Hi,
I'm completely new to the world of men's fragrances and I'm not being helped by my girlfriend who thinks it's funny that I could end up with more bottles on the shelf than her. She doesn't have too much experience with fragrances, as only wears Yves Rocher Ming Shu Fleure Rare, which smells nice on her. My experience was until recently limited to Hugo Boss deo, which turns out to be Hugo Boss Bottled deo (the grey cap). When I bought my last deo, I got a Canali sample that got me thinking. We're getting married and I'd like to have a good fragrance for that occasion that I can reuse for visiting customers afterwards. In other words: not too shocking, but something that gives a hint of quality. Fragrances are an expensive hobby, so I'd like to get one, maybe two bottles to start with.
About what I've smelt before. Hugo Boss Bottled deo is an okay deo which lasts long enough when it's new enough. It doesn't have a lot of character, so it's okay for the office (particularly on days when I bike to work). It doesn't give me the luxury feel that I want, though, and I'd like something a bit darker. The Canali sample smells much more luxurious and complex than the Hugo Boss, but maybe it's because it's an edt instead of a deo. I like it a lot, but I'd like something a bit more heavy and dark. Reading some reviews, I think it's the florals that make it too light for me.
After doing some reading up (a.o. an article about Jean-Claude Ellena), I made a shortlist of a few fragrances that I'd like to try out: Terre d'Hermes, Bulgari Thé Verte Extreme, Ormonde Jayne Isfarkand and Masaki Matsushima M; Men. Unfortunately, the local perfume shop (Ici Paris XL @ Leuven, Belgium) didn't have the latter 2, but I got a spray of the first 2.
First, Thé Verte Extreme. It was a cool and dreary day and I can understand why people say it's good for hot and humid weather. It opened quite fresh and while there was some evolution, it kept a long lingering fresh tea-ish smell. It's interesting, but as with Canali, I'm still thinking I'd like to have something a bit earthier. That's where the Terre comes in, of course
She sprayed my arm 3-4 times with it, so it opened with quite a shock therapy in orange, blood orange, grapefruit or other kinds of heavy citrus fruit. I wasn't very pleased with that, but hey, at least it was quite different from the light stuff I've smelled so far. After an hour or so, most of the heavy fruit had gone and I was left with a gorgeous rich woody smell. As time passed, I got more and more impressed. Even after 24 hours, I could still smell mostly a light wood (cedar ?). I'll have to try it again (see if I can get a sample) to see how I like the opening notes.
I've been going through the reviews here and on NowSmellThis and I've added a few other fragrances to the list of what I'd like to try next:
- Lanvin: Arpège pour Homme
- Frédéric Malle: French Lover
- Comme Des Garçons: Hinoki & Ouarazate
- Burberry: London for Men
- Ormonde Jayne: Isfarkand & Ormonde for Men
- Masaki Matsushima: M; Men
The problem is that I don't know how available these are in Belgium. Ormonde Jayne and Masaki Matsushima were described as "quite niche" when I asked for them at Ici Paris XL. The only other shop here is Planet Parfum, which I haven't visited yet, and a few smaller boutiques. So, a few questions. I've read the reviews, but what is your opinion on the above after reading what I thought of HB/Canali/Terre d'Hermes ? Should I try talking to the shop personnel to try and get samples ? Would that work ?
Thanks for any help,
Peter.
I'm completely new to the world of men's fragrances and I'm not being helped by my girlfriend who thinks it's funny that I could end up with more bottles on the shelf than her. She doesn't have too much experience with fragrances, as only wears Yves Rocher Ming Shu Fleure Rare, which smells nice on her. My experience was until recently limited to Hugo Boss deo, which turns out to be Hugo Boss Bottled deo (the grey cap). When I bought my last deo, I got a Canali sample that got me thinking. We're getting married and I'd like to have a good fragrance for that occasion that I can reuse for visiting customers afterwards. In other words: not too shocking, but something that gives a hint of quality. Fragrances are an expensive hobby, so I'd like to get one, maybe two bottles to start with.
About what I've smelt before. Hugo Boss Bottled deo is an okay deo which lasts long enough when it's new enough. It doesn't have a lot of character, so it's okay for the office (particularly on days when I bike to work). It doesn't give me the luxury feel that I want, though, and I'd like something a bit darker. The Canali sample smells much more luxurious and complex than the Hugo Boss, but maybe it's because it's an edt instead of a deo. I like it a lot, but I'd like something a bit more heavy and dark. Reading some reviews, I think it's the florals that make it too light for me.
After doing some reading up (a.o. an article about Jean-Claude Ellena), I made a shortlist of a few fragrances that I'd like to try out: Terre d'Hermes, Bulgari Thé Verte Extreme, Ormonde Jayne Isfarkand and Masaki Matsushima M; Men. Unfortunately, the local perfume shop (Ici Paris XL @ Leuven, Belgium) didn't have the latter 2, but I got a spray of the first 2.
First, Thé Verte Extreme. It was a cool and dreary day and I can understand why people say it's good for hot and humid weather. It opened quite fresh and while there was some evolution, it kept a long lingering fresh tea-ish smell. It's interesting, but as with Canali, I'm still thinking I'd like to have something a bit earthier. That's where the Terre comes in, of course
She sprayed my arm 3-4 times with it, so it opened with quite a shock therapy in orange, blood orange, grapefruit or other kinds of heavy citrus fruit. I wasn't very pleased with that, but hey, at least it was quite different from the light stuff I've smelled so far. After an hour or so, most of the heavy fruit had gone and I was left with a gorgeous rich woody smell. As time passed, I got more and more impressed. Even after 24 hours, I could still smell mostly a light wood (cedar ?). I'll have to try it again (see if I can get a sample) to see how I like the opening notes.I've been going through the reviews here and on NowSmellThis and I've added a few other fragrances to the list of what I'd like to try next:
- Lanvin: Arpège pour Homme
- Frédéric Malle: French Lover
- Comme Des Garçons: Hinoki & Ouarazate
- Burberry: London for Men
- Ormonde Jayne: Isfarkand & Ormonde for Men
- Masaki Matsushima: M; Men
The problem is that I don't know how available these are in Belgium. Ormonde Jayne and Masaki Matsushima were described as "quite niche" when I asked for them at Ici Paris XL. The only other shop here is Planet Parfum, which I haven't visited yet, and a few smaller boutiques. So, a few questions. I've read the reviews, but what is your opinion on the above after reading what I thought of HB/Canali/Terre d'Hermes ? Should I try talking to the shop personnel to try and get samples ? Would that work ?
Thanks for any help,
Peter.
