Jacomo de Jacomo

This perfume taught me to always be careful with the reviews we see out there. Challenging? Difficult? Only for those who only knew perfumery from 1 Million. Jacomo de Jacomo is a perfume that doesn't hide its purpose: it's an extremely masculine and woody-spicy fougere. It bears the mark of the time it was launched, with the same dense and forest-like base formed by oakmoss, patchouli, pink pepper (whose combination reminds me of Zino) among other minor notes that make it woody, full-bodied, and earthy, an accord that presents itself from the opening. This weight is quickly balanced by lavender, basil, cumin (which isn't even among the main notes, appearing much less than expected, fortunately), other aromatic notes that I can't distinguish, and the musk - which isn't the "sweaty" one from Kouros, Gentleman 1974 among other animalics, this one reminding more (not the same, just reminiscent) of Narciso For Him. In other words, Jacomo de Jacomo doesn't have the animalic punch of its contemporaries, which makes it less dated than them. This aromatic and woody duality is balanced by spices, a ton of them, especially clove, quite noticeable from the opening, the star of the perfume, which is by no means so difficult, on the contrary, it's quite pleasant, bringing a smoky and incense-like touch (it reminds me of the scent of ecclesiastical myrrh) that obscures this fougere. As it dries down, it becomes more balanced, neither too spicy nor too woody or aromatic, with patchouli and woods maintaining the earthy touch that becomes slightly sweet and almost creamy, always balanced by lavender (reminiscent of that in Drakkar Noir, but here darkened by the other notes). The dry down is interesting, as at certain moments the lavender stands out, at others the spices and woods, remaining so until the end of its life. It's an extremely refined and pleasant barber-shop perfume, somewhat obscured, evoking old shaving foams. I see no restrictions on usage other than special occasions (it calls for full formal attire) and temperatures below 25°C, although it shines best in the cold. It indeed evokes a dark and ancient atmosphere, I would even say that it takes me back to times even more remote than the era it was launched, presenting the same opulent dark and gothic vibe of perfumes like Van Cleef pour Homme, Encre Noire, Antaeus, and Oscar de la Renta Pour Lui (all different, only the atmosphere is the same, with the latter following a more floral path, while this one is more spicy and smoky), and those who like those (like me) will probably be enchanted by this one. Among the more recent ones, perhaps this one will please those who like Sauvage Elixir (which is a modernized and more commercial reinterpretation of this one, being much sweeter). I imagine it as something characters from old horror movies played by actors like Vincent Price and Christopher Lee would wear, evoking a villainous and somber atmosphere. I don't see men under 25 years old using or liking this one, it requires a certain maturity and personality. The performance, as far as I could test, is excellent, projecting very well for the first 2.5 hours and lasting for at least 10 hours, and as today is a particularly hot day, I believe it will perform even better in the cold. My bottle is from 2014 (lighter cap), therefore, before the last reformulation and bottle change, so these considerations only apply to it.

STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS Clove essential oil is credited with having a stimulating smell that is considered an aphrodisiac, as well as helping to manage anxiety energy and increase the ability to concentrate. If used correctly in a perfume, I believe it can do a whole lot more still. Jacomo was a very innovative fragrance when it was first released in 1980. Four decades have now passed and it can be considered (still) as a modern perfume. It has a powerful aroma, showing an avalanche of sweet and warm spices, hints of powdered cinnamon, and woody floral nuances, and develops swirls of smoke... a sheer delight! We could be looking at a typical vintage men's fragrance, with oakmoss, leather accords, patchouli, and musk. However, in Jacomo, a very dry ambience stands out through the intense use of oakmoss and "Evernia plum lichen" (an unusual note only listed by Jacomo), almost as if we have moss and lichen in a double dose. The theme of a "typical 80s perfume" also presents another important deviation. The development is essentially dark and gloomy, with a penetrating and rather harsh smoky mist. However, the main audacity comes from a heart with a dominant clove note that overshadows a timid lavender opening. Then the clove also overlaps - but without eliminating - other warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom and cumin, well in addition to greens like rosemary and basil. Finally, it perpetuates itself in the base while amplifying the effect of moss, lichen, cypress, patchouli and musk. In my opinion, we are way far from a trivial fragrance. It is so modern that it survives to this day, with its legion of enthusiasts, and even gaining new followers. It is an extremely masculine perfume, performing above average, and well crafted enough to challenge any young 'dark spicy fragrance' enthusiast. I just pass the no longer fashionable Zippo-type cap, always stealing a bit of juice when spraying. The final good news may be the observation that several reformulations have not been cruel to this perfume, and its retail price is also a very agreeable surprise. Music: by Paul Simon - "Still Crazy After All These Years" Note: I find the name "Jacomo de Jacomo by Jacomo" a sheer delight!

1991 was a strange year. On May, I answered to a desperate, poetic ad in a heavy metal magazine. "I can no longer cope with my existence, in my glaring pitch-black territory, wailing endlessly over the end of the world. My future, a little water in your eyes." A couple of days later I found her waiting outside my door. On the same night, while she stood by the window, naked and moonlit, she was emanating a bluish, otherworldly aura in the dark room. She was the most comfortable while naked person I ever met, stripping herself not only from her clothes, but from norms, rules and conventions as well. She was a heavy smoker, and what's more, she was playing with the ashes in the ashtray during our long talks. She had her nails always painted in black. She always wore an old oversized leather jacket over her gypsy dresses. She had grey, troubled eyes, which were like two shards of her shattered soul, trying to escape her battered body. She was tacking cloves in her short maroon hair. Her rough skin was beaming a surreal torrid smell of cummin and milk. She was acting crazy most of the time, to the point of wondering whether she was posing a threat to herself. She taught me how important it is to share your last cigarette. She showed me the melting point of patience, cause a three hour train ride in order to meet her was always feeling like millennia. Every street urchin knew her by her first name. She was living in an old house, with a small yard full with carnation bushes. Her febrile mind was geysering dark poems; each of them a new cicatrice to a heart already covered with scars. All I recall is that I kept on following her. I followed her to her small hometown. I followed her through her jewel making years. I followed her on a mountainy island in early autumn. I followed her in a southern Greek island for a week in summer. I followed her through a song that I wrote for her and she never listened. I followed her through countless silent whimpers in empty hotel rooms. But I was too scared to follow her through life. Her name was, most ironically, Joy. Jacomo de Jacomo is how she smelled like. Joy de Jacomo is how I call it ever since...

First read Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’ when I was ten years old and Jacomo resembles what I always imagined the spice “melange” from Arrakis would smell like. Always assumed that the name “Jacomo” was an allusion to the legendary master of seduction, Giacomo Casanova. This was a blind buy based on reviews and articles on Fragrantica - found a 100ml tester of the original version (the one with blue lettering) for less than the retail price of the current version. Amazing. Rich and spicy - a veritable “spice-bomb”. Most noticeable for me in the first impression is cinnamon and cloves - with a camphoraceous aspect to the clove that imparts a kind of freshness, very reminiscent of oil of cloves or Indonesian cigarettes like Kretek or Gadang Garam - on a backbone of oakmoss, palisander, galbanum and patchouli along with a bunch of other things my inexpert nose can’t identify. Patchouli, Galbanum and Oakmoss become more prominent in the dry down. Lots of oakmoss. The effect is invigorating and curiously seductive. Smells niche, natural and high quality. Can’t detect the “new tyre” smell others have described. Although my mind associates oakmoss with last century Jacomo doesn’t strike me as particularly dated or old-fashioned - this is a complex, somewhat enigmatic blend that smells luxurious, rich and pleasantly “spicy.” Definitely doesn’t smell noticeably “artificial” in any way and if anything the overall effect is “niche”, natural and vaguely reminiscent of a blend of essential oils. On the flacon is a list of bases and absolutes : “Bases et absolus: cardamome, galbanum, lavande, bois de rose, mousses de chêne, cannelle, cumin, patchouli, geranium” (cardamom, galbanum, lavender, rosewood, oakmoss, cinnamon, cumin, patchouli, geranium). Really glad I found this. It’s quite unlike anything else in my collection. The original vintage Jacomo is a classy creation and I can well understand why it was so popular with the denizens of Studio 54. At some point I hope to try the current version.

Smoke, patchouli and greens. Jacomo de Jacomo is pure smoke and masculinity in a bottle. The first whiff of the top notes is extremely strong and potent, nearly stomach churning. I won't lie, it might make you feel sick and uneasy from the initial blast. It's like being trapped in an ashtray, or sitting in a cigar room with no ventilation and incense musk burning. However, do NOT be fooled. Once the top notes settle down, 45 minutes later the middle notes develop and it slowly becomes a very manly blend of patchouli, greens, leather and smoke. It projects very well without being cloying or irritating for several hours in this stage. Pure beauty. The drydown in this is simply amazing, the complexity of going from being purely nasty and then morphing into pure manhood is unbelievable. Imagine a couple-days-unshaven, aviator shades wearing guy wearing a leather jacket with a vintage T-shirt and jeans, smoking a cigar outside the hole in the wall trendy bar in the city kind of smell. A confident, cool, knows the ropes kind of dude that plays guitar and rides a Triumph. That's what this is. The base notes are pure patchouli, leather and tobacco. After about six hours it stays closer to the skin and gives you a subtle and sexy, almost natural smell. Lasts at least 10-12+ hours in longevity for me with ten sprays (neck, wrists, shoulders, chest), with above average sillage and projection. I've owned about 100 different colognes over my lifetime and I've never come across ANYTHING that smells like this. It truly is one of a kind, and holds a special place in my collection, and it will be in yours if you're a true collector or enjoy powerhouse 70's & 80's fragrances. Highly recommended.

I must admit I had to dig deep into memories to find references to Jacomo. Not that it isn't appealing - quite the opposite. Jacomo is just not there anymore. Even the Kretek cigarettes (you know these Indonesian clove-clouds) that were such a benchmark of avantgardism by the end of the 20th century are nowadays banned in my country. Cloves are for Christmas - end of story. But not this time. Jacomo isn't cheerful. It is certainly not family and in-laws and howdy-dowdy. Jacomo is black leather, dim lights and the era when synthetics met the old joy of the clubs. It is the bottle with phosphorus blue text on matte black. Jacomo is not merely comfortable, it evokes a certain nervousness. It is leather and smoke, but not as in Chesterfield and whisky, but as if someone had dropped a cigarette butt in your leather pants. And you are so drunk and high that it just iches a little. And it's so late that it's not even early anymore. Then someone plays "Venus in Furs" on the stereo. Could have been a bad-ass, but the room is turning and tilting softly. Vodka and god knows what. I bought myself a new bottle on discount last year, and in my opinion it has sobered up. Recovered itself from most of those harmful chemicals. New bottle, black suit and attempting to live a decent life. Did anyone say boring? Well, be glad it is still around. Jacomo could have died from an overdose thirty years ago. And beyond that modest performance, and a slightly more christmasy clove-smoke, there is still a trace of utter decadence. Which I love. Just test to over-apply ones. For good old days...

The early 1980s gave us men's perfumes that announced their intention to be bold without reservation. Kouros, Antaeus, Santos de Cartier, Armani Eau pour Homme, Versace L’Homme, Drakkar Noir, and Portos broke away from tradition and made men flaunt their masculinity with staggering confidence. And then there's Jacomo de Jacomo. It's up there with the 1980s club of 10X shakers. It is dark. It is smokey. It is pungent and then powdery. As it blooms, it does not care about nuances. Officemates have complimented me on what turned out to be cumin, cloves, and cinnamon. I do not smell this spice trifecta. I do not even know how they smell together, except when I cook my masala dishes. Yet Jacomo de Jacomo is far from being nutritional. How cumin, cloves, and cinnamon got into this sensational juice is bizarre to me. I smell tyres that have just parked themselves after driving along Mumbai's gravelly streets. I sense automotive grease that's creamy and sweet. I feel the aroma of the outdoors fraught with bullets and race cars. This is probably why I feel that Harrison Ford's character wore this in "Blade Runner." Or Schwarzenegger's in "Terminator". It's one of the most unusual scents I've ever experienced. It strengthens my conviction that the 1980s were amongst the greatest years of fragrance for men. For all its bizarre attributes, Jacomo de Jacomo is one of the best, an underrated and almost forgotten creation.

Wow this took me by a huge surprise or what! I like buying random unknown (to me) cheapies from time to time and this was probably one of the best ones ever. This has a strong smoky leathery opening to my nose which none officially listed. Those fade away fast and it sits into a warm spicy, woody, and manly fragrance. It has touches of fresh spices and lavender that you can tell they are there but in the very back just making this playin interesting without making it a barbershop soapy scent. This is a very harmonious scent. On the dry down, it smells very reminiscence of Guerlain Heritage EDP. I like it a lot and it is worth every penny I paid for it. I highly recommend to get yourself a bottle if you are into masculine fragrances. Suitable for colder weather and nights. It could have been easily a beast mode fragrance if it had more punch to it. Having said that, I like it the way it is because it doesn't become offensive.

This was released in 1980, but it strikes me like a 90's goth smell. The band Type O Negative comes to my mind when i sniff this. This thing is awesome, so unique. It has a niche characteristic in the sense that it goes full on into the "smoke" direction. The reviewer who said this reminds of Kretek cigs is spot on, specially in the opening, but it also gave me this vibe of something metallic burning. Like a piece of shiny metal/silver/sterile on fire. Dark and definetly masculine, there's nothing modern about this and i say it in the best way possible. The drydown has hints of Jaguar, the green bottle, but in a smoother and less abrasive way. It's not dense or heavy, just dark and "warm". Put this on during winter nights wearing leather or wool, wearing black. Decent performer, but i can only imagine what kind of nuclear bomb this was during the 80's.

In 1980's I was a teenager and I smelled Jacomo on my boss. That was the best men's perfume I ever smelled !! I said to myself: "when I will be a mature man I will buy this!!!" Anyway many years gone, I forgot about Jacomo... and suddenly last year as a member of Fragrantica I remembered it again!! I found it and bought it online IMMEDIATELY!! I was so happy when my order arrived... I open the box... sprayed.. and BIG DISSAPOINTMENT followed. That was worst than a fly killer. Nothing to do with the Jacomo I knew. Since then about every month I was giving a hopeless try ...but nothing. Suddenly 10 months later (last month) a U-turn happened! My Jacomo became from absolute zero > to a solid 9!! It is still not the same as the one of the 80's but it is a fantastic masculine, clove - spice - smoky - aromatic perfume!

Epic Journey Into the Bottled Yonder, 053 ------------------------------------------------------- Purchased June 2017 Already was very familiar with this because my dad in the early 2000s sprayed this everyday and I had never understood it until I got my own bottle out of sheer nostalgic curiosity that this was made in the death of the '70s and unleashed in the dawn of the '80s. Took several tries to get out of my association by memory to get through it, but definitely Santos de Cartier was the bottle that gave me the courage to get this although I recognised the bottle from my past. It's the most manly and elegant smoky scent you'll ever find, very much leather and smoke. Can't wait to wear it again because although I've worn Jacomo Rouge more, it's this one that I miss even more as I spend time away from it.

Time travel ................. 80's atmosphere! Lavender, oak moss, vanilla, rosemary, etc............. spice orgy! Very unique composition! Gives wearing very elegant, balanced feel. Besides, in turn relaxes ......... perfectly masculine scent safe! Very durable and strong phenomenon!Masterpiece. The "Zippo" cap is not clear to me because of the "old" cap was more specific, which is better suited to smell unique. It's my little commercial cap ........... Yet, the perfect signature scent, is special!! A big thank you to the manufacturer, that has kept this classic! The eastern feeling never goes out of style, especially when paired with a French fashion house ..... Drakkar, Alain Delon, Azzaro take up worthy space beside trade names until today 10/10

Well, if I was ever to receive an anonymous love letter willing to seduce me, this is the scent I imagine the mysterious lover should deliver on the paper blazing its trail from the envelope to do the trick. So captivating and intriguing.... Poems would be a way background story since I would have already been enchanted by Jacomo's luring caress surrounding me, carried away slowly by the current of a fragranced air. So inviting...so beguiling. I can't quite recall all of the notes now, but I remember Jacomo as such a beautiful, sumptuous and refined (especially in the drydown) fragrance. Powerfully and mysteriously attractive to reach the point of a highly seductive scent with a kind of a "Forbidden fruit" drift....

Astringent leather of the motor oil kind, a polarizing scent for this is a note not many like. I cannot get a clear idea as to the notes, but is true that there not floral ones around, rather spices and the usual woody combo of masculine scents. It is, regardless of the initial punch, very soft and mild. Normal application won't make for a "project / longevity" scent, but going the liberal way might be the answer to that. At least, I once did and could get the blend's nuisances in a way I was not able to grasp when applying the usual way. I like it. A nice cheapy off the way of the usual ones. PS: I bet that a nuclear version of it would make for a hyped niche EdT / EdP.

Warning: Do Not Buy Until You Try! Jacomo by Jacomo has one of the harshest openings imaginable. It opens with a potent odor that resembles old cigarette ashes mixed with burnt rubber, tinged with burnt cloves. It`s an offensive start that lasts 90 minutes. Major olfactory turn-off. Ultimately Jacomo morphs into a very nice incense-leather combo with impressive longevity. I would embrace Jacomo if there was a more tolerable way to get to those nice base notes, but this is a Jekyll & Hyde fragrance, and it just isn`t worth the trouble. Given the ash and burnt-rubber opening, which lasts way too long, Jacomo clearly belongs in a category labeled Buyer Beware.

Jacomo De Jacomo is a real master piece. It smells like burning Cinnamon cigarette. Spicy smoky & Dark. Projection is awesome for 2 to 3 hrs, Longevity up to 5 hrs, Then gets close to the skin. It works only on skin & not on cloths. So better to spray on skin. Compliments sure. Its a winter Fragrance ,which sould not be used in summer. The opening is strong, but once it settles down the smell is awesome. Some may hate this, But i love it. It can be used for night party or going pub. It is fantastic choice for smokers. It suits for both young & Middle age men. The bottle is like a cigarette lighter & looks good. Its night life scent. I give 9/10. Class

I have fallen in love with this fragrance. So much in love that I'm willing to wear it in 95 degree weather. The spices come together so well here. It reminds me of visiting my mother for Thanksgiving and her home smelling like baked apple pie. Extremely comforting scent. So comforting that I've even used it in stressful moments to help me relax. Even though its not listed in the notes, I get a little bit of incense also. Phenomenal performance (blue letter vintage bottle); I can easily get 6-8 hours from 3-4 sprays. The best part is it's not your typical cologne. I guarantee nobody around you will be wearing this. Pure winner. Grade: A+

Very good quality, opens with a smokey leather with inky oak-moss. But wait.. it may not give you good impression at first sniff just wait 12-15 minutes and the magic begins. That's when come my lovely natural both carnation/clove and basil. anyway there is the famous cola note hidden beneath coming from the following: "cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, lemon, coriander, and petitgrain" (these are the actual notes giving the cola its odor). Good both longevity and sillage here, I think it beats the high-end pricey perfumes regarding its ridiculous price (28 US $). Two thumbs up, I'll wear it at winter outside and spray it at home for now..

Jacomo de Jacomo.... ...is by far the smokiest fragrance I own. A heavy punch of cloves, tonka, cinnamon blending with patchouli and incense. A soft and slight floral background and iris are working well to mellow it out a bit. It is well blended and quite complex. I don't even want to go into the never-ending and tiresome discussions about reformulations and I'll leave that to the reformulation mafia but i firmly believe this scent is still around today BECAUSE it was reformulated. Which leaves 90% of the original scent for 60% of the original price. I call that a good deal....

I used to wear this as a fourteen-year-old girl. The name, Jacomo, oddly still rings through my head now and then. Crazy times. I bought a new bottle of this. It doesn't have the flip top, like a zippo lighter--just a regular black cap. The bottle is fine, the sprayer is just fine. It's a nice fragrance, but I was expecting a glorious jolt to my system, based on what I remember from times back. It's still a good value, a very pleasant perfume. I get lots and lots of yummy cinnamon. My husband likes to wear it too. Peace.