Mar 14thManly Cologne

I don’t recall what specifically peaked my interest in cologne, but I do recall thinking that I ought to know more about it.  I can remember my Dad’s bathroom smelling like CK Obsession, and found myself thinking that my bathroom did not smell nearly as manly.  I found a website called basenotes, which is a wealth of knowledge on the topic.  I did some reading, and then posted in the forum, stating my desires, and asking for recommendations.  I said I liked lime, sage, rum, and tobacco. That I was looking for a traditional masculine scent.  I researched the recommendations given and used the search function on the site that allows searches by notes, and purchased small bottles of the fragrances shown above.

Royal Lime – This is what I was using on rare occasion before reading basenotes.  They sell it at Brooks Brothers.  I like the smell, but it just doesn’t last. (poor sillage, apparently the scent game has its own patois)

Aramis – I found this using the search function.  It has sage, but really nothing else I was looking for.  However, it is an old scent, 1965, and many reviews spoke of how masculine it is.  I was worried the sandalwood would be overpowering.  To me, sandalwood smells like the cologne middle school boys wore back in my day, which was terrible and applied liberally.  My dad says sandalwood smells like the inside of an uber.  Aramis is how I imagine the most interesting man in the world smells.  The first day I tried this, I went shooting.  Having some Aramis on my wrists, and cordite on my hands made for a very manly scent. I like Aramis, but my criticism is that it does not last nearly as long as many of the others.

Perry Ellis America – I found this one via the search function, and my interest was pure marketing.  It is made using scents indigenous to North America.  It is pleasant, but the sandalwood is prominent, and therefore, it smells like a middle school locker room to me.

Burberry London – I was hesitant to try this one.  Many reviewers seemed to think it was feminine.  I think it smells sophisticated.  Its scent brings to mind a wealthy man, being fitted for a suit on savile row, or the smell of a businessman walking by you at the ritz.

Guerlain Homme – This was my favorite until the scent I describe next arrived.  The interwebs says it has a woody mojito smell.  I don’t disagree, but its so complex and interesting I don’t think that description really does it justice.  Its also fairly subtle, but lasting.  I may get a full size bottle of this one.

Aramis Havana – The name sold this one to me.  This is a fairly new scent (’94), but by the same company as the ’65.  When I read the description, I was even more sold.  Tobacco (obviously), bay rum, all spice, and many others.  As a cigar smoker, I was skeptical that a tobacco scent could be subtle, sophisticated, and balanced.  This scent really surprised me.  After wearing it for an extended period, there is a lot of vanilla.  I’m not really a huge fan of the vanilla scent, but it would seem most people are, as of the time of this post, a lot of people on the basenotes forum are going craycray banan-ay for Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille.

I’m going to try not to fall too far down the rabbit hole on this one.  Not only is there a ton to know, and a plethora of options, you can even make your own cologne.  It looks fun, but the last thing I need is another hobby (especially an sedentary one).