fragrances for a novice

Terre d'Hermes can be pretty tough for even experienced noses to precisely pin down. You may be trying to smell immediately after spraying, in which case, yes, all you're going to smell is the alcohol used as a fixative.

If you're just looking to be able to discriminate a bit better about what's in colognes you're shopping for, start simple. Is it sweet? Spicy? Does it remind you of anything you encounter in your daily life? Does it conjure up any visual images or trigger memories?

I will tell you basically how I started was I made extensive use of the Basenotes Directory, and made a spreadsheet in Excel. I wrote down the "notes" of the fragrances and when I saw the same note across two or more fragrances I noted it. Pretty soon I had a neat little web of not only what made scents similar, but more importantly what makes them different. Take, for an example, Diesel Fuel For Life. When I'd started this hobby if someone told me to identify one note in the composition I probably wouldn't have been able to, but when I look at my reference and notice it's the only thing I've tried that lists raspberry as a note, I find it much easier to pick up on. Kouros, for example, has a very nice Jasmine note. Baldessarini by Hugo Boss has a fir note (like the tree), and if I hadn't first read it I probably wouldn't have been able to pick up on what exactly I was smelling. It's at the point now where I can smell a fragrance and tell what is different about it compared to other fragrances; a lot of them are going to have repetitive elements, such as bergamot (a citrus fruit used in 1/3 of all mens frags and about 1/2 of womens) in the top notes, patchouli, vetiver (a type of grass), amber (resin/sap from trees), and musk in the base of the fragrance.

If you're slightly more serious about trying to peg individual notes there are several "perfumer's toolboxes" that have essential oils of commonly used ingredients.

There are actually several sets of families for men's fragrance. Here's one but I honestly don't pay a ton of attention to categorizations. It's not like I'm choosing a political party or something absolute, it's more than acceptable (and rather encouraged) to take the occasional trip out of your comfort zone and try something completely different.

A novice should buy these perfumes, to learn how to distinguish the different notes:

1) Vetiver de Guerlain (fresh grass with class and distinction. Earthy smell.)
2) Eau Sauvage by Dior (the miracle of balance: citrus)
3) Rive Gauche by YSL (aromatic fougere)
4) Givenchy Gentleman (to taste something extreme with lots of testosterone)
5) Pour un Homme de Caron (something old fashioned and clean:lavender-vanilla )
6) Antaeus (for woods and leather)
7) Ambre Sultan OR L'Air du Desert Marocain (an oriental)

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That's the spirit! Welcome to Basenotes!


Hmmm try to make a habit of testing before you buy. I agree these are good fragrances to try first.

How about a lady novice? I'm 26yo, and having in mind everything a 26yo has experienced, the hopes and aspirations, the freshness yet not. What is the best cologne/body spray/perfume?

Is this becoming to much of laborious task? LOL

There isn't a single fragrance that's "best". I would try fragrances that are sweet (Rochas Man, Bogart PH) or possibly an inoffensive smell such as Lacoste's Essential or Boss in Motion.

For a really simple, but also very nice smelling, scent try Bois 1920's Vetiver Ambrato. Being so simple it is perfect for a beginner.

Find an online store that carries samples and buy a bunch of them. If you have time, research them a little so that you have some idea what you are supposed to be smelling. Also, you have to sample them correctly. Don't apply too much at one time, and you can also blow on the area that you sprayed so that the top notes don't cause problems with your appreciation of the drydown. Some fragrances take time, so give them 10 minutes or so. Don't assume it's "super weak" and apply more until you give it at least 20 minutes. Don't fixate on smelling right after you apply, just forget about it for a while and let the smell come to you. And never put your nose right up against the area you sprayed, because that is not how it was designed to be experienced, and also may give you a headache. Lastly, don't be surprised if your tastes change over time, so don't buy a dozen big bottles of something you think you will want to wear every day, for the rest of your life.

Really big help. Thank you so much!

you may find lot of familiar notes in scents of Gourmand nature...for eg.

Rochas Man(chocolate, vanilla, coffee, lavender and citrus elements)
Thierry Mugler A*Men / Angel Men: citrus, lavender, cofee, patchouli, chocolate, caramel, mint..
Montale Black Aoud: Rose, Leather, Patchouli, Oudh

the three scents mentioned above has some or the other notes which are common to each other...this way it is easier to identify what patchouli smells like...