The Game by Davidoff

This The Game (the poker chip version) feels very woody, aromatic and intense to me; you can detect the smell of precious woods combined with iris and gin, creating something sophisticated, dense and powdery.

Batch 2023, clear bottle, it’s a short-lasting cologne with moderate sillage for the first two hours; it generates compliments while lasting for two or three hours, then disappears. On clothes, it lasts a bit longer, perhaps five hours. It’s a simple, common and well-known fragrance, without much fuss or glory; if you can get it for $20, it’s worth it, anything more is not.

I gifted it to my husband without trying it and it didn’t disappoint. The masculine scent is well-crafted and remains relevant in 2023. It has good longevity and a good price. It’s a fragrance for daily wear or work. The only thing I have to criticise is that they’ve changed the bottle; it used to be the original with the chips, now it’s a different one.

Undoubtedly what could have been a well-made Andrés Croxatto Man; it smells very similar but with far superior performance for about a fifth or sixth of the price of that infamous ACM.

Sweet synthetic iris, slightly sticky and super addictive. The price is so good you could buy 299,393 bottles. It’s moderate in every sense; DaviRoF is a great quality-price brand. The only thing is that at first it smells of alcohol, but by the second spray the gin note enters, noticeable within 10 seconds.

French bottle, another hidden gem from Davidoff at a great price. They prove that quality, long-lasting, and tasteful fragrances can be made in the budget range. It smells clean, with a floral-citrus touch that works brilliantly, finishing with a woody dry-down. The phases are distinct: a soft juniper-gin note at the start, followed by a talc-free iris and a woody finish. That transition from iris to wood is delicious. It’s not super original, but neither is it generic; it lasts 6-8 hours. It doesn’t smell like 1M or 212 VIP; it has its own relaxed, youthful personality and is very versatile. Worth trying. PS: the bottle is beautiful and well-made.

Beautiful bottle containing an exquisite rarity. The power of the juniper, the aromatic gin, and the ebony wood which recalls half-fermented loose tea create a unique sensation on the dry-down. The iris is subterranean and subtle; in fact, at the start of the dry-down, it leaves a balsamic woody tone, similar to Zippo. Dress code Black: 9.5 for originality and 8.5 for the scent; I loved it. Longevity 9-10 hours on skin and clothes. If you buy it, choose the French version, not the Swiss one; it seems there was a reformulation that lowered the performance.

A woody touch leaning towards aromatic, ideal for daily wear or the office. At first, a sweet touch is perceived (like 1 Million), then it leaves a smoky scent (I imagine it’s the ebony) with very pleasant gin. It doesn’t disappoint; it’s not invasive, lingers for a long time, isn’t generic, and feels a bit formal. Many say it’s a mix between Bleu de Chanel and Invictus and they’re right, although it’s very similar to a fragrance called Zeus by Kelsey Berwin which doesn’t appear on Fragrantica. Scent 9, Longevity 8, Projection 7, Price 7.

The Game by Davidoff is a pleasant fragrance, with a sweet and fruity opening very similar to recent ones like Rhythm by Burberry or Emblem by Mont Blanc. I thought I smelled violet leaves but they aren’t listed; perhaps the mix of juniper berries and gin gave me that perception. It stays this way for a while, but subtly the iris with woody notes starts to become noticeable, until after three hours the fragrance becomes more powdery, though not as much as Dior Homme. It’s not very original in concept, but it’s well-made; it doesn’t bother or feel harsh to the nose, despite being low-priced, which is a plus as it doesn’t require much investment to smell rich. Ideal for those starting to buy their first fragrances. Suitable from young people (15+) to mature adults (40-50). For casual events, school, going out with friends or a partner. Regular projection and longevity over 8 hours.

To me, it smells very similar to 212 VIP, but fresher, tastier and younger, at the same time very masculine and elegant due to its sweet (berry)-woody scent at a comfortable price compared to other houses. Special for cold climates, meetings and night outs. In short, a good perfume of price and quality.

At first it smells freshly showered, a bit of gin, but it doesn’t last long. Quickly it shifts to a fruity tone, almost like melon bubblegum (I’ve never heard of iris flower) and it starts smelling more like a women’s perfume. Not very masculine, a bit too sweet. Could work for young guys starting to hit the clubs.