Before we start with today's victim, I did want everyone to know that the Monday Mail will be taking a quick spring break. After today, no Monday Mail for 2 weeks, then it will return on May 9.
So, today we're helping Tom. Tom says he is a relative newcomer to fragrance appreciation. He wants to find a summer fragrance that will work for hot, humid Montreal. It should be interesting and slightly masculine, and should wear well for work, clubbing, art shows, or...? And it would be great if it was also a contrast to the scents he already owns. He can spend around $100.
Here is what we know about Tom:
He's in his late 20s, and works in the creative industry (ad agency/freelance journalism).
He describes himself as "very quirky", and he likes independent designer clothing and Asian fashion.
He loves music, clubbing, art shows, bistros, and he skateboards and cycles. He's also well-traveled, and interested in politics.
Tom likes John Varvatos Artisan (for the playful, orange-y brightness and its creamy, subtle dry down), Lancome Hypnose Homme (interesting mix of lavender and spicy, exotic notes; sharp and assertive, but not overpowering), Lalique Encre Noire (a recent acquisition) and L'Artisan Parfumeur Fou d'Absinthe (another recent acquisition), Terre d'Hermès (he likes it, but feels he already has the evergreen/vetiver niche covered by Encre Noire).
Tom doesn't like "fresh" scents or run-of-the-mill man scents. He disliked most of the Ralph Lauren Big Pony series (but sometimes wears #3 when he's feeling sporty), and he isn't crazy about Lacoste Style In Play or Yves Saint Laurent L'Homme (a bit too safe). He not sure about the Serge Lutens line (intriguing but often seem to have strong artificial "chemical" notes, especially Fleurs de Citronnier and Cedre).
What say you?
Note: image is Melaka, Malaysia by yeowatzup at flickr; some rights reserved.
Annick Goutal Mandragore or Eau d’Hadrien are good for the summer. I also wear Etro Shaal Nur a lot during the hot humid days here in Swampeast Missouri (SE Missouri).
I seem to be on a licorice/anise kick lately, and I recently acquired Caron Eau Reglisse which would be perfect for summer. Good luck!
I love the refreshing citrus/licorice combo in that one!
Guerlain’s Instant Pour Homme might be too mild-mannered. I just want ALL MEN to give it a try, since even if only 10% of them say “Okay” the world will be a sweeter-smelling place.
Don’t know where in Montreal Le Labo might be sold, but Vetiver 46 might be interesting to try. It’s like candlewax/smoke. There was just a post about Etat Libre d’Orange, which has some pretty interesting items to sniff. They used to be at Holts on Sherbrooke…
Guerlain L’IPH is one of my favorites, I have both the EDT and EDP versions. I still prefer the EDT as it is a little sharper and less cocoa-centered.
Ah yes – I have tried l’Instant. Nice cocoa note, but it didn’t really jump right out at me. Thanks for the suggestions! I’ll try to fond some of those others.
Tom of Finland, as if there were any other choice.
Comme de Garcons 2 Man- Terre d’Hermes with much better ingredients.
A few suggestions:
Caron’s Third Man and Pour un Homme; you might also try Yatagan while you’re checking out the Carons. I’m not sure Yatagan would work in the summer, but it’s certainly interesting and you could always bring it back out in the fall.
FM Bois D’Orage, the 60 ml bottle is a little above your $100 price limit (I think it’s about $125), but it’s truly wonderful.
L’Artisan’s Timbuktu.
I actually have a little 15ml traveller bottle of Timbuktu and I like it lots! L’Artisan is great.
The 100$ is just a ballpark. I don’t really have any strict limits, but I’m not going to go out and buy a $250 bottle of Tom Ford or anything like that.
Thanks for the suggestions so far (all). I’m taking notes.
t
L’Instant pour Homme is a great idea!
and I think BANG! is quite unique. Do you like incense-y? Gucci Pour Homme is a fav of mine. My hubby likes gourmand a bit more and he keeps stealing my PdNicolai Vanille Tonka! Have you tried Hermes Mervilles? Or Ineke Chemical Bonding? Those might fit the bill!
Second the Eau des Merveilles (the original). Wonderful in humidity!
Third Eau des Merveilles! I love the salty aspect, and find myself wearing it often in hot weather
The original, Armani Eau Pour Homme…the greenish bottle with the black cap. Yes, I know I always recommend it, but I think it’s a great fragrance.
How about Comme des Garcons Kyoto, I think it works very well with humid and hot weather, it’s not fresh, but has a certain coolness between the woods and the incense. Also CdG Hinoki might be nice for you, but I am not sure if that really works with hot and humid weather, like Kyoto does.
Good luck
Safran
I like this rec, another incense to try is Tauer Incense Extreme.
I also am going to recommend Comme des Garcons x Monocle: Laurel just because I love it so. And two more, from Diptyque: Tam Dao and Eau de Lierre.
I also second the recommendation for Bang by Marc Jacobs.
I second Tauer’s Incense Extreme–nothing extreme about it except that it is extremely wonderful…..
T from Montreal, I think we may have a mutual buddy / acquaintance. (Might those politics that you’re interested in be Conservative?) Anyways, hope your weather in Montreal is better than ours in T.O. today…
My off-the-cuff suggestions are Kenzo Jungle Pour Homme (zebra bottle), Must de Cartier Pour Homme, Dior Eau Noire (*small* doses in the humidity, so a decant would do) and Dior Fahrenheit 32. And, as always when somebody mentions lavender and spice, I’m going to push Nicolai Pour Homme on you (and I believe they have Nicolai at Ogilvie.)
Hiya! I’m decidedly not too near the conservative end of the political spectrum on most issues. I’m really issue-to-issue honestly. Super pro-public-healthcare/usually vote NDP, but at the same time I’m totally against bailouts and subsidies for failing businesses. So I’m a mixed bag when it comes to spending.
As for perfumes
I’ll try those reccos! I definitely like Fahrenheit so I’ll try 32. And I work very close to Ogilvy, so I,ll take a look for the Nicolai.
Thanks!
Hey, I guess I forgot Canada is a big place – there could be many persons fitting the above description in Montreal.
Fahrenheit 32 is pretty different from the (reformulated) original… but hope you like it anyway. Good luck with your search.
I live in Alabama so my recomendations will probably work well.
Bang by Marc Jacobs -Gave a bottle to my brother and have a mini for myself( til I get a FB)
Aramis-great leather /may be better in fall
Prada Infusion d’Homme is nice
Bulgari Black-gave my Dad a bottle at Christmas -he’s almost out!
Seconding! I always recommend Bulgari Black, because it’s always a good choice
agreed! Bvlgari Black is one unique-safe-to-go-with perfume
When I read “hot humid Montreal art shows and bistros,” I immediately thought of the lovely light and mysterious Bois de Violette, SL. But wait! I agree with you, on the weird chemical note in some of his stuff; I think Cedre in particular is horrid. Give it a think, maybe.
L’Artisan is lovely, my favourite of theirs being Dzongha, which is slightly off the beaten path, and might work in the colder Montreal days.
I am intrigued. I may have to drop by the SL counter after work. I think of Lutens as my bête noire – I’m convinced there’s a perfume somewhere in his collection that I will love, but I haven’t found it yet.
I’ve certainly enjoyed some of his more feminine offerings on a lady I know.
When you’re at the SL counter, you might as well sniff my beloved Gris Clare for spicy lavender.
You’d have to get a decant for it to be in your price range, but what about FM Noir Epices? I have seen other recommendations for MJ Bang, which I love and find very unisex. But I find the woods notes to NE more masculine.
I’m also falling in love with Chanel Egoiste and feel like recommending it to everyone! I would think the lovely herbiness would bloom nicely in warm weather. Enjoy your sniffing!
Yes, Egoiste!
Egoiste is beautiful. I want to second the recommendation for Lutens Gris Clair. There’s nothing like it!
Gris Clair is one of my faves too.
Also, as mentioned below, the Sonoma Scent Studio line is absolutely fantastic, and I could see some of her incenses working really well on a guy.
I am intrigued. I may have to drop by the SL counter after work. I think of Lutens as my bête noire – I’m convinced there’s a perfume somewhere in his collection that I will love, but I haven’t found it yet.
I’ve certainly enjoyed some of his more feminine offerings on a lady I know.
I would like to recommend trying Jack Black Silver Mark, or Zirh Ikon. These are similar in smell. I think they are great for summer and have a very unusual metallic zing that makes them stick out. You wont smell like anyone else. Also very inexpensive.
Tom, I second and third the recs for Etro Shaal Nur and Hermes Eau Merveilles. And how about L’Artisan Nuit de Tubereuse for a spicy summerweight tuberose that’s good on fellas? I like that it doesn’t crossover with what you already have. Also, you might look into Ulrich Lang Anvers 2, a dry, slight sweet floral leather.
Try By Killian Back to Black if you get a chance. It’s supposed to be tobacco and honey but it’s more elusive than that, and airy enough for summer. A bottle is expensive but the travel refills are not bad. Also the Heeleys are beautifully done and light enough for summer. Make the world a better place by wearing Heeley!
Back to Black is beautiful, I love the tobacco note—it last forever!
Guerlain Vetiver, Caron Pour Un Homme, Kelly Caleche (ok, it’s feminime. Is it really feminine?), Obsession from CK, L’Instant Pour Homme, Gucci Homme…
Since you are decidedly left of center..
Serge Lutens Cuir Mauresque
Chanel Coromondel EdT – you can get the smaller bottle for just about your price range. Its light but present.
This is a little bit more than your price range – but go to the Le Labo website, spend $5 and get a sample of Rose 31. Its a manly, spicey rose.
One mainstream frag worth checking out is Viktor & Rolf Antidote.
How about Voyage D’Hermes? Works very well in hot weather and it is quite an interesting scent. Acqua di Parma Assoluta? Worth trying, as well as the original version. Penhaligon Castille might be an option as well, although it might fall into the “safe” side… You might want to try as well Francis Kurkdjian Cologne pour Le Matin/Absolute pour Le Matin, both really nice for summer, the first bit short lived but very lovely and a bit unusual as a cologne, while the second with a sharper violet note, probably not as nice as the cologne but quite long lasting.
Hi Tom – I’m a little late to the party, but do check out the Sonoma Scent Studio line, available on line at sonomascentstudio.com. Beautiful, high quality scents, reasonably priced, and I think several of her things will work very well on a guy.
You might also consider either Guerlain Jicky or Rosine Homme. I love the lavender in both of them.
Sonoma Scent Studio Incense Pure (the entire line is worth trying).
Tauer Lonestar Memories-very sexy on a man
Guerlain Imperiale-great for summer, but may be too light. You might like L’Heure Bleu. Not the typical “man” scent, but this does smell great on men.
Bvlgari Black-should be able to find at online discounters
Chanel Sycomore-nothing else like it.
Chanel Egoiste
Guerlain L’Instant (pant! pant!)
The L’Instant is Pour Homme!
I made my comment before I read the other responses and see many of my suggestions line up with those of others. I hope you find some thing to enjoy!
My pics for you to try: Miller Harris Fleurs de Sel and Kiehl’s Musk.
Pity Caron Yuzu Homme is not widely available yet, because that sounds ideal for heat and humidity and has an Asian connection in Yuzu. Also thought of Diptyque as being bistro and gallery friendly – Oyedo comes to mind for its candy freshness as well as L’eau de Tarocco, and of course there is the classic fig of Philosykos. If you like green, vetiver then you have to try the ultimate in smoky, woody, incensy, vetiver – Chanel Sycamore. And in addition to the already suggest Noir Epices from Frederic Malle Editions de Parfums, would highly recommend Musc Ravageur – a sleek, sexy scent.
Lastly, a great perfume, with a sort of French Canadian connection (given the film of the same name by Denys Arcand) is Invasion Barbare from Parfums MDCI. Refined, elegant, sensitive, perfect for a creative, well travlled kind of guy!