Perfume

For most women, a guy that smells good instantly grabs your attention. Today men’s cologne offerings are greater than any other time in history. Granddad came home from WWII wearing ‘Old Spice’, and Dad turned Mom’s head with ‘Brut’. Far beyond ‘Old Spice,’ modern men’s perfume and cologne carries with it smells of citrus and even a few flowers.

Citrus scents carry a deceptive name. They may use oil of lemon or orange, but perfumes or colognes like the Tommy Hilfiger fragrance ‘Tommy’ are far from smelling like a glass of orange juice. Their fresh sporty scent is great for an active guy. Splashed on as an aftershave or applied as a cologne, the fragrance extends that clean “just out of the shower” feel.

Fougere is a more robust, classic perfume family. Oak moss and lavender bring their rich scents to this family, which is often blended with woody, spicy and even leather scents. ‘Brut’ in its trademark green bottle is one of a classic leather fougere. Ask Mom about this one.

Leather? You ask. Yes, leather is one of the most popular men’s scents to date. Birch tar and cade oil give fragrances like ‘English Leather’ by Dana Perfumes a smoky or musky scent, in tune with a more ‘macho’ man or a man willing to take on the hands-on out of door labor.

The chypre family includes sage, patchouli and other woody resins all tailor made for the outdoorsman in every man. One of the perfume bases from the last century, you no longer hear of it very often. That doesn’t mean that these fragrances are no longer in use. The marketing descriptions have merely shifted. Think north woods, plaid wool jackets and cold, crisp, fresh air.

Oriental scents, because of their ‘weight’, are not often worn during the day, say at the office. At night, their oil-based perfume scents, heavy and dark featuring amber and resins, bring mystery to any evening out.

Woody scents tend to be more dry and ’softer’ not having the demanding presence of many other fragrance family. The lack of stridency does not mean easily forgotten. Perfumes and colognes of sandalwood epitomize the meditative warmth of this family. ‘Safari’ (for men) by Ralph Lauren and ‘Cool Water’ by Davidoff Colognes are both considered woody scents for perfumes and colognes.

Finally, spicy scents round out the perfume families for men. Pepper, cloves, basil, cinnamon and other oils from India typify this family. ‘Joop!’ is probably the most famous of these. It is also suited for evening and winter wear. But, if you are prone to sweating, remember to go sparing with these stronger smells. A good scent should attract, not overpower and invade other’s space.

A good scent will attract anyone’s attention, a fact known throughout the ages. The sense of smell is that sense most strongly associated with memory. How do you want to be remembered? Woodsy, spicy, mysterious and dark? With the right perfume or cologne a man will make the impression that lingers on.