Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › Alpha Male Fragrances?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Alpha Male Fragrances?

post #1 of 39
Thread Starter 
What fragrances would you suggest for an alpha male type. By alpha male I mean someone who people look to for leadership simply because of natural charisma and not through any position they have gained. Sean Connery, Bruce Willis, Samuel Jackson and George Clooney come immediately to mind as excellent examples of the type of Alpha Male Im thinking about. Im not asking what fragrances these guys use, but rather what fragrances would be appropriate for someone who has this type of alpha male charisma. (not to suggest that I have it!)

Two fragrances from my wardrobe which I feel really catch the essence of the Alpha Male scent are Givenchy Gentleman and Cumming by Alan Cumming. I find both to be confident, very masculine and unique while maintaining that understated sense of authority.
post #2 of 39
Bel Ami does it for me. It smells of entitlement and power for some reason. Lemon + spices + leather = shut up, do what I say, and like it.

For a less assholeish alpha-male smell, Gucci PH comes to mind. It's comforting, gentle, reassuring and powerful at the same time.
post #3 of 39
Bois du Portugal
Heritage or Lalique PH
Zino
post #4 of 39
Yup, Mr K, Lalique PH (the Lion) does it; also, Houbigant Duc de Vervins. At social functions, Chanel Pour Monsieur (the original, not Concentree), MPG Santal Noble.
post #5 of 39
Kouros
post #6 of 39
Yatagan
post #7 of 39
Valentino Vendetta pour Homme
post #8 of 39
I agree on Kouros... I also think that Aqua Di Gio is the Alpha Male wanna be scent, at least in the College Aged crowd.
post #9 of 39
Michael by Michael Kors & LV Vetiver
post #10 of 39
Aramis Havana
post #11 of 39
Azzaro PH, Francesco Smalto PH, and Kouros are the ones in my collection that make me feel powerful when I wear them.
post #12 of 39
Havana, Tuscany or Antaeus.
post #13 of 39
Creed Tabarome Millesime
post #14 of 39
There's many of these type of scents around, but my overall favorite has to be Santos Concentree. It's complexity and power is breathtaking.
post #15 of 39
I agree with Santos Concentrée, Tuscany, and Antaeus
post #16 of 39
An obscure scent in this category is one I'm wearing today Balenciaga Portos.
post #17 of 39
Kyoto
Eau de Toilette
by Comme des Garcons Series 3: Incense

the scoop
For thousands of years, people around the world have burned incense to honor their ancestors, purify the air, worship deities, accompany rituals or merely for the pure enjoyment that incense brings. Kyoto is a spiritual journey to the serene temples of the city known as Heart of Japan. Dry and calm, the cedar note in Kyoto is evident, swirling with the earthy scents of spicy, smoky vetiver and the juniper-meets-evergreen aroma of cypress. Serene and earthbound, Kyoto's quiet power is never harsh; it's a meditative scent, bringing to mind relaxing in one of Kyoto's legendary rotenburo (outdoor hot spring baths) nestled among the legendary cypress trees.



Kyoto notes
incense, cypress oil, coffee, teak wood, vetiver, patchouli, amber, everlasting flower, Virginian cedar
Yummy!
post #18 of 39
Creed Vintage Tabarome
post #19 of 39
[QUOTE=jacquia;1001860]Kyoto
Eau de Toilette
by Comme des Garcons Series 3: Incense

the scoop
For thousands of years, people around the world have burned incense to honor their ancestors, purify the air, worship deities, accompany rituals or merely for the pure enjoyment that incense brings. Kyoto is a spiritual journey to the serene temples of the city known as Heart of Japan. Dry and calm, the cedar note in Kyoto is evident, swirling with the earthy scents of spicy, smoky vetiver and the juniper-meets-evergreen aroma of cypress. Serene and earthbound, Kyoto's quiet power is never harsh; it's a meditative scent, bringing to mind relaxing in one of Kyoto's legendary rotenburo (outdoor hot spring baths) nestled among the legendary cypress trees.




IMO anything in this Series would qualify. For me Zagorsk is the frontrunner.
post #20 of 39
Quorum
Cuir Mauresque
Dunhill Edition
Knize ten
Miracle Homme
post #21 of 39
Two that leap to mind are:

Bois du Portugal
John Varvatos
post #22 of 39
The American Aplha Male: Brut
The Continental European Alpha Male: Equipage
post #23 of 39
Chanel Pour Monsieur
Gucci pour Homme
post #24 of 39
Second Bel Ami.....my friends comment who is older I am younger as I sat down next to him wearing Bel Ami...keep in mind to me Bel Ami is subtle....."Man you could knock a bull down at a hundred yards with that scent......"

Me: What do you mean? you like it?

Him: Yes I like it...though it is very much the type of scent a driven type A personality like yourself would wear".....
post #25 of 39
Two very different expressions of "alpha male":

Tough Guy = Yatagan, Kouros, and company. (See the "Top 3 most masculine scents" thread for more of these.)

Status and Personal Authority = Jaipur Homme, Santal Imperial, Coriolan, and perhaps Piper Nigrum.
post #26 of 39
1...Antaeus
2...Obsession

are what spring to mind
post #27 of 39
Chech and Speake #88 is my choice for the "Ultimate Alpha Male"
post #28 of 39
Definitely Kouros!

Antaeus and Eau Sauvage are alpha-male as well for sure.
post #29 of 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruggles View Post

The American Aplha Male: Brut
The Continental European Alpha Male: Equipage

Interesting point of view, Ruggles! Brut ending the long reign of Old Spice, and it has been extremely popular in Europe as well. Actually, I doubt if many Europeans reallized that it wasn't French, as it was placed among those on our shelves. Being alpha suddenly cost money!

You have a point with Equipage, the aristocrat alpha (1970). But his reign cannot have lasted long as both, sillage and longevity, didn't meet changed standards of the twenty years that followed. If it wasn't P Rabanne Homme (in 73) Givenchy's Gentleman (74) must have dominated the scene. They all still have their tribe I guess, the Knize men forming the oldest, and Kouros of course the biggest :brolly: .

But what's so different in non-continental Europe? Any volunteers from other areas?
post #30 of 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by oolong View Post

What fragrances would you suggest for an alpha male type. By alpha male I mean someone who people look to for leadership simply because of natural charisma and not through any position they have gained. Sean Connery, Bruce Willis, Samuel Jackson and George Clooney come immediately to mind as excellent examples of the type of “Alpha Male” I’m thinking about. I’m not asking what fragrances these guys use, but rather what fragrances would be appropriate for someone who has this type of alpha male charisma. (not to suggest that I have it!)

Two fragrances from my wardrobe which I feel really catch the essence of the “Alpha Male” scent are Givenchy Gentleman and Cumming by Alan Cumming. I find both to be confident, very masculine and unique while maintaining that understated sense of authority.

Interesting . . .

Your question is so specific and well written that it makes it both easier and harder to answer. For example, Antaeus is dangerous, sophisticated --and a romantic. While Tuscany is more like Bogey in a 40's flick as he tells some dame to take a hike and play her games on some sucker.

Creed's Vintage Tabarome (Bogey's real scent in life, as well as Churchill's) smacks of status and power, Does that disqualify it? Some would argue that it does but I think an impoverished artist, true to his principles ( Howard Roark in The Fountainhead?) could pull it off with flying colors, as well as Blenheim Boquet, Versace l'Homme, Joseph Abdoud and other powerhouses.

Dunhill '34, Eucris and Royal English Leather do not demand a suit and tie (though they help) but they do demand breeding, chivalry--and cool weather.

You may skip the cool weather with Havana or Le Roy Soleil--but not the breeding and certainly not the chivalry. You may be a rake but you'll take the bullet for her, anytime.

Quorum is an anti-Santos, best for aggressive used car salesmen. Santos (the original) is a gem of understatement and class. As is Creed's O.V.

Minotaure is an aggressive yet romantic scent--a kind of Roma Uomo meets Yatagan; an herbal punch in the nose. Women will love it or hate it---no middle ground. This one is really rough around the edges.

Annuci Man, Bulgari Black, and The Baron are for smiling, witty gunfighters who know they can outdraw the bad guys by a mile.

And of course there's the scent of our grandfather's: Bay Rhum.

Now that takes cojones to wear in our acquatic, fresh, bland world of wusses.

-------------------------

Bruce Willis?
Go see Casino Royale, best Bond since Connery.


As ususal this is just my subjective, personal, and infallible opinion.


Cheers,

Mario
post #31 of 39
these alpha men you mention, NJ's own 5 foot tall Bruce Willis especially have every thing done for them. They have a team that obsesses over them so it's hard to guess what they wear but it isn't cheap and the markup before Bruce, and I'm just using him as an example, gets the bill must be astronomical. I wonder what he's left with after he gets 30 million for a movie and pays everyone working for him.
post #32 of 39
Christian Dior FAHRENHEIT
Givenchy XERYUS
Guerlain VETIVER
Shiseido BASALA
Yves Saint Laurent RIVE GAUCHE
post #33 of 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by narcus View Post

Interesting point of view, Ruggles! [I][B]But what's so different in non-continental Europe? Any volunteers from other areas?

I think the English have their own breed of Alpha Male and my guess is that they would wear the sauve, Dunhill for Men, from 1934.
post #34 of 39
Two definites, without question:

Bois du Portugal
Shiseido Basala
post #35 of 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruggles View Post

I think the English have their own breed of Alpha Male and my guess is that they would wear the sauve, Dunhill for Men, from 1934.

Hard to believe Dunhill is that old. My husband wears it, and it's magnificent.

Clemmie
post #36 of 39
Havana

Bois de Portugal

Musc Ravageur

Aramis (yes, Aramis)

Terre d'Hermes (takes major balls, IMHO)

Santos

Kouros

Hammam Bouquet

Yatagan

Portos

Declaration (Very woody and dry and not for everyone -- makes a real statement on its own. Not for the meek.)

Antaeus (Unadulterated scrotum sweat just bottled up in a Savile Row suit.)

M7 (Once you get over the sweet topnotes, that is.)

Van Cleef & Arpels (Original formulation.)

Tsar by Van Cleef & Arpels (Original formulation.)

Burberry's for Men (Original

Vetiver by Guerlain (old formulation)

Fahrenheit

Basala

Noir Epices (takes a really brave soul -- male or female -- to pull this one off. Just remember that Catherine Deneuve favors this scent, and she (IMHO) has bigger, lower hanging cojones than even Sean Connery.)

Joop! (yes, you heard me -- nice on the right gutsy person; awful otherwise)

Millesime Imperial

Jockey Club

Tabarome (Old or new.)

The Dreamer (YUM!)

273 by Fred Hayman ("The poor man's Antaeus")

Kanon

Rive Gauche (DEFINITELY A TESTOSTERONE-DRIVEN, PURE ALPHA MALE, "HERE, COME LET ME HUMP YOUR LEG AFTER YOU SMELL MY ARMPIT" KINDA POWER/SEX SCENT!)

Chergui
post #37 of 39
Thread Starter 
It has been about 6 months since I originally posted this question. I've tested most of the fragrances suggested and these are the ones I've found best matched what I was looking for:

- Santos Concentrée (1982) by Cartier

- Polo Crest (1991) by Ralph Lauren

- Yatagan (1976) by Caron

- Polo (1978) by Ralph Lauren

- Bel Ami (1986) by Hermès

- Cumming (2004) by Alan Cumming

- Givenchy Gentleman (1974) by Givenchy

These fragrances now are highly valued fragrances in my wardrobe.
post #38 of 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clemmie View Post

Hard to believe Dunhill is that old. My husband wears it, and it's magnificent.
Clemmie

Good to hear, I haven't managed to get hold of it. Love old stuff and use Dunhill Edition instead!
post #39 of 39
Bvlgari pour homme
Polo
Atman by Phat Farm

Every silverback male should have these 3. Helps displace the juveniles of the species...
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: MFD Archive
Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › Alpha Male Fragrances?