Scent Bar DTLA Visit | Test Strip Reviews
I visited Scent Bar DTLA a few days ago. Here are my impressions:
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Secretions Magnifique (ELDO) - Fresh-cut cilantro with a nauseating after-smell.
Musc Tonkin (PdE) - Reminds me of those typical orange/rust-colored "musk" scented deodorant sticks or aftershave splashes from my childhood (Jovan Musk For Men and Speed Stick Musk come to mind). Nostalgic and intriguing.
Gris Charnel (BDK) - Thai peanut sauce vibes 100%.
Amyris Homme (MFK) - Cross between two Chanels—Platinum Egoiste and Allure Homme. Very clean and masculine. Would wear, but definitely wouldn't buy at that price range.
Salome (Papillon) - The aldehydes + old-school musks give it that vintage cosmetics vibe that's reminiscent of something my grandmother would've worn. Sentimental.
2 (CdG) - Quite pleasant, and sort of reminds me of the smell of those big rainbow-colored lollipops from Disneyland. I don't perceive any of the weird notes like ink and cumin, despite being very sensitive to both of those notes in other scents.
Ormonde Man (Ormonde Jayne) - Thought I'd like this one based on reviews from fragcomm personalities I trust, but it did nothing for me.
Megamare (Orto Parisi) - Expected to get hit with a really fishy and/or seaweed-y funk, but didn't get any of that. Still quite pungent and heavy on the ambroxan. Not for me.
Molecule 01 - This was the only one I sprayed on my skin (back of left hand). I had tried it before, but it had been about a year. Just like last time, I couldn't smell it at all in the store, most likely due to the pungency of all the aromas inside the shop. Leaves an intoxicating scent on skin—made me look like a tweaker sniffing my hand all day. Wish there was a powerful version of this.
Molecule 01 + Black Tea - VERY nice. Would absolutely wear this. Clean, light, refreshing. Would buy if it was cheaper and/or had better performance.
Molecule 04 - A vaguely woody smell, but lacking character. Anticipated something creamier. Meh.
Invasion Barbare (MDCI) - Slightly spicy and a little creamy. Was expecting something incredible due to the price point and all the stellar fragcomm reviews from Fougere/barbershop aficionados, but it didn't impress me much. The test strip I took home faded pretty quickly. Maybe this one needs skin to come alive?
Vibrato (Sospiro) - Powdery grapefruit. Not my thing.
Blanche (Byredo) - Had a really screechy synthetic aspect to it that kind of reminds me of PdM Galloway (that sharp "printer paper" thing). Another one I thought I’d love based on the vibes associated with it, but I was ultimately disappointed.
Mefisto Gentiluomo (Casamorati) - Just flat, boring, and uninspired. Wanted to like this.
Derviche (Rogue) - Animalic. Old school. Slightly sweet. Intriguing.
1828 Jules Verne (HdP) - This one REALLY surprised me. Bridges the gap between old school and modern scent profiles. Aromatic, bright, fresh (in a green way), but with substance. Somehow one of the top scents I got my nose on. My friend really liked it too.
1899 Hemingway (HdP) - Also very nice, but a bit sweeter (almost fruity?). I'm seeing this one advertised as more of a mild weather scent, but it smelled brighter to me than 1828. Pleasant.
Psychedelique (Jovoy) - Straight-up patchouli. VERY earthy, almost medicinal. Not unpleasant, but definitely not something I'd wear. Strong as hell.
Musk Therapy (Initio) - Very nice. Clean. Way overpriced.
Cedrat Boise/Cedrat Boise Intense (Mancera) - Stupidly similar to Aventus clones (Zara Vibrant Leather, especially). A pleasant DNA, but not unique. I might wear it if one day I decide to go back to a boring modern-masculine profile that isn't full-blown "designer blue" slop.
Pacific Rock Moss (Goldfield & Banks) - Fresh, light, uplifting. Really nice.
Intense French Riviera (Mancera) - I could only find the Intense version here, but it smelled very good. Surprised at all the negative reviews, and confused to see Iodine, white florals, and oud listed as prominent notes, as I got none of those facets from the test strip.
Paper Soap (J-Scent) - Terrible. Very artificial and astringent. Was expecting a burst of cleanliness, but was let down.
Breathe (Akro) - I know it's a "boring" DNA, but it smelled great. Incredibly refreshing, airy, and aquatic. Would get a sample of this for sure, but if it performs as poorly as the reviews state, it probably won't be bottle-worthy.
Wulong Cha X (Nishane) - Wulong Cha (one of my daily drivers) with a weird note in there that almost ruins the whole DNA.
Torino 21 (Xerjoff) - Really enjoyed this one, but for me it's a bit too similar to Wulong Cha. It's like Wulong Cha with an added mintiness. Still very nice.
Naxos (Xerjoff) - Finally got around to this one after ages of hearing about its hype. Obviously not a freshie, but still surprisingly light on its feet for being a sweeter tobacco scent. Kind of liked it, but not sure I'd ever buy it.
Black Saffron (Byredo) - My friend LOVED this one. Smelled like an airier version of Tuscan Leather to me. It's nice.