Wilfredo

Mugler had a typo when they named this fragrance. It should have been called Pure Heaven.

I joke, I joke. I do love the Havane reference. It makes me think of sitting on a beach somewhere in Cuba with a drink in one hand and a cigar in the other. Which is ideal - as that is exactly the vibe that this scent exudes upon application and all the way through.

I won't wax lyrical too much here, but I fully admit I slept way too long on this one. After having the chance to pick up a 100ml for around $165NZD ($112USD), I just went for it as this one doesn't really pop up in New Zealand much.

I sprayed this on, 2-3 sprays to the chest under a white linen shirt, and immediately, audibly "wow" escaped my mouth. I won't go into the notes as they have been done to death below, but for me personally, I get that fresh tobacco (fresh! not old), which to me is the nicest tobacco note I have ever smelt in a fragrance, as well as the luxurious honey/vanilla/cacao trifecta - which just goes on, and on, and on. I could smell it on the linen shirt the day after, and the day after that (literally two days+).

Some mention cherry - I only personally smell this right at the top as a blast of beautiful sweetness, but my girlfriend smells it on me for some time in the first hour. Perhaps a bit of nose blindness going on as this thing is a bit of a quiet powerhouse.

I feel like this is the scent I have been searching for. Which is terrible! As it seems as though it's destined to be another in the pile of discontinued scents that I will forever crave that end up on eBay for 4x the price. If it was still current, would no doubt be my forever signature scent. I will cherish my bottle for as long as I possibly can.

Personally I'd wear this every day, but for most I'd probably say not in the dead hot heat of summer. Warm is okay (15-20c) but not 20c+.

A masterpiece of a fragrance, and if you have the chance to even get a small decant, just to experience this beautiful scent, I encourage it.

L'Oréal, if you're reading this - please bring this back - I have no doubts it'd sell.

Enough has been said about this fragrance.

This is what comes to my mind every time I wear it.

"I live in a cottage in an irish village located in a small vale. I have been invited by a friend over for brunch and the day promises to be somewhat sunny though chilly - as can be expected from the best of days during spring here.
I get ready, shaved and dressed and put on after shave that makes me smell clean and confident. As I slip on my checkered jacket and hat to step out and take the 20 minute walk to my friend's house I see dark clouds looming in the distance. Not a moment more can be wasted if I am to escape the rain that is about to hit the vale.

I start off briskly, confident that I should make it to my destination unscathed but a few minutes in and it starts to drizzle. I panic. I cannot arrive drenched. Anne has been invited as well and I need to make an impression. Panic stricken, I remember the shortcut through the forest edging our village. The foliage can be thick but I'll cut my walking time to half. Without giving it another thought, I rush towards the forest and the drizzle gets stronger. The forest smells green, wet and woody. I make may way through fast but can feel the hem of my trousers catching the dew. As I push through the last bit of dense foliage with the branches rubbing against my jacket I can see my friends cottage. I arrive at the door and knock earnestly to be let in. Even though I'm damp, it could have been much worse. My friend opens the door and my senses can finally relax, I take a deep breath before stepping in and the confluence of aromas from the cottage, my aftershave and the forest residue all mingle in my mind. "

That's the smell of GIT for me.

Sensual. Eccentric. Apple. Musk”

This scent is connected to a memory for me.

I smell this and am reminded of my summers in Portugal in the mid-late 90s. One of my cousins wore this scent and I was never able to figure out what it was until quite recently. For this reason I’m booking this as a “Classic”.

I have heard people refer to this as an apple pie scent. I get the apple part but it’s not a tasty apple to my nose. It has something in it that grabs your nose and makes you think “I’ve smelled something like this before but this is done differently.” And the truth is, if you’re like me, you have smelled this before. It smells like the rebellious brother of YSL pour homme. Whereas YSL is sweeter, Boss is more rebellious I’d say but stays within the family.

9/10 - A sentimental Classic juice that can be had for under $50. This is a must smell for anyone that wants to own a variety of fragrances.

Update:
I just had to say a little more now that it’s cooling off and this juice is (imho) in it’s prime element. You’ve probably worn or heard of colognes that exude confidence. I can’t tell you how much confidence this brings me when I wear it- especially at work. Also I’ve had time to think what I’m getting that tweaks the apple pie part of the scent and I think I’ve come up with it- lipstick! Hear me out on this because I think you’ll be on board. The scent seems to complement a variety of women’s fragrances quite well. For example, when you go out with your significant other, you may notice that her fragrance and yours will combine for a rather sensual scent bubble when you’re wearing this. Anyway that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

I'm not a particular fan of "blue fragrances", but, wanting something that was a dumb reach for when I wasn't in the mood for going full on Xerjoff Nio or Acqua di Parma but wanted something that was fresh and easy going, I bought myself a decent selection of small-ish decants from eBay and starting working my way through them. As soon as I sprayed this in the air I was fairly certain I'd found my one, and wearing it on skin confirmed what I thought.

It's an extremely clever fragrance, in that it is undoubtedly a "blue fragrance" but it somehow manages to be "that bit more". It's that bit more natural smelling, that bit sharper, that bit more zingy, that bit more green and herbal, that bit more balanced and refined, that bit more salty and foamy, that bit more earthy and smoky. None of these things stand out massively in and of themselves, but together they have a cumulative effect which seems to be far greater than the sum of their parts. Whilst it is and ever shall be a dumb reach blue Designer fragrance for me, what it does so brilliantly is to take that genre and perfect it without ever getting ideas above its station.

Will I ever grow to love the blue Designer fragrance genre? So far it seems doubtful, as there are so many other interesting and different and jaw-droppingly stunning fragrances out there that these workhorses will likely ever remain as such, but that's not to say that they don't have their place, or that they don't smell good.

So, if you're wanting to smell fabulously unique and extravagant, you'll need to look elsewhere. But when you've had your fill of that and you want a break, but you still want to smell interesting, natural, and refined, for my money this is the one that beats all the others hands down, and if this is still a bit much and you want to smell more shower-gel-like then you could always reach for Versace's Dylan Blue (what is it about that Alberto Morillas?

What can you say.. a timeless masterpiece by Francis Kurkdjian. So sexy and absolutely not dated at all.

Obviously not the recent batches/formulation.

The real vintage juice timeline is 1995-2009. You want to avoid letters S or Higher on modern laser engraved etched labels! Just because it says "Made in France" does not make it VINTAGE.
Avoid 2010 and onward "Le Male" if you want the vintage juice.

This is much more potent and the liquid is darker/yellower in color, unlike the clear liquid that comes in the newer bottles. This is what Le Male smelled like before it lost its true character.

Le Male is a magnetically attractive fragrance which seduces with its uniqueness; it is built on contrasts: traditional and bold, fresh and mild, strong and sensual, in one word: absolutely irresistible for women. Fresh mint is a symbol of strength; the tradition is represented by lavender; vanilla gives warmth and tenderness. The top notes are composed of mint, lavender, and bergamot. The heart is composed of cinnamon, cumin, and orange blossom. The base contains vanilla, tonka bean, sandalwood, and cedarwood.

If you can find the vintage juice at a reasonable price, please go for it. If you've never experienced a true le male vintage, you don't know what you're missing.