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what's TOO popular right now?

post #1 of 28
3/26/07 at 12:01am
Thread Starter 
Three separate, related questions about what American men are wearing these days:

1) Many Basenoters seem to recognize the fragrances that others wear out in public - they know what's popular. The fragrance that gets mentioned/complained about by far the most here is Acqua di Gio (though it did win a Best for Daywear in '02, which seems to mean that even a quality scent can become overused to the point of annoyance). Which other fragrances are TOO popular right now?

2) Scents like Egoiste, Vetiver, Green Irish Tweed, A*Men, and Terre d'Hermes are popular AMONG BASENOTES MEMBERS. Do you find any of these to be verging on overuse as well?

3) Are there good fragrances that once were very popular (5, 10, 20 years ago, etc.), but whose popularity has eased up a bit, making them stand out a little bit today?
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post #2 of 28
3/26/07 at 2:14am
1) Coolwater, CK One, L'eau D'Issey, Le Male
2) Have never sniffed the ones mentioned out besides A*men on anyone else before.
3) Hmmm.... Eternity? DRakkar?
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post #3 of 28
3/26/07 at 4:53am
When I was in High School, 5 years ago?.. it was much easier for me to keep track of what was being over used. In college, you could see peoples collections on their dresser, but now that I'm no longer there, I have a hard time figuring out what people my age, or even overall, are wearing. For sure L'eau D'Issey is very popular. I also have a few friends who wear Rochas Man. I will have to stick my head in a bit further...
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post #4 of 28
3/26/07 at 5:30am
I think it also depends on the crowd you hang out in.

I know that generally with Asians the scents you find them wearing are different to Aussies.
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post #5 of 28
3/26/07 at 6:04am
1) Too popular: Dior Homme
2) Overused: Terre d'Hermes
3) Aging beauty: A*Men
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post #6 of 28
3/26/07 at 12:50pm
Thread Starter 
I almost forgot to mention Old Spice and Brut for the mature guys (Father's Day must be coming up - Aqua Velva is running TV ads again), and Axe for the boys. And you've probably seen the Right Guard RGX bodyspray commercials - probably the next things we'll be smelling everywhere.

To rephrase my question, it's pretty obvious that you don't wear Old Spice or Acqua di Gio if you want to stand out - you wear them because you like the fragrances and you don't mind if other guys wear them. You might enjoy people recognizing the scent on you. But does the popularity of scents like A*Men, M7, and Envy for Men among Basenotes users imply that everyone's wearing those among the general public? Basenotes users seem more like critics who have experienced a wider range of scents than the rest of folks who wear fragrances.
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post #7 of 28
3/27/07 at 1:37am
1) Sean John Unforgivable
2) Although I own A*Men I'm getting tired of it
3) Fahrenheit. I used it 15 years and ago i'm loving it again.
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post #8 of 28
3/27/07 at 8:27pm
1. A*Men, Le Male, Pi, and Cool Water (still)

2. No, except for A*Men.

3. Devin and Tuscany
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post #9 of 28
3/27/07 at 9:16pm
1.) Aqua di ANYTHING (Except Parma!)

2.) Terre, but I never smelled it on anyone. (I haven't smelled anyone wearing anything except aquatics in so long. *tear*)

3.) POLO! Love this freakin' bottle to death!
- Rich
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post #10 of 28
1/4/11 at 5:25pm
I work in Cosmetics, and some of our top sellers include:

Acqua Di Gio
Dolce and Gabanna Light Blue
Dolce and Gabanna The One
Versace Eau Fraiche
Issey Miyake Pour Homme

I find all of these too be overused. I can't help but turn up my nose at people that stick to Versace, Armania, Bvlgari, and Dolce and Gabanna fragrances. I find them cheap smelling and unoriginal. I can immediately distinguish them and that is when I find it is overworn.
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post #11 of 28
1/4/11 at 7:53pm
A lot of guys at my school wear either Le Male, Unforgivable or Armani Code. I don't necessarily scoff at them cause it smells different IMO on everyone and I myself am a fan of Armani.
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post #12 of 28
1/4/11 at 10:30pm
Across clubs in the UK - 1 Million.
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post #13 of 28
1/5/11 at 6:35am
2) While I don't think Green Irish Tweed is over used many people will mistake it for Cool Water which is over used. A*Men seems to show up a lot in clubs. It has even been shown on the dresser of some of the Jersey Shore cast and I recall Paulie D asking a girl in a club if she was wearing Angel.
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post #14 of 28
1/5/11 at 9:27am
He sure did. I made that discovery in the saddest of ways. A few months ago I was at a campus bar with some friends, waiting for my buddy to finish his shift. I walked by a table twice, and both times thought I smelled Angel. I'm in that excitement phase of my life where I want to try and figure out what people are wearing, in hopes of getting better at recognizing both fragrances and notes. So to check and see if my guess was right, I asked the girl at the table if she was wearing Angel. She said she wasn't, and I said "Ok, thanks", and went back to my table. My friends then informed me of the Jersey Shore thing. So I just went up to some university girl, sitting in a bar WITH A GUY, and accidentally used a Jersey Shore pick up line on her. I felt like such a creep, but was wise enough to let it go, and not try and explain the situation. I doubt it would have painted me in too much of a better light, all in all.

Thanks a lot, Jersey Shore. First I have to stop playing as Guile in Street Fighter because of you, and now this!
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post #15 of 28
1/5/11 at 10:04am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slamwich View Post

He sure did. I made that discovery in the saddest of ways. A few months ago I was at a campus bar with some friends, waiting for my buddy to finish his shift. I walked by a table twice, and both times thought I smelled Angel. I'm in that excitement phase of my life where I want to try and figure out what people are wearing, in hopes of getting better at recognizing both fragrances and notes. So to check and see if my guess was right, I asked the girl at the table if she was wearing Angel. She said she wasn't, and I said "Ok, thanks", and went back to my table. My friends then informed me of the Jersey Shore thing. So I just went up to some university girl, sitting in a bar WITH A GUY, and accidentally used a Jersey Shore pick up line on her. I felt like such a creep, but was wise enough to let it go, and not try and explain the situation. I doubt it would have painted me in too much of a better light, all in all.

Thanks a lot, Jersey Shore. First I have to stop playing as Guile in Street Fighter because of you, and now this!

Hehe, good story!

This one got me thinking though.For us single folk, is it a wise tactic to wear a recognisable fragrance whilst out in nite clubs etc?

On one hand you want to avoid smelling like the ex-boyfriend but if a girl recognises your frag it makes for a decent ice-breaker, no? Often when I wore L'eau d'Issey girls would ask me if it was Issey Myiake or just say it was very nice. I haven't worn it in approximately four years now though.
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post #16 of 28
1/5/11 at 10:30am
It's a vague topic to gauge, because we don't know what will be recognizable to each individual we come across. I remember a friend telling me she smelled a guy in an elevator that reminded her of me. He was wearing Perry Ellis Reserve, which is far from common, and not what I'd call recognizable. Nevertheless, in wearing that, he became associated to me, in her eyes. There's always a potential.

I would suggest going the route of focusing on something you think will be enjoyed. A girl recognizing the fragrance can be a decent ice-breaker, assuming she is a fan of it. A girl simply really liking your fragrance seems like it would be a much more effective ice breaker. Wear something you like. If you're out meeting randoms, well, it's random. You may get one that had a past experience with the smell, you may not. But ideally you would want to meet someone that likes the same kind of smell you like, right?
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post #17 of 28
1/5/11 at 10:45am
I must agree with PR - 1 million in the UK. Also AdG and Fierce seem very popular round my friends and peergroup in general.
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post #18 of 28
1/5/11 at 1:12pm
In public, i have to say that Polo Blue and AdG are the most worn where i live


But i have to say that if it wasnt for Basenote then i'd be one of those poor sheep wearing Polo Blue thinking it was "the best thing" lol

Nah but i definitely wouldnt be wearing many of the things that are mentioned on here. Ironically i used to only mainly wear Armani Code and for the longest time i NEVER smelled that on anyone else. I think i still havnt smelled it on anyone and i have received a good amount of comments from it too
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post #19 of 28
1/5/11 at 3:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Simmo View Post

I must agree with PR - 1 million in the UK. Also AdG and Fierce seem very popular round my friends and peergroup in general.

I go in to Boots. Young girl (I say young, i'm in late 20's and she was about 20 but that's soo young in my books lol): "would you like some help?" and before I could answer "1 million is really good..."

I got that a couple of times. It's really being pushed in the stores and it's a massive seller.
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post #20 of 28
1/26/11 at 7:12am
In the uk the most overused fragrance atm in my opinion is Paco Rabanne One Million. I have this fragrance and i love it but i started wearing it before it got popular and im on the verge of putting it in the naughty corner because i smell it so much.

Also, Joop! Homme is VERY overused over here and i think it should only be used for male prostitutes!
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post #21 of 28
1/26/11 at 1:36pm
I think it really depends on people that you are around.
Some frags are close to skin and you will just not smell them, a lot of people do not wear any perfume at all.
Most that I smell is in clubs and also I am not getting close to guys.
Maybe some fragrence fanatic-escort would really help and tell us what does she smell on her clients lol.

Anyway in uk
1) I smell a lot of Boss Bottled, D&G The One, and Light Blue, also 1Million and Coolwater but not that much
2) From the list I've smelled only Egoiste on someone
3) I am too young to remmeber
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post #22 of 28
1/26/11 at 3:31pm
I'm from Australia I rarely smell colognes on male but I sure do know that retailers sell, 1 Million, Armani Code and Acqua Di Gio as there bests eller's, as for me I smell LYNX deodorant everywhere. Don't know why guy's love it so much.
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post #23 of 28
1/27/11 at 3:19am
Another vote for One Million in the Northeast US.

I was in a Sephora the other day and saw three teenagers walk in and b-line straight for the one million. They each bought a bottle probably for the upcoming dance or whatever. This confirmed my belief that its a bit too popular right now to stand out.

Great smell (if you can pull it off), but its not that original anymore.
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post #24 of 28
1/27/11 at 12:47pm
... And still another for One Million
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post #25 of 28
1/27/11 at 12:53pm
Surprised no one has mentioned Aventus yet.

Otherwise, all the vanilla custard/tutti fruitti/dessert fragrances are still popular with all the young'ns - e.g. A*Men, 1 Million, Le Male, La Nuit De L'Homme.....

Tobacco Vanille, because I smell no tobacco and all "vanille" (read: honey & pancakes).
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post #26 of 28
1/27/11 at 1:49pm
Light Blue (snore). I can't escape 1 Million. I thought leaving England would help, but it's everywhere here, too. L'Eau d'Issey, Le Male, AdG...you know, they're the usual suspects.

As for question 3, I think the 80s beasts can get some mileage with the younger generation. I barely know anyone who wears Poison or Giorgio
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post #27 of 28
1/28/11 at 6:15am
In my country where scents are really the least of one's priorities, I really know when someone wears a particular scent because of the hot weather. In that regard, it would be L'eau D'Issey pH, Davidoff Cool Water, Polo Blue, Lacoste Essential, Versace Eau Fraiche and cK One (surprisingly). Their popularity exceeds geographical boundaries.

For the older gents, Dior Fahrenheit is a sure spot.
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post #28 of 28
1/28/11 at 7:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blanc View Post

In my country where scents are really the least of one's priorities, I really know when someone wears a particular scent because of the hot weather. In that regard, it would be L'eau D'Issey pH, Davidoff Cool Water, Polo Blue, Lacoste Essential, Versace Eau Fraiche and cK One (surprisingly). Their popularity exceeds geographical boundaries.

For the older gents, Dior Fahrenheit is a sure spot.

Hey, fellow Filipino. I agree. Add to the list:

- Kenzo's L'eau Par pour Homme
- Bvlgari's Aqua
- Lacoste's Style in Play

It's an aquatic/citrus nation over here. The hot weather will kill anything that doesn't bear the names fresh or aqua.
I don't give in to the evil dictatorship of the enemy we call HEAT though. I still wear my 1 Million during the day. haha
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Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Just Starting Out › what's TOO popular right now?