Azzaro Pour Homme

Basil, sage, lavender and aniseed - the first three classic staples of traditional men’s cologne’s dominate the beginning, but it is the aniseed that is the characteristic hallmark of this creation. A touch of lemon provides some freshness in the opening blast. 

Vetiver and cardamom are the first newcomers in the drydown, and caraway adds touches of spiciness later in the heart notes. Floral moments - carnation, geranium - come and go, but all this happens under the umbrella of the aniseed. 

The base adds cedarwood, with heavy lashings of vanilla and white musks, with the latter being more prominent in more recent editions. Until the end the aniseed permeates all this. 

I get moderate sillage, excellent projection and a splendid twelve hours of longevity on my skin. 

This autumnal scent is complex, but is all its complexity it is the aniseed that is dominant in me, although is previous decades it was in the foreground than more recently, when some components appear to have become a bit more generic. Still, it is a good creation overall and blended well otherwise.    3.25/5