Unlisted Brand • Costes by Hotel Costes • Fragrances

Where To Buy?

Silverchair on 11/19/2012 7:38:00 PM more reviews by Silverchair

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Tan, Warm   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I LOVE this scent and I am not attracted to woodsy scents at all. I received this in a gift bag from a friend and I have no idea where to purchase it and I don't know how much it costs. At first application it has a heavy cinnamon and spice scent to it. I read a review where someone described it as a chai latte scent. It dries down to what I can only describe as something that reminds me of the woods and ocean. An "aqua woodsy" scent perhaps?I'm not good at describing scents but this is definitely different and definitely unisex--perhaps more on the masculine side and I love that. This is definitely a fall/winter scent and would be overbearing in the summer.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* apparently on 8/22/2012 12:11:00 PM more reviews by apparently

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

This was suggested to me because I love Tam Dao. I don't get the similarity at all, other than they are both linear and not sweet. Tam Dao is a freight train of cedar and sandalwood, and Costes smells like those cinnamon-scented pinecones that turn up in craft stores in September. Sorta/barely woody with a lot of cinnamon. Not a surprise that this was originally an environmental scent, and it would make a great home scent from Halloween until New Year's. Not offensive in any way, but it's the sort of fragrance people will attribute to your breath lozenge instead of you.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

malika on 2/4/2010 4:12:00 PM more reviews by malika

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Dark   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This along with tam dao are my all time favorite winter scents. It is woodsy and "cinnaminY"- perfect for cold and blustery days. This is not your average scent and is quite costly, but if you like great aromatics, this is great to try!

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Jill70 on 10/25/2009 9:59:00 PM more reviews by Jill70

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

I love this scent, but I already own it in a 10 Corso Como bottle.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Melloney on 4/20/2009 7:24:00 PM more reviews by Melloney

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

2012 : I love this scent now - I didn't like it in 2009 . Spicey , aromatic yet cleanish and soapy ,ambient and quite soothing. Lasting power is mediocre but the scent is uber chic .

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* fpih on 3/16/2009 3:10:00 AM more reviews by fpih

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

Spicy, unsweet, room fragrance. More masculine than feminine. Good lasting power, no sillage. Not for me; reminds me of a room freshener, not a perfume to wear.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

jemimagold on 6/16/2008 3:40:00 PM more reviews by jemimagold

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I was surprised at how much I did not care for Costes. I admire and own decants of Diptyque's Tam Dao and 10 Corso Como, the two fragrances with which Costes is most typically compared and thought Costes would be a slam dunk. However, I don't find many similarities. Ts to my nose, Costes smells like a big bundle of cinnamon bark, with a bit of cheapish sandalwood/musk thrown into the middle notes. I had to wash it off before the base notes appeared as I was about to gag. Sorry 'bout that! (bad reviewer, bad reviewer!)


I have heard that Hotel Costes liberally scents their entire hotel with their Costes perfume and if that is the case, I think I'll be staying somewhere else next time my travel plans call for Paris.


Here are the notes, per The Perfumed Court: lavender, bay-tree, coriander, white pepper, rose, incense, woods and light musk.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

cclayten on 5/13/2008 12:45:00 PM more reviews by cclayten

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I've been wearing Costes by Hôtel Costes for about week now--I can't seem to get enough of it. It reminds me of 10CC (which I also love), but the bay and lavender rounds it out. I spritz this stuff pretty heavily and it lasts all day without ever becoming overbearing.

It's unique, comforting, and very wearable.

Edit: I am in love with everything Costes.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* ECMac25 on 3/4/2008 9:27:00 PM more reviews by ECMac25

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

This would make a nice home fragrance...it's a quiet mix of potpourri and incense. It has a brisk sportiness at first spritz and then it mellows down to a creamy cedar. I don't mind smelling this in the air...I wouldn't wear it as a perfume - too masculine overall.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Gingerbreadgirl on 11/15/2007 1:00:00 PM more reviews by Gingerbreadgirl

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I'm so very happy to have a good-sized decant of this via swap - it's a very clean, soapy, spicy sandalwood and I find it pleasantly bracing - a good scent for focusing on something (I'm easily given to daydreaming - the laurel, lavender, and pepper make this scent a promising study buddy, though I'm finding that it sweetens considerably on my skin after a little while, and the sweetness at first contrasts unpleasantly with the intense pine note, and then goes quite incensy. I think comparisons of this to 10 Corso Como are apt - as I mentioned in my review of that one, 10 Corso Como tried to kill me by completely shutting down my respiratory system. Hear that, writers of CSI? Let's have a dead-perfumista episode! Anyway, Costes is much less violent on me. Still far too intense to put on before bed or for romantic wear, but quite nice in its own way.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

dollface6 on 11/12/2007 9:04:00 AM more reviews by dollface6

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I am really enjoying this delicious subtle scent. If you enjoy aromatics, this will please. I see it being compared to several incense scents, and yes I can smell a similarity to 10 Corso Como which I love. But Costes is more subtle and smooth than 10CC. The opening is warmer than the drydown but I enjoy the entire ride. This has a comforting "home" smell to it,I would call Costes a "soul scent". I will definitely repurchase and may even buy a back up now!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

ahsu on 11/7/2007 10:25:00 PM more reviews by ahsu

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

The spicy/cinnamon-y/clove-y opening is my least favorite part of this scent, and luckily for me it only lasts 15 minutes or so. As the spice fades, I am left with just the perfect combination of incense, sandalwood, and musk. I prefer this to Tam Dao, which is too dry and too straight sandalwood (not to mention how fleeting it is) for me. I get decent skin scent lasting power with Costes. I like both this and 10 Corso Como, which I find similar. Inspired by laphenix's comment, I'd agree Costes is the sister to 10 Corso Como, but I'd describe Costes as friendlier and more approachable rather than quieter. (10 Corso Como's musk is much more aggressive on my skin.) And I don't find this scent too masculine at all, but perfectly unisex. Notes include: laurel, lavender, coriander seeds, white pepper, rose, incense, wood, musk.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

dmurie on 10/18/2007 2:10:00 PM more reviews by dmurie

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

I have this and do like it but it does seem to be more of a mans smell especially since my husbands arm and hammer deoderent smells almost exactly the same I keep thinking he put my costes on but he didn't.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

laphenix on 9/10/2007 8:24:00 PM more reviews by laphenix

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Costes is 10 Corso Como's quieter younger sister. It's definetely not as in-your-face as 10CC, but the overall feeling is similar. Incensey woods and rose with the additional soapiness of lavendar. This is a nice one for summer-to-fall.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* potionsandlotions on 7/4/2007 4:22:00 PM more reviews by potionsandlotions

Age: Unknown   Skin: Combination   Hair: Other   Eyes: Brown    

I think this would smell fabulous on a man. Yes, it is really nice on me, but I think I would prefer it on a man. Costes is not particularly masculine. This is actually very unisex. I still think I want to smell it on a man--or maybe I just want a man? I think that's it! I think I just need a man :p Back to Costes- it's good. Maybe a man in a pilot suit? Yes, that's it! It's very spicy, but clean- like a clean cut fine looking tall American in uniform. Ah! I need to get me one of those! Should I order on line or over the phone? I think Lucky Scent has them in stock.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Wyrmiax on 6/23/2007 4:46:00 PM more reviews by Wyrmiax

Age: 44-55   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

Knife-edged spicy--coriander strikes again. If the hotel I was staying at smelled like this, I'd feel an undercurrent of anxiety until I checked out.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* SensualSusanna on 5/14/2007 11:11:00 AM more reviews by SensualSusanna

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Love Costes! Olivia Giacobetti is a master perfumer! . All of Ms. Giacobetti's fragrances are light, well balanced, almost ethereal; her fragrances can float on gossamer wings or echo subtle nuances of space and time. Costes is no exception. It has everything going for it.. spicey, clean, herbal -- woodsy and just a great unisex fragrance. I can't imagine anyone hating this! It's a cameleon of a scent that could role play any situation albeit.. sexy, clean -- highly chic ... casually elegant. On a man this would be HOT but on the most petite feminine woman a knock out of a fragrance. Basically, as long as it works with your chemistry, Costes can go anywhere you go and be anything you need. It's seasonless- timeless, elegance, sure to become a classic. I would love a full bottle.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* honey71 on 3/3/2007 6:27:00 PM more reviews by honey71

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Dark   Hair: Brown, Kinky, Coarse   Eyes: Black    

I usually do not like greens or things that are too spicy (*cough* Idole *cough*), but this goes very well with my chemistry. Lucky Scent sent this to me as a free sample, and I was not looking forward to smelling like a bowl of potpourri in the middle of a forest, but it was not so. I am discovering that a lot of men's fragrances smell very good on me, so that may be why (my next purchase will probably be YSL's L'Homme).



This is scent is fresh, evergreen, a bit minty and a bit peppery on me. It's very nice, but it is not my thing.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* JLB2005 on 3/1/2007 10:32:00 PM more reviews by JLB2005

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Love it on my husband. Reminds me when we stayed at the Costes K in Paris... Is far to masculine for me, even though I like clean, green fragrances.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Gracious_Lady on 2/18/2007 2:54:00 PM more reviews by Gracious_Lady

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium Brown, Warm   Hair: Brown, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I really wanted to like Costes, but alas, it did not work for me. Too masculine and even a hint of nail polish remover on me. It is a quality made fragrance, regardless of how the notes disagree with my chemistry. Therefore, I am giving it 2 lippies instead of 1 in recognition of the quality.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No