Many people don't know that these old fragrances are not made to be used like the super mainstream sweet fragrances of today, which should appeal immediately in store...something like Grey Flannel or Lagerfeld Cologne e.g. need to be sprayed under the shirt and take a while to settle down and work with ones body heat. These cant be judged from a tester or a quick sniff.
In my opinion - masterpiece. Perfect for the cold season. Classic unequivocally masculine, very sharp (especially in the opening) like nothing else today, very original and beautiful scent.
Yeah! It's about time someone had the stones to stand up for Grey Flannel. I remember those times well. I really enjoyed this scent. While I maintain a decent cache of modern scents, recently I'm finding a new appreciation and love for the classics of my youth; my old favorites. Tsar, Polo, eau Savage, Drakkar, even Caswell Massey Greenbriar. I think I'm going to acquire a bottle of Grey Flannel next. Good times....
I would suggest acquiring the vintage, Jacquelin Cochran or Sanofi dist. I find it to be a very complex fragrance that really evolves. The vintage in comparison to the EA formulation is imo like Martini and Rossi Asti Spumante compared to Dom Perignon. It is worth the search and wait to get the vintage.
I'm 20 and I've bought a bottle recently. I absolutely love it. I don't get the hate. Smell of Grey Flannel makes me feel very... comfortable. It's so different from all these modern fragrances in this price range which (mostly) smell very generic.
Ariel Gazdowski your right about the generic. A lot of fragrances today are too linear and the big deal is citrus, floral and aquatic. That’s ok but not too many stand out products are available at a reasonable price.
I personally consider this as the best kept secret among the traditional fragrances. For fragrances, it is an acquired scent. The opening was very strong and quite offensive but just be patient coz when it dries up, that's when the magic begins. A real mild, clean and sexy masculine scent that separates the men from the boys.
GF was one of the first fragrances I ever wore when I was 12 in 1992. Just bought the bottle, like you did, at Ross for 9.99. I have to admit, it was stronger than I remembered, but after I lived with it a while, it rang true to back then. I had no idea about the GF challenge, but it sounds like some BS that mainstream millennials get up to. (No offense to your generation, I myself am a "Xennial", yes that is a thing!) Fragrances, like music, are getting more and more homogenized. It's the fault of corporate entities not wanting to take risks, so everything smells more and more alike. Back in the 70's and 80's, people actually spent money on originality. So it is no wonder that people today have the taste of a 3 year old who can only process sweet and salty, only want McDonald's, and refuse to eat vegetables. But you're awesome, you have excellent taste, and I appreciate your defense of GF.
Count me in as a fan. If it's good enough for Tubbs from Miami Vice it's good enough for me lol. Seriously though whenever I see someone turn their nose up to this I instantly think of them as not having much cred. This is a flat out classic and a milestone in men's perfumery. I agree with Matt C the vintage is somewhat better but is still excellent as is. Great review Matt and good to see some respect for this gem👍
Ben Champion Hey Ben! I would say more "Michael Caine in Get Carter" 😉 very classic and bold, and instantly strong! I associate Lapidus pour Homme with ANYBODY in Miami Vice! Haha! Thanks for agreeing haha I adore it! Keep safe Ben and have a brilliant new year!
This is a masterpiece. Gives off a classy vibe when clean and well groomed. High quality for the cheap price. Noses who are used to todays sweet, bubble gummy, playful, youthful standards tend not to like this.
Great review, Mr. Matt. If there's one thing I can't stand when it comes to appreciating fragrances, it's other reviewers basically telling you that you are an idiot if you like something. As you know, perfumery is an art form and beauty is in the eyes, or rather, the nose of the beholder. I love scents in every decade from the 1950's to today. I love and hate different Givenchy's, and I love and hate different Bogart's. So when it comes to Grey Flannel, everyone should just have a honest opinion! End of sermon. Rock on, Matt!!!
Great review! Grey Flannel was the first cologne I had as a teen in the mid 80's that wasn't Brut or Old Spice. I love it as much today as I did then and will wear it a couple times a week as long as they still make it. I am also a huge fan of Bowling Green (sadly discontinued) and Eau de Grey Flannel.
celmlund You are welcome thank you for watching! ☺ I would have loved to have lived in the 80s..it saddens me haha but yes this is no doubt a straight in the face masterpiece. I adore it! I still need to try eau de grey flannel ☺ it's so cheap just like this! and as for bowling green I have heard of it but I'm sure if you keep looking you will eventually find a bottle online!? thanks for watching! ☺
Nice vid! I never understood the hate behind that scent since I was wearing it in the 90's and girls use to compliment me a lot about it. It is a mature scent for sure but also a very classy and masculine fragrance. Maybe the reviewers who bashed this scent were a little young when they first sniffed it I don't know. To me this fragrance is a real signature scent for an elegant man between 25 and 40 years old with an assertive personality and a Dandy style. If you d'ont like violette, iris and Narcissus stay away from it.
BOLUWATIFE You're right! but I will always wear this! especially in the Winter! I think it's perfect, especially where I am where there's snow on the ground! thanks so much bud! ☺
I've been buying this cologne since the 70s and still buying it to this day. It's a classic gem but must like a woody style scent very masculine fragrance. Not sweet kinda barbershop style also. Try it the price is so affordable so if you don't like it your not out alot of money.
Thnx for the review- I was on hunt for mu new scent. So I decided too try it and bought a tester cologne 150ml! In my younger days I was strictly Dior Fahrenheit then later on Salvador Dali pour homme THNX for the inspiration, Sir
I'm 54 years old, it has been my favorite since the late 70's . Born and raised in southeast Ga, its always reminded of a mans man quality, you either love it or hate it, but some of us wear it extremely well. Many compliments from both men and women. As I said, a mans smell. Strong,larger than life type.
Besides Polo Green and Pierre Cardin, Grey Flannel is one of the most iconic scents out there, I am an older guy and yes i still wear it as well as Bowling Green and Eau Du Flannel and yeah they are still badass scents.
Great review Matt! I was expecting something totally different w this. But I must say it’s not that bad at all. It is quite pleasent yet bold and strong. Like w the oldies... easy does it w the trigger and it will be like walking through a green clean English garden!!!!! It get my seal of approval.
110 % Agree I would rather reach for this over Sauvage or 1 Million which I don't own. It's very strong I go 2 sprays one under the shirt and back of neck with this one. I feel the dry down is the magic. To my nose the violet is the dominant note. Like always nice review. Best Regards, David
Grey Flannel is one of the best fragrances I ever had. Back in 1998, 2-3 spays consistently took me from 7 am till 4 pm, when I left the office. Good thing about it was that every 2-3 minutes, as I moved about in the office, the fragrance wafted through the whole place. However, the products I tried in recent times did not seem to be as good as in those days; I think some smelled kind of chemical to me.
I just bought it And I'm not a fragrance expert so at first the bag caught my eye which made me look it up and knowing that it is strong as hell made me want it more I just received it today and I love it so far I can see why people would hate it because it is too strong for some Also one that doesn't get aknowledged enough is ( Sansiro Tango ) and ( sansiro Jazz ) mainly because it is turkish and Turkey is not known for making the best fragrances but these were really epic and I got lots of compliments for them ( more than I got using a lot more expensive ones ) I think you people need to try it out
Hello. Great review. I have used both Grey Flannel and Givenchy Gentleman since 1975. Your review is both accurate and impartial. Life goes through cycles and companies seek to appeal to changing tastes and preferences. I finally decided to test new ones...it was about time...I find the morning fragances such as Acqua as more modern yet without staying power...maybe they men to be spraying it a couple of times during the day so that they can sell more units...any thoughts on a sound mens perfume for the morning?
yeah you should try and find a mini of the vintage sometime , well my dad hadnt worn cologne in a long time so he said he used to wear grey flannel all the time in the 70's so i got him a bottle for his birthday like 2 years ago because thats what he said he enjoyed
I've always loved this fragrance. I can't believe the are people that hate it. I just can get enough of the smell. It's smellls like a heavens garden if you ask me. I just love it for may daily use. It smells clean and fresh. I gets me ready and puts a smile on my face right away. Buy it!!! Is a steal at the price you can get it today.
You need to check out Eau De Grey Flannel for Men (same bottle with light blue juice) if you have not already. Eau De Grey Flannel for Men is something every guy should have in a fragrance collection. Great review
Jake barlow Oh I know! I need to! I've sprayed it roughly from a tester ages ago but I need to smell it out properly with owning a bottle! I will get it soon! ☺ Thanks so much for watching!
i do agree with what you said...the challenge part was an insult...it deserves more respect...to my nose it has a kind of old days vibe and mature vibe to it...not everyone will like it...may people hate joop homme, so what?its a legend..i may get a bottle of this..its very reasonably priced :) great job mate
From one of the best fragrance blogs: frompyrgos.blogspot.com/2013/08/grey-flannel-geoffrey-beene-french.html "𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔, 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒚𝒑𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒅𝒈𝒆𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔. 𝑻𝒓𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑮𝑭 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒃𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒖𝒚𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒍𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒈𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒉, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒄 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆." The problem with those reviewers who put it down is that they're used to growing up with only sweeter scents and gourmands. Unlike you guys who appreciate the history of the business, they can't get their nose around anything that's been released before 1995. They rarely review the classics and especially those that are meant to be worn by men over 35 or with a business suit like this or Chanel Pour Monsieur. Here's a comparison of the Jacqueline Cochran formula (2nd owner) vs. the French Fragrances and EA Fragrance versions. frompyrgos.blogspot.com/2013/08/grey-flannel-geoffrey-beene-jacqueline.html
This is one of my favourite fragrances: it smells like a florist's shop. Put this juice into a Malle's bottle, ask 200 Euros for it, and people will buy it like there's no tomorrow. Never without it!
The Grey Flannel Challenge was just idiotic. This is one of the greatest men's fragrances of all time, and plenty of writers and perfumers feel the same way (like Luca Turin and Jean Claude Ellena). Smells very natural, performs wonderfully, and facets of it have clearly influenced releases from Creed, Tom Ford, Hermès, Maison Martin Margiela, Prada and the like. Yeah, it's hard to like if you're not into florals or soapy scents, but the amount of disrespect it gets on RU-vid is mind boggling.
So pleased a reviewer is getting behind this much maligned scent. I agree , the criticism is unfair. Granted, when I first tried it I thought it might be a scent I would struggle with, probably due to the galbanum which rests on top initially ( maybe?). The next time I went to it I quite liked it. The third time I went to it I wore it for a week!. I don't think fragrance lovers are giving this beauty enough time. Well done Matt.
I bought GF on a blind buy, and when I received it I did not really like it. It smelled to me like what women's pefurme in the 1800's must have smelled like. So i didnt wear it and put it on the shelf. But after a few weeks, I revisited it, and I still really dont know what to think of it. But it is oddly compelling, so i have been wearing it lately. GF has a DNA all its own, and it is like no other man's fragrance.
Grey Flannel, Bowling Green and both Guerlain Vetivers are great goto winter mood enhancers. I wear it for me but others appreciate their difference. Could be a Brit thing.
This is one I started wearing in my 20s back in the 1990s. I loved it then and love it now. It fits me better in my 50s, as opposed to the way I feel too old wearing Acqua Di Gio Absolu or something aimed at younger people. It just has that classy feel to it. Like splash some of this on, and people treat you like you must be someone.
Still my go to ... Tried some newer stuff, but this is it for me... Get tons of compliments..I make sure i spray it in the air and walk into it and about a hour before i head out on the town.
I have used many from Creed, Tom Ford Amouage and other niche and expensive houses my conclusion is you have to have a good taste and a good nose to appreciate this one
This one gets a bad rap but I like it since I also enjoy going old-school from time-to-time. Of course, there was a time when I couldn't stand these old-school scents due to my having fragrances allergies for so many years. Anyway, I agree with you...it's a fragrance for men who, in an era, were cock-strong, tough-as-nails and oozing testosterone after working on the farms and in the factories every day. I don't think the soft, chubby, collapse under the weight of a hard day's work youth/snowflakes if sprayed with Grey Flannel. LOL! Enjoyed the review. Cheers!
Barber shops in the 60’s and 70’s smelled like Barbasol, Pinaud Clubman, and Old Spice, not Grey Flannel! I know, I was there. On 70’s and to an extent, 80’s fragrances: you must factor in cigarettes. More people smoked than didn’t - I did, and I absolutely used fragrance to mask cigarette odor. Fragrances tended to be heavy and we wore A LOT of it. Grey Flannel is still my signature fragrance, btw. Bought my first bottle in 1980 at 16. Use a lot less these days, as I no longer smoke 😊
Hey Matt,,Yea I do not like those Grey Flannel Challenge vids either. I thought about that over a year ago after watching one...It is crazy how we think alike at times... The last bottle of this I had was in the in the 90s when it was probably about the same as it was in the 70s ..It could have been an after shave but to me it had a great lemon lime peppery scent that was very nice and sophisticated I thought. Back then ,it was a gift and after it was finished that was it because the fragrance obsession bug had not bit me yet and I did not get another bottle... I assume it is the same old story with the great 70s classics ,the vintage was better and the reform is not as good and made with cheaper ingredients but it still sells.
Robert Diehl Wow! yeah I'm glad you agree I just find those videos a bit silly. I would've loved to have tried the vintage! I just find this scent a "scent of its own" and a masterpiece. It's so different to the point it DEMANDS respect. Thanks so much mate! I hope we get to meet eventually sometime! ☺
Cool and fair review. There's an evolution of fragrances at play here and mentioning the time period for GF is very introspective. All these other reviewers just love hating on it w/o putting its time period in perspective.
I love it the only thing is the beginning it’s strong and smells like jalapeños at first but it mellows down and smells fresh and after showering 🧼 love it 😊
I love classic fragrances, but Grey Flannel is one I just can't abide. The narcissus in the opening is what ruined it for me. I'm proud to own it and maybe, one day some years down the road (when Grey Flannel is discontinued), I'll put some on and the stars will align. Until then it'll have a home beneath my bathroom sink. Cheers, and keep up the good work!
This is a manly, classic scent that is not for the weak. It’s not light and airy and some male version of a female scent. It’s the way real men ought to smell.
It dries down to a very soft, powdery, clean scent that my wife finds cuddly and very sexy....yay! A little goes a long way and it lasts all day. The reason it was popular back in the day is because it exuded masculinity in the opening and then after the dry down, went soft. If you think about it, it was designed to be powerful at first and then in the morning, smell nice and cuddly if you get my drift.
I'll give the Englishmen that ... They know their Fougeres , barbershop , classics , vintage masculines ... Good to know there's still men out there cause the fragrance community is over dosing the world with that cute shhhh already ! Overly sweet , diabetic , bubble gum , root beer , sugary syrup . Soo generic uninspiring and down right fragile . Grey Flannel with it's violets in a rainy or overcast is just heavenly ... With a fresh powdery clean smell .. I also do cold dark pine notes for December or January with scents like Drakkar Aramis Polo Green are perfectly suitable choices .. Maybe in fall or spring in moderate weather If you live in dense green area like Seattle all of a sudden the oakmoss in Paco Rabanne makes sense.. Its all about application ... Did u smoke a cigarette ? Or cook seasoned beef before u applied cologne ? When you shower what bodywash do you use ??? c'mon its a no brainer . Maybe Azzaro for more masculine deep menthol barbershop citrus for a night out... Oh I forget it has to be Eros Bleu or La Nuit for todays zoomer goobers "Eyes rolled" ... It's always a good time for Pour Monsieur Chanel Houbigant Royal Fougere Eau Sauvage Extreme Eau Pour Homme Armani . God damm it whos prepared to tell me that Giorgio Beverly Hills wasn't the rodeo drive waspy yuppie hi end cologne of the 80s ? Make you smell like James Spader the asshole drug dealer on Less Then Zero . In fact theirs a porn star wearing this simultaneously creating the best movie cinematography has ever seen !!! As the camera man pours beer on his back , this genetic jack hammer wears Giorgio Beverly Hills !
i love this masculine fragrance. go light on the trigger. the dry down is amazing and works extremely well outside during the winter. lets NOT be apologetic. the composition is strong and long lasting . the price doesnt factor MARKETING thats why the price is low. its fantastic in cold weather months. sweet candy fem fragrance of the 1 mil and cocunut leans fem but is cool in its own way. im not trying to over spray those either.sickly???? have you smelled Bacarat . thats sickly.
Para mi ha sido un perfume muy sexual, donde lugares que yo visitaba las personas decian aqui estuvo Oscar, pues era el unico que lo usaba en ciertos night clubs in Chicago. Despues cambie para el Blue Chanel que es una colonia puramente mas fuerte; pero uso periodicamente a los dos ; pues en el sexo masculino he usado los tres perfumes que considero los mejores. Estos dos del que le menciono y otro que use en mi adolescencia, la colonia Imperial de etiqueta verde.
It is distinctive and by in large is what makes it good. It is a strong scent, a manly scent, not everyone can where it, those that can - appreciate it. Not todays fruitcake smell.
Its not the same scent as the one in 1975. Its been reformulated about 4 different times. The one back then was NOT an acquired taste. THAT one hooked you after 1 sniff!
What Grey~Flannel is a pussy magnet were I'm from in N.Y.C women love it 💓Grey~Flannel it smells awesome just don't over do it Grey~Flannel is for real men some man like to take a bath in it or use to much all you have to use is a little bit you don't need much on just a little and you see the results And just Remember that Grey~Flannel is not for everyone it's a real highclass cologne and i really get awesome compliments about Grey~Flannel women really love it that's more like a suit and tie cologne more high-class just never over do it buddy 😀👍and see the results it's awesome
This fragrance is not for soy boys. It's really a special fragrance. I think you have to be there for 40 to appreciate it. Bottom line you got to be an older gentleman to appreciate this fragrance.
all those new stuff is plain trash and boring, ill take any 70/80s powerhouse smell over that ish really. Back than it was more fun and just go for it, now its all watered down stuff, scared culture.....
