1805

This was my signature scent before I even knew what a signature scent was, and just catching a whiff of it brings back memories of some of the best years of my life. Oddly, for a collector, I've only recently purchased the original "L'eau D'issey" from Issey Miyake, but I have owned the "Intense" version for quite some time, and even there, I can smell some similarities in the opening. For that matter, it also bears a striking resemblance to the newer Dior Homme Sport (although this came first by some stretch) - but that's not what makes this scent magical. Truefitt & Hill's "1805" is a fresh, woody, slightly-musky-in-the-drydown eau de cologne, and has it has unbelievable longevity for an EDC. Plus, it's $75 for 100mL, it's been around since 1805, and it is just perfect, almost year-round, any time of day. As for my love of this scent, I found "1805" at an old school gentlemen's shop (cigars, brush-and-soap shaving, that sort of thing) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, called Maison Edwards Tobacconist. It was my sophomore year at the University of Michigan, and over the course of the previous year, I had become a heavy smoker. So, I was looking for something to cover up the odour - later, I would use "Mechant Loup" by L'artisan Parfumeur and "Endymion" by Penhaligon's of London (both of which I found at the same store) to "cover-up", but for 2005-2007ish, "1805" was the be-all, end-all of male fragrances for me. It won me over at first sniff, it completely covered my smoke stank, and it smelled classy as hell. To this day, this scent puts a smile on my face, and, since I'm not a smoker anymore, it smells all the better. And that's it, really. I love this stuff, I still hold it in my Top 5 scents ever, and I'll wager that if you try it, you will fall in love, too.

This was my signature scent for a little over a year before I got stuck-up about my fragrances and began buying big boy designers. If I recall correctly, it only smells like the Issey Miyake in the opening, and this still is superior in its opening. This is absolutely unbeatable for its price. It's a compliment getter, and one of the few bottles of anything that I've actually sprayed until 100% empty, can't even get another spray out. It's aquatic, but not overdone Aqua di Gio. Just writing this review is making me want another bottle! I stopped by Truefitt and Hill in London a few months ago, and it's so worth the visit. I bought a horn comb that was expensive, so I couldn't bring myself to get a new bottle of this, too. Let me say that the comb is the perfect gift for any gentleman, and he'll be blown away by it. It really feels like a luxury product. This house as a whole is unbelievably priced for its quality, and the performance is great for it to be just EDC concentration. Wish they made at least EDT or better yet EDP. The other offerings are perfect old-school English barbershop. Most of them are very shave soapy, which is great because their shaving products are also top-notch. This brand is great without getting too big for their britches! 10/10 scent with mass appeal and tons of compiments, 8/10 longevity, and 10/10 sillage. Signature worthy and best budget fragrance on the market, in my opinion.

I know T&H are not a designer fragrance house and no doubt this is made for them by a white label producer but whatever...the result is excellent IMO. Smells and performs like an expensive scent. It has a fresh opening - the so-called "aquatic" nasal sharpness with some citrus/bergamot. Then it starts to develop quickly into a more floral and slightly sweet but soapy affair without ever getting feminine. The barbershop smell that is common to most of T&H’s frags is there but very much only as a mild base note adding a bit of manly depth but never taking over.. It’s this successful balance of fresh, floral and classic cologne that makes this a classy scent for men. It lasts most of the day and longer if sprayed on clothing. Sillage is average. You won’t pollute the whole train carriage but the person in the seat next to you might benefit. My wife prefers it over any other cologne I’ve tried so far.

One of the best fragrances out there for men. It's fresh and slightly sweet, with just enough depth from the base notes. There are other colognes with similar scent profiles, but 1805 smells different from all the rest. I truly cannot explain what it is that makes this so unique; it's like there's a hidden note lingering in the background that's more exquisite than anything I've ever encountered. I have no idea what it is. My fiance has a sizable scent collection, and this is my favorite out of his summer fragrances. 100% safe as a blind buy.

Absolutely love this one! Really clean and fresh all the way until the base notes take over and you get that amazingly beautiful combination between the sandalwood, cedar and musk when it dries down and settles. For me, I would love a bit better performance but it's certainly not bad considering the notes. Also, if the sillage was a little bit stronger at the end when the base notes start to shine through this would be perfect.