How do you like to smell?

So I've recently got into perfumes and was just wondering what are your go to fragrances not counting Axe/Lynx.

I'll start off by saying for Winter my go to perfumes are

- Azzaro Wanted by Night and

- Viktor Rodolf Spicebomb Intense

For long night outs its Scandal by Jean Paul Gaultier.

The next perfumes I'm looking to add are Armani Code, very safe for an office setting with its Vanilla notes since every one likes Vanilla and Bvlgari Terra Essence pour Homme since its a very different.

What do you guys wear and if you have a collection please share.

22 Comments
 
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May be try fragrances with woody notes? 

I think you will need to change perfumes based on what you're wearing. If you're heading into a client meeting you really don't want to be wearing something that is extremely sweet and strong. On the other hand if you're going out to a party with people in their 20s you'd really not want to smell very mature unless thats exactly what you are going for. 

Else there are perfumes that you can use everywhere but will smell more generic.

 

General rule of thumb I've been told is "I should never be able to smell you from more than 5 feet away or for more than 5 minutes after you've left the area." I'd like to source it as GSE, but I'm not 100% on that.

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As a girl perfume is a major part of what I think of male colleagues - even more so for female ones.

So no vanilla or patchuli please (yes, that's your Axe).

The way you wear your perfume is that you put one drop on your wrist, touch the wrists together, then carry the perfume to your neck by touching it with the wrists. No perfume should go below your neck. If I can smell you from one meter away you got it wrong.

If you spend much time sitting with people avoid signature perfumes. Woody or citrusy notes are fine (Dolce Light Blue, etc)

If you are a VP / MD, go and wear your Bulgari Aqua, Fahrenheit or Aqua di Parma Leather. We will love when you pass by. 

I usually wear Bottega Venetas, less known and quite safe yet very elegant and unique. I also like the neroli-based Hermes lines (jardins, eau de merveilles).

 
Most Helpful

What I've found is that applying on your wrist first and then to your neck is a myth. The reason you apply to your wrist is because its a pulse point and as you said to your wrist as well because of that. However, it is recommended not to apply on the wrist because there is a good chance that the smell will not last very long especially if you sit at a desk all day because your wrist will be in contact with different surfaces.

What I've seen recommended is that depending on the perfume concentrate you can go half a spray or even up to 5-6 sprays. If it is a very strong perfume and you dont want it wafting into you nose through out the day but still want projection the back of your neck is a pretty good place with of course a couple of sprays behind your ear.

I absolutely love the Hermes line of perfumes thought some of them are not exactly people pleasers.

 

This ultimately comes down to how much you want to spend. If you're new to fragrances you'll tend to first gravitate towards the cheaper retail colognes, which are the basically the brands that are sold in the everyday retail stores (macy's, dillards, etc.) At the cheaper level, Chanel is the best value imo. The Bleu de Chanel line and Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme is one of my favorites. 

After this it becomes much more expensive (at least $300 a bottle depending on the size). The most popular "niche" houses are Creed, Tom Ford, and Parfums de Marly, and maybe Bond No. 9. If you like fresh citrusy fragrances, go Creed (Aventus, Green Irish Tweed, Silver Mountain Water). If you like darker/spicy/leathery type of scents check out Tom Ford. If you like rich and sweet try Parfums de Marly (Layton, Pegasus, Herod, Percival, Galloway). You can order sample sets from Creed and Parfums de Marly for like 30 bucks. The deal with these niche fragrances is that they get super weird and unwearable if you want to wear them everyday so you just have to sample them and see how much you like them. 

 

I've been into fragrances for the last 3 years, here are my recommendations:

- Creed Aventus: All year round fragrance, the DNA smells amazing but there are a lot of cheaper clones like Mont Blanc Explorer.

- Tom Ford Oud Wood: Great office scent, woody but not overpowering.

- Dior Homme Intense: very sophisticated fragrance with the iris, if you want a more wearable version go for Givenchy Gentleman edp.

- Try to avoid Dior Sauvage and Bleu de chanel so you won’t smell like every girl's ex bf.

In summer daytime try to opt for citrusy fragrances like Acqua di Gio Profondo, TF costa azzura or DG light blue intense.

And don’t touch the wrist when applying fragrances, it doesn’t last that way. Apply 2 on the neck, 2 on the wrist and you’re good to go.

 

Margiela Jazz Club and Jo Malone leather and wood or something. The margiela one is  more for going out while the jo malone is fine for work given it's not strong and is a fairly neutral scent. I also like francis kurkdjian if you're willing to dish but I like to reserve that for nicer dinners / occasions given how bold it is. And I don't like having an overpowering scent about me.

 

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