Zino Davidoff

A must-have classic of men's perfumery. Zino can be found at a frankly ludicrous £15 - £20 for 125ml. The blending is exceptional. It's fresh, medicinal and slightly antiseptic in the opening before giving way to an incredible barbershop choir of smooth, herbaceous, and creamy notes produced by lavender, clary sage, patchouli, and sandalwood. There are some light florals and rose that both freshen it up and keep it airy, while the patchouli and cedar develops a dark dry down, giving off impressions of chocolate and soft leather jackets. A touch of vanilla keeps it on the respectable side. Think of a mature, confident man who has just got ready at a country estate. Shaving soap, antiseptic shampoo, soft leather jacket, suede boots, cigar tucked away in his inside pocket. Ready for a brisk morning walk, coffee in hand. 10/10.

For everyone who wears perfume just to get compliments, drop the fragrance and take up baking or confectionery; you will then seduce the gelatinous masses, bottomless and formless, who cackle more than they speak. Perfume is an extension of oneself; to make women fall, chloroform is far more effective.

I don’t know where to place Davidoff as a brand. Main reason for that is, in my trade, Davidoff is mainly a cigarettes and coffee brand but im well aware that its a group with many subsidiaries, kinda like a conglomerate. Still, Davidoff is originally a cigar brand and they expanded from there and from this point of view, i see it in the same light as car brands making perfumes. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Jaguar, Bentley to name a few. This has nothing to do with prices, i had the same gripe with Xerjoff with their Tennis-Torino fragrances and don’t even get me started on the Lamborghini ones just released. Its a personal bias of mine against, lets call them colaborations-products, hence why this is a bit more of a negative then a positive. There are exceptions to this rule, such as Bentley which released some banger perfumes that made a name for themselves in the fragrance community. I guess i just like to keep things pure and im not a fan of mixing different things. However, Davidoff has one ace under its sleeve. It has Coolwater under its name which is a hallmark perfume and for some reason i treat that one separately and that bias doesn’t hold there so yeah, i don’t know how to view the brand. Zino is arguably the other “star” of the brand and its a well known classic fragrance so i was curious how i will connect with it. Unfortunately, i cannot estabilish a proper connection with Zino because my nose refuses to shake hands with it. Gave the sample three tries and other then a faint touch of sandalwood i detect little else. Even fainter then the sandalwood, which admitedly is not a strong or fragrant wood note to my nose in the first place, i get a touch of damp and earthy green leafy facet. These are telltale characteristics of patchouli and what truly saddens me is that the patchouli seems to be done exactly to my taste. Keep in mind that i have to “use a magnifying glass” for my nose to even be able to describe what i get from Zino. Its unfortunate, with Zino i hoped for some help in finding my footing with Davidoff as a brand but that didn’t happen. Once again, its sad because here is a patchouli fragrance that on first glance is done exactly to my taste and an affordable one at that yet its out of my grasp because my nose will not work with it. This had the potential to knock the expensive Diptyque Tempo off my wishlist. What little i can smell, i really like but...it is what it is.

I've been trying out various raw materials out of curiosity lately. I revisited Zino today. Now I know why this seems so crazy outdated in comparison to eg. Beau de Jour. A fat slug of civet that is immediately obvious from the first spray, it's rarely used to this degree. Not for me, for this DNA both Heritage and Beau de Jour are much better.

I used to wear this in the 90s. It was a bit heavy, very macho. I bought recent reformulation and although it's lighter but very pleasant to wear. It is really similar to Beau de Jour. It is mature and probably only a milf would appreciate it but that's fine with me

Opening is very VERY medicinal, not that i hate it its not that i like it... After the opening it becomes a bit more weareable, as in it smells like a very strong barbershop scent Not bad

In the top note and when you spray it smells like acqua di gio perfumo for 5 minutes. Great for summer.

I have the vintage version of Zino and it's so clear that Richwood is 100% inspired (read modern copy) by Zino. Nice try Xerjoff.

Very budget friendly fragrance with long lasting qualities and great projection. A little goes a long way with this one and even if you over spray you won't feel guilty for a $20 price tag for a 3.4oz bottle! Oh, and this was Johnny Depp's supposed favorite fragrance back in the day before he ever became Dior Sauvage's poster boy! I'm sure Johnny has the vintage classic good stuff though that I never got to smell because I was born in '88!! Even today's formula smells decent for the price and it has a grassy/vanilla smell that if applied just right won't offend others and leaves a pleasant scent on your skin for hours. I have not tried spraying it on my shirt but I'm sure it would last just as long although it may smell a tad bit different since fragrances smell different on clothing than each individuals personal skin make up. Anyways, this is a safe one to pull the trigger on because it's only around $20 so you won't feel too guilty if you don't like it and maybe you can find somebody to trade it with. All in all I give this a 8 out of 10 rating.

to me this is very thick and very much a " barbershop" scent. the opening blast is amazing ( generic ) and the mid - i dont understand the mid. the dry down is same old same old. it reminds me of Versace Men, Azzaro Men, and many of those aftershaves. this is not very unique and for the price 25USD i paid, i think i was expecting something a little bit different as everyone i saw online ( youtube) said it was great. it is not great, but if you are in the mood to add a barbershop 80s scent to your collection for the heck of it, i think you'll be pleased with it. but i think you can spend your money othewise

@Cyamak, WTF is Ultra Mille? If you mean Ultra Male, is even worst 'cause Zino has nothing to do with that one. Stop saying aleatory things based on what you catch in the air. Beau de Jour from Tom Ford was inspired by Zino, so it caused your 95% damaged brain to confuse that one with Le Beau from JPG, then you know that there was a Ultra Something from JPG, and decided to create Ultra Mille. It woul be more acceptable to stop before this step and say that it was similar to Le Beau de Jour from Jean Paul Ford , but you could'nt stop your imagination, milles away from what makes sense: Transformed Beau de Jour in Le Beau and Le Beau in Ultra Male and changed the name of that one to Ultra Mille. What a genius!

Mature scent and i love it. Smells similar to Tom Ford Beau d'jour.

A true masterpiece A classic fragrance that can compete with today's fragrances. Suitable for ages 35 and up. In terms of drydown, I think it's 95% similar to Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Mille.

Middle-aged fit mature man with a hot wife vibes. Nobody will compliment you. Not even your hot wife. Smells like you don't need a compliment.

I’ve been rocking this fragrance for years and I love it. That’s it, no other words.

on the seventh day god rested... but before he took his nap he made zino. on the initial spray my mind instantly went to lapidus pour homme, this is its less sweet less fruity less musky less of a "nag champa incense" older brother. the sprayer on this is like a fire hydrant, easy on the trigger. patchouli nuke, patchouli fans get a bottle its $20

I was happy to read the review by @Ciarrai because I was thinking I was going cuckoo or something - just didn't get all the love for this. I really like the barbershop aromatic fougere frags, and based on reviews, picked this one up. But I got HEAVY black licorice/anise smell from it, and couldn't stand it. I tried, as so many say it smells so wonderful. Is it possible it was a bad batch or something? Not sure. But that anise was just way too much for me - hard pass. Anyone else smell that note strongly in it I wonder?

Zino is freakin' amazing you can't beat it .. It lasts forever and it is very strong. I had BDJ and for me this is better, more complex and more wearable scent.

Lavender too strong, but a classic

I love it. To me the scent is still intoxicating. But definetly for the older gentleman.

Follow me here guys! Apart from it being a fantastic scent in itself - if you take into acount how it survived reformulations through the years and didn't cheapen on the presentation + the price-to-quality ratio...it HAS to be the best classic fougere on the market today (sorry Drakkar - you are but a distant cousin to me).

This reminds me of being in an antique gallery specializing in far eastern furniture, with incense burning in the background. To my nose, the current formulation is mildly synthetic. Still a gorgeous fragrance. The drydown is especially nice.

ZINO - THE RETURN OF SOUL IN A FLACON THE EMBRACE OF A FORGOTTEN KING To be honest, I was prepared for disappointment. A blind buy for 17 Euros, a release year that stood like a warning: 1986. My mind whispered: "Good grief, this is going to be a relic – soapy, stiff, a musty greeting from a bygone era." But what began as a skeptical test has blossomed into a deep love within a single night. THE FIRST SPRAY ... is like opening a heavy library door: dark, herbal, and a bit impetuous. But those who flee now are making a grave mistake. You have to let Zino breathe. THE MASCULINE ROSE After a few minutes, the unexpected happens. The dark austerity breaks open to reveal a rose so velvety and deep red, it feels as if it were carved into the finest ebony. It is important to understand: this rose is never feminine or "flowery." It is tart, dark, and firmly rooted in wood – a thoroughly masculine interpretation of elegance. THE DRYDOWN: A MOMENT OF PURE COMFORT Zino offers a "drydown for the ages." While modern scents often cling to the surface like sticky, synthetic candy, Zino develops an incredible depth. The patchouli here does not feel damp, but rather dry and creamy. Combined with a fine, unsweetened vanilla, it creates an incomparable "cosy factor." It is a fragrance that envelops you, radiating a sense of peace that is hard to find today. CONCLUSION: THE PHILOSOPHY OF ENJOYMENT Zino Davidoff once said: "Enjoy life to the fullest. Everything is a matter of taste." This very philosophy still breathes within this flacon today. You don't need 300 Euros or glittering niche labels to find true mastery. Zino is the proof that it still exists: genuine perfumery for men who prefer substance over the sticky, uniform mass-market scents of the present. I paid 17 Euros, but I have unearthed a treasure that, to me, is priceless. ZINO IS HERE TO STAY.

This is what started my addiction...I had a Beau De Jour bottle that i randomly gotten as a gift and i loved and oversprayed that thing...As the bottle was getting emptier and i wanted a new one i started digging a bit...At that time, it was unimaginable to spend 150-200€ on a bottle...So i see Davidoff Zino,ordered it and yes,they are very similar...Tom Ford is sharper and obviously higher quality,but the drydown is kinda the same thing in the air...Had my Zino bottle for nearly 3 years and even tho its a rare occasion,every wear ends up being a nice adventure and really nostalgic for me...I cant even remember the amount of compliments or questions this has received...Females,males,older,younger...Everyone will notice it,my ex gf loved it,random people will ask for the name and nobody understands the actual name for some reason?? People have no idea about Davidoff but i thought its a more known brand since they also produce ciggarettes..Some female co workers even asked about the name of this one and Cool Water Intense just so they could order it for their boyfriends...The quality is just that good guys...This works with anything for me..Casual sunny day or late night leather jacket vibe..Also any season,in summer go easy because it has vanilla and rose sweetness...And also this sticks to fabric and leather like crazy...Easily stays on a jacket for weeks...So,is it worth it? Yes. Is it cheap and avaliable? Yes. Is it a 10/10 subtitute for Tom Ford? No,honestly more like 8/10 side to side..But this was produced before Beau De Jour so its fair to say that Tom Ford is actually a good clone of Zino...Just buy this,its class and very good taste...Can often be found for 20€..Bottle is very nice,good atomizer

People have been saying this is discontinued for years yet it's available everywhere and for like €20 a bottle. So no idea what the status is. Anyway, it's an absolutely wonderful dark, mysterious, comforting, woody, slightly floral scent. The opening is a bit harsh and kind of smoky to me, which I'm not too fond of. But for this price one cannot complain.

Great woody aromatic fougair that can be had for cheap. Prominent lavender and patchouli along with some florals in the heart. Love the way it smells, just wish it was stronger and lasted longer.

This is like Tom Ford white patchouli, but a bit less white floral and more masculine. I really like this fragrance (i have a vintage zino, not sure about the modern reformulation)

I tried this early in my fragrance journey and completely disregarded it. Now 25 years later, I've got a much better understanding and appreciation of fragrances - and I could not be without a bottle of this. This is something special. Smooth and masterfully blended, the rosewood, lavender and patchouli gently encourage intimacy. This is a beautiful fragrance to fall asleep with.

It will be hot this week, so last chance for something that doesn't do well in high heat. Zino packs an old school kick to it, full of woody bergamot, lavender, and sage in the open. I personally love that kind of barbershop open. As the dominant sage fades into the heart, a mix of floral notes arise with lily and jasmine being the two that I most pick up on. By the time the initial woodiness of that open dissipates, the sandalwood note actually picks up in the base, providing a non-linear woodiness throughout the life of the scent. Patchouli is what lasts the longest for me in dry down, with reminiscent whiffs of sage randomly recalling the open. It's a nice, clean shaven Sunday morning kind of fragrance.

Applies spice bomb with cooling, fresh base. Big and bold. Dry grassy/mossy vetiver adds heavy body. Bright streak of mentholated eucalyptus/tea tree. Instead of soap/shampoo/musk to dry things down, the effect seems to come from the vetiver and wood. A bit brusque, but in an old fashioned way that lets dense notes shine. Noticeable pine bark, then dry lavender and soap builds. Takes awhile for deep musty wood and vetiver lifted by faint herbal patchouli to settle. Good, bold ingredients, well blended, and not a paltry attempt. Worth sampling such a classic. Initially too Dad's aftershave, but dry down becomes warmly spiced sweet wood that shines really nicely and reads more fresh. Reminiscent of JPG's "Le Male" but this is more tasteful and refined.