
This review is on the classic John Player Special Eau de Cologne (1984, amazing black bottle branded by a stylized brand mark logo "JPS"), main perfumed rendition of a luxury british Tobacco Company (Imperial Tobacco Group, founded in Nottingham)-style. Excellent vintage spicy aromatic fougère with a smoky/herbal formal vibe and several features in common with more renowned cousins a la Quorum, Pomellato Uomo, Jacopo de Jacomo, Marbert Men or Trussardi Action Uomo (and with a lesser extent Drakkar Noir). There is an aromatic on citrus/coniferous needles/lavender/herbal notes/aromatic spices-founded opening and gradually (through a spicy floral transition - geranium, carnation, cumin, pepper ??) a final woods-tobacco-oakmoss-ambergris/connection. Lavender, patchouli, probably cumin, artemisia and coniferous patterns are quite dominant throughout likewise dry woods and tobacco under my profane nose (R&G Open jump as well on mind for its fresh/aromatic/floral tobacco-rendition). Smokiness (well calibrated and just adumbrated, as supported by piquant spices and perhaps a tad of olibamum) is kind of ashy, cedary and rubbery a la Jacopo de Jacomo (which is darker, spicier and supported by resins which are in JPS even present but in a less massive way). Dry down introduces a sort of aromatic fresh tobacco-like soapiness even featured by lavender and aromatic spices (Quorum jumps definitely on mind also along this phase). Lavender is kind of dominant throughout with its super aromatic/barber-shop-vibe. The whole trip is herbal, bold and versatile (this is an everyday-fragrance). This by now "departed" creation is uncompromisingly virile and classically aromatic, definitely recommended if you are lucky enough to "exhume up" a leftover vintage bottled.