Burberrys for Men (1981)

The Verdict

Burberrys for Men from 1981 is Burberry's very first men's fragrance, and the community treats it like a lost artifact. Discontinued, nearly impossible to find, and made with ingredients that modern regulations have largely banned, it represents a style of men's perfumery that simply does not exist anymore. With 50% of voters expressing love and 44% liking it, the approval rate is staggering for a fragrance most people will never have the chance to smell.

What It Smells Like

The opening is unmistakably vintage. Bergamot, Lavender, Mint, and Artemisia arrive alongside Thyme and Juniper, creating what one reviewer honestly described as "that dated Macho old man smell." But give it 30 minutes. That first impression settles into something entirely different.

The heart is where Burberrys for Men reveals its breeding. Carnation, Rose, and Jasmine blend with Geranium and Pepper, while Vetiver, Sandalwood, Cedar, and Patchouli add woody scaffolding. The composition is "so well-blended that the fragrance does not so much develop as relax over time," with a distinctive Nutmeg facet that recalls Cacharel pour L'Homme.

The base is the crown jewel. Leather wraps around Civet and Amber, anchored by generous Oakmoss with a touch of Myrrh. This is a buttery, pale leather -- not aggressive or dominant, but refined and present. One reviewer compared it to the heart of Chanel No. 19 EDP, while another placed it alongside Guerlain's Derby but described it as "more softly and nobly."

When to Wear It

Autumn is this fragrance's natural home, though it carries well through winter and into early spring. Community voting splits nearly evenly between day (19%) and night (16%), reflecting genuine versatility within its seasonal range. One Basenotes reviewer called it "a beautiful classic autumn scent for daytime as well as evenings."

Avoid summer entirely. The leather and oakmoss base will feel suffocating in heat.

Longevity & Projection

For a cologne-strength formulation, performance is remarkably good. Reviewers report 6-7 hours from a single spray, with moderate sillage throughout. It is "not really very strong, but definitely refined" -- projecting enough to be noticed without dominating a room. The quality ingredients of the era contribute to a richness of trail that modern synthetic formulations struggle to replicate.

The Community Says

With 121 community votes and a 4.39 average, this is one of the highest-rated vintage masculines on Fragrantica. One Basenotes collector declared it "the BEST I have ever worn" and is baffled by its discontinuation. Another called it "an out and out classic" and "easily in my top 10." The aftershave version receives special praise, with one reviewer giving it a perfect 10/10 and calling it "almost tragic that this quality no longer exists today."

A Fragrantica editorial noted that "Burberrys for Men opens with a bright floral bergamot, sparkling and fresh" and marveled that the top notes remained intact decades after bottling, before transitioning to "buttery, pale leather" and settling into "a slightly mossy leather."

The biggest frustration among fans is availability. Burberry switched licensing agreements multiple times, and Bethco Fragrances, which produced the original, no longer exists. The original formula may be lost entirely, and some ingredients are now restricted under IFRA regulations. Bottles surface on auction sites at $100-$300 for 50ml.

Who Should Buy This

This is for the dedicated vintage hunter who appreciates pre-IFRA perfumery and does not mind paying collector prices. If you love leather chypres, old-school fougeres, or fragrances that prioritize blending mastery over individual note impact, Burberrys 1981 is worth the treasure hunt.

Be warned: there are three similarly-named Burberry men's fragrances from 1981, 1991, and 1995. Only the 1995 version remains in production, and it is a completely different scent. Verify the vintage carefully before purchasing.

The Bottom Line

A masterfully blended leather chypre from an era when perfumers could use whatever they wanted and blending was still considered an art unto itself. Burberrys for Men 1981 is not the most groundbreaking fragrance of its decade, but it may be one of the most satisfying -- warm, rich, refined, and utterly masculine in a way that feels earned rather than performed. Its disappearance from the market is a genuine loss.