Description
Coty Beauty and Tim McGraw present another fragrance arriving on the market in August 2009, named Southern Blend. Tim McGraw‘s wish was not to name this fragrance in French style (just like his first edition, Tim McGraw), but to make it an approachable, everyday fragrance, strong and charming.
Southern Blend incorporates essences of man from the South, who is masculine, charismatic, strong, but also sexy and tough in the same time. This composition includes grapefruit, star annis, bergamot, lavender, violet leaf, whiskey, vetiver, amber and tobacco. Perfumer of this edition is Richard Herpin of Firmenich.
The fragrance is available as 15, 30 and 50ml edt, in a flacon with the same form as Tim McGraw edition, in a dark brown outer carton. Advertising campaign was led by Michel Comte. You will be available to see Tim McGraw‘s photos from this session in September 2009 magazines.
LeleTairl – :
This fragrance isn’t complex. It has a nice sweetness along with the whiskey vibe all the way through. I like Tim’s minimal approach to this fragrance. This is my favorite from the McGraw line. I gifted this fragrance to someone but if I see it again ill purchase another pair. SO SHOULD YOU. CHEAPIE BUT GOODIE
Xerdog – :
This smells exactly like ck one shock,but more weaker version!! Like this is one of the worst frags. For performace i own of 40 different ones!! Boozy,spicey
_nerd_ – :
There is no real “depth” to this, as in not giving the impression of expensive ingredients or in large dose but it smells really nice.
If you’re just getting started in the whole fragrance collection hobby or just want to smell nice on a budget then this is IT, especially for cooler weather.
For what you get, it seems like they’re almost giving it away. If you like or seek a boozy/tobacco/sensual scent then this is a place to start and then move on up to Thierry Mugler’s Pure Havane or Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille.
McGraw’s Southern Blend is certainly masculine and a keeper, a good number of people on youtube and fragrance review sites talk about lack of projection or lifespan. For me it was good, so keep that in mind.
vasea – :
Tim McGraw Southern Blend is similar to Tim McGraw McGraw due to the whiskey heavy boozy feel, but it is lighter and far more day friendly. That said it is also a night scent like McGraw is. McGraw and Southern Blend are a case of sharing mostly the same notes, however the scents use them differently so they don’t smell the same. The only similarity is the booze heavy smell due to the whiskey note perhaps because it is a mid note in this rather than a basenote in McGraw. Other notes the two scents share are bergamot in the top, lavendar in the mid and amber in the base.
The notes Southern Blend adds makes it enough to be its own scent rather than some flanker. As I mentioned, there are similarities to McGraw on notes, but I find that the only noticable adds are a slight lemon and star anise in the open and the tobacco note in the base which is the heaviest note in this that isn’t whiskey.
I find that Southern Blend doesn’t last as long as McGraw on me. It may not exactly be a work scent, BUT it performs like one. I notice that it hits about the five/six hour points while McGraw can easily hit six to seven hours on me. I also notice the projection is also a bit lighter on Southern Blend as well. For McGraw I found it gives me moderate to heavy while Southern Blend is a solid moderate that goes soft in a half of an hour.
Southern Blend is a good cheapy, especially if you buy it at Christmas but typical pricing is a bit too much if you ask me. Amazon is currently selling it for as much as Walmart and Sears’ does at around $22 for a 1oz/30ml. At Christmas, you can easily find McGraw and Southern Blend in a package with both of them in 1oz/30ml bottles. That is a FAR better option for this than buying on its own. Otherwise, you maybe able to find 0.5z/15ml bottles in Big Lots or this year a splash that I put into an atomizer.
I like Southern Blend but unlike others, I find McGraw better. Is Southern Blend more usable, yes. Is Southern Blend much better designed for days, yes. However with this it hindered performance. For this I give Southern Blend a 7.2 out of 10.
immortalis – :
This is a pretty good smelling cologne, me being 15, the strong whiskey scent is kinda strong but good overall. Longevity would really be my only complaint. But then again Longevity has never really been a strength of celebrity colognes. When you first spray it, it smells almost identical to Calvin Klein’s “Obsession”. But after about 2 min as it settles, it has its own unique (very good) scent. Would definitely recommend!
Entainyseanny – :
The poster child for re-application. A real shame, as it is a great scent. It’s easy in cooler weather, to put the small bottle in your coat pocket and reapply. But, it gets old fast. It’s a shame, but, I won’t be re-purchasing this scent.
Pupker – :
Most celebrity scents are pretty awful but this really is a gem !!!
For those familiar with Pure Malt this is actually very similar but a lot lighter and better for casual use.
For those not familiar with Pure malt though this opens up with a strong,spicy tobacco note but quickly dies down to a smooth, boozy slightly sweet but still very masculine fragrance. This isn’t my girlfriends favorite as she typically likes freshies but she does enjoy this 1 on me.
This smells great for the price but where it shows its price is performance. This only lasts 3-5 hours and is a skin scent for the whole life of the fragrance with the exception of the 1st 20 minutes minutes.
If this lasted and projected better this would be amazing but unfortunately it doesn’t only allowing me to rate this a 6.75 out of 10 !
Volari_flax – :
Funny story: my coworker was forced to submit to a blood/alcohol test when he wore this scent to work! Our team lead was beyond livid and insisted that he was drinking on the job. (We work with extremely hot, highly pressurized hazardous chemicals and large dangerous machines so sobriety in the work place is a key safety regulation for remaining alive.)
The whiskey accord is so prominent in this scent that anyone would believe the wearer had spilled Jack Daniels all over himself in a drunken stupor! My coworker showed the bottle to our team lead and our whole team passed it around and smelled it. The whiskey accord is VERY authentic. Plus when coupled with the tobacco, one could be mistaken for having just returned from an all night poker game in a windowless basement. We could not believe the big odor from such a small bottle!
Of course my coworker was 100% sober. And needless to say, he does not wear this fragrance to work anymore.
We laugh about it now…but at the time, We all cursed Tim McGraw’s name for causing drama in the work place. And yet, many of us went out to buy a bottle that same day. LoL!
sergunea_91 – :
From what I remember this was a great fragrance which would say a lot remembering the time that I wore this I only typicaly liked the fresh out of the shower smell.
This had a boozy,slightly sweet but still fresh vibe thats masculine without being too old manish.
The only knock on this was that it didnt last as long as I would have liked.
Im finaly getting this next week so lets see if this is as good or better than what I remembered
rrrefsaasd – :
I purchased this one after I read that Tim McGraw didn’t want his fragrance to smell like something “French”. I like the concept because so many scents are obsessed with all things France. I also like the idea of someone saying what they don’t want their fragrance to smell like as opposed to banging on that it smells like “violets at midnight” or some such made-up marketing twaddle.
And the good news is that it doesn’t smell French. Very American and masculine and the initial spray is just amazing. Leather, amber, whisky – it’s all there. It does quieten down too quickly to a faint version of the above and doesn’t last that long. Great everyday stuff that smells better the higher the temperature and the more you sweat – like a good mens’ fragrance should!
jacks90 – :
There are few things more annoying than walking out of the house for a night on the town smelling fabulous, but then discovering a few hours later that your fabulousness has faded to nothing! It’s too bad. I think the heart of this composition is really nicely done- it has a great woodsy-tobacco-boozy character- but the basenotes underneath holding everything together are so minimal- as well as the concentration overall (more like EDC strength than EDT)- that the fragrance doesn’t last beyond 4-5 hours on me (and that timeframe is generous as the last two of that are definitely in skin-scent territory). Personally, I need more “depth” in my evening and cool-weather frags- enough to make it through the after-hours, thank you. For the price, I guess you could keep a small bottle handy and keep re-applying, or maybe find a skin-musk to layer this over to try and extend its longevity- but that’s extra work. It really is a pity.
Pozzzitif1 – :
I picked up a giftset of this and the original McGraw for 1.98. I already had McGraw, but to have a bottle of Southern Blend, I would be crazy not to buy this for two bucks. I tried this out today, and while I really like it, I kept thinking it reminded me of something I already had…Usher VIP…they both have a violet leaf note which probably gives them both that sort of “Dior Fahrenheit-lite” vibe. It doesn’t exactly like VIP from start to finish, but the middle is very similar to me. Definitely glad I bought it!
слава123 – :
I sprayed this on and immediately thought of Michael Korrs for men of which I am a big fan. Sure, a bit “less” in quality and complexity but the tobacco/amber/vanilla reminded me a good deal of the Korrs.
I would also state that it lasted a good while on me so I have no complaints about longevity.
I think the dominant note is tobacco- for sure. Most of our noses would likely have a hard time distinguishing whiskey from the alcohol in the juice and the amber blends right in with a whiskey so I think most are getting a fairly straightforward sweet, tobacco and amber/whiskey. Its now the next day and I think that now I can smell the violet and lavendar but there are only faint hints of it left.
I like it. I won’t rave about it but its certainly great for the pricepoint- especially when compared to the price of the Korrs.
vadi60rus – :
All I smell is pine. For hours on end. I don’t care for it.
Gorech – :
Raw Umber’s review expresses my sentiments perfectly. 🙂
As a woman I want to wear this myself, and simultaneously recommend it to every male in sight! Poor longevity is my ONLY complaint. Apart from this, Southern Blend may well be perfect.
I’m enjoying wonderfully rich tobacco vibes and something both masculine and gently sweet, which could easily be a combination whiskey and amber. Just to clarify, you won’t smell of whiskey in a literal sense, but rather you will radiate a wonderfully modern version of a traditional concept. Bay Rum comes to mind, as do other barbershop standards. And yet this is NOT a barbershop aura, just a tasteful rendition of classic good taste.
Four stars…. and Five if it came in a bigger bottle!
peteraskonty – :
Smells a bit better on the card than on the person, is my theory.
That said, it’s a decent value for the price and very wearable.
It is light wearing. Subtle.
Something fun to have around. I keep it at my girlfriend’s apartment.
It’s not a rough and tumble road house kind of thing, fair warning. See the floral and aromatic notes. Those are balanced against the macho man elements; 60% macho man, 40% or less aromatic vibes.
If you wear more “esteemed” scents this could be a cheapo to add for a laugh. If you are looking for a really good mainstream retailer option, great too.
Never heard his music. Love Nashville as a town.
милана – :
I’m a feminine woman albeit unconventional in my personal style, and I love to wear Southern Blend.
I have a splash mini bottle, and I really do splash it on. It comes across as a largely amber scent with boozy and slightly spicy overtones, with a warm woody tobacco dry down.
I like to layer this with a plain vanilla (such as Pure Vanilla by Lavanilla) and it immediately turns into a rich warm bourbon cake. Holy crap that smells good.
Longevity and projection are low, but for five bucks you’re essentially paying for a body spray. I’m a fan.
FLorsWrotsbok – :
My wife and I love this fragrance, how we wish it lasted longer. Very smooth and well done.
axmarket – :
If only this were done with quality ingredients so I could enjoy it for more than the 20 minutes it lasts, it would be my holy grail.
nutLereGend – :
very good scent can’t go wrong with this one. I think you can to blind buy this cuz it’s cheap.
Brianna_fromAF – :
The blend of Whiskey an Tobacco makes it very special. If longevity was a bit better, I would say I loved this cologne. Now I can only say I like it so much. Definitely for nights and colder whether.
dom1no22 – :
I blind bought this based on some good reviews. I suggest you give this one a try on your skin before you buy. I actually get more of a clean vodka vibe on my drydown. A wonderful fragrance for the price, but on my skin the longevity is quite poor (10 good sprays gave me about 2 hours) and I don’t have dry skin. I’d find myself getting a nice (but short) waft of that sweet and boozy tobacco after the initial 2 hours, but it was really way too close to the skin and left me wanting more. Again, a very nice scent, but just did not do well on my skin as far as projection and longevity. I wish it meshed a bit better with my chemistry because I really enjoyed the initial blast.
emellulnete – :
I just needed something cheap to add to my order so that I’d qualify for free shipping, and I picked this because whiskey and tobacco sounded appealing. I wasn’t expecting much, but I really like this!
The whiskey smell is great but is gone too quickly, leaving a very nice tobacco scent. The tobacco scent is a lot like Burberry London for Men, at 1/4 the price.
This is not a strong fragrance. It doesn’t dominate a room, which can be a good thing. I could wear this to work without blasting people out of their cubicle.
I wish the whiskey note lasted longer, and I wish this was a little bit stronger, but I really like this. It’s a nice scent at a very good price. I feel great wearing this.
**edit to add: I originally voted “Love”, but I am changing to “Like”. I still love the scent, but the lack of strength and stamina are pretty big shortcomings. **
aleksey moiseev – :
WOW! Just sampled this at Kohls, not expecting much considering the price point. You know, you’ve heard it all before–it smells like whiskey, but that is just the alcohol–it smells like Tobacco, but instead has some clove-like molecule that simulates tobacco, ect. ect. Well, I can tell you this is not the case with TM’s “Southern Blend”; Upon first spraying, close your eyes and smell your wrist–this IS the scent of whiskey! This does not last long, but it is almost niche-like for that short duration.
The scent then progresses to a sweet tobacco (good tobacco, not clove) melange mixed subtly with the citrus/lavender–very nice. In it’s final stages you can still sense the tobacco, but this mixes with the remaining components (I can swear there is some saffron) to seemingly replicate delicate leather.
Unfortunately, this does not project or last long as far as EDTs go, because if it did it might be made by Creed and cost $150.
They need to come out with a larger bottle of this, it’s a keeper. Masculine but sweet, and sexy as hell, this could be a signature scent for many.
lubimov_76 – :
smooth relaxing, masculine aroma that will please!
denis47 – :
I jus bought this cologne the other day. Ive had the original Tim McGraw for a while and wear that ofetn, so I thout I’d give Southern Blend a try. It says it’s supposed to smell a lot like whiskey and tobacco. When I smelled it from the bottle, I could definetly smell the tobacco. It smelt a lot like virginia tobacco with vanila mixed in. I couldn’t smell the whiskey though. When I sprayed it on, I could definetly smell it. It smelled like someone threw Bushmills into my face. If you don’t like the smell of whiskey, this will knock you on your butt. After it sits on you for a little, the fragrance becomes a lot less overpowering. The silliage is perfect for this scent, however, I feel like it could be a little stronger to last longer. It lasts for a while though. I personally really like this cologne and it may become my new everyday, but be warned, I don’t think everyone can pull this scent off. Very unique and I am fortunate I can wear colognes like this well. It’s all about chemistry, baby. For me, this cologne gets a 9/10
romPhonnaSymn – :
Southern blend
I LOVE THIS COLOGNE BUT ITS VERY WEAK I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALOT STRONGER THEN WHAT IT WAS IT LAST ABOUT 30MINS TO 2HR TOPS I ALSO WANT TO DO A
Tim McGraw silver
REVIEW ON TIM McGraw silver sence its not posted Mcgraw silver is a fragrance that captures tim’s core: gallant yet sensual, clean cut yet rugged. A cool, modern scent, mcgraw silver embodies the artist’s ability to remain real while masterfully riding the demands of an urban setting. With top notes of watery aromatics and green leaves, the complex formula of this woody fougere includes mid notes of lavender and orange flower with a warm, seductive base of vetiver, musk, sandalwood and saffron
…. i think this is a very piss poor cologne very strong but last 30mins tops i hope tim mcgraw can find away to make a come back becuse the southern man that he is the colognes make him look very weak
belyxxl – :
I love tobacco scents and I came across SB by Tim Mcgraw and decided to give it a try blind because of all the rave reviews on Fragrantica and Basenotes. I also like sweet, whiskey or boozy type scents; so I figured the combination would be great. I was psyched really. The package came; I opened it; sprayed it on my skin; MAN, what a fantastic combination…I was stoked. I thought, this is great for only $12.00…I think I’ll order a few more to have extra. All that happened in 10 minutes. 15 minutes later I smelled like the most synthetic, nasty sharp loud copy of a “cedar/tobacco” wannabe I’ve ever smelled. Where did the Jack Daniels go?! I smelled like that for the rest of the day. Not even a pleasingly wonderful cedar/tobacco note like you get from Jacques Bogart’s Bogart. I had to spray some of the latter on my skin to cover up this mess. Not even worth $12.00!
Arida – :
I was in a Sears and, on a whim, sprayed some of this on a card. “I probably won’t like it,” thought I. But I immediately took to what I thought was a soft honey smell… not bad, not bad at all! I am agreeably surprised. I see the reviewers here identify the note for me: whiskey. Yes, that’s what it is! Nice…
I normally avoid celebrity fragrances because I don’t like the whole notion of celebrity-endorsed anything. The fastest way for me to want to avoid something is by seeing some vacuous star in the advertising. But I’m trying to judge scents wholly on what my nose tells me and not by packaging, advertising, history, cost or celebrity, so I think this stuff can stand on its own. Well done Richard Herpin of Firmenich!
Now I’ll have to get around to trying it on myself and not just on a paper.
———
Update: I sprayed some of this on my arm. Still smells nice! A bit pungent when just sprayed, but nice. A boozy distilled smell. My wife likes it, too. A winner! Hey, I may buy some of this…
———
Bought a small bottle for next to nothing! I like this stuff – but I wish it lasted longer and radiated more…
———-
Finished my bottle. My final assessment: An excellent budget fragrance, but it really, really needs to longevity and sillage punched up. For that reason I won’t buy another bottle. It just doesn’t last.
Keychototor – :
I always find that spraying a little on my sleeves last so much longer than on my skin. Its a great winter time scent, but that could be I got mine in the winter time and that’s what it reminds me of.
I used this most often while i was moving this summer and living out of a backpack while my stuff was in storage; the bottle is small and the scent is powerful, it was a great choice until i got all unpacked and found my usual bottles. Now I hardly ever find myself putting this on, but its a scent that I always enjoy catching when im sitting there in class. Certainly different from the rest and a cheap scent to use everyday (if you had nothing else).
drakonlev – :
Oh. My. Goodness. I LOVE this! I was at Rite Aid, and I saw this. I smelled it and I was actually shocked at how amazingly good this smells! This is the kind of cologne I want my future boyfriend to smell like! It’spicy and kind of dark. But It smells so, so good. DEFINITELY reccommend it.
GOLOVA3004 – :
I have no idea what whiskey smells like, and tobbaco? Only in the slightest sense, so I have no idea if this is like pipe tobacco. I just know I never wore fragrance before I got this stuff and I vowed never to wear fragrance until this. I got into shaving and my Mom mentioned Tim McGraw made aftershaves she thought. Not a fan of him, I decided to look it up anyways and found no aftershave, but fragrance. Next time I was at Kohl’s I tried out his fragrances and this stuff I just fell in love and bought a bottle soon after. It’s sweet in a rough sort of way, very manly. I am 19 and do not like “cologny” fragrances. This smells great. It’s somewhat similar to Ferrari Uomo, but without the leather (which makes it better to me). My Dad works in a shipyard and I remember an old jacket he had and for some reason this reminds me a little of it. So, it’s manly. It is NOT what I’d call formal, it’s just manly. Everyday and could be worn for whatever you’d like, it’s just perfect. I find it works in all seasons myself, as it is not cloying or anything. In the summer it’s heavier, but it’s not a bad thing. Reminds me of down south. It’s a fragrance of hard workers, of being outside. I think the smokiness/tobacco gives it that manliness, and probably why it reminds me of his old jacket, as it is like the smell of the smoke in the shops. So, if you want to smell like pure man without all the musk, get this. One of my favorites. How do the ladies like it? No idea hahaha!
alex48 – :
up date on amazon right now for $12.75 1oz bottle. take a shot def. worth it.
Dj Dlee – :
I like it i think its a lil expensive for this genre but it is selling out at all the area retailers.
semen740 – :
Southern Blend is a surprisingly good cologne. I’m usually not a fan of celebrity-themed colognes because many of them aren’t well thought-out. This is an exception. The bottle looks very cheap. The leather-textured plastic top, gilded plastic cap, and paper-sticker label don’t give a good first impression. But don’t judge this cologne by the bottle.
The violet leaf and anise provide a nice herbal sweetness and the whiskey and tobacco form a strong earthy undertone. This is an unmistakenly masculine fragrance. I don’t smell much citrus, even though it includes lemon and bergamot. The whiskey tones are well-done in that they don’t smell boozy or obnoxious.
Overall, Southern Blend is a great value and a surprisingly charming cologne. 7.5/10
alex2562 – :
my girl cant stop sniffing me with this edt. just amazing really manly, def a standout in todays world of colognes.
kukunchik – :
Surprisingly good. Reminds me a bit of Gucci Pour Homme I.
Kuzyaka26 – :
I have to admit at first I was not fond of this but after acouple of wearings it grew on me. It’s well blended and If I can think of a word to describe this it would be SMOOTH. Longevity is pretty good and sillage is average. Don’t be afraid to try this you just might like it.
taxxx2010 – :
Caught a whiff of this by chance in a store and bought it for my husband on the spot. What a fun fragrance! Southern Blend is “retro” in that it’s deliberately and brashly masculine. It’s not a “men’s version of…” scent, and it’s definitely not intended to be unisex. The fragrance immediately reminded me of the “Do Bad Things With You” song used as the True Blood theme-song. When I saw the name “Southern Blend”, I laughed at how well it matched exactly what I’d imagined. If you’re a True Blood fan, Southern Blend is “Sam Merlotte” in a bottle. There’s smooth whiskey, and sweet tobacco, hazy warmth, and little hints of mystery. It’s a scent for a man who turns blue jeans into bait. Pure aphrodisiac.
Sanchess1981 – :
I absolutely adore this for men. I find it super attractive and sexy 🙂
sorokopud-aleksandr – :
This is kind of sweet, in a boozy way. Also a little smoky and sexy. I really notice the anise in it. I think the name ‘southern blend’ works for it, I could imagine tough country men smelling like this, or city men.. whoever likes it, it’s not offensive.
+ it’s affordable.
ezutsjebcqj – :
Ran out of cologne, night of 2nd date with new gf.
Find this in my roommate’s cabinet, wore it with caution – little on the arms, little on the neck and I’ll usually walk through a spray into the air.
Not a Tim McGraw fan, don’t like country at all. In fact, new girlfriend asked me if I was a redneck on the phone before the first date, I said “Hell no!”. Ironic, no?
Deep, deep scent here. Lots of notes. Very nice. Masculine.
Here’s the kicker. Mid way through make-out, we pause and whatnot.. I catch a glimpse of her through the dark literally breathing in my scent like a wild animal. It was very peppery and warm. Spicy. I got so turned on by her getting turned on by my scent we practically turned into a couple of wild savages.
The bottle is officially stolen from my roommate. 3rd date tomorrow – going to be a good night.
I got to her house at 5:30, cologne held on strong until around midnight. Longest lasting I’ve run into in my (admittedly limited) experience with cologne.
wrewayAtrobby – :
I received this as a gift must say one of my favorite colognes. I did not like any of the other tim mcgraws at all but this one is amazing. I suggest to sample it!
stas-73 – :
I was hesitant to try this. For one, the original McGraw was good, but not enough spice for me. This one corrected that. Not over powering, but nice. For two, it’s ANOTHER celeb fragrance. But I was impressed. Not my all time favorite, but a nice light musk/spice.
Deutsher – :
Love it! Also thank you eyeteach for mentioning Kors. I found a bottle at a local Kohls store marked half off. Wow I tried to get them to give me the tester as well.
Both this scent and the original McGraw are excellent. This one just has that extra little bite of spicyness (almost pepperish) to it that Beckham Intimately tried to accomplish but seriously failed to achieve.
NLO – :
From the moment I sprayed this cologne I was in utter bliss. I am love with this cologne. The smell is amazing….it makes me wanna do bad, bad things. lol!! Though I dont personally wear it (cause I am a woman), I do use it as perfume room spray. 🙂
Infuflale – :
Went to the Pharmacy today, saw some Mcgraw Southern Blend. I thought what the heck, might as well.
This ain’t half bad. The opening is nothing too orginal, but the dry down smells… well kinda dry and smokey. In a good way. They say there’s tobacco. It does smell kinda like it but… reminds more of dried jasmine infused asian rice grains. … I like that smell. I might grab a bottle 😛
It smells pretty versatile. Dirty for warmer weather. Warm and smokey for colder weather.
fncachaemvsetuta – :
Definitely getting this one for my boyfriend. Love at first smell for me! I even sprayed the tester all over my purse so I could keep smelling it thru out the week.