suggest some modern winter frags?

I already bought all the cologne I could rationalize for the summer months, so it's time for a round of winter samples!


I am soon going to purchase Caron Pour un Homme and Rive Gauche PH which I have previously sampled and loved. I need some modern-style fragrances (timeless ones would be fine too) to round out my winter wardrobe. I am not big on excessively sweet fragrances, except when they are strongly held in check by something bitter (like Body Kouros). Strong fruit notes have not been my thing as of yet, but still willing to give em a shot. I am 23 and rarely in a suit and tie, so youthful and reasonably casual are preferable.


Here are a few of my favorites, to help give you an idea what I like:

(I appear to have a taste for lavender, based on my first few)

Rive Gauche PH (YSL)
Jicky (Guerlain)
Caron PuH
Xeryus (Givenchy)
l'Anarchiste (Caron)
Live Jazz (YSL)
Terre d'Hermes (Hermes)
Eau d'Orange Verte (Hermes)

I have been hearing a lot about London lately. I better give it a shot to see what all the hubbub is about. I see that it has lavender, and that surely couldn't hurt it's cause.

It is 1:30 AM where I am, so I have to go to sleep soon anyway. I think i'll give it a bump tomorrow when more people are awake. Any suggestions in the meantime are appreciated as well, of course.

I have somewhere between normal and oily skin, I think. I prefer scents that wear relatively closely. I prefer to be smelled no more a few feet away.

That one is intriguing... The reviewers seem to be in agreement that it smells like a vanilla coke. Sounds interesting.

I had been meaning to try more Cartier stuff after sampling eau de cartier, but I couldn't decide which to try. This one sounds like a good bet.

Reporting back:

Tried quite a few of the ones mentioned in the days since I posted.

Michael by Michael Kors - I like this one a lot. Usually tobacco notes are too artificial for me, and leather seems to hide behind 20 pounds of fruit, but this one achieved a nice balance. This is what Varvatos for men could have been if they didn't squeeze a whole plum in each bottle for mass market purposes.

M7 - I... think I liked it? I can't really seem to decide. Either way, I don't believe it is something I could wear outside. I'll track down the fresh version if I can, to see if that one is more tolerable.

Bvlgari Black - I had a great time with this one for a few days until I accidentally spilled half of my sample on my wrist. The tar note is wonderful in small doses, but was the most nauseating thing ever in condensed dosage. I'll try it again in a few weeks once I forget the experience.

Burberry London - I really liked this one too. There is something about the spices and wood that really remind me of a toned town l'anarchiste by Caron, which I already have and enjoy. I will probably end up with a bottle of this eventually.

Escada Magnetism - This was a fun one, but I don't think I could get enough use out of it to justify a whole bottle purchase. I totally get the whole vanilla coke thing though. I'll wear it to a party now and again to confuse my friends.

Declaration Essence - Not a fan. There is some sort of sour note that turns me off. Sort of like someone hid a pile of old socks in the woods. On the same run, I did try Pasha (also by Cartier) and was quite pleased with it, though it wasn't anything to turn heads.

Givenchy Pi - My skin seems to bring out the worst in vanilla on occasion. This trial was a messy one.

YSL Opium - Wearing it now. I quite like it, but I can't shake the root beer association that some people mentioned in it's reviews. That's what I get for reading too much about a fragrance before smelling it.

Didn't purchase samples of the Dior suggestions, since I figured I could try them at the store. The largest fragrance store around me is Dillard's, and they don't stock anything besides Fahrenheit in their Dior section for men. What gives? I am quite envious of anyone living near a Sephora.

I tried Angel Man, Polo Double Black, and Equipage by Hermes on paper but not on the skin yet, so I will reserve judgment. I practically never like anything I try on paper. Not sure why I still bother.

Thanks for the suggestions! I would say the winners so far are Burberry London and Michael by Michael Kors, though I had positive experiences with many.