Brut by Brut Parfums Prestige

Very special and pleasant scent, smells strongly of anise with a herbal finish. I imagine people in black-and-white movies smelling this. The longevity is reasonable. Not for daily use, but ideal after a shower to relax at home without rushing.

Brut is no longer the classic by Fabergé. It was reformulated so badly it smells like those supermarket waters or cheap shampoo. It’s a sweet, messy artificial concoction. Fabergé was a marvel of lavender and balance; this is a disappointing shadow of the 1960s fougères, lacking personality and body.

At the local Hiper drugstore, I was hunting for old-school colognes. I tried Tabu and Equinox, but found Brut tucked away downstairs for just €5.95. I grabbed the skin-texture version; it’s a bit more worn but far superior. It hits strong at first—citrusy and alcoholic, like fresh gin with a dirty edge, reminiscent of an older woman’s handbag. It doesn’t last long, but we spray it on well, and if it wears off, we just top up.

Extremely cheap at around €4-5 for 100ml, offering excellent value for money. It’s ideal for everyday wear, with its timeless charm. It doesn’t smell of an old man; it’s very correct. For the price, don’t expect great longevity or a heavy sillage, but since it’s so affordable, you just reapply and you’re good. I recommend giving it a try.

Classic and perfect for everyday wear without spending much or complicating things. It’s ‘old school’, slightly sweet, citrusy, and fougere, but less soapy than typical barbershop scents. It doesn’t smell of an old man to me (though it does remind me of Givenchy Gentleman). In my opinion, it’s suitable for people aged 30 and above.

Back in 1976, Brut was the king of men’s fragrance, worn by Elvis, Ali, and Roger Moore. Over time, unisex and aquatic trends emerged, and Brut dropped in status to become the scent of blue-collar workers and budget-conscious students. Lately, with the beard trend, they’re trying to reclaim its glory.

Brut is a classic fern fragrance, a lifetime staple with its own following. It smells fresh, comforting, natural, and very masculine, like waking up, showering, and shaving to get ready. It’s simple: fern, crystal lavender, soft florals, woods, and a spicy-sweet tonka bean. It’s the typical barbershop scent, soapy yet neat. The projection and longevity are good enough to apply with joy. There are many versions, but the main ones are the EDT (the classic, my favourite), the Classic Reserve (more complex but shorter lasting), and the Splash (plastic-y, more citrusy). I’ve also seen a vintage 70s version with oakmoss. It survived the 70s and 80s and remains wonderful for conservative fern lovers. It’s one of my favourites; I use it up quickly.

A few days ago my brother gifted me this fragrance. Of the top notes, the ones I notice best are lemon, lavender and a faint anise, leaving a scent on the skin that reminds me of toiletry soap. It is a soft and very pleasant smell. Of all the colognes he has, this is the one I like the most.

It’s impressive how good it is for the price… I bought it for €4.95 and can’t understand how it costs so little when it’s so good. At first, it smells similar to Boucheron’s Jaïpur, but within 30 seconds the lavender, anise, and other notes emerge and change it. It might faintly recall Azzaro Pour Homme at the start, but then the vetiver, oakmoss, and coumarin transform it into something akin to Paco Rabanne Pour Homme. I’m fascinated by how easily it evolves. The trail is soft, but if you apply more, it reaches a moderate sillage. It lasts about 3-4 hours on my skin. Highly recommended. My bottle is glass, not plastic.

Brut is a classic. It has been used for a thousand years. That does not stop it from smelling good on gentlemen.

OOF!… Difficult to review this cologne. Difficult for two reasons: first, because I still cannot identify the notes and can only speak in generalities. And second, because of my attachment to the fragrance, which prevents me from being objective. It was my scent at high school, which in Chile is secondary school. I remember that sweetish aroma that would set itself as a personal mark on clothes, and especially on the scarf on cold mornings. I agree that it is simple and cheap, but that did not stop the girls from coming up to smell my neck and sigh. Perhaps the smell reminded them of their parents or grandparents (hehe, who knows!). Quite aromatic; I can distinguish lavender and basil. Then jasmine appears. In the end, on the clothes, it leaves a sweet, woody and herbal aroma, which I suppose is patchouli, moss and sandalwood. The description is a bit vague, perhaps.

I agree with the previous reviews. My father used it; a gentleman’s fragrance, you cannot expect more from a 1964 classic. I cannot break it down; it is masculine and simple, nothing fussy. I also find it very green, in keeping with its bottle. The scent reminds me of the 1990s. I cannot add more.

My brother had this when he was a lad, at fourteen, and it lasted him years. I suppose it was a gift from someone (perhaps my father), which is why he treasured it (I liked its metal plaque), although he didn’t use it much. In fact, he left it at home when he went to university and then he started using Karl Lagerfeld. It wasn’t the typical cologne with a massive trail in the style of Agua Brava, nor an aftershave; it was a cologne with a sweetish scent that I attribute to coumarin, lavender, moss, vetiver and geranium, something fresh and anise-like with a touch of bergamot. I remember that, but little more… it doesn’t leave a strong impression and I don’t think it is relevant (I apologise to those who have an affection for it). It was the typical ‘man smell’ of more than 20 or 30 years ago.