Napier 1903

I bought this as a blind buy as it was reduced by 50%. So Murdock Barbers state that this is meant to evoke the period around early motoring. Not having been born then I cannot say it does or it doesn't. However growing up in the 1950s my father had two old British cars, a Riley and a Humber. The interiors of the cars still had real wood and leather inside them. Additionally, my father was like many men of the time a devotee of Old Spice. My immediate thoughts on the first spray was of my father, clean shaven sitting in one of these cars. I am not particularly adept at note breakdowns, but this leans towards an old school vibe. Definitely a more mature man's fragrance. I did my initial spray about three hours ago. At first I was rather concerned as it did not seem to project particularly well. But since then it has remained consistent, not overpowering, just very stable. I like it. But maybe not best as a blind buy.

The picture on the label is a Napier Railton from 1933. The fragrance has since been renamed Napier 1933, so I can only imagine that the original Napier 1903 (which I have) was a branding mistake. That said, this is my favourite Murdock and was well worth the blind buy.

It’s had a rebrand to just “Napier” now. Blind buy, shouldn’t have done it. The astringent base, be that the patchouli, oak moss or other herbs in concert with the almost boozy dried fruit comes off very dated to my nose. Reminds me of not particularly hip old men from my youth. I guess one man’s classic is another man’s passé.

1903 or 2014 ? They want to make us believe it's an old traditional fragrance brand. Is it ?