No. 89

I have wanted a Floris fragrance for some time, but had difficulty deciding which one to pick, especially as a blind buy. I settled on this and had no idea what to expect, especially based on the reviews which seem divisive yet lean positive for the most part. This scent is very familiar to me, I know it from my past very well. I kept trying to trace it, but really found that difficult. In the end I think it was partial denial, because I recently have purchased artisan recreations of the original formula Old Spice. In the final dry down, this scent reminds me very much of my grandfather, and I am very certain that is the memory I have this tied to. This is a really good scent, it runs through its layers fairly quickly to a solid manly base of floral, musk and gentle sandalwood. I think the carnation really stands out to me, as it does in Old Spice. I own Habit Rouge, I see the comparisons, it’s falls in that elegant classification but Habit Rouge is brighter with the old school citrus and quite bold where is 89 is a little more subdued. I do not mean any slight by the Old Spice comparison, it’s not all that, just the base (off my genetically tied skin anyhow). I really like this scent, I think I chose correctly, the bottle is also classy and reflects the Floris history. This is a classic manly fragrance that older generations will likely recognize from their youth.

89 is an extremely well crafted fragrance, very british and proper. It opens up with a blast of citrus & lavender which creates a very classic cologne & barbershop vibe. The citruses fade quickly though, what’s left is a very quiet, dusty conservative sandalwood/rose/nutmeg basenote. This is meant as a signature scent imo, it projects a certain aura of cleanliness & sophistication around you people will not instantly associate with a perfume. The scent kind of becomes part of you and people will remember it. Be aware tough: it is VERY reserved and calm, one could say shy or conservative. Panties will stay in place, this is not meant to WOW anybody or seduce women. It’s the ultimate understatement for someone who doesn’t need to make a loud statement with his perfume. Performance for me was surprisingly good. 8+ hours with mild to medium projection. You tend to forget about it when wearing it though because its quiet and calm structure. Maybe that’s why a lot of people rate it low in performance.

Its very classy - and by that I mean proper gentleman classy (so it does have a traditional vibe about it). But its also super fresh which keeps it from tipping over into 'old fashioned' territory. If you like Acqua di Parma Colonia style fragrances you will love this - It truly is an almost perfect 'classic' in the truest sense. The only possible negative (not for me I should add - but perhaps for others) is that I think its best worn in a professional setting, so dressed up and meaning business during Spring through early fall. Plus the bottle is very cool - and simply owning a Floris is very cool (because if you know...you know).

One of my all-time favorite fragrances and to me the perfect fresh out of the shower clean spring and summer scent. Opening hour is awesome. Citrus and rose. With adequate sprays provides good projection. Skin scent about 3 hours in. Dry down is common. Sandalwood and powdery. Just a bit of musk. Good skin scent at 8 hours. It’s not an epic performer, but I love it enough that it’s the only of my fragrances I’ve purchased a pocket atomizer for. Fantastic with lunch touch up. It’s not complicated and just a tad barber shop old fashioned. Yet if you love that vibe it’s perfect. Very cost effective as well. Check the discounters!!!

Off the spray nozzle and on a test strip this has such an odd aldehydic powderiness to the fragrance, I can see how this can put people off immediately and write it off. But on skin this is where the magic happens and develops that has me coming back to this fragrance as a very elegant, regal esque type smell. Aldehydes and carnation are definitely missing from the note pyramid, but the best way to explain the fragrance to the uninitiated is a one to one resemblance to a current formulation Old Spice Classic Aftershave down to the core (maybe a touch more note definition and naturalness to No 89).