Captain Eau de Toilette (1975)

My first knowledge of Captain was when I encountered a magnificent factice in Colonial Drug when they were located in Harvard Square in Cambridge. The distinct shape of the bottle, a striking edifice among factices. It was then that I was determined to own it. Unfortunately, a newer version was being sold that was not in this same bottle and was warned by the sales associate that it smelled somewhat different from the original. Thus, the search was on, and I finally located the bottle that I now own today. All this chat and no mention of how it smells, you ask? Well, I was certainly pleased with the contents as well. This is elegance that cuts through the vulgarity of modernity: lavender and sandalwood is the first to greet my nose upon application and I love the synergy between the two. Scent dyads rock: geranium and vetiver, jasmine and cedar, lavender and rose. There is something about lavender and sandalwood, however, that feels like satin to my nose. Captain has what I call a pliable feel, a grace, a sprezzatura even—this is no strident bullhorn of machismo. From its aromatic opening through its anisic-spiced and seasoned interior, down to its tenderly mossy base, Captain is a study in restraint. It's intended for warm handshakes and hugs, or intimate lean-ins and nuzzles.

I'm not so fond of vintage barber perfumes but this is ... wow. This is the masculine perfume par excellence, not animal masculine like Kouros, but a fearless manly perfume Superman! A very sparkling fougère, it opens very strongly, herbs, citrus and aldehydes with a very hard and solid base, real oak moss, vetiver and spices. What is striking about the "Captain" is the quality of the ingredients, oakmoss, lemon, coriander, nutmeg, violet leaf, rosemary, patchouli, civet, Indian sandalwood, a very nice doré tobacco, cloves, lavender, musk , tonka and a hint of vanilla. Many ingredients but mixed to perfection that it is almost impossible to break them down. An earthy, radical, green, balsamic atmosphere with a note of liqurizia .. A real hard but also refined and elegant, you can feel its green and luminous freshness but also its darker, earthy, dark and smoky air. The perfume is from 1975 but is it a perfume from the past? No, or rather not for me.The risk that people around you confuse him for an old aftershave is, it's an old school perfume that for some might seem like a defect but for me it is not. Rating: 9

This is the perfect perfume. There are no weak points, a perfume for all seasons, hot and cold, for all places and for all situations. It was the perfume of the great tailor Molyneux, when he died they produced it for the public, rare because it was very expensive. Now it is almost impossible to find and often not in good condition. Immediately you can feel the lavender, the conifers and castoreum, very balsamic. I feel cedar, pure Virginia cedar, here no iso and super, it did not exist yet, flowers and herbs. We are in an enchanted forest, SPLENDID, THERE ARE NO LIKE SCENTS. This is much better than the niche !!!

today found a (vintage) bottle of it. very nice classic buttt not dated. completely match with today taste while it is old school. open a little fresh and herbal lavender and spicy ginger and as times go piney aspect along with patchouli join and sit on slightly soapiness of oakmoss and cedar at this stage lavender subsides but spiciness herbaceousness and soapiness continued till the end.

More to add later but I just bought the last bottle in the 70's time warp perfume shop in Torremolinos resort Main Street where I also got my (and their) last bottle of GPH1 2003-2013. Amazing woody incense aftershave! I will use every last drop. Weird bottle and box straight from Star Trek but utterly unique smell. I will try to define it subsequently when words have found me!