OGBuysblind

This is a fragrance that's easy to reach for. You don't really have to think about it.

Sweet in the manner of a gourmand, but also kind of upbeat and light, Diamonds opens with a chocolate/cocoa note and some kind of fruit in the way of raspberry or strawberry. There's a smokiness to it as well, and maybe a hint of powder, but only to the extent that it softens the fragrance up and keeps the bergamot in check. Gaiac wood is used nicely here--it's sweet, and moderately smoky, and it enhances the chocolate, almost adding another dimension to it. I wouldn't describe this as spicy, it's more as if the pepper was used to cut it, and keep it from becoming sugary and overly soft. Overall, this is a happy scent with a sensual and romantic air. It seems like it would be a great date fragrance for a younger guy, as it's alluring and smooth, but never too serious or dark. Furthermore, it has moderate projection, so you don't have to worry about over-doing it. Diamonds also works well as a daily wear scent during the colder months.

I like this one, and find it a good alternative to scents like La Nuit de L'homme, Givenchy Play Intense, and Black XS. It's less aggressive than La Nuit, sexier than Play Intense, and more mature than Black XS. Unless your averse to sweeter, designer fragrances that play it safe but execute well, you'll probably like this too.

Thumbs up.

I'm not sure why violets aren't listed in the note pyramid, because to me this is an extremely smooth and simple fragrance that showcases a grayish floral violet note blended and backed by a powerful white musk. The iris note is also very white, airy, and floral. It serves to accent the perimeter of this EDP and extend its radiance outward, lending the impression of clouds at some far away distance in the sky. I honestly don't pick up on much pink pepper here--if I look closely at the heart of the fragrance I can smell a touch of a sweet spiciness, but it's very subtle and not what immediately jumps out. This fragrance is more bitter than sweet, in my opinion, and more "perfumey" than earthy. By "perfumey" I mean that the white musk, and violet-iris tandem dominate on a level that is more in tune with flower petals and the airy space around them than anything coming from the roots or soil below. Furthermore, a bit of a synthetic nature is lent by the white musk, though that's not to say it's unpleasant or harsh. Overall a very clean, somewhat formal fragrance that seems almost flawless in its construction. The notes pair so well together and appear to execute exactly what they set out to do. I think this fragrance is unisex. Men obviously like it, and there's something in here that reminds me of the classic Rive Gauche, on a drier, airier level, but I wouldn't think twice if I smelled this on a woman either. The floral aspect and gender-neutral white musk are reminiscent of common components in many women's perfumes. In fact, on average, I think guys might shy away from this one due to these aspects, and understandably so.

To summarize, I think this is a very good Eau de Parfum by Narciso Rodriguez. It's brighter, cleaner, smoother, and more upbeat than the EDT (which isn't a knock against the EDT), and could work wonders on the right man wearing a white button up shirt and sports coat. Its performance is excellent. At the same time, you may find this too formal, too suave, or simply not like the very distinct combination of white musk, violets, and iris. As for me, I'm going to hang on to it for a while and see if I can make it work. While it's not my typical style of fragrance, it seems too good to give up on yet, and somewhere down the road, it just might stick.

Thumbs up and I recommend sampling this to see if it works for you.

I've really been enjoying M Generation by Maubossin, and this scent was a complete surprise for me having heard so little about it. It's a great daily wear style of fragrance that manages to smell fresh, clean, and masculine while offering something different than what is typical of the genre.

I wouldn't classify this as an "incense" fragrance first and foremost. I think any comparisons to the Comme des Garcons series are a little bit of a stretch, and it's not until the later stages of the dry down that the incense really becomes apparent. Bergamot, Ginger, and a sweet, aromatic note that I initially thought was Juniper dominate the opening and middle stages of M Generation. The sweet, aromatic aspect is probably some combination of the bay leaf and jasmine notes, which lend a fresh, airy quality to the dryness of the heart, and produce a nice scent trail. There's also a significant dose of pepper, which has good bite, and seems to permeate the entire composition, from beginning to end. The blending of the pepper, ginger, bergamot and bay leaf are top notch, and they all come together very nicely, in a harmonious way that seems "mean to be." In reference to other reviews, I haven't smelled anything that reminds me of curry, however I definitely get some light cinnamon and nutmeg, and what one reviewer described as "camphor" is probably the sweet, aromatic note that I pick up in the opening. Over time, a dry incense note begins to emerge and it blends seamlessly with an equally dry, slightly smoky guiac wood. This is where M Generation finally rests, and it's a very well-paired base that remains dry, aromatic, and clean. What I really like about M Generation is that it presents a very wearable incense as well, that's part of a larger whole, so it's not so literal as to feel like you're wearing midnight mass or like you just stepped out of a zendo after a week-long retreat.

Overall, I would describe this as a clean, brisk fragrance with a sweet aromatic trail that runs over a base of dry incense and guaiac wood. At times it has an almost cold, bitter quality to it, but it remains personable in spite of this. Sillage is pretty good and I normally get 6 to 8 hours of longevity. I find a liberal application is best (about 6 sprays), and really allows M to shine. Perhaps its best quality is versatility. In my opinion, this could be worn any time of the year in any situation during the day and maybe the evening as well. While I wouldn't describe M as mind-blowing, it's really good at what it does and fills a vital spot in my wardrobe (an appealing, daily-wear fragrance with incense). My final rating is 4.25 stars out of five, or an 85%. Considering its price tag, I'm tempted to give it a 90.

Highly recommended. The really cool bottle is just a bonus that comes along with this very nice juice.

This is an indistinct, synthetically fresh fragrance that features chemical green apples and lime notes over an ozonic, white musk. That doesn't sound so great, but it could be worse. M;O.C. kind of reminds me of Versace Man Eau Fraiche in smell, and impression, but it's weaker and has a bit of a whiter hue. It's certainly inoffensive, but nothing about it is particularly memorable, and you've probably encountered something like this many times before. Performance is okay. It projects lightly for several hours but you need to apply it generously to get it to work. On the plus side, the floral component that emerges in the dry down is nice--unisex, light and airy--and brings welcome relief from the harsher opening. It's also the most unique aspect of this fragrance...but it's so light it's hard to notice. Also on the plus side, there are no off notes in M;O.C., nothing which seems particularly out of place or any notes that turn sour or rotten. So I can see it working as a fresh fragrance to be worn when you're not really in the mood to wear anything. I'd like to test this out to during the summer to see how it works in warmer weather, and if I can remember to, I will. For now, I'm pretty neutral toward M;O.C. and feel comfortable giving it a 3 out of 5, or per Parfumo's meter, 60%. That might even be a little generous.

A light, easy going fragrance which features a distinct sugar note over dry, subtle woods and a sheer vanilla/tonka base. Solara's sweet, semi-spicy top reminds me of the sugary smell one finds in the sap of pine trees. This note is presented in the more recent offering, CH Men by Carolina Herrera. In Solara the note is not as sweet, robust, or sticky. It's lighter, but still very similar in smell. I don't get tangerine as listed in the pyramid, or much bergamot either. The sugar accord is maintained throughout the duration of the scent, though it fades a little bit in the heart to make way for a dry cedar wood that tempers the sweetness and adds a classy little touch to the overall presentation. There's even a hint of moss among the cedar wood, a very gentle bitterness that adds well to the balance of the fragrance. Finally, you're left with a base of sheer, delicate vanilla and tonka, which serves as the conclusive skin scent, projecting only an inch or two from the body. Solara projects for about a foot for the first hour and a half, wherein it begins to settle rapidly around the two hour mark. By hour 3 it's a skin scent. Longevity is about 5 hours overall. This is a casual fragrance, but it's also classy, so it could be appropriate wear for a quiet date or intimate setting. It's light texture and sweet notes make it good for any time of the year. Although it's kind of flat, and doesn't leave a big impression, Solara is a pleasant, well-constructed scent that never falls apart and maintains a good balance between its notes. It has a subtle charm that grows on you the more you wear it. For about $20 for a 3.4 oz. bottle it's a pretty good deal. I would rate this a 6.75 out of 10. Fans of CH Men may find this an appealing, lighter alternative. Avoid this if you prefer scents that are heavier with strong projection.