Help for a new-to-perfume gentleman based in Singapore?

[kreteknose]

Terre d'Hermes is part of Hermes' mainstream line, and the Hermessence line is part of their exclusive tier:

Can I use TDH as an example? I tried looking for old Hermes threads here, and TDH has a lot of fans, consider it a classic Hermes scent, and consider it as having good bang for the buck from Hermes (especially those who hate everything after 2016).

It seemed harder to look for notes on Hermessence. Any advice on looking for these (starting from liking TDH and wanting to check the rest of the family) and more efficiently filtering the notes for masculine scents only?

 

[imm0rtelle]

but I really should read a couple of reviews ahead rather than asking to sniff all 10-12 scents on a counter. Or is this how it's done?)

Some great ideas would be to "reset" your nose by smelling your own skin in-between sampling. Another idea is to wear a mask so that you can unmask to smell, then mask up to reset a bit. Also, the coffee bean stuff is nonsense.

 

[dogtoe]

Sample and test to find out what you and your girl friend like. There’s no shortcut.

I bought Jo Malone Oud & Bergamot from the Jo Malone boutique at the Marina Sands mall. I wasn’t happy with how quickly it faded away (longevity) and how little it projected. After a couple more similar experiences with Jo Malone fragrances, I decided never to buy them again.

I was going to suggest Robinsons on Orchard Road as a great place to sample, but either my memory of the name is wrong or they didn’t survive the pandemic. I can’t find them on Google maps.

Be sure to step outside to test your scents. They smell a bit different in hot humidity than in dry air conditioning, and most stores fill the air with deodorants that also change the fragrances.

 

[kreteknose]

Sample and test to find out what you and your girl friend like. There’s no shortcut.

I bought Jo Malone Oud & Bergamot from the Jo Malone boutique at the Marina Sands mall. I wasn’t happy with how quickly it faded away (longevity) and how little it projected. After a couple more similar experiences with Jo Malone fragrances, I decided never to buy them again.

I was going to suggest Robinsons on Orchard Road as a great place to sample, but either my memory of the name is wrong or they didn’t survive the pandemic. I can’t find them on Google maps.

Be sure to step outside to test your scents. They smell a bit different in hot humidity than in dry air conditioning, and most stores fill the air with deodorants that also change the fragrances.

thanks! aside from the Marina Bay Sands casino mall, there are a number of department stores still along Orchard Road, and even Raffles City on the other end. It’s a small city center, and well taken on stepping outside and checking at intervals.

 

[WarmJewel]

Have you tried or considered some of the classic masculine fragrances? Such as Chanel Pour Monsieur, Christian Dior Eau Sauvage, Azarro Pour Homme, Paco Rabanne Pour Homme, Monsieur de Givenchy? There's a very good reason why they're still in production—people like them and still buy them!

Even in their reformulated current production form, they're all still very good masculine fragrances.

 

[kreteknose]

Have you tried or considered some of the classic masculine fragrances? Such as Chanel Pour Monsieur, Christian Dior Eau Sauvage, Azarro Pour Homme, Paco Rabanne Pour Homme, Monsieur de Givenchy? There's a very good reason why they're still in production—people like them and still buy them!

Even in their reformulated current production form, they're all still very good masculine fragrances.

I am, though I’m also taking the time to check the premium lines of each.

 

[WarmJewel]

I am, though I’m also taking the time to check the premium lines of each.

What did you think of Pour Monsieur and Eau Sauvage?

 

[kreteknose]

What did you think of Pour Monsieur and Eau Sauvage?

Randomly passed through the perfume section of the BHG department store on top of Bugis MRT station on the way to cocktails. There was an extremely knowledgeable and friendly Filipino saleslady manning the Gucci counter (and the person at Burberry was nice, too, they were friends). The lady and her had a long chat about the merits of Gucci Guilty EDP and I finally figured out that the note she loves is patchouli (the Filipino memorized half of Fragantica).

- Chanel Pour Monsieur and Blue - Nice but not particularly interesting, in the sense that they seemed a little restrained. Like the video @imm0rtelle linked, they felt a little too sophisticated and old school. I liked Terre d'Hermes more than Pour Monsiuer. The lady was not a Chanel fan either; I thought she might like No. 5 but she wrinkled her nose and said maybe when she is 60. I somewhat liked Chanel Exclusif Eau de Cologne, but largely because it reminded me of the fresh scents from other lines.

- Dior Sauvage - It was OK, but I thought I still liked Dior Homme more because it had a strong fresh but not overpowering scent. I need to try Dior Privee.

- YSL Kourous - For my dad.

- Gucci Guilty EDP - Decided this was the lady's favorite Gucci Guilty. Parfum is too strong, EDT is too light, and Absolute is too grandpa. Bloom is nice but floral isn't the lady's first choice, even though she liked it. Tried the Gucci Alchemist line but nothing grabbed me outside the woody scents. Also tried the female Gucci Guilty but the lady hates it as all patchouli and nothing else.

- Guerlain Vetiver - Lovely scent but felt one dimensional that I'd love it layered over something else. Nothing in the Guerlain premium line really grabbed me.

Tried a variety of other main line scents from Burberry Hero to various MMM Replica scents. Nothing really grabbed me outside Gucci, Dior, Chanel and Hermes. I'm appreciating how the higher end lines like Creed and the premium lines of boutiques are more complex and have more longevity. I'm wondering how to navigate between a classic and easy to like main line scent and a more subtle, complex or layered premium line scent.

Seems the lady loves woody base notes and patchouli, bergamot or citrus top notes. Looking for these and a more complex version of the classic sporty/fresh masculine scent.

 

[kreteknose]

And lastly, as a wild card, you should try Aramis, as it’s patchouli in a tuxedo.

Haven't forgotten this, "patchouli" entered the lady's vocabulary.

 

[WarmJewel]

- Dior Sauvage - It was OK, but I thought I still liked Dior Homme more because it had a strong fresh but not overpowering scent. I need to try Dior Privee.

Not Dior - Sauvage, Christian Dior - Eau Sauvage, they're entirely diferent fragrances. But I suspect if you don't like Chanel Pour Monsieur you won't like Eau Sauvage either.

If your ladyfriend likes Patchouli, try Givenchy Gentleman.

 

[CookBot]

3) She hates rose and anything floral (and probably prefers male scents for herself). Non-citrus fruity is also out, we tried Tom Ford Cherry perfumes and got a laugh.

You've got one sophisticated girl on your hands.

So you liked vetiver but thought it should be layered with something else? The next time you're near the Chanel Exclusifs, try Sycomore.

 

[kreteknose]

You've got one sophisticated girl on your hands.

So you liked vetiver but thought it should be layered with something else? The next time you're near the Chanel Exclusifs, try Sycomore.

I swear she has beagle DNA.

Sycomore was one of the first things I tried, nice but didn't quite like the more subdued scent and the spicy notes of Chanel woody scents. Maybe I'll revisit as I did like how even the main line had longevity and fade into a more complex scent a couple hours later, but she didn't warm to Chanel, not even No. 5.

 

[imm0rtelle]

In case this might be helpful, I will share some of my own philosophy towards how I approach fragrances for myself. I personally treat fragrances like a fashion accessory that I can swap out depending on my mood or how I want to present myself. I see fragrances like an olfactory instagram filter. I believe that you can wear the same outfit, but changing the fragrances will emphasize a different facet of your presentation which will give an overall different effect on your audience. I sort my fragrances into arbitrary categories: aloof, fresh, cozy, edgy, sexy, and elegant. These categories are really arbitrary because something I categorize as fresh might register as very sexy to her if she is into fresh scents on a guy. For my own preferences, I lean towards fragrances that are androgynous, slightly rocker/edgy, and slightly melancholic. I'm also a fan of the iris butter note.



When I'm looking to add a new fragrance into my wardrobe, I will treat myself like a casting director. I will have an idea of what the fragrance should be like, and I will be auditioning fragrances to see if they fit my brief that I have in mind.

 

[kreteknose]

Thanks for adding this! I was thinking of something like this, except most discussions are limited to work and after work! Going to have to look through some in your list, and great that I had just tried Sauvage, Bleu and Platinum Egoiste (and distinguished that from the heavier Egoiste). I was also thinking current Dior Homme fits in this cozy category.

Where would you fit Gucci Guilty EDP (the lady's current suggestion) and its woody/patchouli notes into your categories?

 

[imm0rtelle]

Where would you fit Gucci Guilty EDP (the lady's current suggestion) and its woody/patchouli notes into your categories?

That one is a bit harder for me to qualify. It is fresh, but my mind also associates it with a bad boy as it has a "darkness" to it. It is harder for me to classify since it doesn't fit what I'm personally looking for.

I was also thinking current Dior Homme fits in this cozy category.

These ads might be helpful:

 

[cc90]

Hi bro, you should just hit up escentials and the broader Orchard area

In terms of broadly woody fragrances top picks for me are:

• Tom Ford Oud Wood
• Amouage Memoir Man
• Le Labo Santal 33
• Parle Moi de Parfum Papyrus Oud
• Creed Bois de Portugal or Royal Oud
• Quite a few of the CdG scents (like Hinoki / Wonderwood). Believe most of the CdG scents are stocked at Dempsey.

For some of the TFs, Amouages, and Creeds, I find that there's quite a bit of batch variance to my nose, so it's a bit of a crapshoot

 

[StylinLA]

Hi bro, you should just hit up escentials and the broader Orchard area

In terms of broadly woody fragrances top picks for me are:

• Tom Ford Oud Wood
• Amouage Memoir Man
• Le Labo Santal 33
• Parle Moi de Parfum Papyrus Oud
• Creed Bois de Portugal or Royal Oud
• Quite a few of the CdG scents (like Hinoki / Wonderwood). Believe most of the CdG scents are stocked at Dempsey.

For some of the TFs, Amouages, and Creeds, I find that there's quite a bit of batch variance to my nose, so it's a bit of a crapshoot

Those are some great suggestions given the lady likes woody scents for sure. But some could get tricky in hot humid weather.

 

[kreteknose]

thanks all... any good blogs or reviews (keyed to men) that talk about the types of scents and collections here? i saw a lot of distaste for most YouTube reviewers in this forum, and just searching on Google isn't so easy, especially if you want a male-focused review.

 

[imm0rtelle]

thanks all... any good blogs or reviews (keyed to men) that talk about the types of scents and collections here? i saw a lot of distaste for most YouTube reviewers in this forum, and just searching on Google isn't so easy, especially if you want a male-focused review.

 

[kreteknose]

passed by another mall.

- Le Labo Santal 33 - I was eager to try Le Labo having read on the concept but was underwhelmed. The scents were very good but they struck me as much too subtle or one dimensional (the latter being my reaction to Guerlain's main line). I was steered to Santal 33 immediatelt given my
preferences but literally smelled nothing but a strong alcohol opening despite 3 tries then 4 sprays on skin. The scents were beautiful, don't get me wrong. The gentle black tea notes of Noir were goos, the casual green tea notes of Matcha even better. The florals like Ylang and Jasmine were wondertul, though not what I was looking for.

- Byredo Gypsy Water - Same, thought the scents were quite subtle. They recommended Super Cedar but it didn’t wow me and it had subtle incense notes. I sprayed Gypsy Water on skin to try it but suspect I’d like more classic fresh scents.

- Celine Nightclubbing - For some reason I was underwhelmed by Celine after trying Chanel as I found Chanel’s scents more complex and multiple layered despite not liking any particular one. I didn’t like any of the woods (and the very friendly SA Desmond said he didn’t bring out Reptile given my description), but tried the SA’s personal favorite on skin because he said the initial smoke would settle down. He was right and it’s nice, but the hints of smoke and pepper in the finish are not for me. I also tried Parade on skin because they said it’s the most popular, but I thought it was a shadow of Terre d’Hermes for an orange note.

I wonder if I will end up with something mainstream and classic like Gucci Guilty EDP, Terre d’Hermes or Dior Homme EDP and then branch out into something more subtle or more deceptively simple from there. I may be stuck onto something easy to appreciate but with enough complexity and multiple layers to keep it interesting.