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Unabashedly, boldly, in-your-face masculine fragrance? Any recommendations?

post #1 of 77
9/24/12 at 11:41am
Thread Starter 
I'm not convinced that masculine/feminine/unisex fragrance distinctions have much validity beyond the changing cultural contexts in which they play themselves out. I'm certainly smelling many a fragrance deemed "unisex" that I adore, and have purchased a couple of them. I can't really see (intellectually) why rose smells "feminine" and cedar smells "masculine", apart from my learned expectations that women should smell flowery and men woodsy.

But, setting all that 21st Century, Post-modern relativism aside... ;-)

...just for interest's sake, I'd like to test some completely "masculine" fragrances--hard-core, manly-man fragrances that no woman in her sane and balanced feminine mind would ever dream of wearing unless she was doing a drag king performance. Something that will frighten small children and make their mothers scowl at me. Something that will "put hair on my (already hairy) chest". Something that verges on being a caricature of what a "masculine" fragrance smells like.

Any suggestions, O Worthies of the Invisible College?
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post #2 of 77
9/24/12 at 11:46am
You cannot talk about masculine frags without mentioning KOUROS.

Other bad ass, hairy chest, oily motorcycle, Marlboro smoking,
mister man - as in no bloody ma'am - frags incl.:

Antaeus de Chanel
Original Aramis
Fahrenheit (preferably vintage)
Salvador Dali pour Homme
Versailles pour Homme
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post #3 of 77
9/24/12 at 11:49am
G Man by Gainsoboro
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post #4 of 77
9/24/12 at 11:51am
Oh, and Ken's presence reminded me of another one:

Armani Eau pour Homme
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post #5 of 77
9/24/12 at 11:56am
MFK Absolue pour lke Soir.

Nasomatto Black Afgano.
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post #6 of 77
9/24/12 at 11:58am
Is Fahrenheit Absolue pretty manly or? I must check out the ones mentioned.
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post #7 of 77
9/24/12 at 12:01pm
So called 1980's powerbomb fragrances, look for them in the Powerbomb Group.

I must add that pre reformulated versions are better still more powerful than their actual versions. Please, don't misunderstand me: it is not my intention to force you to involve yourself with the hassle of having to dedicate time as well as a hefty amount of money in order to get these. Be aware that some of these "powerbombs" are still pretty bold - Kouros, Lapidus pour Hommme, Salvador Dali pour Homme - while others have been, according to a dear BaseNoter, emasculated: Antaeus, Bijan, and as to my experience, Quorum.
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post #8 of 77
9/24/12 at 12:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kalli View Post

Is Fahrenheit Absolue pretty manly or? I must check out the ones mentioned.

Nope! FA is almost feminine!
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post #9 of 77
9/24/12 at 12:02pm
Fahrenheit. I don't think petrol can smell anything but masculine.
Rive Gauche maybe.
Question: To those who mentioned Salvador Dali Pour Homme, is this the lovely dimpled bottle frag (which I have) or the "lips" bottle?
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post #10 of 77
9/24/12 at 12:03pm
That's what I figured, thanks. Maybe a better one for me.
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post #11 of 77
9/24/12 at 12:15pm
Here are some...

Macassar
Xerjoff Homme
Quorum
Gianfranco Ferre For Man (the one from the 80s)
Worth Pour Homme
Jaguar Marc II
Bijan Men
Route Du Vetiver
Tuscany Per Uomo
Antaeus
Yatagan
Kouros
Eloge Du Traitre
Fiero
PdN New York
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post #12 of 77
9/24/12 at 12:16pm
Aramis will do the job.
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post #13 of 77
9/24/12 at 12:18pm
The same as in all the other threads in which people were enquiring about hyper-masculine and terrifyingly hairy scents (threads can be found in between the ones in which people enquired about scents that may be too worryingly feminine :-)

Most scents from the 70s and 80s I guess.
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post #14 of 77
9/24/12 at 12:20pm
Kanon Agarwood
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post #15 of 77
9/24/12 at 12:23pm
Lapidus Pour Homme
Giorgio of Beverly Hills
Oscar de La Rente Pour Lui
YSL Kouros
Chanel Antaues
Van Cleef & Arpel Pour Homme
Van Cleef & Arpel Tsar
Quorum Pour Homme
Dior Fahrenheit
Creed Bois du Portugal
Lagerfeld Classic (Vintage)
Davidoff Original
Zino Davidoff
Guerlain Heritage
Drakkar Noir

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:
Originally Posted by Le Grand Duc View Post

Nope! FA is almost feminine!

WHAT !??!

It's a darker oud verion of Fahrenheit, no petrol, but lots of oud and dark woody undertones.
Unisex scale for Fahrenheit Absolute: 0
Only a very daring woman can wear Fahrenheit Absolute.
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post #16 of 77
9/24/12 at 12:29pm
vintage Bijan for Men gets my vote
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post #17 of 77
9/24/12 at 12:35pm
Memoir Man
Epic Man
Black Aoud
others
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post #18 of 77
9/24/12 at 12:43pm
On top of the great suggestions already - Rien
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post #19 of 77
9/24/12 at 12:47pm
Gengis Khan
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post #20 of 77
9/24/12 at 12:51pm
Ralph Lauren Polo
Cartier Santos
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post #21 of 77
9/24/12 at 12:56pm
Don't forget Jules by Dior
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post #22 of 77
9/24/12 at 1:44pm
Sombre Negra by Yosh. WOW.
Fahrenheit Absolute.
Gucci Pour Homme 1 (2003)
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post #23 of 77
9/24/12 at 1:47pm
Thread Starter 
You are all superfabulous! I see I have weeks of manly fun ahead of me.
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post #24 of 77
9/24/12 at 1:50pm
Santa Maria Novella- Peau d'Espagne an in your face leather
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post #25 of 77
9/24/12 at 1:53pm
Tuscan Leather
Arabian Wood
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post #26 of 77
9/24/12 at 2:03pm
Balenciaga Pour Homme
Puig Sybaris
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post #27 of 77
9/24/12 at 3:18pm
The most 'barbershop' fragrances might be difficult for a woman to wear. And I can't imagine a woman wearing a very masculine spicebomb like Ho Hang.
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post #28 of 77
9/24/12 at 3:50pm
ARAMIS....BLACK AFGANO......RL CUSTOM RESERVE.....AZZARO POUR HOMME........NARCISSO RODRIGUES MUSC FOR HIM EDP............Plus, remember you'll get no love if you wear any of these, IMO.
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post #29 of 77
9/24/12 at 3:58pm
There are already many threads on this subject -- DAS.

That said, my vote is for Yatagan.
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post #30 of 77
9/24/12 at 4:23pm
Chanel Antaeus
Hermes Bel Ami
Creed Bois du Portugal
YSL Kouros
Nasomatto Duro
Amouage Memoir Man
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post #31 of 77
9/24/12 at 4:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by monkeybars View Post

there are already many threads on this subject -- das.

That said, my vote is for yatagan.

boom!!!
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post #32 of 77
9/24/12 at 6:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pegasus View Post

Chanel Antaeus
Hermes Bel Ami
Creed Bois du Portugal
YSL Kouros
Nasomatto Duro
Amouage Memoir Man

++1 BdP
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post #33 of 77
9/24/12 at 7:15pm
Kouros
Drakkar Noir
Caron pour un homme
Polo (green)
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post #34 of 77
9/24/12 at 8:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by impdaddee View Post

I can't really see (intellectually) why rose smells "feminine"

Of course you can't, some of the most iconic masculine perfumes are rose scents, like:

Van Cleef & Arpels for men
Zino Davidoff
Ungaro III
Iquitos A Delon
Ho Hang Club Cristobal Balenciaga
Polo (Green)
Aramis 900
Havana
Giorgio Beverly Hills for men
Knize Ten
Esencia
Jaguar for men
Tsar
Heritage
Safari
Marbert
Chevignon

and I can keep on and on.

But one of the most "Unabashedly, boldly, in-your-face masculine fragrance" is Sung Homme, and guess what, it is a rose scented perfume.
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post #35 of 77
9/24/12 at 8:30pm
One Man Show
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post #36 of 77
9/24/12 at 8:38pm
Clive Christian X
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post #37 of 77
9/24/12 at 10:24pm
Nope, I do wear New York, I'm sane and not a drag king :-)
And just bought Bel Ami (well, true, this one is quite masculine). I know women wearing Tuscan Leather. We do just wear anything.
Btw, what about
Bois d'orage by Malle?
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post #38 of 77
9/24/12 at 11:29pm
Aramis by Aramis
Epic Man by Amouage
Fahrenheit by Christian Dior
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post #39 of 77
9/24/12 at 11:31pm
Another one for Aramis.
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post #40 of 77
9/24/12 at 11:47pm
Azzaro Pour Homme
Rive Gauche Pour Homme
Kouros
Yatagan
Dark Aoud
Platinum Egoiste
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post #41 of 77
9/25/12 at 1:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CHSeifert View Post




WHAT !??!

It's a darker oud verion of Fahrenheit, no petrol, but lots of oud and dark woody undertones.
Unisex scale for Fahrenheit Absolute: 0
Only a very daring woman can wear Fahrenheit Absolute.

+1.
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post #42 of 77
9/25/12 at 8:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CHSeifert View Post

WHAT !??!

It's a darker oud verion of Fahrenheit, no petrol, but lots of oud and dark woody undertones.
Unisex scale for Fahrenheit Absolute: 0
Only a very daring woman can wear Fahrenheit Absolute.

Quote:
Originally Posted by freewheelingvagabond View Post

+1.

Come on , guys. I cannot be the only one who find
Fahrenheit Absolute somewhat feminine, can I?!
It's very sticky and sweet.
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post #43 of 77
9/25/12 at 9:25am
Agree with you on FA ,Duc and I think Epic Man isn't a very in your face frag.

My choice is Mazzolari Lui
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post #44 of 77
9/25/12 at 9:26am
To smell masculine vs. to smell feminine is the most individual and subjective thing. A fragrance that to somebody smells masculine can smell feminine to someone else. Personally, i find Macassar (the old formula that has no coconut in it) the most masculine fragrance i have ever smelled. It also smells cold and aloof to me but in a beautiful way.
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post #45 of 77
9/25/12 at 9:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ciprian View Post

Agree with you on FA, Duc.

Merci, monsieur!
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post #46 of 77
9/25/12 at 10:31am
Another vote for Aramis - this is like Charles Bronson in a bottle.

Also:
Knize Ten
Heritage
Paco Rabanne PH
Kouros
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post #47 of 77
9/25/12 at 10:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ciprian View Post


My choice is Mazzolari Lui

Terrific call!
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post #48 of 77
9/25/12 at 1:00pm
From your wardrobe I suggest Montale"s Dark Oud. Not from your drobe is Yatagon.
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post #49 of 77
9/25/12 at 1:41pm
Xerjoff Fiero
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post #50 of 77
9/25/12 at 1:54pm
Comme de garçon Man 2
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post #51 of 77
9/25/12 at 2:32pm
+1 Esencia Loewe


I tested this in duty free a month ago and one spritz sprouted on me a full Chia-pet like pelt of chest hairs while simultaneously singing every last whisker in my nose.
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post #52 of 77
9/25/12 at 2:44pm
Paco Robanne Pour Homme
Drakkar Noir
Fahrenheit and Fahrenheit Absolute
Kouros
Antaeus
Original Lagerfeld
Original Aramis
Polo (green bottle)
Tsar
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post #53 of 77
9/25/12 at 2:48pm
Yatagan was extremely masculine from what I remember. To the point where I can't imagine myself wearing that, it's more of sideshow fragrance than something I want to wear.
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post #54 of 77
9/25/12 at 3:01pm
French Lover is probably the most masculine I own.
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post #55 of 77
9/25/12 at 3:03pm
+Salvador Dali pH (yeah, the dark green bottle with the black lips cap), a deep floral cacophony with bite.

+Macassar, devoid of anything considered sweet...others: Trumper's Eucris, Francesco Smalto pH, the very first/original Burberry for Men, and Puig's Agua Brava for Men.
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post #56 of 77
9/25/12 at 3:30pm
Antaeus!
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post #57 of 77
9/25/12 at 4:32pm


=

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post #58 of 77
9/25/12 at 5:11pm
Another vote for each of Yatagan and VC&A pour Homme.
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post #59 of 77
9/25/12 at 6:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Le Grand Duc View Post

Come on , guys. I cannot be the only one who find
Fahrenheit Absolute somewhat feminine, can I?!
It's very sticky and sweet.

me too, very femme when smelled up close.
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post #60 of 77
9/25/12 at 6:31pm
Old spice because it's such an iconic masculine fragrance. Drakkar Noir is also something I can't see a woman ever wearing.
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