Wings for Men by Giorgio Beverly Hills

I’ve been hunting for perfumes from this house for ages, and now that they’re accessible, finding something ‘vintage’ was a total hit. Wings caught me by surprise: for under €9 for 50ml, it’s a summer proposal with an 80s soul. It’s not aquatic; it’s fresh and aromatic. The opening is a green punch, Hulk-style, which might give you a headache at first, but it settles within a minute to reveal a floral with cold lavender, a bit synthetic but well-done. It has a controlled sweetness that harmonizes everything. The longevity is good, but the trail is a beast: the first hour floods the room and can cause headaches, so be careful with the spray—less is more. I’d wear it all year, maybe except winter, during the day, though it has enough body to wear at night without issues.

I’ve been looking for it for years, only remembering the bottle. I smelled it in 1995 when I was almost a child with an inexperienced nose, but it left me with a delicious memory. Now that I’ve tried blue fragrances, it brings to mind nothing more than Dylan Blue, Nautica Voyage, and the Añgo de Fierce.

I bought it because I’m a fan and nostalgic for the 90s and knew I had this scent. I still can’t talk much about performance yet, but it’s doing quite well. Totally masculine. I’m surprised no one compares it to Eternity in its EDP version. I feel it’s totally green, slightly spicy, with a barely sweet base that rounds it out. I see it as very similar to Eternity but with more punch. If I had to compare it, it’s close to the classic Eternity EDT and EDP, with faint brushstrokes of Cool Water and Dylan Blue. Anyway, I’ll test it more and update. I’m already in love with the aroma; it reminded me of when I was a kid. EDIT: it’s spectacular. It’s Eternity but aquatic and with better performance. If you like 90s scents, go for it.

Let’s go back to 1994, when Real McCoy and Mariah Carey were playing non-stop. This fragrance came to compete with Cool Water. Although it was 60% similar, it was ideal for hot days. If we bought it today, in 2024, it would smell generic, like Nautica or many blues, perhaps a bit lighter, but very versatile, smelling clean, and girls love this type of aroma in men. I’ve bought Giorgio Men several times because few have copied it, and it has power and classic interest.

When I was a child, its scent enchanted me. I loved it. Later, I smelled Nautica Classic, and it reminded me of it a lot. Recently, I bought a cologne like Esss Fraiche, the Dylan Blue, and I loved it; this fragrance came to mind. I got a similar scent, and then I read that Wings is like an affordable version of Dylan Blue. On the other hand, I’ve had the original Eternity and Cool Water; honestly, I don’t feel them as similar, a bit like Cool Water but more like Dylan Blue.

Now and Again is hard to pin down; it’s a sweet-aquatic-citrus opening… weird. The drydown projects cleanliness; it’s not bad but not for everyone. I always give it a second chance, though you need to know how to use it. I’d define it as love-hate; it impacted some people strongly while others just couldn’t handle it.

Wings for Men is aromatic, aquatic, and fougère. The opening is harsh and synthetic, lavender with green notes like pine or juniper. Over time it mellows, the intensity drops, and floral notes like geranium emerge, along with a woody accord of tonka bean, musk, and amber—very much in the fresh 90s style. You can tell it’s old; it’s not bad, but those who loved 90s aquatics like Cool Water or Polo Sport will enjoy it more. It’s affordable, so don’t expect much from its quality, which is inferior to those references. Longevity is good, lasting over 8 hours with decent projection.

Sometimes it has a sweet touch, but I don’t see it as unisex. Everyone chooses what they like, but if we follow what’s associated with feminine or masculine, this leans masculine. Yes, it has sweetness and a hint of vanilla. The scent overall feels synthetic; the lavender, citrus, and florals create an extreme, very heavy sense of cleanliness. Wings is strong and heavy. High projection for the first three hours, then moderate, but it’s noticeable all day and even the next. It’s not for everyone, especially compared to what’s available today for millennials (who advertise heavy scents at the start that then disappear). With Wings, the story is different: it’s a powerhouse fragrance, worthy of an era where fragrances had real body and undeniable quality. These are the heavy scents that you hate at first if you over-spray, until you get used to them and start liking them, until they become part of you. Dear millennials, if you want something real, go back to decades before 2000 to feel a true fragrance.

I can’t analyze it well because I love it; it’s the one that gets me the most compliments. I usually don’t wear perfumes for compliments but for what they convey, but I must tell you it’s very good. In strong wind, it seems to evaporate faster in cool or cold environments; it’s phenomenal, extremely pleasant, and sparkling. In hot weather, it’s not its best presentation and leaves much to be desired, though it still smells phenomenal, it just doesn’t showcase its phenomenal dry-down.

YIKES! I first encountered this in a fashion magazine sample back in the mid-90s. I love it. Now that I’m looking it up on Fragrantica, I want to buy one because, even though I only have a vague memory of the scent, I remember the feeling perfectly: cleanliness and happiness. It’s one of those fragrances you fall in love with quickly, making it a perfect signature scent or a frequent daily wear. A wonderfully crafted perfume.

I had this at launch and it was a huge boom, just like Cool Water was then, or Invictus and Sauvage are now. I bought it again two years ago, and honestly, if you want to smell like fabric softener, buy it. I ended up using it to scent my bed sheets instead.

An aquatic proposal but dense, spicy with a powerful and intrusive opening that made me hesitate a bit. In the first hour, the sillage is elevated. Over time, it reveals its true essence; it’s synthetic, but there’s something that hooks you and makes you enjoy it. I like it quite a bit in the more relaxed middle phase, but it’s always strong and present. It has uncommon longevity, so don’t over-apply or you’ll flood everything (if you take the subway with 6 sprays, people on the whole train will smell it). Anecdote: I invited friends I hadn’t seen in a while to dinner; the youngest girl approached, after the hug and a kiss, she whispered with a little smile: ‘You smell so good.’ Anyway, refreshing with spicy and sweet touches, not bad, and with surprising performance.

These days, fresh fragrances tend to be ethereal and bodyless—sometimes long-lasting but with poor projection. Anything that breaks away from that minimalism is extraordinary. This Wings is like an elephant in a china shop: it doesn’t go unnoticed; it’s truly worthy of its era. As Bofifa says, it’s a crystal-clear scent with warm, woody lavender, pristine and sharp musk like neon lights, possessing an ancient beauty. It’s a radioactive vintage freshie that I absolutely love. I smell it as a mix of Alfred Dunhill Desire, Nikos Sculpture, a touch of Cool Water, and a hint of enriched plutonium: scandalous, jovial, and just a little mature. Performance is good; it lasts longer than average with a striking trail in the first hour. It’s for daytime and warm weather. For me, it’s perfect for a summer afternoon. I recommend it without hesitation, but only to people who like scents like Sculpture or Mystique Homme; otherwise, stay away.

So, if it arrived as a generic gift, I’d rather stick with Swiss Army.

Wings had its golden moment in the 90s with that sweet, youthful, and catchy character—fresh and highly aromatic. It brings back good memories of my younger years; it’s easy to remember and distinguish. Now, with age, it seems very synthetic at first, but dries down nicely. I wouldn’t wear it at forty, but it’s a great option for younger folks looking for something eye-catching with great longevity and projection at a ridiculous price. It’s a nice way to break up the bombardment of fragrances young people face today. It reminds me a bit of Perry Ellis 360, though Wings has more zip. Nothing like Eternity. In short: sugary, pleasant, not cloying, excellent price, and a cute bottle.