Open by Roger & Gallet (1985)

[odysseusm]

This is a good, old-school scent in the Old Spice category of spicy wood. Here, the wood probably is sandalwood, with a creamy and soapy aspect. Very barbershop throughout. I feel there is nutmeg here, along with the cardamom. Could be a bit heavy and sweet if over-applied, and probably best for cooler weather. Bit of earthy vetiver at the end, and even a spicy incense sort of note.

Top Notes: amalfi lemon, bergamot, lavender
Heart Notes: sage, thyme
Base Notes: patchouli, vetiver, tobacco
The R&G site listed mandarin orange, sage, cardamom, and aromatic wood.

 

[Toxicon]

I find this strangely hard to wear, though I generally like it. It feels like such a soft, soapy scent that I'm tempted to spray more, yet even two sprays ends up feeling like one too many. I think my nose craves more of the aromatics and spices that are humming along beneath the surface, but spraying more just makes the soap note too strong. Still an interesting scent for sure.

 

[tinfoilhatdude]

Wow, I have to spray 6-8 pumps to be able to smell this for longer than 15 minutes.

Do y'all have vintage bottles? I have a newer-ish bottle, maybe I should seek something from the 90's or earlier?

 

[hednic]

A classic from this house. Remember when it first launched. Loved it then and still love it now.

 

[Jean-Sté]

I have a vintage one. It lasts very long on my skin.

I like this one very much, as his young brother, L'Homme.

 

[Toxicon]

Wow, I have to spray 6-8 pumps to be able to smell this for longer than 15 minutes.

Do y'all have vintage bottles? I have a newer-ish bottle, maybe I should seek something from the 90's or earlier?

Mine's a recent purchase but a May 2019 batch, and yeah, pretty powerful performer overall. 1 spray is really all I need, and it lasts all day, but I've gone as heavy as three sprays before. EDIT: probably worth noting that I don't like to spray anything very heavily, so YMMV. The most I ever spray is maybe 6 sprays for something really light like Dior Homme Cologne.

Perhaps there's a note that makes you nose blind? I know my recent bottle of Fahrenheit is quite strong and easily detected by others for a good 12 hours, but if I spray too close to my face, I can't smell it past the first 15-20 minutes. But then I'll apply differently, and it's a steady performer all day long. Weird how that works.

 

[tinfoilhatdude]

Mine's a recent purchase but a May 2019 batch, and yeah, pretty powerful performer overall. 1 spray is really all I need, and it lasts all day, but I've gone as heavy as three sprays before. EDIT: probably worth noting that I don't like to spray anything very heavily, so YMMV. The most I ever spray is maybe 6 sprays for something really light like Dior Homme Cologne.

Perhaps there's a note that makes you nose blind? I know my recent bottle of Fahrenheit is quite strong and easily detected by others for a good 12 hours, but if I spray too close to my face, I can't smell it past the first 15-20 minutes. But then I'll apply differently, and it's a steady performer all day long. Weird how that works.

Interesting, thank you very much for the suggestion!

There's several other bottles that do this too, so I'll try changing where I apply. Maybe I'll get to enjoy them for longer than half an hour! (Francisco Smalto, Gianfranco Ferre, Montana Parfum d'Homme, and more).

 

[Toxicon]

Interesting, thank you very much for the suggestion!

There's several other bottles that do this too, so I'll try changing where I apply. Maybe I'll get to enjoy them for longer than half an hour! (Francisco Smalto, Gianfranco Ferre, Montana Parfum d'Homme, and more).

I hope it works!

Sorry to derail, but I find this fascinating for some reason. I have a few fragrances I can't seem to smell over time, and I suspect it's a particular ingredient that blows out my nose. Guerlain Homme L'Eau Boisee is probably the worst offender, and I have similar issues with Encre Noire and Terre d'Hermes (all of which have large doses of ISO E, but who knows if it's that). They all go on strong, then disappear almost immediately. Throughout the day I get little wafts of scent and realize they're still there and quite present, but it's like my brain can't register it past the first exposure. Sometimes I get better performance by spraying further from my face; sometimes it doesn't work.

My bottle of Burberry London does this in a different way, where I just can't smell the notes others describe. It's still quite nice but it's like I'm smelling an entirely different scent (no spices, tobacco, or port wine, just soft florals and a hint of leather). At first I thought it was a reformulation; now I suspect it's my nose either failing to register something or fixating on a different element. L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme is another one; I get zero citrus from my carded sample, not even a hint of it, just a crushing wave of rotting white florals. My takeaway: brains and sensory organs are weird.

 

[odysseusm]

That is interesting, Toxicon. I am fairly sensitive to scents, so I almost always apply one or two spritzes on my wrist, and then will be able to smell that for 10-12+ hours. Some trusted scents will also get a daub on my neck.

My issue (if you can call it that) is that I rarely get the top notes of some scents. Whether it is my skin chemistry or temperature, many scents immediately go to the heart notes for me. I tested this "empirically" when I was on a scent trip with a female friend. We both sprayed a scent (Tam Dao) on our wrists. We each agreed that it was totally different on each of our wrists for the first 20 minutes, then hers wound up where mine had been at the beginning.

 

[Martialisaragon]

Personally, I've found out that this has become a love for me. The drydown can be a little bit challenging, almost harsh, but that is also what keeps me coming back to it, I believe. I am also very fond of the citrus-sweet opening and heart. I have an 80's bottle.

 

[Salumbre]

The best cheapie I have ever found. Smells like a million bucks. Unassuming, unpretentious elegance that can be worn with jeans or a suit.

 

[Toxicon]

It's fun to read my 2021 comments on this, when my bottle was a recent acquisition. I like it much more now. INSANE value proposition, and a fascinating scent overall. The tobacco note is similar to what's in Aramis Havana, but Open stays dry and doesn't pivot to sweetness in the same way.

I should really try the Black and Gold flankers while they're still cheap...

 

[Martialisaragon]

I should really try the Black and Gold flankers while they're still cheap...

The Black is very decent, soapy-green and lasts very well. Not sinister in any way, maybe just a tad more suspense would have been welcome but that is to be petty, really. Overall an incredible value.
The Gold did my better half like more at first before I did myself. It reminds both her and me a little bit of Nivea cream and is oddly pleasant. Not complex but for the price very attractive.