oleg195819 – 2022-07-01:

4 out of 5

I’ve never been a big fan of Clubman products. The Original is too “barber shop-y” for my taste. But I have been curious to the other scents they have.
I think I can speak for every man when I say we’d like our aftershave/cologne to be reasonably priced, strong enough to be noticed and last all day. Special Reserve takes care of all three.
My problem is the scent. It’s not bad at all… I just don’t think it would go with my body chemistry. It’s a very in-your-face leather/tobacco.
I’d even go so far as to say it’s the poor mans Aramis.

uehjsowjaud – 2022-07-01:

5 out of 5

Guys, it is what it is—a no apologies, flat-out, rough and tumble leather. When that’s your vibe, this is your aftershave. I can think of no better way to conclude your wet-shave ritual on days when your mood steers you to bold leather fragrances like Knize Ten, Aramis, Gucci Guilty Absolute, or simply your own unwashed Saturday morning self.

alexanr9999 – 2022-07-01:

4 out of 5

Good for cheap thrills but I wouldn’t walk out of the house wearing this. It’s like a cheap, watered down version of Gucci Guilty Absolute.

brz567InsuffBooni – 2022-07-01:

4 out of 5

An old 2-story bank building with huge windows and marble floors.
An airport concourse c.1977.
The bar near the $50 window at the horse track.
A dark old steakhouse full of smoke and brown leather.
Ashtrays everywhere. Great big tubs of sand full of Mores, Kents, Salems, Carltons, lipstick-stained Benson & Hedges.
Special Reserve does one thing and one thing only, but it does it so well. It doesn’t develop, it doesn’t evolve, it’s as linear as a tramway. Hands down the manliest frag in my entire collection. Strong, too. A little goes a long way.
I wear this when I’m being an old-school degenerate. This is my smoking, drinking, gambling scent. The scent of shouting for the #4 horse through teeth clenching a cigar. The scent of re-raising in position with any two cards and staring the opener in the eye like “well?”. Downtown Reno in a bottle. If someone under 30 wore this it would give them tufts of hair in their ears, bags under their eyes and change their Subaru BRZ into a ’79 Plymouth Volare.
Like all Pinauds, SR REALLY needs to be decanted into glass from the cheesy plastic bottle. Makes all the difference in the world.

Egor5609 – 2022-07-01:

3 out of 5

The scent of old, worn leather chairs, decades of cigar smoke and classic men’s aftershaves. Basically, Masonic Lodge in a bottle.

стас_лытвын – 2022-07-01:

5 out of 5

Dominate. That’s the word for this scent if you’re tired of the flowery concoctions. It’s rather linear with leather and spices; you only pick up the powder towards the good sillage end. Instead of a catcher’s mitt, I prefer to think of this leather heaven as a shared leather sofa with your partner because they will dig this. And who orders a sample when you can get the whole bottle for $7? I also layer with Layrite No. 9, which is a dark bay/rum with strong cloves; no sweetness. Note: As another reviewer said, the plastic bottle will break down the scent. Badly. It’s necessary to decant into glass.

Allan66 – 2022-07-01:

5 out of 5

I like Special Reserve, but it is not for all occasions.
My father wore English Leather when I was a lad. This reminds me of that. Strong and to the point. It should be worn in rooms of rich mahogany and leather-bound books. The smell of men with great mustaches and boots that zip up the side.
Sweaty leather smell. My nose never loses the sense of it. Very Linear. It hits my nose constantly and becomes slightly oppressive. It is the most long-lasting of the Pinaud after shaves by far. Do not blind buy this. Make sure you like it. The first smell of it tells you exactly how it will smell forever. It will not evolve. So, if it is for you, it will always give you that feeling. It really delivers on the promise of leather.
It is a caveman in the rain on a hunt smell. I would never wear this to work. If your significant other gets turned on by the smell of a cavalry saddle, this will light that fire. If you you are entertaining the guys, and they are old school, this would be a prime contender.
Overall 6/10 it could do without the floral notes. no purpose is served.
1/10 if you want to seem sensitive
10/10 if you want to be asked to fix something

djakimov – 2022-07-01:

3 out of 5

An easy to like masculine leather.

george69 – 2022-07-01:

5 out of 5

Are you fed up with soft leather fragrances? Have you knelt before the fragrance gods and implored them for a strong LEATHER scent?
Be careful what you ask for, this baby is no joke.
Old school, retro, takes no prisoners…………apply if you think you can handle this juggernaut of masculinity!
Leather, then leather, then some more leather and then some spices.
Lasts, projects and turns heads.
This will make you walk a little taller and make you feel good in what ever you endeavor.

11993377 – 2022-07-01:

5 out of 5

This stuff is absolutely disgusting does not smell like leather smells like old very old lady florals with disgusting rotten brown note in with the terrible ugly florals. I love every other clubman especially the original and the vanilla. Lime sec, bay rum and citrus musk are not good enough to spend money on but they are not as horrible as special reserve. The vanilla clubman though is some great stuff

shekspir61 – 2022-07-01:

5 out of 5

I was able to get a vintage version of this, glass bottle and all. It’s the 1.5 ounce gift size that barbers gave away to their customers. While there is no specific date on the bottle, I’d estimate it to be between 40-50 years old, based on the typeface / font and the picture of Napoleon on the bottle. If anyone can more accurately give me a date on this, please, send me a message and let me know.
For the most part, I’m not a fan of especially heavy leather dominant fragrances. An example of one that I hate is Acqua di Parma’s Colonia Essenza Oud but an example of one that I like is a more moderate mix of a leather element and Puredistance M would be an example of that.
My impression of Special Reserve is that it’s a very leather dominant fragrance and the old, used, oiled baseball glove reference seems to sum it up well. After I first put it on and during the dry down phase, I do smell only the faintest evidence of a powdery element but that fades into almost nothing. On drydown, there is the slightest bit of something sweet but that’s about all I can pick out.
Having said all of that, this is most definitely a very “manly” fragrance and one of a very few leather fragrances that I actually enjoy. I can’t seem to stop sniffing my arm. For me, it’s a like, rather than a love but it will get some usage from time to time.
This is one of the strongest after shaves that I’ve ever encountered. Projection is moderate to above average and longevity is good.
Bottom line: Leather dominant fragrance with only the slightest hints of sweet and powdery.

AssignInhitte – 2022-07-01:

4 out of 5

Today I got this stuff. Wow, was my first word, when I’ve smelled this frag. It’s semi-sweet, flowery, spicy and leathery, and very manly and potent. It’s pretty longevity, because I put it about 7 hours ago and again I can feel it. Very highly recommended!

Otec_Roman – 2022-07-01:

3 out of 5

I’ve worn this aftershave for a couple of days now and I don’t get anything that smells like leather to me. The dominant smells are rosewater, perhaps some vanilla, and after dry down, a powdery effect. It’s okay, but not especially manly. Maybe it’s just how it reacts with my body chemistry. I’ll probably try a few more times to see if this first impression changes, but if it doesn’t I’ll likely get rid of it.

цукар – 2022-07-01:

3 out of 5

A great big animalic leather, it smells like a tannery or a bear skin rug. There’s just enough resins and florals to keep it interesting. This stuff lasts forever and a little goes a long way.
A very strong like for me.

79372122863 – 2022-07-01:

5 out of 5

A baseball glove in a bottle. The baseball glove is not a new one. It is a well worn and used baseball glove that family members have used for a few generations imparting the scents of people, places, and memories. Leather, spices, patchouli, musk and more leather. Special Reserve must be worn to be truly appreciated. It must be worn with care because excessive amounts will make others feel like they are being smacked across the face with a baseball glove. Finishing a nice shave with Special Reserve has to be one of the manliest ways to start the day. How much did I pay? $5. It would be best to put this in a glass bottle to better guard against the slight plastic smell of this leathery beauty.

Денис Патриот – 2022-07-01:

4 out of 5

Clubman SR is a unique cologne in several key ways. First off, it’s a remarkably realistic leather, it is nothing more or less than the smell of a used baseball glove. Remember that smell guys? Little league, and all your friends were getting those Wilsons and Rawlings and getting their dads’ or brothers’ gloves as gifts (we’d try to use them and of course they didn’t fit). Clubman SR elicits those memories immediately. It is a hyper-realistic rendering of cheap-chaps leather.
The problem is, it’s too one dimensional. It’s too good at the one thing that it does. After about ninety minutes, with this scent still pulsing strong, I get tired of it, and simply don’t want to smell it any more. It never smells bad, always smells good, yet some good smells are better in short bursts, usually dependent on circumstances, and unless you’re a regular ball player, I don’t see how this stuff wouldn’t annoy you, too. Then again, die-hard leather fans should automatically add this inexpensive gem to their collection, because without any doubt this stark, woody, patchouli-laden leather reconstruction is one of a kind. One more thing: don’t judge it by sniffing it from the bottle. This must be worn to get an accurate impression of it.