My fearless leader and the creator of Now Smell This, Robin, has done her duty from the start and boldly ventured into celebrity fragrance territory. Robin has reviewed perfumes released under the names of Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Hilary Duff, Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton, Prince and Sean John.
Until today, I have reviewed zero celebrity fragrances. I am a perfume snob. I look at a bottle of celebrity fragrance and think: “Ew! Who wants to be associated with him?” I’m not celebrity-obsessed and even though I’ve seen my fair share of celebrities up close, I’ve never asked any of them for an autograph. Aren’t celebrity fragrances a form of ‘autograph'? Wearing David Beckham’s Instinct is (almost) the same as hanging a poster of Becks on my bedroom wall — right? If I use Sean John’s Unforgivable, won’t people assume I admire Sean John and not just his cologne?
I recently realized my stance on celebrity fragrances is ridiculous. I’ve certainly reviewed, bought and worn my fair share of perfumes released under clothing designers’ names. Are clothing designers celebrities? Yes. Are clothing designers on a higher plane of existence than actors, singers, sports figures? No. Are clothing designers more naturally talented in the realm of perfumery than actors, singers, sports figures? No. There’s always a professional perfumer behind designer/celebrity scents.
So: I’ll aim no more disdainful glances at celebrity fragrances; I will give all scents a chance even if the face on the packaging gives me the willies. (I do have my limits — if Michael Vick or Ann Coulter release perfumes I won’t sniff them on moral grounds.)
Singer/actor Usher is releasing two scents this month: He and She. Usher He was created by perfumer Richard Herpin and contains pineapple, verbena, melon, white pepper, lavender, violet leaf, vetiver, amber wood, black suede, sandalwood, guaiac wood and musk.
Usher He opens with a pop of ‘fresh’ notes and pineapple. I also detect a hint of (what smells like) cumin; this cumin note is subtle but persistent and tempers the pineapple. A pleasant pepper note emerges a few minutes into He’s development; this white pepper note, mixing with the melon, pineapple and verbena, produces a mildly aquatic accord. The aquatic phase lasts about five minutes, then He becomes peppery and herbaceous. Many scents use pepper in their formulas but I really admire He’s use of pepper. He’s pepper is piquant and long lasting (but not overpowering) and it ages well on the skin — never becoming sour or stale.
The spicy and green (violet leaf) middle section of Usher He, let’s call it He’s “torso” (Usher loves to display his naked chest and stomach), is the most appealing and interesting section of the cologne to me. There is a smooth transition between He’s “torso” and base; the base notes smell of sweet woods and amber with hints of leather/suede and musk. He is described as a leather scent in many promotional articles; there’s certainly leather present in He, but it is ‘downy’ leather, not rough, pungent leather.
Usher He is not a “dirty” scent by any means but with its cumin, vetiver, wood, leather and musk notes, He produces a faint aroma of exertion (perspiration). This “flushed” phase of He is most noticeable an hour after application. If you’re a man who likes super-clean and fresh scents, He may not be for you.
My foray into celebrity fragrance country was enjoyable! He is a well-made and likeable mid-strength Eau de Toilette with average lasting power; it smells very “masculine” to my nose.
Usher He is available now at Macy's. The He collection includes Eau de Toilette ($50/65), after-shave products, deodorant and shower gel. Women's Wear Daily reported that a concentrated Eau de Toilette will also be sold.
The notes are very attractive and your description is wonderful..makes me want to sniff it, which is …scary cause I don't think I could live with an Usher bottle in the house.
D: you can always keep the bottle hidden, or decant the fragrance…rename it! K
Personally, I think wear perfume is more for feeling than the smelling (ok, or both ;p). I am attracted by the story, the design, the feeling behind of every bottle of my perfume. Although every one might have the same perfume, but I do believe everyone feels obviously different when we see, touch, sniff and image that little bottle. And this is the only reason that I am falling in love with perfume. But that will change when it comes as a celebrity fragrances! Everything about this perfume is belong to some “big name”. Especially when someone just want to put a bottle into the market with their name, and without proper design (I mean give the whole heart to design). So I don't like the celebrity fragrance.
I smelled the women's version in a magazine. It's like ck euphoria to me…but there is a pad sample showing up for those who want to try it.
Totally agree about boycotting an Ann Coulter fragrance on moral grounds. It'd probably smell like bile, anyway.
Your review of He has piqued my interest! With the plethora of clean and fresh men's scents out there, I am intrigued by the inclusion of an “exertion” phase in such a mainstream release.
DA: Sounds like you are more of a perfume BOTTLE lover. It is harder to make a perfume your own, when a 'backstory' is attached to an ad campaign or a celebrity's FACE is seen on the perfume box, bottle, every ad. I don't like the Usher He bottle myself….K
PS: yes, little bits of scented “sponge” are showing up in Oct. magazines for the Usher scents. They are better than a scented strip since there's some LIQUID to put on the skin. K
NN: yes, “He” has had a slight uphill climb, K
Well , I mean smelling is something but not everything. We all would like to see every bottle of perfume is as perfect as an artistry, aren't we (opps, someone say no :))). You are right, it's harder to make a perfume your own. But it is not that hard to feel this. When a perfume come with a big name, I just cannot feel this. Cause it has been signed by someone. Well, I know everything comes form the big brand, especially the fashion. I just feel better when it's brand's name instead of people's name. Silly me! Anyway, like your nice writing.
So, instead of the usual celebrity fruity floral, He is a fruity wood!
I laughed out loud at Ann Coulter smelling like bile.
Yikes. I guess it's true — I'm a perfume snob too. It's like when I really liked the KISS fragrance for men. Can you *imagine* telling anyone “yeah, man, thanks for the compliment — I'm wearing Usher!” I would totally lie (“um, I can't remember!”) and that says something about me that makes me uncomfortable. Axe would be marginally more embarrassing, but only marginally. I guess if you held a gun to my head I'd go with Diddy's Unforgiveable.
DP: the wood whips the fruit in this one for the most part; from pre-launch info I would have guessed this to be a “leathery fruit.” K
March: I do remember your enjoyment of KISS! I'm afraid if I loved one of these celeb scents well enough to buy a whole bottle I would hide the bottle and make up a new name — that's what French is for! — Usher He becomes Homme Boisé D'Ananas. K
I've never been moved to even sample celeb fragrances, but recently I tried two just for the hell of it: Gwen Stefani's because I read it contained sweetpea (one of my all time favorite flowers), and Sarah Jessica Parker's latest Covet.
I absolutely hated Gwen Stefani's – it was nauseatingly cloyingly sweet. I don't think there's fruit in it, but it smelled more like syrupy candy than floral.
I really liked SJP's Covet surprisingly enough! It's very different from the fruity florals that have flooded the market, and I found the way the fragrance developed on my skin to be very interesting.
But I don't know if I would admit to wearing it ; )
Cheez: agree with the Stefani assessment…have not tried Covet. I wish someone who wears a celeb fragrance would write in and PROUDLY admit it…are we all so insecure? HA! K
Hey! First time writing here – I've been a little nervous, because you all are so knowledgeable! That being said, Kevin, you got your wish: I have Elisabeth Taylor's Gardenia, and I do proudly wear it, because I find that the perfumer's use of that flower in this fragrance is a success. So there! BTW, I have spent an INSANE amount of time reading the reviews in here and often laugh out loud. I. LOVE. THIS. SITE. xo
Tigerlily: thank you for the compliments AND for “admitting” to loving a celeb fragrance! Brava. I believe, here I go being a snob again, there's a WORLD of difference between Elizabeth Taylor and, let's say, Britney Spears…so even I might admit to wearing, oh, Laurence Olivier's Thespian but not B-Boy by Billy Bob Thornton (if either scent existed of course!), K
Great review.
I lovelovelove violet and I really admire pepper done well in a fragrance (Rose Poivree by TDC, Poivre Samarcande by Hermessence, etc) – so, I will make it a point to smell He.
I immediately put up my guard for celeb scents also – except for, of course, Cumming by Alan Cumming. It's such a strange and unusual scent (a nontypical celeb scent), but at the same time, I feel slightly embarassed telling people what it is: 'So, what ARE you wearing? Cumming. What??' Somehow I think telling someone I am wearing 'He' seems a lot more socially acceptable.
One more thing: Isn't DSquared coming out with a scent called He Wood. That's gonna be confusing. 🙂
Oh, Kevin, if only those *did* exist, I would have to buy the Olivier just to own it. I agree, there are celebrities, and then there are stars.
This is old, but still quite funny (assuming you have not seen it before): http://tinyurl.com/y4wcuh
MP: I guess I'd rather say I'm wearing HE…CUMMING sounds 'wrong' and deserves a better name. I hope to smell He Wood soon…and doesn't THAT sound weird too?! K
Exist: no I hadn't seen it…thanks. HA! I think the Ben Franklin sage-y scent with a zing of lightning (dare I say ozone?) might work today. K
Kevin… You're right, not in the same league at all. So somebody will have to redefine once and for all who can be part of the rarefied “celeb” category in perfumery.
BTW, I went into a drugstore today and saw Britney's Fantasy. I didn't even check around for a tester. I don't think I would have the guts to go to the cash with it. And in a couple of days, I will be much too old to wear it anyway, IMO. Therefore, it is official: I am a gutless, old snob… HA!
Tigerlily: WELCOME! to the “club” of Gutless Old Snobs…our numbers are legion, especially on pefume blogs!! K
I'm really glad I read this review. I think it sounds great. Something spicy and peppery sounds fabulous.
I almost cried the other day when I realized just how long it'd been since I last tried a new fragrance. I'll make sure to get to Macy*s to see whats behind the counter. ;D
PC: if it's been awhile since you've shopped for cologne you'll have TONS of new things to try Sometimes a “break from buying” is NECESSARY for sanity/wallet. K
Ditto. An Olivier scent would be too heavenly to pass up. Love the web link!
As much as I could care less about Usher though, the combination sounds worth a sniff. No one will see the bottle – make up a name.
Deepo: making up names is fun…may I suggest: Eh-Rehsu (always start with a backwards spelling and take it from there), K
I too dislike the thought of smelling like celebrity. I also agree that eau de Anne Coulter, would likely smell of a type of rot that is unique to the great unwashed portion of the anatomy unique to females. Let us pray that Bill O'Reilly shall never opt to sour a fragrance. In late August I purchased Dolce'' and Gabbana's Light Blue, and the SA at Macys dropped several samples into the bag. I enjoyed light blue, but as Summer waned, so did it's attraction, though I will wear it again in the Spring. Just before Thanksgiving, I got around to examining the samples given earlier.
I immediately noticed three samples of Usher and one of Lucky number six for men. I had a hearty laugh at the Usher samples (like did the SA really think I looked like someone who would wear Usher?), and tried the Lucky 6. Though I do not care to smell like a caveman, I found lucky 6 for men, to be very unmanly.I even double checked the vial to be sure it was for men. I found it fruity and feminine, and though I gave it over an hour to age, I soon had to shower to get it off my body. A few days later, I still had not purchased a scent for winter and fall and decided the I would try Usher, since I would soon be showering anyway. Though, I haver never desired to smell like Usher and am only vaguely aware of who he is, I found the scent to be quite compelling. I find it difficult to describe, but if you were to remove the most powerful smell of Beene's classic Gray Flannel and replace it with a non-musky male phermone you might be close. I wore Usher to dinner that night, and my female friend did not notice it until we hugged goodbye. She demanded to know what I was wearing, and I reluctantly replied. We both laughed, but she said she loved it, thought it was very masculine and distinct. I agreed. I like Usher very much, and though I would not wear it to the office, it would be just right for a night out, or an evening with someone special. In short, Usher has a bit of a growl to it that is not at all overpowering, but has an underlying sexuality to it that many will like. If they can just bring themselves to try it.
OtherKevin: First, pardon me while I pick myself off the floor…MACY'S gave you a…a…SAMPLE…more than one? Miracles of the Thanksgiving season I suppose. I'm sure Usher He smells nothing like the real Usher…it was made by a perfumer maybe even without any input from Usher. Now Usher may WEAR the new scent to promote it but don't ever let that discourage you from wearing a scent you appreciate. Ricky Martin wears CdG Kyoto…that's what he smells like… and does that stop ME from wearing it too? No…because I probably beat him to it anyway. All you need do is rename Usher He…OR be ULTRA MANLY and say when asked about the scent: “To be honest I don't know what it is…my boy/girlfriend gave it to me as a present, I just picked the bottle from the bathroom floor today and sprayed it on…a BLUE bottle…brown?? Can't remember!”
WOW! Robin hasn't visited this discussion once.
That being said, I don't mind celebrity scents. In fact, thats all I really try. If its good, I'll get it. Its the same thing as a Designer having a scent, IMO
JloveLamar: Wow. You only try celebrity fragrances? If so, you're living in a great time period — SO many celeb scents are in the pipeline and on shelves today…you won't run out of things to try.
Lol, yes. I'm not ashamed of it. I wasn't ever into fragrances. Then, True Star came out, and I smelled it and I loved it. It was the first fragrance I ever bought, so I thank Beyonce, lol. Ever since then I said I wouldn't be as snobbish as everyone else about Celebrity Fragrances. I think of it the same as a designer fragrance. Just a more famous name. However, when I get gifts, I DON'T get people celeb fragrance. I don't ever want someone I'm close to to wear what I wear. I've been burned by that tooooo many times! So Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, Elizabeth Taylor and DKNY got their sales from me last year :).