Navigator

Epic Journey Into the Bottled Yonder, 202 ------------------------------------------------------- Purchased October 2022 Upon the recommendation that this was stolen by Creed, which I can see because I've worn Navigator quite a bit for an INSANE frag, I had to know as I've been a Dana/Houbigant fan for many years. This has that marine/salty (but not too much) smell that almost nobody will like. It's very strong, almost obnoxious, yet it works because it's woody and almost leathered. Nobody likes this. They all hate it and love it. There's no middle of the pack opinion here at all and writing this just makes me more excited to wear it sooner! A fucking challenging bottle to spray this because it's a dead serious warm and hot weather only scent and you really shouldn't wear this around people who have disdain for frags and anything configured for the heat too. But you gotta have fun with it!! Along with this you'll also need Aramis Adventurer. There's no point wearing extremely safe and inoffensive crap nobody ultimately cares about, because what you want is a bottle of poetry. You want your best bottles to be art. You will be broke collecting every "nice" frag out there that nobody can tell the difference because they're insignificant. You'll be remembered for wearing these two frags if you need something in the warmth. Edit: This reminds me of Dana Timberline in the first 30 minutes. But I get it now. It's very woody and mildly spiced too! This makes it a bottle for autumn of course, not just summer and spring. The citrus gracefully fades away within 30 minutes and then you get the main event. Holy cow this is so awesome!! I never understood it perfectly and I've had it for almost two years. I thought it was a heavy marine, but now my nose picks up its objective scent which is woody with marine on the side. It's basically leather tannins since there are some leather products that can smell like this. Guys when people say "leather frag" it means the tanning process in which the hides are processed to make leather. They include oils and all sorts of secret formulas to make leather what it is, NOT stink but smell earthy. Therefore all your leather scents smell resinous and earthy because of the tanning process, there's more to it than just this. Also some popular ways to make a "good" leather, not the genuine leather crap it's not leather, are the vegetable tan and chrome tanning processes. They use essential oils, etc. to get that earthy spicy feel and smell out of the factory. My 100% shell cordovan wallet still smells like it did over 5 years ago out of the factory and leather cutting workshop. Edit 2: Holy shit I can smell some green cedar-ish pine! Basically a fresh spicy scent with leathered wood. Gotta have it! This is what perfumes are about!!

This review focuses on the vintage Eau de Toilette (EdT). Initially, the fragrance has a gin and tonic vibe, but after about 45 minutes to an hour, the lemon and juniper notes settle down, allowing the other notes to emerge. That's when Navigator really shines. The sandalwood, nutmeg, tonka bean, and vetiver create a lovely dry down. While the juniper remains present throughout much of the fragrance’s life, it becomes just a hint after 2 to 3 hours. I believe the dry down is what makes Navigator a great choice for spring, summer, and fall. I highly recommend seeking out the vintage 100ml (spray) EdT. Although it may require some searching, it's definitely worth it in my opinion.

I was fortunate to find a vintage bottle of Eau de Toilette (EdT) a few years ago, and I always enjoy wearing it. If you come across an older "Made in Spain" EdT spray with a stamped bottom, I highly recommend picking it up; it’s definitely worth it. Unfortunately, the Cologne spray and splash bottles that are widely available now aren't as valuable, but the older EdT bottle is a true gem worth seeking out.

A favorite of mine. Opening is pungent and rather bitter but it doesn't stay there. Quickly smooths out to a pleasantly tart citrus/green/woody scent, reminiscent of a cross between Paco Rabanne and Irish Spring. Also similar to Preferred Stock, just not as soft and rounded. No one will be offended by Navigator because it does nothing worse than leave you smelling clean and fresh, particularly in the hottest weather. Reapply liberally. (If you like it, find the larger emerald green bottle with metallic green cap. The juice is the same but the bottle looks nicer. The deodorant stick is highly recommended too.)

I enjoy this one.. while it's not my favorite, it is nice for going out in the morning or just hanging around the house. It is great for the mature man, but younger people like me can pull it off without any problem. I find it to be sort of aquatic, sweet, and a little spicy and I enjoy that for summer. The only dislike I have is that it is a splash and not a spray. But with a little ingenuity, I came up with a little sprayer for it, and that makes this thing last all day!

2 funny anecdotes about this one. 1 - I bought it 20€ in a little store next to my home. So I was thinking "Cheap perfume, so it couldn't be great...". Mistake. This is not a marvel, an oustanding one, but it scents really fresh, really citric. And as I love agrums... 2 - I noticed that was a cologne after I bought it, so my first impression was "Oh ? Really ? I thought that cologne were awful, old-fashioned and all generics." This is really a different one ! ^^'

This scent is actually produced by DANA now. I don't know the specifics as to why Houbigant is not making this anymore. Fragrantica should know this, but they can get busy with bigger more well known scents. You may think I'm crazy but this, to me, smells exactly like the VERY much more expensive Aventus. This can be purchased on ebay real easily for little money. Unfortunately though it has a short lifespan on my skin.

Small bottle acquired from eBay for a fiver. Like RonB says the initial spray is kinda brutal, but settles down quickly. Reminds me of something but can’t really pin it down. There’s a brininess and slight oceanic funk to this early on and ends woody and soapy. Performance for me wasn’t bad at all. A bit odd but quite enjoyable nonetheless.

A fairly close resemblance to Irish Spring.

What a failure! This pretty nearly smelled like nothing to me. It was a little citrusy and nice for like 5 minutes, and then I couldn't smell anything at all. I've never had anything weaker or less lasting than this, even including body sprays. Maybe the bottle I had was really old and had died, but I dunno. I got 0.5 oz for a dollar, and I couldn't imagine even paying $5 for a full size. I did a test, re-applying on the same little piece of cloth over and over...after 3 or 4 cycles, it smelled just as much like nothing as after the first. Go spray yourself with everclear instead.

I have what I think is a vintage bottle, and the only problem for me is that it sometimes registers as seasoning for fish! If that notion doesn't bother you then if you can find the same formulation that I have I think you'll be pleased. I'd rate longevity and projection as good, but I didn't apply much. My guess is that you'll want what you see pictured above - note that it says that it's from Canoe. Also, my box has a short list of ingredients on the back.

Got this for a dollar, and I am really liking it today. Dry dry dry green chypre, very green and a bit sharp first on, but it warms as it dries down and I'm left with a dusty green wood and leather that is somehow very appealing. It's certainly cheap enough to buy before trying. Downside is that it does have a faint edge I associate with cheaply made colognes. Still, it's definitely worth what I paid for it!

This is a disaster. Has this strong citric smell which is unbearable. However the specified notes are very appealing and that's why I went for this. May be the planning and intention has been good but the execution/ creation had been a utter flop. I am thoroughly disappointed

My friend just found a very old bottle of this, when it was made by Dana. I'm interested to smell it and compare.