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Fragrance Discussion

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cologne discussion fragrances
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7.3K views 161 replies 21 participants last post by  Oviatt  
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#1 · (Edited)
I've been testing out and collecting fragrances for 10 years now, and I wanted to share some of my insights:
  • Websites like Fragrantica are helpful for learning about the notes, projection, longevity and other facets of a fragrance.
  • Fragrances are really subjective. Reviews online can only tell you so much. The best way is to test them in person. Go to malls or downtown areas in major metros.
  • I learned that "Notes" are a combination of different aromachemicals. Two fragrances can have the same note, but each note could be made completely differently and have completely different ratios of ingredients. (i.e. a lavendar note in one fragrance can be completely different than a lavendar note in another fragrance)
  • I like to test fragrances on paper first, to see if I like the opening. And then the few fragrances I really like, I test on my skin to get a sense of what the drydown is like.
  • I realized that I don't go through fragrances very quickly, and I personally don't need a full bottle of everything. At this point, most of my collection is samples and decants (from facebook groups or other fragrance community groups). For most fragrances, even 5-10 ml will last a really long time.
 
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#2 ·
They also interact with body chemistry (which a bit undermines the “test paper”). The various notes also typically have differing rates of evaporation from the skin, so I think people really only evaluate one dimension (initial application) of a scent.

I haven’t worn colognes (I still call it that… is it “fragrance”, now?) in probably 25-30 years, but I used to like “woody” scents (I want to say one by Bulgari). I’m still partial to a woody or citrusy scent in shaving cream (I like Musgo Real’s “oak moss” out of Portugal) and maybe a beard oil or pomade. Different chemistry, of course, because it’s applied to hair, not skin.

I know in Japan there’s a lot of continuing education related to scents and aromatherapy; you can even become an aromatherapy “sommelier” (Japan loves certifications).

DH
 
#5 ·
I always liked splash on aftershaves and colognes. Many, maybe most, of my favorites have become very hard to find and then at ridiculous premiums. I have settled into Acqua di Selva, inexpensive and rather a fir scent, and 4711, also inexpensive and a very light citrus forward scent. I find most modern scents smell quite similar and many of the classics are just too heavy, even Eau Sauvage which I wore for ages. The Guerlains I used to love, mainly Vetiver and Habit Rouge, are sensory overload for me now. Even St. John's lime Is too much. Of course the pleasure of catching a whiff of any of these just is not going to happen. I wonder how we survived English Leather and Jade East in the sixties.
 
#6 ·
Not too big on artificial smells stuffed in a bottle, but from the opening post here apparently some are very into this. Swell. My favorite fragrance is walking through my woods on a wet night, difficult to capture except when you're there.

Boughten is an old Maine term for the opposite of homemade, meaning bought in a store. I keep a boughten bottle of smellies in the cupboardI for emergencies, Aqua Velva by name, splash it on sometimes when I hear a rap at the door, not much traffic up here usually just the Jehovah Witness lady
 
R
#7 ·
You guys are lucky to wear what you want. I married in my late 40's and the wife asked me to stop wearing colognes because it conflicted with her's. Jump ahead to our retired years, doubt that she wears any now. I just put on Frankincense and Myrrh Essentials oils. I tell her I am not wearing cologne, it is Oils. end of subject. (on a side note, I once took a bottle of this to a Men's Stores and they all liked it.)
 
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