Helping a friend select a fragrance—or choosing a few for a gift guide—is not something I take lightly. After all, a man’s scent is the exclamation point on his presentation of himself, and for that, it should be taken seriously. Think about how many other things you do for cosmetic purposes…why not put a bit more effort into your fragrance choices?
Traditionally the gift guides around this time of year showcase new products or gimmicks like gifts with purchase. Thank you, but I have enough bags. What I present here for your consideration are a few scents that may have slipped past your radar. They’re not all new but that’s ok. Each has its own unique aspect and it’s the details that matter.
John Varvatos VINTAGE: VINTAGE is a sensuous and masculine composition with an assertive spice core and a warm, leathery background. It’s a charming fragrance that deserves to be accessorized by a great fitting suit. If he doesn’t own this, get it.
John Varvatos VINTAGE, Eau de Toilette 4.2 fl. oz. $77.00.
Rose 31 by Le Labo: A masculine floral? Yes, a rose scent can work on a man. Le Labo’s popular Rose 31 smells flowery, but it’s grounded by cumin, woods and amber to make it less feminine. It’ll make you rethink what makes certain scents manly.
Rose 31, 15 ml for $52.
Tobacco & Tulle by Liz Zorn Perfumes: When perfumer Liz Zorn created Tobacco & Tulle, she was paying homage to her favorite writers, Albert Camus, a man confident enough to establish his own boundaries and not have them mapped out for him. Sometimes a scent may remind you of this or that, but every so often one stands alone. With notes of tobacco, tuberose absolutes, natural animalic and botanical musks, this scent is unlike any I’ve come across. For the man you think has everything, I assure you he doesn’t have this.
Tobacco & Tulle, 4.5 ml for $70. *Liz Zorn is offerng a discount to BBG readers. Enter “BBGUYS” code at checkout for 15% off through the first of the year.
Baume du Dodge by Eau d’Italie
This scent conjures everything we love about the holidays, the warmth, joy and comfort of being amongst family and friends. Baume du Doge is a beautiful, spicy, effervescent potion born out of the seas of Venice, which was the Merchant Queen of the oceans and gateway to the East for nearly ten centuries. With notes that include sweet orange, bergamot, cinnamon, coriander, cardamom, fennel, black pepper, myrrh, frankincense, clove, cedar, saffron, vetiver, and vanilla, Baume du Doge opens with a burst but quickly settles to a slightly sweet and woody dry down.
Baume du Doge 100ml Eau de Toilette, $120.
Kristiansand New York
Two Norwegian women, Britt Hovde Ross and Elisabeth Steen, launched this new men’s fragrance in New York and named it after the coastal Norwegian town Ross grew up in. The scent starts out fresh and dries down to a warm, slightly powdery, slightly woody amber.
Kristiansand New York 50 ml for $65.
Barney Bishop blogs about men’s fragrances at Fragrant Moments. He’s reviewed products for Men’s Health and is also a principal at AugustBishop, LLC, a marketing firm.
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