The Game by Davidoff

I really dislike The Game (the poker chip version); it smells very woody, aromatic, and intense. You can detect the scent of precious woods combined with iris and gin, creating something sophisticated, dense, and dusty.

I have to admit that the first time I tried it, the juniper didn’t convince me. But I wore it for a couple of summer nights and… voilá! It did its magic. It’s interesting, refreshing, and stands out from the classic summer citrus scents. Pity about the longevity, but for the price, it’s great. Perfect for a short evening summer walk where you grab an ice cream or a drink before heading home. Note: if you’re into iris, look for another option.

I gifted it to my husband without trying it, and it didn’t disappoint. The masculine scent is well-crafted and still relevant in 2023. It has good longevity and a great price. It’s a fragrance for daily use or work. The only thing I have to criticize is that they changed the bottle; it used to be the original with the poker chips, now it’s a different one.

Undoubtedly, it would have been a well-made Andrés Croxatto Man; it smells very similar but with much superior performance for about one-fifth or one-sixth of the price of that infamous ACM.

Synthetic iris is a bit sticky but super addictive; the price is ridiculous, 299.393 bottles please. It’s moderate in everything. Davi’Roof is a great value brand. It only sprays on alcohol, and by the second spray it turns into gin, fading away in 10 seconds.

French bottle, another hidden gem from Davidoff at a great price. They prove that quality, long-lasting, and tasteful fragrances can be made in the budget range. It smells clean with a floral-citrus touch that works wonders, ending on a woody note. The phases are noticeable: soft juniper-gin at the start, followed by a talcum-free iris and a woody dry down. That transition from iris to wood is delicious. It’s not super original, but not generic either; lasts 6-8 hours. It doesn’t smell like 1M or 212 VIP; it has its own relaxed, youthful personality and is very versatile. Worth trying. PS: The bottle is beautiful and high quality.

Beautiful bottle containing an exquisite rarity. The power of juniper, the aromatic gin, and the ebony wood that reminds of half-fermented loose tea create a unique dry-down sensation. The iris is subterranean and subtle; in fact, at the beginning of the dry down, it leaves a balsamic woody tone, similar to Zippo. Dress code Black: 9.5 for originality and 8.5 for the scent; I loved it. Longevity 9-10h on skin and clothes. If you buy it, choose the French version, not the Swiss one; it seems there was a reformulation that lowered performance.

A woody touch leaning towards aromatic, ideal for daily use or the office. At first, you perceive a sweet touch (like 1 Million), then it leaves a smoky scent (I imagine it’s the ebony) with very pleasant gin. It doesn’t disappoint; it’s not invasive, lingers for a long time, isn’t generic, and feels a bit formal. Many say it’s a mix between Bleu de Chanel and Invictus and they’re right, though it’s very similar to a fragrance called Zeus by Kelsey Berwin that doesn’t appear on Fragrantica. Scent 9, Longevity 8, Projection 7, Price 7.

Davidoff’s The Game is a pleasant fragrance with a sweet and fruity opening very similar to recent ones like Burberry Rhythm or Mont Blanc Emblem. I thought I smelled violet leaves, but they aren’t listed; maybe the mix of juniper berries and gin gave me that perception. It stays this way for a while, but subtly the iris with woody notes starts to show, until after three hours the fragrance becomes more powdery, though not as much as Dior Homme. It’s not very original in concept, but it’s well-made; it doesn’t bother or feel harsh to the nose. Despite the low price, which is a plus since it doesn’t require much investment to smell rich, it’s ideal for those starting to buy their first fragrances. Suitable from young (15+) to mature (40-50). For casual events, school, hanging out with friends or a partner. Regular projection and longevity over 8h.

To me, it smells very similar to 212 VIP, but fresher, tastier, and younger, while at the same time very manly and elegant due to its sweet (berry)-woody scent at a comfortable price compared to other houses. Special for cold climates, meetings, and night outs. In short, a good perfume for the price and quality.

At first, it smells like just out of the shower, a bit of gin, but it doesn’t last long. Quickly shifts to a fruity tone, almost like melon bubblegum (I’ve never heard of iris flower before) and increasingly smells like a women’s perfume. Not very masculine, a bit too sweet. Could work for young guys who are just starting to hit the party scene.