8 is one of the most popular citrus fragrances made by the world-famous Abercrombie & Fitch brand. It was released in 2004 as one of the brand’s first fragrances for women.
This floral-fruity fragrance is available in Eau de Parfum concentration and is part of the same-named collection. Most of the pieces in the collection are based on the number 8, which was the debut fragrance.
| Perfume Name | 8 |
| Brand | Abercrombie & Fitch |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Concentration | Eau de Parfum |
| Scent Family | Floral Fruity |
| Gender | Women |
According to its creators, 8 is a timeless floral fruity scent for confident and stylish girls. Despite many flankers and other similar fragrances in the collection, 8 is still recognized as the best-quality fragrance made by the brand.
Because it is one of the first women’s fragrances made by Abercombie & Fitch, I got interested. Also, I previously only owned and gifted fragrances from their collection, First Instinct, so I wanted to try something new from them. Therefore, I got a sample in one of the duty-free airport stores, and I decided to try it.
What Does 8 by Abercrombie & Fitch Smell Like?
Mandarin orange, clementine, and grapefruit are the top notes of the 8. This combination is toned down by the creamy and sweet notes of melon, freesia, lily, violet, and amaryllis that are used as middle notes. The formula is finished with the standard notes of musk, vanilla from bourbon, amber, and vetiver.
| Top Notes | Mandarin Orange, Clementine, Grapefruit |
| Middle Notes | Melon, Freesia, Lily, Violet, Amaryllis |
| Base Notes | Musk, Bourbon Vanilla, Amber, Vetiver |
All of the parts fit in with the fruity and floral feel of the formula that was used to make this fragrance. These are traditional notes that are often included in fragrances by Abercrombie & Fitch.
My Experience
I was looking forward to trying out 8 because I was hoping to experience a different blend of scents. I am not a huge fan of strong fruity fragrances since I often find them overwhelming. But this fragrance starts quite moderately, with the dominance of peach instead of mandarin, which I liked. It felt pretty fresh and light on the skin, not as sweet and citrusy as I expected.
This fragrance’s opening and mild aroma reminded me of L’eau par Kenzo Pour Femme. This is a fragrance my friend uses a lot. Compared to it, 8 is less harsh and metallic, but the overall vibe is quite similar.
This mildness I talked about is partly due to the middle notes, which become more noticeable as the scent stays on the skin. The floral touch of lily and violet was a great choice to contribute to the fruity notes and moderate them. I felt like this fragrance gave off a very sensual, warm vibes.
Fragrances with strong top notes have a very mild floral note to balance them out. The 8 is a bit different since there is still the presence of fruits in the middle notes, besides floral ones. Still, this combination managed to put down intense top notes because melon is not highly concentrated.
Speaking of melon, Abercrombie & Fitch created a fragrance similar to it called 8 Pure Summer. I had a sample of it before, and the original 8 has several identical notes, such as melon and clementine. Compared to the original 8, this summer edition seems much softer and calmer due to the toned-down selection of notes.
In the original 8, the moderate and creamy tones can also be felt. The problem was that the aroma of vanilla was barely noticeable, which was disappointing. However, I feel like it did impact the overall formula and that it was a fantastic addition to help with the smooth and lovely feeling on the skin. As a result, the aroma is especially light and fresh, making 8 an ideal choice for a summer or spring fragrance.
Sillage & Projection
The sillage of the 8 is again very in line with Abercrombie & Fitch’s fragrance. It has a very moderate performance and leaves a decent trail for summer perfume. I think the projection is also moderate, if not weak, and it doesn’t come off the skin as strongly.
Longevity & Versatility
The longevity of the 8 could be improved since it lasts around seven hours. I had to reapply it to increase the fragrance’s intensity and longevity. On the other hand, I think this is a clean and safe option for fragrances. As a result, it is very adaptable to any style or occasion.
It feels great in the spring and summer and blends in well with the surroundings. Due to its lightness, I mostly used it as a casual daily fragrance. Since it lacks intensity, I would avoid using it for formal night events.
Conclusion
The 8 by Abercrombie & Fitch is a very nice summer scent that I’ve worn many times with pleasure. I felt like it was a bit different from other fragrances from Abercrombie & Fitch in certain elements, but still, I would be able to recognize that it belongs to one of their collections.
The fragrance was fresh and moderately sweet, while the aromas blended nicely. Some of the notes were not concentrated well, so I felt like I was missing out on so much more that this fragrance could offer. Additionally, for me, the issue was an overpowering musky aroma that appeared after the 8 blended on my skin. This made the first summer notes a little different, but not enough to ruin the whole thing.
Despite some problems, I was happy to wear 8 on more than one occasion. I quite liked that this scent could be worn by either men or women. I think I got a really good fragrance for the money I invested, and 8 was a great new addition to my fragrance collection.