Astor fragrance notes
- sandalwood, caraway
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Latest Reviews of Astor


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The theme is of a standard cologne with the added spice and astringency of what is listed here as caraway; but I wouldn't be surprised if artemesia and/or cumin were in there as well. Jasmine, citrus, and aromatics are present as a matter of course for the genre.
Good to try and nice to know that a throwback such as this is still available. I can't say it has really grabbed my imagination at the moment, though, although that might change in time.

I think what's most notable about Astor is its refined subtlety. Most masculine woody chypres are, almost by definition, loud and brutal. But Astor doesn't have the nuclear patchouli or hawthorn that belch out from your typical 80's powerhouses, and it also lacks the Aramis-inspired herbal dank that adds ugliness to so many masculine classics. Instead, it's carefully balanced between woody, spiced, and sweet. Sillage and longevity fiends may want to skip Astor (or, for that matter, pretty much the entire Trumper line), as it is content to wave out subtle spicy wood sillage that lasts all day without the crass shouting that some woody chypre aficionados require. But, if you love the genre, Astor is very much worth a sniff.




Astor is brighter and fruitier with sour apple for a while (?), but it gets weak fast. Drydown is pleasant dusty hay and pencils, but almost too weak to evaluate. Perhaps like a much weaker Tuscany or Burberry Original.




The only Astor family Americans are familiar with is that of our first millionaire, John Jacob Astor (1763-1848), who made his money in the fur business and established himself and his family as the first of the four hundred in New York City society during the gilded age of the late nineteenth century.
That said, I must assume this Trumper scent is named for William Waldorf (1848-1919), first Viscount Astor.
All Trumper will tell us of its notes are sandalwood and caraway, but Basenotes reviewers (there are 16 of them as of this writing) have detected a plethora of others: cumin; artemisia; mint; cedar; pine; oak moss; coumarin; lemon; sage; and vetiver.
It's also been described as a woody chypre, a fougere and a spicy floral.
My impression is that it is a spicy chypre, similar in design to the plethora of men's powerhouse scents of a century later (the 1980s). I detect certainly the caraway and a restrained use of oak moss, vetiver and cedar. There is a sweetness that I believe is due to a balance of clary sage, lemon and lavender. I certainly do get an impression of spice, but perhaps that is the caraway speaking in another voice. Galbanum may also be present to provide the very green overall voice.
My spouse found it comforting and bracing, dry with (to his nose) soft hints of lavender and rose.
When I first reviewed this back in 2007, I was a neophyte re scents and was put off by the chypre genre. Over the years I have come to love it and find that Astor is one of the very best. It is enjoyable to learn that the powerhouse 80s of the 20th century was merely a repeat of a century prior. Highly recommended.