Aqua Kenzo pour Homme

OK, just hear me out-- It's like Versace Blue Jeans, but grown up. You liked Versace Blue Jeans, right? It got you a lot of compliments at formal events or just wherever. But you knew that you had to leave Versace Blue Jeans behind because you were a grown up now. Adults don't buy Versace Blue Jeans, that's what you were told. Go find some other everyday fragrance. So you go to YouTube and you search up fragrance reviews and you find Jeremy Fragrance, like everyone else searching for fragrances, and you go sniff every scent he encourages you to try, and you're like, no, I don't know what vision of universal manhood you've conjured in your head but it smells a whole lot different than mine. So you go to the niche houses, you start smelling perfumes that cost more than your car payment and you find some nice stuff but at the end of the day its sooooo expensive so you're like toodles bitches bye bye because this world of fragrance isn't for me.So you think, no one is putting forth a compelling rendition of how a person should be In the form of a fragrance, and then amidst a grab bag of samples and spray bottles you finally, finally, finally find a scent that just has that X. You know what I mean? That thing that's you. That embodies you. But it embodies something else too. Something undestinct. But something desirable. The Quintessence of humanity. You feel like, that kind of scent could be an ideology. An empire. A lifestyle. But it's always out of your reach-- up until now. Aqua Kenzo por Homme Kenzo is exactly what this planet needs to smell like at this time of crisis. I want nothing more than to spread its gospel, its fruity, its fresh, its minty, its spicy, it's whatever. It's all that will be left when the aliens glaze the last of us off this cold dead planet, but that's fine, because it represents everything I searched for-- the vision of universal manhood, the quintessence of humanity, the grown up version of Versace Blue Jeans. Inhale. It's sweet. It's grounding. It's Pure. It's yours. Aqua Kenzo por Homme Kenzo. For any gender!

Aqua Kenzo does smell very similar to the original Paul Smith London, which I also have. I did a spray test on each hand to compare the two. London doesn't have the slight hazelnut accord this one has (London has coconut), and it's generally lighter. Aqua Kenzo PH lasted slightly longer, I can still smell it after 4 hours but the London is almost gone. Aqua Kenzo PH is a nice scent that fits into the profile of the modern sweet scents (Invictus, Coach for Men, Jimmy Choo Man, etc.) Not saying this smells just like those, but it's in the same realm of fragrances. Imagine those with a slight nutty accord. This is not an aquatic scent to my nose. I'm happy with this purchase (30ml bottle for $12). Joy Amin (review below) is correct, this house doesn't get much love but has some quality offerings. I don't understand all the dislikes above, this does not deserve it. My guess is that "Aqua" in the name does not reflect the fragrance and people were disappointed. Not me, this is fine for casual/office wear. Update: I've been wearing this for a week and it's really nice. I love it more. This is a fine replacement for London as it gives off a similar impression to others, even if it's not exactly the same. I've noticed the very slight aquatic/fresh note on the opening, but it doesn't last. What lasts is that sweet, nutty, playful scent. And it's there for a while! When I opened my closet, I got hit with a blast of this from a few sprays on a shirt days before. This is my most liked fragrance that has the most dislikes here on Fragrantica, if that makes sense (not including Office For Men, which are fake dislikes). 2nd Update: Changed my vote from "Like" to "Love"! Wore it today and smelled it for the entire day. After wearing it often, I love this one now. Hidden gem for me.

#1044 in my "Tour de Fragrance" I was just telling someone yesterday that as a rule I avoid fragrances rated below 4.00, but I occasionally experiment based on the notes. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. This is a winner for me. I love it's peppery, citrusy character. I have many scents with it. Creed "Aventus", Roja "Elysium", Nishane "Ani X", Roja "Oligarch", Rasasi "Rumz al Rasasi 9459" but they are all far more complex. Of what I have this is closest to Brioni's "Eau de Parfum Intense" which has no hazelnut, but that's not a strong note here either. I think this is acceptable business wear or date wear. Car pool, elevator and small office safe. Good longevity and projection. A successful blind by for me. My first Kenzo. I'll give some others a try down the road.

This is such a fascinating, unexpected release by Kenzo. I quite like it, but it really doesn't seem to fit with the marketing for it, including its actual name, and it doesn't seem to adhere to typical conventions about scents in general. The opening is fairly aquatic and fresh, with the watery and fruity notes being relatively prominent, then those die down and we're left with a much heavier (what I would consider) fall/winter scent. I think the best way to describe what it smells like is across between 1 Million Lucky and YSL Y. I don't get why there's been so much hate for it, though. It smells lovely and is totally a crowd-pleasing scent, without being a typical masculine freshie. I also get excellent performance, which is unusual for me.

Been reading and watching some reviews about this one for some times and understand the love&hate nature of it. For me, it's a LIKE. Like 7.5/10...? Opens up with not-too-dense sweet-fresh-nutty. Compared to 1M Lucky, I personally prefer Kenzo Aqua tbh. In fact, idk somehow, there's kind of sweet pineapple accord....? In short, fruity sweet + fresh + nutty. Then as it develops, it starts to smell a bit aquatic fresh and greenish. Still maintain the a-bit-sweetness though. Dry down is the kind of similar to many blue-ambery fragrances out there imo. Very versatile. All year round. Suits more for the youngers I think. It's not bad. It's good enough for me.