Newbie looking for advice

Hi Internet.

My very first post on this forum.

First something about myself. I am a 26 yo university student and in a trainee position at a relatively large corporation. My wardrobe contains of mainly youthfull but still elegant and sophisticated clothes.

Due to my age(I look younger than what I am) and my job I need to use a fragrance that is subtle and not too overwhelming. But then again, I want it to be uncommon and to receive compliments which I currently don't get that often.

I am fairly new in speaking of fragrances and therefore would like to get some help from the experts of this forum.

Currently I have only one scent that I use, L'Homme by YvesSaintLaurent. I suppose this is a scent mainly for colder weathers and not for spring/summer. I really do like L'Homme but it's longetivity is contemptible.

My big question for you guys is following.

What would be the top 5 fragrances that you would recommend for a person like me to wear on spring/summer?

These are the fragrances that I have recently tried and like / have heard they are good:

La Nuit De L'Homme by YvesSaintLaurent (propably going to purchase for fall/winter)
L'Homme by YvesSaintLaurent
Code by Armani
Dior Homme by Christian Dior (Never tried)
Gucci Pour Homme by Gucci (Never tried)

Also Tom Ford's Black Orchid Voile de Fleur has been recommended to me previously. What are your thoughts on this one?

I have done some research here on Basenotes but so many recommends different products and that makes it nearly impossible for me to choose from as most of those scents aren't available in Finland and buying them online without any experience is a big risk.

Lastly, what is the best place to look for samplers?

Big thanks in advance and happy easter to everyone!

Thank you for your reply Le Grand Duc.

Those are hard to find in Finland.

I've made an huge list of fragrances I'm interested of a few months earlier. These are not only for spring but also for colder weather and they are all more or less there based on the reviews here.

Gucci Pour Homme by Gucci
Gucci Pour Homme II by Gucci
Envy For Men by Gucci

Fahrenheit by Dior
Fahrenheit 32 by Dior
Dior Homme by Dior
Eau Savage by Dior

Acqua Di Gio by Armani
Armani Attitude by Armani
Armani Attitude Extreme by Armani
Code by Armani

M7 by YSL
Rive Gauche Pour Homme by YSL
YSL Pour Homme by YSL
YSL Pour Homme Haute Concentration by YSL
L'Homme by YSL
La Nuit De L'Homme by YSL
Kouros by YSL

Allure Homme by Chanel
Allure Homme Sport by Chanel
Égoïste by Chanel
Platinum Égoïste by Chanel
Antaeus by Chanel
Chanel Pour Monsieur by Chanel
Chanel Pour Monsieur Concentrade by Chanel

Black Orchid Voile de Fleur by Tom Ford
PI by Givenchy
L'eau D'issey Pour Homme by Issey Miyake
Vetiver by Guerlain
John Varvatos by John Varvatos
A*Men / Angel Men by Thierry Mugler
Bulgari Black by Bulgari

Any samples of these available somewhere? Especially Dior Homme, Chanel's and Tom Ford's.


My problem indeed. Fragrances can always be bought online but testing is more complicated.

Thank you adonis.

Black Orchid is propably too dark for my taste. What I meant was the Voile de Fleur version. Sorry about that.

Personally I disliked Dior Homme Sport.

No worries I had no idea I was a member until today. Must have been one of those nights....

Thanks Effluve!

Yeah I have heard it's good but not quite sure if it will suit me. Have to try it when I have the time for it.

Hah too bad that picture is so small...

Update.

Purchased some samples last night from The Permuded Court and The English Scent. Thanks Effluve, Le Grand Duc and Adonis for your ideas.

The English Scent

Arlington - D. R. Harris
Oxford & Cambridge - Czech & Speake
Wellington - Geo F. Trumper
Eau De Portugal - Geo F. Trumper

The Perfumed Court

Dior Homme 1.5ml
Dior Eau Savage 1.5ml
Chanel Pour Monsieur 1.5ml
Davidoff Cool Water 1.5ml
YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme 1.5ml
Armani Acqua Di Gio 1.5ml
Tom Ford Black Orchid Voile de Fleur 1.5ml

Hopefully one of those will be good...

And thanks, Adonis, I will go and check out those L'Occitane scents.

Just received 4 samples:

Chanel Pour Monsieur 1.5ml
YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme 1.5ml
Armani Acqua Di Gio 1.5ml
Tom Ford Black Orchid Voile de Fleur 1.5ml

After testing three of them, ADG, chanel and Tom Ford, my feelings are quite mixed.

Tom Ford is still giving me a headache, even though I have a flu and cant's smell much. edit. After about 1½ hours it's much better. Almost like vanilla, am I absolutely wrong here? However, I would have to spray this on hour before leaving the house so it's quite difficult.

ADG seems okay but I don't really understand all that hype around it. I can barely smell it after 20 mins.

Chanel..80 year old gentleman would possibly wear this, not me.

Hopefully YSL saves me again. Edit. Did not. My first thought was that it smells like soap. Have to wait a few hours and see if it changes.

Sh*t, seems like I have made an awfully bad purchase

I have to take back some of my previous words.

Tom Ford Voile de Fleur: Top notes are strong but base notes are quite the contrary. I really like this after a couple of hours. Might be even better as it gets warmer outside. Max 1-2 sprays.

Chanel Pour Monsieur: This has the same problem as de Fleur - don't like the top notes but base notes are better. This smells something James Bond could have worn in the 60s. I like it but not sure if it suits me without a suit.

YSL Rive Gauche: Quite mixed feelings at the beginning, again. However as it has now been 6 hours since spraying it once on my wrist I kinda like it. Seems like a good choice for the office during summer. Might even buy one as it is cheap.

Armani Acqua di Gio: Very popular but to be honest I have never even noticed anyone using this. Weird huh? I like it but longetivity is a big issue here.

So based on the first day I could see myself buying Voile de Fleur, Rive Gauche and Acqua di Gio.

I'm still waiting for:

Dior Homme 1.5ml
Dior Eau Savage 1.5ml
Davidoff Cool Water 1.5ml
Arlington - D. R. Harris
Oxford & Cambridge - Czech & Speake
Wellington - Geo F. Trumper
Eau De Portugal - Geo F. Trumper

I have a feeling I might have to buy something else soon...

Update again:

Got the rest of my samples today and a bunch of extra for free. Thank you English Scent.

Tested Dior Homme and Davidoff Cool Water today and really liked both. Cool water would be quite ideal after gym on a hot day. Loved Dior Homme.

Oh I'm going to spend way too much money soon