Friday Edition by El Ganso

I grabbed this on sale for 20€ for 125ml, and it’s an absolute steal. Forget any comparisons to ‘The One’—they have nothing in common except a few loose chords. It’s warm, spicy, and woody, very sexy, and smells incredible for the price. The projection is intimate, perfect for dates or going out at night without being annoying. What surprised me is that on my dry skin, it lasts 7 hours, which is super rare for an EDT these days. On clothes, it lasts until the next day. Totally recommended.

Yowza! It’s a difficult fern for the opening and heart. The anise is very dominant and overshadows the cardamomo and citrus. When the heart notes kick in, the anise is still noticeable, and you have to like it to appreciate it. As it dries, the woods and tonka bean are perceptible, but the cashmere takes the lead with its warmth. The dry-down lasts a long time and is excellent quality. Great as part of the Goose line. Tremendous for dinner with your partner or a date (I’m almost 50). I like it, but if you can’t handle such a sharp anise, don’t even try it. P.S.: La Nuit de l’homme is a better option if you don’t like anise, although they have nothing to do with each other; this one reminds me slightly of YSL.

I tried it as a sample from The Goose while looking for three perfumes: Limoncello (rich and fresh, but without that lemon pie sensation, though the lemon is very well crafted); Bravo Monsieur (definitely not a blind buy, test it first, I don’t like the sandalwood); and finally Friday Edition… oh surprise! The first impression opening didn’t appeal to me; I felt it was aggressive and very spicy, perhaps due to the anise, but it doesn’t smell bad. The magic came with the dry-down: after 10 minutes, it evolved into something vanilla-sweet, not cloying, becoming warm, cozy, and seductive. It lasts a long time: over 6 hours on skin and still throwing off bursts from a distance with just one spray. The trail is a bit lower and lasts 4-5 hours. I agree it’s good, but it lacks being a compliment bomb; I note it as unisex, with a touch of iris that makes it tender. You’ll surely get compliments, but don’t expect women to be immediately attracted. A pleasant aroma, good price, nice bottle, and recommended for casual to smart casual. Perfect for coffee, walks, or family dinners. It doesn’t reach formal or office signature status. My rating: 7.5.

I’ve given it a chance for several months and haven’t liked it at all. It’s a plastic, shrill, and insanely synthetic smell. It’s a cheaply made copy of Givenchy’s Pi. If you can get it for 25€ like I did, it’s worth it as an olfactory experience, but don’t even think about buying it for the 58€ they ask at The Goose.

Be careful with this perfume: if you’re under 25 or 30, stay away; it smells quite mature. Seductive, yes, but if you’re young, you’ll smell like a dad. For dates and short distances, nothing for young girls. For 30 and up. Personally, for dates, I prefer Armani Code or Zara For Him 2022, which are in a similar price range.

Synthetic, plastic, and brash. I tried it at El Corte Inglés, and within ten minutes, I was rushing to the restroom to wash my arm, feeling nauseous. One of the most unpleasant scents I’ve ever encountered. It’s bottled horror, suitable only for scaring people on Halloween or when you want everyone to stay away.

Tried it today; it left me a bit puzzled. The opening features a strong cardamom accord, very anise-forward, with some citrus notes. A combination I don’t quite like. On my skin, it takes a bitter turn shortly after application. After drying down for a few minutes, it smells like the classic washed amber found in many modern fragrances. But it’s complicated, because it doesn’t seem to contain amber or ambroxane or anything similar. Must be my nose. In any case, it eventually evolves into a vanilla scent that retains its anise touch, along with some floral notes (lavender) and very deep wood. In my opinion, it denotes elegance, sensitivity, shrewdness, and a hint of vulnerability. I’ve noticed the evolution on paper versus on my skin is quite different. So, I wouldn’t risk buying it without testing it first. I don’t think I’ll buy it for that reason, and because the opening doesn’t convince me. Throughout the experience, it reminded me of something I’d smelled before; it’s not an innovative aroma (in the line of The Goose). In any case, I see it as a quite versatile fragrance for almost any occasion, with an elegant-casual touch. It’s not one of my most passionate favorites from The Goose.

Commercial, versatile, and cheap. Not much more. If you were into the old batch of D&G The One, give this Friday Edition a try to see if you like it. For me, this is one of the best from all the Geese, alongside the summery and fresh Part Time Hero. I’m not buying into the damn hype of “Bravo Monsieur” (it’s pronounced “messié,” damn it, meaning “sir” in French), let alone the one they claim it’s inspired by, Le Labo’s Santal 33, the epitome of seasonal pious-nob hype and bluff. Le Labo should pay The Goose for the promo they did for a perfume that only three cats knew about worldwide. Another Goose scent I hate is Limoncello Season, simply because I hate the damn limoncello liquor, which is like a soft Italian schnapps, ultra-sweet, ultra-citrusy, and super-grandpa. I can’t say much about the feminine ones. Go to a perfumery and smell them. All in all, if Geese scents have any good thing going for them, it’s their versatility and price. At least in Spain, 30 euros for 125ml. Neither their aromatic originality, attractive design, nor great longevity and sillage make them seem like great purchase options. Someone said in this chat “damn boring scents.” And they’re right. I, who owns dozens of perfumes, get bored of them even when I’m at home. The Spanish clothing brand El Ganso was born a few years ago wanting to be a sort of mix between Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Burberry, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ben Sherman (in their clothing design, they went hard, watch out, especially at the beginning, with the cult nostalgic retro 60s Swinging London mod style) and ended up a bit in no man’s land, in a want-and-can’t, insubstantial, mediocre, and monotonous state. Same with their perfumery side. Let’s hope they figure it out in the future, find their own style, bet on bolder and more modern things, and at least in perfumery bring us interesting new fragrances. Come on, Geese.

I find it just as boring as the overhyped ‘Bravo Monsieur.’ Basically, it’s a slightly boozy tonka bean scent, though the sweetness is toned down by cardamom and lavender, with a bit of sandalwood that reminds me precisely of ‘Bravo Monsieur’ (which I really dislike). On top of that, I’d bet it causes headaches just like ‘Bravo Monsieur’ does.

Wednesday Edition? It doesn’t smell bad, quite the opposite. It starts with a hit of cardamomo and anise giving the spicy part, then blends with lavender for freshness and a tonka bean base with a sweetness that’s not overwhelming. It sounds strange, but sometimes it reminds me of the banana bubblegum gum from my childhood, or if La Nuit de l’Homme was made with bubblegum (probably due to the tonka bean and cardamomo combo). Of the three I have (Limoncello, Bravo Monsieur, and this one), Friday is my least favorite; it’s not bad, it has ingredients to succeed but it’s missing something. Judging by my nose, I think the anise is the culprit for that passivity; I’ve smelled it separately and it’s what causes it, just like with 212 VIP Black. If we’re talking comparisons, it’s like blending La Nuit de l’Homme and The One with a touch of anise, very similar to both, which could sound like a hit, but here it doesn’t make the leap of faith. When I wear it, I feel it’s boring; it doesn’t give the feeling of a Friday night party, more like a Sunday where the busy days have passed and you want to rest without losing that fun vibe. It’s not one of my favorites to choose, though I admit when I smell it on friends, I like it more on someone else. Just like with El Ganso, the performance is excellent. Scent: 7.5/10 (blind buy, I doubt many won’t like it, but I don’t think everyone will love it). Longevity: 10/10 (minimum 8-9h on skin and clothes until washed). Sillage: 9.5/10 (felt all the time, strong at first, then on one arm, not on the skin until after 7h). Occasion: Casual, parties, daily, any weather except extreme heat. God’s plan 🦉.

It smells sweet and slightly tipsy thanks to the anise and cardamom, with a relaxed and calm vibe. Perfect for a Friday, though it lacks the punch for a smoky, alcohol-filled pub; instead, it’s ideal for late afternoon or evening anywhere. In the middle, lavender adds freshness, closing with the sweetness of tonka bean. It’s marketed as unisex due to the sweet notes, but I think its sibling, Bravo Monsieur, has a better profile. Overall, it delivers, but I wouldn’t repurchase.

Hello everyone… I own both The One and this Friday edition. They share nuances and remind me a lot of The One EDT. If you like it but are disappointed by the performance, this goose edition is the solution: a good scent for occasions and minimal casual wear, ideal for serious or strong personalities. Good trail and longevity over 6 hours. Great price if you buy it in Spain, highly recommended. Cardamomo is very noticeable from the start and throughout the dry down, accompanying the citrus, lavender, sage, and sandalwood notes. It took me several tries to like it, so don’t buy blindly. Cheers.

Sweet from start to finish, with a slightly citrusy opening where cardamomo stands out. A few minutes in, tonka bean appears and stays until the end, giving it that characteristic sweetness; I also detect some vanilla, even though it’s not listed. Performance is decent: lasts about 7 hours with a moderate trail of up to 2 hours, then fades to skin scent. In short, it’s not bad, more youthful and suited for mild climates. I find nothing original or special. P.S.: If you like that heavy tonka bean touch, check out Mercadona’s Criterio Ego, which has the same or better performance for one-third the price. P.S.1: Its signature sibling, Bravo Monsieur, performs better and I prefer it, but that’s subjective.

I bought this blindly because I was recommended it. It made a great impression, and for the price, I think it’s excellent. Not being an expert, I find it reminds me a bit of La Nuit de l’Homme but without that overpowering ‘clean’ scent. The trail is very good and the longevity is outstanding; I applied it at 7pm and could still smell it until 1pm the next day. I recommend it with my eyes closed.

This perfume, which retails for around €30, won’t offer you anything you can’t find in a Zara fragrance (neither in scent nor performance).