Oscar for Men by Oscar de la Renta

Just bought it and those little cloves of scent are, hmm, delicious. I really like it. It’s a lovely little floral, perfect for everyday wear. I’ll be testing it out over the next few days.

It was ODLR’s perfumery bet for the early 2000s: a modernization of the classic fougère with a woody and incense touch. It’s citrusy and very spicy, but quickly gives way to the dominant fir (if you don’t like the smell of a Christmas tree, skip it). It has some floral notes to make it pleasant, a soft incense (not the churchyard kind) that adds maturity, personality, and a nocturnal vibe, plus woody notes with a musk base to make it last hours. It lasts longer than current perfumes, it’s worth the money (I believe it’s discontinued), and its bottle was a cheap inspiration for Acqua di Giò EDT. It’s fresh, slightly bitter, quite versatile, not overly sweet, very masculine, perfect for smelling good for 5-6 hours without making a huge impression with a short trail or overpowering others with heavy scents. Note: it’s not youthful nor does it follow the trend of ambroxans, habaneros, aquazones, cardamoms, little vanillas, or mega-sweet toffees. I see it for men over 30, though tastes vary. I think it’s discontinued. If you’re a collector or lucky enough to stumble upon it, especially under 30 euros/dollars (more isn’t worth it), it’s a great everyday scent you’ll enjoy. The rest of the world, live every day as if it’s your last (and spend one in bed).

If I think about it, I enjoy perfumes that are well-blended, where you can’t distinguish individual notes, where the whole offers mystery and novelty. And then something like Oscar for Men appears and breaks the mold: crystal-clear, precise notes of thick resin, aged pepper, and dry nutmeg. After 15 minutes, a dry, unburnt incense emerges. Woody and crunchy, astringent yet refreshing. Like a mix of the beloved Cacharel Pour Homme with the natural incense of 7 Loewe. Oscar for Men has been an escape from today’s artificial and tiresome sweetness. In a terrible bottle with the cheapest cap imaginable (like early Pull&Bear fragrances), I found what, being in January, is surely the best discovery of the year. Moderate-to-low projection that you can still feel, with good longevity (very true to its era). It’s so cheap it’s a joy to apply without hesitation. For those who miss that magnificent Cacharel, honestly, this is the bomb. Incense lovers, a must-try.

So handsome, smells like Cacharel Pour Homme with a wink to Massimo Dutti, but in my mind it’s Visit by Azzaro—that smoky, balsamic evolution of the two. It’s like a popular pilgrimage: woody, spiced, balsamic, seductive yet daytime-appropriate, oriental and luminous. It has that indefinable vibe of sweet fir with a touch of chlorophyll gum that’s amazing, plus a delicious floral halfway between feminine, with freshly cut, rough flowers like Lauder’s Beyond Paradise, but sweetened with resin, clove, and incense. You can definitely detect the lily of the valley, my favorite flower, which gives it that Spanish pilgrimage or spring cemetery alleyway feel. The lily of the valley is the Virgin’s flower, chaste and pure, with a beautiful spicy tinkle; if you smell lilies out of nowhere, a Marian apparition must have happened. Honestly, I loved it; I didn’t expect it with that boring bottle and launch date, thinking it would be a Polo Sport or an Escape, but it was a total surprise. It’s a perfume for every day, rich, spiced, friendly, woody, and floral, flirting with the mystical and seeming very unisex. Highly recommended.

It projects a lot but is soft. The scent is unique: it doesn’t remind me of anything else (maybe Calvin Klein One or Natura Agua de Pimienta?). Not even Lapidus! I love it, but it’s weak… The plus is that it’s not sweet, it’s peppery 🙂

Prieth nailed it by defining it as ‘dry woody’; I can’t think of a better description. Maybe ‘bitter’ too; I detect a bitter orange note that isn’t listed, though it is present in Loewe 7 Natural, a fragrance very similar to this one.

Very fresh and summery. Ideal for warm climates, outdoor use, office wear, etc. Impossible to skip given how cheap it is and the quality. I recommend it 100%. Its sillage and longevity are medium to low. Tip: apply it on clothes or hair. Also, use it over a scentless moisturizing cream base.

Upon opening, you get clear notes of fir resin and a hint of pepper, while the citrus is more subdued. As it evolves, spices and jasmine emerge. The dry down returns to balsamic fir, sandalwood, and leather. It’s for lovers of soft woods and spices; the floral aspect is subtle, and I don’t detect vanilla. Ideal for spring/summer, daytime wear, in a formal, distinguished, and elegant style. It lasts over 9 hours with moderate to good projection depending on application. Due to its dry woody character, it suits those over 30. Excellent price-to-quality in Chile: the 100ml costs around 18,000 pesos (approx. $38 USD) at wholesalers. I paid more for the 30ml version.