It’s Father’s Day ALREADY? This year I’ve assembled twelve gift choices (13 counting the non-scented tie above) that can be mixed and matched: a box of soap and a shower gel, or some grooming products and a bottle of booze (there’s always food and drink on my list…they’re “fragranced,” correct?) So, buy a nice box or bag and fill it up! (If the box is a lacquered Chinese antique or the bag is a leather tote — all the better.)…
Long Hot Summer ~ Soaps for the Sultry Days Ahead
Here at Now Smell This we know it doesn’t take long to spend LOTS of money on scented toiletries (I’m not talking perfume, either). I’m a big fan of fragranced bath products, and current pricing for “fine” soaps and bath gels is high. Who’d have ever thought Diptyque and Frédéric Malle would be on the bargain end of ‘exclusive’ bath lines? Diptyque shower gels are $44 and a bar of scented soap is $15 (reasonable!); Frédéric Malle body wash is $55.
Bath gels sell for what perfume used to cost — Hermès cleansing gel: $59; Tom Ford shower gel: $65; Bond no. 9 body wash: $75; Sisley shower gel: $85; Creed body wash: $95. Fancy soaps are less expensive to buy and go from the “low end” (Jo Malone and Atelier Cologne, $20 a bar; Hermès soap, $22; Chanel No. 5 soap, $26 per cake) to high and higher end — Bvlgari soap, $30 a bar; one Guerlain Shalimar soap, $31; Tom Ford soaps: $35 each, and, as with bath gels, Creed is most expensive at $45 per tablet (I’ll pass).
Hey, Roja Dove and Clive Christian! Have you lost your nerve(s)? I was expecting over-priced bars of soap from each of you for at least $100 apiece and bath gels (with pulverized Swarovski crystals and gold leaf) for $400 in 8 oz. over-dreck-o-rated bottles!
Though I’ve enjoyed many of the soaps listed above (Diptyque, Hermès, Atelier Cologne and Guerlain), today I’m writing about less expensive options that deliver great lather and quality aromas.
Kappus Violet Lilac | Germany, $4: This is an old-fashioned-smelling violet and lilac glycerin soap…
Floris + Turnbull & Asser 71/72 ~ new fragrance
British niche line Floris will launch 71/72, a new limited edition fragrance for men in the brand’s By Request series. 71/72 was developed in collaboration with English shirt makers Turnbull & Asser, and is named for that brand’s address on Jermyn Street in London…
Floris A Rose For… ~ new fragrance
British niche line Floris will launch A Rose For…, a new limited edition fragrance in the brand’s By Request series…
Holiday fragrance gifts 2015, part 4
Our series of holiday 2015 gift posts continues with gift ideas for men, although there are plenty of “unisex” ideas in the other articles, and as always there are probably a few things here that women might like.
From Cinnamon Projects, a dual incense burner and tray in solid brass. $150 at Aedes; the Cinnamon Projects incense is $30 for a tube of 25 sticks in a variety of scents (12 AM Carnation – Clove – Lavender – Oakmoss; 2 AM Cedarwood – Cinnamon – Honey – Vetiver; 4 PM Iris – Juniper – Mandarin – Patchouli; 7 AM Black Tea – Clay – Driftwood – Marigold or 8 PM Carnation – Leather – Mahogany – Tobacco)…