As staple for the late 90’s and early 2000’s, it seemed every guy had this one. And it was a beast. The question is raised: Are the current formulations and clones similar to the original, or must we look elsewhere to get those notes of juniper, amber, cactus, and lavender that we loved so much. Let’s dive in. Liz Claiborne’s Curve for Men. The original. I applied this today, and immediately, I was taken back. This twenty year old 5 mL bottle smells exactly as I remembered it. Smooth, deep woody, ambery, lavender, with a unique cactus undercurrent. There is also a slight peppery and juniper note. There is pineapple listed as a note, but I do not detect that at all, and I can’t say that I remember a pineapple note at all either when I wore it decades ago. So I do not think that top note has degraded over time. It must be and has been a subtle accenting note if it was even there. But did I say this fragrance is smooth? Dang, it’s good. Curve was coming out of the “complex” era of fragrances where the notes were many and well blended. So individual note details are hard to describe, and the fragrance functions as a whole. This is a strictly linear fragrance and doesn’t change much if at all over its lifespan. As for performance, it has decent projection, but not crazy. Again, this one works well in a work space, but spray heavier if outdoors or in an open space. It does lend itself to cooler weather because it does feel thicker and heavy, but it could be worn in an evening setting during warmer weather. As for longevity, it projected nicely for at least 5 hours, then it was a skin scent. It was gone in 8 hours. In 2011, Liz Claiborne was acquired by Elizabeth Arden Co. and the Claiborne name was dropped from the label. And alas, the downhill slide from there is real. Elizabeth Arden’s Curve for Men. I would like to think that I am not aggravated by many things. But this is one of them. I do not know why, but synthetic rubbing alcohol pineapple is where they thought this fragrance needed to be. The pineapple is up front, and not in a good way like Aventus DNA. Though I can’t help but think they brought the pineapple forward after Aventus’ success. The opening doesn’t smell like I remember the fragrance at all, and when compared to LC Curve, that seems truer than ever. The opening is just awful. For one hour, this is a vastly different fragrance. Then, to say something nice, it finally lands pretty close to the original late in its life as the pineapple alcohol evaporates away. Although it does seem to lean a tad bit more on the black pepper and juniper; and the cactus note seems absent. As for performance, this is right on par with the original. And as for longevity it is a skin scent after 5 hours. It actually may last just a tad longer than the original, just a tad longer.

Inspired by: Gissada Ambassador Men Day 10 of my Aromatix reviews, and in top stop is Frostbite. From the first spray the opening is juicy and energetic with blueberry, mango and apple, giving a sweet, slightly tangy fruit burst that feels bright and almost fizzy, while bergamot and cardamom add a crisp citrus sparkle and a subtle spicy edge that keeps it from feeling overly sugary. It’s a very lively opening - fresh, fruity and attention-grabbing without being childish. As it settles, the fragrance becomes smoother and more aromatic with lavender and pink pepper adding a clean, slightly spicy freshness, while vetiver brings a dry, earthy backbone that keeps everything balanced. The fruitiness softens here, blending into a more refined, almost “blue fragrance” style profile but with that unique fruity twist still present. In the dry down, the scent turns warmer and more structured as amber, vanilla and sandalwood take over, creating a smooth, slightly creamy base, while patchouli and oakmoss add depth and a subtle earthiness that gives the fragrance a more mature finish. Performance is strong for this style, generally around 8–10 hours on me with solid projection early on, leaving a fruity-woody trail that’s noticeable and easy to like. Overall rating: 9.3/10 Overall, this feels like a fruity, more playful take on a fresh “blue” fragrance DNA, blending juicy fruits with clean aromatics and warm woods, making it versatile enough for everyday wear, especially in spring and summer when you want something fresh but still a bit different. so 1st place for me as much more versatile and all year rounded than Platine Blanc. Overall my current Aromatix top 10 which could change at any time, can see Naughty Dates moving up the list. It’s a nice collection with scents which between them all could accommodate most occasions. 1. Frostbite 2. Platine Blanc 3. Forbidden Fruit 4. Magnetiq 5. Naughty Dates 6. Sunkissed 7. Teas Me 8. Royal Taboo 9. Carnal Desire 10. X Xandal

Decided to pull this fave out for a coolish day in Amsterdam. As the vacation winds down This one seemed like an easy reach for me. I know the mineralic notes aren't for everyone and I did get a backup bottle of this as I believe it's discontinued now which is a shame. However, I know I probably got a decent lifetime supply of this one 🤞🏼