Good Life by Davidoff

My first signature scent, the king of favourites even though it’s no longer available. A masterpiece from the late 90s, that era of super-composed fragrances with over 10 notes. A classic and delicious aroma that leaves no one indifferent… Masculinity in a bottle, nothing richer than this. Definitely 10/10 for eternity.

What a pleasant surprise! I love going to a shop in my town and stumbling upon discontinued fragrances. Today, among several options, I found this at a ridiculous price; I bought it just because it was so cheap… Upon applying it, I felt I had smelled it before, but no, it was the first time. DKNY Men came to mind, but no, this doesn’t resemble it either. After four hours, I realised it reminds me hugely of Live Jazz by Yves Saint Laurent. I don’t know why, as they don’t share notes initially, but I can’t help but see a huge parallel. Perhaps this is much richer in ingredients, with more weight and presence than Live Jazz, which for me suffered from subtlety. What a pity this perfumery has been lost and no one tries to recover it. It’s unacceptable that there’s no place in the market for this type of fragrance. It’s totally current; if they relaunched it with a different bottle or a better campaign, I’m sure it would sell more than other scents, as I found it more aromatic than musky. Moderate trail but old-school, not like today’s. Previously, a moderate fragrance radiated a true moderate scent for 6-8 hours. I’ve loved finding something like this, even though this type of fragrance isn’t my favourite, but before greatness, there is only surrender. Let’s hope it returns!!

A smile, a glance, a ray of sunshine. ‘Good Life’ by Davidoff is like a three-chord pop song, simple and balsamic. It belongs to those friendly greens that proliferated in the late 90s and stayed there because they were already a bit old-school in conception, though they have little to do with powerful and dark aromatics. Again, the name is excellent, very appropriate, because it turns out to be optimistic and happy. It has a bit of ‘Cool Water’ air, in its fresh and aquatic conception, ideal for spring-summer, but it slides into more herbal nuances, more nature-oriented, with a heartwarming sweetness that hovers over its duration from start to finish. The opening is very white, very sparkling, with melon nuances to which a spectacular fig leaf note adheres. With these concise brushstrokes, ‘Good Life’ draws a scene of a sunny, luminous morning in the countryside, while breezes bring to our nose the scent of ripening fruits. There it finds its tone, which later oscillates around floral notes without ever losing that ‘sweet green’ that defines it and gives it its life and charm. A man enjoying a mountain walk, with no concern other than recreating himself in nature. The projection is good, neither too strong nor too weak, and the longevity is very good; you’re immersed in that bed of grass accompanied by the song of birds all the time. Life has changed a lot and excursions to the countryside no longer serve unless it’s for sport dressed like a futuristic Martian; the male imaginary today is another, decidedly vulgar and opaque in its intentions, so Good Life has no space in a commercial frame. One of the last great perfumes of the 90s.

*Good Life* by Davidoff. It’s not just another perfume; inside that bottle are many things that represent life itself. Applying it is synonymous with witnessing and enjoying a ‘perfect day’: the well-being of knowing everything is in harmony and never ends… It’s sunny, early autumn in an April month, warm days at noon and fresh in the evening. 23 degrees with low humidity. The sky is completely blue, cloudless, and an immense silence is heard until birds start singing. Good Life is synonymous with joy; the name represents it exactly. Its longevity increases instead of ending in less than two hours like any current perfume. It lasted almost a day for me, and its trail accompanies me wherever I go like my beautiful lover. Good Life is not just a perfume; inside are moments and situations where one could never stop smiling or feel true ‘pure happiness’ within oneself; it’s impossible not to share such sensations. It’s impossible not to write a review to my Good Life, which I love so much. If they relaunched it, I would be as happy as those perfect days that don’t always repeat and must be enjoyed as if they were the last. It reminds me much of the ’90s, a decade where I was perhaps too happy, where memories return to my heart and mind. Its fresh and sweet aroma, due to its almond note, better represented in a perfume. Pure nature, full of love and peace, as my childhood once was. Opening it and smelling it makes me forget I’m in 2018 and connects me back to that era. Closing my eyes, a beautiful Deep Forest track and its great hit ‘Sweet Lullaby’ appear in my musical memory. The best men’s perfume could be here… Forever Good Life and thanks for the moments lived.

Good Life Lejos is the best figgy-note perfume I’ve tried. It has perfect longevity and trail. They should never have discontinued a masterpiece like this. The best from the Davidoff house. I also own Voyage by Hermès, another great perfume I like very much; in my opinion, they don’t resemble each other even in the slightest. The Good Life is a very masculine, very classic perfume in the old-school style. In its opening, I feel it quite sweet and herbal; the almond note is very prominent and that fascinates me. In the dry-down, you will feel the fig note all the time; it’s fascinating. Let’s hope they relaunch it; it would be a very satisfying purchase.

It’s a soft-scented perfume but very long-lasting, with a great trail and personality; wherever you go, you make a mark. Pity that here in Mexico I can no longer find it.