Zino by Davidoff Episode # 480

[@Detman101]

I discovered this jewel way back in the winter of 1993 while walking around Manhattan and browsing the shops one evening after high school. I'd walked from The Plaza hotel south down 5th avenue while listening to Sade on my walkman. Between the beauty of the snow, the lovely fragrance of nightlife in NYC and the stunning vocals of Sade...I was in a waking dream. I don't remember which shop it was that I found this gem of a fragrance...but it was across from the Rockefeller Center Rink...and there was a model train set in the window that caught my eye and drew me to the store. Initially, I went inside to look at the model train set closer, but upon going through the rotating door...a scent hit me... This earthy...woody...sweet...vanillic....creamy scent... Utterly smitten and completely distracted...i followed my nose. It led me to the fragrance counter...and in spite of all the other fragrances there, I could smell only one. Like a siren song...calling to me...I had to find it!!!! I got the attention of the sales associate and asked her..."What is that amazing scent? The woody vanilla one...I swear I smelled it on someone walking past me out the door!!!" She giggled and said "Oh, Zino? Thats what you must be smelling darling...come with me!". She led me to the rearward fragrance counter and retrieved the small tester bottle of "Davidoff - Zino". I don't know if it was my excitement...her bewitching eyes and that sultry smile...or the thought of the fragrance... But I let her spray the back of my hand with the tester bottle...something I never let ANYONE do. And for what felt like 15 minutes....time stopped. I had taken off my Sony MDR headphones and stopped the "Sade - Kiss of life/Room 55" cassette-single long ago...but I could still hear it just the same. That sultry saxophone and hammond organ playing me into an absolutely comforting and bewilderingly relaxed state of mind. Every note of "Zino" filling my senses and taking me someplace I'd never been before within the fragrantic realm. Before "Zino"...there was only "Avon - Black Suede". I did not know what a real fragrance was...could be...could feel like...could inspire...I was a virgin. Zino was the woman that made a man out of me that night...it took my purity and gave me something back that no other had before and no other has since. I could hear a womans voice calling to me in the distance...getting louder...Stuart Mathewman, play that sax louder...I can't hear you.... "Sir...are you okay honey? I think we lost you there for a minute" I shook my head and looked around...I was in the store...still...and this sales associate with the eyes and the smile...yes...now I remember...ZINO! I immediately asked "How much for a bottle of the Zino!?!" I must have looked like a stark raving madman to the sales associate because the look she returned said "Run". I calmed down and tried to compose my self and let her know that I loved everything about the fragrance and that I must have a bottle. She replied nervously "I'm so glad you like it honey, the large bottle is $110, the small bottle is $60" I had $70 left on me in cash...I thought to myself.... *I could sneak, steal and connive my way back home or into the arms of some lonely older woman if I needed to...just long enough to get me and my bottle of "Zino" back out of Manhattan in the next day or so* I looked the sales associate in the eyes and handed her the $70 with a wry smile....and prepared for a long journey out of Manhattan and back to The Bronx... Come hell or high water....with my bottle of "Zino".

[@ACSmellsGood]

What a lovely story, really enjoyed that :).

[@CeeCee2960]

Couldn't agree with you more. I'm perplexed by those who claim to not be able to smell the similarities between Zino and Beau de Jour.

[@ACSmellsGood]

Really! I am perplexed as well :).

[@ryanhuerta1024]

I'm just here for the "Fellassss" trademark intro This is an amazing fragrance. One of the best from it's era. I have a vintage bottle that I need to revisit. Cheers

[@ACSmellsGood]

Thank you for the amazing support :).

[@milanzivkovic1424]

What art in perfume presentation! Other so-called perfume connoisseurs should see and learn from this. Hats off to you. Art

[@ACSmellsGood]

Thank you Milan, very kind of you :).

[@phantomplastics6582]

Zino is incredible, just wore it two days ago.

[@ACSmellsGood]

It really is :).

[@joshmoore4014]

When I first sprayed this on, I was immediately reminded of Coromandel by Chanel mixed with some Beau de Jour and this scent pre dates both by a long stretch. What a masterpiece.

[@ACSmellsGood]

Very nice analogy , I agree.

[@halwamonster]

AC!! What a blockbuster this one is buddy! This starts off like Jackie Shroff in the 90s...rough around the edges and unapologetically brawn. Settles down into the Jackie we know today...chic and charming. In my opinion Beau de jour also becomes sweeter following today's trend while Zino stays true to its herbal woody persona. But MOST of all...Zino is sooo frekin addictive! It's like the ring calling Gollum in LOTR 😂. I also get that serious ADP Essenza vibe for a hot minute.

[@ACSmellsGood]

haha amazing comment enjoyed it and I am glad you like and enjoy both Zino and BdJ. Jacjie Shroff analogy is perfect.For me this is Jackie of Khalnayak :).

[@halwamonster]

​@@ACSmellsGood buddy u got my hair standing! Khalnayak brings back some good memories! Btw have you tried Lalique Ombre noire? With the note break down I'm tempted to blind buy

[@ACSmellsGood]

@@halwamonster ON is truly amazing! but its not dumb reach kind of a fragrance, if you see what I mean. I will review it this Autumn for sure.

[@halwamonster]

​@@ACSmellsGoodthey're discontinuing it, not on their website anymore.

[@ACSmellsGood]

@@halwamonster Discontinuing which one? ON? If that is true then I am gutted ! Get it if you can, its quite creative and if you don't like it you can sell it on for big profit.

[@nickburak7518]

Thank you. At the end of the drydown-sometimes in the morning-Zino gives me its most attractive scent of all...my favorite among my collection. Its a soft sweet rose patchouli sandalwood skin scent. Whatever is serious about it is gone. Regarding projection, my partner is aroused from far away every time I spray it on. "Did you spray perfume?", she'd ask, concluding, "It's too much." Greater in silage, perhaps, but could projection not be individual?

[@toomfath]

Zino is beautiful. Really a fragrance that stands the past of time in complexity and composition. It's still one of my favorites, pure for this wonderful composition. Thank you AC for bringing this beautiful classic to attention. It should be in everyone's collection.

[@ACSmellsGood]

I totally agree, this should be in everyone's collection. Thank you for watching :).

[@gevik.Alahverdi]

Scent of the good old days.... The loyal,big heart,classy gentlemen era .

[@ACSmellsGood]

very well said 😊

[@michaelbullock8011]

Great video and I enjoyed it and I'm going to try it and have a blessed day

[@ACSmellsGood]

Thank you Michael :).

[@michaelbullock8011]

You welcome keep up the good work GOD BLESS 🙏

[@robertkerr9527]

Ot took me years to buy this one as well. Every time i tested it on paper it xame across so medicinal to me. But the beauty is in the dry down on your skin.❤ it is a very complex scent, but not blue.

[@ACSmellsGood]

Indeed :).

[@snehilmoghe]

Excellentely reviewed boss 👍

[@ACSmellsGood]

Thank you and glad to hear that :).

[@minigouda2024]

Hi. This is my most favorite "cheapy". I have multiple backups at home. 😉 Hm. On my skin I get much longer projection. So I think it is your skin.

[@therealestbadman]

Got mine in today and I love the smell. I had smelled BdJ some time ago, and wasn't blown away at that time, as I found the opening a bit to pungent and heavy on the Lavender. Still I got curious and decided to give Zino a try as the lesser projection sounded more appealing to me. My frangrances don't need to be loud, I don't need compliments yet I don't want to bother other people eighter. And boy did it not disappoint! It is very smooth, a bit creamy with green elements, and the hint of shaving foam brought me back to my teen years when I was still living with my parents and applying my fathers shaving cream with an old fashoned brush. I have been smelling my arm the whole day to a point where people started looking at me strange. This one surpassed my expectations.

[@ACSmellsGood]

I am really delighted to hear that :). This is such an underrated fragrance that any limelight it gets is less.

[@santruptapani]

Great review again ,guess i have to try this out.

[@ACSmellsGood]

well worth it :).

[@Tanner0]

It had to happen eventually. A legendary fragrance. Thank you.

[@chrisottum]

I've slept on Zino mainly due to the price, I would have never guessed it has this level of complexity. I'm definitely going to try it now.

[@cristianconstantin46]

👏👏👏

[@sundaradaya]

The first 20 minutes is joy! After that, I have to put my nose on my skin. It's a beauty, but it ends up as a bedtime fragrance for me. Planning to order a backup.

[@ravipeiris7602]

Great review AC… it is another case of « old is gold » situation. My mental image for this perfume is that a ride a gentle walk through dusty country roads on an early autumn day after a trip to the barbershop.

[@ACSmellsGood]

Nice I quite like your visual imagery.

[@tparm]

Thrilled when i saw your video up on this fragrance. I was going to purchase this yesterday, but wanted to research this more as this will be a blind-buy for me. Thank you

[@ACSmellsGood]

So glad to hear that, I am hoping you got your bottle by now :).

[@tparm]

@@ACSmellsGood I did. 2021 bottle. Been using it for the past two days. Definitely a fragrance you don't smell nowadays.

[@cristianconstantin46]

What a excellent perfume it is Zino ❤🎉 Is very good and is worth every penny 🙂💯

[@vikhelboy4184]

Great review as usual AC. I remember you mentioning about Bois des isles in a video, something regarding the sandalwood note. Would love to hear your thoughts in a full video.. ❤️

[@ACSmellsGood]

Indeed! you have fantastic memory. I shall review that in due course.

[@89ha]

Going back to our chat on TF BDJ, I bought this and yes, the resembelance is hilariously shocking. :D

[@amitfromisrael5006]

I bought it just because of you! yes, price for quality is amazing, any lavender lover must have it. Yes' a little synthetic, and not long lasting as some niche perfumes, but it is a classic fougere.

[@ACSmellsGood]

Great to hear that you enjoyed it as much as I do :).

[@docsportello5833]

Great review, AC, thank you! This fragrance is truly amazing and unique. I especially love the dark, intriguing edge it has, which sets it apart from other scents. On top of that, the performance on my skin is pretty good, lasting several hours and projecting just the right amount without being overpowering. It’s definitely a standout in my collection.

[@DaveNYC]

Great review. Love your enthusiasm! I wore this in high school when it first came out. Recently bought a new bottle, and it smells exactly as I remembered it. So, so good even after all these years. I get much better performance than you report, but that is very personal and somewhat subjective. I honestly have to be careful not to over spray!

[@JJToyo]

This is a stunning fragrance, folks. If you want something artful, cozy, and unique, try this. You gotta love a forward Patchouli fragrance, though.

[@ACSmellsGood]

Indeed :)

[@ecnal1961]

Hi AC im looking forward to recieving my bottle of zino from notino which iv just ordered for £20 for 125ml,another video,thank you.

[@ACSmellsGood]

Let me know what you thought of it :).

[@ΧΑΡΑΛΑΜΠΟΣΑΓΡΙΤΕΛΛΗΣ]

What an amazing scent AC, epitome Fragrances For man. Congratulations brother For real you nailed it by your review. I wish you doing well, best regards from the atlantic Ocean, going south.

[@ACSmellsGood]

Thank you :) I am so amazed that you are watching my reviews when you are travelling far wide on your merchant ship. Take care and enjoy :).

[@ΧΑΡΑΛΑΜΠΟΣΑΓΡΙΤΕΛΛΗΣ]

@@ACSmellsGood thanks brother, starlink connects us.... When you have time i request a video with your picks For Fragrances For captains 🤣🤣🤣. Take care God Bless

[@ACSmellsGood]

@@ΧΑΡΑΛΑΜΠΟΣΑΓΡΙΤΕΛΛΗΣ Why not? A lot of people have requested this sort of video. You guys are so amazing, connecting and travelling the whole world. Have you ever passed through Antarctica or the North Pole or close to it ? It must be sometimes amazing when the sea is calm and you have the vastness of the ocean all around you.

[@ΧΑΡΑΛΑΜΠΟΣΑΓΡΙΤΕΛΛΗΣ]

@@ACSmellsGood i have not traveled to antarctica or north pole AC. Because i work At bulk carriers, the greatest experience i had is the Maggelan Straight And of course the tropical Islands of Vietnam. Best Regards, just crossed the equator today

[@CircleofScent]

Thank you for a great review of a legendary scent. I’m shocked as to how I haven’t gotten my nose on it.

[@ACSmellsGood]

I am hoping now you will :).

[@Zepster77]

I smelled a new bottle of Zino off the shelf in a local pharmacy recently… I love all kinds of vintage stuff but this just didn’t do it for me, unfortunately. I wish that it had, because it was only 20 bucks for 125 ml. Maybe it just needed some maceration? But AC, please do a review of Van Gils “Strictly for Men” (or Van Gils “For Men”)… if you can find either one where you are… I think your viewers would really enjoy them (and you too)!

[@jason41482]

Beau De Jour smells medicinal to me

[@ski808]

Hey AC. Over the three years or so I've followed you, I've noticed that we have quite similar tastes in men's perfumery. Would really like to hear your opinion on Lalique Pour Homme (lion's head bottle, not horse head bottle). It was a complete blind buy for 2 years ago, and I've been completely bowled over by it til now. I've a feeling you might like it too.

[@ACSmellsGood]

I haven't reviewed the Lalique but I have done a comparison video with Creed Bois de Portugal.

[@zvikaso]

When I had covid, my sense of smell was gone. But when it slowly came back, it was different in the beginning - Oud Wood smelled EXACTLY like Zino. I guess they share the lion share of chemicals, with minor diffetences that I couldn't smell back then. Anyway, Zino is too designer-ish for me. BdJ and even OW are as well. Oud Wood Perfum is good though.

[@bluered3228]

Which Gucci did you think was the best mens fragrance of all time? Gucci pour Homme? When was it released? There are so many variations I'm having trouble determining which one you were talking about.

[@harisdahir5684]

❤😊

[@mayankchaubey109]

Is there any alternative or clone of similar fragrance like Zeno ?

[@jameslunsford4168]

Davidoff has some good products and yes I agree when you smell a fragrance that is so good it blows you away! That’s how I feel about gucci guilty absolute

[@jayi52]

AC, I would love to hear your thoughts on a fragrance called Irth by Nabeel . Thank you 😊

[@BMP083]

Marvellous review, as usual Sir👍👍 Loved it 100%👌👌 Looks like Zino is a great perfume and one that is worthy of having it in collection. However, owning Tom Ford's Beau de Jour, (a perfume loved dearly by me), would it be redundant to buy Zino Davidoff Sir? I am looking forward to your opinion on this Sir, thank you🙏

[@ACSmellsGood]

Thank you and yes could be, as they both are quite similar but you can always sell it on if you do feel that one of either is sufficient.

[@BMP083]

@@ACSmellsGood Thank you very much for the reply Sir 🙏 I did actually go ahead and buy Zino Davidoff Sir. I wanted to experience the various stages or the evolvement of Zino on my skin. Boy, oh boy!!!! What a gem this is!!!! I am truly enjoying this perfume. It definitely is a permanent member in my humble collection!!! Thank you once again, and I eagerly look forward to more fantastic reviews Sir👍👍🙏🙏🙏

[@shuhelahmed4433]

AC, can you please try Maison Alhambra the tux? everyone says its the best clone of tuxedo.

[@ACSmellsGood]

sure, I have heard a lot about it.

[@shuhelahmed4433]

@@ACSmellsGood add Suits to the list, supposedly it's better than maison alhambra and cheaper!

[@RickB13]

Hey AC, I was wondering, are you from Bengal or Assam?

[@Barbabeppo]

Zino is amazing value for money. But speaking of Gucci PH, have you ever tried Papyrus Oud 71? Apparently it's the same juice according to the son of Michel Almirac.

[@ACSmellsGood]

I haven't but I have got Man 2 by CdG which also feels in the same sort of category.

[@ayushsharma7998]

Ac sir, please smell the new sauvage eau forte, I am 200% sure you will fall in love with it.

[@ACSmellsGood]

I have it in my to try list :)

[@Sweeteater]

I easily get 8 hours from this. But All patchouli frags do last Long on me.

[@jamesnash7262]

…Thanks AC…

[@ACSmellsGood]

I am hoping you really sample this Chris. I really thought about you when I read about the hurricane heading your way couple of weeks ago. I am hoping it didn't effect your area too badly and glad to see you are enjoying my videos as normal.

[@e.l.7713]

Hai troppa roba vecchia, compra qualche profumo più attuale, questo è vecchio e riformulato 1000 volte. Non servono queste recensioni, servono cose nuoveee

[@tobiasnagel2767]

Unfortunately I found this fragrance rather terrible. Sold the bottle asap