Manly Scents
posted Monday, 19 February 2007
I'm trying to turn my husband into a Pefumeo, and I'm not sure it's working. Last fall, I managed to convince him to write a few words (he is a writer) about some men's fragrances for a column on my other blog. I'm reprinting it here, as I'd like him to do a semi-regular feature here as guest blogger.
Take it away, Mr. Minx!
In my early adulthood, I never put much thought into how I should smell. I figured if I didn’t smell at all, I was doing okay. My aftershaves mostly came from the drugstore, unless my mom or a relative gave me a fancy aftershave or cologne for Christmas. I would wear them for a while, but I found most of them distracting. I felt like I inhabited another person’s body based on the alien aroma I emitted. I did learn from these experiments, however, that musk-scented aftershaves suited me best, and I started wearing an inexpensive drugstore musk which I thought was quite all right. My future wife disagreed and for our first Christmas together as a couple, she presented me with a gift set of Obsession products. I’ve been hooked ever since.
Calvin Klein
Obsession for Men
Notes: mandarin, bergamot, lavender, myrrh, sage, clove, nutmeg, coriander amber, musk, sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli
This is a cool weather scent, filled with notes that remind you of roaring fireplaces, pumpkin pies baking in the oven, oranges and dried flowers on the table. Of course, there is also the musk quality, which is balanced nicely. Whereas my old drugstore musk could be a tad overpowering, like backing into a goat, the musk scent in Obsession is delicately integrated with the other notes to provide just the right manly quality. Patchouli is also listed as a note, but I don’t detect it, which is a good thing. Patchouli reminds me of the purple-headed, heavily mascara-ed art students that I knew in college.
Obsession is an old fragrance (remember the SNL commercial parody from the 80s?), and unlike many newer fragrances which fade quickly, Obsession stays with you throughout the day. I usually wear Obsession aftershave from October through April, then switch to a lighter scent in the Spring.
John Varvatos
John Varvatos
Notes: medjool date fruit, tamarind tree leaves, coriander seed templar, clary sage flower, Indian ajowan, auramber, leather essence
Occasionally (that is to say, frequently), my lovely wife provides me with samples of men’s cologne to check out. John Varvatos is one of those fragrances, so it’s not something that I would normally seek out to go with my particular body chemistry. Still, it’s intriguing. Initially, you’re struck by the fruity quality, then the leather aroma rises to the surface. My sniffer is not talented enough to detect the individual notes that make up the fragrance, but I find the blend of exotic herb and fruit scents comforting, along with the warm leather smell. It reminds me of a candle shop…where the sales ladies wear dominatrix outfits. That may be too much information.
Tommy Bahama
Tommy Bahama for Men
Notes: pepper Sichuan, elemi, coriander, bergamot, sage, incense caraway, ginger root, patchouli, vetiver, musk, guaiac wood, amber
Another fragrance I tried for summer was Tommy Bahama for men. This is pretty exotic: a bit like a cedar-paneled Thai restaurant. Also, I guess working through college in a paint store has impacted my sense of smell because the combination of wood scent and alcohol reminds me of turpentine. This one’s more of an acquired taste.
Paul Smith
Paul Smith Extreme
Notes: hesperide, spices, geranium, rosewood, musk, tonka bean.
Paul Smith for Men was a fragrance I tried a few years ago as a warmer weather scent. I was hoping it would be “Obsession Lite,” and in some ways it is. The virile musk scent is blended with citrus and woodsy notes. No pumpkin pies; just the suggestion of a walk in the park on a warm evening. Still, it’s a bit strong for everyday (especially if you sit close to people at the office). I tend to wear it when my wife and I go out.
Take it away, Mr. Minx!
Calvin KleinObsession for Men
Notes: mandarin, bergamot, lavender, myrrh, sage, clove, nutmeg, coriander amber, musk, sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli
This is a cool weather scent, filled with notes that remind you of roaring fireplaces, pumpkin pies baking in the oven, oranges and dried flowers on the table. Of course, there is also the musk quality, which is balanced nicely. Whereas my old drugstore musk could be a tad overpowering, like backing into a goat, the musk scent in Obsession is delicately integrated with the other notes to provide just the right manly quality. Patchouli is also listed as a note, but I don’t detect it, which is a good thing. Patchouli reminds me of the purple-headed, heavily mascara-ed art students that I knew in college.
Obsession is an old fragrance (remember the SNL commercial parody from the 80s?), and unlike many newer fragrances which fade quickly, Obsession stays with you throughout the day. I usually wear Obsession aftershave from October through April, then switch to a lighter scent in the Spring.
John VarvatosJohn Varvatos
Notes: medjool date fruit, tamarind tree leaves, coriander seed templar, clary sage flower, Indian ajowan, auramber, leather essence
Occasionally (that is to say, frequently), my lovely wife provides me with samples of men’s cologne to check out. John Varvatos is one of those fragrances, so it’s not something that I would normally seek out to go with my particular body chemistry. Still, it’s intriguing. Initially, you’re struck by the fruity quality, then the leather aroma rises to the surface. My sniffer is not talented enough to detect the individual notes that make up the fragrance, but I find the blend of exotic herb and fruit scents comforting, along with the warm leather smell. It reminds me of a candle shop…where the sales ladies wear dominatrix outfits. That may be too much information.
Tommy BahamaTommy Bahama for Men
Notes: pepper Sichuan, elemi, coriander, bergamot, sage, incense caraway, ginger root, patchouli, vetiver, musk, guaiac wood, amber
Another fragrance I tried for summer was Tommy Bahama for men. This is pretty exotic: a bit like a cedar-paneled Thai restaurant. Also, I guess working through college in a paint store has impacted my sense of smell because the combination of wood scent and alcohol reminds me of turpentine. This one’s more of an acquired taste.
Paul SmithPaul Smith Extreme
Notes: hesperide, spices, geranium, rosewood, musk, tonka bean.
Paul Smith for Men was a fragrance I tried a few years ago as a warmer weather scent. I was hoping it would be “Obsession Lite,” and in some ways it is. The virile musk scent is blended with citrus and woodsy notes. No pumpkin pies; just the suggestion of a walk in the park on a warm evening. Still, it’s a bit strong for everyday (especially if you sit close to people at the office). I tend to wear it when my wife and I go out.
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