TimeOut

Anybody out there a fan of perfume or cologne?  I use the words interchangeably below, but actually there is a difference.  My understanding is that perfume contains more essential oils than cologne, and therefore the scent is more concentrated.  A perfume will also be more expensive, and a little goes a long way.  Perfume will linger longer on your skin than cologne, which is meant to be splashed or sprayed on. 

I love discovering new perfumes.  It's funny how my sense of smell is so hardwired into my memory bank.  For instance, the smell of classic Polo eau de toilette always makes me think of my father.  When I was young he used to wear it regularly, and despite the fact that he hasn't worn cologne for years, every time I smell Polo on a man or in a store my mind immediately flashes back 25 years to mental images of my father coming through the front door after a long day at the office and hugging me.  I have similar reactions to L'Air du Temps, which my grandmother used for years, and Drakkar Noir which seemed to be de rigeuer for boys during my teen years.  My taste in perfumes run the gamut, although usually I don't care for Orientals or top notes of patchouli.  There are of course exceptions like Samsara by Guerlain, a delicious Oriental that I use only in the evening, and only in the summer.  I love the smell of Samsara's jasmine and sandalwood on the warm, night wind.

My current favorites are Bulgari Eau Parfumée au Thé Blanc, a long time standard for me that smells musky with sweet tea notes.  Bulgari markets it as a unisex perfume, but I cannot imagine a man wearing such a feminine scent.  My latest find, and new love, is Heeley Cuir Pleine Fleur which is supposed to be a leather scent (hence the name, which is French for Fine Leather), but I find the notes of violet top the suede-like smell the minute the perfume dries.  The house of Heeley makes some very high quality scents, but they are polarizing.  People love them, and people hate them.  I love the smell of Heeley Fine Leather, and haven't been this crazy about a perfume since I first tried Acqua di Biella No. 1 (which has sadly been backordered at my favorite parfumerie since last year).  If you like cologne and have never tried Acqua di Biella No. 1, I urge you to find out why people have been wearing it since 1871.  It's a timeless, old-fashioned cologne with notes of mint, musk and citrus that is really for men, but is frankly so well-crafted and lovely that an assertive woman can pull it off.  No. 1 is one of the finest products to come out of Italy ever IMO!

Do you ladies and gents have favorite colognes/perfumes you'd like to share?  I'm always looking for new suggestions.

Smell you later (I couldn't help it, a million apologies.)!

Daos

Acqua di Biella No. 1 -- Anyone wearing this immediately has my full attention. (Photo courtesy of Luckyscent)

Heeley Cuir Pleine Fleur -- soft suede, violets, and green notes create a potent, polarizing concoction. (Photo courtesy of Luckyscent)

Bulgari Eau Parfumée au Thé Blanc -- soft, sensual, and sweet.  I like to dab this in the hollow of my neck and behind my ears before I go out for the day. (Photo courtesy of Sephora)

But yes, I'm a big perfume fan.

I'm wearing right now Chanel Homme Sport, a very fresh fragrance, dynamic, but very sensual.

I also love Thierry Mugler A Man, a bit spicy, louder, certainly, but each tilme I smell it, it is a journey into childhood.

For summer, I also love a lot Some Davidoff perfumes, or Troohée Lancome.

For autumn or winter, a warm perfume like Rive Gauche form Y.S.L, or Opium ( Y.S.L, too ).

For every season, Vetiver form Guerlain is another great choice.

There are so many things to say about perfumes!

We even could have more fun and think about the likns between perfumes and watches...

I'm sure there are interesting associations between the 2!

Best,

Nicolas

...fragrances of all time.  I would say, one of the top 10 in the world, IMO.  Why am I not surprised that your list of perfumes is sophisticated and fashion-forward?  Yes, undoubtedly we could discuss perfumes as we discuss watches -- we could talk about the companies that are still held by the same families that founded them generations ago; independents vs. those owned by luxury conglomerates; those that craft scents "in-house" vs. those that hire star "noses" to create scents; French perfumes vs. Italian; natural vs. synthesized scent compounds, etc., etc.  The discussion points are endless, and very, very subjective (much like watches).  Everyone's nose likes different smells.  The other thing which is interesting, is that each person's individual body chemistry can affect a perfume as it dries down, so something that smells good to you in a bottle can smell horrendous to you once on your body.

Cheers,
Daos

I couldn't have put it into better words myself. It's all about the season.

Fragrances and watches would go hand in hand. I also thought of the same thing.

I'm thinking the Chanel Homme Sport would go well with some sort of sports watch.

Thierry Mugler A Man, with a very young watch; I'm thinking something really playful and childish, something with colors; a Rolex Milgauss with lightning bolt second hand and green sapphire crystal comes to mind.

Hello Daos!

Interesting post!  For me it's Acqua D'Gio, Chanel Platinum Egoiste, and recently Creed.


-MW

...is one of my favorites.  I love the smell of it on a man.  It's clean and refreshing.  I'm not familiar with the Chanel, so I will check that one out.  Which scent from the Creed line do you favor?

Daos

It's Creed Imperial Millesime.

-MW

IM has a definite following amongst my guy friends.  I like the citrus-melon notes.  Of the Creed line, I like Bois de Portugal on a man, and Fleur de The Rose Bulgare on me.  I'm a sucker for Bulgarian rose.  People make fun of me because I go wild for Penhaligon's Elisabethan Rose.  It's an old-fashioned smelling fragrance, but I know exactly why it resonates with me (As a little girl, I received a compendium of classic love poems, and the endpages of the book were scented with Elisabethan Rose.), and won't apologize for loving a perfume that is probably mostly worn by octagenarians (No offense meant to any folks in that generation, but just acknowledging that the women in my immediate group of friends would never be into this particular perfume!  As usual, I'm the outlier!). 

Cheers,

Daos

This message has been edited by dxboon on 2009-06-21 21:43:19

You will really like Clive Christian. It's got a slightly heavier musk than Creed, but ironically more delicate at the same time.

Acqua d'Gio is perfect for summer.

back from a trip to Paris for a friend. that bottle was about the same price as the 150ml bottles in the US
A

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Some guys like to toss a bunch "down under".

Although I hardly ever wear any fragrances (maybe once a week at most), I do pay some heed to it. I categorize my fragrances into one of two categories; seasonal and perennials.

The perennials are more compatible smells that can easily be used during any season and most occasions, a multi-tasking fragrance. Some of my perennials include...
- hermes eau d'orange vert (toilette concentration) (unisex)
- Montblanc Presence (toilette)

Then I have seasonal fragrances that are only appropriate for the season.
-Sporty and fruity smells in the summer (this summer I'm using Porsche Design)
- musky smells in the winter

Mainly, it's important to choose a fragrance that suits the mood and suits the season. Sometimes your mood may vary between night and day (some people change watches between night and day; a suit and Breguet during the day and jeans and Panerai at night). Just make sure you have the right smell for the right moment.

And I personally never wear too much fragrance. Spray one spray in the ambient of the powder room, walk into the ambient, turn 360 degrees, and walk out. Avoid spraying directly on your person or your clothes.

Can't recommend any, as it's truly something very very personal.

Hermes Eau d'Orange Vert is a classic!  I like the light, clean, citrus scent of it.  Yes, perfume is very subjective, and it is hard to make recommendations for others.  I am not familiar at all with the Montblanc and Porsche Design perfumes you cite, so I will make a point to check them out.  There is a lot to learn and experience in the world of perfumes!

Cheers,
Daos

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I'm going to revisit smelling this one (and all the scents that the PuristS respond with, if possible).  I have written in my scentbook - "creamy" and "citrus" next to F32.  When you wear it on your person, do you get similar notes and/or different ones?

Cheers,
Daos

Hi Daos, i order to put some perfume on your body, you have to clean(or wash) yourself. I'm not really a big fan of water (swimming pool or douche) ... so i just wash myself every three months (maybe a bit earlier ... LOL) .... so my perfumes last pretty long ... only have two perfumes in the closet (one BOSS and the other .... errr .... only god knows which one that is) ... and most of the time they stay in the closet .... . Last month i tried something which smelled very good and fitted my body ( all this is very strange , i know ) but sadly i forgot the name of the perfume .... naaaaaaahhhh ... i prefer champagne ... something fluid you can at least drink !!! Sincerely yours, Filip .... i meant ... Dirty Filip

Above: A very rare moment in the life of Bim

Please remind me to not take a room with you at our London GTG!

))

Best,

Nicolas

... i was going to wear my pink shirt ... especially for you

Filip

You crack me up!  Somehow, I think you are joking.    Otherwise, the June 29th Event To Celebrate Daos' Birthday, um, Euro PuristS GTG could be a very scented affair.  *chuckling*

Cheers,
Daos

P.s. - GREAT photo!

... resistance is futile .... next month i'm turning 87 so .... i don't don't think i'll change .... and remember: "The first 100 years are the most difficult; after that things get better "

Ze bim

I hope you never change, hermano...

But you must think about it... and, tell me??? the next gtg is near to your unlucky meeting with water (and shower, I hope)???. LOLOL

Best, my dear friend.

emilio

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That true essence of pure undeniable manliness can be quite irresistible.   

Looks like you need a bigger tub.  

..bespoke is an interesting option, Daos.

As a gift from her favourite husband a couple of years ago, Mrs pplater received a consultation with a traditional parfumeur who then created  a perfume specifically to her taste. The exercise was not without its complications (the parfumeur in question happened to be on the other side of the world, so a European holiday had to be thrown in), but several test batches later Mrs pplater has a formula all her own which is then reproduced in parfum, eau de parfum, creme peau (?) etc etc. Truly, she smells like no-one else on Earth!

There are a few bespoke parfumeurs around the world, but the chosen one on this occasion was 'Pecksniff's' in England (isn't that a great name???). The whole exercise (minus the travel component) was not unreasonable - cheaper than your next watch. ;-)   Visit their website and see what you think.

 

Cheers,

pplater.

...and probably will go this route one day, when I feel a bit more knowledgeable about the form.  There is actually a world-renowned parfumeur based here in California that only creates perfumes using non-synthetic essences.  Mrs. Pplater is so lucky to be married to the generous Mr. Pplater!  Getting a European vacation along with the perfume is the icing on the cake!    I'll have to check out the Pecksniff's website now.

Cheers,
Daos

Hello, Daos,

For the last 3 years I have chosen Aqua di Parma, usually going back and forth between the Colonia Classica and their Blu Mediterraneo line, especially the Fico di Amalfi and Mirto di Panarea. In my opinion they have a very particular fragance that makes them stand out from other colognes, and are always well received with the ladies. I even joke around when asked about my cologne I just tell them is my Latin Musk, LOL!!! I always clarify later in case my comment was not that well recieved.

As for women, I love the Bvlgari The Blanc (that you wear) and Jo Malone's Verbenas, as those are the ones my girlfriend uses, but I also have fond memories of Dolce and Gabbana's Light Blue and the Classic one with the red cap. Ahhhh, Memories......

Have a great weekend!

Alex