The Best and Worst Men's Colognes of the '80s and '90s - Retro Fragrance Review
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- Опубліковано 7 лип 2024
- Do these "retro" fragrances hold up today? Find our full review here:
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→ Script: Teresa C. Schneider & Kyle Thibodeaux
→ Camera: Chris Dummer
→ Editing: Jonathan Oster
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00:00 Introduction
Today’s market for fragrances is oversaturated, to say the least, so we’re going to take a trip back in time to the '80s and ’90s, when the fragrance world was still relatively small, to see if the fragrances that were popular in our youth hold up to today’s standards.
So, the following 10 fragrances have all been tested and reviewed by our team, but Kyle hasn’t smelled any of them yet. So for each one, Kyle will give you my first impressions as well as the more considered opinions of the rest of the Gentleman’s Gazette team.
01:04 1. Calvin Klein Obsession For Men
It’s still packaged in its original packaging: a curved bottle, that actually feels a little outdated, and a little bit feminine. But what can be expected from that came from the 1980s? The price is $82 for 4 ounces or 118 milliliters.
02:26 2. Dior Fahrenheit
This is still packaged in the original bottle which while suited to the name, does make it appear like a drugstore-level product rather than a department store level product. The price is $95 for 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters.
04:08 3. Davidoff Cool Water
The price is $75 for 4.2 ounces or 124 milliliters.
06:04 4. Acqua Di Gio Pour Homme
Like Cool Water, Acqua Di Gio is an icon of this era. It was launched in 1996. The price is $88 for 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters.
07:19 5. Issey Miyake L’eau D’Issey Pour Homme
This was described as a woody, aquatic fragrance. The price is $97 for 4.2 ounces or 124 milliliters.
08:22 6: Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male
Many have described Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male as a bit of a safe buy that’s classic yet unique as it has warm baking notes and a lot of vanilla inside. The price was $94 for 4.2 ounces or 124 milliliters.
09:40 7. Givenchy Gentlemen
The price is $89 for 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters.
10:33 8. Calvin Klein CK One
This is actually one of the first to be introduced as a unisex fragrance. This really suited the brand at the time as they constantly were featuring models, male and female wearing the same underwear. The price is $65 for 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters.
12:11 9. Drakkar Noir
This is described as an aromatic Fougere scent and it really helped cement the trend. The price is $65 for 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters.
13:43 10. Eternity for Men by Calvin Klein
This is yet again another famous fragrance from Calvin Klein. The price is $82 for 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters.
Out of this list today, Kyle's personal favorite is the Aqua Di Gio. He loves how clean and light that fragrance is. But if he were to talk about what kind of fragrances he usually would go after, as mentioned before, he kind of find his self really enjoying things that have woody, cedar, sandalwood notes; things that have a bit of leather or kind of a tobacco scent to it, mint, citrus notes in there as well, too. Nothing that’s too overpowering but things with those kinds of combinations are the things that his nose is typically drawn to.
15:04 Outfit Rundown - Навчання та стиль
Jeez, I must be getting old. Six of these ten colognes are still in my rotation.
... welcome to the club, Sir.
@@TomReinerDE yep [i liked Chanel Egoiste platinum]
Nothing wrong with that. I don’t like most modern designer fragrances.
I got only 3 😄😄
i like oldskool classics , tommy by tommy , obsession , coolwater , jaguar for men , azzaro pour homme , all nice fragrences :)
I think that it really fits Raphael to not like something because "it is too pedestrian"
The GG channel is the best place to find insults on UA-cam.
Probably only buys Creed.
@@alexmidence274 as we all should.
No Versace Blue Jeans ......
@@corporate.security what's GG?
No 90s fragrance list is complete without Polo by Ralph Lauren, the green bottle. Brings back so many memories.
and withaut VERSACE BLUE JEANS!!!
That's what I was looking for! I love the scent of Polo! 😍
Or Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger
Polo was first issued in 1978.
Dior Fahrenheit is so unique and pleasant smelling! It is a classic for any fragrance collection. The gasoline vibe it gives at the top makes it really unique and it is one of the most legendary scents
Agreed it’s an awesome fall winter scent
Wow, describing Drakkar Noir as "Not traditionally masculine" or "Bohemian" is very interesting. To me, it is the quintessential masculine scent, it smells like a bottle of shaving cream
These guys wear bow ties.
That statement made me not believe a single word in this video.
Mandarin orange
@@Anthony_Spilotro oh stop it, antonio.
they also pay 75.00 for a 4.2 of reformed, watered-down cool water...@@gigatronicdeth
Firstly, I love that Raphael referred to something as "pedestrian."
Secondly, I hope you strongly disciplined whoever didn't like Cool Water.
I remember my father used to put on the Cool Water before going to work. I still have a bottle of it in my cologne cabinet.
@@muslimbother622 I remember fondly the aftershave, but wore the spray for years. Still have a bottle at the office, just in case.
Drakkar Noir Is top hands down. Ladies will love it when you walk by and say you smell good and even question how you smell that good.
Lynx Oriental body spray which was about £1 smelt virtually indistinguishable from Drakkar Noir.
@@mrgt3201 It is what it is.
@@EccentricCF I had both and liked both.
@@mrgt3201 Ive had alot of scents usually I like smooth scents not like spicy lol. Drakkar and CK euphoria are pretty dang good.
@@mrgt3201 If its cheaper for the same scent its worth it but I like saying its drakkar noir becuase people don't usually know ha
Dior's Eau Sauvage from 1966 has always been a favorite of mine.
His voice is so soothing 😍
As a few viewers have pointed out, Givenchy Gentleman was indeed launched in the 1970s (though there is some confusion, as various sources list either 1974 or '75). While it's therefore an outlier in this group, it's still in good company with other '70s fragrances we've covered, like Paco Rabanne Pour Homme. We hope you find our review useful--and be sure to check out our other fragrance reviews via the playlist below! -Preston
ua-cam.com/video/WvUdPNR8JQw/v-deo.html%3FDsocial-lead-gen&
70s fragrances were still popular in the 90s
@@joecool9739 Really?? You don't say...
@@JJColb
I do say
In fact, ill say it again
70s fragrances were still widely worn in the 90s
What.... Fahrenheit is a classic I love the smell it's strong and masculine..... It takes me straight back to the early 90s when I smell it
I found that rather shocking myself
The fact that he didn't identify the cucumber notes in Farenheit makes me think he didn't even try it.
I loved it in the 90s but the current version is changed in my opinion
not these days
I love this guy. He’s a perfect and natural fit for the Gentlemen’s Gazette family. This video was comforting to watch.
My ex girlfriend was wearing CK One. I cannot smell it without remembering her! Smells work like memory triggers in an unbelievable way!
It’s so true
Now my Son and me , users of CK one
I was born in the eighties
Olfactory memory is a thing, and you’re right: very powerful trigger.
Drakkar Noir is one of the best. Smells good, last a good time for the price and you’ll get compliments frequently. My younger cousin wears it to school since it is some what cheap and a good cologne. Me personally I use VS Him Deep water or Platinum because it’s a darker smell but I’d wear Drakkar Noir any day over that
My orthodontist was one of the First Gentlemen I ever met: successful, kind, dressed impeccably, and always sporting Obsession. For that reason, I have always associated this scent as the apex of the well-groomed and successful man and as such, it is my daily fragrance.
Escape from Calvin Klein from this era and I absolutely love it for warm weather. It's fresh and smells like spring time to me
Back then it was easy to tell what was a man or woman's cologne. Today, they try to make men and women smell the same. It is increasingly difficult to find a cologne which is properly designed for men, with the scents of leather, wood and tobacco.
Please don't pay retail by all means, most of these can be had for less than a third of what's shown in the video. The likability of the fragrances is subjective of course. Cheers!
Preach! I about had a heart attack when I saw those prices. 🤣 Why in the world would you pay that when you can get them so much cheaper in other places because they’re out of style?!
@@alexmidence274 Could y'all enlighten me, where might I find some of these colognes for a more reasonable price?
@@alexmidence274 Could you tell us where you can find that? Im always saving up my fragrances for way too long even tho Id like to wear them more frequently.
@@zuendelmeister_5088 see comment above.
@@zuendelmeister_5088 fragrancex or fragrancenet are a good place to start
Actually Givenchy Gentlemen was launched in 1974-76. The bottle shown, maybe later, but I wore it in college in the late 1970's.
This is true. Fragrantica also states the release year as 1974. My dad wore it throughout the 2000s, and maybe a very little bit in the 90s.
Two great decades loved those times and the colognes.
I wear Jicky by Guerlain that started life as a mens scent before being rebranded as womens. It is the first scent I was given as a gift over 40 years ago and I never tire of it especially as I feel that I am the only one wearing it !
I first got into fragrances in the 80's and wore ( and in some cases still wear) many of these. I've just recently started getting back into colognes and really loving all the variety available today.
Eau d'Issey was very popular back then, love it .
Polo green, anyone??? I understand it was TECHNICALLY released in 1979, but it completely typified and defined the 1980s. I clicked assuming that had to be here.
On another note (pun intended) I am not surprised that none of you liked Fahrenheit. It is for the man with dirt underneath his fingernails during the day but yet he's a classically sophisticated gent by night. Calloused hands that raise the bourbon to his mouth with a sense of hard-earned appreciation. He likes the smell of a garage. He embraces his rough edges and worries little about the opinions others have of him, as he is certain of who he is as a husband, a father, and as a man.
Came here to say this. In high school in the early 80s the go-to was Polo.
@@joehonan1773 and popped collars with three more underneath ;)
Yeah I still wear Polo. My dad wore it in the 90s and 2000s regularly.
I definitely feel old 😢... I remember when each of these first came out and had experience with buying most. I think a lot of these have been copied by other generic companies making less expensive products and unfortunately we mistake that smell as original. When a product sold very well there's usually a pretty good reason why.
As someone who has 8/10 of the fragrances featured and still keeps them in heavy rotation in collection to stumble across this video was pretty timely. Excellent video and keep up the good work.
Great presentation! Interesting, informative, and presented in an entertaining way. Thank you for posting!
These videos are very helpful. I've been binge watching. Thanks for your research and awesome content.
Great video...well organized and to the point.......and as usual I love Kyle's easy and laid back delivery...
I love these high end well made videos! so nice to watch!
Drakkar noir was my entry into men perfum , and is still my to go choice, but i also used Tabac, which was my grand father choice, and he had good taste too as i liked it too
Dig the video! I don’t really wear cologne that much anymore but I like the breakdown you have given. Also it was kinda ASMRish to me.
I wish Candies for Men was still around. I used to get so many compliments with that one.
When you realize that you’ve worn most of the things on this list. I Wore Drakar and Obsession in high school. I wore eternity and Armani in my 20s. Armani was my suit and tie fragrance and eternity was my every day. Now then, when I wanted to go out and be a Mac daddy, nothing was better than Cool Water! Until, that is, Chanel came out with a lure and blew it way out of the water.
Old Spice and English Leather are my go to scents.
As a teenager in the 90s I wore Hugo by Hugo Boss, brings back memories !
Aqua di Gio, CK One, Cool Water, and Obsession were my entrance into fragrances in school.
@@wasabista1613 cuz it's a timeless scent, i wear it almost everyday, even If i won't go outside
You left out Ralph Lauren Polo Sport for men. That one was huge in the 90s.
I just ordered a bottle of Lauder for Men, by Estee Lauder. This was my first entrance into the fragrance game way back in 1988 when I was a teenage college student. The feelings of nostalgia can be just as important as the scent at this point in time with the world as crazy as it is.
Question for Raphael: Do you own any expensive Japanese fountain pens?
Back in the day I thought Farenheit smelled like bug spray at first but once it dried it wasn't too bad. It really doesn't matter what it smells like just as long as the ladies dig it!
I've been buying my Papa Obsession every year for Christmas for many many years, his favorite cologne, hes in his 70s ☺️☺️☺️
Aqua Di Gio was my very first fragrance I bought as a teenager, although I don’t wear it as much anymore I still keep it in rotation for hot summer days. Eternity, CK one, Cool Water bring back memories
With Dior's Fahrenheit opinions couldn't be more different. Recently I have been to a fragrance store and my wife and daughters selected Fahrenheit EDT for me as it was the scent they liked the most and described as fresh like laundry from the line. Go, figure. But I have to say it really grows on me. The first notes may remind of gasoline or traces of diesel on your hands and are really very distracting but after that the masculine and floral notes start to sing and it really becomes something which stands out from the crowd in a positive way. Not old-fashioned but classy and not for the faint of heart and in this sense a perfect fit for the modern gentleman.
Could someone answer a question for me? I want to buy Sonia Rykiel's Homme in the t-shirt bottle on ebay. Are these the real colognes from 2000? Or re-creations? If they're real, is the fragrance still the same? Thanks in advance
CK One was my go to cologne at high school, wouldn’t wear it today but i do love the fragrance. I adore Issey and their Wood and Wood is amazing. A great- and very 90s- fragrance not show here...Versace Blue Jeans. Bathed in it when I was at college but can’t wear it now, my wife hates it.
Givenchy Gentleman was launched in 1974, not 1994!
I love Davidoff. Great video.
Most of these are great, but my favorites are Aqua Di Gio and Givenchy Gentleman. I have used those often for quite some time. Also, Kyle's voice is very nice.
Can you help me locate a fragrance that is like the old Abercrombie & Fitch Woods that they discontinued which was my all-time favorite. From the early 90s
I have Gio, I’m happy that you guys like it
I'm so glad you didn't trash my eternity lol this has been my go to scent for many years
Quick question everyone, where can i get myself a 3 piece tweed suit, from a quality and trusted place?
Calm and cool video. Like it
I'd like to know what Raphael's choices are. Something a little outside the box is always a good thing.
Good video Kyle. Definitely food for thought for when I see the holiday gift boxes this year. An occasional video not promoting anything is welcome. It would have seemed forced to see a Fort Belvedere advertisement at the end.
What didn’t you guys like about the givenchy gentlemen was it simply too strong?
I have this cologne... I find it to be a “night time “ scent... thanks for to review... 👋🏾Black👋🏾Channel 👋🏾
I wore most of these when I was younger and still wear some today. Just how old is everyone over there that you guys were smelling these iconic scents for the first time??
Does the skinny guy have his own channel? Im new to this channel and I love the skinny tall guys persona! would love to see more of him..
I shop at discounters all the time, if you go to reputable ones, like fragrancenet, you will always get authentic fragrances and you will save a ton of money.
This list sadly did not mention Giorgio Beverly Hills Extraordinary, Red, and V.I.P. , all of which defined the era for me in terms of scent. Extraordinary is still in production, although slightly altered in composition.
I think you maybe confused on your description of Givenchy Gentleman. Some of the notes are incorrect and do not mention that this scent is mainly based around strong patchouli.
Paloma Picasso Minotaure... still use it today for evening outings. Such an affirmative fragrance.
I feel like out of these Cool Water is the only one that’s a clean fresh scent, not too strong, not too sweet, and lasts good amount of the day. My dad wore it alot when we went to church when I was a kid, to this day I still carry the Cool Water bottle often as it’s also affordable. CK One used to be my favorite but I feel like it changed its flavor as it feels stronger now.
Drakkar is clean and fresh to me
Excellent visuals to compliment the theory
Boss Bottled would have been a great addition. Very warm, comforting, and mass appealing.
Nice review.
Well done.. I still wear eternity for women when I work from home and as a bed time scent. I appreciate dior savage on men and creed aventis.
Drakkar is a wonderful one. Powerful stuff.
What? no Jade East? That was my go-to in the 60s and early 70s. 80s - Obsession, 90s - Obsession, 00s - Obsession, 10s - Obsession. Can't improve on perfection. Older women (I'm 70) love it.
I used to be obsessed with cool water
What about Ralph Lauren Polo in the green bottle?
I miss YSL Jazz! Made me weak at the knees. Hi from Australia
I would like to see a review like this just about polo fragances
i wore Fahrenheit i liked it personally
Alway thought the pronunciation was ‘Davi-dof’ not ‘David-OFF’; it even says that way in the commercials
He seems to mispronounce vetiver and fougere, as well.
Hi! Just saw this video now. How about Jazz of YSK and Xeryus by Givenchy? Those are the best too!
Givenchy gentleman was launched in 1974 and not in the 90's!
Drakkar covered my junior high years, eternity took me through high school and college.
Am looking for the Obsession For Women which was a gift from a seafaring uncle...The bottle is still vivid in my memory 😍
The best cologne ever was Elizabeth Taylor's Passion "Concentrate". Important: Not the regular Passion but the concentrate ... Totally different smell. So good I'm looking to buy the rights and bring it back for my personal use. lol
It's daavidoff , and the team seem to be up their own backsides , Fahrenheit, Cool Water and Acqua di Gio are classics
I think obsession. Is a night time , “seal the deal” , type of fragrance... my only cons is using this while or after working out
Although not a "gentleman" scent, Tommy Hilfiger for men is the most complimented fragrance I've ever seen. I wore it to school in the 90's and the ladies LOVED it. It certainly should have been on this list.
You don't remember what most teenage boys smelled like. It isn't nice.....
In the UK the "men" wore something called Old Spice. Did you get that in the US?
my wife just bought me the biggest bottle of Drakkar i have ever seen - 6.7 oz!
I picked up obsession for men, drakkar noir and cool water recently and I haven't opened the obsession yet but the other 2 are watery skin fragrances, not like I remember them 20 years ago
Of the ten mentioned in this video I have 8 of them and all 8 are still in my regular rotation.
You guys should do a video about flight jacket's!
Would like a top 10 from each of you guys
Obviously you can’t include every scent but YSL Kouros and Chanel Antaeus are definitive of the 80s powerhouse style. Both are completely outside the contemporary frame of reference. You absolutely need to wait for both to dry down before wearing them in company although the current formulation of Antaeus is more ‘wearable’ than Kouros.
& Calvin Klein has it!
I always liked Farenhieght, & also Quorum. Caswell Massey also makes some nice & long heralded Presidential Favorites, including # 5 (George Washington).
For me L'eau d'Issey is still one of the best men's fragrances. Light, elegant, understated, you have to bathe in it in order to put on too much - sophisticated, and the wordplay on the name is smooth.
There was also a Kenzo fragrance in a black flacon imitatin bamboo - sort of, can't remember the name, but i liked that too
Hello I’m 13 and watch the show frequently, which cologne would you recommend for school and going out and stuff.
To be hounest as a fragrance collector of 70+ bottles, i whould say Versace - Eau Fraische or Versace Eros, those or realtivley affordable and easy to wear aswell as appeal to most younger people
@@b1ack6ead honestly, I wouldn't go for old fragrances because they are often somewhat corny and are often reformulated resulting in worse performance
I would go for Versace Eau Fraiche, Versace Dylan Blue, Versace eros flame, Dior homme cologne or any of the paco rabanne invictus. all of them are great picks if you‘re young
Dior Sauvage. The people who say it’s “common” don’t understand that many people like you and me live in small areas, so if you get dior sauvage you will be the best smelling person. or even “wanted by night” by Azzaro on the cheaper side.
@@memedecade5805 Agreed, those are going to make you smell like her dad. Unless she's into that don't go for old school scents 😂
glad i found this. love obsession
Finally an interesting fragrance vid
No list is complete without Lagerfeld. Was my favorite in 80s and early 90s. The newer version is not the same.
I liked that, also.
I make you right, I'm 52 and it still kills it today.
I do mean the orange sandlewood genre.
😀👍🏾🙏🏾
You're very welcome.
Lagerfeld classic is a masterpiece and it’s still good
Some remind me of the most scorching hangovers I’ve ever had and can’t wear or stand the smell off ever again!
The Fahrenheit bottle is by far the best looking one!