How do the tastes of a male frag head evolve?

[kreteknose]

How does one’s taste evolve for a male frag head as one goes deeper down the rabbit hole?

I was thinking:

1) enjoys entry level, mass market sporty or shower gel scents with a strong fresh from the shower note

2) enjoys mainstream scents from major brands

3) enjoys niche scents from niche brands and needs a reality check on whether Le Labo Santal 33 really is a scent that is everywhere to the point one needs to wear something different

As someone new to this, I imagine the best advice is to take it slow, enjoy classic mainstream fragrances as one explores one’s tastes and understand that one cannot realistically consume more than 100-200ml/year so one does not need to overthink what should be purchases of a few hundred dollars per year at most. (But have fun if you end up with dozens of bottles anyway.)

 

[tinfoilhatdude]

How does one’s taste evolve for a male frag head as one goes deeper down the rabbit hole?

I was thinking:

1) enjoys entry level, mass market sporty or shower gel scents with a strong fresh from the shower note

2) enjoys mainstream scents from major brands

3) enjoys niche scents from niche brands and needs a reality check on whether Le Labo Santal 33 really is a scent that is everywhere to the point one needs to wear something different

As someone new to this, I imagine the best advice is to take it slow, enjoy classic mainstream fragrances as one explores one’s tastes and understand that one cannot realistically consume more than 100-200ml/year so one does not need to overthink what should be purchases of a few hundred dollars per year at most. (But have fun if you end up with dozens of bottles anyway.)

Great thread idea!

1.) I concur; middle & high-school at launch was Polo Sport, Michael Jordan, Curve & Tommy, others found at drug stores.

2.) Yup again; Gucci Noble, Polo Green, etc. not found at drug stores.

3.) Yup again; LL Patch 24 is a fave fo' sho'!

 

[hednic]

How does one’s taste evolve for a male frag head as one goes deeper down the rabbit hole?

Slowly and carefully over many years.

 

[ultravisitor]

For me, it was nothing intentional. I’ve always been into fragrances and always liked checking them out in department stores. One day I was at Neiman Marcus and tried Creed Himalaya and totally fell for it. I had never heard of Creed before that and soon developed a liking for more of their fragrance. After that, I just continued checking out fragrances at department stores and continued finding things that I liked, particularly Dior’s exclusive line.

 

[StylinLA]

I think it varies wildly for everyone.

It is not a logical interest/hobby/pursuit. Once you pass about 20 bottles, the reality is it will take a long time to go through them.

If I was starting over knowing what I know now, I would probably have a 1/4 of what I own and would have used decants much more.
In some fairness to me, the decant availability has radically increased since I started here in 2009. Discovering this whole world of fragrance lovers and driving by Scent Bar twice a day really fired me up a little too much.

One of the first gateways for me was Creed. A savvy sales rep at Nieman Marcus steered me into GIT. He didn't use ANY of the infamous Creed patter (all natural, celebrities, history, etc). I was just impressed with the scents I tried and honestly liked that they were not very commonly used in late 90s. I never heard any of the Creed faux history stuff until I came in here. They were pricey but not as expensive as they are now either.

 

[StylinLA]

For me, it was nothing intentional. I’ve always been into fragrances and always liked checking them out in department stores. One day I was at Neiman Marcus and tried Creed Himalaya and totally fell for it. I had never heard of Creed before that and soon developed a liking for more of their fragrance. After that, I just continued checking out fragrances at department stores and continued finding things that I liked, particularly Dior’s exclusive line.

Funny we posted similar beginnings at the same time.

 

[Salumbre]

1) enjoys entry level, mass market sporty or shower gel scents with a strong fresh from the shower note: NEVER.

2) enjoys mainstream scents from major brands: SOME

3) enjoys niche scents from niche brands and needs a reality check on whether Le Labo Santal 33 really is a scent that is everywhere to the point one needs to wear something different: NOT. REALLY.

 

[Pippin06]

I was introduced to the classics as a teen--aramis, Polo, Chanel for Men, etc., and still love them. My taste has evolved / grown largely because of kind people on Basenotes making suggestions and my reading reviews. I also have found some new loves by watching "The Scentinel" on Youtube. Most of my purchases the past several years have been blind buys, which I totally enjoy doing. Of course, I have to think there's a good chance of liking a fragrance before making a blind buy, but I'd only regreted it once.

 

[The Cologne Cabinet]

I think it varies wildly for everyone.

It is not a logical interest/hobby/pursuit. Once you pass about 20 bottles, the reality is it will take a long time to go through them.

If I was starting over knowing what I know now, I would probably have a 1/4 of what I own and would have used decants much more.

+1

"More" isn't better, but you don't realize that until you reach a certain threshold with your collecting. As long as it doesn't turn into an unhealthy obsession, enjoy the ride....

 

[dealt7faux]

There are no hard and fast rules.
You like what you like and that's all there is to it.
You can lead a full and rich life without any niche fragrances
Don't go bankrupt with the fragrance rabbit hole.

 

[N.CAL Fragrance Reviewer]

Through trial and error with the experiences that come with it over time.

 

[mrcologneguy]

Compare to what you spend on other pricey, discretionary entertainment, and mull it over a bit. An expensive dinner out, event tickets, a night at a nightclub, even expensive grocery dinner nights at home, especially if you spring for a bottle of decent wine — mere hours of entertainment, versus years of pleasure with a great number of similarly priced fragrance treats, for pretty much the same total I find in other, ephemeral delights. If you invest carefully, you can get a lot of your money back out of it (though why, since the point is to develop a COLLECTION.)

 

[hednic]

Most of my purchases the past several years have been blind buys, which I totally enjoy doing.

Likewise - for me longer than that!

 

[ultravisitor]

Funny we posted similar beginnings at the same time.

I’ve never had any of the SAs try to sell me with any of the brand’s history, though. I just liked the fragrances. I never knew or paid any attention to the marketing to know anything about it; I only ever saw and experienced the fragrances in stores. It wasn’t until I came here that I knew anything about the brand’s supposed history. I just didn’t care (and still don’t).

 

[kreteknose]

Most SAs I met are still mastering memorzing the notes of their line and summaries from Fragantica, not the histories.

Anyone have a good article for a “beginner” mainstream male scent collection to benchmark against? Like 20 scents to sniff before you buy your first personal signature scent?

 

[Scentologist]

It simply, does. The more educated and refined a fragrance enthusiast (or professional) becomes, doesn't mean the more niche fragrance dominant you are. I have simply evolved into becoming more confident about who I am and what I like through this journey and I find aspects of these elements across various demographics such as cheap, mainstream, niche, indie, etc. If its a good fragrance, its good regardless of branding and labels. I believe I recall Luca Turn really being enamored with Paradise, of all things in spite of all he has access to. Enjoy the ride and discover your personal tastes.

 

[StylinLA]

Most SAs I met are still mastering memorzing the notes of their line and summaries from Fragantica, not the histories.

Anyone have a good article for a “beginner” mainstream male scent collection to benchmark against? Like 20 scents to sniff before you buy your first personal signature scent?

There are probably some around somewhere, but I suggest you forget that.

We all have opinions and suggestions about things, but your opinion is the only one that counts. Collectively, we know a lot about fragrances but you are the expert on you.

Whatever direction you take or bottles you buy is perfect for you. Let your own nose and your lady friend be your guide.

Just keep poking around in here and looking for ideas that sound like something you might want to try. You're lucky you seem to be in a city with a good selection of designer and niche.

 

[enframing]

Probably evolves a lot like other luxury pursuits. Take wine. People usually start drinking big name supermarket stuff. Eventually you get you mind blown by some wine or another and the rabbit hole has been started. Then you seek out lesser known things, new experiences.

For myself, I wore some in college but then forgot and then got into a business that doesn't really allow fragrances to be worn. Now I spend less time in front of people so I started this pursuit.

I buy a lot of classics for cheap (Ross, thrift shops, discounters) and keep the ones I like, and sell the ones I don't. Or, if I think it's worth keeping for the craft, like it's a well-made example, I'll do that, even if I will never wear it. I've only been deep in this for about four months but I definitely have learned that I have a certain style I like.

 

[hollywoodforever]

I had a whim one day to get a new fragrance, after having worn none for years.
I thought to myself: "I'll find my signature scent™!"

Never found it! Don't think I want one anymore! But I've learned so much and had a ton of fun in the time since (~1 year.)

 

[PrinceRF]

I was interested in niche very early on in my fragrance journey.