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New Purcahse Advice

post #1 of 49
1/10/13 at 12:32pm
Thread Starter 
I've done this a couple of times over the years and its time again. Despite my overwhelming desire to go niche, with the 3rd kiddo here I just can't pull the trigger. Right now I have dropped a lot of what I sampled and wore before and pretty much am wearing TdH a majority of the time with Burberry London mixed in with the cold weather. I have Light Blue PH and Gucci by Gucci PH in the medicine cabinet with no urge to wear them ever again. I sold or used everything else. Pretty sad. I do love my TdH though. So the question is if you walked into Macy's, Sephora, Saks, Nordstroms..whatever..what is the one designer fragrance you would recommend to a 42..almost 43..year old father of 3 attorney who is in a pretty conservative office? I still sneak out and sample everything on the market weekly but I'm at a loss these days.

Quickly...I'm a big woods person and haven't really found any gourmand that fits me.
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post #2 of 49
1/10/13 at 12:51pm
Have you samples all the Aramis offerings? Maybe something like Havana may be up your alley... Others to try that might appeal to you are Costume National Homme, and He Wood Rocky Mountain Wood and Potion both by DSquared2.
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post #3 of 49
1/10/13 at 1:01pm
Dior Eau Sauvage Parfum. Classy, good for your age range & would work well in your occupational field I believe.
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post #4 of 49
1/10/13 at 1:03pm
Drseid beat me to it. He Wood Rocky Mountain Wood.
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post #5 of 49
1/10/13 at 1:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by drseid View Post

Have you samples all the Aramis offerings? Maybe something like Havana may be up your alley... Others to try that might appeal to you are Costume National Homme, and He Wood Rocky Mountain Wood and Potion both by DSquared2.

The Aramis line has never appealed to me. I'll have to try CNH and the He Wood one. I've seen good comments on CNH..thanks!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sol invictus View Post

Dior Eau Sauvage Parfum. Classy, good for your age range & would work well in your occupational field I believe.

I'll revisit this. In the past when I tried this, it came off very "perfumey" or feminine on my skin. Some of these tend to do that but that was awhile back so I'll give it another test drive.
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post #6 of 49
1/10/13 at 1:09pm
Fahrenheit is one of my favorite designer fragrances. Also, Gucci Pour Homme II. I think that it's one of the best office/academic setting fragrances out there.
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post #7 of 49
1/10/13 at 1:44pm
Please try:
Costume National Scent Intense
Costume National Homme
A Men Pure Havane
Dior Homme Intense
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post #8 of 49
1/10/13 at 1:46pm
Hmmm...

Big woods person...

Shopping at Macy's, Sephora, Saks, Nordstroms...

May I suggest a shortlist to try out instead of just one fragrance?

Blu Mediterrano Cipresso di Toscana
Bulgari Man
Jack Black Silver Label EDP
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post #9 of 49
1/10/13 at 1:58pm
At Nordstrom -- Egoiste (not the Platinum version).
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post #10 of 49
1/10/13 at 2:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sol invictus View Post

Dior Eau Sauvage Parfum. Classy, good for your age range & would work well in your occupational field I believe.

Agree.
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post #11 of 49
1/10/13 at 3:04pm
of those stores, try:
Eau Savage
Terre D Hermes
Angel Men
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post #12 of 49
1/10/13 at 3:37pm
Dior homme sport, bleu de chanel, Tom ford grey vetiver
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post #13 of 49
1/10/13 at 3:42pm
Just ONE spray of Norne or Vikt
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post #14 of 49
1/10/13 at 3:46pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by noirdrakkar View Post

of those stores, try:
Eau Savage
Terre D Hermes
Angel Men

I wear TdH already.

I'll revisit Eau Savage

Thanks
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post #15 of 49
1/10/13 at 3:47pm
You could always take an inexpensive step (I know, it's a slippery slope once you get started) into niche and go with Tam Dao by Diptyque.

It's a lovely creamy wooden fragrance with just enough dryness to make it smell different, but not too much that it's inaccessible (pay attention, L'DDM!)

The price isn't too bad, either.
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post #16 of 49
1/10/13 at 3:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by xxsjxx1 View Post

Dior homme sport, bleu de chanel, Tom ford grey vetiver

I'll have to give Bleu a good wearing. The Dior Homme and Intense haven't been good for me but I'll try Sport. Thanks
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post #17 of 49
1/10/13 at 3:51pm
I will second Fahrenheit. I wear this several times per week, love the stuff! Really great for cool weather in my opinion too. But I'll be wearing it when it's hot as well.

Also the price is much higher, but damn if Chanel Egoiste isn't an awesome scent. I only just sampled it last weekend at Nordstrom and am looking for a better deal online.
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post #18 of 49
1/10/13 at 4:06pm
Don't know if you have a Bloomingdales near you, but if so, you might want to check out Yves St Laurent La Nuit de L'Homme Le Parfum. It does the woody thing pretty well. I think you might l like it. Some say the EDT version leans feminine, but the Le Parfum version does not.

I think Neiman Marcus sells Lalique Equus, which is a nice cedar type of scent you might like, although it is a little spicy.

Another possibility would be F Black by Ferragamo. It's a leathery, woody type of scent that might work for you.

If all else fails, Pomegranate Noir by Jo Malone might be an option. It's a little fruity but has a really icy pine-like drydown that is simply wonderful. Don't be put off by the unisex label; it's really good.

I think all of these would be fine for the office.

Hope this helps.
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post #19 of 49
1/10/13 at 4:17pm
At Macy's Aqua Fahrenheit.
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post #20 of 49
1/10/13 at 4:25pm


Sounds like you're looking for CdG Wonderwood.
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post #21 of 49
1/10/13 at 4:41pm
How about the Bulgari line?
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post #22 of 49
1/10/13 at 5:21pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone...keep them coming. As for some of the suggestions..I'll look at Aqua Fahrenheit vs Fahrenheit. I wore Fahrenheit in the early 90s and I don't think the new version does it justice...too much gasoline. But last time I tried Aqua it was a muted version of what I remember the classic to be.

Buzzley, I'm not far from the Magnificent Mile so I have access to any Dept store. I'd like LaNuit if it was less feminine. So far that whole L'Homme group has gone on a little powdery on me.

I'll have to revisit Egoiste, try Wonderwood and look at these others.

I've tried a many things but I always go back and some surprise. That is how I fell in love with TdH. Had to revisit.

Bulgari Aqua was a fave but fell off that wagon. I always liked Bulgari PH Soir so I might have to look at that again.

Thanks again
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post #23 of 49
1/10/13 at 7:40pm
You are a perfect candidate for Cartier Roadster. It is a very fine woody scent with a lovely base. And the quality just oozes from it.
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post #24 of 49
1/10/13 at 8:38pm
Too bad you don't like the Aramis line because the price quality ratio is really good for the brand. Aramis 900 is an excellent resinous patch, for instance. I second Egoiste, smooth sandalwoody with a touch of fruits, or the companion Antaeus, spicy.

cacio
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post #25 of 49
1/10/13 at 8:43pm
At Sephora I've been loving Bulgari Pour Homme Soir (edit: already suggested I see. Good suggestion).

Also, if you love TdH, can't go wrong with Cartier Declaration, but I'm sure you knew that.
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post #26 of 49
1/11/13 at 2:22am
Kenzo Power might be worth a shot - as well as Kenzo Bois. Power is nice on the balsa wood - check it out.
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post #27 of 49
1/11/13 at 2:34am
I too would suggest F*Black by Ferragamo.*I looked at this one for well over a year and recently bought a small bottle really cheap. Wore it today and really enjoyed it. Got complements on it too. An overlooked affordable gem.
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post #28 of 49
1/11/13 at 2:46am
I feel like I somewhat know your tastes ToughCool.

I'd recommend checking out Kenzo Boisee, a nice vetiver/mint/peppery scent. Also, if you can find a sample of it (you can get them cheap on ebay, if nothing else) please check out 7 de Loewe. It's an awesome incense/vetiver/cedar scent with a touch of rose, orange blossom and red apple. As masculine and unique as TdH (and also has a lot of iso e super in it, along with a similar vetiver note), but a bit more 'lively'. It's such an amazing scent, and I will never understand how it didn't become one of BNs darlings as it checks all those boxes.

- - - Updated - - -

Also, give CK Encounter a sniff - preferably a sample wearing (and if you do, please wear only the Encounter as it is subtle and would likely get overpowered if you sampled other scents on skin at the same time.) I know a lot of people knock this scent but again I can't understand why. It's a nice boozy, spicy floral with hints of oud. It does have some clean and fresh notes, and in that sense it's a bit like Bleu (although Bleu is more shave cream clean, whereas Encounter is more 'deodorant clean') but I find them to actually be cleverly juxtaposed against the florals and oud. The boozy factor may make it a no-go in the office, and I think you might find it a bit too floral, but then again, maybe not. To me, it serves as a great all purpose scent and I find it fits my character better than Bleu does.
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post #29 of 49
1/11/13 at 4:10am
Adding a few to the mix:
Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme I was initially put off by the mint opening of this, it came off a bit medicinal to me, but on a second wearing I really grew to like it. Very woodsy and masculine. $62/$84

John Varvatos original. Nice leather/woody oriental $62/$82

Armani Code Ultimate Same base as the original, but much improved with an infusion of leather. Does not have huge projection which may make it safe for work, but it does have excellent longevity. $66/$84

Vince Camuto A nice frag with a great opening that hasn't received too much attention. Woodsy, leathery but not overpowering and nicely priced. $57/$70

Fan di Fendi Just now getting a wider release at Macy's, this opens up with a nice smokiness and eases into a smooth woody frag. I've only worn it twice, and I think it's worth trying. $59/$79

Hanae Mori HiM The edt will remind you of Gucci II but will have better longevity and a more woodsy dry down, the edp is a little more unique and spicy on the sweet side. Make sure to try both. $50/$70 edt, $70/$95 edp

After I did this and realized you wanted just one recommendation :} I totally failed at that, but hope you don't mind the choices
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post #30 of 49
1/11/13 at 4:18am
Try Bvlgari man and Bvlgari ph, also Gucci ph 2, Dscquared potion.
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post #31 of 49
1/11/13 at 4:32am
Guerlain Vetiver
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post #32 of 49
1/11/13 at 6:01am
Thread Starter 
Again, thanks to every single person who is giving suggestions. I'm writing it all down to I can revisit most of these again. Hopefully my tastes have developed some more and something jumps out. I smell scents here downtown and think "that smells good and professional" but I never know what it is. So hopefully something connects like TdH did.

SoS I have scene 7 de Loewe on ebay so I might check it out. Steeler...the more choices the better.

- - - Updated - - -

Again, thanks to every single person who is giving suggestions. I'm writing it all down to I can revisit most of these again. Hopefully my tastes have developed some more and something jumps out. I smell scents here downtown and think "that smells good and professional" but I never know what it is. So hopefully something connects like TdH did.

SoS I have scene 7 de Loewe on ebay so I might check it out. Thanks!!Always appreciated. Steeler...the more choices the better.
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post #33 of 49
1/12/13 at 10:26pm
I thought of a few more suggestions:

Beckham Homme - laugh at the name and pedigree if you want, but I don't think you'll laugh when you smell it. It's like a mix of TdH, Bvlgari Man and Chopard's Noble Vetiver. Citrus/woody/musky and overall an excellent scent. The fact that it's cheap as chips is just icing on the cake.

Bond #9 Brooklyn - this is TdH after a shave and shower, all suited up and drinking a gin and tonic. Some similarities to TdH although cleaner and more professional. Starts with a brief grapefruit/cardamom, then fades into a heart of juniper berries, and woods (cedar + guaiac) over a nice suede leather.

Chopard Noble Vetiver - bergamot and cardamom over a clean vetiver/clary sage combo. Professional as they come. Extremely smooth and polished.

Chopard Noble Cedar - Ok, I've not tried this one, but I imagine it might fit the bill based on what I've read. I know both this and Noble Vetiver are going for cheap on ebay these days. Many have said it maintains that same "noble" (read: refined and professional) character of Noble Vetiver, and that makes it worth investigating, at least.
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post #34 of 49
1/12/13 at 11:02pm
Heres a List for you:

Zino by Davidoff
Yatagan by Caron
Rive Gauche by YSL
Encre Noire by Lalique
Grey Flannel by Geoffrey Benne
Mugler Cologne
Gentleman by Givenchy(vintage if possible)
Heritage by Guerlain
Giorgio Men by Giorgio Beverly Hills
Michael PH by Michael Kors
Dirty English by Juicy Couture
Ungaro III by Emanuel Ungaro
D&G Pour Homme by D&G
Pour un Homme by Caron
Tommy Bahama Original

All of these are work safe, smell excellent and professional, and are fairly cheap too(much cheaper online than dept. stores). Happy sniffing!
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post #35 of 49
1/13/13 at 5:10am
Cartier Santos
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post #36 of 49
1/14/13 at 1:50am
+1 for the new Hanae Mori HiM. Best designer release of 2012, imo. Can be found at Nordstrom.
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post #37 of 49
1/14/13 at 2:25am
If you enjoy wearing TdH, I'd say check out Cartier Déclaration.
You might actually like the Essence version better.
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post #38 of 49
1/14/13 at 2:38am
I'd second the Encre Noir recommendation, also try Cigar by remy latour very inexpensive 10-15$ I think, with tobacco and spices as it layers pretty nicely with Burberry London (both are my first 2 frags) and quite well with Terre d'Hermes or you could opt for some musk oil or Oud oil from eBay or any specific site they don't cost much and last a lot and if layered properly, they will easily lift up some scents.
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post #39 of 49
1/14/13 at 3:40am
Try these:
The latest Brooks Brothers at Nordies
Encre Noire
Bang
Tom Ford for Men
Bleu de Chanel
YSL Rive Gauche

Based upon your tastes, I think each of these would work.
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post #40 of 49
1/14/13 at 3:46am
Another +1 on HiM, a different spicy frag. Idole de Lubin + Spicebomb= HiM
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post #41 of 49
1/14/13 at 4:26am
As a TdH also big fan, I would suggest:
+1 John Varvatos for Men (smooth leather, complex evolution, very very nice)
+1 Bvlgari PH Soir (bergamot, papyrus, musk, great for warm weather/offfice)
+1 Bleu de Chanel (very springy & casual, long lasting)
+1 Cartier Declaration (restrained, elegant, bitter-fresh-macho, imo)
Chanel Allure Blanche (lemony & creamy, easy to wear, versatile)
Burberry the Beat (pepper & vetiver, young spirit...this matters, not age after all)

I'm pretty sure all these can be found in the stores you mentioned. Good luck !
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post #42 of 49
1/14/13 at 8:16am
Try also Artek Standard by Comme des Garcons - a woody (pine wood) vetiver
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post #43 of 49
1/14/13 at 10:45am
+1on Cartier Declaration & Bvlgari Man. Other suggestions for office-friendly conservative scents: Lalique Hommage a L'Homme, Prada Infusion d'Homme and Crabtree & Evelyn Sandalwood.
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post #44 of 49
1/14/13 at 11:38am
Thread Starter 
Thanks again everyone. Great stuff!!Sorry if I am not responding directly or mentioning every scent here but trying to wade through. The other day I tried some and it wasn't what I was looking for

Tried again..

Mont Blanc Legend--Wore this for part of the day and not as impressed as I was first time. It is like wearing Platinum Egoiste for an hour and then Fierce for a few hours. Not bad but a little "too much"

Gucci PH 2--Put this in a thread the other day but the tea note is way too much for me and I get this weird pickle juice vibe. Always have with this stuff.

Dior Homme--Tried for the 10th time. No matter what I do the iris is just too pronounced on my skin

YSL L'Homme.--I keep hearing it should be woody but I get powdery. Even the Libre version seemed like "this has been done 10 times already."

Kenzo Boisee--The first 20 minutes of this I was enjoying...then...I got a weird air freshener drydown that just made me think "Glade." Disappointed because I was enjoying it

RL Safari--It was there and wanted to see this again..funny..I still love this stuff. But there is a datedness that I can't escape while wearing it.

So right now I'm thinking of wearing in or testing in my next round" Bleu de Chanel; Cartier Declaration (I've tried this and Essence in past and the "B.O." vibe really was strong but will try again); Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme; Encre Noir (wore some in past but it is a faded memory); ....and really anything else I will cross

Also, for this purpose I used to love and wear Brooks Brothers Classic but I think they ditched that version and now have a new cologne that was mentioned above. I'll see if similar.

I may have to hunt down Bang too...used to love the pepper on me
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post #45 of 49
1/14/13 at 11:45am
Hit all the TJ Maxx's/Marshall's/Ross' before you buy Bang at retail. You should not pay more than $20. My wife loves this stuff on me.

Bleu de Chanel is office friendly and very appealing. It's a real people pleaser that my wife also likes. Same can be said of Chanel Allure Homme Sport (but not the Eau Extreme version IT REEKS).
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post #46 of 49
1/14/13 at 11:45am
Cartier Santos Concentree, for big, dark, sophisticated woody effects.

Another "big woods" for business, though not a department store scent: a light misting of Serge Lutens Chene. A good value, not a lot more $$ than upper-end department store, and it goes a long way. No more than two sprays and you're good for the day.
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post #47 of 49
1/14/13 at 11:57am
I would second the Tom Ford Grey Vetiver and Tom Ford for Men suggestions.

I would also suggest you try Bond No. 9 I Love New York for Marriage Equality (but that may be outside the range you are looking, based on your original posting) - but I would recommend you give it a try...
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post #48 of 49
1/14/13 at 12:06pm
+x Declaration
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post #49 of 49
3/14/13 at 4:50am
Hi. Can you please help me? I want to order for my boyfrend Habit rouge l´eau, as a blind buy- gift (sadly, can´t find it anywhere to smell it). He likes Encre nore, Terre d´Hermes, Hommage a la Homme. It´s a good idea, or not? Thank you and sorry for my english.
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