Premium Blend by Original Penguin

The scent is top-notch, but I didn’t know what it was until that toasted coriander seed note appeared. The major flaw is the performance: 15 sprays didn’t last more than two hours on the skin and it doesn’t even leave a personal bubble. I wouldn’t recommend anything that lasts less than shower gel.

I had this back in 2017 and it was a delight with excellent trail and projection for the first three hours, lasting 8-10 hours on clothes and days in the laundry basket. People who didn’t know me would stop to ask what I was wearing. But since August 2023, the last two bottles tell a different story: no scent and no lasting power; they must have reformulated it. The 2022 batch projects for only 1-2 hours lightly with no trail, lasting 5-6 hours on the skin. Nevertheless, I’ll keep buying it from discount stores in the USA for $15-20 if I can find it at that price. Watch out: if you see a new bottle with good performance, grab several from the first batch before they reformulate it.

Well, here’s my take: I really wanted it because it’s highly praised on Fragrantica and YouTube, but for me it’s been a disappointment. Smelling it for the first time (blind buy from Fragrancenet) was a ‘meh’. I had high expectations based on what I’d read and hoped it would captivate me; it’s my style: citrusy, salty, summery. The truth is, I don’t feel it’s special now; it’s not bad but it doesn’t stand out, lacking power. The most prominent note is lemon, as if smelling a fruity, salty citrus candy. It’s linear and fades in a few hours. I expected more presence and olfactory hook. It’s compared to Nautica Voyage or that style, and while it does navigate those waters, it seems more similar to Nautica N83 to me, which is more interesting and has better projection. In the end, I’ll keep it just for the gym after a shower. I wanted to like it but it didn’t work out. If you want to buy it, try Nautica Voyage N83 instead; it’s cheaper and performs better; even the regular Nautica seems better than this Premium Blend. I compare it to Nautica because that’s what it’s most associated with.

Among daily wear perfumes, this should be among the best in terms of value for money. I bought it after thinking about it and it took first place in my list of fragrances for everyday use. It’s fresh, citrusy, for mornings and afternoons, informal and casual… good projection, good lasting power. A great success. I think it’s better than Nautica Voyage, Lanvin, Versace Pour Homme, Cold Benneton and about half a dozen others out there. I also bought the Iconic Blend and while it’s not bad, it didn’t meet my expectations like this one did.

I own this fragrance and I love it. It’s summery, works for any occasion and is suitable for daily wear. It’s fresh, sparkling, masculine, clean and informal, with that freshly out-of-the-shower scent. Highly recommended at an accessible price.

Oh my goodness, how delicious. I’d say so much but I’ll keep it brief: it’s like a niche version of Nautica Voyage. It bears a strong resemblance to Voyage, but with a million times more quality in its notes. Truly wonderful; the scent is addictive, clean and fresh. You can buy it blind, absolutely. Super, super delicious.

One of the best perfumes for daytime wear; light, citrusy with a touch of sweetness.

It was a total blind buy, guided by reviews and forum recommendations, and it was a hit. A very original and delicious scent; if you like marine notes, this Penguin Premium Blend will not disappoint. I’ve heard comments about its poor performance, but in my case, it lasts a solid 7 or 8 hours.

Very citrusy. Due to the lime and bergamot, perhaps a bit of mint… neither the salt nor the woods. This could be ideal when taking a sunbath on the beach, pool, coast, or in hot, humid, or tropical places. Very good for daily wear if you live where I say or are on holiday.