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Looking for classy evening fragrance

post #1 of 26
3/27/08 at 12:15pm
Thread Starter 
Hi. I'm new, so I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Johan, a 19-year old university student from Sweden. That's me in my avatar.
I usually stay with the same fragrance for a long time, for consistency. Right now, I'm using Platinum Egoiste by Chanel.
However, I'd like another fragrance for those special occasions (evenings and so on).
As I said, I have Chanel Platinum Egoiste for day wear - but I'd like something even more special and unique on evenings and other occasions. Any tips?
Preferably something classy, exclusive and refined - not some teenish latest-fashion-smell.

I know fragrances are very individual, but if I can get some tips and ideas, I can go to my nearest fragrance store and try them out, or else order samples from online boutiques.

Thanks.
/Johan
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post #2 of 26
3/27/08 at 12:30pm
Hi Johan, Welcome to Basenotes!

You should try the original Egoiste, by Chanel. It is a lot different than the Platinum version. Great for evenings and special occasions and very classy, in my opinion.
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post #3 of 26
3/27/08 at 12:52pm
Hi Johann,

Welcome to Basenotes.

One that I would recommend, and probably a lot of others, would be Creed Bois du Portugal (you may see it referred to as BdP on some posts) - which would be considered a "niche" fragrance. If you can afford it, I would highly recommend it.

However, if you are looking for more affordable, mainstream scents I would suggest:

- Calvin Klein - Obession for Men (some people refer to this as a poor man's BdP. I don't - I think it stands on it's own merits)
- Gucci - Envy for Men
- Jean-Paul Gaultier - Gaultier 2
- Lolita Lempicka - Lolita Lempicka au Masculin
- Michael Kors - Michael Kors for Men
- Narciso Rodriguez - Narciso Rodriguez for Men
- Rochas - Lui
- Yves Saint-Laurent - M7
- Yves Saint-Laurent - Kouros
- Yves Saint-Laurent - Opium pour Homme
- Christian Dior - Dior Homme
- Guerlain - Heritage

Definitely sample before you purchase.

Good luck with your search!

Joe
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post #4 of 26
3/27/08 at 1:10pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the suggestions. Price doesn't really matter - it's a long-term purchase anyway, so whatever I buy is going to last a long time. Might as well spend a little extra on it, if you ask me.

What do you think about Creed's Millesime Imperial?

Also, do you know any online boutiques where you can order samples?
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post #5 of 26
3/27/08 at 1:17pm
For samples in the EU.

You can go for Les Senteurs http://www.lessenteurs.com/ (£2.50 a sample)
You can try Aus Libe zum Duft http://www.ausliebezumduft.de/ (3 Euros a sample)
And then there's TPC (The Perfumed Court) theperfumedcourt.com/ (Varying prices)
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post #6 of 26
3/27/08 at 1:21pm
I'd second YSL Kouros. I don't have any experience with MI but I do own Unforgivable which is a carbon copy if you're to believe some of the fellow Basenoters. I'm sure it's not identical but I still don't see it as being any more classy than Platinum Egoiste. Actually that's one of the reasons I just sprang for a bottle of PE, because I was lacking elegant scents.

So some suggestions I'd throw out would be

Yves Saint Laurent - Kouros
Hugo Boss - Baldessarini
Aramis - Havana
EDIT: Versace - The Dreamer
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post #7 of 26
3/27/08 at 1:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by xian View Post

Thanks for the suggestions. Price doesn't really matter - it's a long-term purchase anyway, so whatever I buy is going to last a long time. Might as well spend a little extra on it, if you ask me.

What do you think about Creed's Millesime Imperial?

Also, do you know any online boutiques where you can order samples?

Then I would personally go for the Bois du Portugal!

I think Millesime Imperial is OK. I wouldn't consider it a "classy evening fragrance" - more of an everyday casual citrus fragrance. A lot of people think it has similarities to Sean Jean Unforgivable. I certainly don't put it in the same league/class as Bois du Portugal.
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post #8 of 26
3/27/08 at 2:11pm
Thread Starter 
Bois du Portugal it is, then.

How much perfume does one typically expend with one spritz? And subsequently, how long can I expect, say, one milliliter of perfume to last?
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post #9 of 26
3/27/08 at 2:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by xian View Post

Bois du Portugal it is, then.

How much perfume does one typically expend with one spritz? And subsequently, how long can I expect, say, one milliliter of perfume to last?

I hope you mean you are going to try Bois du Portugal, not go buy a bottle of it right away just because I like it. Please test/sample a variety of fragrances to see what you like - your tastes may be completely different then mine.

Vivek mentioned the Perfumed Court. They have some very good "Beginner Sampler Packs" where you get a variety of different type scents from different fragrance houses. I would recommend one or more of them so you can get exposure/experience with a number of fragrances, and then make a decision from there.
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post #10 of 26
3/27/08 at 2:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by petruccijc View Post

I hope you mean you are going to try Bois du Portugal.

Of course - forgive my ambiguity.

That seems like a good idea. Originally, my plan was to order samples of the fragrances suggested in this thread, and add a few of my own choosing. But I guess a beginner's kit would be good as well.
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post #11 of 26
3/27/08 at 3:06pm
+1 on Egoiste. I actually find it more refined and elegant than BdP wich is more bossy.
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post #12 of 26
3/27/08 at 3:44pm
dior homme, versace dreamer, armani code, and gucci envy. their all pretty classy and around $45-50 for a 1.7 bottle.
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post #13 of 26
3/27/08 at 5:28pm
Thread Starter 
This is what I ended up ordering samples of (from theperfumedcourt.com):

* Chanel Egoiste
* Creed Bois du Portugal
* Creed Royal English Leather
* Czech & Speake No. 88
* Tom Ford Black Orchid
* Yves Saint Laurent M7

I read some threads here on Basenotes about men wearing the marketed-for-women Black Orchid, so I wanted to try it out for myself.
Also, I want to test a rose fragrance, and No. 88 seemed like a good candidate.
And I ordered a sample of Royal English Leather - I simply must try a fragrance that has existed for 228 years.
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post #14 of 26
3/27/08 at 6:28pm
YSL - Rive Gauche
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post #15 of 26
3/27/08 at 8:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by xian View Post

This is what I ended up ordering samples of (from theperfumedcourt.com):

* Chanel Egoiste
* Creed Bois du Portugal
* Creed Royal English Leather
* Czech & Speake No. 88
* Tom Ford Black Orchid
* Yves Saint Laurent M7

I read some threads here on Basenotes about men wearing the marketed-for-women Black Orchid, so I wanted to try it out for myself.
Also, I want to test a rose fragrance, and No. 88 seemed like a good candidate.
And I ordered a sample of Royal English Leather - I simply must try a fragrance that has existed for 228 years.

Johann,

I think those are all EXCELLENT choices! I do not think you will be disappointed. The hard part now will be trying to choose one of them

BTW - I wear Black Orchid and love it.

Take care,

Joe
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post #16 of 26
3/28/08 at 3:08am
I'll second Michael for Men by Michael Kors, just stunning as an evening scent...
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post #17 of 26
3/28/08 at 4:27am
for my money nothing beats Van Cleef & Arpels pour homme edt.

welcome to Basenotes Xian!
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post #18 of 26
3/28/08 at 8:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by fredricktoo View Post

for my money nothing beats Van Cleef & Arpels pour homme edt.

welcome to Basenotes Xian!

Very nice, that's my powerhouse frag.

Topicstarter, though, is only 19 years old. I think Van Cleef & Arpels will make him 49.
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post #19 of 26
3/28/08 at 8:36am
  • KMF
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Here is the thing...

You will probably need at least two scents. Heavier scents like BdP & Michael Kors won't go over very well in the warm summer months. So I would advise you to pick up one for cooler weather and one for warmer weather...

Here are a few suggestions:

Cold Weather:
C&S - No. 88
Michael Kors
Bvlgari Black
Nicole Miller for Men
Paul Smith London

Warm Weather:
Creed Original Vetiver
Acqua di Parma Colonia
Acqua di Parma Colonia Assoluta
Narciso Rogriguez for Him
C&S - Cuba

Good luck!
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post #20 of 26
3/28/08 at 8:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stereotomy View Post

Very nice, that's my powerhouse frag.

Topicstarter, though, is only 19 years old. I think Van Cleef & Arpels will make him 49.

He could get by with a short spray or two. So as not to overwhelm his own natural pheromones. At 19 he's at his sexual peak performance wise. That's why anything that smothers that smells 'old man' Shit when I was 19 I went without and let my body which....

wait... no one wants to hear this.

Bois de Portugal is kind of old man too. At 57 I can pull it off. About the only thing I can pull... off!
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post #21 of 26
4/22/08 at 1:20am
Chanel Pour monsieur is as classy and cool as it gets...
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post #22 of 26
4/22/08 at 6:42am
Good call on the Black Orchid.

I'd add Baldasserini Ambre, John Varvatos, Aigner Black and Narciso Rodriguez for Him. All these 4 work perfectly in the evening.
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post #23 of 26
4/22/08 at 7:38am
I've got to put in a vote for Antidote by Viktor And Rolf. It starts out fresh and citrusy - which is a nice way to start the night, then goes into a spicy heart with a healthy dose of nutmeg and cinnamon, and ends with a beautiful vanilla/amber drydown that never gets cloying (it walks a fine line between being too powdery and too sweet, but never falls into either category); a perfect way to end the night.
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post #24 of 26
4/22/08 at 8:02am
Chanel Antaeus, that's it!
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post #25 of 26
4/22/08 at 10:01am
Thread Starter 
I've tried the ones I ordered, as well as some other fragrances I found in local stores, and except for Platinum Egoiste (which I have now) I have noticed a characteristic note in all Chanel fragrances I've tried so far (Egoiste, Antaeus and Pour Monsieur). It's sharp and slightly bitter, and I don't really like it. Maybe it's just my body chemistry playing tricks with the fragrances.

I really liked Royal English Leather - that warm leather scent combined with hints of mandarin. Makes me feel proper, elegant, British. Also, it lasts a long time. The scent stayed with me the entire day I wore it, and even the following morning I could still smell it.

Black Orchid smelled nice, but it was way too sweet for my liking. And YSL M7 reminded me of the warm summer evenings I spent in Greece a couple of years ago. Nice, but not what I was looking for.

Then there's Bois du Portugal. I found it very sophisticated and elegant, but somehow... strange. I can't really put my finger on it. It's as if it evokes an aura of mystery, like something ancient that has remained hidden for centuries. I'm not sure whether I like it or not. Perhaps it's best suited for older men, like someone said earlier.

And finally, C&S No. 88. This is probably the one I like the most. I especially like that it actually smells exactly like real roses. It's noble, sophisticated, and elegant, and has a slight note of darkness and mystery as well, in a good way - not like BdP. I think No. 88 is the one I will buy.
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post #26 of 26
4/23/08 at 11:33am
^ Very good choice about the No. 88
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