Quasar

The year was 1994 when it was first released in UK but I purchased it in Barcelona during my second-year architectural study trip/visit. Quasar will always be one of those scents that instantly transports me back to my uni days in the mid‐90s in Sheffield, UK: a time of oversized denim, mixtapes, mini discs, laser discs, DCCs and the kind of confidence you only have when you’re young and slightly clueless. I didn’t own many fragrances back then but Quasar was the one. My signature. My fruity force field. The moment it hit my skin, the air filled with that unmistakable banana‐fruit cocktail brightness, mixed with a green, watery freshness that felt like banana leaves crushed in your hands. It was playful, tropical and completely different from the aquatics and spicy powerhouses everyone else was wearing. I smelled like a neon smoothie with attitude and apparently, people noticed. The Sheffield YMCA gym changing room became the unofficial Quasar appreciation society. I’d be getting dressed after a workout and suddenly someone would wander over and ask, “Mate... what is that scent?” Sometimes they’d walk up straight from the showers, stark naked, no towel, no hesitation, just pure curiosity. It was flattering, surreal and honestly.... a bit hilarious. I never expected a fragrance to cause that kind of gravitational pull. But that was Quasar. It cut through sweat, deodorant and the smell of rubber gym mats like a fruity laser beam. It made me feel fresh, different, a little rebellious. Like I’d found a scent that didn’t just smell good - it stood out! Looking back, I think that’s why it meant so much. It wasn’t sophisticated. It wasn’t serious. It wasn’t trying to be anything other than a fun, fruity, 90s time capsule. And in that era of my life, when everything felt new, uncertain and exciting, Quasar fit perfectly. It was the scent of youth, of unexpected confidence, of awkward compliments in even more awkward places. And the best part is this: I still have a full 200ml bottle sitting proudly in my collection, now worth over AUD 500, along with the original Quasar watch, that iconic gift‐with‐purchase from its 1994 launch. A tiny, priceless fragment of my past, still ticking. I even remember getting the watch bands replaced at Macy’s on 34th Street in Manhattan back in 1999. The jeweller examined it and assumed it was some high‐end timepiece. I just nodded and smiled. The replacement metal bands cost me USD 25, and the Macy’s jeweller even cleaned out the mould along the case and polished the whole watch at no extra charge. Some perfumes age with you. Others stay frozen in time. Quasar is forever 1990s me, fruity, fearless and unintentionally iconic.

★★★★1⁄2 As a 90s kid, I have a soft spot for aquatic fragrances, you know, those chemical formulas that snobs now look down upon just because they discovered Tom Ford's private line in their local Sephora. Aside from growing up in the 90s, I live in a country with a warm summer and beautiful beaches everywhere therefore aquatic/marine fragrances are usually ideal. Where I'm getting at is that I have tried quiet a few scents designed for summer wear, but this little beauty I didn't know about... until now. When you spray this on, you get the typical "sea spray" note that was revolutionary back then: calone. Now, calone doesn't amaze me always, there are certain fragrances that are heavy calone hitters that I adore (Polo Sport, Horizon etc.) In this case, it is invigorating and nostalgic of the grunge era, when the beaches were dominated by Rip Curl and Reef. After the calone-blast, the heart of Quasar remains watery but also turns a bit green and sweet (banana leaf). Now, I have banana trees in my country house, and after the rain the leaves have a very specific scent. The banana leaf note in Quasar is not literal, but it evokes a vague image of the actual fruit. In order to pinpoint the smell just imagine the isolated sweetness of ripe banana surrounded by damp green leaves. This is playful, fresh, alluring & definitely unique. That's how Quasar smells for most of its lifespan. After 8 hours of catching whiffs of this beauty, the base notes make a soft skin scent of dew (moss & cedar) wrapping the whole composition up successfully. I am amazed because currently the creativity of designer fragrances is non-existent. I understand that right now, Oud Minerale & Sel Marin are all the rage -and those are the most creative ones- but nothing invigorates like a good blend of calone & other notes that can be found in some 90s offerings (after all, that was the trend back then with fewer IFRA regulations). Quasar is unique, with an amazing performance for its genre and especially in comparison to today's freshies. It has a similar character to CK Escape for Men, but I prefer Quasar (& I love Escape) I feel like turning on my N64 now, spray this on & enjoy myself. -This review is based on a 2001 bottle of Quasar.

On first discovering this on a discount website the notes said banana peels, newsprint(?) and woods...well, I wanted it immediately. It took quite a while to find some and then when I did it was out of stock :-(...Thanks to weegee I now have a large deluxe spray sample: "Thanks, Toots"! This opens slightly fruity, like a whiff of tropical fruit salad, and the banana leaves (not peels...) are green and slightly pungent. It becomes more of a soft clean masculine scent, due to the herbs and lavender/geranium combo. I find it quite refreshing and dry at the same time. The finish on this is clean in a woody mossy type of way, and the patchouli must be light or white; as it is not the least bit dirty or earthy. I do not get a 'newsprint' smell per se, but it does vaguely remind one of a fresh printed newspaper; but, that is just the smell of paper pulp (wood) and soy-based inks (nutty and vegetal, slightly chemical). All things considered this is a pretty nice fragrance: sweet but not syrupy or sickening; green, but not sharp; woody, but not heavy and herbal/floral, but not fougere-like or too feminine. Something familiar, but slightly different...in a good way. Good for spring/summer or anytime you want a fun and fresh scent that has some character and decent lifespan. Sillage: good Longevity: above average Overall: 4/5 A quasar is an extremely dense star that radiates intense energy and one teaspoon of its matter can weigh tons...but this, however is nothing like its namesake; it is energetic, yes, but not heavy at all. It is aromatic, but not really THAT fruity. More of a slightly green herbal-woody fougere with fruity tendencies. No wonder I love it! ;-)

There are few scents within this community that have the unsung hero lore that the original Quasar has. There's just nothing else out there that smells like it, and the fact that it hasn't budged from my favorites shelf in the last several years is a testament to it's authenticity and originality. If I had to choose just 3 scents to wear for the rest of my life, Quasar would be in my elite 3 without any doubt. It's the banana fruit and leaf notes that give this ozonic, tropical anomoly it's unique blueprint. Many claim a "newspaper" note is involved, but it's really the banana leaf foliage that's fooling the nose into believing so. I think one reviewer below me got it right when he wrote that Quasar starts off "a little messy". I agree. The first couple of minutes is basiclly a chemical sage bomb, then shortly after, you enter the mossy laden rainforest. There is no aquatic theme linked with Quasar. It's an ozonic, damp and green experience that takes place inland on a soil ladened jungle floor near the South American Equator, as opposed to the coast of the Pacific Ocean. So much so that you may find yourself feeling like you need a machete while knocking around town wearing this one. Spray Quasar on in the summer time humidity for best results and only blind buy knowing that you're not purchasing to smell like a store in the mall. Guys over 30 will probably like this best. I highly recommend.

I tried this twice before purchasing it. Each time I smelled it I ended up buying another fragrance instead, but it was like this fragrance was drawing me to it like some kind of olfactory siren ('oh brother' remarks my wife). Yesterday was my birthday and on the way home I decided to buy it (how could I resist? This quasi-stellar object caught me in its gravity well). The fact that it had been reduced from $49 to $19 for 4.2 oz might also have had something to do with it. So, what is it actually like? The opening is amazing: the fruity notes to me have a sherbety kind of zinginess to them which is veiled in a subdued green accord (which I suppose is the banana leaf). This lasts a long time and to me becomes more citric as it progresses and the green veil is lifted. One of the outstanding features for me is the longevity: I tried it at 2PM and could still smell it at mignight. There are few fragrances that last that long on my skin. The fragrance manages to maintain its zinginess (in a toned down way) for much of its long life, which makes it different to so many of the fruity colognes available today (e.g.any of the in2U fragrances by cK). I can thoroughly recommend this one!

Quasar by Jesus Del Pozo: a fragrance that once dominated the aromatic realm with its bold fusion of banana leaf, fruity notes, and banana upfront – a scent that made summers unforgettable. The heart, boasting lavender, rosemary, geranium, and sage, was a symphony of masculinity that spoke of warm, carefree days. Grounded by oakmoss, cedar, patchouli, and sandalwood, it was a fragrance that left an enduring mark. But alas, it's been discontinued – a decision that's hard to fathom for those who appreciated the uniqueness of Quasar. This isn't just a fragrance; it's a statement. The combination of banana and lavender wasn't just a blend; it was a fragrance that spoke of adventure, confidence, and an unapologetic embrace of summer vibes. To those who hold the power to resurrect fragrant legends, it's time to bring back Quasar. Its absence is a void in the aromatic landscape, a gap that only this unique banana summer lavender scent can fill. The call is clear, direct, and resonant – Quasar deserves a comeback, and it's time to let this fragrance once again command attention and admiration. Bring back Quasar and let its legacy continue in the world of distinguished fragrances.

For a scent to be almost 20 years old and still smell modern is a huge achievement. Not very well known and is easily found at a discounted price on the net and in stores. This one is like a banana sweet, barbasol soapy, mossy woody marine aquatic. This one has a lot going on in terms of notes and progression on the skin and is fairly strong and long lasting. Quasar has been my signature scent for a long time and has been alternated with VPH during the summer time. A few sprays go a long way and will last about 10 hours. In my book a masterpiece!

Quite synthetic smell within the 1st couple hours at the top notes it feels messy and hard to understand; I do get the banana leaf and some fruitiness but not very clear, however after the heart starts opening the rest is beautiful very fresh, clean scent and the dry down is somewhat sweet you can feel the cedar and patchouli with the lavender. I like it Sillage and longevity are over average. Do not over spray because the opening is really strong. Smell:7 Sillage:8 Longevity:8 Versatility:7 Overall:7.5 Worth a try!

I used 3 or 4 bottles of this throughout the 90s. Much more than a great freshie, with a unique and versatile character (as adequately described below) and the olfactory texture of a smooth but grippy bright yellow banana skin although I didn't get much of the banana fruit itself, and excellent performance even in hot weather. I also loved the striking blue liquid and bottle design even if the gun 'metal' parts are actually plastic. So disappointed that this is apparently discontinued.

I bought it blind over a decade ago. It lived up to it's name, every spray a thermonuclear blast of volatiles. Oakmoss would have tamed it, but by he time my bottle was produced, oakmoss was regulated out of it. I found my bottle recently and it is the same, just mellowed a bit over time. The aldehydes from the top stay on and the rest is well blended, can't really separate. On the days I wear it, the drydown still wakes me up at night. I love it, just don't wear it that much.

Synthetic opening, but playful and pleasant at the same. I get green banana vibe, and probably yuzu (fruity notes). Mid notes - floral, mossy smell. Refreshing flowers with touch of oakmoss. Not playful as opening, but more natural scent. Base notes - woody in classic way. Oakmoss still here, with added cedar, sandalwood and soft patchouli. Quasar was popular in late 90's on my country, and very overlooked now days. Scent - 8 Longevity - 8 Sillage - 8.5

I love it : quite original in the opening and more conventional in the drydown, but in the good way, even if it reminds me shaving foam scent. Fresh, longlasting with a pleasant sillage: perfect in all situations. I discovered that the nose behind this one was the Lutens Signature Christopher Sheldrake : I felt surprised because I don't find any similarity with this scent! Creativity remains mysterious... Une eau qui a du charme, un peu rétro! 8/10

This is so different to anything else I own, the banana note is just so lovely(smells like krusha milkshake) with a rich creamy vanilla drydown and white musky and woody base. It makes me feel good wearing this, especially when you know that the people around you that get a whiff, are smelling something unique to they're senses.. Great sillage and lifespan,,like others have said, a true masterpiece.. 9 out of 10.. I love this stuff..

Why, oh why Lord, was this ever discontinued?! There will never be another fresh scent that elicits a melancholy air along with a sense of well-being, while being playfully appealing. Wearing this was uplifting to my senses. Maybe the “banana” refined the other fresh notes to a place where no other scent has ever ventured. Perhaps Zara would be daring enough to resurrect it. I really miss this one.

Usualy I like very sweet scents even in very hot sumer days, especialy vanillic. This fragrance most definetly isn't sweet but I like it very much nonetheless. It is delicate and sharp in the same time and still very manly scent, fresh woods flowers, really like you would be in space, so clean and refreshing. It is must try for everyone.

I've been using this one for some years, during summer. I must say, it's a really great fresh scent. I get the fruity notes and some small hints of banana. When I was in college I know I got a lot of compliments from girls :) Good longevity and taking the price into consideration is something that I will buy until I can find it.

Quasar is very fresh and masculine. I first tried in back in the late 1990's, and I have not stopped using it since. Though it contains banana and fruit notes it is not very sweet. It smells almost aquatic to me. It is perfect for the summer months.

This man is a very exotic scent! Great compilation of ingredients. Lots of glass or too ............ and still take it! A classic of Spanish fashion house. Durable, masculine, affordable prices ........ Great work!

This fragance is a literal bomb. Its actually really strong. I really enjoy the dna, but I think its a little difficult to please everyone. But for an edt the performance is surprisingly overwhelming.

Forgot I still had a small 5 ml decanter of this gem hanging around, hence I sprayed 2 blasts on my arm. This fragrance of do fresh, has great projection and just overall great. Miss this one. 8.5/10