Yves Saint Laurent Jazz Eau De Toilette Spray

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I could imagine using jazz as a daily perfume for any occasion. However, it does particularly well due to its fresh, soapy character as a freshness booster directly after showering. Lavender is quite present here, along with drier and woodsy notes, when the initial spice fades. Tobacco, oakmoss, and a hint of leather. Once it gets to the floral heart, they are very similar, with artemisia, lavender, and geranium being big players in both. Gentlewoman is the perfect upside down cologne for this topsy-turvy. Inspired by masculine colognes, this bold fragrance by Juliette Has a Gun (a subversive outfit if there ever was one) plays on the idea of androgyny by taking something associated with men – the classic eau de cologne – and twisting it so that the lines between male and female blur beautifully. Maturity, sovereignty, male warmth and irrepressible casualness. What Yves Saint Laurent has created is a glittering prism of masculinity. Brightly cool and yet so infinitely deep-warm. A rough shell and a soft core. Not a simple perfume. Jazz is a challenge for every man. But that's the way men are. Not always easy and easy to see through. And we gladly accept challenges! Or? Jazz appeared in 1988, when Cool Water was launched and the world was preparing for a change. Fresh, clean and aquatic were the themes and things like animalic leathers of chypres were starting to disappear. Jazz shows a different path. Lavender, jasmine, oakmoss and nutmeg. A beautiful Fougère with Spicy-floral nuances.

Just like Polo Green, the original Jazz leans more serious and mature, while being a very well blended composition especially in vintage form. A reliable pull year-round that simply just "smells good". No need to over think it and no wonder it is still in production since 1988.Born in Grasse, Jean-François Latty had his professional training at Ecole Roure, and worked first in the Parisian and then the American subsidiaries of this composing company (Roure was joined with Givaudan to Givaudan-Roure in 1991). He joined IFF in 1970, where he composed with colleague Raymond Chaillan the famous perfume Givenchy III.

This is best suited for men in their mid-20s and up. If you’re a younger guy and want something different, you could still pull it off. It can be worn casually, at the office, or for an evening out. It has a certain level of sexiness, but isn’t a club banger, by any means. Despite its fougere-like barbershopness, Prada’s debut masculine is a scent that one can spritz on as liberally as a cologne, acting as a more luxurious, more suave alternative. It’s been a staple of mine for many years, and as far as I am concerned, that is enough endorsement. Jazz Prestige is a worthy flanker to its stalwart big brother and would be a plus to any collection. Although, as a discontinued fragrance, Prestige has taken on a reverence normally reserved only for dead movie stars of yore so its bloated price tag on the gray market is a big minus. The final result is a dry, fresh, green floral/spice blend, that is fairly barbershop in its essence. Jazz is a great fougere example, that is balanced, and still retains a mass appeal. There’s a nice mossy finish towards the end or at least the impression of moss, anyway. In Gentlewoman, the neroli and orange blossom notes are dialled-up to a riotous 9. They become powdery and feminine, while notes of lavender and coumarin ground them into masculine territory. Musk makes the whole thing large and diffusive, grabbing attention with a big, white cloud. Is it a cologne? Is it a fougere? Is it for men or is it for women? Does that matter? My advice: don’t try to define it, just enjoy the ride and the fact that you will leave everybody guessing.

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This, dear reader, I like to refer as my ‘scent snobbery’ phase and it’s one many of us go through. You see, when the door to the rabbit hole of perfume is opened, one is overwhelmed by an overflowing sweet shop of scent, and it’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement of wearing things that the hoi polloi haven’t even heard of. After 17 years of loyal service, he joined fragrance and flavor producer Takasago, where he created L'Eau Dynamisante and YSL Jazz. Notes include: lavender, coriander, nutmeg, artemisia, tobacco, geranium, jasmine, carnation, cardamom, basil, and more Though not a powerhouse, the longevity, is actually very good on my skin. During testing, I was able to get 9-10 hours of wear from this YSL cologne, without any issue. I was actually surprised that a newer batch, could still bring it with the performance. We started our subversive cologne journey with something brand new and exciting, so it makes sense to end with something classic but just as interesting: Jazz by YSL. I adore Jazz, and to me, it is the smell of well-kept men – of guys who look after themselves and give off that very French carefree vibe. They are the guys who don’t have to try hard to look good – they just do. I’m equal parts jealous of them and enraptured by them if I’m honest.