Good things come in small packages, so goes the old saying, and, using the new Ben Sherman men’s fragrance as an example, I say good things come in ugly packages, too. I think the Ben Sherman bottle is the most unsightly perfume bottle of last year; it looks like a cubist choo-choo made out of cheap, lightweight plastic.
Though the bottle is beyond Avon-Ugly, Ben Sherman, the fragrance, is one of my favorite men’s mainstream releases of last year. The perfume features notes of tangerine, bergamot, lemon, lime, mint, cardamom, nutmeg, incense, patchouli, cedar, vanilla musk, vetiver, hay, coffee and amber.
Ben Sherman starts off with cardamom-flavored coffee, rich and almost ‘malted.’ The scent is “cloudy”/creamy (like a liquor-y coffee cocktail). I smell a hint of smokiness as the fragrance develops: incense plus cedar and spearmint. (There is a kinship between Ben Sherman and Thierry Mugler A*Men Pure Coffee during Ben Sherman’s early development.)
Ben Sherman starts off by presenting dense “base notes” and proceeds to lighter weight, shimmering notes. As Ben Sherman’s rich aromas fade, a summery lime, vetiver and hay accord appears; this is my favorite part of Ben Sherman, and this happy aroma has me yearning for a vacation in southern Italy or Provence…somewhere with warm breezes, blue skies and fields full of wildflowers in full bloom. (I know…my fantasy must wait six months for the seasons to change.)
Ben Sherman Eau de Toilette has good lasting power and sillage; it’s currently a Nordstrom exclusive in the US and is available in 50 and 100 ml ($55/$78).
I’ve wanted to try this.
I like the ugly bottle! But maybe it is worse in real life.
Krok: it’s way worse! HA! And hard to spray.
sounds like worth trying though I haven’t seen this one around
I think it’s slowing making its way into Nordstrom stores…they sell it on their website which usually means it’s “out there.”
We don’t have Nordstrom here in Poland and I would be scared to blind buy this one. Maybe this will make its way to Sephora or Douglas someday
Ben Sherman is a British men’s clothing brand. I know they have a freestanding store in Boston, maybe they have one in Poland? Or maybe you could contact their customer service to see if they’ll send you a sample?
Geez. I thought the bottle was the box. And when I thought it was the box, I liked it! Now that I know it’s a bottle, it kinda looks dangerous–pointy and like it’s gonna fall apart.
On the other hand, the fragrance sounds interesting. Kevin, in your mind, is this at all unisex?
MR: The plastic would break if you hit someone on the head with this bottle! (I think this one veers masculine more than unisex)
Mmm, this sounds interesting– a perfume unfolding in reverse, base to top– and all the notes sound very appealing as you describe their development. This goes on my must-try list!
Olenska: it deserves a sniff…I hope it does not get “lost” … not much PR so far.
The bottle is very pointy and sharp, if that makes sense – it’s not something I’d put under my pillow. Ridiculous design. Interestingly though, it seems to be quite a bit cheaper here in Australia…? Quite rare that that happens!
Sheree: it’s cheaper in the UK too.
“beyond-avon-ugly” haha! too funny!
Lalicias: I’ve seen my fair share of Avon bottles over the years!
Oh my. You had me at cardamom flavored coffee and then you finished me off at hay.
Alyssa: I just love the scents of hay and broom (Scottish)
I like the bottle. It’s so ugly it’s sort of cool.
The fragrance does not sound like something I’d like but I will definitely try it when I see it (if I don’t don’t drop it on my toe first, trying to spray it from the bottle).
Ah, good point, Mike! I didn’t even think about the risks of spraying! Could be dangerous.
Mike: the bottle is so lightweight it won’t hurt your toe.
I suppose I’m in the minority, but the bottle works for me, because it’s kind of a wrecked, monochromatic British flag (or actually the Newfoundland provincial flag, and that’s where I’m from). I’ll trust you that it’s cheap-feeling, but to look at? I like.
R: lots of people raved about the bottle when the perfume was introduced. In heavy black glass it could have worked for me…but the crappy plastic ruins it ..the bad design of the cap…the necessity for a huge “finger span” in order to spritz comfortably. Too much…too bad. HA!
Kevin, this bottle is scary! Looks like a piano damaged during the earthquake or two broken coffins.. plus some UK flag (in black). Surreal, isn’t it?
The description of the smell itself looks good, though. Will have to overcome my fear and check this out at Nordstrom.
Behemot: maybe Nordstrom will have a less horrifying tester bottle?
Yeah, let’s hope. that at least the flagship store in Downtown Seattle will have sth less terrifying.
Hope they do not have a gigantic 3D ad of the frag, featuring this bottle…
I like the bottle if only it were made of glass. I can imagine how cheap it would look irl made with plastic. The juice sounds delectable though and the fact that it starts with the base notes up makes it even more interesting! I shall seek it out at Nordstrom.
Kevin I thought you’d killed me with that chocolate incensey thing before Christmas but this sounds great too! Hay – one of my favourite notes. And it’s available in the UK? Will check it out. I need a splitting project but I must admit to being scared of that bottle in the context of having to spray it to make up decants….
Happy New Year All!
Dona: Yes, you can buy it in the UK (less expensive than in the U.S.) and you’ll get a cramp in your hand as you fill up decant after decant!
Normally i dont let the bottle influence my buying decision, but this one is so clunky i think i wouldnt buy it even i i liked the juice. Sadly, i tried it, and i wasnt even inspired to let it run its due course. I threw the test strip out as i left the store.
What did you not like about it, Rictor? Too gourmande?
It seemed ‘stale’ to me. I don’t know how else to describe it.
Rictor: I would immediately decant this into a PLAIN bottle if I bought it.
I can see this bottle about two weeks after opening the box, with multiple big chips and cracks in the plastic from dropping it. It won’t look nearly as enticing in the clearance bin all broken up.
Ikat: the oil from fingertips does not do the bottle any favors either…OK, I’m not going to trash this bottle anymore! HA!
Love the idea of coffee and hay – not mad keen on spearmint! Hope it’s just a passing note and will give this one a try when I find it.
Bejoux: yes, the spearmint is fleeting
They have it at their flagship store downtown, yes?
I’ve been meaning to get back down there to sniff some more bond no. 9 scents, so I might as well give this a smell too.