Hi-Lo Country

A few years ago, I had a chance to get into a ZARA store and came across three recently released colognes, all of them were in a big 120ml bottle and an EDP concentration. Hi-Lo Country was one of those, the bottle is the same as the most recent release of Vibrant Leather and From Paris to NY EDP but embellished with a colored eco-leather basket, dark blue with indigo accents under the light, and a magnetic cap. Of course, the price is a bit higher for a ZARA fragrance, yet the packaging, the size, and the perfume concentration should justify that. Because they have just arrived in that store, there were no testers available, and I blind bought a couple of them. As I was looking forward to sniffing those new toys, I instantly opened them as soon as I got into my car. Whoa! Hi-Lo Country was the first, and my nostrils got filled with a devastatingly handsome and more intense bouquet than ever, which tells the tale of a roguish frogman. One of the most delicious, sweet, metrosexual scents in the designer game greeted me. Yes, I'm starting to get the distinct impression that I have a fondness for this fragrance! Hi-Lo Country is a fragrance built upon contrasts, moving from deeply seductive facets to casual freshness like the rolling of the tides, thoroughly modern, with a fresh outlook and a streak of rebellion. The opening of Hi-Lo Country is a meeting of the torrid sensuousness of dark lavender accented with peppery mint and something fruity, and I reckon it is pear or apple with the former the most alleged. It is bittersweet, with a few smooth citruses from the lemon peel and sharp bergamot that produce a candy-like mildness that is akin to bubble gum. From the very first whiff and throughout the heart, there is a beautiful yet not overstanding powderiness coming from the orris note. I relish it, albeit it is not similar to Dior Homme iris with that well-known lipstick accord, anyhow a delicious orris creaminess is exuding more and more from my skin. Momentarily, this may not sound appealing for some people, but it soon settles on my skin into something warm and smooth, and a scent that I find very appealing. In the heart, a frisson of fresh spices creates contrast, the sweet, mild spiciness of the cinnamon bark blends with the bitterness of the clary sage, a note that I could unmistakenly recognize in any cologne containing it. Although the heart doesn't quite have the same impact as either the head or base, it acts as an ideal interlude for setting the scene. Such a warm hiatus slowly evaporates to reveal the mouthwatering and sweet gourmand notes of vanilla. The vanilla's sensual embrace endures as the base emerges with a resinous blend of cedarwood and sweet, earthy patchouli. Particularly seductive notes of labdanum interact with the vanilla to create an overtly amber and leathery accord. Amber and leather become more evident in the late dry down, but besides that, there's nothing else to speak of here regarding development, this accord creates an unforgettable trail. The recent trend for fruity gourmand male fragrances inspired Hi-Lo Country, sort of falls into the same category as a fragrance like 1 Million and Ultra Male. Smooth, candy cotton-like sweetness, with enough staying power to be a night club favorite. Embracing an excess of aromatic, lavender, and amber notes, it's a modern take on the Amber Oriental Fougère family. Projection wise, I would rate it as a reliable starter that fades into something much more moderate. It does have exceptional longevity on my skin, over 8 hours, maybe a little longer on some wears. It's pretty excellent in that regard. Both sillage and longevity perform admirably with a refined yet powerful trail over the entire day. While the projection is somewhat weaker, this makes the sillage much more effective. Regarding seasonality, Hi-Lo Country is very well suited to the colder months, late fall and all winter. Thanks to its strikingly amber and gourmand accords, it's something that performs well in a seductive fire-lit environment or the frosty night air. However, wear it during the day, depending on the situation. Although it wouldn't be a particularly office-friendly fragrance, it's perfect for high school or clubbing on a night out. Hi-Lo Country is a youthful fragrance with its fruity notes and the cologne targets for younger people. As it's somewhat unconventional to feature fruity notes in a male scent, older generations may find this a bit too unorthodox for their tastes. Overall, I would recommend Hi-Lo Country, provided you like this kind of scent. Some guys don't like sweets, and if that's you, pass on this cologne. Otherwise, I find this to be fun to wear, just another grand entry from ZARA.

To me, I find this as a unique Zara fragrance, the smell compared to the notes here is not correct but since people here said it smells like "Gourmand Leather" now it's made clear. The Iris in this one represents 60% of the fragrance and on the cool down it smells like a smooth mix of Vanilla and Leather, and for some reason reminds me of Dior Homme Intense a bit, I don't know what JPG Ultra Male smells like but I guess that's a plus since some people said it smells like it. It was a good purchase, I like the bottle design, which is different from this picture here; the cap is magnetic. I would recommend getting this one it's a safe blind buy but make sure the bottle is all crystal clear looking.

A bit synthetic at the beginning, but it's very sublime and just smells so great from 15 minutes after that to drydown. It is recommended, despite being one of the more expensive Zara fragrances. The drydown smells like bubble gum. It is sweet, sexy, and great, just like Gourmand Leather and Ultra Male. It lasts long too. For the price, it's a steal!

Just as the previous reviewers have said this one is an exact duplicate of ultra male. This one lasts for a good long time as well. I sprayed it in the afternoon on Saturday and I could still smell it on my arm the next morning. At $39.99 this one is a steal.

This is not available locally from where I am but managed to get one brand new. This stuff is simply underrated from the opening to the dry down. It reminds me of other iris/leather fragrances but this one is unique on its own.

This one is indeed a JPG Ultra male clone, but more on the synthetic side. Lasts well on skin also. Overall a good bargain IMO.

I applied three sprays at 10am and at 7pm my wife smells me and says that I smell too sweet. So longevity is easily 9hrs..

Just revisited this.. Yes it’s a Ulta Male clone but not as sweet. Also not as sweet as gourmand

Very clean and solid iris fragrance. It performs well.

Orris nasıl kokar bilmiyorum ama buram buram '' Badem Kabuğu (Almond Shell) '' kokuyor. Limon veya deri kokusu bence kokmuyor. Orris nasıl birşey bilmiyorum.

Did not like the opening, too sweet! But after an hour towards the drydown it is a very pleasant smell. Longlasting too! Did not compare it yet one to one with Ultramale or Gourmand leather

Smells like pink orbit bubblegum with pine needles. Zara blue candy is the female version of this (if you like to match your scent to your boyfriend's and like this one buy them both).

Definitely an Ultra Male clone - Lots and lots of sweetness. I never got to smell Gourmand Leather, but smelling this, I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything.

Exactly the same juice of the Zara Gourmand Leather on sale these days. The price is more than double though so if you like it buy ZGL instead. For me it's a pass.

This smells so gross! Its super thick and cheap smelling. I do not detect any fruits. I'm guessing its the huge amount of Orris that I am smelling.

Yes, available again and smells exactly like the re-release of Gourmand Leather in 2022, basically a more iris forward take on Ultra Male

Available again now in this same bottle but under the Gourmand Leather name as of May 2020.

Reappeared on Zara's website as of July 4th 2024(corrected a typo).

jean paul gaultier and gourmand leather mixture..