Fragrances

CanwllCorfe · 09-30-2009, 01:28 PM

Although it isn't a common hobby to have, I love fragrances! When I was a kid I used to buy little bottles at Wal-Mart for 6 bucks. My first frag ever was Candies for Men and after that was Dolce & Gabbana's Pour Homme. Unfortunately I was dragged into the Axe craze and started buying that instead of cologne. I finally snapped out of it and got Versace's Eau Fraiche and JPG's Le Male. Recently though I've gotten even more into it and since June I've gotten 212 on Ice, Yves Saint Laurent's L'Homme, Gucci's Pour Homme II, and Viktor & Rolf's Antidote. I've also been buying a lot of samples and things of the sort.

Anyone else into them.. even remotely? I also could give advice if anyone wants it. MUCH better advice than any of those stupid department store SAs.

Fougère - one of the most common types of cologne. The word means "fern-like" and is given to any fragrance exhibiting a "fresh" feel. The umbrella is quite large and the fragrances can go from very fresh like Davidoff's Cool Water to Woody and Ambery like Caron's L'Anarchiste. Common notes : Bergamot, Lavender, Tonka Bean, and Vetiver.

Examples:
Yves Saint Laurent's L'Homme : Bergamot, Calone, Ginger, Basil, Cedar, Violet leaf, Vetiver and Tonka Bean
Dolce & Gabbana's Pour Homme : Bergamot, Mandarin, Orange, Neroli, Lemon, Lavender, Sage, Tarragon, Cardamom, Pepper, Sandalwood, Cedar, Tonka bean, Musk, Tobacco, Iris, Tonka Bean
Carolina Herrera's Herrera for Men : Fern, Clove, Lavender, Amber, Tobacco, Geranium, Sandalwood, Cedar, Musk

Oriental - the fragrances in this genre are pretty far away from the fresh fougères but close to the ones that exhibit woody/ambery qualities. Perfect for Fall and Winter, way too warm for Summer. "Oriental" comes from the idea that the fragrances use a lot of spices and things that were used in the far east. Common notes : Cedar, Amber, various herbs and spices.

Examples:
Dolce & Gabbana's The One : Grapefruit, Coriander, Basil, Cardamon, Ginger, Orange Blossom, Cedar, Ambergris, Tobacco.
Gucci's Envy : Opoponax, Incense, Patchouli, Amber, Musk, Cedar, Cardamom, Anise, Ginger, Nutmeg, Pimento.
John Varvatos' John Varvatos : Medjool, Date Fruit, Mediterranean Herbs, Tamarind Tree Leaves, Coriander Seed Templar, Clary Sage Flower, Ajowan, Auramber, Vanilla CO2, Balsams, Eaglewood, Vanilla, Black Leather.

Chypre - meaning "cypress" got it's start from Coty's Chypre in 1917. These fragrances are often floral, mossy, woody, and/or citrusy. Common notes : Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Bergamot, Amber, and Vetiver.

Examples:
Gucci's Gucci Pour Homme : Bergamot, Cypress, Violet, Tobacco, Jasmine, Patchouli, Amber and Elemi.
Carolina Herrera's 212 Men : Citrus Leaves, Cut Green Grass, Spice Leaves, Ginger, Green Pepper, Gardenia, Sandalwood, Incense, Transparent Musk.
Christian Lacroix's Absynthe for Him : Petitgrain, Green Leaves, Pepper, Citrus, Cardamom, Fig, Patchouli, Orris, Myrtle, Vetiver, Barley, Amber, Labdanum and Absinthe.

Aquatic - as you might be able to guess, aquatics are meant to emulate the scent of water/beach. Some may be a bit abstract and just have an aquatic feel, whereas other scents take a more literal approach. The scent gets its aquatic feel mainly from the key synthetic ingredient: Calone.

Examples:
Issey Mayake's L'Eau D'Issey pour Homme : Yuzu, Cypress, Coriander, Mandarin, Clary Sage, Fresh Verbena, Blue Water Lily, Nutmeg, Saffron, Bourbon Geranium, Ceylonese Cinnamon.
Bvlgari's Aqva Pour Homme : Mandarin, Petitgrain, Santolina, Posidonia, Mineral Amber and Clary Sage.
Kenzo's L'Eau par Kenzo pour Homme : Yuzu, Ho Leaf, Lotus Leaf, Aquatic Mint, Green Pepper, White Musk, Tobacco, Amber, Musk, Indian Sandalwood, Haitian Vetiver, Cypriol.

Floral - although we tend to associate women with so called "flowery" scents, men can wear them just as easily. Of course for some, it may take a more open mind. Floral notes in men's fragrances are not uncommon. Entire fragrances that belong to the floral group that are considered men's fragrances on the other hand, are quite uncommon. Common notes: Lily, Iris, and Lavender.

Examples:
Givenchy's Insensé : Blackcurrant, Mandarin, Basil, Magnolia, Lily of the Valley, Iris, Lentiscus, Balsam Fir.
Kenzo's Power : Bergamot, Coriander, Cardamom, Jasmine, Rose, Freesia, Tolu Balsam, Cedar, and Labdanum.
Jean Paul Gaultier's Fleur de Male : Orange Blossom, Petitgrain leaf, Coumarin, Fern.

You can wear any cologne in any season obviously, no one is going to stop you.. BUT if you wear an oriental in the summer that's akin to wearing a fur jacket and a scarf. They're warm fragrances, so they work best in cold weather. Just as citrus/aquatic dominated scents work best in the summer because they're bright and refreshing. Some will work quite well all year round (especially fougères).

When you buy a fragrance, you can pick between different sizes. Oftentimes it will be more economical to buy the bigger bottle. A 50ml bottle is 55$ while a 100ml bottle is 70$ so for 15$ more you get double the amount. Of course, if you're not sure you LOVE the scent then just get the smaller bottle. If you know you like it and would probably buy it again, just go for the bigger bottle. You can also buy samples for a couple of bucks (or euros :P) off of eBay and The Perfumed Court. If you want good deals then you can either cross your fingers and try eBay OR go to discount sites like Fragrancenet.

When applying a fragrance, it all depends on the occasion and what time of year. If it's warm out then you may have to apply a bit more than usual. This is because your skin, since it's warmer, will diffuse the scent quicker than if you are in cool weather. A way to get around this is to apply a spray or two to your shirt. A good rule of thumb is to spray once to the neck, once very close to the left wrist (then rub it against the right one), and once to the chest. If it's a weak fragrance like Gucci Pour Homme II, you can get away with 4 or 5. If you're putting on something potent like A*Men, Le Male, or 212 then 2-3 max.

Just some words used in fragranceland:

Sillage - the distance away from you that the fragrance you're wearing can be smelled
Longevity - how long the scent lasts
Designer - a fragrance created by a designer house (like Versace or Armani)
Niche - a fragrance created by a house that specializes in scents and do not sell clothes (like Creed or Annick Goutal)
Note - a single component of a fragrance. (Fragrances are made up of individual notes)
Cloying - too sweet
Linear - the scent doesn't really progress and pretty much stays the same throughout the life of the fragrance
Green - smelling fresh and clean byway of notes like Ivy and Moss.
Flanker - a new/limited edition of a preexisting fragrance
Gourmand - a scent that utilizes notes that are edible such as vanilla, caramel, chocolate, or coffee
Animalistic - a fragrance that uses brash, in your face, and raw notes that aren't toned down (Civet and Leather are most common)
Powerhouse - classic fragrance that is extremely loud and has an exorbitant sillage
Earthy - notes like Vetiver and Patchouli give a scent a very natural feel
Barbershop -a scent that uses notes prevalent in old fashioned shaving powders and creams.. the most common culprit is lavender (examples: Yves Saint Laurent's Rive Gauche, Prada's Amber Pour Homme). Soapy is another word that could be used in the same way

If you have any questions or want advice, just ask!

Thrice · 10-03-2009, 09:41 AM

I got a few, im not really into collecting them, just received them as gifts from my girl. I bought Aqua di Gio, but she bought me Kenneth Cole-reaction, Lacoste-essential, and a Polo one. I usually rock the dio or the KC

Dr.Seussicide · 10-03-2009, 09:48 AM

Definitely Polo Blue, smells amazing. Escada is also a nice subtle scent, as well as 212. Nautica: Voyage is my personal favorite as of right now. Calvin Klein's Obsession and Clinique's Happy for men are some personal favorites as well.

kouki · 10-03-2009, 12:55 PM

My ultimate favorite is chrome azarro.I also have aqua di gio,and a guess one(forgot the name)

My chics favorite is issey miyake.If you have a lady friend and want her to smell good,get her that!

ribbons · 11-20-2009, 12:14 PM

I wear Betsey Johnson's perfume, but very sparingly because it's a strong fragrance (slight musky tones) even though it's basically floral-fruity.

CanwllCorfe · 11-23-2009, 10:08 PM

Of lately I've been wandering into the world of niche perfumery. I've started out with Creed's Green Irish Tweed and Silver Mountain Water. Both are impeccably made but the former is a bit dated with the latter being my favorite of the two. I'd like to try some Amouage fragrances even though if I end up liking them just ONE bottle would cost around 300$. I think I'll try out some Annick Goutal's first.

FETCHER. · 11-24-2009, 09:18 AM

My favourite perfume ever
Thierry Mugler - Alien

CanwllCorfe · 11-26-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayleigh.

My favourite perfume ever
Thierry Mugler - Alien

He actually made a limited edition version of that where he put the original Alien in cherry wood casks and ages it. He did the same thing with A*Men except he used oak instead.

Kickin' · 11-26-2009, 02:25 PM

I've never really known much about any fragrances, other than what I see at stores like Abercrombie and fitch and what not.

Serious here, some advice would be nice. 16, more muscular than most (if that matters). Would like a scent not to over powering, but enough punch to it that a girl will notice and maybe double take (lol). Not something to exspensive either, I have a job but I cant be spending all my cash on cologne.

Anyone?

pourmeanother · 11-26-2009, 10:49 PM

Surprisingly the best cologne I've ever owned is Adidas Moves. I really like the smell, and I've gotten more compliments from the ladies while wearing that than anything else. Best part, a large bottle runs under $15.

Other than that I've also owned Old Spice Classic scent, CK Euphoria, and Lucky Number 6.

Adidas Moves, like I said, is awesome! Old Spice isn't my personal favorite, but it's always a pleaser. Euphoria is good. Lucky Number 6 is alright, kind of an acquired scent.

09-30-2009, 01:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
CanwllCorfe Quiet Man in the Corner Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Pocono Mountains Posts: 2,480	Fragrances Although it isn't a common hobby to have, I love fragrances! When I was a kid I used to buy little bottles at Wal-Mart for 6 bucks. My first frag ever was Candies for Men and after that was Dolce & Gabbana's Pour Homme. Unfortunately I was dragged into the Axe craze and started buying that instead of cologne. I finally snapped out of it and got Versace's Eau Fraiche and JPG's Le Male. Recently though I've gotten even more into it and since June I've gotten 212 on Ice, Yves Saint Laurent's L'Homme, Gucci's Pour Homme II, and Viktor & Rolf's Antidote. I've also been buying a lot of samples and things of the sort. Anyone else into them.. even remotely? I also could give advice if anyone wants it. MUCH better advice than any of those stupid department store SAs. Fougère - one of the most common types of cologne. The word means "fern-like" and is given to any fragrance exhibiting a "fresh" feel. The umbrella is quite large and the fragrances can go from very fresh like Davidoff's Cool Water to Woody and Ambery like Caron's L'Anarchiste. Common notes : Bergamot, Lavender, Tonka Bean, and Vetiver. Examples: Yves Saint Laurent's L'Homme : Bergamot, Calone, Ginger, Basil, Cedar, Violet leaf, Vetiver and Tonka Bean Dolce & Gabbana's Pour Homme : Bergamot, Mandarin, Orange, Neroli, Lemon, Lavender, Sage, Tarragon, Cardamom, Pepper, Sandalwood, Cedar, Tonka bean, Musk, Tobacco, Iris, Tonka Bean Carolina Herrera's Herrera for Men : Fern, Clove, Lavender, Amber, Tobacco, Geranium, Sandalwood, Cedar, Musk Oriental - the fragrances in this genre are pretty far away from the fresh fougères but close to the ones that exhibit woody/ambery qualities. Perfect for Fall and Winter, way too warm for Summer. "Oriental" comes from the idea that the fragrances use a lot of spices and things that were used in the far east. Common notes : Cedar, Amber, various herbs and spices. Examples: Dolce & Gabbana's The One : Grapefruit, Coriander, Basil, Cardamon, Ginger, Orange Blossom, Cedar, Ambergris, Tobacco. Gucci's Envy : Opoponax, Incense, Patchouli, Amber, Musk, Cedar, Cardamom, Anise, Ginger, Nutmeg, Pimento. John Varvatos' John Varvatos : Medjool, Date Fruit, Mediterranean Herbs, Tamarind Tree Leaves, Coriander Seed Templar, Clary Sage Flower, Ajowan, Auramber, Vanilla CO2, Balsams, Eaglewood, Vanilla, Black Leather. Chypre - meaning "cypress" got it's start from Coty's Chypre in 1917. These fragrances are often floral, mossy, woody, and/or citrusy. Common notes : Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Bergamot, Amber, and Vetiver. Examples: Gucci's Gucci Pour Homme : Bergamot, Cypress, Violet, Tobacco, Jasmine, Patchouli, Amber and Elemi. Carolina Herrera's 212 Men : Citrus Leaves, Cut Green Grass, Spice Leaves, Ginger, Green Pepper, Gardenia, Sandalwood, Incense, Transparent Musk. Christian Lacroix's Absynthe for Him : Petitgrain, Green Leaves, Pepper, Citrus, Cardamom, Fig, Patchouli, Orris, Myrtle, Vetiver, Barley, Amber, Labdanum and Absinthe. Aquatic - as you might be able to guess, aquatics are meant to emulate the scent of water/beach. Some may be a bit abstract and just have an aquatic feel, whereas other scents take a more literal approach. The scent gets its aquatic feel mainly from the key synthetic ingredient: Calone. Examples: Issey Mayake's L'Eau D'Issey pour Homme : Yuzu, Cypress, Coriander, Mandarin, Clary Sage, Fresh Verbena, Blue Water Lily, Nutmeg, Saffron, Bourbon Geranium, Ceylonese Cinnamon. Bvlgari's Aqva Pour Homme : Mandarin, Petitgrain, Santolina, Posidonia, Mineral Amber and Clary Sage. Kenzo's L'Eau par Kenzo pour Homme : Yuzu, Ho Leaf, Lotus Leaf, Aquatic Mint, Green Pepper, White Musk, Tobacco, Amber, Musk, Indian Sandalwood, Haitian Vetiver, Cypriol. Floral - although we tend to associate women with so called "flowery" scents, men can wear them just as easily. Of course for some, it may take a more open mind. Floral notes in men's fragrances are not uncommon. Entire fragrances that belong to the floral group that are considered men's fragrances on the other hand, are quite uncommon. Common notes: Lily, Iris, and Lavender. Examples: Givenchy's Insensé : Blackcurrant, Mandarin, Basil, Magnolia, Lily of the Valley, Iris, Lentiscus, Balsam Fir. Kenzo's Power : Bergamot, Coriander, Cardamom, Jasmine, Rose, Freesia, Tolu Balsam, Cedar, and Labdanum. Jean Paul Gaultier's Fleur de Male : Orange Blossom, Petitgrain leaf, Coumarin, Fern. You can wear any cologne in any season obviously, no one is going to stop you.. BUT if you wear an oriental in the summer that's akin to wearing a fur jacket and a scarf. They're warm fragrances, so they work best in cold weather. Just as citrus/aquatic dominated scents work best in the summer because they're bright and refreshing. Some will work quite well all year round (especially fougères). When you buy a fragrance, you can pick between different sizes. Oftentimes it will be more economical to buy the bigger bottle. A 50ml bottle is 55$ while a 100ml bottle is 70$ so for 15$ more you get double the amount. Of course, if you're not sure you LOVE the scent then just get the smaller bottle. If you know you like it and would probably buy it again, just go for the bigger bottle. You can also buy samples for a couple of bucks (or euros :P) off of eBay and The Perfumed Court. If you want good deals then you can either cross your fingers and try eBay OR go to discount sites like Fragrancenet. When applying a fragrance, it all depends on the occasion and what time of year. If it's warm out then you may have to apply a bit more than usual. This is because your skin, since it's warmer, will diffuse the scent quicker than if you are in cool weather. A way to get around this is to apply a spray or two to your shirt. A good rule of thumb is to spray once to the neck, once very close to the left wrist (then rub it against the right one), and once to the chest. If it's a weak fragrance like Gucci Pour Homme II, you can get away with 4 or 5. If you're putting on something potent like AMen, Le Male, or 212 then 2-3 max. Just some words used in fragranceland: Sillage* - the distance away from you that the fragrance you're wearing can be smelled Longevity - how long the scent lasts Designer - a fragrance created by a designer house (like Versace or Armani) Niche - a fragrance created by a house that specializes in scents and do not sell clothes (like Creed or Annick Goutal) Note - a single component of a fragrance. (Fragrances are made up of individual notes) Cloying - too sweet Linear - the scent doesn't really progress and pretty much stays the same throughout the life of the fragrance Green - smelling fresh and clean byway of notes like Ivy and Moss. Flanker - a new/limited edition of a preexisting fragrance Gourmand - a scent that utilizes notes that are edible such as vanilla, caramel, chocolate, or coffee Animalistic - a fragrance that uses brash, in your face, and raw notes that aren't toned down (Civet and Leather are most common) Powerhouse - classic fragrance that is extremely loud and has an exorbitant sillage Earthy - notes like Vetiver and Patchouli give a scent a very natural feel Barbershop -a scent that uses notes prevalent in old fashioned shaving powders and creams.. the most common culprit is lavender (examples: Yves Saint Laurent's Rive Gauche, Prada's Amber Pour Homme). Soapy is another word that could be used in the same way If you have any questions or want advice, just ask! __________________ Your eyes were never yet let in to see the majesty and riches of the mind, but dwell in darkness; for your God is blind. Last edited by CanwllCorfe; 12-02-2009 at 08:20 PM.

10-03-2009, 09:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
Thrice أمهاتك[وهور]Aura Euphoria Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Florida/Buffalo/CT Posts: 2,077	I got a few, im not really into collecting them, just received them as gifts from my girl. I bought Aqua di Gio, but she bought me Kenneth Cole-reaction, Lacoste-essential, and a Polo one. I usually rock the dio or the KC __________________ Lew Harrison, who looked like an anarchist with his red eyes and fierce black beard, had been writing furiously in one corner of the room. "That's good—happiness by the kilowatt," he said. "Buy your happiness the way you buy light."

10-03-2009, 09:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dr.Seussicide FakingSuicideForApplause Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: I live in a van down by the river Posts: 1,365	Definitely Polo Blue, smells amazing. Escada is also a nice subtle scent, as well as 212. Nautica: Voyage is my personal favorite as of right now. Calvin Klein's Obsession and Clinique's Happy for men are some personal favorites as well. __________________ I'll stay if I ever could, and pick up your pieces babe, because there's never a perfect day. Don't fret, baby, we're simply growing And my darling, I wouldn't mind to die like this.

11-23-2009, 10:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
CanwllCorfe Quiet Man in the Corner Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Pocono Mountains Posts: 2,480	Of lately I've been wandering into the world of niche perfumery. I've started out with Creed's Green Irish Tweed and Silver Mountain Water. Both are impeccably made but the former is a bit dated with the latter being my favorite of the two. I'd like to try some Amouage fragrances even though if I end up liking them just ONE bottle would cost around 300$. I think I'll try out some Annick Goutal's first. __________________ Your eyes were never yet let in to see the majesty and riches of the mind, but dwell in darkness; for your God is blind.

11-26-2009, 02:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
Kickin' Groupie Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Grand Rapids MI, United States Posts: 30	I've never really known much about any fragrances, other than what I see at stores like Abercrombie and fitch and what not. Serious here, some advice would be nice. 16, more muscular than most (if that matters). Would like a scent not to over powering, but enough punch to it that a girl will notice and maybe double take (lol). Not something to exspensive either, I have a job but I cant be spending all my cash on cologne. Anyone? __________________ -- Forgive me for my extremely high IQ, it bugs everyone.

10-03-2009, 12:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
kouki Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Devils armpit (aka Phx,AZ) Posts: 126	My ultimate favorite is chrome azarro.I also have aqua di gio,and a guess one(forgot the name) My chics favorite is issey miyake.If you have a lady friend and want her to smell good,get her that!

11-20-2009, 12:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
ribbons Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,265	I wear Betsey Johnson's perfume, but very sparingly because it's a strong fragrance (slight musky tones) even though it's basically floral-fruity.

11-26-2009, 10:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
pourmeanother Saaaad Panda Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 852	Surprisingly the best cologne I've ever owned is Adidas Moves. I really like the smell, and I've gotten more compliments from the ladies while wearing that than anything else. Best part, a large bottle runs under $15. Other than that I've also owned Old Spice Classic scent, CK Euphoria, and Lucky Number 6. Adidas Moves, like I said, is awesome! Old Spice isn't my personal favorite, but it's always a pleaser. Euphoria is good. Lucky Number 6 is alright, kind of an acquired scent. __________________ Life is just blah, blah, blah You hope for blah And sometimes you find it, but mostly it's blah And waiting for blah And hoping you were right about the blahs you made And then, just when you think you've got the whole blah'd damn thing figured out And you're surrounded by the ones you blah Death shows up... anddd blah, blah, blah.