Excuse me … do you work here?

I´ve been busy since my return home – Diva had her 13th birthday, so I´m now officially the mother of a teenager. Among other things, she received a bottle of Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue, per her request. It was also our wedding anniversary, and I decided the Big Cheese needed a summer scent, since he´s got a heavy hand with the application and his old-school D&G Pour Homme was rapidly losing its charm in the summer heat.

For a change I took a Group Selection approach with that one, using Gail (my long-suffering SA at Nordstrom) and the random collection of male and female SAs and customers gathered around. I wanted something lighter and summery and maybe more citrus. If Gail worked at Neiman Marcus I´d probably have bought one of the Guerlain colognes like Eau du Coq. But she doesn´t and I owe her, so off to Nordstrom I went. I´d tentatively decided on Asprey Purple Water, if for no other reason than you could spray on half the bottle and live. But its lasting power is, essentially, nil. We smelled several things. I think the new Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Homme is dreadful. I was curious – what were they going to do with the homme version of such a runaway hit? What I got was very bitter herbal – juniper and rosemary? Ugh, no thanks. They took everything that was great about Light Blue (assuming you thought there was anything great to start with) and sucked all the joy out of it. The Marc Jacobs for men is nice but too floral for the Cheese. (I did try it on myself and the lasting power was mediocre – this coming from someone who clings to scents like a limpet.) Annick Goutal’s Hadrian and Mandragore were out because I wear them and don´t want to smell them on him, and I unilaterally decided he wouldn´t like Duel, although what do I know? I liked the Geir Ness a lot but nobody else did, and maybe its aggressive green note would get on my nerves after awhile, plus I´d already decided to keep it a group experiment, because hey, why not?

So we wound up with the new Gucci Pour Homme II. The packaging is particularly handsome – a heavy, square glass bottle, masculine and expensive-looking. I love the bergamot-tea dynamic, the cinnamon, myrrh and pimento add a nice spicy twist, and for something with all that plus musk and tobacco it´s surprisingly summer-friendly. I don´t think it breaks any wild new ground, scent-wise, but the Cheese isn´t looking for weird, and it´s interesting/sensual without boring me to tears, either. It smells great on him. Everything smells great on him, though.

For Father´s Day maybe I´ll annoy him further (have I mentioned how much my fragrance addiction and the blogging annoy him?) and get him the Geir. He really liked the Weil Eau de Fraicheur last summer (he used the entire bottle) and it´s dirt cheap online, but it´s so generic I just can´t muster the enthusiasm to order him another bottle — I might just as well buy him a bottle of 4711 from our Greek barber up the street. What´s your vote, anyway? (Please – picture a guy who sprays five, six times and isn´t going to change that habit.)

On another topic, I´d like to note that it´s true – I was surrounded by tree-sized rhododendrons all over the UK, and many of them do smell gorgeous, and their azaleas are pretty, too. They don´t go for the garish colors we have here quite so much. The hawthorns were blooming, and wow, you don´t smell that every day, do you? Like buttered feet.

Finally, one of you (who´s the culprit?) talked me into buying an orchid plant online a year or more ago (this orchid´s low maintenance! The blooms smell lovely!) I bought it without much thought, the dull little plant showed up, and it´s been thriving on my special recipe of neglect and tap water ever since, although I have a nice liquid orchid food all mixed up for it, when someone remembers. Frankly, I´d forgotten its existence (this is why my plants are in the yard.) So you could have knocked me over with a feather when I came back from my trip and there it is – with two enormous parti-colored (purple and white) blooms! And the perfume is amazing! I now have it next to my bed so I can smell it scenting the room. Now what? Am I supposed to feed it more? Less? Sing to it? Go back to ignoring it? What about the light? BTW it was supposed to be especially light-friendly – and the tag says l.C. Purple Cascade “Fragrance Princess´ (C. Interglossa x Lc. Tokyo Magic). Stop me before I kill again.

… where were we? Oh. What do I get the Cheese, if anything? I´ll turn bottle #2 into a blog-vote on this post (no, I´m not gonna set up one of those polling things. Puh-lease. Remember who you´re talking to. I´ll count manually.) Or should I get him a case of wine instead? Remember: if it’s for him, it needs to be light.

  • Solander says:

    Excellent choice! I think the Guccis, both of them, are about the best in the men’s department. I recently smelled Duel too, and I think it’s very refreshing on a hot day. Also I don’t find Geir Ness aggressively green, more like soft and milky and naturally green, but perhaps if you spray 5-6 times…?

  • Mark says:

    Maybe Acqua di Parma would work. It’s light (AdC) citrusy but somewhat masculine (the Colonia Assoluta even more so) and Nordstrom’s carries it (according to their web site), probably in the women’s fragrance section (don’t tell him this). As a side note, that was the most parenthetical sentence I’ve ever written.

    Back to AdP: Even better, it’s unisex so if you happen to like it and he doesn’t, you could throw in the towel on the fragrance for him, go with the wine, and reward yourself with the AdP because you take *such* good care of him and behavior like that is to be encouraged. 😉

  • Vance says:

    Well, I’m hesitant to suggest a scent with leather notes for a summer fragrance, but what about John Varvatos? Five or six sprays would’t be at all overbearing and the longevity is incredible! Also, I personally love the tamarind in the opening notes. If JV isn’t appropriate, what about Issey Miyake?

    • March says:

      Second vote for John Varvatos! Also I need to re-try the Issey. I can’t smell the women’s really; maybe the men’s is more … there? Also reminds me that I need to go try the Kenzo Homme, I bet that’s light, and there are probably flankers.

  • Rob says:

    I’ll share my “like-to-haves” for Summer:

    I’m for the Gucci PH II as well, and another, which you can already find at a better price at the online discounters is YSL L’Homme, not too heavy, has a great citrus opening and then mellows to a mild woody smell, not too sharp like TdH, with a spicy undertone. I don’t think he will kill another with 5-6 sprays on either. Average longevity, 4-6 hours.

    • March says:

      That YSL got totally panned by a lot of folks, and I don’t even think I smelled it. But I should. I have a number of YSL scents I love. Thanks for reminding me. I still think TdH would kill.;)

      • Lee says:

        YSL Homme – nice enough, but no really anything to hold your attention for more than, say, 5 seconds. Just IMHO, bien sur.:-b

      • Rob says:

        I’m not really sure what people were expecting from L’Homme. It may be understated, but it’s Summer, last thing I want is something overly complex and way too heavy. At least that’s my mentality about a Summer frag.

        • March says:

          Rob — having spent a fair amount of time Walking on the Wild Side, I too have an appreciation for understated. I think for a lot of people on this site, the grey area between understated and boring is undefinable (and obviously subjective.) In my moments of fragrance fatigue, and particularly in our summer heat, understated can be a very fine thing.

        • Lee says:

          Sorry Rob – I didn’t wish to sound dismissive, and I’ll resniff Homme in the near future. I guess if it’s that hot, I’d always go for a traditional cologne before a scent like homme, simply because there seemed to be something in it to which I’m considerably averse. But i’ll resniff sometime soon.

  • noyna says:

    Ooh! Love TdH! But I’m not sure about it, if it is blasted on in five or six sprays…is there a way to rig the spritzer?? How about Vetiver Tonka or Poivre Samarcande? I adore both, but they disappear pretty quickly on me — maybe a virtue, with Mr. Cheese’s perfume-mist cooling system…

    • March says:

      Those are actually good suggestions — sufficient lightness. I’m fascinated by the total dominance of Hermes scents on this list.

  • Both of you might like the new Scent Surrounds by Jo Malone. After the Cacao and whatever-it-was disaster, I thought I’d never slow down by a Jo Malone display again. But Lino nel Vento is wonderful. It’s meant to spray on linens, but it’s great as a very light fragrance. Ignore the fact it says it has lavender in it. It smells comforting and easy, and when you wake up and it’s 80 degrees in Alexandria, 5 sprays is fine. It doesn’t last long, but it’s great while it lasts. Moulton Brown also has a room fragrance that’s called Mulberry but smells light and fresh and not berry-like. More like cut the hedge with dew on it. And if you stop by Art with Flowers in Tyson’s, those handmade paper bowls are mine.

    • March says:

      I’ll look for the Lino. Now that you mention it, there was another one — I think one of their “home ambience” sprays — that was lovely. And one of their colognes, although I don’t see it on their website…

      It’s funny, I forget to look at the rest of the stuff in AWF, but they have lovely, lovely things. They had a coral theme going recently that was beautiful, and I bought a wooden bowl there awhile back to put some of those Burn rocks into.

  • Anne says:

    Late on this discussion but… I dragged my eye-rolling, slumped-shouldered, mumbling to himself DH (oh, we make them suffer so!) into Bloomies men’s frag department last weekend. Three were memorable. Cartier Santos, Gendarme and the Geir Ness. The Cartier may be too much in the heat but the other two actually got an audible response that was positive. Another that I love is M7. I know, I know, but what about the M7 Fresh?

    • March says:

      Hah — someone else who liked the Geir! I can’t even remember what Gendarme smells like. Did you buy anything?

      • Lee says:

        M7 Fresh – also quite potent on 6 sprays. Geir – suffocating to me on 2… You have been warned.

        (It’s nice with a half-spray, but I’m not its biggest fan).

      • Anne says:

        No, didn’t buy anything. There will be no spur of the moment, serendipitous perfume purchases! I must attempt the impossible and get him back there a second time. Perseverance!
        :)>-

  • Jayne says:

    Hey Lee, You recommended Poivre Samarcande – how well does that bear up for a man with a heavy thumb?? On your say so, I’m saving up for some hermessence, but would civilization as we know it survive???

    • Lee says:

      In summer, he’d smell like a rump steak in pepper. In winter, we’d survive. The Hermessences get short shrift from some for being light – I’m not sure PS or AN fall into that category easily (nor for me VT or OY, but that’s my skin and nose) – I’d definitely test PS first. I love it, but it can be a nosetickler if heavily applied (and do that noxious soapy thing that so many JCE scents do if you use to much of them).

  • Robin says:

    Second the suggestion of Eau Sauvage — better yet, wait for the new Eau Sauvage Fraicheur Cuir.

  • rosarita says:

    Based on the heavy spray issue (which my DH shares), I’ll weigh in with Aveda for men. It’s bergamot-y and slightly spicy, in fact I love it myself but I don’t wear it because we don’t share either. Light, but just complex enough to be rather interesting.
    I just checked the Aveda website and it’s currently out of stock (of course) but would be available at any Aveda salon. If not interested for the Cheese, check it out for yourself sometime, I think you’d like it. Ellen makes a good case about the Etro, too – I’m just now discovering the line and enjoying it.
    Oh, and congratulations about the orchid; I can never seem to get anything that smells nice to grow inside, despite my best efforts to ignore it.
    :d

    • March says:

      I have an Aveda store here — I’ll check it out, thanks.

      I wish we had Etro here, but nobody carries it.

      I am terrible with houseplants. Terrible. My garden is beautiful, but pretty low-maintenance cottage-garden type thing. I still can’t believe that thing bloomed.

  • Patty says:

    BTW, Happy Anniversary. I keep forgetting yours falls about the same time as ours.

  • Lauren says:

    Yeah, I’m going to second the case of wine, I think. Twelve really different, great wines, including a Prosecco, or two, for summer.

    And “buttered feet” sounds like quite an interesting note.

    • March says:

      Well, I’ve never loved some of the hawthorne fragrances, and I can see why. It’s just a funky smell.

      Another vote for the wine!

  • Patty says:

    Get the wine or get a wine sniffing kit. I got one for Warren, who wants to know more about the different wine bouquets, which sorta corresponds to what we’re doing! So I got the mondo kit for him, which he gets tonight, cuz it’s his birfday!

    I really love that Gucci PHII. I know it’s not groundbreaking, but I’m surprised it doesn’t get more love.

  • Jayne says:

    Hi, my DH is a tad heavy-handed so I steered him towards the Marc Jacobs splashes – the orange is my favourite. Otherwise he can drench himselve in Gucci pour Homme, because at least I die happy

    • March says:

      I did think of those…. can’t decide if they’re likely to get knocked over in our bathroom — kids playing with them, etc.

      • Jayne says:

        Bit young, you think? But they are nice big beautiful bottles. I did a bit of cost-benefit analysis, too. 300ml goes a long way even when you have a sextuple-spritzer.

        I tried educating mine, no more than 3, I said. Left, right and down the centre – but will he listen…..

        • Jayne says:

          … and, when face with splash versus spritz, most people will spray with abandon and pour with caution.

  • sarah says:

    TdH is divine also love Chanel Pour Monsier

  • Amy says:

    I love the TdH, but if he’s a sextuple spritzer there might be carnage. Orange Vert is probably a better way to go there. Great frag. Also, what about one of the CdG Incenses? Kyoto is wonderful in the summer, and I’ve never found it very heavy at all.

    • March says:

      Aha!!! Confirmation (Louise shares my feelings) that TdH would kill us in high doses. I’ll resniff, that’s clearly the front-runner, but I think it’s just too much. Maybe I’m particularly sensitive to the smell? I dunno.

      Nope. He can’t have the CdG. They’re mine.:d:”> See note to pitbullfriend above.

    • Maria says:

      Terre d’Hermes could kill me in small doses. I’ll just go on popping up here and there warning March against a fatal mistake. :-“

  • pitbull friend says:

    Hey, March, since I don’t have a full-time Human Scent Strip (a.k.a. spouse or live-in), my testing has been more limited. Based on what smells good on ME, though — what about Etro Lemon Sorbet? (Supposed to be for men.) Fresh & tangy with rosemary adding interest. (Although I love Anthousa Citrus Sorbet, in which there is a woody foil rather than an herby one, it’s STRONG on me.) Bulgari Red Tea would be the best of the teas to me — it has a strong tannic note that makes it thirst-quenching and not girlie-floral. The Hermes EDC is refreshing, fades quickly, and to me is less harsh than 4711.

    I’m ruling a lot of things out based on the six-sprays-a-day and it being slightly hotter than hell in D.C. in the summer. What fun this is! –Ellen

    • March says:

      I forgot about the Etro! I’m going to look and see if I have a samp — Lemon Sorbet sounds good. He can’t have the Red Tea because I wear it in the summer and (this must sound weird to other perfumistas on here) I just have this thing where I don’t want to smell the same scent on him. I don’t know why, that’s just how it is. When he took my Fraicheur I stopped wearing it.

      Is that just regular Hermes EDC? I mean, something different than Orange Verte, just Hermes? I’m such an ignoramus in the men’s stuff, still. Hermes is clearly a front-runner here.

      I can see you appreciate my weather issue.

      • pitbull friend says:

        Well, March, here is my puzzlement. I bought a sample of “Hermes EDC” from Marina when she still had the Ebay store. I looked around to see whether I could find some more and I can’t find ANYTHING by Googling “Hermes Eau de Cologne” — what always comes up is Orange Verte. So I think EDC was former name & Orange Verte the current? Marina????

        Thanks so much for the samps. I think Fig Tea likes me – sticks around all day. Am waiting on Courtesan & Black Sea – trying to dole out the special ones rather than gobble everything at once! –Ellen

        • March says:

          That’s a good question. I’ll email Marina or put it up here. Actually, I’ll check basenotes first…

          Maria and Louise both admire the Fig-Tea’s tenacity, and they kill many things. I agree it does stick around nicely.

          Wondering how much longer you can hold off on the Courtesan. To be honest, nobody’s said Boo about the Black Sea, but the Courtesan is garnering a lot of positive feedback.

          • Marina says:

            Somebody called? :d Ellen, March, what I have is a green bottle that looks just like Orange Verte. But instead of Orange Verte it says Eau de Cologne. Unfortunately, I don’t anything about it. Has it been discontinued and renamed into Orange Verte? No idea, sorry. I’d be curious to test the two side by side to see if they are the same or different.

    • Maria says:

      Ellen, were you referring to the cologne version of Eau d’Orange Verte? Eau d’Hermes is a women’s fragrance–just to warn you, March. Perfume houses don’t make it easy to keep their ding-dong names straight.

      • Gangel says:

        OK… Eau D’orange verte is the former Eau de Cologne, launched in 1979 and sold as unisex.
        Eau d’Hermes is something completely different… Roudnitska created in 1951… it was the first perfume from Hermes ever… and it is marketed unisex as well.
        Parfum d’Hermes was launched in 1984 and it is a feminine fragrance.
        Check Hermes website.
        :d

        • pitbull friend says:

          Thanks, Gangel. Yes, I had seen that. However, does that mean that the EDC Marina is selling is a “vintage” Orange Vert? I’ll have to go to the source on that, unless Marina happens to drop in here. –Ellen

        • March says:

          Thanks! So it looks like I need to smell two: Orange Verte (which is everywhere) and the Eau. I think we have an Hermes store here…

  • Marina says:

    I vote for Duel. Duel is great, he will love it. And it won’t kill you if he sprays 6 times 🙂

  • Louise says:

    Sorry, no help from me. I have never closely sniffed a man that didn’t smell best by his sweet self. Not opposed to, though-do like Angel Men (mostly on me) but can’t imagine the Cheese in that, or one other (blush) FCUK-actually very nice, just so…young.

    • March says:

      No A-Men. I love it, but somehow don’t want to smell it on him.

      You know what? I’m enough of a snob in some ways, I don’t care if FCUK was the Greatest Show on Earth, I wouldn’t buy a bottle. That’s how much that stupid name irritates me.

  • Gangel says:

    How about Cologne from Thierry Mugler?
    Fresh and clean but very sexy…
    :d

    • March says:

      Just regular Mugler? Like, Mugler Homme or something? I’ve never smelled it. :-” I’m making a list for my next upscale mall trip to review these suggestions.

      • Gangel says:

        no no… not A-men, the sweet coffee thing…
        I meant… Mugler Cologne… the unisex scent….
        you have to smell it!
        :):)

        • March says:

          I’m on it! I actually like A-Men, but not for the Cheese. Angel I wish would disappear off the face of the planet.

  • Elle says:

    I would second Lee’s suggestion of Divine’s L’Homme de Coeur. I also love their Homme Sage. And CdG’s Vettiveru cologne as well as both of the Escentric scents are wonderful and not particularly strong.
    I’ve always been afraid that if I get one orchid, the next thing I know I’ll have a thousand. It’s one of those things I can just see myself becoming seriously addicted to…sneaking them in the house at night, trying to hide them from DH as rooms fill up w/ them and I lock him out of those rooms…it’s not a pretty picture. Must try to erase the last part of your post today from my brain.

    • Lee says:

      Elle… I recognise this personality trait in myself. So glad heroin was never tempting…

    • March says:

      Oh, the escentrics! I forgot all about those! They’re really interesting, I particularly like the one that’s not the straight Iso-E Super or whatever the molecule’s called… I think perfumers find the whole thing hilarious, I guess you can buy it by the drum, but it’s a great smell.

      Those Divines. I forgot, where do you live, climate-wise? I mean, I think they’re both beautiful, but they’re STRONG. I think the Cheese, based on my limited testing, is one those guys who amplifies scents rather than eating them up.

      • Lee says:

        You’re lucky if l’Homme de Coeur is strong (I agree with you on Sage). I wish it lasted longer on me than it does, and that’s not a common complaint with my scent-stickaround skin.

  • Abigail says:

    I have a few orchids, and they all do swimmingly on neglect.

    I would say that if it worked and the thing bloomed for you, then keep doing what you were doing. It’s probably ok to keep it by your bed, or move it to a bright bedroom window. Water it really well once a week. Too much fertilizer can make the leaves turn black and the flowers fall off so either don’t use it or dilute it to 1/4 strength.

    It’s not my fault you have an orchid, so whoever is to blame might have different/better advice.

  • Kayliana says:

    Cheap and now discontinuued but on most major online discounters: Pal Zilari… Yum! It’s all coconut in the first blast then mostly ends up like a more woody Aqua di Gio. Can’ get enough of that initial smell though:-) And secondly, the one I will be buying for my little monkey to give to his big daddy on fathers day, the new Tommy Bahama Set sail. Margaritas, salt, sea air and rum…. makes you want to find a dessert island, quickly!!!

    • March says:

      I’ve never tried the Tommy Bahamas, mostly because their shirts make me :-& — they’re very popular around here, the male version of Lilly Pulitzer, which I wore ironically in the Desert Southwest but can’t wear around here because then I’m just one in a sea of flamingos… but I’ll try!

  • Judith says:

    Terre d”hermes is a great choice! And perfect for summer. If you are looking for dept. store stuff (not weird) John Varvatos is a nice, lightish leather. If you are going more nichey, DH’s latest love is French Lover.

    • March says:

      ANOTHER vote for TdH! John Varvatos is nice, isn’t it? French Lover … I need someone to pick me up a bottle of that, because I want the one called “French Lover,” but honestly, I think in our summer climate he’d kill me with it. It is extremely sexy, though — glad Mr. Lily has fallen for it (hope he falls for your larger Paris scheme too:-")

  • Masha says:

    I second both the Hermes already mentioned. They are just wonderful, especially the TdH!

  • helg says:

    First of all, happy birthday and happy anniversary!

    Secondly, thanks for reporting on the Light blue homme and the Gucci II homme (sounds nice!)
    As to perfume recs for a guy who likes something realtively light and a woman who wants some substance nonetheless, I can offer one word: Declaration by Cartier. Do try it, I urge you. Spicy hesperidic aromatic with vetiver ~ an underrated masterpiece IMHO :)>-

    • March says:

      Helg — thanks — I’d love your feedback on the Light Blue if/when you smell it. I’m an unashamed fan of the ladies’ and I kept thinking, it can’t be THAT bad. But it was — to me, anyway. It’s clearly built on the women’s scent, and so I thought they’d take it in … what … a citrus direction? “Fresh” accord? I dunno. It’s like they mixed it with a bottle of Aqua Velva from the drugstore and called it a day.

      I’ll try Declaration again, I promise. I should love it. On my skin, however, thus far it is straight B.O. But I think there are flankers/variations?

      • Lee says:

        5 or 6 sprays od Déclaration (another huge love of mine) might be tooo much in heat.

        • helg says:

          Lee has a point though…it’s to be used with some restraint!

          March, some people do report on body odour (because of the cumin) although I seem to think that this body odour fixation in general has to do with knowing there is cumin in there more than with it actually smelling like BO. I’m sure you’d have to ask other people how it smells in you, because it might not translate as such from a little distance.
          It’s SO’s firm favourite and I get lots and lots of luscious cardamom and vetiver on him (and luckily me too). Very sexy!:-”

          The flankers are not really much different, though: I know of Declaration Essence (which I have owned), which is slightly more concentrated and with a very appealing degradee coloured bottle. Other than that, however, not much different.

          • March says:

            Helg — I should love Declaration. I should. Several people whose tastes I share love it, and I like cumin (new Femme, Kingdom) and other mildly “sweaty” smells (Eau des Merveilles and my new love Courtesan have a sweaty aspect on me, and Le Labo Vetiver is very musky/sweaty.) For the record, I am not one of those Americans terrified of sweat smells — I mostly dislike “fresh” accords we’re so famous for.

            It does occur to me, thinking about it, that I am pretty sure I keep trying the fragrance at the same place: the NM at Tysons II. So. On the chance it’s an off bottle (or an off environment) I’m going to try it somewhere else. Wish me luck.

          • helg says:

            Oh, that’s quite a succinct explanation (I also adore the new Femme) so best fo luck on your sampling it somewhere else, dear. 🙂

          • Dusan says:

            March — one of the samples I sent you last time was Declaration! Go look for it. I promise it’s fresh and BO-free. There was also another potential summer love in there – L’Eau Bleue d’Issey Miyake. Ahem, did you try anything I sent?

          • March says:

            Dusan — I did, I did! All I can say in my defense is that I have, er, a LOT of samples, and I’m trying to come up with a better organizational system. I’ll smell your set today while my nose is uncluttered.

          • Dusan says:

            That’s okay, I wasn’t criticizing you :-@. Hope you warm to Declaration as it is one helluva scent. BTW, expect a little something in a week or so ;), maybe it gets there just in time for your b-day.
            Oh and have you changed your email address? I sent you an email like ten days ago at your verizon account.

  • Gail S says:

    Buttered feet!!! I really can’t even imagine that….

    I’m good with xeric plants but not the hothouse kind, sorry I can’t be of any help with the orchid. But it apparently likes what you’ve been doing (or not doing) and that’s always a good sign! Also of no help with men’s fragrances. Since I got into this perfume thing deeply, I have come to realize that there are some nice unisex scents, but I pretty much uniformly despise men’s fragrances. The only two I have ever smelled that I liked were Grey Flannel and Fahrenheit. I would wear both of them, so they’re probably considered rather “girly-man” :d

    • March says:

      Gail — I’m a relative newbie to the men’s dept. too — I think it’s the result of too many years of smelling Stetson, Mennen Skin Bracer, etc. Grey Flannel is, to me, the ultimate Dad scent (and I mean that as a compliment.) Fahrenheit smells like hot tar on me and not much else!

      Have you smelled Bvlgari Black in the mens’ dept? I bet you’d love it if you like Fahrenheit.

  • Maria says:

    My DH and I went fragrance shopping recently and we had a very nice experience with Hermes Eau d’Orange Verte. Now, K and I are Mr. and Mrs. Subtle, so what we do put on needs to have some substance to it. K found the eau de cologne version much too light and evanescent. The eau de toilette concentre was just right. But, as I said, he uses a light touch. You could get the Cheese the eau de cologne if he’s going to abuse his fragrance privilege. :d

    I enjoy gardening, but I don’t do orchids. I understand that one is supposed to give them one type of food when they’re growing and another when they’re blooming. That is all I know.

    • March says:

      Orange Verte is a totally underrated cologne, and I bet it would be perfect! Another vote for Hermes…

      • tmp00 says:

        Orange Vert was the first thing I thought of.

        Eau Sauvage (the original) as another, but that might be tooo much at 5sprays…

        • March says:

          I’ll be sniffing several from Hermes, I see.

          • Maria says:

            Except that Eau Sauvage is from Christian Dior. ;;) My DH also tried Eau Sauvage in our recent shopping, and it did the weirdest lemon-gone-bad thing on him. I was shocked. I didn’t know Eau Sauvage could do that. But it could work nicely on the Cheese.

          • March says:

            I knew that!!! I was referring to the Orange Verte (covers her ass.) Actually (don’t tell anyone) the lady Diors don’t do much for me, so I probably have paid less attn to Eau Sauvage than I should have. It’s come up several times today.

  • Lee says:

    How do you both hold Terre d’Hermes? – I can’t seem to remember. You know, I think one of the best, most beautiful and light men’s scents is Divine’s l’Homme de Coeur; I just can’t be without it. It’s a dream.

    I’ve somehow managed to not smell Gucci II. Must remedy that.

    I love smelly flowers. i’ve got this rather glam Euphorbia in the garden that has smelled like Acqua di Cuba (pre-mildew spurt) all May. Now the Austin roses have taken over.

    • March says:

      Wow. Well, TdH…. TdH I LOATHED. And look down and see how many times it’s on this list. I re-smelled it at Nord, decided I’d been an idiot, and suggested it, and Gail said no. But maybe she just doesn’t like it? I would have thought it too heavy, but if you guys say so.

      Please don’t use the word spurt when discussing AdC. I get unseemly mental imagery.

      • Lee says:

        Gail is wrong.:d

        • Louise says:

          Sorry, but Gail is right this time…or at least agrees with March and me. Forgive me?

          • Lee says:

            For what, my love? Disagreeing over Terre d’Hermes is no reason to need forgiveness, and I forgot the 5 or 6 sprays the Big Cheese always uses. That’s quite a lot of the ‘fume, even for an avid lover like me.

          • Maria says:

            March and Louise, along with Gail from Nordstrom, are right! Terre would be *lethal* in the muggy heat of DC. I still shudder at my experience with it in cool weather. b-(

          • March says:

            Hah! You are not feeling the love either! I’m going to go soak my arm in it, but I have a suspicion you’re right.

  • Amy K says:

    Six sprays, huh? I vote for something light and clean like Acca Kappa White Moss.

    • March says:

      I’ve never even smelled that! But I like Calycanthus (sp?) a lot…

      • Amy K says:

        Here’s what they say about it on their website:
        Created with essential oils of lavender and juniper, Acca Kappa’s exclusive White Moss fragrance evokes sweet, warm and sensual notes of wood, amber and moss.

        I’m not a huge fan of lavender, but I love it in this. It’s especially perfect for gym days when you want something unobtrusive.