Mainstream Monday – Sniffing a Popular Perfume

It’s my birthday today, so I’m already feeling old. But, this fragrance is really making me feel old. I can’t believe that Armani Code was launched over a decade ago. I feel like this is one of those masculines that just came out, but geez, that was ELEVEN YEARS AGO! Yes, there have been many flankers, but I clearly remember this one launching in stores (so many ads in magazines too). And I clearly remembering smelling it on so many guys. Co-workers, guys in clubs, strangers in restaurants, ugh, I don’t even want to think about it anymore. Those memories are now feeling so distance! I don’t need any more help with that today.

Code Pour Homme opens with those metallic citrus notes that are so common in so many modern designer men’s fragrances, except this time it’s paired with a powdery sweetness. There’s a small amount of spice but mostly it’s a powdery, sweet tobacco with sharp woods. So many perfumes from this era could be described as “Robo-Tonka”. It’s like a sweet, boozy tonka bean but with a weird metallic edge. The good thing about these sort of scents is that they get better as they wear. Code turns into a sweet, powdery tobacco with a subtle, soft leather. I was never crazy about Code when it came out but I will say that it smells good. It’s one of those that when it works for you, it really works.

Code is a good example of what happened to designer scents marketed to men over the past decade. These scents were surprisingly sweet and powdery for something woodsy. So many scents from around this era came out in a smoky gray or black bottle and they were all sort of similar. They started with a sharp, metallic citrus followed by a glimmer of citrus but most of the wear were sweet, powdery woods. Popular, best-selling men’s fragrances were no longer aquatic or herbaceous but they were more like dusting powder mixed with a “cologne” base.

Notes listed include bergamot, lemon, star anise, olive tree blossom, Guaiac wood, leather, tobacco and tonka bean. Launched in 2004. PERFUMERS – Antoine Lie, Antoine Maisondieu and Clement Gavarry.

Give Armani Code Pour Homme a try if you like powdery masculines. Or if you like fragrances like Zegna Intenso, Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male, Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme, Gucci Pour Homme and/or Maison Martin Margiela Replica Jazz Club.

Projection and longevity are below average (well in comparison to other designer scents marketed as masculine).

Armani Code comes in a few sizes with prices ranging from $66-$79 at Nordstrom. It can also be found at a discount at discounters like Perfume.com.

Victoria’s Final EauPINION – A powdery tobacco that is depressing me today. Yeah, it’s my birthday, but I’m going to blame this fragrance for my morose feelings, OK.

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*One of those “where the hell did this come from” samples. Product pic from Fragrantica. Nat King Cole pic from www.fanpix.net. Post contains affiliate links. Thanks!