Unfinished Bizness from March — winner of the DSH draw is …. Jennifer!   I emailed you.   Winner of the Tauer post I will put up in that post (and close comments.)  Also, speaking of scents for men (and for those of us who like to smell like men) …. CB I Hate Perfume has some excellent news for those of us who mourned the loss of Cumming…!

Okay, on to today’s review…

By Tom

I often get questions from friends about what they should get for their guys, usually with a caveat that the guy in question really doesn’t wear cologne so it can’t be something that’s too strong.  It also should be something that’s readily available and not too expensive, so if he decides to replace it when he runs out the poor dear isn’t upset when he sees that you dropped $200 at Saks on him while he got your present at Home Depot.  Which is very nice of you.  I would have told him exactly where to put that garden gnome and perhaps offer to assist, but that is perhaps why I am alone…

In any case, here are five that are delightful, available readily at places on the internets or Sephora, and not bank breakers.

Acqua di Parma Colonia is a beautiful citrus/lavender number with hints of rose and sage and a lovely woody drydown.  At $83 for 1.7 oz it’s one of the more expensive ones in this post, but the quality of the ingredients and general luxe-ness makes it a bargain.  It looks and smells like $283.  Cary Grant wore it.  Need I say more?

Dior Eau Sauvage is a close second.  It was created in the 60′s but there’s nothing dated about it; it’s as fresh and modern as its sparking lemon/petigrain opening.  There is something about this one that just smells “right” in a way that even a man who insists that he does not and would never wear cologne couldn’t resist.  At $52 for 1.7 oz it’s also a bargain.  I’ve personally always wanted one of those mammoth bottles of this…

Guerlain Vetiver is the Gold Standard reference for what a vetiver should be.  Not too grassy, not too rooty, and skillfully married to citrus, spice and pepper.  Lovely, but I do have a warning: I got this for a friend’s husband and he managed to wake her from a sound sleep by his over-application of it.  From a splash.  If he’s like that you might want to get the smallest bottle or apply for him.  $71 for 2.5 oz.

Bvlgari Black is for your more adventurous man.  Smoky tea with a hint of rubber and leather in a bottle that looks like a mag wheel and low-profile tire.  It could have been tragically silly, but it’s a  masterpiece.  It’s also $74 for 2.5 oz.

Bvlgari Green Tea skates the other side of the rink.  Crisp citrus and refreshing green tea mixed with discrete spices and dry woods make this the cologne equivalent of a shirt fresh from the cleaners.  On hot days you’ll be poaching it.  $60 for 1.33 oz.

The prices quoted are from Sephora, which I chose because I’m sure that there’s one near you even if your current address is somewhere in orbit.  I daresay that you can do better price-wise at discounters or on the internets.  I know I did.

Disclosure: three of these I own currently purchased from various sources, the other two I have owned in the past and am remembering.