Laura wants to find a new everyday fragrance for her boyfriend, Chris. Her preference is for something well-crafted and not über-mainstream, but he doesn't seem to mind either way. She will be buying the fragrance as a gift, and her price limit is around $200. Here is what we know about Chris:
He's 29 and has just graduated from his graphic design degree.
He loves gaming and films and he is a hilarious and caring and sometimes shy guy.
Chris has a sweet tooth and loves vanilla in fragrance, but also gravitates towards aquatics and citrus. He owns one fragrance, Hugo Boss Soul, which he likes and which Laura finds quite appealing. It's warm and spicy and slightly balsamic in its sweetness but it is a bit much for everyday wear.
Perfumes Chris says "smell nice" include Chanel Allure Homme Sport and Serge Luten's L'Eau Froide. He found Hermès Terre d'Hermès and Voyage d'Hermès too sharp in Eau de Toilette, but later tried the Parfum version of Terre d'Hermès and said he liked the way it developed.
Laura has been considering Yves Saint Laurent Body Kouros, Cerruti pour Homme and Guerlain L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme Eau Extreme, but is very interested to hear our recommendations.
What say you?
Note: top image is pink post [cropped] by jenny downing at flickr; some rights reserved.
Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee! Citrus and vanilla, and it smells great on my boyfriend
This was the first scent that came to mind for me, too!
How about Hermes Vanille Galante (aqautic), Duelle from Diptyque and seconding the Vanille Insensee
Chanel allure Homme edition blanche could a perfect choice; citrus and cake and good lasting in skin ( it’s Eau de toilette concentree). Kevin rewieved here at nst
2nd that — great scent.
Robin, I discovered it thanks to nst and now it’s part of basics! Sometimes when Im about to finish a bottle I say to myself ” let’s buy something different” to end up rushing to get a replacement after 1 week without it…
Odin Nomad is a great vanilla for men or women. Hermes Vanilla Galante is worth a sample, too for both vanilla and aquatic and Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan for cozy amber/vanilla goodness.
L’Occitane Eau de Baux. It is easily found at many malls, very inexpensive and just smells good – it is a little sweet so think he would like it!
I was just about to post this. Great recommendation; a warm, slightly vanillic amber with dashes of herbs, incense and lovely spice. Unpretentious, easy to wear, mainstream-ish but not dull, and budget-friendly.
Thirding this, it’s a great fragrance.
Diptyque Volutes has a hint of vanilla without being too sweet.
Ormonde Jayne Man, not mainstream and it is glorious on a guy. My poor husband has to practically pry my nose out of his neck when he wears it. It is woody, balsamic and creamy, just delicious.
Have you tried Frederic Malle Musk Ravageur? Dangerously sexy… Vanilla, Musk, lavender, bergamot, cinnamon…
Timbuktu from L’Artisan is just amazing, but not so sweet. It has insence, citrus, vanilla, woods… I bought it for my husband and he loves it.
Vanille Absolument is also a sweet, boozy, comforting delight from L’Artisan.
A third one from this house, that I strongly recommend, is Mechant Loup. Nutty and a bit woodsy with licourice, anise, burnt sugar. Yummy!
Good luck!
I join the chorus for Vanilla Insensee. He also might like the Bois Blond.
Musc Ravageur does not fall in the “nice” smelling category. It is for the super hot boy friend whom you do not want to cool off. Presumably Chris is a super hot boy friend, but he should wear his L’eau Froide to the office, and save the Musc for evenings with her.
I would suggest Chanel Allure Homme Edition Blanche, maybe Prada Luna Rossa. Also Vanille Insensee mentioned above sounds like a good idea. Or Mistral Patchouli?
try Dior Homme Sport and the new Dior Homme Cologne. For Vanilla: Pour Un Homme by Caron
speaking of new Dior Homme Cologne – I tried it today and am rather unimpressed. Very simple and without projection or longevity on me.
My boyfriend loves Serge Lutens Chergui. It’s sweet but also manly with all that tobacco. He gets lots of compliments. Try it!
I absolutely adore Ormonde Jayne for Men and always suggest trying it, but I’m not sure if it fits the profile here. It is SO wonderful, I’ll stil lrecommend giving it a try. I second Diptyque’s Eau Duelle – agreat smoky vanilla with a masculine edge and the L’Occitane Eau Baux, which I also find quite nice on a man.
You say “vanilla” and I have to say Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille!
Casting my vote for Chanel’s Egoiste (original, NOT the ‘Platinum’ version.) The tangerine, rose, lavender, rosewood, sandalwood, cinnamon and yes, vanilla, all conspire to make this as sexy as all get out. Although I don’t reach for it everyday, when I do, I’m always reminded of the reasons I’ve managed to keep a bottle on hand since it debuted. Not for the faint of heart but it’s lovely.
+ 1 for Ormonde Jayne Man
also, Slumberhouse Sova…yum!!!
I would suggest Rochas Homme, from it’s fresh bergamot opening to it’s beautiful vanilla dry down, it is one of my favorite gourmands for men. It has good longevity, but stays fairly close to the skin. It is also not too sweet.
Also, Givency Pi, which has a beautiful benzoin base and is one of my favorite fragrances when I just need something easy to wear!
I really like body Kouros, so can recommend that and it’s less mainstream than it once was ( you’d get a lot of change from your $200 if you bought it online, its normally around $50 100ml). Also if he likes Terre D’hermes parfum that’s a great choice. becoming very popular though i don’t know if its uber-mainstream yet. Probably depends on where you live.
I also second Ormonde Jayne Man, it’s very nice and not at all common. I do like Eau Duelle and feel like it fits the bill. I wonder if Dior Homme would be something he’d like too
I recommend trying out the Olfactive Studio (Still Life, Autoportrait, Chambre Noir) fragrances if there’s a shop closeby that has them as they are not very mainstream but overstrain anyone who isn’t the biggest perfume geek either.
Since he likes Terre D’Hermes, and vanilla, maybe he’d like the same creator’s Vetiver Tonka.
Chiming in for Vetiver Tonka, Eau de Baux and Chergui. I know he thought the Hugo Boss was too much for everyday wear, so TF Tobacco Vanille is probably also too much lol, but give it a sniff! Also, maybe try Serge Lutens Santal Majascule as well. I can’t remember if it’s got vanilla in the notes, but it’s a woodier, sexier, more masculine version of Jeux de Peau which smells like walking past a french bakery in the best way possible.
How about the classic Eau Sauvage for the citrus side of things? Maybe that could be a present for the summer…