What's Old is New Again: Tabu & English Leather Review and Giveaway

[NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ENTER. THANKS!]

You've got to honor and respect any fragrance that's been around for longer than you, and maybe even your parents or grandparents, have been roaming this planet. So it is with great pleasure that I am able to write this review (and host a giveaway!) for Tabu and English Leather, both manufactured by Dana Classics.

Tabu was created by the House of Dana as their first fragrance in 1932. Tabu was rumored to have been originally created for "ladies of the evening" but the fragrance soon became a smash hit with "regular" ladies and it still remains incredibly popular today, some seventy years later.

A 1941 magazine ad for Tabu, originally featured in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar

And as with other time-honored classics, the manufacturer of Tabu has recently launched a newer, fresher, and lighter version of Tabu, called Tabu Forbidden. If the original Tabu and all its spice, patchouli and amber goodness is a bit too heavy for you, then Tabu Forbidden might be just the scent you need in your "sexy scents" arsenal. Personally, I think that the original Tabu smells like a combination of amber and root beer (love it!) but I know that it can be a bit heavy for some. On the other hand, Tabu Forbidden contains some lighter, more playful notes to keep it fresher and cleaner (here are the notes from the DanaClassics website: Exotic Mandarin, Lush Black Plum Petals, Black Rose, Black Narcissus, Sheer Black Jasmine, Black Musk, Indian Sandalwood, and Sensual Black Vetiver). Personally, I think that both fragrances, the old and the new, deserve a spot on any fragrance lover's vanity.

Now let's not forget the men in our lives, who also deserve both a classic fragrance and a new updated version! Ask your dad or your grandpa if they've heard of English Leather and I'm willing to bet my entire fragrance collection that they'll respond, "Of course!" English Leather, also manufactured by Dana Classics, is one of those classic men's fragrances that just never goes out of style. From the iconic wooden lid to the logo itself (a leather saddle), English Leather is a classic chypre fragrance that hits you instantly with its woody and citrus notes. When you smell it, you just can't mistake it for anything else. English Leather was first introduced in 1972 and it remains a standard for men all over the world today.

Going back to the theme of this giveaway, "what's old is new again", this definitely applies to English Leather. Dana Classics has launched a newer, more modern update on English Leather, called English Leather Black. Let me put it to you this way: when I recently asked my younger brother and my dad to test out these colognes, my brother instantly preferred English Leather Black, while my dad said, "No way. Give me the original." To my nose, English Leather Black reminds me of other contemporary men's fragrances, while English Leather definitely fits the classic or "retro" mold. If I were a guy, I would want 'em both. Because really, who doesn't want the option of going old school or new school, depending on your mood?

Which brings me to the giveaway! Dana Classics was kind enough to provide me with samples of Tabu, Tabu Forbidden, English Leather and English Leather Black for use in this review, and they are going a step further by offering a full-size bottle of each fragrance to one lucky winner!

So enter today and all four of the following fragrances could be yours:

1 eau de cologne spray of Tabu (retail: $14.50, 1.7 oz)
1 eau de cologne spray of Tabu Forbidden (retail: $18.99, 1.7 oz)
1 cologne spray of English Leather (retail: $12, 1.7 oz)
1 cologne spray of English Leather Black (retail: $12, 1.7 oz)

Combined, this giveaway has a total retail value of $57.49!

Please read all of the following rules before entering:

1) To enter, you must leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite Dana Classics fragrance. If you leave more than one comment on this post, you will be disqualified.

2) You MUST leave me your email address in your comment OR I must be able to clearly identify your email address in your profile. If I cannot contact you directly, you will be disqualified. REMEMBER: Double check your Blogger profile settings to make sure your email address is visible in your profile!

3) This contest is open to residents of the continental US only, ages 18 and over. Void where prohibited.

4) This giveaway begins today, October 24th, and will end Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 11:59PM. I will select a winner via random.org's random number generator and notify the winner on Friday, November 6th. The winner will then have 24 hours to respond. If the winner does not reply within 24 hours, he or she will forfeit the prizes and another winner will be selected. If you are going to be unable to access your email on November 6th, 2009, please do not enter this giveaway.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation, and I wish you all the best of luck! :)

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and gratis samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.