Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce Cologne Review

Fierce by Abercrombie & Fitch became super popular during the early to mid 2000s, as a fragrance that younger guys would cover themselves in. Why? Well, it simply worked. It smelled great on guys and the girls around them seemed to love it. In this post, I want to go back and review this still, amazing seller and see what makes it go. As usual, I will cover how it smells, how long it lasts, when it should be worn, and if it is still worth a buy. Note: I am reviewing the classic formulation of Fierce.

What does Fierce by A&F Smell Like?

Notes include: petit grain, cardamom, lemon, orange and fir

Fierce By Abercrombie & Fitch Cologne Spray 1.7 Oz For Men

My Full Review

Fierce opens up with an aroma that often gets compared to Mont Blanc’s Legend. I do get the similarities at stages, but I have always felt that this one, was the better of the two. The citrus notes are prominent at the top, you get lemon and orange, to go along with plenty of dry woodsy elements. Hence, the Legend comparison. The citrus notes give it a clean feeling, but you don’t really get a juicy aroma, as it is tempered by the rest of the composition.

The next phase joins the citrus with some herbal spice, from notes such as, sage. The spice is there in the opening few minutes, but in my mind the cologne always became a bit more peppery, when it transitioned past that immediate opening.

Finally, you get the fantastic dry down that is laden with vetiver, oak moss, musk, and fir. You do still get some herbal spice and that lemon top note, but you mostly get a green, dry, and fresh smell. It’s super attractive and one that is etched in so many people’s memories, from days spent at the mall in the early 2000s.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this stuff had a very good sillage. You could bomb out a room, if you wanted to, but with normal sprays it was just a great performing cologne. The longevity was also there and you could get it to go all day, with only a few sprays.

Again, I am reviewing the original A&F Fierce. From what I understand, the newer bottles have been reformulated, due to regulations and don’t pack the same punch. I’m not sure what the case is, as I haven’t had a bottle of this stuff in forever now.

Fierce quite simply is a cologne that will get a man complemented. It isn’t an insanely strong scent or anything like that but it is one that leaves a sweet aroma which lingers for a bit. The citrus notes of lemon and orange are there but sometimes it’s difficult to notice their impact on the fragrance because they are used so subtly.

Fierce has an amazing depth and complexity to it, which I think plays a large part in its appeal. The scent is fresh, clean, and masculine. Its woodsy elements give it that sexy and masculine vibe which the girls love because they’re not too strong and more of a moderate floral scent than some heavier men’s colognes. Add to that, they layer of sweet tangy-ness and you have yourself a winning fragrance.

It was great for casual or semi-formal events. It definitely was a teenager to early 20s fragrance for guys. Fierce was literally everywhere back in the day, and it was perfectly fine, because you would still get complements on it. I always liked the fragrance, but the reactions were always pretty crazy to me.

Overall Impressions of Fierce

The only real downsides to this cologne is its overwhelming popularity, so it isn’t one that is unique, and the fact that it can be out of the price range for some guys. However, if you have the means to purchase Fierce, this Abercrombie cologne absolutely delivers and will draw people to want to stand near you.

Again, none of this may be true anymore, with the newer bottles, so you may need to rustle up a vintage edition.

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.