plastic over black inserts (and not glued together very well, all four came apart upon uncapping) yet they fit tightly on the flacon and had a classy engraving "English Laundry" in cursive. I wasn't too upset-I bought them to wear and smell NOT to display. The sprayers delivered a wide fine mist of fragrance that instantly made me smile and not regret this "scent unsniffed" impulse buy. This masculine EDP is the best of all possible outcomes. Many disparage this company (and others like Perry Ellis) as creating "dupes" of other already popular releases. I find this mentality to be a tad bit pedantic and rather narrow-minded. Does one "dis" a Bugatti for not being a Lamborghini or Alfa Romeo? DO Saturns rule and Honda Civics drool?! They are all cars with engines, doors, windows and seats. The difference is in the way each model rides, how much it costs, and (ultimately) how well it performs, depending on what you bought it for. One does not expect an MG to tow a ton of cargo or a Ford F150 to go from 0-70 in 4.3 seconds. Let's be real here, folks... Oxford Bleu shares many attributes with VERSACE Eros, some with DIOR Homme Eau and even some of Sauvage. Yet, from this gypsy's viewpoint when you can find everything you want in an SUV or a Crossover, do you really NEED a convertible, a van and a day-to-day grocery getter? Some do; I however do not. Oxford Bleu EDP takes the best parts of many mass market high-end designer frags and synthesizes them into a superb "hybrid" while remaining very affordable (even by designer prices, let alone the niche and luxe market) resulting in a stunning luxury utility fragrance! The top notes of green tart apple, cool mint and luminous lemon keep pace with Eros, lasting a bit longer and IMHO smelling a bit less synthetic and more refreshing without any cloy at all. Fusing the debonair heart note of smooth iris from DIOR Eau and adding it to the toasty nutty coumarin of Tonka (Eros) and dry floral spiciness of geranium (also found in Sauvage) is much better to my nose than Eros with its ambroxan core, but less luxurious and complex than Sauvage: something I am willing to concede considering the price difference. The drydown of vetiver, vanilla and moss (I doubt seriously if it is actual evernia prunasti, more likely an evernyl isolate) maintains poise and elegance; while radiating warmth, earthiness and a hint of mysterious woodiness. Eros, with its double dose of Altas and Virginia cedar is more sweet and slightly balsamic where the sandalwood used in Oxford Bleu (and in neither Sauvage, nor Homme Eau) is smooth and sexy without trying too hard. All in all a completely competent creation that hits all the en vogue "marks" of the Big Guys and delivers in longevity (all day or overnight if applied for evening wear) projection/sillage and is an EDP concentration (not just in title but in its presence and throughout its duration) and behaves as such. Very proper very dignified and though it may have some things in common with the trendsetters, it takes everything I really liked about all three and funnels them into one beautiful manscent without it smelling like a chemical mess or an "if you like ___, you'll LOVE ____" dupe. Smart, sexy and everything I was looking for in a modern EDP-without having to spend over 300 dollars at the counters. Just like their fashion, English Laundry takes the normal and ubiquitous and embroiders it with something extra (but not "too much") and the result is fantastic! Sillage: moderate to heavy Longevity: very good to excellent Overall: 4.5/5 I tip my hat to Mr. Christopher Wicks. I have always adored his designs (have a couple shirts hanging in my walk-in) and though I knew he had began a scent line in 2010, I was almost afraid to try them for fear they would be ubiquitous and trite. Nothing could be further from the truth. And, for the record: I love the fraiche opening of Homme Eau and how ethereal Francois Demachy made when he streamlined the original DIOR Homme without drowning it in "calone". I also think that Sauvage (while not all that WILD) smells fabulous and its spicier woodier incense-rich composition is masterfully blended and utterly worth owning. I just think Oxford Bleu is easier to wear, less cloying and (though every bit stiff upper lip and "English" perfume) doesn't take itself too seriously-but smells seriously good! Disclosure: I have a full gift-set of Eros and a deluxe mini of Sauvage. What makes a successful designer is seeing what the market wants...and then giving it to them. Oxford Bleu does that, without being vulgar or overtly copy-catting anything. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or in our case the nostril of the sniffer, and I can tell you without a doubt (and before wearing the other three in my coffret) I will definitely be adding the other SEVEN men's scents...and, quite possibly the five "femme" ones, to my collection as well. Smell swell & be well...GP

03SEP21 (1423) Received my bottle of this today. From the first whiff...VERSACE - EROS!! BUT... It doesn't have that "Funky" note that smells like stale sweat. I had a sampler of "Versace - Eros" last month and after wearing it for 30 minutes I kept smelling my clothes to find out if I was wearing something that was funky or had been worn before somehow...cause I kept smelling funky old sweat. Needless to say, once I figured out that it was the "Eros" causing that nasty note...it got pitched in the "Donation" bin. Now "English Laundry - Oxford Bleu" is everything great about Eros PLUS better longevity, better projection, better mixture of notes, better dry-down and I have a feeling it will layer better as well. The Mint in this at the start is much more prominent, while I'm not getting much of the Apple and it seems to jump directly into the Vanilla...which I don't mind at all. I'm really hoping this will act as a good base-layer for layering other scents with lower longevity. I will try it with my favorite, "Burberry - Touch" tonight and we shall see... I will be testing it out in full performance tonight at an event. I will spray it on at 1600 this afternoon and head out the door. I should return by midnight so I'll know if it actually still lasts by that time. I'll post an update after. 04SEP21(1823) Whoowee...this scent lasted through the whole gig, dinner after and equipment breakdown. So Oxford Bleu DEFINITELY lasts a long time!! 7 hours last night...very nice. I could still smell it in the vehicle on the way home even after getting a little sweaty putting up equipment. I am going to layer it with my favorite violet scent tomorrow to see how it blends. 06SEP21 Oh man oh man...completely confirmed...this is my new base-layer vanilla cologne!! Not only does it last more than 10 hours when sprayed 3-4 times, it boosts whatever you put on top of it. I layered it with "Ajmal - Violet Musc" yesterday morning and I still smelled great last night! The "Oxford Bleu" actually outlasted "Violet Musc", that's a first...but I'm completely pleased. I'll be ordering a backup bottle in November, this is going to be one of my mainstays. "Insurrection - Reyanne Tradition" will be going in the "Donation" bin...it's not as powerful or nearly as "Vanilla" as "Oxford Bleu". This is so awesome!

Got this at TJ Maxx for 16 dollars for a 2 pack including a 30ml bottle and a 100ml bottle. I agree with the sentiment that this is a more mature, professional friendly version of eros. The opening of my bottle is quite minty but smooth and the lemon shows through in a nice way. The floral notes combined with the base offer this fragrance a mellow dry down, and all I can think when smelling it on my skin after the dry down is "that's kinda nice." And that's exactly what it is. Just a nice, mellow, inoffensive brother to Eros. Is it an effective clone? Not really, but I'd say that's not the point of this. Think of this as a flanker of Eros maybe. Slightly different for a different purpose. If you like the eros dna, I say get it. Save the real deal for clubs, parties, situations where you can really blast off and let loose. Use this version for low key hangouts around people in closer quarters, going to work, slightly more professional environments, anywhere it's louder, stronger, younger brother might not be welcome. Imagine it's as if Eros put a cologne on itself to go to a meeting. Longevity and performance are good. Safe to overspray slightly if you work in an environment where you'll be moving a lot and not necessarily in other people's faces. Projection is inoffensive and lasts a good 6-8 hours before I would really consider reapplying.

Woody-Floral-Musk TONKA-APPLE-MINT with Vanilla & Iris. This is a dupe of Eros Versace with good approximation and moderate performance. Once the spray dries and the sillage starts to open up I can feel the diffuse aromatic-green & faint fruity nuances, but already vanilla is swelling through. As it transitions to the heart I can feel the tonka-bean with its sweet woody & soft-spicy tobacco-blossom-like tones, along with the powdery facets of iris. The tonka here, combined with apple from the opening leans to apple-pie underneath the minty-aromatics. The base is gorgeous with its vanilla-woods accented by vetiver & oakmoss. Overall I get a tonka scent with some minty-apple aromatics in the opening, and that gets sweeter, fruitier & powderier as it dries down with vanilla & iris. This has average or slightly above average performance for year-round wear. Contrast to Eros Versace: These are different, but this scent is no doubt inspired by Eros, and there's a similar vibe with tonka, vanilla, apple, mint & vetiver. However Eros has a more forward ambroxan note, while Oxford Bleu has a more forward iris. Both have good performance, but Eros outperforms. Overall: gorgeous, affordable tonka scent, with minty-apple opening and vanilla-iris drydown. It's a love for me. Enjoy!

I'll say it up front. This is a Versace Eros clone. I'll also say this. I like it a lot better. This is an EDP as opposed to Eros' EDT concentration although this one isn't quite as in your face. It retains the smell without the attitude. The top is a little different, though, I will say. It's a bit linear. I get the full mint/vanilla/soft wood right up front and the scent lingers in this mode for the entirety of the fragrance. The best part of Versace Eros is on full display the entirety of this frag. That's not a bad thing. Longevity is killer on this one, 12+ hours. Sillage is enormous too but again, it leaves the obnoxious edge of Eros at the door so people will likely not be put off by it. Since it is a little more refined, I'd say if you like Eros and you're over 40, here is where you should spend your money. This could work in many different situations but is probably more suited to cooler weather or at night.