Open Black

R&G is one of the most common brands as they are sold both in perfumeries, pharmacies, drugstores, and even Duty-Free. However, this is not the case with non-unisex perfumes like R&G Open, and any of its flankers. They are simply not sold anywhere nearby. I was very interested in buying the original R&G Open as a backup flask, but at the last minute, I swapped to a blind order of Open Black. I became aware of a slight similarity with Givenchy Gentleman EdT1974. I happen to love the vintage Givenchy Gentleman. I can now confirm that there is a common type of olfactory development in both fragrances, even if the notes of the two perfumes are not similar. There is also a slight similarity with Chanel Antaeus but without the animalistic notes. I'm a sucker for dark, noir fragrances and thought that perhaps the word "Black" in Open Black, could also mean some added smoke, or a darker scent, or even both. I have a decant from the 1985 regular Open. It gives us smoky vetiver and tobacco, framed by lavender, bergamot, and patchouli. It is somewhat similar to Jacomo de Jacomo and Aramis Havana. The base is all about a strong dry pipe tobacco aroma with patchouli and smoky vetiver notes. A real old-timer gem for sure! Open Black is the concept that proved that a rich potent fragrance for men in the old style, can still be made with acceptance in modern times. To my nose, the scent opens sharp and rich with citrus (bergamot and lemon), lavender and sage. The opening is a little dark and similar to that already mentioned of Jacomo. The development leads the scent to a more barbershop-like heart due to the detectable notes of cardamom, thyme and cloves. The barbershop phase slowly changes to a definitive base structure of smoked vetiver, moss, coumarin, patchouli and musk around a strong note of dried pipe tobacco, similar to that present in the original Open. There is a dark rubbery tar-like background, typical of smoked birch or smoked vetiver notes. There is a dark rubbery tar-like background, typical of smoked birch or smoked vetiver notes. I just don't get the "beast mode" projection, so common in many vintage powerhouse perfumes. For a start, that was not my aim as well. The longevity of up to 8 hours and sillage of up to 2 metres is sufficient, and probably the best way to preserve my nose from olfactory fatigue. My final impression is of a less powerful relative of Givenchy Gentleman 74, a richer and smoother #Jacomo de Jacomo, or even a variation of Ted Lapidus Pour Homme drydown in a "lesser beast mode", and using modern ingredients. Open Black is indeed a darker, less formal younger brother of the original Open, just as I hoped it would be. On the other hand, it is a unique perfume and with a close relationship only to its predecessor. Perfume lovers who appreciate dark smoky vectors and love the Encre Noire type of perfume should also pay attention to Open Black. This fragrance may be the most serious and up-to-date current attempt at "a load of patchouli" perfume style typical of the 80s. When? It is particularly suited to cold and dreary weather, so for winter and autumn wear, whether at night or during the day. Where? If you like the fragrance, give it a great personal use. It's safe enough for the office if your colleagues are serious grumpy men and not pretty girls you want to flirt with. Avoid wearing it in Clubs or Bars unless you are a regular visitor to Cheers, Cougar Texas Bar or Coyote Ugly Saloon. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ - Average: 8.18/10.00 between 7 and 8 => above average; between 8 and 9 => recommended; equal or bigger than 9 => don't miss it; My conclusion: As dark fragrances and vintage scents lover I can only recommend this inexpensive and semi-dark fragrance. With such a low price is safe enough for a blind purchase, The same advice applies to the regular R&G Open. Music: "The Windmills of Your Mind" sung by Sting

Aside from me, for whom were R&G releasing Open Black in 2012? This fragrance would have been rather of the current moment in 1972. Indeed, at moments, it has a similarity to Pierre Cardin Pour Monsieur from that year. Similarly, in 1982, probably with a bit more animalic elements tossed into the mix, Open Black would have been very much in fashion. And what do you know, it has similarities to lots of the aromatic fougeres that were dominating the world of men's fragrance in 1982. But 30 years on from 1982, releasing this fragrance was a pretty bold move by a house not generally regarded as cutting edge. It is almost as if R&G set out to prove that a scent like the good old good ones from the seventies and eighties could still be compounded in the era of IFRA. That they succeed admirably is a testimony to the house's skill but that they bothered to try at a time when fresh, aquatic and easy to wear were the dominant trends in men's scents could be testimony that someone at R&G needs their head examined. Well, thank goodness they chose to release this stuff because it is excellent and, considered as a price value proposition, simply extraordinary. A natural enough citrus opening highlighted by lemon but with some bergamot also noticeable in a sea of notes leads to a thyme-forward, herbal middle. Some of the lavender from the opening emerges as the middle reaches peak intensity. This, I think, is a sign that both blending and ingredient quality are way beyond what you'd expect for the prices asked for Open Black. (Shop around and you can routinely find good sized bottles of this fragrance offered by on-line retailers for under $15 as of this writing--like I said earlier, extraordinary value for money!) With the dry down comes a slightly earthy duo of patchouli and vetiver that remain on center stage for the duration of the scent. there is also a non-smokey tobacco leaf note in the base of the fragrance. I am nearly certain that there are notes at play in this fragrance that are not listed in the pyramid, but the previously noted skillful blending makes them nearly impossible to pick out with any certainty. If forced, I would guess that there is some oakmoss, cinnamon and perhaps an aromachemical standing in for castoreum here, but these are minor players contributing to a great smelling blend and should neither bother nor really challenge anyone. This fragrance is a dream come true for lovers of old school men's fragrances. There are enough positive reviews here on this page that there must be some of us out there noticing Open Black even in a world of Bleu, Aventus & Sauvage (and their clones, near copies and homages). Are we a commercially viable customer base? No clue, but the incredibly deep discounts at which Open Black is sold suggests that the demand for this scent is none too brisk. This fragrance strikes my nose as decidedly masculine, but it would be cool to meet a woman who felt good rocking Open Black. Don't be fooled by the name, btw, this is really not a very dark scent at all. Also, the bottles for all the Open line don't look like much (this is the only area where this product seems to reflect its low price). The atomizer on my bottle is OK. Anyway, I suggest that if you have any fondness for the men's scents of the early seventies through middle eighties, or just want a scent to add some retro variety to your fragrance wardrobe, you grab a bottle of Open Black. I think you'll like it (and if not, you won't be faced with too big a loss at all). Highly recommended.

Conditions: 55-62°F, daytime, 30% humidity, sunny (unseasonably warm midwestern autumn day) Application: Six (two on wrists, two under the ears, and two on the upper chest) Longevity: Sillage lasts for the first 2-3 hours, skin scent for the next 2-3 Sillage: Enough to catch whiffs of it while sitting at a desk and for others to notice while walking together Value: ~$14/100ml on major discounter sites = throw it in the cart with no regrets I began this hobby a few weeks ago and this is the first fragrance to garner an unsolicited compliment. It therefore receives my first review! I entered this world after not having worn cologne in over a decade (and never having bought a bottle of cologne once in my entire life [unless cans of Axe body spray in high school count!]). The search for a signature scent turned into an all-out addiction to finding the best cheapies out there. This is certainly one of the best I've come across. Open Black is dated only insofar as it's one of those scents that dredges up memories. It reminded me of your friend's dad's study (the one with the comfy leather chair next to the small table with a tin full of pipe tobacco on it). I first caught traces of a fine red wine that had been sitting out all night. Herbaceous, floral, and bright, but ever so slightly resinous from the oxidation. There are no missteps in its drydown. It simply exchanges any sharpness for that delicate dance between patchouli and tobacco, with vetiver as the unobtrusive referee. There's a masterful balance here that is really surprising to find in such a cheap juice. Maybe its simplicity in ingredients and packaging saved R&G some money along the way. As an older student regularly surrounded by people 10-15 years younger than me, I'm not in the practice of trying to pull compliments from my classmates. But the draw of Open Black's familiarity is pretty universal. I would say it could work for any age group, season, and time of day, and there's a chance you would get a, "You smell really nice." It just takes a bit of confidence and understanding that fragrances are subject to the whims of fashion like anything else. Wear this like you would wear that 80s corduroy jacket you just found at the thrift store. It's comfortable and cheap; its timelessness might get you a few compliments from friends and strangers alike.

I love this, but it shouldn't exist. It was created in 2013, but smells like it belongs in the family of Antaeus - Vintage Cartier Santos - Oscar pour Lui, or maybe even Fendi Uomo (it's not as 'funky butt-crack-y' as the Fendi, but otherwise...). So if you like those types of scents, you'll love this - although you might find it redundant. And if you don't like that family of scents, this is really going to be torture for you. It performs exactly as those 80s ballbreaker scents do, too, which is to say it performs well. In the deep dry down, if you try really hard, you could link it to the herbal soapiness of scents like Paco Rabanne Pour Homme, or Worth Pour Homme - more of the Worth than the PR. It is funky. There are votes for notes, and some people have mentioned this or that one, but in reality, it's not really a 'legible' perfume in that way. Some people say it smells of tobacco - not any tobacco I've smelled. What anyone was thinking producing this gem in the slew of oud/food/amberwood horrors of the last 15 years, I have no idea but props to her/him. They must have been on acid. This is like a one-scented single-finger salute to everything that happened in perfumery between 1990 and today. Madam or sir, creator of this perfume, I salute you. No-one (except idiots like me) will buy it, but wow - you wonderful human. It smells absolutely nothing like some of the other things on the 'reminds me of...' list. Definitely not Polo or Azzaro.

One recent Sunday in church I kept noticing elusive but consistent wafts of the most pleasant smell encountered in a long time. It seemed so perfect ... as if this is what a gentle, peaceful, almost 'royal' scent should smell like. Was it my imagination? Did it just go away? .... No wait, there it is again! Yes ... it was real, beautiful, and equally subtle. I felt a growing urgency to identify it so I could understand the experience and maybe move toward adding something new to my collection. I'm flaky like this so formed a plan to ask any men behind me after the service about what they might be wearing ... but when that time came there was no one there. So you can guess my pleasure to realize it was the couple sprays I indulged-in earlier that morning! What a superb, rich and subtle fragrance! I never want to be 'over-noticed' in this way ... I've been there and it can be embarrassing ... but the strength here is perfect. What we have with R&G Open Black is a definite 'Old School' experience with a luxurious, royal and exclusive feeling. It feels like home ... it feels like heaven. Be the 1%! To add to the love, the sprayer is perfect, the cap is perfect and I purchased last month for under $ 20.00. Can you say score?!