New skillz I had no idea I had – map and compass. Who knew? Something about plotting points on a map feels like I’ve been doing it forever, and it’s a buttload of fun. Now, whether I’ll be able to translate that into finding my way in the wilderness? Well, I and you will know in a month or so. If you don’t hear from me after my graduation hike, you’ll know.
There are a few guy scents that I’ve co-opted in my perfume meanderings. I don’t do it as much as some of my perfumista friends do (Hi, March!). Dior Homme is at the top of that list, it’s just a great fragrance for men or women
. I’ve added another men’s fragrance to that list, YSL’s new La Nuit de L’Homme.
I can’t really tell you why I like it as much as I do, except it is cuddly as all get-out on me, despite some classic compilation. Notes of bergamot, cardamom, lavender, vetiver, cedar and coumarin make up the scent. I get very mild lavender, just kind of a soothing background noise. Mostly, I get coumarin and cardamom. It’s spicy and warm, and the combination almost takes it close to the coffee area. I just want to curl up with this bottle with the freaky too-big cap and hug it all night. Don’t veer off into kinky thoughts, y’all.
There’s a traditional masculine feel to it, but the spice notes take it into a more interesting place. It’s almost a little too masculine for me to wear, and I’d wear it lightly. While not a groundbreaking scent, I find it just purely comforting and suededly cuddly and soft with enough spice to make it warmer and interesting.
So how many of y’all wear men’s scents, and which are your favorites?
Winners of the Pdn Le Temps d’Une Fete samples are: Melissa, Elizabeth and Joe. Just click on the contact us button over there on the left and send me your address and make sure to remind me what I’m sending you.
Let’s do a drawing for two of the new YSL samples too. I’ll do a drawing from comments.
Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit de L’Homme is probably the only men’s scent I’ve been tempted to actually buy. I’ve tried the unisex scents by CK, but they all tend be rather bland and too citrus-soapy for my tastes. Though my current love is Guerlain’s Jicky, which was (way, way back) a unisex scent.
Oh if it isn’t too late, please enter me in the drawing! The notes sound divine. Like some of the others, I also own a small bottle of A*Men for myself (tried it on the hubby, but it smells MUCH better on me!). Also love New Haarlem. And back in college, I used to swipe the boyfriend’s Grey Flannel… 🙂
Hey Patty 🙂
I’m glad you’re having so much fun with your new hiking adventure. I don’t have a natural sense of direction … my friends always tease me about that. I fear I’d never come out of those woods, yikes!!
I just picked up SMN Tabacco Toscano, I love PdN Pour Homme and Hanae Mori to name a few. I have quite a few in the unisex category but my two favorites are Acqua di Parma and Bulgari au the vert… and only because they evoke such wonderful memories from so long ago.
Would love to be included in the drawing, thank you!
I am loving my generous samps from Claude at Parfums MDCI. Love the girlies (holy cow, they’re beautiful!), but Invasion Barbare and Ambre Topkapi are stunning!
Can’t live without Dior Homme and now my new love, don’t laugh, JPG Fleur du Male (in that sexy bottle…pure lust!). And how bout Floris Santal? And Andy Tauer’s L’air is a staple too.
I think I will love this ‘fume. It sounds right up my alley. vetiver and cedar and cardamom, oh my! Please enter me in the drawing. I’m a different Elizabeth than the one who won the drawing today, BTW! 🙂
Please enter me in the drawing!
I don’t discriminate – my skin changing most every scent (by quite a bit). I like the Bulgari scents on me, though primarily in the bath gel versions!
My skin has a tendency to turn scents unbearably sweet, so I tend to have a better batting average on the men’s/unisex side. Among others, I love Black Tourmaline, Equipage, Terre d’Hermes, L’Air du Desert Marocain, and Lonestar Memories, and I’m dying to try Yatagan and 3eme Homme. Would love to be in the drawing too — thank you!
I’m not the only girl who wears guys’ scents! *happy dance* I’ve always found mens’ scents more interesting than womens’ — I love leather, spice, woods, bay rum, lime, and lavender — and I’ve gone through a lot of sample vials or scent strips of mainstream mens’ scents (Drakkar Noir, Joop, Cool Water, Lucky no 6 for men, etc.) I also used to sneak applications of my dad’s Old Spice, English Leather, and Paco Rabanne (I have small bottles of English Leather, Preferred Stock, and Aspen around here somewhere…. ), and also used to sneak applications of what my uncles and grandfather would wear (that could be anything male from Chanel, Dior, YSL, and Paco Rabanne, among others). Luckily, the men in my life were very tolerant of their little girl’s inability to keep her hands off their smellies 🙂 I’ve never really paid attention to what sex a fragrance is supposed to be; if I like it, I wear it, and if anyone reacts badly to the idea of a woman wearing a man’s scent or vice versa, I ignore it.
the only men’s fragrance i have a full bottle of is bulgari black, and i know many perfumistas argue that it shouldn’t be a men’s scent at all. i also really like blue sugar, dior homme, and tom ford for men. i’d love to be entered in the drawing.
From mainstreamland I love Cartier Declaration and also the Declaration Essence. I also have Bulgari Black and Knize 10…I need to explore more “mens” scents and expect to find many more that appeal since I tend to crave leather, spice and wood!
You’ve made a great start with Declaration and Knize 10, Jan. Perhaps you should try Hermes’ Bel Ami?
Um, I stopped keeping track of what sex my perfumes were supposed to be a while back. That being said, I’m a big fan of leather, birch tar, and vetiver, so yeah, I probably wear ‘male’ fragrances all the time. Off the top of my head: Amouage Jubilation, Black Tourmaline, Duel, Divine Homme Sage, etc.
Well, shoot, make that another “male” fragrance I like…the things I learn…
I’m a unisex loser with no real balls to speak of, unless I’m having a hairy day.
The only men’s scent I’ve ever worn was Corduroy and I truly loved it–the subtle cinnamon got me. My husband and I shared a bottle throughout one winter and it was gone quite fast! I love smelling men’s scents though and imagining how they would evolve on different men in my life.
Would appreciate being entered into the draw–I’m pregnant and stressed at work. I could use some “cuddly”! haha
Please enter me in the draw. I didn’t even “pretend” I was buying the Dior Homme for my husband. I want to buy a small bottle of Angel Men because I prefer it over Angel and just need some of that in the cold winter. We both enjoy Thierry Mugler’s giant bottle of Cologne in the hot, sticky summer. I always check out the men’s section of fragrances when I am scouring my local Marshall’s because not only do they misplace scents, but there are great fragrances to be had on both sides of the aisle!
I fell hard for Declaration by Cartier…I’m a cardamon freak (?) Also frequently am into AG Duel and New York. These are both happy uplifting scents.
Marc Jacobs Men is a favorite. I have a sample atomizers of Amouage Reflection Man and Woman, and Man is absolutely incredible. Then there’s LaCroix Tumulte Homme which is my holy grail. And I never say that about any fragrance.
I don’t wear men’s scents often, but I love it when I smell a really, really good one on a guy. Or, a traditional feminine scent that just morphs into something spectacular when you throw in some “maleness”!
I love to wear the Sandalwood scent from The Art of Shaving. They have the smoothest, creamiest, most wonderful sandalwood. Please enter me in the draw.
I wear quite a few of these scents and it’s hard to add to such a great list. Among my favorites: Dior Homme, the Dior trio (hard to call them masculines), Terre d’Hermes, Eau d’Hermes, MPG Ambre Precieux (again, hard to call it a masculine) and Iris Bleu Gris, the three Divine men’s scents, Ormonde Man, Gianfranco Ferre, Ferre for men and Ferre Bergamotto Marino.
I still can’t get my husband to try any of my florals, but my son, who started with men’s and unisex scents, will wear anything that he likes. Apothia Pearl was a recent winner on him. Bryan’s comment about florals have me thinking that I need to spritz a bit of Carnal Flower his way. I think it’s a great scent for both women and men.
Carnal Flower goes to something turmericky on me. Go figure….
xxx
Having read the comments, I am adding Dior Cologne Blanche to the top of the list. Cologne Blanche, the usual Caron suspects (Pour Homme, Third Man, L’Anarchiste), Goutal Eau d’Hadrien (and Mandragore, I guess, because you can get it in a “guy bottle,” which incidentally is much more attractive thatn the “girl” one)…
…am I veering into unisex? Hard for me to keep track sometimes.
Some things I leave entirely to others, but they include extremes of a few types: flowers, fruit, vetiver. OTOH, I just realized there are a couple extreme flower &/or vetiver I like on the right day. But no fruit.
Oops, I forgot one I was recently introduced to…Vento di Fiori…
Two of my favorite warm-weather scents (will it EVER get warm in DC?) are men’s scents–Crown Eau de Quinine and MPG Eau Pour le Jeune Homme. Other faves are Dior Homme, Versace The Dreamer, and two by Caron–Troisieme Homme and Yatagan. I would love to enter the drawing, thanks!
I’m always confused – can’t remember which are ‘men’s’ Dior Jules, which I love, Guerlain Vetiver in the summer (sooo refreshing) I’ve heard Hermenessence Poive Samarcande, which I love, marketed to both, as is Cologne Bigarade/Malle. I’m sooo confused. Missy March keeps trying to get me to try Terre d’Hermes – but I keep forgetting (it’s in the ‘to do’ perfume book now).
I’m sure there are many others, as I love green/linear scents, especially in the summer heat.
xo>-)
ps. I bow to your compass/map prowess. I have very little of that, alas, and my motorcycle accident only made that spatial disability worse! It takes a LONG time for me to orient myself to a map and using a map to go hiking is difficult in the extreme for me – trees all look alike and I do wish that creek up ahead had a street sign:-D. I am thrilled for you! You’ll do just fine. See you in a few days!
Clarification: that was a metaphorical ‘see you’ as in ‘see you on the blog when you get back from your hike’ see you.
Oh, and Cravache — great late-spring scent.
ps. we are having an actual Spring Day here. Praise Floyd!
>-)
So are we. With all this talk of men and spring, I decided to grow a pair of balls and break out the Amoureuse and lawdy, lawdy, mister clawdy, it smells goooooood.
I lurves me some Amoureuse…
I lurve you both!
xo>-)
Can’t say I’ve tried many men’s scents, and the ones I’ve tried haven’t worked for me – except one – Histoires des Parfums 1740. What an amazing scent.
My husband has A*Men, though, and I’ve been meaning to try it to see if it works on me. I’m also curious about PdN’s masculines since I LOVE PdN. Haven’t tried any of them yet…
I’d love to be entered in the draw. Thanks, Patty!
Ooh, enter me in the drawing, please. This sounds wonderful.
I wear men’s and unisex scents almost exclusively. I’m just starting out with perfume, but my favorite men’s scents so far have been Caron Pour un Homme, HM for Men (EDP only, the EDT is gross), and Terre d’Hermes. I’m sure there are others, but it’s early and I’m only halfway through my coffee.
Well, considering that the very first fragrance I owned was a dude scent (Pino di Silvestre), it’s no big surprise that I wear men’s scents as often as I do women’s. I love Opium for Men (hi, Louise, nice to meet you!)- unlike the women’s, it smells great on me. Love the Dior trio (oh, hi, Louise, nice to see you again! How about we have a drink next time?), love Yatagan (hi, girls!), Eau d’Hermes (oh, grrrrrowllll), PdN New York, Dior Jules(hi, Louise! Champagne or a glass of Rioja?), Guerlain Derby….. among many others. Let’s face it: if it’s a fragrance and smells good on me, I couldn’t care less who it’s targeted at!
Well, my! We must meet for drinks and sniffs, no? I’d like that 😉
Louise , I’ll join you all for that drink , I’m sorry I missed you at Sniffa . I thought I knew who you were , obviously not !!
Scuse my interruption .
My love of leather fragrances is in it’s infancy…all those non-leather wearing years…wasted…LOL !!
I’ll be the first to admit I’m a floral lover. I get so many compliments when I wear Chanel No. 5 and Carnal Flower. That being said, I also adore Donna Karan’s fuel for men. It’s freakin’ hot. (Probably not the butchest example, but it’s pretty masculine, I guess.)
I also love Chamade Pour Homme and I steal sprays of Derby when I’m babysitting my niece…it’s my brother’s (the cologne and the child).
Some favorite masculines I wear often: the Dior cologne triad-Eau Noire, Cologne Blanche, Bois d’Argent.
Also Opium for dudes-only the EdP, and only with a light hand-that stuff is intense, and can overwhelm a small village. I also like Angel Men a lot, but it has strong associations with a long-ago ex, and I have to be in the right frame of mind. Love Jules, most “male” vetivers (Sycomore, yum), and many light colognes. PdN New York, too.
Many of my other scents are unisex-I just can’t imagine labeling most incenses and orientals as gender-specific, nor many of my spicy delights-LaDDM, CdG Original, Black Cashmere (though marketed to women).
Must try that YSL 🙂
Cologne Blanche is for men? Okay, then…glad I read comments first before responding…
I have never cared who a scent is directed at, having said that, most popular men’s fragrances have not appealed to me. Recently I have been experimenting, buying (un-smelt) classic men’s scents, Kouros, Yatagan, 3rd Man, Cuiron,and Jules, all winners. Varvatos Artisan I love.
I would love to try this.
Anyone have thoughts on M7?
M7: I do like this one, amber and oud, mandarine in the top and an almost cherry-cough syrup character. Has a bit of a Serge Lutens-ish feel to it. I think the medicinal quality people talk about is coming from the oud. Have tried a sample, now I’m planning on ordering a decant to see if it has legs (along with a sample of M7 Fresh).
I’ve kept (as opposed to trading away) decants of Yatagan and A*Men. Yatagan is just freakin’ crazy awesome and I’m keeping it around mostly because I like knowing I have a little of it. Maybe I’ll wear it tomorrow. Or maybe not. Really I just like to smell it every once in a while.
A*Men is the single chocolate fragrance that smells like chocolate on me. Angel didn’t, in fact it was veryvery bad, and Borneo is too much patch for me. I tried A*Men skeptically, and was pleasantly surprised. I don’t think it’s full bottle-worthy, but it does settle a chocolate craving now and again. 🙂
However. In answer to your question, I don’t wear masculine scents regularly. If you want to classify them as such, I would say that most of mine are pretty intensely feminine. On that note, I reallyreallyreally want to try Encre Noir one of these days. No need to enter me in the drawing, thanks. 🙂
What Pyramus & Tom said: I’ve been known to wear a few men’s scents… but certainly don’t let that fool you. I’m actually much more into “unisex” frags than traditional masculines now that I’m ensnared in this addiction.
Traditional masculines I love or have loved include: Tuscany per Uomo, Kouros, Grey Flannel, Acqua di Gio, Hypnose Homme, He Wood, Terre d’Hermes, & Guerlain Coriolan. I also need to have that new Varvatos Artisan thing.
Oh, thanks for the previous draw, by the way! I’m happy to sit this one out.
I wear many men’s scents. 🙂
My favorite man’s scent to wear is probably MPG Ambre Precieux or vintage Piguet Cravache. I also love Ormonde Man, PdN New York, Divine L’homme sage, Guerlain Derby and Habit Rouge, Yohji Homme, C&S 88, Cdg 2, SL Ambre Sultan & Borneo, and Eau Sauvage.
Oh, and enter me, por favor!
Base notes are my favorite part of a scent, so I do tend to love masculine scents where they often take a leading role. Dior Homme is indeed fab and I’ll definitely have to try this new YSL. Some men’s scents I wear regularly are PdN’s Pour Homme, Baladin and Carre d’as, Amouage Lyric for Men and Gold for Men (although, this one hardly seems masculine at all to me, Ginestet’s Le Bois, Creed’s Vintage Tabarome, Divine’s L’homme de coeur and L’homme sage, Dorissima’s Narziss, Cuiron, Knize 10, GF Trumper’s Sandalwood, Lauder for Men, The Dreamer, Bulgari Black, Frank and Frank 2 and the list could go on and on. To be honest, most of these seem fairly unisex to me and I’m not even going to mention the even more unisex ones I wear. Imo almost all of the MPG, SL and MH masculine scents are unisex, as are all vetiver scents (this opinion may have something to do w/ the fact that I’m a total vetiver sl*t).
All these hiking things sound like such fun! I should try to get over my excessive attachment to mod cons.
I wear men’s scents, but I’m a man, so that can’t be too surprising.
I also wear women’s scents. And unisex scents. Whatever smells good.
I have a female friend who wears Angel and A*Men interchangeably, and you Angel-haters will not believe me but they smell really, really good on her.
I would like to be entered in the draw for a sample, because I tried to get one and the sales clerk was amazingly nasty about it. She looked at me as if I were something she’d scraped off her shoe.