Zino Davidoff by Davidoff

Coming from an eclectic collection always dominated by masculine scents, I stumbled upon this and was pleasantly surprised. The opening is ultra-sharp, with that classic masculine blend of lavender, herbal notes, and soapy freshness, but the composition is intriguing: throughout the dry-down, there’s a distinct animalic touch, reminiscent of civet or YSL’s Kouros. The heart becomes more benevolent, revealing a fougère with floral nuances, a surprising vanilla, and patchouli. The base ties everything together with woods, making it truly timeless. It’s not for everyone; I’d recommend it to men aged 30 and above, unless you have a very specific personality. Longevity is 7 to 10 hours, with a projection of about a metre and a half.

A perfume that smells of old age—not the 80s, but of old age. It’s not a pleasant scent; it’s a fougère from the last century. My eight-year-old son told me I smelled bad. A child doesn’t distinguish notes, but they know what smells bad or good, and I think he explained it better than anyone could. Those with a nostalgic bent might find something familiar, but to say it smells… well, it simply smells bad.

Everything has already been said: a 10. One of the top four or five fougères in history, words to live by. I haven’t heard a dry-down comparable to this in any other fragrance. The current formula still holds its magic. Buy it.

I’ve read that Zino is similar to Tom Ford. No, dear, Zino was born in 1986, while Beau de Jour came out in 2020. It’s Beau de Jour that resembles Zino. And if a house like Tom Ford clones the scent of Zino, there’s little more to say. It’s an extremely rich fragrance, though not for everyone, given that sweet and potent scents dominate today. The more I use it, the more I like it; I’ve already used one of my bottles, the only one in my modest collection, and I’ll have to buy another because this will stay on my shelf for life. Long live King Zino.

Zino Davidoff EDT is a classic that smells of a golden age, of masculinity without artifice, and of cultured seduction. It’s not easy or youthful, but if you understand it, it can offer you something that very few modern perfumes provide: a soul.

Excellent fragrance not for children; it’s for an alpha male full stop.

One of my favourite fougères; Zino is strangely delicious. It opens with bergamot and lavender as the genre demands but adds rosewood something unusual in a fougère that makes it unique. The heart is an intoxicating bouquet of rose jasmine lily and geranium… but the flowers seem on the verge of wilting with a hint of rot peering through. Potpourri? Not exactly. Here come the heavy hitters: earthy chocolatey patchouli creamy sandalwood robust cedar and dry amber. To finish a pinch of vanilla. It’s a jewel especially in cooler climates. It’s said that Beau de Jour by Tom Ford and Héritage by Guerlain were inspired by it. I haven’t tried them but this is for scholarly gentlemen with a dark air and refined sexual passion. At $20 for 125ml it’s a working-class hero brought to us by the King of Cigars. (Though I recommend the vintage Lancaster version which is worth four times the price and is well worth it).

Spectacular fragrance masculine and addictive. The opening is a bit sharp but after 20 minutes it transforms into a very addictive masculine mysterious sexual and highly attractive scent; it reminds me a lot of the classic Le Male sharing many notes. A very captivating perfume alpha male and very sexual one of my favourites for conquest; no woman can resist this scent.

Getting 125ml of this for £20—at least in Spain—must be one of the biggest bargains in perfumery. We are looking at a masterpiece of those rarely seen these days. It’s an 80s perfume and needs to be understood in its context but I don’t think it has aged badly or smells dated; rather it smells atypical as it is a proposal that was not in style in designer perfumes then or now. It smells floral but tremendously masculine; rather than seriousness like many of the old school it conveys mystery. If Tom Ford bottled this in his price range nobody would say a word and it would be much more popular. There are reviews talking about the current Zino as if it were a dud and discouraging its purchase. Obviously all 80s perfumes have undergone reformulations. I have a batch of Lancaster from 15 years ago (also reformulated but it usually gets good press) and a recent edition from Coty (2023) and it is definitely reformulated but I wouldn’t say necessarily for the worse. The old batch feels more animal and dense especially in the opening whereas the current one is finer and more delicate highlighting that clean sensation of rosewood and floral notes. Personally I enjoy the latter more. I understand that those who knew it 30 years ago may feel dissonance but I’m sure that among those who don’t know it many would prefer the new version which doesn’t seem badly reformulated nor betrays the spirit of the original Zino; it has simply adapted to the times and the restrictions of modern perfumery. As for performance it’s correct and adequate asking for contained projection not disco explosions. While it doesn’t last long it’s well felt for the first two hours and reapplying at these prices does no harm. It’s compared to Héritage and although they are in the same olfactory family they are quite different; Zino is darker whereas in Héritage the aldehydes and that brand DNA they shared with Guerlain stand out. I find Davidoff’s more magical despite being much cheaper although both are great works and not redundant. At the price it can be found there’s nothing left but to encourage its purchase even blind. Perhaps it’s not for everyday use but if you’re interested in that refined and creative perfumery of the past this work by Michel Almairac is worth knowing.

I don’t have enough characters to review this perfume. Something to acknowledge is that it costs little and smells like it costs more. I wouldn’t say it offends people at most they won’t love it but I think it’s far from making them run away.

I’m correcting my earlier opinion now that I own Zino at home; it genuinely caught me off guard. I hadn’t tested a decant before, but once applied to skin, wow, it’s incredible that at 38 it remains such a delightful scent in an era where everything is unisex. It has excellent trail and projection; yesterday at two hours, when it started to rain, the fragrance seemed to wake up, launching powerful bursts. I’m not sure if it’s the Brazilian rose, but it adds a sparkling touch that smells wonderful. The dry-down is masterful, in my view, and I adore it. If you appreciate classics, age doesn’t matter; this is a triumph, pure masculinity. // Recently I bought a fragrance on Vinted and the seller gifted me a Zino decant; I fell in love at first sniff. I wear it every night before bed and it’s a pure pleasure. I’ve already ordered a bottle from the same site at a price I can’t resist, a 2018 Coty batch. I hope that batch hasn’t suffered changes, but since I have the small vial, I’ll keep refilling it if needed. It’s a gem 💎

It hasn’t been discontinued; the current reformulation is still coming off the line. I have a 2022 batch and I love it, although, like all perfumes from this house, they’ve been sacrificed to lower the price. It’s a classic with character, a very special floral and herbal blend, neither sweet nor old despite the years. Current projection is low, staying almost skin-scented, so don’t be misled by older reviews. Today Zino lives cheap and weak, just like Cool Water: rich aromas surviving at a low-cost price with little strength. The bottle, cap, and atomiser are endearing for being ugly and of dubious quality; the box is also classic and anachronistic. It’s for personal enjoyment, elegant and discreet. Sweet flowers without being cloying, little trail but whoever wears it smells different because it’s not overused in 2023. Recommended due to the price, absolutely.

I’d never smelled it until recently; how hadn’t I considered it? This is practically a Beau de Jour but five times cheaper and, if that weren’t enough, more intense, without worrying about the dreaded and cynical TF reformulations. Definitely I’m going for the vintage version, the Lancaster.

I bought it blind because the perfumer is the great Michael Almairac, the father of Fahrenheit. That convinced me. Although I read it could be a bit vintage, I didn’t care. The bottle is rough, but I only wanted to try the juice. The opening didn’t take to my liking, but after ten minutes it started to evolve and by an hour it was brilliant. In terms of price and quality, it’s a must-buy. I was surprised by the longevity; I have dry skin and most fragrances don’t last long on me, but Zino lasted my entire workday (from 8 to 16/17 hours). I’ve smelled it on my wrist all day because it’s vintage, old school, elegant, sober, mysterious and magnetic. Perhaps it’s a little lugubrious, but not like Lalique’s Encre Noir; rather, it’s mature and intriguing. It’s not for anyone under 30. I’ve worn it in spring and summer and at night, and it’s very good. It doesn’t seek compliments; it’s made for 40/50-year-olds who don’t need them. I liked it more than Bulgari’s Man in Black, and that says a lot.

Today I wore Zino Davidoff and hadn’t tried it in years. This fragrance broke the old aromatic stereotype that no one dared to touch. Although the opening is strong and a bit odd, it’s in the dry-down where it regains all its masculinity and classic character. Today it still seems fantastic, unique and authentic. Despite being on the market for almost 40 years, I’m still surprised. It smells like the testosterone of a hairy, bearded man with class, fearless of anything. It’s charming, original and beautiful. A jewel that shines on its own and stands the test of time. It’s not a trend; it’s a classic, stately scent for adults. Scent: 10. Projection: moderate. Longevity: 8 hours. Recommended.