Novus

This seems to be getting a rough ride so far on the scoring, but I quite like it. I tried it in a supermarket chain several times in Europe and then bought a bottle after returning home. It’s probably slightly overpriced, but delivers a vanilla-amber scent for men, with hints of spice and leather. It’s pretty long lasting and with potent sillage. I used four sprays, two behind each ear outside. Went inside and sat doing some work, left and returned to that spot, finding that a bubble was left where I’d been. It is safe for day and night, and all seasons bar summer really. You could add any of the YSL Homme line to this, just to bring up the sweetness and complexity if you wanted to. It is a little linear and could be compared with a deodorant like Lynx or Nivea, but as a result it is clean and inoffensive. It’s not poorly blended or unpleasant, however it is not a complex fragrance either. Quality wise, think French Avenue or Armaf Oddyssey line. Update: Getting some pretty pleasant sweet tea notes in the dry down (oolong). Like a cup of freshly brewed tea with two spoons of sugar added, no milk.

A very standard fresh masculine scent focused on lemony notes. It smells clean and pleasant, but feels extremely generic and lacking in personality. It’s the kind of fragrance you’ve smelled countless times before. That said, the price is fairly reasonable, but the scent itself still doesn’t offer anything memorable. 3/10