A man’s scent is an important part of his life. It deserves more consideration than can be gleamed from the fragrance aisle of some mass market department store.
That scent should match a man’s personality and aura — serving as much of a statement as his clothes, his shoes, his haircut the way he carries himself. And, all of the above stack up to attract the women in your life.
In an effort to offer some possibilities to explore for any man still searching for the right personal fragrance, you’ll find below products matched to interests and personalities. It’ll be up to you to decide if they fit each other — and how they fit you.
The Mixologist: Penhaligon’s of London brings you a pleasant cocktail the ladies will drink in at the nose. Juniper Sling (£115) is inspired by one of the main ingredients in that most British of spirits (gin) without leaving you smelling like distillery. It’s aggressive and invigorating at first, mellowing and maturing throughout the day. It’s one of my two personal scents.
The Gentleman Adventurer: The real life scent of Ian Fleming, creator James Bond, No, 89 from Floris (also from London, £75) is an absolutely classic English fragrance. Clean and crisp — heavy on the leather and wood — you can easily imagine coming across echoes of it along the clubs of Whitehall.
Related: Dressing Like You Give a Damn
The Clothes Horse: For the fashion-minded male who wants to smell as good as he looks, Tom Ford Noir ($128.99) is an obvious choice for the man who stays sharply dressed and wants his signature scent to match. It packs a blend of bergamot, violet flower, leather and black pepper.
The Outdoorsman: While its name might not sound rugged, Dior Homme ($87.99) features a blend of deep, woody, pine smells with Bergamot, grapefruit blossom and white musks.
The Modern Working Man: You don’t have to be in a suit and tie to look good, and the 9 to fiver, ham n’ egger deserves some style, too. Valentino Uomo ($109.99) elevates any man’s presence with bergamot, myrtle, roasted coffee, gianduja cream, cedar and leather.
The Beach Bum: If the sun and sea speaks to you, Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani ($71.99) blends of fresh sea notes of lime, lemon, and orange with a base of white musk.
The Executive: While I think both Juniper Sling and No. 89 fit the bill here, too, Prada Luna Rossa Extreme ($94.99) is a serious scent of black pepper, bergamot, lavender, leather and fresh juniper berries.
The Sportsman: From golf to tennis to softball, weekend warriors enjoy a myriad of sports. Paco Rabanne Invictus ($82.99) can work for all of the above with a very sharp and aggressive impact.
The Hipster: If you qualify here, and you’re still reading, I give you enough credit to stay. Lacoste Eau de Lacoste L.12.12 Blanc Edition ($44.99) needs a shorter name, but it works for a modern crowd with a blend of grapefruit, rosemary, Cedarwood and Ylang Ylang.
Of course, even with this collection and all this advice, choosing your scent comes down to an essential function of manhood. You need to like it, wear it because you like it and not give a damn if anyone else likes it because it works for you. The ladies will be infinitely more attracted to an attitude like that instead of how you smell.
