Hi all,
I'm looking for tips on scents I should try. Feel free to have a look at my wardrobe to see which fragrance I have and owned and the rating I gave them. I'll also give a little word on my favourites to guide you somewhat further.
I'm looking for "for him" scents mostly. It may be a mainstream brand but I would definitely also would appreciate some tips on more niche brands (or whatever you call it). Now I guess that won't be that easy since (at least to my impression) niche brands offer more unisex scents. Yet again, there are many niche brands, so I guess at least some could be recommendable.
A little word on my favourites (in no particular order):
Adolfo Dominguez Vetiver Hombre
Not overly complicated yet not shallow either. I like the mixture of pepper and citrus on the top with the rather subtle wooden base. Gives it this very soapy freshness.
Tommy Hilfiger True Star for Men
Wow. I love this scent. It's hard to describe it if you don't know what you're looking for. It made me think of a clothes store the first time I smelt it. It has a bit of a fresh soapy nature to it. But it's also woody, fruity...and all balanced so well. Liquorice, but not too much, a perfect mix of wood and vanilla at the base, grapefruit and wet notes at the top (admittedly, I checked the basenotes page
)... This is the scent I grab for when I'm clueless on what to put on (I don't really have a signature scent). Now you can take this negatively (no character) yet that's not the case. This fragrance has character for me, it's quite complicated due to its subtle balance and it suits any day of the year. Sweet, but undoubtedly for him.
Sonia Rykiel Man
This I would list as my top favourite fragrance as complexity goes. Yet I don't wear it that often (maybe the complexity is just the reason). I only wear it when I go clubbing. It's quite an aggressive smell at first. It smells like a cheap synthetic after shave on the first spray which never really goes away completely. I guess that is the reason why I wouldn't wear it with a suit, because that would seem to underline that part of the fragrance too much.
On drying down, the after shave scent softens and gives way for a subtle complexity. Very synthetic and...well, bloody manly! The name couldn't have been picked better. It has a soapy scent to it and some wood, but it doesn't smell too old or stuffy. Once the "cheap after shave"-note tones down, it doesn't really remind me of anything I have smelled before yet it doesn't seem to be overly far-fetched at all, which makes it such nice scent.
Ralph Lauren Romance Silver Men
This must be the more stuffy fragrance in my favourites, yet it has been stripped of its base somehow (which I think is good). It's hard to describe. It reminds me of Gucci (I think the original) and Tom Ford's Oud Wood but without the overly woody base that makes me think of old men in suits smoking cigars and drinking whiskey. It's spicy alright, and woody, but a good hinch of citrus lifts the scent up.
Thierry Mugler Cologne
Fresh and soapy... I like the feminine touch that doesn't turn it away from smelling quite masculine. It's quite a simple fragrance to me, so there's few I can say about it. It's up there with True Star for me. Uncomplicated yet not shallow. Wearable on every occasion and time of the year.
Estée Lauder Beyond Paradise for Men
This is undoubtedly the freshest and most soapy fragrance in my collection. I've noticed it's not getting good reviews here on BN. It's a love or hate fragrance it seems. I loved it immediately. It pushes the boundaries of sweet for him fragrances. I love the melon and the wet notes. Suited for a spring day or summer night for me. Very informal.
Guerlain L'Instant d'un Eté pour Homme
The last review in the BN directory describes this scent as truly masculine... I don't completely agree. Now there is a reason for that. I girly friend of mine has a Calvin Klein fragrance which smells very resembling. Since then, I almost never wore it although I love the soapy and fresh character which makes for an ideal summer scent.
Emporio Armani White
If I ever would have known they would discontinue this one... Sweet, soapy, fresh... the new edition has this scent I dislike since a couple of years (I find it back in huge quantities in 212, quite heavy in Kenzo Jungle and less obvious but still very present in CK Truth...it's really strange, because I used to put on all these perfumes quite regularly but suddenly, one day, there was this one scent that came through and supressed all other scents... since then I really dislike fragrances which have this thing in it...can't say what it is, unfortunately). Anyway, the original Armani White is godlike.
Rykiel Homme
This one made me think of Fahrenheit, yet less strong and with a more soapy fresh twist. I can't find it anymore at local stores, unfortunately.
In conclusion, I guess I'm looking for fragrances that are soapy, fresh, fruity... but masculine. Wood only when subtle. Wet notes are alright as long as I don't feel like I'm all alone on a raft in the middle of the South Pacific.
Maybe you can see some other similar features I haven't noticed... In any case, I'm ready for your advice.
Many advanced thanks!
I'm looking for tips on scents I should try. Feel free to have a look at my wardrobe to see which fragrance I have and owned and the rating I gave them. I'll also give a little word on my favourites to guide you somewhat further.
I'm looking for "for him" scents mostly. It may be a mainstream brand but I would definitely also would appreciate some tips on more niche brands (or whatever you call it). Now I guess that won't be that easy since (at least to my impression) niche brands offer more unisex scents. Yet again, there are many niche brands, so I guess at least some could be recommendable.
A little word on my favourites (in no particular order):
Adolfo Dominguez Vetiver Hombre
Not overly complicated yet not shallow either. I like the mixture of pepper and citrus on the top with the rather subtle wooden base. Gives it this very soapy freshness.
Tommy Hilfiger True Star for Men
Wow. I love this scent. It's hard to describe it if you don't know what you're looking for. It made me think of a clothes store the first time I smelt it. It has a bit of a fresh soapy nature to it. But it's also woody, fruity...and all balanced so well. Liquorice, but not too much, a perfect mix of wood and vanilla at the base, grapefruit and wet notes at the top (admittedly, I checked the basenotes page
)... This is the scent I grab for when I'm clueless on what to put on (I don't really have a signature scent). Now you can take this negatively (no character) yet that's not the case. This fragrance has character for me, it's quite complicated due to its subtle balance and it suits any day of the year. Sweet, but undoubtedly for him.Sonia Rykiel Man
This I would list as my top favourite fragrance as complexity goes. Yet I don't wear it that often (maybe the complexity is just the reason). I only wear it when I go clubbing. It's quite an aggressive smell at first. It smells like a cheap synthetic after shave on the first spray which never really goes away completely. I guess that is the reason why I wouldn't wear it with a suit, because that would seem to underline that part of the fragrance too much.
On drying down, the after shave scent softens and gives way for a subtle complexity. Very synthetic and...well, bloody manly! The name couldn't have been picked better. It has a soapy scent to it and some wood, but it doesn't smell too old or stuffy. Once the "cheap after shave"-note tones down, it doesn't really remind me of anything I have smelled before yet it doesn't seem to be overly far-fetched at all, which makes it such nice scent.
Ralph Lauren Romance Silver Men
This must be the more stuffy fragrance in my favourites, yet it has been stripped of its base somehow (which I think is good). It's hard to describe. It reminds me of Gucci (I think the original) and Tom Ford's Oud Wood but without the overly woody base that makes me think of old men in suits smoking cigars and drinking whiskey. It's spicy alright, and woody, but a good hinch of citrus lifts the scent up.
Thierry Mugler Cologne
Fresh and soapy... I like the feminine touch that doesn't turn it away from smelling quite masculine. It's quite a simple fragrance to me, so there's few I can say about it. It's up there with True Star for me. Uncomplicated yet not shallow. Wearable on every occasion and time of the year.
Estée Lauder Beyond Paradise for Men
This is undoubtedly the freshest and most soapy fragrance in my collection. I've noticed it's not getting good reviews here on BN. It's a love or hate fragrance it seems. I loved it immediately. It pushes the boundaries of sweet for him fragrances. I love the melon and the wet notes. Suited for a spring day or summer night for me. Very informal.
Guerlain L'Instant d'un Eté pour Homme
The last review in the BN directory describes this scent as truly masculine... I don't completely agree. Now there is a reason for that. I girly friend of mine has a Calvin Klein fragrance which smells very resembling. Since then, I almost never wore it although I love the soapy and fresh character which makes for an ideal summer scent.
Emporio Armani White
If I ever would have known they would discontinue this one... Sweet, soapy, fresh... the new edition has this scent I dislike since a couple of years (I find it back in huge quantities in 212, quite heavy in Kenzo Jungle and less obvious but still very present in CK Truth...it's really strange, because I used to put on all these perfumes quite regularly but suddenly, one day, there was this one scent that came through and supressed all other scents... since then I really dislike fragrances which have this thing in it...can't say what it is, unfortunately). Anyway, the original Armani White is godlike.
Rykiel Homme
This one made me think of Fahrenheit, yet less strong and with a more soapy fresh twist. I can't find it anymore at local stores, unfortunately.
In conclusion, I guess I'm looking for fragrances that are soapy, fresh, fruity... but masculine. Wood only when subtle. Wet notes are alright as long as I don't feel like I'm all alone on a raft in the middle of the South Pacific.
Maybe you can see some other similar features I haven't noticed... In any case, I'm ready for your advice.
Many advanced thanks!
Keep 'm coming 
