Fabio is back for a third round of the Monday Mail, our not-so-regular feature where readers help other readers find the perfect fragrance. Fabio wants a new summer fragrance for 2015. He'd like something sophisticated and elegant, and perhaps sexy as well. He'd like to stick to a price range of $80 - $120, and while niche is fine, he'd rather not have something difficult to find.
Here is what we know about Fabio:
He’s in his early 40s and lives in Milan.
Fabio is a man with English/ Italian style during working hours, more preppy on the weekends.
He loves to read, to travel, to play tennis and to take photographs.
Fabio used to wear Penhaligons Raquets, but it's now discontinued. His current summer rotation includes Terre d'Hermès (he likes it, but thinks it's common and not very elegant) and Dior Aqua Fahrenheit (he likes that as well, but wants something that's a better match for his style/ personality).
During the winter Fabio wears Tom Ford Italian Cypress, Acqua di Parma Colonia Intensa, Aramis Man, Guerlain L'Âme d'Un Héros and Calvin Klein Eternity for Men.
Fabio doesn't like unisex fragrances or aquatics. He recently tried Creed Erolfa, and was not impressed.
What say you?
Note: top image is pink post [cropped] by jenny downing at flickr; some rights reserved.
As you seem to like the combination of citrus and wood, what about Chanel Pour Monsieur (in the tall bottle)? I find it interesting and refined and while it’s not expensive, it’s not very common. If you can live without the citrus and are willing to go slightly beyond your price range, I think Chanel Sycomore is one of the most elegant (and sexy) masculines in existence. Hermes colognes might be worth a try as well, in case you haven’t explored them yet – Eau de Narcisse Bleu is my personal favourite, but all are good.
Thanks for your help.
Chanel Pour Monsieur has been since a long time on my radar, and I will definetely give it a try.
You caught my attention on Sycomore defining it as “one of the most elegant (and sexy) masculines in existence.”; I’ve always thought at it as a fragrance for women, but the review here in NST is amazing!
Hermes colognes are good, but their longevity very bad.
Sycomore is not animalic-sexy, but sexy in a way that someone who is self-confident and in control (and probably impeccably dressed, which I tend to associate with Milan) is sexy. It has been known to work on me, in any case
And indeed, the longevity of Hermes colognes is an issue, although they last better on me than the Hermessences.
WOW!
I so need to test Sycomore!!!
Fun! Monday Mail!
Okay, this is a Total Shot In the Dark, since i know very little of men’s fragrances. But, since it’s fun to participate, i am going to suggest Light Blue Pour Homme.
And now I qualify my suggestion by saying is probably too common, but i do love the way it smells on my guy when he uses it
Hi nebbe,
thanks for your contribution.
I blind-bought last here Light Blue pour Homme Discovery Vulcano, just because I love this island (Vulcano).
The fragrance is pretty good for warm Summer time here in Italy.
I think vetivers generally offer an elegant interesting fragrance so I’m going to recommend a few:
Guerlain Vétiver, Givenchy Vétyver, Lalique Encre Noire, the afore mentioned Sycomore, Maître Parfumeur et Gantier Racine, Etro Vetiver and the Goutal Vétiver cologne.
I would second the other Chanel mentioned by Annikky, Pour Monsieur is beautiful, get the original though and not the concentrée.
Way above your pricepoint but imho one of the best masculines out there is MDCI’s Invasion Barbare.
If you like lavender Caron Pour un Homme is excellent and their 3me Homme is another outstanding fragrance. If you find them elegant I cannot predict, as I personally find Terre d’Hermès very elegant indeed. So try before you buy!
HI austenfan,
and thanks for this comprehensive list of vetyver fragrances.
It reminds me I used to use Guerlain Home L’Eau Boisée which was pretty good; I’ll be happy to give a sniff to all of them.
I do like lavander, but it depends on how it’s used; it always has a risk of a “old man vibe”.
I love Terre d’Hermès, but I find it more animalic (which I love) than elegant.
Have you got any access to Parfums de Nicolaï? She has some great masculines, especially New York.
I might find them in Milan!
I second Chanel Pour Monsieur, lovely stuff and doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves. Also, it may be too unisex, but how about Eau Sauvage?
Thanks MikasMinion.
3§ vote for Chanel, it’d be probably realy be the fragrance I’m looking for.
I really wanted to love Eau Savage, but it didn’t “click” on me.
Buongiorno Fabio
Have you tried the parfum version of Eau Sauvage?
Buongiorno perthgirl,
no just the classic one.
Is the parfum version worth a try?
Thanks
I find Cartier Declaration very similar to Terre d’Hermès – my husband and I love and wear both of these, and Declaration may seem more “elegant” to you (I think its sexier). I particularly like Declaration Essence.
I also love many of the Guerlain and Caron masculines mentioned above by austenfan, especially Guerlain Vetiver and Caron Third Man (3me Homme) for summer. Habit Rouge is great any time of year.
Hi bastet,
thanks fo sharing your opinion.
I know Declaration (which I feel too overwhelming for Italian Summers), maybe Essence is lighter.
Guerlain Vetyver is on my list, now.
What about Dior Homme for a bit of sophisticated iris? I bought it for my husband who doesn’t play tennis
but is sexy and elegant (I think!) and it wears wonderful on him.
Hi Hamamelis,
yes, Dior Homme is sophisticated.
Once there was Dior Homme Cologne (http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Christian-Dior/Dior-Homme-Cologne-1770.html) which was my dream Summer fragrance: citrus and powdery.
Unfortunally, it’s been discontinued and replaced with the current Cologne (which I hate).
Fabio, if you like citrus and powder, you could try Annick Goutal’s Eau de Monsieur.
If I could find anything close to the old DH Cologne… I’ll check this one
Fabio, I agree with Anniky and Austenfan in regard to vetiver. Anything vetiver. Hands down the sexiest smell on a man.
Maybe also something like Chanel Antaeus if it’s not too old-fashioned? And I see that your preferences are citrus/woody, but have you tried something a bit warmer for cool weather like Bottega Veneta pour homme? Very sexy
Good, I certainly have to invest on a vetiver fragrance.
I used to use Antaeus, but on winter, it’s too heavy on Summer.
Oh the Chanel Sycamore for certain! The Pour Monsieur as well- NOT the concentree version though! Even better if you can score a vintage edition of it- but that would require a certain amount of effort that you to not want to deal but my god- it would be so worth it!
Hi Gian,
thanks for your help.
Both Chanel fragrances are on my test-list and… you’re right
I rarely search for vintage fragrances, as I don’t know how they were stored.
You are that there is a certain amount of risk in buying vintage perfumes because unless you find a trusted source you have no way of knowing how well they were stored. A perfect personal example: I’ve recently found myself enamoured of vintage Carven Ma Griffe which has been produced in several concentrations & have been through many reformulations over the years. The first bottle I bought on eBay was $50 & it was a bust- it smelled like just a remote, harsh, & bitter relative of the precious vintage sample I had that I was seeking a full bottle of. But I could not be dissuaded- so I lept again & the 2nd bottle I bought cost me $35 & it was an exact match to my beloved sample. So for $85 (total, including shipping) I got a fantastic bottle of vintage Ma Griffe. To buy a new bottle of the current reformulation of Ma Griffe costs $89… So… A little effort yes, but oh so worth it! By the way, of all the vintage bottles I’ve acquired from auction sites over the past few years I estimate that 80% of them were winners the first time around- that puts the odds greatly in your favour. The key is to be cautious, deliberate, do your homework, & listen to your gut. The rewards are awesome!
P.S. I must hasten to add that before you start hunting down FBs of vintage fragrances you need to first order yourself a decant from a reputable perfume decanter to decide whether you even like the fragrance; after all where do you think I got that original beloved sample of Ma Griffe from to start with? I live in the US & I use Surrender To Chance & The Perfumed Court as my decanters of choice.
Oh the Chanel Sycamore for certain! The Pour Monsieur as well- NOT the concentree version though! Even better if you can score a vintage edition of it- but that would require a certain amount of effort that you do not seem want to deal with but my god- it would be so worth it!
For a cheap and cheerful pick, try Roger et Gallet L’Homme. It smells to me a little bit like Chanel Pour Monsieur, and when a certain guy wears it, it makes me weak in the knees.
R&G is difficult to find, but I will have a look, thanks Bexca
My husband suggests Guerlian Ideal Man or Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme. He likes these in summer. I would add YSL L’Nuit de L’Homme, Etat Libre d’Orange Fat Electrician, Creed Green Irish Tweed or Aventus. There is vetiver in most of these; all really fresh. And Bulgari Pour Homme is a classic!
Another classic: Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien!
Katrina,
thanks for your suggestions.
Does Fat Electrician smell sophisticated and elegant?
Just kidding.
Bulgari and Eau d’Hadrien have been on my “sniffing list”… probably for too long now!
Seconding (or thirding) Caron Pour on Homme and Parfums de Nicolaï New York, and suggesting Parfum d’Empire Azemour les Orangers and (above price range) Frederic Malle French Lover (and, although it’s above price range and you might want to wait for autumn, I do think Fabio might like Frederic Malle Bigarade Concentrée).
Hi Liza
thanks for the new input, and also for the suggestion for the fall.