Zino Davidoff by Davidoff

Coming from an eclectic collection always dominated by masculine scents, I stumbled upon this and was pleasantly surprised. The opening is ultra-sharp, featuring that classic masculine blend of lavender, herbal, and soapy notes, but the composition is curious: throughout the entire journey, there’s a subtle animalic touch, reminiscent of civet or YSL’s Kouros. The heart becomes more benevolent, revealing a fougère with floral nuances, a surprising vanilla, and patchouli. The base ties everything together with woods, making it truly timeless. It’s not for everyone; I’d recommend it to men 30 and older, unless you have a very specific personality. Lasts 7 to 10 hours with a moderate projection of about 1.5 meters.

A delight if you can find the right way to wear it: it’s very classic, evoking the scents of old barbershops—soapy and green, with a mature citrus note in the dry-down and a subtle trail of vanilla. It smells very similar to Pravia Hay soap or a Joop, but more refined and educated on the floral side. It doesn’t project much once dried, but the scent lasts and is noticeable up close. I wear it at home after a good shave and a warm shower; it’s incredibly relaxing. If you appreciate classic perfumery, it deserves its place alongside Quorum, Azzaro, or Grey Flannel. It smells great and doesn’t disappoint if you’re looking for a classic from its era. Accessible price for 125 ml. A greeting from Mexico to those who share this noble addiction.

Everything has been said: a perfect 10. One of the top four or five fougères in history, period. I haven’t heard of a dry-down comparable to any other fragrance. The current formula still holds its magic. Buy it.

I’ve read that Zino is similar to Tom Ford. No, dear, Zino was born in 1986, while Beau de Jour came out in 2020. It’s Beau de Jour that resembles Zino. And if a house like Tom Ford clones the scent of Zino, there’s not much more to say. It’s an extremely rich fragrance, of course not for everyone, given that sweet and potent aromas dominate today. The more I use it, the more I like it; I’ve already used up one of my bottles, the only one in my modest collection, and I’ll have to buy another because this will stay on my shelf forever. Long live King Zino.

Old School. Good fougère. The pity is that it seems reformulated and lost some of its previous impact. Still, it’s a unique and distinct scent worth having just for the experience of wearing it once. I recommend it fully.

Great perfume not for kids it’s for an alpha male period.

One of my favorite fougères Zino is strangely delicious. It opens with bergamot and lavender as the genre demands but adds rosewood something unusual in a fougère that makes it unique. The heart is an intoxicating bouquet of rose jasmine lily and geranium… but the flowers seem on the verge of wilting with a hint of rot peeking through. Potpourri? Not exactly. Here come the heavy hitters: earthy chocolatey patchouli creamy sandalwood robust cedar and dry amber. To finish a pinch of vanilla. It’s a jewel especially in cool climates. They say Beau de Jour by Tom Ford and Héritage by Guerlain were inspired by it. I haven’t tried those but this is for scholarly gentlemen with a dark air and refined sexual passion. At $20 for 125ml it’s a working-class hero brought to you by the King of Cigars. (Though I recommend the vintage Lancaster version which costs four times as much and is worth it).

Spectacular fragrance masculine and addictive. The opening is a bit sharp but after 20 minutes it transforms into a very addictive masculine mysterious sexual and highly attractive scent; it reminds me a lot of the classic Le Male sharing many notes. A very captivating perfume alpha male and very sexual one of my favorites for conquering no woman can resist this scent.

Getting 125ml of this for $20—at least in Spain—must be one of the biggest bargains in perfumery. We’re looking at a masterpiece of the kind rarely seen anymore. It’s an 80s perfume and you have to understand it in its context but I don’t think it has aged poorly or smells dated; rather it smells atypical as it’s a proposal that wasn’t stylish in designer perfumes then or now. It smells floral but tremendously masculine; instead of seriousness like many of the old school it conveys mystery. If Tom Ford bottled this in his price range no one would say a word and it would be much more popular. There are reviews talking about the current Zino as if it were a dud and discouraging its purchase. Obviously all 80s perfumes have undergone reformulations. I have a batch from Lancaster from 15 years ago (also reformulated but it usually gets good press) and a recent edition from Coty (2023) and it’s definitely reformulated but I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily worse. The old batch feels more animalic and dense especially in the opening while the current one is finer and more delicate highlighting that clean rosewood sensation and the floral notes. Personally I enjoy the latest one more. I understand that those who knew it 30 years ago might feel dissonance but I’m sure many who don’t know it would prefer the new version which doesn’t seem badly reformulated nor betrays the spirit of the original Zino; it has simply adapted to the times and current perfumery restrictions. Regarding performance it’s correct and adequate asking for contained projection not disco explosions. While it doesn’t last long it’s well felt for the first two hours and reapplying at these prices doesn’t hurt. It’s compared to Heritage and although they are in the same olfactory family they are quite different; Zino is darker while Heritage highlights the aldehydes and that brand DNA they shared with Guerlain. I find Davidoff’s more magical despite being much cheaper although both are great works and not redundant. At the price it’s found there’s nothing left but to encourage its purchase even blind. Maybe it’s not for daily use but if you’re interested in that refined and creative perfumery of the past this work by Michel Almairac is worth knowing.

This perfume deserves more than one try; at first you might not like it. In my opinion if nostalgia had a smell it would be this fragrance. For some reason it makes me think of a cowboy night. I’ve seen that Davidoff fragrances are loved or hated; if you don’t like Cool Water better don’t try this as it’s much denser. Alcoholic opening I feel it fresh and once it settles on the skin it’s warm.

I’m correcting my opinion since I now have Zino at home, and honestly, it caught me off guard. I didn’t test a decant before, but once I applied it to my skin, pfff, it’s incredible that at 38, it remains such a delicious scent in an era where everything is unisex. It has great trail and projection; yesterday at two hours, it started raining, and the perfume came back to life, blasting full force. I don’t know if it’s the Brazil rose, but it gives it a sparkling touch that smells amazing. The drydown is masterful, in my opinion, and I love it. If you like classics, age doesn’t matter; this is a hit, pure masculinity. // Recently I bought a fragrance on Vinted, and the seller gifted me a decant of Zino; I fell in love at first sniff. I wear it every night before bed, and it’s a pleasure. I already bought a bottle from the same site at a price I couldn’t resist, a 2018 Coty batch. Hopefully, that batch hasn’t suffered changes, but since I have the small vial, I’ll refill it to use again if needed. It’s a gem 💎

I never smelled it until recently, how hadn’t I considered it? This is practically a Beau de Jour but five times cheaper and, on top of that, more intense, without having to worry about the dreaded and cynical reformulations by TF. Definitely going for the vintage version, the Lancaster.

I tried it but couldn’t, it smells like black olives, an olive oil factory, or grappa…

I bought it blind because the perfumer is the great Michael Almairac, father of Fahrenheit. That convinced me already. Although I read it could be something vintage, I didn’t care. The bottle is rough, but I just wanted to try the juice. The opening didn’t please me much, but after 10 minutes it started evolving, and by an hour it was a blast. In terms of price-to-quality, it’s a must-have. I was surprised by the longevity; I have dry skin and most last little while, but Zino lasted my entire workday (8 to 16/17 hours). I’ve smelled it on my wrist all day because it’s vintage, old school, elegant, sober, mysterious, and magnetic. Maybe it’s a bit gloomy, but not like Lalique’s Encre Noir, rather mature and intriguing. Not for under 30. I’ve worn it in spring and summer and at night, and it’s very good. It doesn’t seek compliments; it’s made for 40/50-year-olds who don’t need them. I liked it more than Bulgari’s Man in Black, and that says a lot.

Today I wore Zino Davidoff and hadn’t tried it in years. This perfume broke the old aromatic figure that no one dared to touch. Although the opening is strong and a bit weird, it’s in the drydown where it regains all its masculinity and classic character. Today it still seems fantastic, unique, and authentic. Despite almost 40 years on the market, I’m still surprised. It smells like the testosterone of a hairy man with a beard and class, fearless. It’s charming, original, and beautiful. A gem that shines on its own and resists time. It’s not a trend; it’s a classic, stately, and adult aroma. Scent: 10. Projection: moderate. Longevity: 8 hours. Recommended.