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06/24/2013
jtd
484 Reviews
jtd
Very helpful Review
5
barbershop
Arabian? This smells Arabian in the manner of a Penhaligon's fragrance, that is to say, British.
First and foremost, can we dispense with “Arabian” unless we’re referring to horses or history? I assume Tom Ford uses the word because it’s Fashion Fantastical. Ariabian, you know, like A Thousand and One Nights. It’s the orientalism of early 20th century perfumery all over again. Stale, offensive exoticism. Also, the imagery and allusion is just cheesy. Makes the line seem like a spin on The House of Creed. Replace the tassels and epaulets with glossy pseudo-mod and you still have the same thing: hot air and cuff links.
The perfume is nice, though. I can't say that I smell lavender per se, but I do smell the soapy, herb-on-hay sweetness of a fougere. At the same time there is a dry bitter green angle, like a tight-assed chypre. Maybe galbanum dressed up as lavender and took its place in the fougere. This tinderbox-dry woodiness balances the moist feel of the fougere, but in the end the fougere wins, and a fairly dark, minor chord similar to that of Rive Gauche pour Homme's basenotes lasts until you wash it off.
Arabian Wood is a fine old-school barbershop fougere. Simplicity is a virtue in the classic aromatic fougere. Messing around too much with the basic formula diminishes the stride of the old boy. Ford have added enough to make it stand on its own, but haven’t muddied the waters. The name is a bit of misdirection, but the perfume is straightforward and handsome in a classic, soapy, manly fashion. Women, give it a try.
from scenthurdle.com
First and foremost, can we dispense with “Arabian” unless we’re referring to horses or history? I assume Tom Ford uses the word because it’s Fashion Fantastical. Ariabian, you know, like A Thousand and One Nights. It’s the orientalism of early 20th century perfumery all over again. Stale, offensive exoticism. Also, the imagery and allusion is just cheesy. Makes the line seem like a spin on The House of Creed. Replace the tassels and epaulets with glossy pseudo-mod and you still have the same thing: hot air and cuff links.
The perfume is nice, though. I can't say that I smell lavender per se, but I do smell the soapy, herb-on-hay sweetness of a fougere. At the same time there is a dry bitter green angle, like a tight-assed chypre. Maybe galbanum dressed up as lavender and took its place in the fougere. This tinderbox-dry woodiness balances the moist feel of the fougere, but in the end the fougere wins, and a fairly dark, minor chord similar to that of Rive Gauche pour Homme's basenotes lasts until you wash it off.
Arabian Wood is a fine old-school barbershop fougere. Simplicity is a virtue in the classic aromatic fougere. Messing around too much with the basic formula diminishes the stride of the old boy. Ford have added enough to make it stand on its own, but haven’t muddied the waters. The name is a bit of misdirection, but the perfume is straightforward and handsome in a classic, soapy, manly fashion. Women, give it a try.
from scenthurdle.com
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