i'm 27 and i feel like i've def moved into the late 20's bracket, but when i was 24 and even now i think i always gravitated towards what you've initially described. when i think of "very masculine" in terms of fragrances i think:
- variations on wood, whether they be spicy or dry or airy aromatic
- variations on leather, again, whether they be spicy or dry or airy aromatic
- 70's/80's powerhouse - which is basically throwing in the kitchen sink or every variation of "oriental" you can think of
that being said, you said you don't enjoy citrus or powder. someone mentioned Dior Homme - don't do it. you'll hate it. it works on some guys' chemistry, i've witnessed it (smelled?) for myself, but on most that powdery iris ends up like smelling like old lady hair spray. same for a lot of the male Prada offerings.
i like the nostalgia factor of a lot of the early 90's mentions like Eternity and the powerhouse Azzaro Pour Homme - but i feel like they are def dated. i own both, but when i wear them, it's purely for my own enjoyment - Eternity has illicited comments like "you smell like middle school" and APH has gotten "you smell like a used car salesman in the 70's."
on a more positive note, Platinum Egoiste has garnered many compliments and with a light application smells fantastic and doesn't have that same dated feeling as Eternity, Carolina Herrera, etc. i don't know what it is, but Chanel nails that aromatic, fresh, wood thing perfectly. it's an anytime scent too. i can see it worn with a tux or t-shirt and jeans. it's the right lightness but also the right heaviness. i literally only have to spray it once and its enough.
that being said, you said u want the ladies to enjoy this scent as much as you do, so my recc is CDG Kyoto. it's a super clean (which hits the modern thing) with dry wood and smokey incense (the masc you're looking for) combo. i've received nothing but compliments on this scent. there aren't a lot of mainstream/mall scents out there with this composition currently since the masses are demanding more of a Chanel Bleu feel, so you'll stand out too. it's different but is still understandable.
