Bora Bora for Men

My signature for over a decade... I've always gotten tons of compliments on this scent everywhere I go. Over a decade, and still, I always come back to it. Nothing I have ever smelled smells quite like this does. It's leathery, sweet, savory and woody. It's realistically sweet, like smelling dry cane sugar, not overly sweet like many modern scents, and the leather smells quite realistic as well. The hibiscus is more prominent than the votes here give it credit for, and it ties everything together like the iris in Dior Homme. Unfortunately, it's been through 2 memorable reformulations: *The original version (gold cap and neck, gold sprayer, gold "Claiborne's" around the logo) was very figgy, dark, and EXTREMELY strong. Unforgiving, and potent, like an Eau de Parfum. Surprisingly, as of 06-2020 (18 years later) it can still be found on eBay, although who knows how it's faired. *The first reformulation (I think around 2006-2007? Black cap and neck, black "Claiborne's" around the logo, gold overshell sprayer) tamed the figgy overtones, and it became an easier to wear, more crowd pleasing scent, which is where this remained for the next 8 years. I think there was also a slight reformulation midway through this 8 year stretch, when the sprayer nozzle went from being black to being white (but still a gold metal overshell sprayer) and that was mostly unnoticeable, besides losing an hour off the then current 10hrs of longevity - so, not really a problem. *The 2nd major reformulation (Somewhere in late 2014 or early 2015? Bottles with white plastic sprayers, black caps and necks with no "Claiborne" markings around the Bora Bora logo) is the absolute worst. The smell has remained the same, but it just doesn't last like it used to. Newer reviews cite no problems with longevity though, so YMMV with newer bottles than the 2016 bottle I sampled. After being let down by the 2016 bottle, I went searching on eBay and purchased 3 bottles of the first reformulation of Bora Bora from a 2013 batch (3CA1 batch codes), so I'll at least have my favorite scent for a few more years. Bora Bora Exotic faired far better through this last round of reformulations, and lasts much longer than my 2016 bottle of Bora Bora, but it's a completely different scent. Bora Bora Exotic can be described as a more modern Dior Fahrenheit clone, similar to Fahrenheit Aqua. Give it a try as well, if you haven't already! (It's my favorite Dior Fahrenheit alternative). If you're a fan of this scent and sad about the reformulation, try Jay Z Gold, which smells like a blueberry YSL L'Homme flanker. When I run out of this, Jay Z Gold will likely take its place. A higher quality/longer lasting replacement suggestion would be Dior Homme Eau for Men. If you like this, you'll probably love that too!

Being a huge fan of Claiborne scents, I've always wanted 'Bora Bora' for many years now. If you are a fan of 'Curve' and 'Mambo', you will immediately recognize the drydown of this to be extremely similar. Initial blast is kiwi, ginger, fruit and what seems to be a tea note. Right as I sprayed this my girlfriend immediately complimented me and said 'wow that smells wonderful'. So it definitely did its job there. It projects really well and a bit of a spicy musk undertone begins to develop as it dries down. I would like to call it the 'Claiborne' musk note, and those familiar with the brand will know what I am talking about. This comes out about an hour after spraying, and smells fantastic. It is clean without being 'sport' or 'fresh' scented, and masculine without being dirty or dusty. Most of the kiwi and fruity hibiscus notes fade away about an hour in and this is where this fragrance shines. It is a ginger and spice blend layered in musk and amber that is simply amazing and grabs compliments easily. With a liberal application of a ten sprays (neck, shoulders, wrists and chest), I am getting 7-10+ hours of longevity, with about 24-36+ hours on clothes and fabrics. Projection is really good for the first four hours, and sillage is solid without being offensive or cloying. After five or six hours, it stays closer to the skin but lingers for another couple hours or so and smells very natural. This stuff lasts longer than most new fragrances that cost three times as much. For an Eau de Cologne concentration, Claiborne always makes fragrances that perform better than most EDT's, and 'Bora Bora' is no exception. It performs and projects quite well, even in warm weather and humid climates. And for the price, you really can't go wrong here. It's great for spring and summer days, nights out on the town, date nights and safe for office environments and professional events. I really love this scent, and if you're a fan of 'Curve', 'Mambo', 'Claiborne Sport' and others like it, you will undoubtedly enjoy 'Bora Bora'. For the price it commands, you could easily blind buy this and enjoy it. Highly recommended.

When I first got this for Christmas, this had been my everyday cologne for work up until recently when I got a new perfume that fits better for the rainy spring weather. But after not using this for a couple of weeks, I’ve been using it sparingly and the smell of this really comes through. Originally, i didn’t get the fruity notes, but now I 100% can actually smell that fruity, citrusy smell that is the top note and it’s decent, it’s okay. But, shockingly, I sprayed this on my wrists for the first time ever, and that musk smell is all I smell there specifically, and it’s interesting. Feels like I’m smelling a wild animal’s fur, as to what that animal is, it doesn’t matter. But those two notes together is what makes this cologne. It gives it such a unique, strong smell that I love a little more now that I can appreciate it. Also, this sticks to clothes like a mother. I can wear a sweater where I sprayed this on myself a month or two ago and I can STILL smell it on that clothing. Not a huge deal, some would say, but nothing else in my slowly growing collection can even come close. I have colognes three times the price that can’t even last more than half a day on my own skin, let alone on any clothes. The only bad thing about it? It’s hard to gauge when too much is too much. This one can very much be oversprayed and choke someone out, and I’ve had one spray be the difference between being smelling nice to being so overpowering that people don’t want to be near you.

I have never been to Bora Bora but I lived with someone who had EVERY BB ancillary product imaginable, and when I saw this I thought: Isn't that a WOMAN'S fragrance? Well the first time I smelled it after he came out of the shower I imagined a tanned native wearing a sarong and lei barefoot at the shore of a lagoon as the sun set to firey clouds and crashing waves... The fresh citruses are not pungent or biting because the kiwi gives it just enough of a tropical feel without smelling like a cocnut drink with an umbrella in it. The dry lavender is masculine as it blends with the warm full scent of hibiscus and sandalwood. The musky cedar basenotes are wrapped in a light leather/skin musk yet it is still fresh and clean without being an "aquatic" clone. Sillage: average to above Longevity: 3-4 hrs (juice alone) Overall:4.5/5 This is a special scent in that it is named for a tropical island and is not a sweet syrupy, over the top fruity floral, masculine and fresh with just enough floral. Well balanced...it is not what some with more experience would call anything special but for me it is something relaxing and lovely-like Bora Bora itself.

Bora Bora for Men is a very original cologne. I have many different perfumes in my private collection, but this one is different from everything else. It is refreshing - perhaps because of the kiwi notes, which are so original in this composition - and at the same time, its base is dry, making it masculine and sexy. The fragrance of Bora Bora for Men is composed of top notes of kiwi, lemon and bergamot, passing through a floral heart of lavender and hibiscus, which reduces the fruity tone, incorporating a delicious shade of lavender and, to finish, cedar, musk, and rasping dry leather notes, which permeate throughout evolution and bring to the fore one of the most profitable results in terms of feminine compliments. It is the type of fragrance that lasts and projects very well and is not common, which makes it even more special for those who shy away from popular perfumes.

This one is basiclly a spin off of the Curve series. A silent flanker if you will. Bora Bora is slightly more unorthodox in it's entire presentation than original Curve, making it the better scent by comparison in my eyes. It's a crowd pleaser, and like almost all Liz Claiborne Curve fragrances women like them. Bora Bora is no exception to that rule as I've received several compliments from ladies who were lucky enough to waft through my synthetic olfactory cloud. Bora Bora is what I choose to wear in the summer time when I roll the car windows down with the 4 year old in the back seat, as I crank Level 42's “Something About You” while knocking around town running errands on a Thursday afternoon. Good times indeed.

I need to use more-a, more-a, of Bora Bora. It's easy to like this fragrance. The kiwi, lemon and bergamot smells great and the floral mids dry down nicely into a refreshing, soapy smell. I could care less if this is a synthetic cheapo. It smells really nice and like any fragrance, fits certain occasions. I have this in my collection alongside some very expensive bottles. I don't wear Creed to beat around town and I don't wear Bora Bora when I'm out to dinner with my wife. If you like to have a few pleasant smelling fragrances around that you can spray liberally then buy Bora Bora. If your nose is so discerning that you can only stomach niche than a) don't buy Bora Bora and b) get over yourself.

Bora Bora is so underrated it should be illegal. Bora bora is a fresh, lavender smelling fragrance and it smells fantastic. I love it so much and the fact that it’s extremely cheap is the cherry on top. It’s definitely one of my favorite fragrances i’ve gotten multiple compliments on it i won’t ever stop wearing it. Longevity: 7/10 Sillage: 7/10 Price: 100/10 Overall: 9/10 Would I buy again?: Yes, there’s no doubt i’ll purchase this fragrance again. For 15$ this is a huge steal.

This was my fav frag at one point before reformulation and when i was a kid. I guess they reformulate due to allergies, save money, and other companies buy them out. .. every one of my favorite fragrances have been reformulated.. and you can call it being a snob all you want but there are significant changes in these reformulations.. mostly just quality cut in half but sometimes there are completely different fragrances.. this case mostly a quality decrease.

Bora Bora is just pain good! I put off sampling this for a while and then purchased a mini bottle of the OG (Liz Claiborne, not EA Fragrances). A little bit sweet and a lotta bit old-school masculine. Performance is very good. Recently decided to go full sized with a 50 ml OG. I have not tried the EA Fragrances version. Bora Bora, Mambo, and Curve are my favorite men's fragrances by Liz Claiborne. Not a safe blind buy; recommend gettin' a mini first.

You know how you can admit a movie you love is not really that good, but you just like it anyway? Thats how I feel about Bora Bora. Its not niche quality. Its not super well blended. The bottle is nothing special. But it IS unique in its own way and it just smells good. Its especially good in hot humid weather. Maybe its nostalgia but I will always keep a bottle of this for hazy summer nights.

This is a perfect smell, its great for summer nights.Very nice on the nose and not well known with many. Great compliments to be had and has that certain quality that makes you stand out. I recvd a small sample and bought right away online for very cheap.

I dont understand how anyone could NOT like this one. less that 20 bucks at marshalls, last 4 to 8 hours (on me), and smells good. so far my one of my favorites from claiborne.

Bora Bora smells really good. I got quite a few compliments when wearing it. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money and still smell good get this.

CHEAP AND CHEERFUL A common business niche strategy is to be "cheap and cheerful." The idea is to offer a reasonable level of amenities at an exceptionally low price. The problem is that often the amenities are so low, especially for experience goods, that even at a cheap price the product does not deliver much in the way of value. In my opinion many Dana products fall into this category. They're extremely inexpensive but the quality is so bad that the tradeoff is not worth it. In my view, Bora Bora is cheap and cheerful done right. The price point is really low--I got a 3.3oz bottle for around $13 at Marshalls. I've seen similar prices online. Unlike the Dana products, the quality delivered is really quite good. While this is definitely not a love scent, it falls squarely in the like category. The mystery is Liz Claiborne's strategy in terms of their products. As others have noted, Bora Bora smells similar to Curve, Claiborne's flagship line. If anything, I think Bora Bora is more interesting and better than Curve. Yet Curve products sell at a higher price point--the low to mid 20s for a 3.3oz bottle. Viewed in that light, I think the value is really exceptional. If you like Curve, you'll love Bora Bora and the extra money in your pocket. On to the details of the fragrance itself: If I were to describe the Bora Bora "experience" in one word, that would be it. Bora Bora is a pleasant fragrance. The opening, the middle, and the ending are all pleasant. They're not spectacular or likely to evoke strong positive or negative feelings, just safe and pleasant. The opening consists of citrus, but tamed by kiwi and lavender. It's not a sharp acidic opening, rather it is mild, somewhat refreshing and, most of all, pleasant. In the middle, the citrus fades off, leaving a kind of soapy feeling with the florals and the ever-present kiwi. The drydown is mainly cedar with a touch of musk to give it a little more gravitas. Again, it too is pleasant. There's nothing to rave about here: No sublime accords with unexpected combinations of scents. No unexpected or jarring transitions. No annoyance from over or underpowered scent. Everything is nice and safe. This is not to say that this is a bad thing. Bora Bora is well crafted and comfy, like a fuzzy pair of slippers. Sometimes comfort is all anyone wants. Some mornings I get up and am happy to be surrounded with warm, safe, comfortable scents. I don't want or need to always be challenged or distracted by complex accords or transitions. Bora Bora is perfect for those days. In terms of value for money, Bora Bora delivers. I got a 100ml bottle for just $15. Now, if this were all I had in my wardrobe, it wouldn't be enough, but there is a time and a place for all things, including pleasant, inexpensive fragrances that epitomize relaxation and comfort. Some comparisons at a similar price point are useful. Nautica Blue can be had at this price, but it is a vastly worse scent-sharp at the opening and non-existent in the drydown. Curve and Curve Soul can also be had for this price, but I think Bora Bora is more interesting and nicer in the drydown. Of course, there are many others as well. My point is that, so long as you have the right expectations, Bora Bora offers a good, solid likable scent for not much money. Recommendation: If you're looking for a "fuzzy slippers" type of fragrance and don't want to spend a lot, it's an excellent blind buy.

Take Me Away To Bora Bora Paradise. Liz Claiborne Bora Bora for Men is a Classic in his own way. Definitely very fresh-aromatic "Island fantasy" Came out in the early 2000's era. Very fresh with a sweet green kiwi punch in the first spray. In his second phase evolves to a more serene herbal (lavender) with a touch of fruity breeze (Probably there is some peach note in it? I can smell it) To end with a sweet woody-tabaco and some musk notes that lingers with you close to skin. On me it lasts close to 6 hours, not bad for a very low priced cologne. This cologne is not pretentious, its just a nice walk in a tropical island drinking some kiwi-mimosa. The magic with this formula is the good balance over all. Easy to wear. Not too harsh or too watery. I can wear it all year around with no problem (day or night ) Very versatile aroma that lift you up and put you in a good mood. I like it for what it is.

I'm told that this is a very similar scent to Mambo and Curve, in that it starts out fruity, dries down sort of musky, and doesn't boast impressive longevity. All of this is true, though I can't attest to BB's similarity to those other Claiborne scents (I haven't tried them). What I can say with confidence is that Bora Bora is inexpensive and reasonably pleasant, which are basically the only criteria you need for casual wear. I've found myself wearing this one to work, and even though I have to douse myself in it to make it through the day and even though the kiwi note is pretty much the only thing that's specifically discernable, I enjoy smelling it on myself and I've received compliments from the folks around me (co-workers, customers, and even an Uber driver) while wearing it. You can do much worse than this one.

Ever since Bora Bora was released in 2002, that silly, dark, porcelain-looking bottle has always fascinated me. First thing I notice is that tart kiwi/ lime smell, which isn’t sweet. (I am fascinated with the smell of unsweetened fruit, for some reason.) After awhile, a fig and ginger drydown becomes apparent. I think this powdery (not baby powder, but spice powder) drydown is very original, and makes Bora Bora special. UPDATE: I don’t know if there has been a reformulation or not through the years, but I bought a bottle online and that fig and ginger drydown simply wasn’t there. So I don’t know if it was reformulated or watered down. But thankfully, I still have my vintage mini.

Bora Bora is surprisingly good for how cheap and synthetic it is. It starts out with a tart kiwi note dominating it as well as leather in the background with some nice citrus notes. It does smell quite tropical but not in same way that aquatic fragrances smell tropical. It lasts a decent amount of time, I've actually gotten quite a few compliments on it over the years, and for $15 for 3.4 oz why the hell not? To top it all off I don't have anything in my collection that smells quite like it. A cheap and cheerful, likeable fragrance. Great for summer and outdoor use. This is one of the first fragrances I ever bought and I'm still reaching for it years later.

This struck me as unusual and creative. (I've tried Mambo and didn't find them similar.) Except for the first few seconds, I didn't get much sweet or fruity. I agree this qualifies as aromatic. I found it grassy, fresh earthy (not indolic), and mildly herbal. It's also relaxing. I had an image of drifting on a canoe and then drinking an unsweetened green juice at a spa. The dry down felt a bit woody but what predominated was a standard-ish lavender note. It was definitely a skin scent at that point. You'll need to use more than a little if you want projection, but if you enjoy aromatics, it's worth a try.