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Your favorite all-season, all-occasion designer?

post #1 of 57
9/7/12 at 4:16am
Thread Starter 
What the title says, basically.

I need to recommend a good frag for a buddy of mine who has none. He doesn't have the money to get more than one, so he wants something that'll work for most situations.

He's not really the type of guy who will wear cologne every day, but something that's not entirely unwearable in a work environment would probably be good. He'll probably mostly wear it on dates, special occasions etc. though.

Got any ideas?
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post #2 of 57
9/7/12 at 4:19am
Mugler Cologne. Can be used anytime, anywhere. It is also cheap.
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post #3 of 57
9/7/12 at 4:20am
Bleu de Chanel, Platinum Egoiste and Ysl L'homme.
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post #4 of 57
9/7/12 at 4:22am
Cartier Declaration.
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post #5 of 57
9/7/12 at 4:39am
Monsieur de Givenchy by Givenchy
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post #6 of 57
9/7/12 at 5:07am
Was gonna say Infusion d'homme but i guess Bleu de Chanel would probably fit more what your friend is looking for.
Dolce & Gabbana The One for Men would fit it as well, it does share a similar structure with many other fragrances tho.
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post #7 of 57
9/7/12 at 5:20am
  • rum
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Without a doubt, hint or even a blink of thinking about anything else, Terre d' Hermes EdT. My signature fragrance, till death us do part.
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post #8 of 57
9/7/12 at 5:30am
All the very suggestions had been mentioned. I will support Terre d'Hermes and Bleu de Chanel. Declaration is nice too!
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post #9 of 57
9/7/12 at 7:22am
Christian Dior - Fahrenheit.
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post #10 of 57
9/7/12 at 7:25am
Chanel- Egoiste
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post #11 of 57
9/7/12 at 7:29am
Hard to choose but I'll go with Egoiste also.
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post #12 of 57
9/7/12 at 7:33am
Rive Gauche
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post #13 of 57
9/7/12 at 7:37am
Mugler Cologne, Prada Amber Pour Homme and YSL L'Homme would fit the all season, any occasion criteria.
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post #14 of 57
9/7/12 at 7:50am
+1 on YSL L'Homme. It's a likeable, classy scent that would work equally well at the office as on a more special occasion. I personally wouldn't say the same for something like Mugler Cologne, which smells incredible but doesn't have that "date night" quality.

Bleu de Chanel would be another good choice for these criteria.

And one more I'd like to mention is Versace Pour Homme (the bottle with the medallion on the front). It might not be quite as all-season as the other two, though.

(EDIT: Prada Amber is a good one, too)
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post #15 of 57
9/7/12 at 7:55am
not my favourite but good choice for "beginner" in fragrances would be Armani Black Code
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post #16 of 57
9/7/12 at 7:56am
Another vote for Rive Gauche.
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post #17 of 57
9/7/12 at 8:06am
Burberry Touch works for me in all seasons and can be worn out and to work. Still a favourite of mine.
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post #18 of 57
9/7/12 at 8:11am
I find Hugo Boss' 'Bottled Boss' is a great all rounder. I've received many compliments, and all its notes are suited to all seasons.
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post #19 of 57
9/7/12 at 9:02am
Gucci Pour Homme II is a good anytime and anywhere frag.
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post #20 of 57
9/7/12 at 10:06am
I'll second the Gucci Pour Homme II recommendation. You also can't go wrong with TdH.
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post #21 of 57
9/7/12 at 10:25am
...Héritage...!
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post #22 of 57
9/7/12 at 10:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rum View Post

Without a doubt, hint or even a blink of thinking about anything else, Terre d' Hermes EdT. My signature fragrance, till death us do part.

This. (Actually I would go with the Parfum, but either would be A+).

Otherwise, these would be good:
Mugler Cologne
D&G The One
Gucci Pour Homme II
Versace Man (If can still get your hands on a bottle)
Annick Goutal Les Nuits D'Hadrien (Eau d'Hadrien also nice, but more light and summery)
Tom Ford Grey Vetiver
Guerlain Vetiver
Tom Ford For Men
Chanel Sycomore
Penhaligon Eau Sans Pareil
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post #23 of 57
9/7/12 at 10:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Hunter View Post

Gucci Pour Homme II is a good anytime and anywhere frag.

A big enthusiastic +1.
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post #24 of 57
9/7/12 at 11:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by starshipvelcro View Post

Rive Gauche

+1 Exactly !
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post #25 of 57
9/7/12 at 11:39am
+5 or 6 or something for Mugler Cologne...great frag, great price, great for any occasion.
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post #26 of 57
9/7/12 at 12:50pm
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Dior Homme yet. Top of my list. I can wear it any time, in whatever situation. After that I'll add another vote for Terre d'Hermes, which is wonderfully versatile, and even Egoïste, indeed.
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post #27 of 57
9/7/12 at 1:08pm
BleudeChanel or Versace Pour Homme!
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post #28 of 57
9/7/12 at 1:24pm
Yatagan!
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post #29 of 57
9/7/12 at 1:35pm
Ignoring the "designer / niche"-angle, I'd say the most versatile fragrances in my wardrobe are:

Gendarme - Gendarme
Gendarme - Grabazzi
MDCI Paris - Invasion Barbare
Creed - Green Irish Tweed
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post #30 of 57
9/7/12 at 1:45pm
  • KSG
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Rive Gauche
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post #31 of 57
9/7/12 at 1:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JyyskNotes View Post

Bleu de Chanel, Platinum Egoiste and Ysl L'homme.

I agree with Bleu and L'Homme. PE runs the risk over being overapplied rather easily, so not that one.
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post #32 of 57
9/7/12 at 2:02pm
Prada Amber on the designer side...
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post #33 of 57
9/7/12 at 2:25pm
mine is portrait of a lady people may disagree but i wear that everywere all the time
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post #34 of 57
9/7/12 at 5:08pm
I've tried many on this list and like a lot of them...can't argue with them. I'll just add a new one: Mont Blanc Legend. It seems like it would be a better "warm" scent, but I've worn it a few times when it's been pretty cool (as low as 50s), and it carries nicely.
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post #35 of 57
9/7/12 at 5:25pm
Dior Homme Intense, can use it any season basically
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post #36 of 57
9/7/12 at 5:44pm
Another for Rive Gauche
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post #37 of 57
9/7/12 at 5:44pm
  • KMF
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Rive Gauche PH
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post #38 of 57
9/7/12 at 5:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by calilove View Post

mine is portrait of a lady people may disagree but i wear that everywere all the time

No disagreement here... It is always an excellent time to wear that one.
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post #39 of 57
9/7/12 at 6:19pm
Although I disagree that DHI is an all year fragrance. I do use it all year myself and it is my signature.
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post #40 of 57
9/7/12 at 8:18pm
Voyage D'Hermes.
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post #41 of 57
9/7/12 at 8:45pm
Although many people may not agree, I use Fahrenheit anytime. If it's 90 degrees, I just use one spray.
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post #42 of 57
9/8/12 at 2:29am
Tell him to give this ↓↓↓ a try:

L'Essence de Cerruti by Cerruti - One is initially treated to an invigorating bergamot, with its orangey bittersweetness and peppery facets. The freshness of the bergamot commingles with the compost-like and ever-so-slight barnyard aspects of white pepper. Segueing to the middle, the mintiness of birch encases the fresh opening, and infuses its wintergreen sweetness. A raw and somewhat phenolic leather wafts in the background along with the hay-like character of saffron. Transitioning to the comforting base, a creamy cedar infuses its resinous and camphoraceous woodiness, along with the sweetly vanillic and faintly earthy quality of amber. A sensual, fur/skin-like and warm musk also presents. An alluring drydown ensues. This masculine composition is well blended, and has good longevity, 8+ hours, and average projection, being light enough for an office scent. Given its very reasonable, price point, this versatile and somewhat elegant composition is worthy of purchase.
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post #43 of 57
9/8/12 at 9:44am
Thread Starter 
Took him to the store today and he ended up choosing Bleu de Chanel. I think all your other suggestions may have turned him into a total fraghead though, he was browsing for almost an hour and also loved Dior Homme, D&G The One and YSL L'Homme.

Thanks for the awesome suggestions guys! And, dollars&scents, your description of that Cerruti made me want to try it for myself, it sounds great!
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post #44 of 57
9/8/12 at 10:34am
Esencia Loewe. But it's definitely not for beginners...

Edit: Glad to know he found one. Bleu's not a bad choice, very safe and versatile. Maybe he could try Pour Monsieur next...
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post #45 of 57
9/8/12 at 10:39am
If he loved it, have him go back and get Dior Homme soon! It stands apart from the crowd (which Bleu does not, so much) while still being very likable and versatile.
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post #46 of 57
10/11/12 at 9:51pm
I've recently come to the conclusion that if you alter the application of any cologne for different occasions you can get away with wearing anything, anywhere, and that's marketed to any age. If you wanted to you could even wear something like Obsession for men to the beach, but you'd need to tone it down to just one spray (and walk into the fragrance instead of applying it directly). Keeping with CK Obsession as an example, on a date you could wear it a bit more agressively (seeing it's strong, 2 sprays of obsession would be an aggressive application) because it is usually thought of as being more acceptable in a date context.

Tell your friend to have fun, buy what he enjoys, just apply REALLY subtly for occasions where his cologne seems less appropriate, and apply normally for occasions that suit the fragrance.
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post #47 of 57
10/11/12 at 10:54pm
Tiffany for Men
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post #48 of 57
10/11/12 at 11:54pm
Dior Homme. It's my go to fragrance for everyday wear.
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post #49 of 57
10/12/12 at 12:00am
Designer?????

Probably....... Bvlgari Black
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post #50 of 57
10/12/12 at 9:02am
+++ on TDH & Rive Gauche

My personal all-season, all-occasion designer has to be Chanel Allure Homme Sport eau Extreme, however. I literally can't think of a season or situation this wouldn't work in for me.
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post #51 of 57
10/12/12 at 10:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by classicrock View Post

I've recently come to the conclusion that if you alter the application of any cologne for different occasions you can get away with wearing anything, anywhere, and that's marketed to any age. If you wanted to you could even wear something like Obsession for men to the beach, but you'd need to tone it down to just one spray (and walk into the fragrance instead of applying it directly). Keeping with CK Obsession as an example, on a date you could wear it a bit more agressively (seeing it's strong, 2 sprays of obsession would be an aggressive application) because it is usually thought of as being more acceptable in a date context.

Tell your friend to have fun, buy what he enjoys, just apply REALLY subtly for occasions where his cologne seems less appropriate, and apply normally for occasions that suit the fragrance.

Solid advice!
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post #52 of 57
10/12/12 at 11:29am
I was going to suggest Egoiste, but it does NOT last and project very well in the warm seasons.

I was also going to suggest Dior Homme EDT, but its iris note does not develop very well in the warmer seasons.

One of my favorite fragrances that I've worn and actually develop well on both warm and cold seasons is Kenzo Power EDT.
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post #53 of 57
10/12/12 at 11:45am
I like a lot of these suggestions, but many aren't safe scents.
I would also recommend that you take your friend down to Macy's and have him spray a little.

If that's not an option, here are some safe scents that many people like (mind you, this is coming from a 20 year old college student, if that makes any difference):
-Boss Bottled - Known here as one of the most versatile fragrance. I own a bottle and can tell you, of the 40 bottles I own, this will be the first that I finish
-YSL - L'Homme: Amazing fragrance. I can see how it can be classified as feminine, so be careful (also, it may not be much of a winter fragrance, as it struggles enough in the summer).
-Lacoste PH - I've said before, and I'll say it again, this is Boss Bottles sophisticated brother. They do not smell the same, but they fall under the same versatile, all around category.
-Dior Homme Sport 2012 - I just got this one and I'm still testing it out. I do think this is one of the few sports that would work well in the winter
-Bleu De Chanel - Working on acquiring a bottle, wonderful fragrance!
-Ed Hardy Love and Luck - Cheap and smells great, if he is not really "into fragrance" he will probably like this one
-I would recommend L'Eau D'Issey, since most guys love this stuff, but I can not. I have tried their summer 2009 and the original, something about it simply doesn't sit right with me.
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post #54 of 57
10/12/12 at 2:33pm
another vote for Egoiste (not the Platinum)
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post #55 of 57
10/12/12 at 6:55pm
Terre D'Hermes & Chanel Sycomore

suitable for all season and occasions
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post #56 of 57
10/14/12 at 2:03pm
Chanel allure
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post #57 of 57
10/14/12 at 2:15pm
Rive Gauche & Infusion D'Homme
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