My brother has presented me with a challenge, so I, of course, turn to all of you to see what I’ve done so far and to see if you have suggestions or additions.
Tom opened up a bar and grill recently, which is is doing an amazing business in a tiny town in Kansas called Hoxie – everyone loves his food because he’s a great cook – and he barely has time to sleep, though he is as happy as a clam, It’s one the most fun place in the town world to go — one of those places where everyone does know your name and people talk all around the room to everyone in the restaurant instead of just across their own table. I attribute that atmosphere to Tom’s personality, which is outgoing, brash, irreverent, and he’s one of the funniest people I’ve ever known. The logo for the bar is “Beer, Burgers and Bullshit,” and that pretty much is just the way it is. He does look a little like Sam Elliott, but don’t tell him I said that because he has a monstrous big ego that needs no further feeding and watering. He calls me lil lil sissah (as opposed to my big sister, Shirley, who is just lil sissah), and he is generally a charming, unrepentant rogue… and he will take that as a compliment. Of course I adore him.
Success has its problems, though. Tom would like to get rid of the Eau de Grease scent that often follows him around, and he also likes to think of himself as a stud (*shrugs*). He wants me to put together a “Sam Elliott Sampler Pack” full of all the scents I think Sam Elliott would wear, which would then be perfect for him.. I want it to be a wide variety of types, like some musk, leather, smoke, etc. This is what I’ve got so far, please let me know if you think one of these doesn’t work or if it needs something that I’m just not thinking of:
- Serge Lutens Musc Koublai Khan – it’s pretty likely he will sniff this and say something about it smelling like his pair after he’s been working all day (the language would be much more frank and graphic than my delicate version), but I think if he waits 30 minutes, he may find himself liking it – or not, but I have to be there when he tries it.
- CB Musk Reinvention – I’m iffy on this one. It will either be a big hit or a big miss, but I still think he should try it just so I can get a read on what his skank tolerance is. Since I grew up with him and worked on the farm with him and he rubbed his sweaty armpit on my head, I’m thinking his skank tolerance has to be high.
- Etat Tom of Finland – I just think this is great smoky leather scent. Since his name is Tom, he’ll like that, too, plays into his ego to wear a scent with his name on it.
- Annick Goutal Eau de Fier – This may be uncomfortably close to the smoky bar and grill smell.
- Knize Ten – Great, classic leather, plenty rugged
- Caron Yatagan – why not?
- Helmut Lang Cuiron – iffy on this one. It’s a little less rugged, but could work great for his more refined moments, if he had any.
- Ormonde Jayne Ormonde Man – for special occasions, if he ever gets an evening out or just feel, well, um beautiful for the night, in a very manly way, of course.
- Parfums de Nicolai New York – because it is subtle and beautiful and perfect.
- Le Labo Patchouli 24 – sorry, every guy on my list gets this to try. It’s mandatory, they may hate it, but I don’t care, they have to sniff it.
- Hermessence Vetiver Tonka — again, always on any guy sampler list because I think it’s elegant and addictive.
- Hermessence Poivre Samarcande – great peppery scent
- Montale Black Oud — Needed an oud in here for him to try and see if he likes it, might as well start with the killer.
- Elternhaus kowtowingtoeveryreligiontothepointthatitsoffensive thing or Mark Buxton 03 from Biehl – Despite the goofiness of the Elternhaus, I think it’s a great incense, as is the MB03 from Biehl. Both Mark Buxton, who I really ought to marry. Does anyone knows if he plays on my side of the playground?
- Cdg Incense — can’t make up my mind on this. Thinking no on Avignon and Kyoto and leaning towards Zagorsk for the woody elements, which will cover a woody scent as well
Then I have a bunch of follow-on scents, depending on what he liks here. So…. the thoughts?
I recently discovered Ormonde Jayne’s Isfarkand pour Homme. And have to say it is intensely sexy. My husband wears this one. Of course I bought it for him, – loved it myself but was not hopeful that he would feel the same way. He never usually shows any particular preference, but have caught him sniffing it on himself. If you like fiery men’s scents, you’ve got to try this one.
I think that Montale’s Black and White Aouds both smell leathery-sexy on a man.
I would recommend the CB Wild Hunt very dirty sexy musk I think that would be right up your brothers alley Patty and your list is outstanding btw…I have to smell that Yatagan I feel so excluded right now:(
I vote for the Olivier Durbano Black Tourmaline or the Le Labo Vetiver. He sounds hot. 🙂
Given your description, I’d leave off the CB Musk and the Vetiver Tonka (both leaning too sweet for a man with limited frag exposure, IMHO) and I’ll second heavily with the Olivier Durbano Black Tourmaline. I’ll also throw in for the uber-manly Profumum Fumidus (I think it might have more hair on its chest than Yatagan even.) Fumidus will definitly cut through grease, rust, vomit, or any other thing I can think of that boys get on themselves. I’ll also recommend Tom Ford Moss Breeches and L’Artisan Dzongkha, and maybe even Mechant Loup? And I’d maybe throw in CB’s Burning Leaves or Cedar Tea.
first thought: is he single?
second thought: that’s some list. i might add miller harris feuilles de tabac, cdg man 2, bel ami, equipage, eau sauvage, minotaur, zino and the orginal gucci pour homme, but maybe that’s because i like to wear them, too. a couple of the diptyques might be good, too – eau lente, l’eau trois, and l’eau d’elide. and i second the suggestion of escentric molecules – both of them.
:”>OMG…Sam Elliot & Patrick Swazey(bless his heart),in a tacky b-grade movie that I’ve watched HUNDREDS of times(can’t remember the dern name of it!)…slobber,drool….ah,um….your brother…I want him.(30 years ago!)….I totally agree with the Guerlain Vetiver,no question…it won’t fight with his great personality…or if you want something more modern,but still simple…Escentric Molecules Ecentric 01…..carry on my scent soldiers.
:x:x
annie, maybe Roadhouse?
Yup, Roadhouse. One of the great guilty pleasures of all time.
Hell yeah. Roadhouse. Totally Roadhouse, which also features the great Kelly Lynch. That movie kicks ass.
maybe a complete 180 and give him Eau de Sud?
Do you think? it would be interesting to see if he likes it. You never know what men’s tastes are… but do you think Sam would wear it? Maybe on a hot day when he’s out working cattle on horseback… shirtless…. um, yeah.
Is there an emoticon for fanning oneself?
Of all the CdG incense frags, my vote’s for Zagorsk. It has a bit of an oily note that would work well. The other suggestions are all great (Knize Ten is on my full bottle list when I win the lottery).
One that hasn’t been mentioned is Ava Luxe’s lovely Feu de Bois. A great take on wood fire, piney and smokey and it lasts forever!
Yeah, I think Zagorsk is the one too. I haven’t smelled the Ava Luxe, it sounds like a good one!
Geez, just thought of another one no one has mentioned that might work as a “manly” outdoorsy perfume: SL Chene. Hmmm, I wonder how it might work layered with one of the leathery frags mentioned here (like my beloved Knize Ten) … a cowboy with leather chaps gathering firewood in the fall?
Great list! I would add Montale Cuir d’Arabie and Le Labo Vetiver (two of DH’s favorites) and Kolnisch Juchten.
do you think some of those might scare him completely off?
Well, KJ vintage won’t do a thing to cover up that dang meat smell …
That’s the sausage perfume, right? Sort of ‘hair of the dog’,innit?
If the poor guy isn’t into scents already, it seems unlikely that he’d allow himself to wear some of those scents! Don’t scare the man!
Leather, smoke, citrus, yes. Fresh or “traditional” manly = fine.
Musc (especially spelled with a C?), things that need to be described with the term “skank,” and something described as incense, no. He may grow into these, but that’s around his place’s anniversary party time.
That being said, of the Cdg Incense — Kyoto is great and as an unfamiliar incense smell, may work very well.
I’d add Bond 9 New Haarlem, YSL M7, and FM’s French Lover (just make sure the bottle says Bois d’Orage, instead…).
A friend went on vacation to Italy and brought back a bottle of Carthusia’s via Camerelle for me. At first I wrinkled my nose. Too citrusy and not really me. But, by the end of each day, it had transformed into a light and fresh (and musky) scent that I love now. And, maybe it’s because I apply more of it than others, but I get more comments and “lean ins” from women with this one, than most of my other scents combined.
=)) That was very funny! “Skank” is definately an acquired taste.
Hmmm… valid points all. But he did grow up on the farm with me, so he’s not afraid of strong scents. I’ll go easy on a couple of those and put in some that aren’t quite as scary. 🙂
Great. btw, I think MOST guys would TRY anything, you just might not tell him what he’s trying…
I remember trying and loving a few gift scents, only to read the descriptions later and thinking “Uh oh… I’m wearing THAT?” MKK reviews mention fecal smells, for instance. Just sayin’…
Happy Sunday!
Roland
Late to the party but I did think of Lonestar the second I read your post and am happy to add yet another vote for it. And Yatagan. Your brother and his bar sound like so much fun. I adore Eau Savauge but it might be too dressy/conservative. But how about Cartier Declaration? Or Eau d’Hermes?
Another vote for Terre d’Hermes. Also, Armani Prive Bois d’Encens (gourgeous) and maybe Dior’s Jules.
Yeah, bois d’encens would be perfecft, but I keep thinking he may find it too church.
Don’t even need a description of your brother’s personality, looks, etc., the WHOLE world of men could wear any of these 6 scents and a better world it’d be! In no particular order –
Amouage Jubilation XXV for Men
YSL M7
CdG Avignon (all the other CdG incenses seem like just practice, Avignon has it all!)
Les Nez Let Me Play The Lion
Divine L’Homme Sage
and last but certainly not least.. OJ Man.
:)>-
M7 really?
Do you think AVignon as the first pick from CdG. I’m really torn on this oen. I could just send him all five, plus Hinoki, and see what he thinks. Yeah, that could work.
OJ Man is perfection… and hot.
M7 always strikes me as a butch guy strutting who slowly twists and totters to reveal he was only a little ole lady in man drag…
=))
Cuir Ottoman? L’homme sage? Some classics like Jules?
Just popping in to say hi to both my favourite ladies and that I’m missing you a lottle.
Kisses
L
p.s. hugs too.
You are missed 😡
Squeeeeeee — *runs over and leaps on Lee and hugs him until he begs for mercy* Missedyoumissedyoumissedyou!!!
Oh, yeah. Definitely l’homme sage and maybe Julies. Cuir Ottoman may be too much like others or too strong for right now.
First of all, Patty, I may have just fallen a little bit in love with your brother. I know, I know…Second, his restaurant sounds great, a lot like the one I work at, only no beer and more bullshit. But we all know our customers and holler hey to everybody and hug their necks when we see our favorites and the like. It’s like family. Third, Lonestar Memories. Working in a restaurant, battling all the smells competing with me, it, along with L’air de Desert Marocain, is one of the few that can hold its own against the smell of a fryer. I can still smell good at the end of a day. Fourth, damn I love your list. Some of my favorites, it’s like you raided my perfume closet and the ones I’ve not sniffed, I suddenly feel like I have to. Maybe even purchase, damn you. Fifth, there’s always Kouros…:d 😡
Oh and Tania in The Guide kinda has me wanting to revisit Stetson, which I wore when I was ten. But her review doesn’t make it sound too butch.
Oh yeah, and I just thought of another one. Olivier Durbano Black Tourmaline. Smoke, leather, incense, and a little bit of meat. MMmmmm…perfect. Okay. I’m done now.
Well, Tom is such an ass, but he’s a lovable one.
You guys are so smart. Odd how the Tauers hold up in the restaurant, but that’s great to know! I have a feeling he’ll definitely like that one, in that Clint Eastwood’s Balls, but better kind of way (see above).
Patty babe,
I think it’s a perfect list (what a shock, miss thang). I think I need to get over to Hoxie (I have no idea where that is from Kansas City).:d
If I had to add one I would say Chanel’s eau de cologne for the refreshing, yet original refreshing pick me up. Kudos, now I have to get my brother to even wear some cologne…I gave him Derby but I have yet to smell it on him…..I’m going to go take it back.:d
You should!!!! Hoxie is only on the other side of Kansas from you, almost to the Colorado/Nebraska border, but it would be so worth going,I think! 🙂
Eau de Cologne, that could work. I’m going to see his reaction to Jicky, and then we’ll know if citruses of any sort will work.
Get your Derby back!
Hi Patty,
great list! What about Eau d’Italie Sienne l’hiver (underwood-stud), Santa Maria Novella Nostalgia (racing stud) and Malle L’eau d’hiver (fairy-stud)?
Seconding the Eau d’Italie one. I would recommend the Amouage XXV – I would love all the guys around me to be wearing this one. Also I’m really liking the Etat Libre d’Orange Vierges et Toreros – plush leather. The CB musk, that one I would put a warning label on.
I’m not sure a warning label would be enough. 🙂
Nostalgia was in the running with Eau de Fier, and I may still put that one in instead or alongside. But it, along with Tom of Finland are in the same genre’ish, so I’m trying to pick just one of those and see if he even likes one.
Leau d’hiver… hmmmmm. Must think about that, you could be right. It’s refreshing and not feminine at all.
Gail S took the words out of my mouth: Lonestar Memories is a great one to try on a manly man. I also think your decision to include New York is excellent; a lot of manly guys like a good citrus scent. And, naturally, you can’t go wrong with Yatagan.
Oops, those who took the words out of my mouth were Calypso, Zeram 1, AND Gail S. I should read all the way up.
Well, we certainly have unananimity on LT, which is so unusual but great in the perfume world!
I’m going to add the chorus above and say Tauer’s Lonestar Memories. This is the one that popped into my head when you said Sam Elliott. :d Yummmmmm
Another yup for Lonestar Memories. My extremely manly brother-in-law (big truck, hunts elk, etc) mocked all of the manly samples I busted out last Christmas except Lonestar, which he proclaimed, after wearing it for half an hour, smells like “Clint Eastwood’s balls, but in a good way.”
Capriccio, I hope that image has evaporated from my mind before I next apply Lonestar Memories to myself. 8-|
Hahahahaha! ARe you sure he’s not a closet perfumista? That really sounds like something we all say.
And this is why I asked you guys, because I would have been wretched with regret if I had missed LT in this pack.
That’s a fantastic list, though Vetiver Tonka is surprising (I love it but it really stands out in the list as the least ‘manly’ of the group). I might be inclined to put Terre d’Hermes in its place, or along side it perhaps 🙂 And maybe Comme des Garcons 2 MAN to get the incense and the smoke and the vetiver all wrapped up in one package. I also wonder if he’d like Kouros Fraicheur, a fav of my dad. It is great at work, a night out, on the boat, everywhere, and it’s less Kouros than Kouros, with a certain clarity. And it can be found online for a great price. I’m just throwing out what flashed into my mind first 🙂
Yeah, the VT probably isn’t that Sam Elliott, and it really shows up my personal tastes more than anything, but I was thinking if Sam wanted to be suave and debonair and get dressed up one evening, that or Jicky would be the one to put on.
Perhaps Tauer’s Lonestar Memories or L’Air du Desert Marocain; or Domenico Caraceni’s 1913?
Definitely on the Lonestar Memories, I’m so glad so many of you mad sure that hit my list. 🙂
Yatagan, yes! Zagorsk, yes, and also Oarzazate (sp?). The only others I’d add are Gucci Pour Homme (original), and Terre d’Hermes. My DH wears his Yatagan proudly, and I’m starting to get used to it….
I’ll definitely stop by the diner when I’m in Howie!
I thought about the Terre, but decided no. It’s a little vegatal for him, and I’m just thinking no. It may be in round 2, depending on what he thinks of round 1.
Oh lordy, he DOES look like Sam Elliot! HAHAHAHA! Yeah… I teasingly called him “eye-candy” one night… he wouldn’t leave me alone for want of an “explanation” 😉 I have met NO ONE funnier when he gets rolling…
I have no idea what to stink him pretty in. Something leathery. With hay. And spice.
he is soooo vain. I can just imagine. 🙂
you should start bugging him to make homemade noodles one day — just shut down the grill and do a big mess of beef and noodles. The whole town is going to collectively gain about 30 pounds a year if they keep eating there, though. My mom goes in, and Tom won’t let her pay, which irritates her. I told her she should go all the time and let him feed her, and she says, “Lord, no, I’ll get fatter ‘n hell.”
I can only imagine his beef and noodles – his hamburgers are to DIE for!
Jicky? Maybe Sam has his Cary Grant moments.
Lonestar Memories? The name alone ought to win it a slot.
I’m not sure if Sam has his Cary Grant moments, but Tom does. 🙂
Lonestar Memories, of course!!! Yes, that’s definitely going on the list, not sure how I missed it.
Great list Patty. Yatagan, oh yes – for sure!
Buxton? I’m not sure. If I had to guess, I’d say he doesn’t play in your side of the playground. I’m just saying…
Buxton, that’s what I was thinking, but I’ll pretend like he does.
Yatagan is perfect. Such a great cheap pleasure.
Patty –
You are such a hoot! Yatagan is not a ‘cheap’ pleasure. Old Spice is a ‘cheap’ pleasure, ditto, Stetson. Stuff for under $19.99 and under, that won’t take the paint off your car.
But…compared to an $800/bottle pleasure, I’ll give you Yatagan as a more accessible experience
😉
dunno if these are right for your brother, but I just smelled Hinoki and loved its cypress and sauna fragance, plus it had the added attraction of making my poor sinuses feel great. I also love Guerlain Derby.
And I am so crazy about Sam Elliot I can’t even say. He looks a lot like my ex-husband but without the drawbacks.
Hinoki may be the one for the incense, yes.
Well, since I have more ex-husbands than most women are allowed, I hear you on the drawbacks. 🙂
Maybe Tom needs to freshen up? Guerlain Vetiver. Another, smoky vet I love is Le Labo-just great balance of smoke and root. And for true guy stuff-grease and tar, how about SMN Nostalgia-it’d cover any other smell fer sure :d/
I work in a busy kitchen, and the first scent that popped in my head reading this post was Guerlain Vetiver. At the end of the day, I really want something that cuts through the grease smell. Tom and his bar both sound like a blast!
Okay, the Guerlain Vetiver sounds like one I need to get my hands on to sniff. How have I missed it so far?
Woman, you crack me up. >:d< You can get Guerlain Vetiver at, like, *Sephora.* And Nordstrom. You know ... those places that DON'T sell $800-per-bottle frags and vintage Guerlains... love your list. Agree maybe you could try another vetiver or two, it would be nice against the grease ... Sel de Vetiver? LT was all over the new Givenchy Vetyver reissue which I haven't tried. Or Sycomore, but would Chanel make him burst out in hysterical laughter? Probably... /:)
I know!! It’s embarrassing how many frags I’ve overlooked on my romp through the overpriced Village of Niche Perfumery. I’m rectifying that! But I never go to Sephora. I know, I know.
I agree on one more vetiver is necessary. I think Sycomore could be perfect there, as is Sel de Vetiver. I think he’d dig the salty aspects of the Sel, but he may dig it in a, “love it, don’t want to wear it” kind of way. He’s pretty traditional.
I was going to say SMN Nostalgia too! Wasn’t Sam Elliott in a racing movie?