Grey Flannel Geoffrey Beene for men

GORGEOUS pissy scent

I took the plunge and bought a large bottle of this divisive fragrance. After reading all the comments about it, I know many people passionately dislike it. I’m not sure if our experiences depend on individual body chemistry, but I loved it right from the start. I've been wearing it for two days now, and while it’s definitely not a compliment magnet, no one has said anything negative about it either.

I actually enjoy the super sharp opening that everyone mentions. My only issue so far is that it fades quite quickly—at least that’s how it feels to me. I can’t really smell it beyond four to five hours of wearing it, though others say they still can, so maybe I just get used to it.

This is just a quick comment; I’ll be wearing it for a while longer and will come back with a full review in a few weeks.


Update : my original review was on the splash bottle version , which I still love but it’s a bit rudimentary so I ordered a bottle with atomiser and due to the more precise distribution and dosage it’s a far better experience…. It does smell even better .

"What reeks?"

This is an unbelievable daring polarising horrible smelling perfume. And it actually really scares me. I don't know what kinda aroma chemicals they used to create this concoxtion, I suppose a nasty cocktail of aldehydes and citronellal with extreme powdery synthetic iris.
There is an old fashioned smell that reminds me of ancient times. The strength is appalling and hostile. But there is also that flower shop smell with fresh cut flowers and buckets full of rotting flower water. The uniqueness is the only reason I didn't throw the rather beautiful bottle and pouch in the bin. When I'm up to it I will try it again but I think that will take some courage.

"I don't have a useful opinion, but I do like poop."--
SenselessReviews

Masculine laundry detergent opening and an unisex sunscreen drydown.

This is reformulated to worse, I am 41, my dad was using it from my childhood, technically I grew up smelling this , Kouros and Chanel Egoiste, these 3 were my dads work scents, I got into perfumes in 1996, I bought Issey Miyake PH my first scent , any ways coming back to the topic this isn’t that deep green and spicy any more rather now it’s a synthetic smelling gree bug spray and cut grass like in a bad way type of toxic sting type of scent , I bought a bottle in 2002 which was still good and ok but now it’s like reformulated again, not good, I bought from Notino, it was not in pouch rather a box without the plastic on it, I don’t think Notino is selling fakes or

My husband had this and I remembering thinking the scent, when he first sprayed it on, that it had this strength to it that my nose felt like it hurts if I smell too much. However, it dried down so nicely and it smells really good on him. It does remind me of a comfortable grey flannel, maybe colder months. It smells clean and green, kinda woody and herb-like. I find that not everyone can wear this perfume and but when the right person wears it, it's just so distinct and really smells so good.

The Fahrenheit comparison is ridiculous. Sure, they both have violet, but that’s where the similarity ends. They smell nothing alike.

If you want a diffirent, affordable also classic smell fragrance you can buy Grey Flannel

You are surrounded by logs of feces as far as the eye can see. Stinky Oh Henry! bars pumped out by a mechanically rotated wheel of bumholes. Warm. Moist. Brown.

You notice you are up to your nipples in urine. Pungent lemonade squirted from the bladder wedges of obese grandmothers. Cold. Acidic. Deep yellow.

Just then, a chip-chop overhead. A helicopter drops a rescue ladder. As you grip on, you see it is made of solidified mucus. Hardened snot missiles from the nostrils of Covid-infected prostitutes. Flaky. Crispy. Green.

You ascend the ladder. As you climb into the cockpit, you find the helicopter is a functional sculpture carved out of frozen vomit. Stomach stroganoff gurgled up from the depths of rabid Mormons, then cooled. Chunky. Jagged. Multicolored.

"What the hell is going on?!" you shout.

The pilot turns his head and looks at you. He smiles devilishly.

"Hey!" you yell. "This can't get any worse, can it?!"

The pilot nods. His grin grows wider as he retrieves a small bottle. Oh god. It is "Grey Flannel."

"Let's find out, champ," he mutters.

With one spray, the pilot's nose disintegrates like a Nazi who drank from the wrong holy grail. Your olfactory cells blow up and ooze out of your orifices as a gelatinous goo.

And all you can think is how wonderful life was when you were submerged in urine, admiring the endless ocean of feces logs.

I've had this for years, it's an older bottle (...2007?), my main complaint is the opening which to me all I can smell is soap. It has a very sharp, and bitter soap opening but then dries down into a floral / powder smell that I actually like. Because of the strong opening and rather uneventful dry down I rarely wear this frag and don't like it when compared to other 'fresh' frags in my collection.

This is the fragrance I picture Mathew Lesko wearing, you know the "free money from the government" guy? An older eccentric guy that wears crazy suits. Yeah the violet is there but it's altered heavily by the geranium and rose notes mostly and lessly by the other floral notes. Sitting on top of the oak moss and vetiver it smells like a beautiful flower garden down the road from a smoldering fire pit. This is the heaviest powder you will ever smell. Beautiful but a bit much. This is for a person not concerned with social conventions or what other people think. I'm not necessarily saying a confident person because I don't think that strikes the right tone. Definitely a person that marches to the beat of their own drum. To me the violet, rose, geranium, vetiver and oak moss are the main show. The other notes are there but they're on the sides.

Is this interesting? Yes. Is this pleasant? Kinda. Who is this for? A very very particular type of person. If you like the idea of this but want something less floral, trying Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme Intenso. This might as well be a niche fragrance.

Did a blidn buy of this based on some of these reviews since it was relatively affordable. Wish I didn't. I'm a 30y male and I don't mind mature scents but this was just not for me. VERY old man smelling. It's incredibly powdery. Likely won't use it. Oh well 3/10

Just received a 120ml bottle. It smells like.... Baby cologne and baby powder. Not what I expected at all. Sure, it opened a little bitter, green. But now it's sooo powdery. Absolutely unisex. Also smells a little like hotel soap 🧼.
Violets, undertones of iris (which I love).
Still waiting for the drydown but so far it's a 5-out-of-10 for me.
Where I would wear this? To a date with a single mom for sure.
For the price it's a must tho
Edit: Drydown it's nice. I don't get the oakmoss. Cedar, tonka and vetiver. 8/10 fragrance overall for me

A more interesting, robust Fahrenheit, If you like violet colognes this is a must.

It dries down into a soapy woody scent.

beautifully crafted and a must if you collect.

Excellent value for the prize.

Just got it a week ago. It somehow reminds me of Marcedes-Benz for man for the violet note. Takes sometime to get that beautiful calming powdery notes that last very long. It also makes me picture a peaceful afternoon in the countryside in east Europe during Spring in the old days.

Grey flannel is something special,I don't get the hate it receives.To me it smells how I'd imagine the back of Mr mushniks florist from the movie little shop of horrors.cut stems , buckets of fresh water,arrangements of flowers in vases left on a sunlit windowsill.wonderful.

This fragrance is not everyone's cup of tea, and it's not as strong as it used to be, but, if my memory serves me well, it stll has its unique green/floral scent profile. If you like classic fragrances from the 1970s, give it a testing.

Dated is a funny concept when talking about GF, because it's always been different from whatever is current, from the time it was released to today. The quips about being Fahrenheit's British uncle are way off, if anything it would be the British aunt, circa 1842.

Most accurate and evocative description I've heard is "bouquet of flowers being smelled from the cut end of the stems". The green, slightly bitter stems with a strong floral mix on top. Powdery, sure, ,and you can pick out background notes like almond, but the theme here is a cool floral composition balanced by green notes with very slight warmth from almond,. vetiver, and wood. As it evolves, and the base notes start taking a more prominent role, the coldly floral character of the mid morphs into a softer balanced composition that is slightly warmer (but still overall cool). I love the transitions from opening to far drydown.
I can understand people envisioning pot pourri mixed with mothballs, grandmas perfumed toilet soap and other unique descriptions... because this is so different, people don't have common references. Every fragr enthusiast should own this, it's dirt cheap, easily found, a reference point, and not as challenging as people make it out to be. $8 for a full bottle, what are you waiting for?

I used Fahrenheit for 15 years and I just got this. I can confirm this is it's Brit cousin wearing a elbow patches jacket hunting grouse on a misty morning

Classic and very affordable. Made since forever. Male.

Don’t blindly bought this frag. All i can say is this is better for older gents. If you can try it and you liked it then go get it.

I purchased this fragrance because it was my grandfather's signature scent when I was young. While I don't have olfactory memories of it, it still brings me joy to see it among the others. It has very old-fashioned characteristics, definitely not in line with current trends and certainly not for everyone's taste. I use it occasionally as a tribute to my grandfather, but even though I'm almost 45 years old, I feel about 40 years too young to wear it.

I don't understand all the restrictions people here put on Grey Flannel, e.g., "I'll only wear this on rainy days", "I love Grey Flannel, but I hate the opening and middle phases...", "I will only wear this if I'm alone in my own house", "I'd only wear this if I'm in rural England during the first week of April and it's cloudy outside", etc.. What is all this nonsense?

Sure, the opening is sharp and bitter, and the middle is a little less so, but every phase is great. Grey Flannel is dry and green, with no sweetness. The violet leaf stands out the most, and has a spicy, peppery facet that lasts for hours. When it dries down, it smells damp and earthy, like cold, green, mossy water, blended with black pepper and bitter green herbs. There's also a kind of grim dustiness to the drydown, which I assume is from the iris note. GF also has an oily aftershave-type twang that you smell in a lot of men's colognes from the 60s and 70s.

I can't think of any situation where I WOULDN'T wear this. It's my favorite fragrance, along with Quorum.

someone tell me why it reminds me of a less soapy Irish Leather ?

Grey flannel wow! This is super strong and definitely not what I was expecting, I didn't like the initial opening much but after drying down I like it, I really like it, i am appreciative of this scent! To me Grey Flannel is dry and bitter, harsh but also fresh and clean, like a really old school floral bar of soap. I get a sort of fabric conditioner vibe from this and I also get a bouquet of flowers, like putting your nose into the middle of the bouquet and getting all the flowers mixing with your nose. I get the lemon note and the bitterness from the galbanum and almond. The mid is really where this fragrance comes alive, it's just an explosion of florals, a dry violet and iris is what I get. This fragrance was definitely noted correctly by a frag-com friend that this is a love it or hate it fragrance...like marmite, but so far I do actually love it aha! I can imagine someone like Pat Bateman in the eighties wearing this one spending $400 dollars everyday at a local bar. My dad told me Grey Flannel smelt like a modern pub in Chelsea aha! This one is definitely most definitely only for lovers of classics! For the price of £8 on Notino I am happy! 💪

I already know longevity will be great! 😁
Longevity is over 8 hours 💪

This is some great stuff. For the money you won't find a more complex, long-lasting scent that projects. It's everything you want in more expensive fragrances, but at 1/50 the cost. It immediately hits you with a strong grassy, citrus-rindy scent but eventually a floral character comes out in the dry down, but remains fully masculine and earthy. What I love about it is the in-your-face earthiness... for me, this is the "smell of the forest" but turned up to 11 on the dial.

It is strong. And perhaps I'm biased by my nostalgia for this fragrance, as I used to wear this often when I was much much younger and always thought it "stood out" as so different from most of the men's fragrances at the Macy's counter. So it's not for everyone.

I also made the same mistake as the review below, and then immediately went to amazon to get this in addition. Both are at least good, and this one IMHO is great, and I agree this is the real deal.

I purchased eau de Grey Flannel at Ross falsely under the impression that I was getting this Cologne. Safe to say this is much much better. It lasts almost 10 hours with great projection which for a 15 dollar fragrance is amazing. It smells like a 1920's British garden, with beautiful powdery floral notes. Smells unique and realistic, 10/10 for the price.

EDIT: I wake up one day and this cologne goes from smelling like fresh flowers to lawn clippings. It is so pungent to the point it is almost unbearable.

This fragrance could be considered a gag gift because of how powerful it is. I sprayed one spritz in the air, and not only did it fill my entire car for hours...I felt embarrassed walking around because of how strong it lingered on me. That's not even with a direct spray to myself but in the space next to me.


Absolutely not. Run away from this...

I am very open minded and own over a hundred fragrances and this is the worst fragrance I’ve ever owned. Blind bought it from Marshall’s and was blown away at the idea that ANYONE would ever think this smells good. This is an absolute disgusting mess and is not worth the bottle it sits in. I don’t even know how to describe it other than off-putting, disgusting, dated and gross. 0/10

It smells just like a stingy, old man who is going to a cheap bordel. Very sharp citrus with something spicy and heavy.Was curious, how the USA middle class used to smell back then and made a blind buying.Will use it for shoes.

I have a 10 ml vintage splash bottle I splash a drop into the crook of each arm and a few onto my neck. It smells absolutely amazing. Grey Flannel smells like Violet pastilles fallen down under the cushions of an overstuffed velvet sofa in a musty Victorian parlor. It reminds me of a few Violet based indie perfumes I’ve tried which are usually more unisex. I can’t believe it doesn’t get more mention in lists of excellent Violet scents. I don’t get a ton of “fresh” or green. It does smell like straight Oakmoss at first splash but it almost instantly goes all powdery Violet with an underlying creamy tonka/almond sweetness. I’m confused by the reviews that says it’s SO strong and overwhelming and it will kill your nose. It actually wears very soft and gentle on me. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s a splash bottle or it’s just mellowed with age. I don’t know. Buy a vintage splash bottle and be prepared to be WOWed.

I bought this like some others at the beginning of my fragrance journey. Old school super cheap and really powerful. I wouldn't wear this out in the street but if I'm alone of an eveing, occasionally I'll reach for it. A guilty pleasure.

Grey Flannel is a distinctive, classy, classic soapy scent that represents an exceptional value. However, it must be worn in a very specific way. It needs to be applied to the chest and back in a wide distribution from several inches away, using no more than about five sprays (take this from someone who applies 20+ sprays of certain fragrances to get them to perform), very soon after showering. This one has to be paired with thorough hygiene. Cool weather only. If you blast loads of this onto your wrist from one inch away, on top of unclean skin or the drydown of another scent, don't blame it on Grey Flannel. You have to know how to use this one in order for it to realize its potential.

I have this cologne & the essential oil. Layer them together & nothing but greatness is going to happen to you.

Before you will use it, you should know, too much - is better - is not for this scent. Trust me, or it will kill your nose!

Absolutely lovely scent.

I really like this fragrance. For the most part it's a masculine floral fragrance cut by sharp galbanum. As it dries down, it becomes slightly woody and sweet from the cedar, vetiver, and almond but modestly loses the sharpness of the galbanum. The dry down is also powdery from the Iris.

It reminds me of being at a florist. Fresh cut green stems and plucked leaves from the arrangements. Blocks of wet green foam. Verdant. There is a coolness here. Like the refrigeration at a florist and buckets of cold water. Then powdery, woody, and smooth.

It's a great everyday fragrance.

Two sprays will last the day.

I haven't worn Grey Flannel in 10 years. Just got back into it this fall and was reminded of my old review from 2013. My feelings about this fragrance have not changed. Here is what I wrote.

May 2013
Grey Flannel by Geoffrey Beene is a classic from 1975 created by Andre Fromentin. This Woody Oriental has been a part of my perfume life almost since it hit the market back in the first years of the rise of Disco and a new age in men’s fashion and style, along with the ascent of the GQ man and the death of the hippie as fashion god. It is a classic that to me embodies New York and the sartorial glamour of that city as few other American fragrances can.

It opens with a stylish warm citrus blast of Neroli, bergamot and lemon which are made unusually sophisticated by the addition of a very bitter rich green galbanum and a woody citrus petitgrain. This opening is bright and sharp and swiftly over to be followed by what I think is the showstopper surprise.

Here we move into a floral perfume for men that is stunning in its complexity and daring by today’s standards and ideas for a masculine fragrance. Spring is in full bloom along 5th avenue atop the gardened terraces of the deco apartment buildings that face Central Park; it is all here in the middle notes. A sensuous blend of bold Violet, irreverent Iris, rose over flowing the planters, golden Mimose, green heady Narcissus, are tethered to a grounding desert sage, and dirty earthy geranium. This Sage and the geranium keep the notes all low like a humming baritone cello and pull the chorus of soprano florals into a beautiful masculine tone. It is Tony Bennett singing “Maybe September”, smooth, sophisticated and a little melancholy.

The base notes are a strong foundation of the old standards of Oakmoss, Tonka bean, Cedar and a sharp very green vetiver. This is spiked with a bit of almond that gives the perfume a woody nutty warmth in the dry down. There is a bit of a soapy feeling too but not detergent or cheap bar soap, but rather a very superior rich soap reminiscent of some of Roger e Gallet’s fine soap scents.

As for longevity it is a real long distance runner. Well paced for the long haul and comes in a winner every time. People always comment in the positive when I wear Grey Flannel. The sillage is out there as is the norm of these old classics from the 70’s so it is something to use with discretion. After 8 hours it moves in close and stays there.

This fine woody oriental fragrance is something for a man of taste and a well developed nose. Often younger noses find Grey Flannel to be a bit more than challenging. I believe that is from the over glut of the Cool Water’s and Aqua Di Gio’s of the last twenty five years. Not to mention the supper sweets of A-Men and sickly bubble gum 1Millions. The watering down of the public tasted in perfume. Mainstream perfumers have moved away from complex and challenging creations to meet the demands of the buying public that only want to smell “clean and fresh” One only hopes that time will bring style and originality back into the mainstream.

I don't know how many times this has been reformulated since it came out in 1975, but I'm wearing the 2023 version right now and it's actually better than the original, which I thought was too strong and too pungent. It's inexpensive and smeels good.

This is such an amazing scent, a pearl among others! I'm especially glad that my strange hyposmia hasn't removed the ability to smell this one, it is as good as before when I didn't have this problem. Since hyposmia enables me to smell BR540 only for the first few minutes and later only the medicinal part is left (unlike before), spraying GF over it gives a nice new scent mix. But of course, GF is certainly good by itself. One of my best blind buys for sure.

Grey Flannel. A polarizing classic. Undoubtedly old school. For me it's also a case study on how much a difference skin chemistry can change a fragrance vs. a paper tester strip.

Grey Flannel on paper leans hard into a prickly, urinal cake freshness, kind of soapy/bathroom cleaner, and is a bit one-note/linear. One spray on a paper strip lasts 12+ hours, as I'm able to smell it every time I walk back into the room.

On skin, I pick up far more nuances, and the urinal cake associations only stick around the first 10 minutes. Closer to skin the citrus notes are far more noticeable, and I get more of the galbanum green and violet notes coming to the foreground more quickly. I'm also pleasantly surprised how much more of a round, slightly warmer, but not sweet undercurrent there is from I assume the tonka/almond. Provides a nice background to what could be too cool, sharp, and...grey.

I can see the influence of this on Fahrenheit, but GF is far more aloof, colder, cleaner, and definitely more mature. Fahrenheit has a better violet note in my opinion, and is just more robust and dynamic, and radiates warmth and freshness simultaneously. I think the comparison starts and stops at "violet atop a deeper woody/earthy base". This is comparing both current day formulas, mind you. Can't speak to how it used to be. However, 2022 batches of Grey Flannel are worth a look especially for their price.

As far as powderiness, it definitely is, but I don't read it as baby powder. However, I washed this off my skin to test another fragrance, and my GF walked by and commented that I smell like baby powder. So, there's that.

On skin, the scent opens harsh but is remarkably pleasant and maintains natural touchpoints that smell classic, but not entirely dated. This is with a light hand on the sprayer, as performance does seem pretty strong for the notes that cut through the air. Grey Flannel is fragrance for a nice Sunday spent reading physical books, or hiking on a cool spring or fall day. It would potentially out of place in a modern day office (or not, use your discretion) and very out of place in a club. However, that is clearly it's charm.

Also, there is something absolutely gorgeous to me about the color of the glass. It's a cool grey-green, with an extremely subtle tinge of blue that is really unique and kind of mysterious. Happy to have this one in my collection for that reason alone, and it fills a nice niche when I am in the mood for something a bit more down to earth, and dare I say somber, without being too cold and cruel. In 2024, Grey Flannel is a bit of an anomaly, and provides a window into a world that just doesn't really exist anymore. Beyond the nostalgia, I do think the scent taken out of context is still unique, and stands on it's own merits.

P.S. Longevity and performance are nuclear. 2 sprays to the wrists in the evening and it's almost too strong the first hour, and I struggled to completely scrub it off the next morning with several rounds of soap. The large bottle will last a lifetime especially for every once in a while wear.

First impressions. The opening blast is jarring and bitter, haven't "unpacked" it yet. But in a matter of seconds, it settles into a dense accord of citruses (lemon) and herbs similar to Eau Sauvage or Cappucci Pour Homme. It vaguely reminds me of Chanel Pour Monsieur. And since it is also floral, it could be the grandfather of CK One or Paco Rabanne Paco -- in a good way. It's kind of soapy, but it's more like a natural herbal soap than your regular white soap bar.

The citrus accord starts to fade out after 30 minutes, and the green notes come to fore. The greenness appears a bit spicy, oily and pungent (like natural lemongrass, fresh cilantro or something like that). This aspect reminds me of Paco Rabanne Pour Homme, Brut, or Floris Elite. I definitely get a traditional barbershop vibe from this.

In the beginning and mid stage, there is also something cold and watery and vegetal about it, I'm guessing the violet, but I positively do not get any similarity to Fahrenheit, whatsoever. And oakmoss? Well, there is also something foresty, creamy and dusty about it, but there's neither oakmoss (evernia prunastri) nor treemoss mentioned on the box.

In the drydown, I get a certain hay-like coumarin creaminess, be it almond or tonka bean. The sweetness is minimal, but it is there and goes well with the bitter and green notes. At this stage, it is quite dry, clean and light-woody.

I agree with the reviewers stating that this is mainly an outdoorsy rainy day fragrance. It certainly seems too melancholic and nostalgic for a sunny summer day. But it's not a goth perfume. Too mild mannered for that.

All in all, it's a fragrance of contrasts, and I'm pleasantly surprised by the complexity, especially considering the price tag. Reading the "mothball" comments, I was prepared for much worse. While it's perhaps not refined enough to recommend it as a signature fragrance nowadays, it's still quite pleasant and certainly nothing shocking for a nose accustomed to older fragrances. I can even imagine it being released today in a slightly cleaned up version as a part of the trend of rediscovering older fragrances (Penhaligon's Bayolea or Penhaligon's Quercia come to mind).

Considering today's standards for masculine and feminine fragrances, I'd say this is unisex.

Got this for super cheap, and decided to blind buy. Absolutely detest the opening. It smells like one of those cheap pine shaped air fresheners for a car mixed with something very sharp. However (!) I like it more and more as it dries down. First the floral notes come out, and after about 1-2 hours, it becomes a baby powder type scent, which is quite nostalgic for me.

Fahrenheit's Brittish uncle.

i love this one. fantastic!

It's funny to me that everyone talks about how loudly masculine this fragrance is, but it actually reminds me of Chanel 19 and Jacomo's Silences. Of course those fragrances aren't necessarily feminine or anything but they're also very attractive on their own. To me this is just an attractive, smooth, complex fragrance that is centred around green galbanum, oakmoss and the purple florals. and I definitely get the cozy flannel inspiration, especially in the drydown. Really lovely, timeless and pleasant, whether on a man or a woman. And the price is unbeatable!

I’ve never smelled this fragrance before. It is intriguing, but in a nice way. Reading many of the reviews, I began to think this was somehow kind of a liquid nuclear waste. First time I sprayed it, I was afraid I might lose an arm. Instead, I was pleasantly greeted with a mature and elegant smell, flowery, citrusy and clean.

It is a timeless smell, not grandfatherly or old people’s….just elegant and mature.

The more I smell it, the more I like it. I am obsessed with it. Try it…. It’s not terribly expensive.

When I started my journey into perfumes this was an extreme "what the hell is this". I kept it since it was dirt cheap.
Now it is an extreme love.

Takes me back to high school in the 80s...my HS crush wore this and it will forever remind me of him. A true classic

A unique scent of green powder.

My uncle used to wear this when I was a child. Didn't really like when he'd be seated near me. My mum's fiancee wore this all the time and I absolutely hated it. Smelled like a musty old man.

Grey Flannel is a potent, polarizing but great fragrance. Fresh, powerful, floral and woody. A men's classic.

Am I the only person who makes a connection between this and Fahrenheit ? Nobody has listed Fahrenheit as similar ???

I just picked up a cheap bottle of this at a rack store for under 10 bucks. Blind buy. Dear god, this stuff smelled offensive. Down below, User HDMIPlayer described this as "laundry and mothballs." I disagree with the "laundry" part and couldn't agree more with the "mothballs" part. To me, this is one of those fragrances where I find it impossible to understand how it could ever come to market, let alone stick around for almost 50 years. It smelled old, stale, mossy, and wretched. There was not one part of this fragrance that smelled redeeming to me. Ahh well, to each their own, and this one is definitely not for me. Now, please excuse me while I go shudder some more.

Edit/Update:

Yesterday, when I tried out this fragrance, my only reaction was pure disgust, both for the opening and the drydown.

Today, it smells completely different. It actually smells....kinda wonderful. How is this so? Yesterday, I was prepared to throw the bottle in the trash. Today, I think it smells kind of amazing, and I can now understand people who have said that if this was released today by a niche house, it would easily go for $200 or more.

I'm never going to judge a fragrance again based upon one day's experience with it. The only thing that could have changed was....me, my nose. I just never expected that something that made me utter "Ugh, I hate this!" could transform into something that makes me say, "Wow, this is impressive!"

If you try this (or any other fragrance) out and find it offensive, give it a day or two and try again. You may be surprised, like I was, at how your perception can change....drastically.

Now, while I choke down some crow, I just need to say that this stuff is technically impressive and unique, but I wouldn't wear it.

A classic fragrance from the past

This fragrance had an influential role in perfume history. As someone who loves fragrance and its history, I got this one along with some other famous classic fragrances to learn more about the fragrances from different times, different styles, and fashion.

This is a very important fragrance that does not require my feedback. The only thing I can say is that Imagine a classic Cadillac with those stylish designs on the streets! It's beautiful but not for today's life. This fragrance belongs to history, it's not something for the modern days.

Reminds me of laundry and mothballs. At least it's cheap

A violet/galbanum oldie. Unlike modern violets, there's something in-your-face here, almost insolent, as if all matte effects were at once removed; everything that would be usually used to add a bit of softness, freshness, haziness. Strong vegetal stuff, transforming into a retro musky aura. Hard to adapt to the present time: it is simply a time machine. As such, it might serve as a better transport into the 70's everyday life than any photos, ads, movies, etc. It's the serious family guy from the movies, listening to the radio in the morning.

Grey Flannel by Geoffrey Beene is a fragrance that initially left me somewhat perplexed. Its unique scent profile, a blend of green notes, violet, and powdery accents, seemed too unconventional for my taste. However, as time went on, I found myself inexplicably drawn to its mature and nostalgic allure.

The opening of Grey Flannel is undeniably green, evoking images of dew-kissed leaves on a misty morning. At first, it felt overwhelming and out of place in my fragrance collection. Yet, as the scent settled, the soft embrace of violet emerged, lending an unexpected depth and sophistication. The powdery notes, though initially disconcerting, added a comforting familiarity that I couldn't resist.

Grey Flannel is not a fragrance for the faint of heart. It demands attention and confidence to carry it with grace. And though I was initially hesitant, I've come to cherish its unique character and the memories it evokes.

It would be cheeky and fun to say "Cheap Chanel No. 19 for men"... but that's unfair and doesn't do Grey Flannel justice. I consider this a sophisticated and undervalued masterpiece, absolutely beautiful stuff. I only wish the raspy galbanum lasted longer. After 2 hours on skin, this is iris, tonka, and woods. Fortunately it's inexpensive, so I can always reapply.

Wtf... I don't know what I've just purchased, I don't know how to feel. dont hate it but I don't love it, the first 30 minutes are repugnant it smells like an elderly woman and cloying I absolutely hate it, but after a few hours it turns into a raw earthy smell which isn't that bad...

I usually always blind buy and haven't ran into any issues until this one, I wouldn't blind buy this but then again it's dirt cheap, just please proceed with caution...

I used to wear this in the late 1980's, I hated the way it smelt when I first put it on, really loathed it, but after it sat there and dried down properly it mixed with my skin chemistry and magically became something amazing and people used to sniff it and go nuts over it and ask me what was I wearing. I loved it too when it turned into that, but yea, when I first put it on it was horrible. I tried it recently, I found some in a bargain chemist (drugstore) in a gift pack, bought it for old times sake, it smelt a bit more synthetic and slightly different, a little less depth and more flatter, but it was the same general character on face value. It did dry-down nicely but I don't think it was as awesome as it was originally. It's OK now, but like so many other fragrances from decades ago, the original was much better.

I'm from India and here we have many medicinal, green, herbal soaps, it smells like one of those so the smell doesn't bug me much, it's just that you have to be neat and fresh and dressed up in clean laundry if you want to carry it properly, it lasts long so for price it's a good scent, the smell can be really subjective on this one but surely a very manly scent.

Randomly sampled this. Current version. Not that dusty or stinky or bitter as some described. I tried hard to connect this to dusty rooms and rotten rags but the resemblance seemed weak. It is to my nose very soapy, exactly like a soap with floral notes with minty edge. Sniffing close I can get green notes hiding deep. People around me depict it as something like "some flowers with much sap fresh from their stems and nostalgic". Yet I don't know when or where I can put this on. So it's a like but not love. Good prejection.

Re-discovered the smaller, medicinal looking bottles at the back of my collection doing a thorough clean out.
Straight to the 'eBay' pile once I recalled that harsh, 'what the hell is that?' opening from my 2010's bottles of EDT and aftershave.

Until...

'Ah what the heck? One more sniff to prove how much I hate it- Oh- Oh my...'

Now. This is a perfume.
Bitter galbanum, even bitter-er and drier citrus that could be mistaken for something animal instead of plant or maybe just not shaken quite long enough at the urinal (for a man) kind of smell. Maybe shaken for too long...

Roots, dry and wet earth pass like a shadow, but the giant plume of unmistakable wood smoke from good quality vetiver is what really made me sit up. It's not fleeting either, but lifts the perceivable astringency of the opening into a slightly cooler and shadier Violet and Iris heart. Some other floral sweetness there, but this is extremely well put together. So natural, in the truest sense of the word.

But today, for my nose this perfume is a living diorama of fabled European countryside. The kind we read about in Agatha Christie novels, or the world of Rat and Mole AKA Wind in the Willows.

It's quintessentially British though (ironic, being American. But what high country she boasts also!). Austere, somber. Sober. But only because it carries a generational vibe of something far less uncommon that just 'old money' or privilege. GF is the character of a man, his personal and familial history. His environment.

It's the steadied gait from a stout stick, striding across wild country that you can't help but be enthralled by. The cacophony of nature, everything in its place. Perfectly balanced through a series of unexpected events that (like any good perfume does), makes one re-consider just one thing-everything. Including one's self.

I'm so glad I found this again. Approached differently than the first time, it's revealed some wonders. And maybe being left to sit for five years helped, but I'm already planning on stocking up on this one.

If you can't do Galbanum or Violet /Iris, I wouldn't rush for it. But even where I live it's reasonably inexpensive (if it can be found) that it might be worth trying and setting aside. Or even digging out again if you have it someplace like I discovered, something to come back to after being lost in a different wilderness of scents that seem to despise nature and man's place in it instead of revering it.

Some things a man just shouldn't be without, even if he doesn't appreciate them or understand them fully. The day might come. And even if it's just for today, just this once for me. I'm overwhelmed at how good this perfume really is.

Long before it's begun to die down, to take it's own place in the rotting, dry bracken. Returning to the earth. I feel... satisfied.

Like this is just enough and I feel richer for the experience.

Review No2.
I believe this perfume is a more aggressive Dunhill Icon. Geoffrey Beene Grey Flannel and Dunhill Icon belong to the same family. Not exactly the same smell, but you can feel the same delicate masculine aura. Yes there are differences but I believe there is a strong relationship between these fragrances.

I first wore Grey Flannel as a 17 y/o in 1987. I remember loving the scent—so unique and wonderful. Now I have the EA reformulation, and it still is wonderful. Slightly different(not as rich) than the older versions but the essence of GF is there.

If this fragrance was a person it would be William Hurt in The Big Chill.

First impressions: veeeeeery nice presentation, kind of unique.
The scent itself is harsh AF! Acquired taste? I'll wear it for a few times. Pour un Homme de Caron was very strange too at first. Never give up, fragrance is art, and sometimes you have to work hard and earn it!

Yes, it smells different. It is a unique and rather risky scent. Violet dominant. You get the feeling of a journey into the past. A great value. Not suitable for blind buying.

Smells like hot steamy flannel, perfect aftershave for a cold rainy day.

#79 in my "Tour de Fragrance" of 250 scents in 250 days and another of the "30 under $30." SO many components here my nose is confused, but the violet is clearly present (frankly it's never been my jam) and something vaguely vegetable, and a fatty acid note like rancid butter. There's also definitely something chemical going on here, which absolutely does remind me of mothballs. Even if I thought I could pull this one off, I don't think a woman would come near me smelling like this, and this is not a scent I would wear for my own enjoyment. I've discovered a number of scents in the $15-30 range that punch above their weight with potency and complexity, but maybe this one is overboard for my taste. I'm not sure, but I won't wear it again and cheap as it is, glad I just bought a mini, because this is getting tossed in the bin.

Grey Flannel by Geoffrey Beene is a fragrance that exudes a comforting mix of nostalgia, mustiness, dry dead flowers and a hint of mothballs. It’s like finding some folded pyjamas at the back of your late grandad’s wardrobe. You'll smell like you just spent the afternoon browsing through an antique shop, and walked through an overgrown herb garden where the bushes have rubbed off on your clothes. So if you're looking to channel your inner grandpa-chic, Grey Flannel is the perfect scent for you!

Do I like this scent?… yes! A unique and challenging scent.
Would I wear this on a date… yes, but only if I don’t want to get intimate.
Would I wear this to work… yes, if my job was the King’s Butler.
Would I wear this out to clubs?… yes, if I was going to a bingo club.

Definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, especially if you prefer drinking coffee.

Absolute masterpiece. smells exactly like baby powder. such a nice elegant fragrance.

It rained today and this was my go-to. Such a classic scent. I always wear it when it is raining. Timeless.

I’m a little torn on my opinion of it because when I first sprayed it on it was very strong and I thought it didn’t have a pleasant smell. So I attempted to scrub it off but it wouldn’t come off. The scent that was left over after trying to wash it off was really nice! It took away those harsh opening notes that I didn’t like. So maybe it would fade away to that after several hours. In any case, I’m not willing to go through the opening to get to the rest of it.

Sartre1963 You're my hero

A bit too “mature gentleman” for my taste.

I am a 60-year male and when I get blue fragrance fatigue, I reach for GF. Do I get compliments wearing it? Not often. Do I care? No.

I can't remember if I reviewed this previously but I've been wearing this a lot over the course of the last week.
I always liked it and I've had it roughly four or five years now.
Dry, green, bitter, herbal, sharp and dusty.
Really suits the slowly improving early spring weather.
Wore it to bed last night and woke up to a really creamy and sweet Tonka which was still going strong.
I understand why people don't like it but I think it's amazingly good.

eau de grey flannel is one of my favorite frags. this is the single worst frag i have ever smelled.

got this bottle from Fragrance X earlier this week. It appears to be a March 2022 batch.

My review is only based on a few days of testing in my room and on my skin, so take it with a grain of salt.
Upon first spray, it lasts quite a while in the air and in the room. It smells kind of like, well...a grey flannel shirt that has been sitting in the closet unused for a while. I think that's why people say the opening can be off putting etc.
After a while, it seems to transition to something more soapy. It soapiness reminds me of Prada Amber pour homme, but less concentrated and more airy.

That is what I mostly seem to be getting from the bottle so far. I may pick up slight hints of greenness every so often (maybe the oakmoss?), but that's about it. So far, I am neither disappointed nor impressed. It's just an old school type of scent that smells mature and clean.

As for longevity and performance I can't say just yet, but just 2-3 sprays on my curtains definitely project throughout my entire room for at least a few hours.

This is historical. Comes from Burt Reynolds era with that body hair and sharp fragrance. Opens up with green dry powder that might stab you directly in the nose, but thank heaven it mellowed to a bright neroli-iris combo in no time. Lastly moss, like bitter moss. Lasting 3-4 hours on my skin.

I'm pretty new to regular fragrance use, but have enjoyed reading about and sampling new scents over the last few months. My collector's heart--I may have more than one guitar--has paved the way for a bathroom drawer filled with a fragrant baker's dozen. Unquestionably, there will be more to follow.
While I can understand how GF might be polarizing, I really love it. It's certainly not for everyone and my wife has withheld her assessment for now, but I'm all in until sleeping on the sofa comes into play. The price was right for a gamble, no regrets.

“若你喜欢怪人，其实我很美”
上皮后浓郁的白松香没有丝毫掩饰，药感很快蔓延开来，微苦的绿意在鼻腔中肆虐。柑橘元素的存在虽然微不可察，但似乎也让前调没有过于沉郁。
在橡木苔组成的暗色背景中，紫罗兰与鸢尾悄无声息的登场了，带着一丝粉质感静悄悄的融入其中。或许是白松香过于霸道，最初的粉质感很容易让人忽略掉，随着时间的推移，便不知不觉得置身于这股柔情之中了。极为平滑的过度，让人似乎只能用润物无声来形容。
花香与木质元素相遇时，意外带出一丝皂感，不过不同于其他香水中常见的皂感，更像是老式“胰子”带出的味道。在木质素材的衬托下，温润迷人。
评分:10/10(我承认有我的私心)
性价比:9/10
我对灰色法兰绒的偏爱是没办法用语言来形容的，第一支空瓶香水就是30ml的它，后面还入手了240ml大瓶，由于没有喷头我甚至画了一百多买了个TF分装瓶配它使用(240ml的香水入手价才200多😂)。说它是此生挚爱也毫不夸张，我的侍寝香第一选择，我的常用香，无论入手多少支喜欢的香水，它都是我的最爱。
这里真心不建议新手朋友或者不爱木质香材的人盲目入手，它的接受度甚至比墨恋还要低一些。苦与暖强大的反差，甚至让人想到某些小说中老房子起火的情节:从初识得冷漠淡然到最后极致的温柔。或许真如灰色法兰绒材质的围巾一样，掩藏在灰色之下的是只有自己懂的柔润暖意。
最后，祝大家早日找到梦中情香~

It is in the same ballpark as Aramis, but the violet overload makes it much softer and friendly. It just smells like a violet soap to me.

One can easily see how this release is the predecessor to 80s powerhouses like Kouros. Does it smell like Kouros? Not really, but the sharp combination of galbanum and neroli mixed with the petrol-like violet leaves builds a similar landscape to the YSL juggernaut.

Something of note about Grey Flannel is that while it’s lovely on the surface, it stands up to closer scrutiny. As you delve deeper under the surface, you find complexity and architecture supporting the seemingly effortless visage. This is a quality sorely lacking from most current men’s releases.

An interesting enough fragrance - I can't really understand the extreme views in either direction (though many of the hostile reviews have a clichéd, performative aspect that I think says more about the makers/writers and contemporary tiktok/YouTube, than it does the scent).

I have found this fairly linear. It has a grassy, VERY violet-y dimension, coupled with a huge amount of powderiness (which I guess is the iris in theory; it doesn't explicitly smell of iris/orris, but I suppose that is the signal it's giving). There are other florals bouncing around in the background, none of them clearly expressed, but they are very much the Supremes to the violet's Diana Ross.

If it changes at all, it becomes soapier - but in a delicate way; do not be thinking Paco Rabanne Pour Homme. But there is something green and grassy going on, but sweeter than typical galbanum and vetiver. It sings "clean" in an interesting way (not like a typical 90s/00s "freshie" {slightly recoil at that word} such as Eternity, AdiG, Platinum Egoiste etc. - it's clunker, more deliberately "a scent for people who like scents" than those). It also retains a slightly antiseptic dimension.

In terms of lineage, I can see that the person who conceived Green Irish Tweed has smelled this, so too has the potionmaster/mistress of Valiant by Boadicea the Victorious. As such, Grey Flannel doesn't smell especially "of its time," because it doesn't fit into the trends of the 1970-85 time period (for example, no civet, no honey). Givenchy Gentleman, Antaeus and Kouros, it ain't. And though it is green, it is WAY too floral to belong with Polo, Bijan, Tsar, Quorum.

Overall, it just seems to me to be a relatively run-of-the-mill scent. It lasts well enough. It is cheap. It is distinctive. If you like violets, and clean-smelling scents, you'll probably like it. If you don't, you won't.

Now, please can we move on from the drama and clichés?!

This was a blind buy for $10 so I thought why not? Just put it on, I was reminded of something and I couldn’t tell what. Then I remembered, you know that chemical smell in a port-a-potty, this is what it is. I heard the dry down is much better though so i’m hoping for the best

i have this for sale. All are VINTAGE
multiple bottles

I keep coming back to change my review and my rating. I love it. I can’t explain it. I hate it some days. It’s AWFUL when freshly sprayed. An incredibly HARSH and almost SALTY SPICY floral. But dammit… it’s lovely when it dries down for a few minutes. Even the second sniff is much gentler. I understand the polarizing nature 100%. I have turmoil within myself about this one. It’s fantastic for layering with aquatic and woody frags. But at this point, even on its own, I can’t stop getting whiffs and enjoying it each time. It’s RIDICULOUSLY cheap. $8 at Walgreens. Just buy it, if only for the unique reaction you will have. This one is a helluva study on fragrance subjectivity.

I hated this fragrance but im also 17 which tbh might be it. To me this smells like im in the back of an old 1970's bmw with an 80 year old man driving it.

It opens up with a very aromatic and powdery strong scent that might turn you off. But after 20 mins the dry-down is godlike. Kinda resembles of linen clothes drying up in the sun on a beautiful summer day. Very pleasant and unique when the juice properly blends up with your natural skin scent. I'm proud to have this piece of fragrance history in my collection.

lots of violet reminds me of fish oil sometimes . you have to be in the mood to wear it cause its strong and stays strong for a while

Its own kind of classic, but not for everyone.

So much is written about Grey Flannel, from how awful it is to how amazing it is. The truth is…it’s both, and it just depends on personal tastes. Despite being introduced in the mid-late 1970s, it’s not really like most colognes of the era like Polo, Z14, or Jovan Musk. Nothing disco about this one at all. It’s more of a spiritual predecessor to something like Green Irish Tweed of the mid-1980s, a scent that almost 40 years later is rarely called “dated”. Similarly, Grey Flannel isn’t really dated, it’s more like something of its own sort, outside of any era’s stereotypical scents.

Grey Flannel opens sharp, bitter, green, harshly floral, and medicinal. If that didn’t stop you, read on. Don’t let the, uh, “bold” opening put you off. The initial smell is more like chemical air freshener, but the drydown is something completely different. Few colognes have such a different turn from opening to mid-range, and Grey Flannel is one that makes the most of it. It’s something that definitely requires some time to warm up and fully settle in. Really, it’s like a different cologne. Somewhere around 30 minutes to an hour after application, it mellows to a clean, soapy, rich, mossy floral. It’s not a light smell, but it is understated and refined. Full of violet, there is a talc-like quality that makes it soft and clean, but enough body from the oakmoss and tonka to give a somewhat woody and cola depth. It’s not a casual scent and it’s not particularly youthful, nor is is the best choice for all occasions, but in its own distinct way it is very nice. Think of it as a cologne for a literature professor or bank manager, but one surrounded by wood paneled walls, overstuffed leather chairs, and bookcases, not plate glass, office chairs, or lab benches.

Longevity and projection are both well above average and, combined with the rather heavy notes, this probably isn’t one to slather on by the bucket-load. One or two sprays or dabs is plenty and will last most people all day. This is the kind of cologne that was designed to hold up in a room full of club members wearing bow ties and smoking cigars, in a building from the 19th century, while rain falls outside on a chilly day. If you spend hours sitting in a climate controlled, sealed office with cubicles around you, it can easily overwhelm people unless you go very, very light with the application.

Reformulations have made it a bit less full-bodied and expensive-smelling than the old bottles, but the overall profile is remarkably similar. Give it at try, since it’s really something you have to wear for at least an hour or so to actually experience correctly. If it’s a good fit, there is nothing else like it. If not, you’re only out $15 to sample a true classic.

For the second time my negative review was removed. And you had every right to do so.
I want to apologize for that nasty review. I didn't have the right to criticize such a classic fragrance. I have come to my senses and shall correct my subjective, ill founded opinion about Grey Flannel.

Grey flannel is a master piece!
I love the harsh, loud and extreme piercing sweet opening. It opens my nostrils widely and sends that sweet delight direct into my throat. No other fragrance gives me such a physical reaction, truly unique.
A pleasant nose and throat burn, followed by a sweet headache. This is like a performance art fragrance, it is interactive, and physical, it triggers the whole body, not just the nose. The bitter sweet taste in my throat, this fragrance coupled with paracetamol. The dull headache.
It triggers the mind and the imagination as well. Imagery of old ladies with pearl necklaces in a casino, mindlessly putting money in slot machines.
Love it!

Classic, daring, unusual, sophisticated, reserved.

Urbane, masculine, unforgiving, intellectual, effortless.

Green, powdery, bright, earthy, metallic, floral, sweet, almond, pillowy, cyanide.

Lovely. 4/5

Oufff, not a fan. Just pulled my bottle out of the box, not even sprayed and it attacked me. Powdery Hand soap, Blue toilet cleaner liquid, cheap air freshener all up in my sinuses. I can taste it. Trying to rinse my mouth… won’t go away. HELP ME!

Blue flannel the only perfume that has ever physically attacked me. Silage is WMD level.

For some reason my negative review was removed?
Well anyways, below was my review, posted at 01/19/23 15:25 (if this is going to be removed again, please contact me and explain why, I don't see anything remotely offensive in it)

I bought this blind, because I dislike current sweet blue fragrances. Most reviews on this page mention things like "little sweetness", the antidote of current sweet fragrances" "lack of sweetness" etc.
Well, what did I get?
The most obnoxious overly SWEET old lady perfume I have smelled in my lifetime, I am not kidding.
And I very seldom dislike a fragrance, let alone hate it. Well, this is the first one.
This fragrance literally physically hurt my nose and throat, and I really waited a good amount, like half an hour before I started sniffing more up close..And it doesn't get any better, I had to wash it off. because it ,made me feel sick.
It is so damn SWEET, and sweet in a very harsh and cloying way.
When washed off it still took hours to morph into something more tolerable and softer, but it remained very sweet and cloying, actually very similar to Davidoff's Cool Water.
Is that the reward you get for enduring this scent? Cool Water?
Cool bro....

I bought this blind, because I dislike current sweet blue fragrances. Most reviews on this page mention things like "little sweetness", the antidote of current sweet fragrances" "lack of sweetness" etc.
Well, what did I get?
The most obnoxious overly SWEET old lady perfume I have smelled in my lifetime, I am not kidding.
And I very seldom dislike a fragrance, let alone hate it. Well, this is the first one.
This fragrance literally physically hurt my nose and throat, and I really waited a good amount, like half an hour before I started sniffing more up close..And it doesn't get any better, I had to wash it off. because it ,made me feel sick.
It is so damn SWEET, and sweet in a very harsh and cloying way.
When washed off it still took hours to morph into something more tolerable and softer, but it remained very sweet and cloying, actually very similar to Davidoff's Cool Water.
Is that the reward you get for enduring this scent? Cool Water?
Cool bro....

A 1970’s private investigator would wear this whilst following a lead to a dimly lit cocktail bar on a crisp winter’s evening. He’d be smartly dressed, unshaven and to remain inconspicuous, only have sprayed one spritz of Grey Flannel.

A masterpiece.

To me, the opening is realistic fresh cut grass and damp leaves. The dry down has more floral that makes it more pleasant. Need to be in specific mood to appreciate this.(Which sometimes I do.)
Try before you buy.

oakmoss essential oil added to my bottle = perfect result, lovely violets & woody drydown

I wore this in the 80s. Quite simply it’s what Sherlock Holmes would have worn. The Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett Sherlocks. A gentleman’s fragrance

I get urinal cake on the open which is very potent and unpleasant but it dries to a very pleasing classy dry mossy wood scent with a mild floral touch. I love it in spite of the urge to hold my breath with application. I feel like the sillage may be a bit musty but I'm not sure about others reaction to it. nobody has ever said anything to me about wearing it.

Grey Flannel my old friend that keeps me young

I have been missing Chanel no. 19 and this is my affordable alternative. Not a replica but it has similar notes- layering it with a perfume sort of makes it less like a cologne

If you wanna smell fresh and clean…look no further!

Grey Flannel is a fragrance that either you love it or hate it not much in-between. I have worn it since day one it came out because I was a teenager who read GQ magazine and saw the release for it and saved my money and bought it . Does it smell dated yes, is it still a very viable classic fragrance,yes will I still wear it YES.

GREY FLANNEL
12/21/22

I wore this to work last week, on a rainy day. It's a huge, modern office, with an open-floor plan. After I was walking around a bit, shortly after, two women said they smelled natural gas from where I was just walking through. I was loving knowing it was me. I owned up to it, and winked at one of the women when I told her it was me. GF is the opposite of all the sweet, spicy stuff out there. Can't wait to wear it again and stir it up at work. LOL Unique and masculine. Grab your balls...and wear it to the office. And DO NOT apologize for it.

The ideal antidote to the sickly sweet syrupy dreck that has seemingly crowded out everything else nowadays. It's a miracle this stuff is still available, and at such a low price to boot. Spray away and revel in the greenery that takes no prisoners and pay no heed to the naysayers.

A blind buy, Grey Flannel has become my signature fragrance. Full of violet and oakmoss, it is a scent that's clean, striking and full of old school sophistication. It fits in anywhere, at any time of day or night without trying to be a crowd pleaser. Use sparingly and stand out from the current trends.

This smells identical to a men’s bathroom urinal cake to me. No way I’m wearing this. Wife hates it as well. 👎🏼👎🏼

About 32 years ago I was stunned smelling this for the first time. Unfortunately some incompetent idiots ruined it just like what happened with many other great classics.

horrible. Unless your an 80 year old man do not wear unless, you want to smell like one. Probably my least favorite fragrance I have ever bought.

Smelling old days from a bottle, that's the story a fragrance wants to tell, yes, it's there, but not it used to be, lacking old days' oakmoss and be substituted by modern ingredients makes the bottle nowadays an imitator, a shadow represents its existence. A story every chypre one went through and this soothing Grey Flannel eventually lost the cool soul of an un-worldly green lover:/

It's nice to see an old fellow in the market, anyway.

idea for a while，逸想灰絨

Blind buy based on the accords. Horrible on me and general consensus of my other half / kids is it’s poor too.
Best way I can describe it to a UK based reader is- smells like Toilet Duck to me . Smells a bit like the sanitary cubes they used to have in mens urinals. Sweet and plasticky smelling and on me gets worse as it drys down. One to be sent to the charity shop as a donation- someone will like it??

I am gendefluid and love mixing masculine and feminine scents. My favorites are fruity scents and foresty scents. This is definitely a very masculine foresty scent. Not a pretty floral fresh forest but an autumnal forest where leaves are dying and mushrooms are popping up. I like to layer this with Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy to give it sweetness. That way I smell like a fairy forest. Amazing frag, worth the money but not a good blind buy.

It's an awesome master piece！Better than many highly rated perfumes from my perspective. It's gentle and really with floral scents and make you happy and peaceful！This is underrated and personally strong recommended for those who love orange blossom and paklan smell！

I picked this up when it first came out in 1975. At that time it was very popular, and rightly so. In 1984 I purchased another bottle, the French Sanofi version. Other than not being as strong in the opening as the original version it was pretty much the same. I purchased a bottle in 2016. Other than not being overall as strong as the French Sanofi version, it still smelled like Grey Flannel. I recommend purchasing this as a blind buy . Get it while you can. A moist dry green scent. How it is moist at times and dry is a marvel.

It's a rainy Saturday morning, a stiff cutting wind blowing, and you've got errands to run. You throw on some jeans and your Gore-tex hiking boots and a few dabs of Grey Flannel. You stop by the hardware store because the dryer needs a new exhaust duct, and then you head to the butcher's to pick up some beefsteaks to grill for dinner. The clerk at the hardware store smiled as you checked out. The countergirl at the butchers listened to every word you said as if it was the most interesting thing she'd ever heard. Nice folks, but you didn't think much of it. By noon the rain has cleared, and the world seems cleaner, the ozone freshness wafting up from the streets. You make it home and fix the dryer and throw a rub on the steaks to cure for a few hours. You're a man. You do the things that people need you to do. Later that night, you get a chance to sit down, and you catch a whiff of yourself. Despite the rain, the errands, the smoky grill and the sizzling beef, the Gray Flannel still cuts through. It hits your nostrils and you smile. It was a good day.

Understated and underrated. A lovely classic cologne for men, and all that's needed is a spray or two. Galbanum, petitgrain, neroli, bergamot, lemon, violet, iris, geranium, mimosa, narcissus, rose, oakmoss, vetiver, cedar, tonka bean & almond are the notes in Grey Flannel.

I wish all those men who insist on wearing those vile nuclear body sprays like "Lynx" etc would do themselves, the ozone layer & their work colleagues and girlfriends/boyfriends, although I really can't see any self-respecting man ever wearing "Lynx" - unless he's a lout, or a teenager who doesn't know any better, a huge favour and switch to this...120ml bottle for £11.20 Notino.com at the time of writing, May 2024.

Geoffrey Beene was a well-respected American fashion designer in his day, Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Nancy Reagan and Faye Dunaway were just some of his clients.

I first smelt this late 1970's on a very suave boyfriend, I loved it at first sniff. I got myself a bottle, it was so unlike the female perfumes of that time, I absolutely love it. I started wearing it again mid 1990's it is my go to day perfume. I never get bored of it, I find it a really cheerful, happy smell, I love violets, green scents and this does it perfectly. So inexpensive I can afford to douse myself in it. I am often asked which perfume I have on when wearing this.

Get the 200ml splash. This is a splash and it's intense, as a splash should be. Don't be stingy - it was never designed as a spray and it's style doesn't support a miserly application. Bonus with the splash bottle - easy to decant. I have doctored decants with a drop of real natural fragrance. Real oakmoss. A real flower - geranium and iris. Or a freshening drop of citrus. Just a smidge. Neroli isn't photo sensitive so that's a good choice. The natural extract is expensive and potent. Add very very little.

Starts off very powdery and strong and dries down to a flat soapy sort of talcum(?) note. Great value but just weird smell. Appropriately named though. It's just okay.

I wore this when it came out but it wasn't a daily scent for sure. Change of pace and quite unique. I have two large bottles of the stuff so if anyone wants to do a trade hit me up. Its a timeless classic.

Sometimes I wonder: Is there any need for us to buy perfumes all the time that follows the trend? And my answer is NO. We can do whatever we desire. That's why I tried this one and I like it. Longevity, sillage absolutely fantastic. The price is great. I smell green forest, flowers (especially violet), woods. Is it masculine? Yes it is. Perfect for spring, autumn and winter of course. It's very difficult for me to find a similar perfume. If u are not scared, try it.

Right of the bat, I'll just say it's not a good candidate for a blind buy! Honestly I'm still trying to figure out if the tiny bottle I got of this to try out has gone bad or something, but from the other reviews on here, it seems like what I'm smelling is the same as everbody else. I really dislike the opening of this. Very strong and piercing, a bit soapy, gives me bathroom air freshener vibe. That sharpness does become more tolerable as it dries down, but this is always very synthetic to me. It's also very flat, and I don't get any warmth at all. I don't get depth in this like I get with other fragrances. It's a very distinct older gentleman scent, maybe a distant cousin to the Old Spice or Denim Original Edt. In my head I'd like to say I like old-school male fragrances but maybe I just don't (?) It's not terrible, and I wouldn't it smells bad, but it's not for me.

One of my all-time favorites for men. Reminds me of my first high school crush…he wore this to school daily. Classic, masculine and timeless.

70s bliss
Green - soup - A little of freshness
It’s a masculine choice for sure
A lot of stuff going on here
It lacks sweetness which was the case with most of the era back then
I’m not sure what it used to be
But it’s a very good fragrance
Longevity is good

8/10

Very long lasting, top in the range. This is definitely an old school fragrance. Kind of noble, elegant and revoking 30,40 ties. Fred Astaire, Rudolf Valentino ... that type of associacions. For those bold individuals, who dare to be retro in these hi tech, AI, futuristic times.

I love this, smells great on a man, but I like to wear it, too. Reminds me of Jacomo Silences. Lots of galbanum, violet, and oakmoss.

This scent is very intriguing. Blind bought. It smells spicy and very flowery. The image that comes to mind in my head is sitting alone in furnished yet empty office space in the 90s. The scent almost makes me gag but I can't bring myself to hate it. Just not for me.

4/10

Intense violet and floral notes...
The current formulation seems to project more of the floral and green notes than the original '80's version.
I tried layering this with some light woody fragrances.
This combination provided a more robust, woody base to support the strong floral notes at the top and mid.
Layering with a woody base scent helps to "balance out" this fragrance, and allows me to thoroughly enjoy it from beginning to end.
I wish the vetiver and cedar notes were more pronounced in the newer formulation.

A very interesting perfume.

I have to admit it's not my cup of tea.
Opening, moss and cemetery flowers and violets.
It smells gentlemanly and I can see a gentleman in a suit, in a flannel suit.
I like this perfume only in the drydown...then it becomes very masculine and powdery.
This perfume is very strange, some love it some hate it.
I'm somewhere in between, but realistically it's very difficult for me to wear it, so it's almost full on the shelf collecting dust.
Be very careful when you want to blind buy this perfume.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/10 Perfume Performance - In my opinion, this perfume behaves wildly on my skin at first, while later it calms down and is more wearable. The duration is about 6-9 hours
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/10 Perfume Rating - I can't say it's ugly, it's just a difficult perfume to wear because of its uniqueness and specificity.

An eternal classic, I first fell in love with this fragrance when I worked in perfume sales in the mid through late 90s.

The formula was different then. There weren't all the IFRA / EU restrictions that the industry is encumbered by today.

It isn't as potent as it was, but it's still a remarkable example of sublime sophistication and a classic fougere.

To my nose, the oak moss, galbanum and bergamot are still the most prominent notes. There's a whisper of iris and geranium, but not enough to lend the depth and complexity it once had.

Nevertheless, it remains a timeless and supreme men's fragrance.

Although I'm a woman, I own two bottles and wear it at home because I absolutely love this scent profile. It's calming, soothing, centering.

To me, this exudes class, and so will the man who wears it.

Good stuff if you like a strong violet note. I do not, so this is nothing for me. But the quality you get here for the price is outstanding.

A great surprise. I had read quite a few reviews before blind buying 120 ml a month ago. Actually I should only buy an Aramis 900 and an Aramis Devin, but then I saw this Gray Flannel in a flannel back for an almost ridiculous low price, so I bought that one as well. What a surprise - so good. A little like Kouros, but better, more refined, less 80-ies high hair and Lacoste polo-shirts, kind of a mature (in a good way) Kouros for the subtle gentleman.
Opens quite powerfull but shortly after it is very pleasant - and the dry down is nothing less than amazing.
This bottle was supposed to be just a tester but now I wear it every day - and love it every day. And I just bought an extra bottle just to be sure not to run out. If you like classic scents for men - no unisex here - then this is something you ought to try. And for that price you might find - like me - that it is one of your best frag deals ever.
Ohh . . and thumbs up to fragrantica - great forum with great info. Keep up the good work.

A masterpiece. 11/10. When I was a teen in the 1980s this was everywhere and very well liked by women- coworkers, my mother, my sister. The opening nearly knocked me out. However, the dry down is spectacular. There’s nothing like this. And, I’d bet that if Tom Ford sold this in one of his charming little bottles, people would rave about it and pay hundreds for it.

The cheaper classic scents are still the best and are better than any department store fragrance by 1000 miles. Just my subjective opinion.

This scent is hit or miss for a lot of people, and that's understandable. When I first got it I was disappointed because it came off *so* strong. I had heard it described as "the opposite of what a teenager would want for a date night", which is pretty funny but true. It's definitely a strong but sophisticated scent. After the initial punch wears off, it leaves behind a floral, powdery, clean scent. It's very dry and gives the slightest hint of baby powder. I don't wear it a ton but it's a great clean scent that feels nice to wear on a cool day after a shower. I'm not sure I'd wear it if I'd be out on a hot day, or in the sun, or sweating a lot. This is the scent for lounging around and reading a good book under a blanket. "Grey flannel" is about the most appropriate name. Mature but not elderly, doesn't bother itself with all the musk and leather and spiciness of other masculine scents.

While I’m not a big fan of how this one smells, man is this stuff POTENT!!! 👍🏼 Happy Mother’s Day y’all! ❤️

I have to layer this stuff with something brighter or more floral. In my opinion it provides a nice, earthy, & herbal stage for other fragrances to really shine. On its own, it is a bit too musty old man for my liking. I agree that the drydown is very nice. I feel like it can work on its own for some people, just not for me. Overall, it is a distinct scent that is super cheap, which makes it a buy imo.

7/10

My mum loves this.

I wore this in the 80s when I was young and footloose.
It was so ... almost desserty in a way.
Just bought a bottle again after all these years.
It wasn't an immediate "ah ha!" of recognition.
It's changed to my nose...stronger and less watery in a way.
Things change...well...it's still great. Maybe even better. Richer. Very pleasant.

I mixed 60 ml grey flannel with 40 ml Zara ebony wood. Atomik bomb 💣. The drydown is pure heaven. Thanx

Although it's been thru it's reformulation pilgrimage, disappearance act included, it still lasts for days on clothes, and it retains the very same clearly identifiable scent I used to smell on my uncle back in the early 80s. I confess I never dared use it until now that I'm the age he was back then. I would like to quote a blogspot entry of "frompyrgos" I found while searching the association this frag had with the Teflon Don (all rights go to the original writer) :

Quote :
"In the past ten years or so, niche perfumery really launched itself onto the world stage. This worried me, as most niche fragrances are only affordable if you refinance your home and send your kids to a trade school instead of college. In my experience, niche scents smell better, mainly because they're more complex than mainstream frags and made with high quality ingredients. Ideally, I would never shop at Marshalls again, and stock my wardrobe with Creed and Czech & Speake until the day I die. That could still happen, but I have to win the lotto first.

Fortunately, there's a mainstream masculine out there that smells like a niche scent, and only costs $15 for a 4 ounce bottle. Grey Flannel is a modern marvel because when André Fromentin formulated it in the early '70s, he had successfully tackled one of the most difficult concepts in perfumery - the dreaded violet reconstruction. Back when it was released in 1976, Grey Flannel boasted a great big violet/violet leaf wallop that was both ethereal and against the grain. It stepped from a pantheon of leathers and bombastic orientals, and stood apart. The original formula survived for the better part of the '80s, before it was discontinued in the early '90s. One could argue that Grey Flannel's last production date was a sad one indeed.

Except it wasn't. In 1996, Beene's flagship scent was reformulated and re-released. Usually reformulations strip something vital out of an old-school perfume (oak moss has been under the knife for a while now, particularly in newer versions of feminine '70s chypres), but with Grey Flannel, things were different. There were new technologies and a broader range of aroma chemicals with which to compose violet notes, and so the central accord in Grey Flannel wasn't butchered, but in fact improved. Instead of smelling harsh and "perfumey" the violet note was smoothed out, flanked by complimentary accords of citrus and moss, and allowed to breathe.

Grey Flannel's current manufacturer, Elizabeth Arden Fragrances, boasts a note pyramid with multiple spices, flowers, and woods. Yet I really don't smell anything other than the basic structure of this chypre. The top is a dessicated lemon accord, bone dry to the point of almost smelling woody. Once that impeccable citrus lifts, moss-studded violet leaves arrive, ushering along with them the lovely powdery violet note. Although the sweetness of the flower peeks through the dank shade of the leaves, it never develops into the sugary floral caricature found in many feminine releases these days. It stays bitter, and very green. Everything is set against a coriander and oak moss background, until the notes fade in the drydown, leaving oak moss close to the skin.

I'm fairly sure that Grey Flannel is as close as I'll ever get to the coveted Holy Grail perfume. It has simplicity, freshness, greenness - and all for pennies. I have yet to find anything that touches the beauty of Grey Flannel, although there's little doubt in my mind that Pierre Bourdon paid homage to it when he developed Green Irish Tweed some ten years after the Beene's initial release. I suppose one could complain of a perceptible "soapiness" to the Flannel, but once you get past the '70s zeitgeist aspect of virtually any late 20th Century chypre, you're left with the freedom to smell like flowers without fearing social repercussions. With this particular floral chypre, you can dress in a suit, spritz some violets on, and conquer the day as 100% pure and unadulterated Man."

I LOVE wearing this. Great for men and women. Yesterday I was sampling Penhaligon's Artemisia, and that reminded me of Grey Flannel, so I sprayed on my GF today. It's a very cold, sunny spring day--dry air with some breeze. Grey Flannel smells amazing. Loving all aspects of it, including the "harsh" opening, and the friendly price. Uplifting, gentle without being sweet, powerful yet dispersed; he holds his own complexity in an unassuming way. So adept, so rewarding. Thank you, Andre Fromentin and Geoffrey Beene!

Halfway to fabulous

This has been called a gentleman's fragrance, so I bought it to see what that meant. Only paid $10. From the harsh opening, I recognized the company that made it - Elizabeth Arden. Distinctly harsh opening.

It softens over time and you're left with something floral and lovely. But there aren't any noticeable masculine undercurrents, it's just a scent for a guy in a very dapper suit. It seems the concept of the fragrance is a walk in a flower garden while wearing a low-key suit and derby hat. But the reformulation deprives the concept of its naturals and is perceptibly synthetic.

It's a shame it's been reformulated, because I don't know of anything like it. Perhaps today's perfumers could try to take the underlying concept in a new direction.

It is a nice scent, Bitter, Green and Herbal. A true classic style. A bit mature, If you like mossy and herbal perfume, you will like this one. It opens up with like bitter citrusy , green and floral notes in the background then dry down is mossy woody. This is perfect for the spring, fall and winter. The art of bottle design is old style like wine bottle. I like Grey Flannel for Men. Longevity is good. This review is based on the new reformulation. The Galbanum, Mimosa and Oakmoss notes are dominant in this perfume.
Rating : 7.5 / 10

With Grey Flannel, it's all about the dry down. For those who aren't crazy about the opening, spray or pour a few drops on a tissue or handkerchief and stick it in a jacket pocket. Then smell it a few hours later. You'll be very surprised.

I tell anyone who says this is for an "old man" to hold on to the bottle for 25 years. Then it will be perfect for you and you'll be able to say you own a later vintage formulation!

The current formulation isn't as strong and long lasting as the oakmoss laden neutron bomb I wore in the 1980's. The current limitation on oakmoss has taken care of that for too many fragrances, but the general aroma is still there. I suggest buying the larger 8 oz. splash bottle, splash it liberally on the chest and neck and wait for the wonderful dry down.

[Update to an earlier review---> March 2022] I just received a new flacon of GREY FLANNEL, current 100ml EDT. Ordered from the Chinese website WISH.com. (Do not turn up your nose at WISH: every perfume I've bought from them has been new, fresh, potent and an amazing bargain. They may look like a fly-by-night bazaar selling motley, quizzical dry goods, but their access to fine fragrance is apparently unobstructed).

This new flacon did not come with a box, but to my amazement, arrived in a gorgeous grey flannel drawstring bag, with shiny chrome aglets and grommets. I haven't received the signature drawstring bag with GF since, I kid you not, 1978. I also notice that the green-gray wine bottle-shaped glass flacon within is now extra weighty/chunky... moreso than it's ever been.

Then the acid test: the jus within. It has never smelled better... It has received a mild tweak, I am convinced, but it's for the better: It now smells more "haute", potent and refined than ever. It now has an amazingly long, slow development... more like a Chanel or Hermès EDP. After the fresh, lawn-like green opening, the rose and the bulb floralcy muster themselves up-front and center in an amazing pas-de-deux, with the omnipresent violet ionone/iris signature shining a purply light on them. From there it's a slow elegant journey to the green-black, dank oakmoss/tonka base it's always been famous for. "Victorian English countryside in the rain" as so many have described it.

It's now clear to me that this fragrance is a masculine take on the green/bulb-floral/chypre model of, say, 1964's "Y" by Yves Saint Laurent. It is, I believe, one of the most undisguisedly floral masculines ever released: the flowers do not hide under more traditionally "butch" notes.

In short, after the last three decades of being sold in Walmarts and Walgreens as a dowdy stepchild, someone has decided to present GREY FLANNEL as a haute-parfumerie number again... which it so richly deserves. Of course Turin gives it 5 stars: it's a perfumery masterpiece.

I only regret they no longer offer the array of toiletry peripherals they used to in the 70's and 80's: bar soap, soap-on-a-rope, after shave, deodorant stick, shower gel, scented talcum, etc.

This is a winter fragrance for me. I had bottle that had to have been 35 years old when I found it and squeezed the last drops out of it (I got a lot of cologne as gifts as a teenager). I replaced that original bottle with a set of the EDT and after shave. Although the “modern” formulation opened with a synthetic, rotten leather aroma, I stayed, and it recovered it’s intended floral, yet masculine scent. I still like it. There are days in winter, when the weather is dreary, and cold when I think, “This is a Grey Flannel kind of day”. Caviat emptor, but it’s inexpensive enough if you don’t like it; however, I suggest it be applied sparingly because it’s strong, especially on warm skin.

The only people who would benefit from wearing this are those whose breath or body odor smells worse than this. This was just horrid. I tried it on my body once and had to wash it off after less than an hour. It quickly became a bathroom spray.

1/10

Smells 80% similar to Irish Spring bar soap, albeit certainly more complex and sophisticated.

Fresh green opening that almost feels minty. Dewy violet surrounded by a powdery softness. After a few hours, the sharp green tones down and reveals a soft floral haze over gentle woods and oakmoss. Great complexity that keeps you interested the entire time. This fragrance has no warmth and almost feels cold in a stoic, mature, yet gentlemanly way.

Could easily be worn year-round, as the fragrance can be refreshing in summer and still pair wonderfully with snow in winter. I can see this as being a signature scent for someone. Certainly a refreshing version of the generic blue fragrances on the market nowadays. Better, we don't compare this to those. Might be too much for some, but the person wearing this is too sensible to care anyways. Amazing value for the price (<$30 for 120 ml!)

If Diptyque made Eau de Narcisse Bleu this would be it. Picture something very DILFy but verging towards unisex. Floral, yes. White and purple flowers. But there’s something green in there - oak moss, vetiver. And a little sweet. Almond, tonka. And then there’s just a little powder and bitter lemon left over from a banger of an opening. That’s Grey Flannel.

Who’s wearing it? Ted Danson, flying back to LA to film Cheers. He’s wearing a white collared shirt unbuttoned at the top to show a peek of chest hair. Over that is a navy sports jacket. The shirt is tucked into the waist of medium wash blue jeans secured with the help of a belt with a prominent metal buckle. On his feet are white leather athletic shoes. His luggage is a tweed Hartmann spinner suitcase. He’s not smoking, but other people in the airport lounge are, and the tobacco plays well with the Grey Flannel he’s wearing.

Is it modern? No.

Is it relevant? Yes.

If you’re over 30 and can appreciate men’s fragrances that don’t smell like shower gel or candy sex bombs, it’s a fairly safe blind buy. If you enjoy niche perfumery but are put off by the $12 price tag, go ahead and give this a sniff. If you like 80s green classics like Green Irish Tweed and Polo Green, blind buy this right now. If you’re a hot divorced white collar dad that looks like the Brawny man with a mustache and you pick your kid up for the weekend in a Corvette … you already own this.

I've been wearing this on and off for years. If the opening wasn't so harsh I'd wear it more. The dry down is more pleasant and acceptable. If you blind buy, go for a smaller bottle. It's inexpensive anyway.
I could understand the "grey flannel" inspiration with violet and iris. Picture a working gentleman from the 50s 60s wearing a grey flannel wool suit. Not manly but not feminine either.
If the galbanum was replaced with a modest amount of lavender or another aromatic note it would hit the nail on the head; but, it probably wouldn't be the same "you've never smelled this before" polarizing scent it is...

I blind bought this because of the history. This is, smell like a Grandparent 101. I knew it was going to be dusty and old but I actually can't handle it. I know this is one of the most popular fragrances of all time but nope.. not for 30-40 more years. If you capture the scent of an old folks home, this is how it would smell.

Smells like the kind of potpourri without spices, brings up images of glass jars with random stuff in them covered with lace.

Do not enjoy it - I can see how another reviewer mentioned diapers, there's a combination of baby powder and wetness that can evoke that.

The nicest thing I could say about it is it smells like a wet tweed sofa.

Apparently a legend I had no knowledge of in my neck of the woods. 5 stars from Luca Turin (!!!) I remember how I used to chase LT 5 star rated perfumes, to learn that no one’s advice (no matter how great their tastes) can guarantee you will love the perfume. This experiment was not expensive. I call it a huggable lumberjack. Green like a forest, woody with a soft floral almost powdery side. Over all not disappointed.

This reminds me of Chaps Musk by RL, and I hated that one just as much as this one. It is soo powdery and dry, I sneeze every time it forces it’s way into my nostrils.
Definitely not for me.

Over the decades I have probably gone through 9-10 various size bottles of Grey Flannel and it's still as much of a joy to wear today as my first bottle in the mid-80's. It has been my experience over the years that there is quite a noticeable difference between the splash and spray bottles. The splash is brighter, a bit woodier, the Violet has a dryer/dustier feel and it's less powdery in the dry-down. The spray is more floral, a wetter Violet feel and a quite a bit more powdery dry-down. I love them both but I wear the splash a little more because it has a punchier feel than the spray. You can try to track down vintage bottles but I personally feel that Grey Flannel has stayed pretty true over the years even with reformulations and is still well worth checking out.

I can definitely see the comparison to Ombré de Hyacinth, but this also has a bit of Jonquille de Nuit in it too. Obviously that is coming from the Narcissus flower,yet it seems it isn't high up on the vote list for notes. It should be, but I'm not suprised.
As others have said, this also makes a great room spray. I have to see if I can find some candles of it.

If Grey Flannel was packaged by Amouage in their typically fancy presentation, then I feel some people would pay $300 for it.

On me, this opens a strong bitter green that's almost offensive, just saturating levels of galbanum and petitgrain. Eventually it settles down to some gentlemanly florals over oakmoss and woody vetiver.

I get two types of vibes from Grey Flannel... Though it might be more accurate to say I get one vibe that I interpret in two varying ways: it feels like some old school fragrance but at the same time could be something from a niche house in that this runs totally counter to what is currently popular and best selling in fragrances.

This is not for me! i bought because it was cheap! Never smell something so strong!

Geoffrey Beene Grey Flannel...


...this is what i call a nose calibrator.
If you are tired of all those ambroxan-tonka-pink pepper sauvagebleudechanelaventuswannabeniche creations , well.....this is a fish slap left cheek right cheek in your face wake up call.

Get yourself a Kitchen Aid and throw in a bunch of flowers, a bottle of violet essential oil and a whole tin of imperial leather talcum powder.
Let it blend for 10 minutes and add a bottle of Bombay gin....

KAPOOWW....nose calibrated and ready for the next journey.

Lovely juice and handle with care.

Starting off my collection I was intrigued by the reviews for Grey Flannel here and on YouTube. I ordered it as a blind buy.
Several reviewers mentioned that it works very well as an air freshener (and it does) so, worse case scenario I'd have a classy and original room deodorant!
At first all I could smell was the violent violet opening but gradually, this fragrance stroke me as mysterious, poetical, ambiguous, totally unisex, complex and, yes...ancient.
It smells like something from another time. One reviewer somewhere described Grey Flannel as what an american 1950s gangster would wear. I found that very intriguing and now I totally get it. Another review compared it to something a wizard from Harry Potter would wear. Absolutely. Some reviews mention its victorian era vibe. Others call it "steam-punk". Yes. That and many other things. Confused? So was I, by all the weird and wonderful things people say about Grey Flannel EDT. Several reviewers also mention that this fragrance works well in super-cold weather. It totally does. In fact, it's the best frag I have for the coldest days of our Canadian winters. On a snowy, rainy or grey day it wraps you in a snuggly, powdery, pastel colour (I associate the colours mauve and blue or pink pastel to this scent) and slightly dusty blanket and it still projects in minus 10º C weather. I also feel that this fragrance would work well in a formal situation like a wedding, funeral, a night at the opera or a classical music concert. I would not wear this on a first date but it could work in a romantic setting. Also note that GF is not what is generally considered a "manly" fragrance because of its strong floral notes. I find the dry down absolutely beautiful (and possibly more masculine). it's by far the best part of this frag, after 2 hours or so.
I have grown to like GF once I became more familiar with its powdery, weird dusty notes and the depth of the floral layers as they develop and keep evolving throughout the day.
If after reading this you still feel that Grey Flannel could be a good fit for you then I recommend you give it a try. It's a scent that keeps revealing itself in new ways if you are ready to give it a chance and you approach it with an open mind.
Definitely an acquired taste and not for everyone. Blind-buy only if you feel adventurous but you might hate it.

When you grow weary of the barrage of freshies and sweeties and blandies, Grey Flannel is a welcome relief today of the grand old days of yesteryear.

Hey, it’s still around isn’t it?

This is a real classic but by god do not blind buy. Its not for the faint of heart. It has a bitter, old school powdery scent to it, it is not a crowd pleaser, but for some reason as a 20 year old i still really find this scent charming in a bizarre way. I am happy to have a bottle but i would not recommend in 2021

I have owned this bottle for two years now. I don't think so far anyone whom I have made to smell this purposely have liked it. Reactions ranged from complete dislike to hmnnnn!!!. Strong harsh opening from that violet note but for some reason I like it, that's why I bought. So only buy if you are into old school powerhouse and don't care for the lack of crowd pleasing notes. Plus side strong longevity and projection as well as cheap price.

The violet is strong with this one. The label says Grey Flannel, but it should really be Purple Velvet, on a playboy, in the mid ´70s. I wore this to some extent in my youth, but now I have a sort of love/hate relationship with it. And to anyone who thinks he can pull this off in this day and age, I say good luck.

Absolute Banger. 10/10.

Got a great big honkin' 8 oz. bottle from Macy*s Backstage (NOT a great place to do fragrance shopping - at all. I think they used to be Curve factory outlet by the looks of it. LOL ). However I spotted this and wanted to save on my very "vintage" bottle that I have at home. This big 8 oz. was in splash formation- not sprayer - and it was quite strong after I slapped a bit on myself to sample it . I have a feeling I got an older bottle -- the package was not shrink wrapped - box had shelf wear. Maybe it was a one-off return that sat in a warehouse ? HAPPY to have a HUGE supply of this classic- and if any ladies are reading this : it may fit one of your moods-- even if that mood is for a new different cheapie that does not smell like ANYTHING else you already own. Newer and older formulas match up nicely ! I feel little or no reduction. A classic !

A few years back I got a whiff of this ashy flower-rot coming off an older gentleman while at a supermarket. I thought, maybe, he has limited mobility and doesn’t shower often. He had the smell of filth covered up, poorly, by cheap cologne. Insufferable smell that gave me a headache and made go out of the store for fresh air.

I finally smelled Grey Flannel. Purchased out of curiosity at a local discounter store. Now I know, that smell coming off that man was pure unadulterated Grey Flannel.

For every rare “I was complimented” tale I read, I wonder about the dozen or hundreds of poor souls that get caught in the crossfire of this vile affront on bystanders. How many are left gasping for air by your passing cloud of rot.

I mean, are you seriously turning heads for the right reasons? Are you that delusional?

The opening is stale floral vase water and spoiled petals. Mid is moldy talcum and chalk. Base is a cigarette ash bin.

Great classic fragrance. Beautiful and all class. The vintage bottles last longer but the new ones project pretty well! This fragrance lasts a long time and perfect for cooler weather. Perfect for sweater weather. Creed Green Irish Tweed cloned this one ten years after this release. Don't waste your money on Creed, when you can pick up a bottle of this for 25 bucks. It lasts twice as long and projects far better. If I lived in London, this would be my signature fragrance.

For me, not the insider tip that it is traded as. Stuffy, old-fashioned herbal flower water. Not even worth the few bucks it costs.

Hmm, not sure how to feel about this one...
Blind bought this, 200ml for about $20. I read the reviews and thought "what the hell, it's only $20 I may as well".
The opening isn't the most pleasant to me. VERY strong on the green florals. It's not bad per-se, but it's a good thing the dry down isn't the same.
I do enjoy the violet and iris in the dry down, I can see why people compare this to Farenheit. The difference is, though, Fahrenheit has a certain sweetness and spiciness to aid the violet, whereas Grey Flannel doesn't. It hits you with the violet and iris, smushed together with a strong sage note, but doesn't really give you anything more, at least to my nose. Even after around 6 hours, I'm not really getting any of the base notes. Maybe a tiny bit of tonka, but that comes across as a more powdery sweetness, and it's definitely not a sweet dry down.
It's a weird one for me. I will probably still wear this, maybe in the workplace, maybe as a quick grab before an autumn walk, I'm not sure. But I don't hate it. Definitely a bit more of a unique frag.

Projection: 7/10. That opening projects a lot, maybe to its detriment, as to me (and quite a few others) the opening isn't too pleasant. The dry down is a bit more forgiving, maybe 2 feet projection but a nicer scent.

Sillage: 7/10. Holds quite well in the air, but I wouldn't expect this to fill a room.

Scent: ?/10. I think this is probably quite subjective. I won't rate it for that reason. It's kind of like marmite, you'll love it or hate it.

Longevity: 8/10. Pretty good, I get about 7-8 on the dry down, maybe projects for about 4hrs before becoming a skin scent.

Overall: 6/10. I docked a point for the fact that the actual scent profile can be quite divisive. I think when the dry down has sat in for an hour or two, this can be a quite nice scent. I probably wouldn't wear this in any other season than autumn. It's not quite sweet or spicy enough for winter, and not fresh at all for summer. Maybe an early spring day? I'm not sure. I would definitely recommend smelling this before buying.

Very reminiscent of Jovan Musk. But less "musky".
I like it. But I like those old school "old man" scents. If you don't like that style of fragrance, you're not gonna like this.
I get decent longevity out of it. 7 hours or so. But it is beast mode for the first few hours. Then it starts mellowing out.

I also find the association to Fahrenheit here due to the violet, though I find them going the opposite direction, Grey Flannel is cold and damp, Fahrenheit warm and dry.

A classic that I like to wear from time to time, nothing to do with Fahrenheit which is more aquatic, and whose violet is more present here.

Very powdery and aromatic.

First impression- Unique, metallic tone present. I haven't tried secretion magnifique but the smell of grey flannel is similar to the description of secretion magnifique. Grey flannel has nauseating powdery metallic tone. I can't tolerate it but strangely my other family members don't find it nauseating.
I will try it after few days.

If Sherlock Holmes wore a fragrance then it would be this. I wore this in the late 80s when everyone else was wearing kouros and jazz and felt like a gentleman. Elementary really

I reckon this fragrance gets its polarising reputation due to being over-applied. It's hella strong.

One spray, just one spray is my recommended dosage for this retro classic. Apply directly to your chest. Then let it unfold over many hours. It'll happily do this with your body heat, your shirt acting like a diffuser.

And then what I get is a heavenly mossy green halo that's definitely from another era, but definitely still divine.

A spring/autumn must-have for this fella.

Intense Violet - Very Green - Powdery. A memorable green floral fougère with a distinct masculine personality. The scent is unmistakable. There's a reason this has been around since 1975.

If I had to pick one image to best represent this fragrance; I picture a burly, manly, bearded lumberjack; with wood chips and green bits under his flannel after a hard day's work... However, he's also opposed to chafing and goes really heavy with the talcum powder.

Grey Flannel just might be one of the most polarizing fragrances out there. You’re either passionate about this unique offering like many devoted fans since the 70’s, or completely despise everything about it when you first smell it. Give it time... you might come around too if you're the latter.

Personally, I love wearing Grey Flannel on rainy days; and especially lounging around on a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon in a pair of "grey" sweatpants.

Rating 8/10

ugh, no, just sampled it today and it just smells like a wet dog...

GREY FLANNEL
8/23/21

I woke up to rain. And rain was in the forecast for most of the day. Therefore...I automatically reach for GF. I only wear it on rainy days. Any season. It smells like wet concrete but...GF excels on rainy days.

Just purchased this today....Wowie! This is a heavy hitting fragrance!
This cologne is like...the essence of "Steampunk". When I smell it I see old machinery and dusty old librarians with long curly moustaches and top hats with longcoats and those circular little round glasses.
The opening is like BAM!! Dusty libraries and victorian ladies and gentlemen in your face!
Then it settles down...just a little into a more calm and pleasant stroke of violet and soft iris...while the victorian ladies are still talking in the background and the dusty old librarian is angrily shouting "SSHHHHH!!!" at them.
I haven't gotten to the complete dry down yet as I just bought it...but so far, this is a really mature and regal type of scent!

I would wear this to a formal meeting with my patent lawyer or to a big meeting at work...nothing less.
This would actually be the perfect scent for a really rainy and grey day.
Goodness...I cant' wait to wear this during the next overcast rainy day!!

Remember Palma violet sweets? That’s the opening, dries down to a zesty citrus and vetiver scent. Quality fragrance at a cheap price. I wouldn’t suggest it being what many under 30 would want.

Ok.
I get it.
The violet is violent. See how close those two words are?
The violet and galbanum are a literal scent riot.
The opening is a figurative olfactory war zone.
Then there is the bergamot; and that is loud. Picard be damned.
I get the bergamot. I don't get lemon here, though lemon and bergamot are hand-jobbing cousins.
Tea. Earl Grey. Hot
I get it. The opening. It's nearly radioactive, though if you love bergamot, it is still comforting to me.
Toxic to some lesser souls.
And let us be frank:
Weak entities need weak targets to bag on.

The galbanum literally disappears in less than 30 minutes and the violet stops shrieking after the first hour.
After that, you are left with the deflated violet but also oakmoss and vetiver, tonka and this musky something.
See, this is telling:
The big story is the musk in the dry-down.
Raw sex.
And it lasts for hours.
More than a day/night.
Early Spring and Late Autumn.

8oz splash < than $20.

You could do worse.
We all have, and will.

Forever.

There's a lot of hate on this fragrance. Some say it smells like an old grandpa and basically You will not get any compliments. WRONG! The scent is indeed a bit dated but it is not offputting by any means. I like to spray it from time to time. This is a strong fragrance that lasts and lasts. I don't get the hate at all! Shame on You!

This is a living legend. Over the years, Geoffrey Beene Grey Flannel has garnered lots of praises as well as criticisms in the fragrance community but it remains a legend. It may be divisive, it's a love it or hate it kind of fragrance because of it's not too ordinary scent profile. There's actually a trick on how to wear this. The opening is the most critical stage so the hack is to apply a few sprays and wait for at least 15-20 minutes before you leave your house or go to work. By then, you will smell the magic of one of the most gorgeous, however largely misunderstood, old school fragrance in the fragrance world. It was one of my signature office frag for years, along with Givenchy Gentleman 1988 release, and I garnered numerous compliments even up to this day, because of it's mysterious and yet gorgeous dry down in my opinion. My wifey loves it so much. The smooth, clean and green, mossy-musky aroma on the dry down was to die for. The perfect blending of some of its notes: vetiver, cedar, tonka bean, violet and moss, gives you that pleasant olfactory experience.

Although this is a green frag, this may not perform well in high heat and as far as adaptation to skin chemistry, this is not a one size fits all. Based on personal experience, it's the only fragrance I observed over the years that really adapts to certain skin chemistry types. I had smelled some folks wearing this and it smelled great on them. But I smelled it on some friends and random people and for some reason, it smelled awkward. It's not that bad, its just that something was off. It's like wearing clothes that fits your size but doesn't look good on you.

Back in the day, I style it with my semi-formal office attire (crisp and clean white long sleeves shirt, dark gray slacks and printed tie) and that's when I garnered more compliments. Every time I get home, my wife will smell my shirt first before throwing it to the laundry basket. She loves to catch a whiff of that gorgeous tail end of the dry down. GF will always occupy a special place in my all time greats. This enigmatic masculine juice have stood the test of time that if discontinued, will definitely become a collectors item and may command a high price in the fragrance market. While it's still widely available and very affordable, I ordered a brand new large bottle and would keep it close and sealed. It's how I value and respect this beautiful creation that evokes wonderful memories of the past.

I'll give this living legend a10/10

“Let's spread the scents of peace and kindness. The two most beautiful fragrance in the world that will cost you nothing and will get you a totally different kind of compliments” 🙏

Super, medicinal, potent, earthy violet. Nothing quite like this classic. I love it.

The modern version is an unisex, slightly retro flowery green scent. It's ok.

old bottle, ~10 years ago, eau de toilette: mossy, woody, deep, complex, wonderful.

new bottle - 2021 eau de toilette spray vaporisateur:
Opening: almost green, crisp, fresh laundry
Opens up immediately into a white floral, violet, citrus, moss, powder, really quite floral
Settles into a very grandmotherly floral, sweet powder that I really dislike

When fully dried down: white musk, just straight up 1990s white musk.

The first batch was more like a gray flannel. The second is more of a white flannel with a light purple design.

No idea if the difference is due to it being from a different batch, or if there was a reformulation, or if the difference is spray vs. dabbed fragrance, or what. Unfortunately, I no longer adore this fragrance. I wear it to work in the summer. It's inoffensive and pleasant enough, like a hotel soap.

This is the loner of fragrances.
Bullied, maligned, but quitely brilliant, sensitive, needs time, patience, not flamboyant or flashy, but quitely confident, reserved.
It's sharp, mossy, floral, herbal, woody, musky.
I love it, stood the test of time for a reason.
Reminds me overcast, woody rural area in oregan somewhere.
Maybe professor Snape wore in harry potter also.

I've definitely smelled this before out in the world.

It's very floral, with a prominent violet note and something I think might be lilac. There's some vegetal green present as well. I don't smell citrus per se, but there is a juiciness to the scent which evokes some kind of fruit. Way, way in the back lurk the cedar and vetiver, providing a hint of solid darkness to what is otherwise quite an airy perfume.

Despite all these notes, it doesn't come across as particularly complex, and I think that's part of the attraction. Longevity is surprisingly not that great, given the initial strength; on me, it fades to a skin scent in no more than two hours. It also loses some of its deeper notes and becomes clean and soapy.

It's too fresh of a scent to appeal to me, but it's well put together, projects well, and smells good, all at a price point almost anyone can afford. I can see why people like it!

Not sure why this is so popular... It smells a bit sweet and old fashioned and not too pleasing to be honest.

A unique and timeless classic that people will either love or hate.

I get the "stoic hard working man" from this.

At first spray, you get wonderful notes of violet that quickly fade into a MANLY combination of several notes that are difficult to tell apart from each other.

This is a knockout fragrance, so spray with caution. One or two on your pulse areas should do the trick.

It's NOT a crowd favorite, so I'd wear this based on preference or based on the occasion.

Sometimes I get these very light whiffs of soda, but there's this strong pungent aroma that is the main note in this that gives the cologne its signature scent. It's hard to describe. I don't want to say musky, but it can be overwhelming if applied too much.

I'd only wear this to occasions where i want to give off the impression that I'm more masculine than I really am. It's funny I say that, but it's the truth. This scent is for MEN. Plain and simple.

It's such a good value for a unique blend that walks the walk. Just be careful how much you wear. But then again, this isn't for people who walk on eggshells for the sake of not rocking the boat. It'll rock the boat and then some. And you might just attract the right kind of class that can appreciate it's rugged maturity.