Question:
Best: Bulgari
Worst: Jean Paul Gaultier

Answer:
Top 5:
YSL (with the exception of L'Homme)
Burberry (well-crafted scents)
Dior (ditto)
Hermes (them too)
Thierry Mugler (surprised that no one has mentioned them)
Bottom 5:
Kenneth Cole (junk)
Tommy Hilfiger (a brand and house in irreversible decline)
Hugo Boss (see Kenneth Cole)
Liz Claiborne (can't believe that no one mentioned this one yet)
Giorgio Armani (becuase AdG and Code are too dominant)

Answer:
Only lising the best...
Chanel
Hermes
Gucci
Bulgari
Dior
Guerlain

Answer:
I tend to like the offerings of more of the designer houses than not, and especially like several offerings each from Hermes, Bulgari, Chanel, and Cartier. In addition, I wish to cast my vote for honorable mention to both Krizia and Laura Biagiotti for their generally excellent men's frags, composed with genuinely authentic Italian style.

Answer:
Picking out the worst is very, very easy:
Liz Claiborne
Claiborne's only, and I mean ONLY, saving grace is the original Claiborne for Men, which was quite fine for it's time. The entire line should all be relegated to CVS.
Picking out a best is certainly a bit more tough.....
Givenchy (Very Irresistible, Pour Homme, Blue Label)
Armani (Emporio White, Mania, Code, Armani)
It's a draw for me.

Answer:
Originally Posted by MFfan310 Top 5:
YSL (with the exception of L'Homme)
Burberry (well-crafted scents)
Dior (ditto)
Hermes (them too)
Thierry Mugler (surprised that no one has mentioned them)
Bottom 5:
Kenneth Cole (junk)
Tommy Hilfiger (a brand and house in irreversible decline)
Hugo Boss (see Kenneth Cole)
Liz Claiborne (can't believe that no one mentioned this one yet)
Giorgio Armani (becuase AdG and Code are too dominant) You think Armani is one of the worst designer houses just because AdG and Code are "too dominant"? They may be dominant, but the fragrances are decent quality, unlike the crap that is Liz Claiborne and Hilfiger. I also have to disagree with those that said Thierry Mugler as one of the worst. Personally I don't care for any of their frags to wear, but you can't deny that they're also of good quality.
That being said, I'd say the best designer houses are: Dior, Chanel, Guerlain, Gucci
Worst: Liz Claiborne and Hilfiger

Answer:
Originally Posted by radix023 When you say PM, do you mean the 1955 or the new PMC? The 1955 non-concentree PM was the only Chanel for men that was developed during Coco Chanel's life. I like it, but don't really like PMC.
(which is hard because only PMC seems to be distributed in the US. I had to order from the UK to get the original version) In the mid 80's .. had a bottle of Chanel Pour Homme ..which must have been the origional formula..it was fantastic...strong & long lasting..the next bottle i purchased was labled Chanel Pour Monsieur (not PMC)...not the same at all...much milder and fades fairly fast..I still think its a great scent..just not the origional
faves
chanel
gucci
versace
givenchy
dolce & gabanna
ysl is in mid ground
don't have any "worst" yet.

Answer:
The Best

ySL
Guerlain
Creed
Worst
CK
Armani
Hugo Boss
Joop

Answer:
[quote=Shiver;1003633]What are your choices for best and worst men's designer houses?
I'm not clear on how you define "men's designer houses". I think you mean any company that makes men's fragrances, not just designer companies.
I have to agree with the majority, Claiborne, Boss, Tommy Hillfiger, etc. represent the worst of the worst. They churn out the most pathetic formulas. I would rather smell like Dial soap or Tide than one of those aquatic, green, atrocities.
To me,
1 - Guerlain
2 - Caron
3 - Serge Lutens
4 - Creed
5 - Tom Ford, wherever he hangs his hat.
Are the standards to judge by.
I'm horrified that Chanel has played with their formulas. Antaeus was a masterpiece and now is just a shadow of a masterpiece.
Giorgio Armani should be renamed the Jolly Green Giant, as that's what he does over and over. He once was important as a designer, but got stuck in a major 80's rut.
Calvin Klein can be forgiven for being innovative.

Answer:
best:
ysl
dior
gucci
hermes
worst:
armani
ck
boss
dkny