ORMONDE JAYNE
Gatsby 22

2022

pink pepper
lemon
bergamot

orange blossom
violet
osmanthus

tonka bean
leather
musk
vetiver

Gatsby 22 takes me back to applying my father’s aftershaves as a kid. It has a punchy, sparkling character of an eau de cologne in the opening (it is an EDP though), with a citrus aromatic scent.

This has also been compared to Ormonde Jayne Osmanthus, but I can’t really agree. Osmanthus is more fruity, more ‘sour’, whereas Gatsby 22 is more traditionally masculine leaning aromatic/fougere in style.

That said, after the sparkling opening, with citrus and pepper, you do get florals (and osmanthus is listed, hence part of the comparisons). Still, for me, it goes in a way different direction.

Namely, a soapy vetiver. As it dries, I get a lot of slightly green soap from the vetiver here. It has the softness of orange blossom to counter the aromatics and vetiver.

It definitely goes rather sweet for this style of soapiness, with tonka in the drydown.

Overall, very pleasant, classy and a bit nostalgic, mostly aimed at men I think, but not one of the real standouts from this brand for me.