The Best and Worst Men's Colognes of the '80s and '90s - Retro Fragrance Review

[@madsborup9659]

I think that it really fits Raphael to not like something because "it is too pedestrian"

[@corporate.security]

The GG channel is the best place to find insults on KZbin.

[@alexmidence274]

Probably only buys Creed.

[@corporate.security]

@@alexmidence274 as we all should.

[@syedhaque4968]

No Versace Blue Jeans ......

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

@@corporate.security what's GG?

[@georgelush1998]

Jeez, I must be getting old. Six of these ten colognes are still in my rotation.

[@TomReinerDE]

... welcome to the club, Sir.

[@artureff3046]

@@TomReinerDE yep [i liked Chanel Egoiste platinum]

[@chi-towncalifornia5916]

Nothing wrong with that. I don’t like most modern designer fragrances.

[@ruskisall]

I got only 3 😄😄

[@christopheclaus8505]

i like oldskool classics , tommy by tommy , obsession , coolwater , jaguar for men , azzaro pour homme , all nice fragrences :)

[@gplusgplus2286]

No 90s fragrance list is complete without Polo by Ralph Lauren, the green bottle. Brings back so many memories.

[@romanberlin1233]

and withaut VERSACE BLUE JEANS!!!

[@lynninpain]

That's what I was looking for! I love the scent of Polo! 😍

[@biscaynepoolandspa3443]

Or Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger

[@brandonhobbs8563]

Polo was first issued in 1978.

[@sheltonmassacre]

Still in my rotation. :)

[@nasosgreece45]

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

[@killuandyomamma]

Agreed it’s an awesome fall winter scent

[@AdrianSimmons-ol5rc]

Testimony!

[@MarshallIgnas]

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.

[@domcagney2352]

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

[@gigatronicdeth]

These guys wear bow ties.

[@Anthony_Spilotro]

That statement made me not believe a single word in this video.

[@EYEBALLKLOTT]

Mandarin orange

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

@@Anthony_Spilotro oh stop it, antonio.

[@joshuagarrison5378]

they also pay 75.00 for a 4.2 of reformed, watered-down cool water...@@gigatronicdeth

[@EccentricCF]

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.

[@mrgt3201]

Lynx Oriental body spray which was about £1 smelt virtually indistinguishable from Drakkar Noir.

[@EccentricCF]

@@mrgt3201 It is what it is.

[@mrgt3201]

@@EccentricCF I had both and liked both.

[@EccentricCF]

@@mrgt3201 Ive had alot of scents usually I like smooth scents not like spicy lol. Drakkar and CK euphoria are pretty dang good.

[@EccentricCF]

@@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

[@imold5363]

His voice is so soothing 😍

[@MisterKnightly]

Firstly, I love that Raphael referred to something as "pedestrian." Secondly, I hope you strongly disciplined whoever didn't like Cool Water.

[@muslimbother622]

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.

[@MisterKnightly]

@@muslimbother622 I remember fondly the aftershave, but wore the spray for years. Still have a bottle at the office, just in case.

[@sandykl]

I love this guy. He’s a perfect and natural fit for the Gentlemen’s Gazette family. This video was comforting to watch.

[@BPsaboYzK]

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

[@Tomatohater64]

Dior's Eau Sauvage from 1966 has always been a favorite of mine.

[@gentlemansgazette]

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 kzbin.info/www/bejne/jae4lYOEh519h9k%3FDsocial-lead-gen&

[@joecool9739]

70s fragrances were still popular in the 90s

[@JJColb]

@@joecool9739 Really?? You don't say...

[@joecool9739]

@@JJColb I do say In fact, ill say it again 70s fragrances were still widely worn in the 90s

[@richardolah4363]

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

[@georgemack120]

I found that rather shocking myself

[@fattytca1]

The fact that he didn't identify the cucumber notes in Farenheit makes me think he didn't even try it.

[@heinrichheuer6510]

I loved it in the 90s but the current version is changed in my opinion

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

not these days

[@cv97035]

My ex girlfriend was wearing CK One. I cannot smell it without remembering her! Smells work like memory triggers in an unbelievable way!

[@heinrichheuer6510]

It’s so true

[@RebeccaLydia1980]

Now my Son and me , users of CK one I was born in the eighties

[@MarshallIgnas]

Olfactory memory is a thing, and you’re right: very powerful trigger.

[@willsalter8113]

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.

[@RussellChapman99]

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.

[@kdknyc]

Actually Givenchy Gentlemen was launched in 1974-76. The bottle shown, maybe later, but I wore it in college in the late 1970's.

[@staguar]

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

[@U2Blades]

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!

[@alexmidence274]

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?!

[@auysters_for_sal9165]

@@alexmidence274 Could y'all enlighten me, where might I find some of these colognes for a more reasonable price?

[@zuendelmeister_5088]

@@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.

[@alexmidence274]

@@zuendelmeister_5088 see comment above.

[@khalidnoor7735]

@@zuendelmeister_5088 fragrancex or fragrancenet are a good place to start

[@TheFiown]

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 !

[@SightNSoundBand]

Great video...well organized and to the point.......and as usual I love Kyle's easy and laid back delivery...

[@careavis]

Two great decades loved those times and the colognes.

[@deathangellink]

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

[@mrfuriouser]

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.

[@joehonan1773]

Came here to say this. In high school in the early 80s the go-to was Polo.

[@MJA5]

@@joehonan1773 and popped collars with three more underneath ;)

[@mishmash-d4i]

Polo green is a work scent

[@alexwest4253]

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.

[@kevinduprey9326]

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.

[@TheFiown]

Eau d'Issey was very popular back then, love it .

[@HolyShnikeez_1975]

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!

[@kalenderquantentunnel9411]

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.

[@DavidFlores-df4fj]

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.

[@LDCurle]

Nicely done segment. Similar personal scent likes to presenter - cedar, leather, sandalwood, citrus. Eternity is one of my favorites. I had a really awesome soap one time that was cedar and rose. Idk if it was meant for men, women or both but it was awesome.

[@n.b.2164]

Old Spice and English Leather are my go to scents.

[@christopherjohnson4276]

These videos are very helpful. I've been binge watching. Thanks for your research and awesome content.

[@muhdzafri7551]

Question for Raphael: Do you own any expensive Japanese fountain pens?

[@nickgee7291]

I love these high end well made videos! so nice to watch!

[@alexmidence274]

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.

[@michaelwilliams-nq6zg]

Aqua di Gio, CK One, Cool Water, and Obsession were my entrance into fragrances in school.

[@amv8700]

@@wasabista1613 cuz it's a timeless scent, i wear it almost everyday, even If i won't go outside

[@amadejpesko]

I love Davidoff. Great video.

[@jesnrbrt4evr11]

I've been buying my Papa Obsession every year for Christmas for many many years, his favorite cologne, hes in his 70s ☺️☺️☺️

[@ill-nois2282]

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

[@Max-hl1zt]

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.

[@Kadaf1]

As a teenager in the 90s I wore Hugo by Hugo Boss, brings back memories !

[@adityasanthanam1945]

Most of these are great, but my favorites are Aqua Di Gio, Cool Water, and Givenchy Gentleman. I have used those often for quite some time. Also, Kyle's voice is very nice.

[@MonarchPoolPlaster]

I wish Candies for Men was still around. I used to get so many compliments with that one.

[@get2dachoppa249]

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.

[@jimmy5634]

Still wear it ten to twelve times a year.

[@deaterk]

Great presentation! Interesting, informative, and presented in an entertaining way. Thank you for posting!

[@mobilepsycho]

Great episode. Takes me back. I believe Gen X'ers were really the first generation of men to expand their curiosity and experimentation with different fragrance notes from varied designers.

[@Kai0nTheMoon]

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??

[@Coolbeansoooo83799]

Hello I’m 13 and watch the show frequently, which cologne would you recommend for school and going out and stuff.

[@KingPikachu]

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

[@memedecade5805]

@@b1ack6ead honestly, I wouldn't go for old fragrances because they are often somewhat corny and are often reformulated resulting in worse performance

[@memedecade5805]

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

[@BenDover-zq6ey]

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.

[@ivan66755]

@@memedecade5805 Agreed, those are going to make you smell like her dad. Unless she's into that don't go for old school scents 😂

[@zerosoma33]

Every time he says “vetVEER” I die a little

[@BjornIronside12]

Drakkar is a wonderful one. Powerful stuff.

[@bruce000000070000000]

I have Gio, I’m happy that you guys like it

[@markoseries]

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.

[@umarscamartistjohnson1784]

I have this cologne... I find it to be a “night time “ scent... thanks for to review... 👋🏾Black👋🏾Channel 👋🏾

[@danielmarcelventer992]

Excellent visuals to compliment the theory

[@lsimpson50]

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.

[@gingentleman]

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.

[@MrBaldypete1]

Fahrenheit, AdG, Issey Miyake and Eternity are still on my shelf and used on a regular basis.... I tried Drakkar Noir and loved it. But I got told off by my wife for wearing it. It had to go (in the drawer to wear when she's not around!)

[@007cheburashka]

You left out Ralph Lauren Polo Sport for men. That one was huge in the 90s.

[@BARLEYSWORLDMANCHESTER]

Here are my 80s classics, Georgio Armani, Ralph Lauren Polo, Antonio Puig Quorum, Calvin Klein Obsession, Karl Largerfeld Classic, Gianfranco Ferre, Charles Jourdon, Roger & Gallet Open, Anything Channel. 😀👍🏾🙏🏾✨ You're welcome.

[@kenmastersmaster]

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

[@DGM4372.]

Am looking for the Obsession For Women which was a gift from a seafaring uncle...The bottle is still vivid in my memory 😍

[@elsavic]

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..

[@EOTA564]

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.

[@jorgenvonstrangle000]

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.

[@truffeltroll6668]

Drakkar is clean and fresh to me

[@mingwangchung]

I'm so glad you didn't trash my eternity lol this has been my go to scent for many years

[@danielstephenson1233]

Givenchy Gentleman was launched in 1974, not 1994!

[@panaceiasuberes6464]

Paloma Picasso Minotaure... still use it today for evening outings. Such an affirmative fragrance.

[@jimc12091966]

It's daavidoff , and the team seem to be up their own backsides , Fahrenheit, Cool Water and Acqua di Gio are classics

[@phichi5488]

Calm and cool video. Like it

[@TRUTHDrops]

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

[@vintagecologneman481]

Nice review.

[@Albatross88-1]

Finally an interesting fragrance vid

[@Divinenubian]

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.

[@Mr2Badboybrown]

i wore Fahrenheit i liked it personally

[@ralphmarkasher]

What about Ralph Lauren Polo in the green bottle?

[@willsalter8113]

Of the ten mentioned in this video I have 8 of them and all 8 are still in my regular rotation.

[@6BURG9]

Boss Bottled would have been a great addition. Very warm, comforting, and mass appealing.

[@shaddapmyute9634]

What didn’t you guys like about the givenchy gentlemen was it simply too strong?

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

In the UK the "men" wore something called Old Spice. Did you get that in the US?

[@jevonsiler3538]

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.

[@Joe-pb3bm]

& Calvin Klein has it! I always liked Farenhieght, & also Quorum. Caswell Massey also makes some nice & long heralded Presidential Favorites, including # 5 (George Washington).

[@daygon128]

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.

[@toomanymarys7355]

You don't remember what most teenage boys smelled like. It isn't nice.....

[@screggybojanklin3567]

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

[@Aedmun]

Fragrance are subjective. Its perfectly normal for some people not to like fragrances enjoyed by some. The choices in this video are all EDT fresh type fragrances and its meant to be subtle and probably for daily wear. I would recommend Dior Dune, Prada L'Homme, Paco Rabanne's Pour Homme, and Dunhill Icon if the theme is elegant and subtle.

[@nxstng7325]

Drakkar covered my junior high years, eternity took me through high school and college.

[@mofun5315]

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

[@martindavies7034]

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.

[@s.m.2868]

The Fahrenheit bottle is by far the best looking one!

[@neddistanz]

my wife just bought me the biggest bottle of Drakkar i have ever seen - 6.7 oz!

[@umarscamartistjohnson1784]

I think obsession. Is a night time , “seal the deal” , type of fragrance... my only cons is using this while or after working out

[@babygoatsmum4122]

I miss YSL Jazz! Made me weak at the knees. Hi from Australia

[@livingfree9553]

There are some lower tear colognes that would beat most of these higher colognes and make a statement in letting both men and women that you are man . That's Polo , Chaz , and Halston this one you can only wear at night I would wear this over everything on your list because it's not a walk around town cologne .

[@carkotse9825]

Hi! Just saw this video now. How about Jazz of YSK and Xeryus by Givenchy? Those are the best too!

[@jacknjill3000]

Checkout the first Calvin Klein cologne called Calvin that came out in 1981 and before Obsession. It was my favorite and now very expensive and hard to find.

[@jacknjill3000]

Oh and Chanel Antaeus and that was my secret weapon. Hard to believe after 40 years, it still haven’t gotten the hype it deserves it was discontinued but bc of the big demand, it’s back.

[@jacknjill3000]

???

[@67spankadelik]

No list is complete without Lagerfeld. Was my favorite in 80s and early 90s. The newer version is not the same.

[@MJA5]

I liked that, also.

[@BARLEYSWORLDMANCHESTER]

I make you right, I'm 52 and it still kills it today. I do mean the orange sandlewood genre. 😀👍🏾🙏🏾 You're very welcome.

[@heinrichheuer6510]

Lagerfeld classic is a masterpiece and it’s still good

[@herooftime9921]

I used to be obsessed with cool water

[@henryshockem9242]

Any opinion on Oleg Cassini?

[@stephenabm7779]

I used Obsession from the mid-1980s to my divorce in 2006 when I switched to Black Code, now Armani Code. I really like Obsession back then.