BLIND Testing Cheap vs Expensive Fragrances (Cologne Review)

[@ParagonFragrances]

What a great time! THANK YOU for having me! 🙏

[@gentlemansgazette]

The pleasure was ours Nate!

[@CULatte]

Sneaking in the Old Spice was kind of genius

[@jefffuhr2393]

*Old Spice* claims, "If your grandfather hadn't worn it, you wouldn't exist." Love it.

[@davidnorth9390]

Can it be there's STILL something about an Aqua Velva man?

[@gentlemansgazette]

You got to thank Preston for that. I also think it was a great addition

[@666kingdrummer]

It would have been funny if at the end it was revealed that they were all cheaper brands.

[@itsjustnopinionok]

Old Spice takes me back to seeing my parents get ready for a date night. My father put a few dabs on nearly every time. A few other times he has these other colognes. Cheap of course.

[@rammul7801]

Antonio is who got me hooked on fragrances back when COVID was just something going on in China! I watched one of his videos, I ran out and blind bought something like 6 or 7 fragrances. Then I watched his interview with Jeremy. The rest is history.

[@jamesbuchanan3145]

The staying power of Old Spice is epic 😂

[@DadBodtoBadDad]

Gentlemen, take care of every aspect in your life. You deserve it!

[@davidnorth9390]

Thank you, gentlemen, for sharing an enjoyable conversation; --this collaboration smells like "success!" (Sorry, that Preston fellow is a bad influence...)

[@gentlemansgazette]

😂

[@salemslotandmore8278]

GREAT Video guys, Thank You 😀

[@kurttrzeciak8326]

This was BY FAR the best video I have ever seen on men's fragrances! I would love to see more content like this! You got me to subscribe!

[@JungleRice]

"What does your wife like?" ... "I don't care..." Lol'd at this part.

[@chip9461]

I think a more diplomatic way of stating that would have been, “While I care about what she likes, I wear fragrances for myself. If she also likes it as well, it’s a bonus.”

[@pooolish334]

​@chip9461 He doesn't care. No need for flowers and rainbows on a clear statement.

[@matts6551]

@@chip9461 I think the world needs to be a little less politically correct and a little bit more direct! I have no problem with his statement, even though it was a joke.

[@thomasconnors4338]

It frustrates me that the video thumbnail depicts a tier chart that can be easily read at a glance but one was not actually included. I am left to go thru the transcript cutting and pasting in order to compare the top contenders

[@jimjamjerry]

What was number 1 and what came in last?

[@euan1234]

@@jimjamjerry I think Givenchy Gentleman was last place, and first place was #8, called Rosso (I haven't heard of it before)

[@FiddlingCPA]

An especially good thing about synthetic ingredients is that they are conducive to a longer shelf life.

[@nataldoe3035]

Love the blind reviews. One of my favorite episodes.

[@astrosleep9625]

My go to at the minute are spicebomb extreme, Armani Stronger with you Intense and Jimmy Choo man extreme

[@josephteifer9714]

Excellent video. Probably one of the best fragrance videos I’ve ever watched

[@gentlemansgazette]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@christianwiryo8454]

Among all, probably DD coolwater is the one that is totally not considered a luxury frags.. But it's the one that can never go wrong in most condition, not the most right, not the best, not considerably luxurious, but it's just simply-all rounder acceptable smell enaugh.. This probably suits to those who don't really care / bother about frags, but just wanna use ones, without much concerns.. It's a genious product actually!

[@malthuswasright]

There were a few in there I wouldn't class as luxury fragrances - Davidoff for sure, but also CK One for instance.

[@christianwiryo8454]

Yes agree.. But among those non-luxury frags, I'd say DD coolwater (specifically the classic green one) = quite special / unique smell.. CK 1 for the comparison in the same classs = not so unique smell.. I always keep the 75ml bottle of DD CW in some "mobile" spots (car's drawer, luggage, sports bag), just in case I need to use frags, but I forgot to bring my usual ones.. Because I know, it will not go wrong / too wrong in many circumstances.. good enaugh for emergency + it's not expensive (lost tolerable)!

[@Olyfrun]

Austin Reeds print! Very nice. Is this the Offices of the Gazette, or the fabled Chez Schneider? I suspect the latter, given the more convivial and intimate nature of these tête-à-têtes... Either way great video, this new side of the Gazette is very interesting to see! Nice to know you're not resting on your laurels, plump as they may be.

[@ninjastronghold]

Antonio has my deep respect for his A grade to Polo Green. While he seems "modern" on the outside hes a classic gentleman inside. Bravo sir!

[@roeepries5657]

Antonio is the definition for a gentleman

[@mr.lad-detailingtricksntip]

Tuned in because of fragrances. Stayed because of Preston. Left because of the bathroom calling. Came back because of Preston.

[@ericgeneric135]

I've been wearing Soleil Blanc a lot this summer. It smells just like suntan lotion to me. Very relaxing.

[@jeffreytheodosius]

This is such a great comparison ranking ever🎉

[@666kingdrummer]

All I've learned from this is, just like with a Wine, it's all subjective.

[@GrandHeresiarch]

Wear any fragrance for yourself first and foremost - after all, you'll be smelling it all day!

[@ivanovooko]

Sven, the non expert, guesses 4 out of 16. Nice!

[@t-man5323]

What an awesome informative video! keep it up!

[@dkcb7]

enjoyed this one, was fun

[@Manuel421]

Appreciate the videos as always. As a man in my middle 30's I've been improving my style so the insight is incredibly helpful. I understand that you can't always get back to everyone but it's always valued whenever you do so thanks again. In regards to a recent past video I'm really curious though. Would Dress pants from the clothing store Express be considered as Franken trousers? Since they are considered more modern although mine don't look like sweats at all despite the Drawstring. Regardless I plan on returning to the local thrift store around Christmas time whenever possible so hopefully I can look into getting a couple more pairs of slacks preferably Linen since I live in AZ. Apologies for the long comment...

[@gentlemansgazette]

Some elastic in the waistband could certainly be useful, but there are other features that do (or don't) shift the pants closer to the realm of Franken-Trousers. Drawstring waist, gathered elastic cuffs, cargo pockets on the thighs, etc.

[@frslas]

Polo Green and Terre de Hermes are two of my all time favorites.

[@Zzzooooppp]

Do this video again and again, with other frags and other reviewers and Ill watch it every time

[@Mike-yy4ll]

Lalique Encre Noire deserves it's place in the pantheon of men's classic fragrances.

[@bebetigre1252]

Had a boyfriend that wore Aqua de Selva, sniffed it once never forgot the scent.Didnt like it on him just out of the bottle.

[@giangra92]

Due all respect, 4711 is a magnificent perfume and extremely cheap. Is just perfect, I used it thghought the year all seasons, often I preferred it than expensive colognes.

[@edminto7373]

Great video, I’ve been doing some testing of my own comparing green, Irish tweed, which I like very much with some homage fragrances (I won’t use the word knock off) that are sold at a fraction of the price of creed. My favorite, so far is Irish countryside made by Italian barber. Runs $15 a bottle, and in my own little test is very similar to Green, Irish tweed, and actually seems to last longer. I think it would be really fun to make a video comparing some of the very expensive fragrances to some of the very inexpensive fragrances that are supposed to be their clones. Thanks,

[@Mike-yy4ll]

If i am correct, Lattafa Ana Abiyedh Leather is very similar to Irish Tweed. Or Irish Leather.

[@ljr35]

Eau sauvage and Old Spice are so so different, really surprised you confused them. both classics in their own way it should be said. I like to think I would have guessed them but who knows!

[@JT-rx1eo]

Re Creed and performance: I think the major reason for the light performance of traditional Creed fragrances is due to them being light "freshie" scent profiles to begin with, and the amount of natural materials they use. They COULD I guess start using the Iso E Supers, Amber Woods, etc to improve performance, but that would ruin the naturalness for me. I go to Creed because of superior scent profiles and very natural materials. Too bad they are now changing, without Olivier Creed.

[@jaydoll487]

Im a fragrance lover and sadly I used to judge based on reviews and would buy them online and ended up with all these colognes in this video and many others and learned one major lesson that our noses are all different and we all love what we love because I finally decided to go to a store that has all the best colognes and to me the prada luna rossa ocean le parfum is amazing and to me its way way better then all of them and you can spray it with other colognes makes it even more amazing and it last for hours and its crazy to me that there is people who don't like it and they only sprayed it on paper but dont know that once it settles on skin or clothes it has the most amazing smell and I only need 2-3 sprays and I spray it with my cheap nautica voyage and it brings that nautica smell with it and everyone at my job kept smelling me 😂

[@thefreestylefrEaK]

Learn how to use periods.

[@joshmiller7777]

Professor Preston carries such an air of authority haha. This video was a lot of fun :)

[@adflicto1]

I enjoyed this video

[@Grudeman408]

Git is probably the best fragrance ever created IMO. Great video ☘️

[@Wukilluh__]

Polo green S tier (I’m extremely biased)

[@gillespieroad42]

Absolutely 💚

[@deadlyradiation7977]

💚🌲 Polo one of the all time greats!

[@Snoop_Dugg]

Needed some Brut

[@sveneichler1489]

That's a very interesting Video. I don't know much about fragrances. I have the Eau de Toilette from TABAC Original (Mäurer & Wirtz) Germany . A classic fragrance with musk and amber, since 1959. My Father liked it and so do i. But i will try other fragrances . Greetings from Germany!

[@zonafortier]

Love this video idea

[@mr.k5865]

Smelling things on paper is fun, but let's be real: this is a totally futile exercise that gets you nowhere. Even if you LOVE something on paper, a total A+, once it is on your own skin it will smell wildly different. Not to mention longevity will vary tremendously compared to what the paper tells you. Also, every fragrance is designed to hook you with a nice immediate opening (like Bleu de Chanel) but after 5 minutes its real scent begins to appear and almost invariably will disappoint you. ..especially if it's a mass-produced designer fragrance. Also, how can you possibly test all these fragrances during the same day since they are all for different seasons?! You can only test only what is seasonally appropriate during the correct season! This means you don't test a heavy cold weather fragrance in hot weather (or a warm room) or a light citrus summer scent during winter (or in a cool room). It's no different than trying on heavy sweaters in July and making a decision if it feels right for an icy January day. Where is the sense in this? Fragrances are no different than clothes- they are seasonal. The moral of the fragrance testing story: you must only test on your own skin, listen to no one but your own nose, try not to test more than 4 in a day (one on the back of each of your hands and forearms max), and test them over many hours making notes of longevity, and be seasonally appropriate. Bonus tip: don't you dare make the mega-simp mistake of trying to find something all people love...especially women. I used to go out in NYC during the weekend and ask hundreds of people (mostly women) what they thought of certain fragrances. What one person will love, the very very next you ask will hate. I promise you some people will hate whatever you decide to wear, so just deal with it. There is no magic scent, it's very personal. Just please yourself, and the confidence and pleasure it gives you must be reward enough. Most of the frag hype on KZbin is paid for so don't believe anyone (at least when talking about new fragrances). Good luck brothers.

[@gentlemansgazette]

You certainly seem to care a lot about fragrances! We always intended this video to have a light-hearted feel while discovering whether there's a bias toward fragrance perceptions based on bottle & name. Hopefully, you were able to find some element of the video enjoyable?

[@CertifiedSunset]

Paper is a control for the comparison, since the scent profile can change on skin, it makes a more consistent test to use paper. Plus applying one scent on your wrist and then another right after would contaminate the scent thus not giving an accurate impression of the fragrance. For the sake of a blind smelling test, this is about as neutral as you can get without going for a quick walk between each scent. Scents are highly subjective and this video simply exposes you to new options whilst having a fun discussion. Please don't be overly critical, this video is not meant to sell you on anything, simply compare.

[@BillNelson-OU812]

Women go crazy when I wear Polo green. I enjoy it in Fall and Winter. For Spring/Summer or anytime really, I love Scottish Fine Soaps Thistle and Black Pepper.

[@Tricky_Adventures]

You should do another on beard oil fragrances.

[@ericalbany]

There are Hundreds of those...everyone and his brother is making them

[@REB1313A]

Raphael’s “C” rating of Creed GIT completely contradicts another GG video where he ranks it #1 and says his wife loves the fragrance on him.

[@onedadinplaid159]

When you take away the bottle, the marketing, the peer pressure, and just focus on the scent, we'd all probably buy different scents than what currently buy.

[@gentlemansgazette]

That’s why we did a blind test We took it all away and ranked and for GIT at that moment in time I rated it a C. We wanted to be very transparent and show that things are not all objective. We knew how I rated it back then, but we wanted to be upfront and honest with you. It would have been very easy to just cut out that part, but we made a very conscious decision. At the end of the day, what really matters is how you like it. Also I suggest you do some smell tests with the bottles and the labels and then you have someone else administer a blind test for you. I am willing to bet you also will change your mind

[@MJ-Decentralized]

@@gentlemansgazette I support this comment, blind testing is different!

[@herbtube7824]

@@onedadinplaid159peer pressure on scents? C‘mon…

[@onedadinplaid159]

@herbtube7824 you are right. Not peer pressure... I meant more like influencers telling us what's good, and sometimes not having anything to do with the actual smell.

[@stalkin]

Awesome video

[@thefreestylefrEaK]

What this proves is even your so-called fragrance "experts" are completely clueless when it comes to blind smell tests.

[@GooslinFitness]

Great video!!

[@MichaelStocklin]

This is a great video and great panel. Three great guys!

[@gentlemansgazette]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@FiddlingCPA]

A lot of these fragrances will smell quite a bit different on many people's skin, or even on fabric, than they do on paper. Update: After typing that, I heard Antonio make the same point shortly before the 16-minute mark (though he only mentioned skin, not fabric).

[@gentlemansgazette]

We don't recommend spraying fragrances on fabrics, but your point is accurate!

[@FiddlingCPA]

@@gentlemansgazette I spray fragrance on undershirts, and only on parts of the undershirt that will be covered up by the dress shirt. That way, any potential staining won't be visible. This helps to lock in the top notes for longer and to improve projection and longevity. Most fragrances don't perform well on my skin (even moisturizer doesn't seem to help much).

[@gentlemansgazette]

@@FiddlingCPA If it works for you, great

[@karlsenula9495]

Umm some of these are budget: Davidoff Cool Water, 4711 and Old Spice.

[@JohnFourtyTwo]

Old Spice is for picking up hot grannies at the retirement home.🤣

[@Olyfrun]

Oh, is 4711 that inexpensive? I've never actually had it before me, must be chasing the wrong waterfalls.

[@joshmiller7777]

Cool Water is an excellent summer fragrance :)

[@lazimiamor]

do you think a full brogue wingtip oxford would be good for a first dress shoe or should i get something else?

[@gentlemansgazette]

Take a look at our thoughts here: www.gentlemansgazette.com/five-dress-shoes-you-need/?

[@JonnyBrackney502]

I can’t believe they misidentify GIT so much… that stuff is SO recognizable.

[@ctlspl]

They should have sneaked in the same one twice to see if they rate it differently.

[@FiddlingCPA]

I don't have CK One, but I've smelled it on someone else. I do have CK Be, and it smells similar to what I remembered of CK One. Ck Be smells a little like castile soap to my nose. I enjoy it!

[@Lynchppi]

Love the Old Spice. Memories of my dad.

[@JT-rx1eo]

OK, Ralph Lauren Polo Green is my favorite fragrance of all time. I have over 300 full bottle collection of various fragrances. To give it an "F" simply signifies that my nose is completely different than yours. It is a masterpiece. THE most masculine scent of all time. American Republicanism in a bottle. Old Money. Gravitas in a bottle. Powerful. And it is NOT animalic at all! There are NO listed animalic notes, and I detect none. I am sensitive to animalic notes - I hate Kouros for example. Wow.

[@jamesbuchanan3145]

Just go buy a bottle of Old Spice and save yourself the $$$

[@JT-rx1eo]

​@@jamesbuchanan3145LOL, what's that going to do? I have 3 bottles of Old Spice - a bottle from 1981, a bottle from 1993, and a recent watered off bottle. I have multiple bottles of Polo Green. Neither is very expensive.

[@ralphmarkasher]

It just goes to show that cost has no bearing on what smells good.

[@ericalbany]

I use Belcam's Classic Match of Polo Green - saves me a lot.

[@FiddlingCPA]

In a sense, 4711 IS pricey, because you have to use so much of it given its weakness.

[@ericalbany]

I find I use it in the old fashioned way- soaking a handkerchief to apply, then carry the handkerchief. It was the Wet Nap of out great-grandparents.

[@Grndrgn4CrackTea]

The two Fs on Polo is blasphemous

[@prestonradtke222]

Feel so vindicated in my discussed with polo Green. Thought I was the only one who thought it smelled awful.

[@adnaanfakir5500]

Blind testing opening notes. Haven’t even reached the heart. It woulda been good to just straight up guess the names right off the bat n see how good the guys are. Nevertheless fun.

[@Stealther]

Surprised Polo Green got destroyed!

[@ahha6304]

I only be here for only 2 of my use : 4711 and Old Spice

[@onedadinplaid159]

Just goes to show that when you take away the bottle, the marketing, the brand name, the peer pressure, we'd all probably be buying different scents just based on our noses. I'm going out to get some Old Spice.

[@arturohernandez6462]

woah a bunch of legends

[@randallang3578]

I personally never have any cologne any recommendations

[@information517]

It would’ve been so much easier if you gave the list in beginning or made it easily read like I am about to. Just lookin’ out 🤷🏽‍♂️ 1 - #3 - Received high scores: B, B+, A 2 - #5 - Consistent scores: B, B, A 3 - #8 - Strong performance: A-, A-, B 4 - #12 - Solid ratings: B+, B-, A 5 - #4 - Good scores: C-, A-, B+ 6 - #14 - Reasonable ratings: C, B+, B 7 - #7 - Decent performance: C-, B-, B 8 - #6 - Mixed but okay: C-, B+, C 9 - #13 - Lower but even: C, C, C- 10 - #1 - Moderate scores: B, B, B- 11 - #15 - Mixed ratings: B-, C-, B 12 - #9 - Poor overall: F, A, F 13 - #16 - Average but not great: C+, B, B 14 - #10 - Poor across the board: D, D, F 15 - #2 - Consistently low: D, D, C+ 16 - #11 - Weak ratings: B, C, B

[@mdrudholm]

The reason Nate hated that Polo Green (and later seemed surprised that he hated it when he found out what it was) was because the current version of the product, made by Luxury Products, is awful. I bought a bottle thinking it was the same product as the original Warner Cosmetics version I remembered from the 1980s and it's not even close. It might share one or two notes in common but it's a completely different fragrance. In between the original Warner version and the current Luxury Products version was the Cosmair version. The Cosmair one is better than the Luxury Products one, but it's not as good as the original. It's a real shame. They should have just retired the product and sold the reformulation under a different name.

[@RICHIELUXURY]

You really should have called Jeremy Fragrance

[@raknaroktime7565]

Spice bomb is just a special and I can say it

[@87linceed]

I mean this is kind of silly, no guerlain? No amouage?

[@randyeast2542]

Alright....where is Preston's Pocket Square? I'm calling the Bill Nye ! you will hear from our lawyer(s) soon ! Blue has been my staple for years although expensive I get so many complements on it. Enjoy your video's and greatly appreciated. Thank you

[@Olyfrun]

That pocket is for implements, not fripperies! The professor carries his charm above and between the lapels

[@benpuffer7891]

I literally dont know which of these are the expensive or cheap ones.

[@arturohernandez6462]

22:08 😂😂🙏

[@LeslieLane-w2u]

The Dunce Group as in D- 😂

[@craigtimmons6907]

Y’all did polo dirty

[@short2go]

It's disappointing these guys cannot recognise these relatively common fragrances. Even regular people like us can recognise many of these. Below average

[@gentlemansgazette]

Have you done blind testing?

[@Rosscotron]

Your man Preston is great

[@oedipism386]

3:00 I can't get over him saying that synthetic chemicals don't do harm to the environment and that naturally sourced fragrances do. What.

[@martinzendejas8423]

Just when I stopped buying fragrances to let the wallet breathe, videos like this make it hard lol

[@nomanbaig5185]

How did they not immediately identify the Aventus? What even 😂

[@TheBTG88]

Trust your own nose, not self- proclaimed ‘experts’ on KZbin.

[@zachschlabach8928]

This was really good. Smell ya' latter!

[@dannytetreault]

OMG, that’s Nate!

[@adnaanfakir5500]

Nate is a perfume guy and hasn’t smelled 4711 before. Dude seriously 😂

[@sleepyrhythms6668]

I wish people would talk more about classy brands like Brioni and Cartier. I mean their caps are based on the design of their watch crowns. How does it get classier than that?

[@sumyv6266]

Who enjoys Raphael's old videos👇

[@gillespieroad42]

I miss the welcome back and classical musical intro. I hope Antonio and Rafael managed to persuade the guest, pleasant though he is, not to wear plastic looking zipper jacket on his next appearance.

[@BillNelson-OU812]

That jacket has a modern 007 vibe and would look and perform well while riding a Triumph Bonneville to the coffee shop and florist.

[@Olyfrun]

You know what, I didn't notice this time! But now the beat is teasing me... Oom ta, oom ta, oom ta, oomp-tata

[@gentlemansgazette]

Sadly too many people dropped off then so we changed it up

[@gillespieroad42]

@@gentlemansgazette thanks for the explanation

[@Grndrgn4CrackTea]

No offense but the guy on far right with super fragrance intelligence should wear a suit. I can’t take your opinion seriously without you taking your overall appearance seriously. These are fragrances that gentleman wear, dress the part. Although I respect your knowledge.

[@ivanbro1208]

02:35 he was such a buthurt 09:36 he was a total patrick bateman

[@SimonTBam]

Cool Water actually came before Green Irish Tweed.

[@AndreasSparta]

All this is so weird

[@harryhill8543]

Surely you need to do this video over with a female panel? After all they are really aimed at women.

[@jvapaodjim6168]

They are REALLY meant at us MEN............ Stop being a simp...and wear what YOU want ! 😎

[@Demonhoureditz]

First one to coment

[@sarrafkuwait]

First

[@DrewSorensenMusic]

Dumb video. The video reviewers needs to be non-fragrance people.