Is there such a thing as a masculine Orange Blossom fragrance?

[slpfrsly]

I love the scent of orange blossom but it doesn't seem to be something that suits masculine perfume. Is that fair?

One masculine orange blossom fragrance that springs to mind is JPG's Fleur du Male, by Kurkdjian. But to my nose, there's a lot more going on than just orange blossom. This clean soapbar/floral fragrance uses orange blossom but it doesn't dominate the blend.

Another is Villoresi's Dilmun, a more prominent orange blossom with a resinous dry oriental warm base. It comes across as unisex - perfectly wearable for a man, but with enough feminine touches that most men would look elsewhere for a soapy or even a floral fragrance.

Orange blossom fragrances seem to differ from neroli and petitgrain (more common orange floral notes used in masculine perfumery) in that there's a sweet warmth to the note that marks it out as specifically feminine. I'm thinking about scents like Jo Malone's Orange Blossom and Penhaligon's: whether it's the use of other floral notes, like rose, to bloster that sweet/floral/almost heady quality to the orange blossom, or it's orange blossom on its own, I can't really think of an orange blossom scent that both smells like primarily/mostly of orange blossom and smells suitable for men.

Is orange blossom just one of those notes that's for the girls?

Song unrelated to discussion. 👌

 

[Akahina]

The first thing that comes to mind for me is Amouage Silver.

 

[cacio]

I think you're making a good point. The definition of orange blossom may vary, but in general, as you say, orange blossom tends to have a certain floral thickness that is more stereotypical for women (and that I don't like that much). Neroli's soapiness and petitgrain woodiness are much more stereotypically masculine. Nothing comes to mind that's heavy on orange blossom and marketed to men.

Btw, a few months ago I tried the (presumably for men) Eau de napoleon by the local New Orleans brand Hove. I see the website calls it a lime fragrance, but what I have is orange blossom water, the one that's used in some Italian and French cakes. Unfortunately, it's an eau de cologne that lasts about 15 minutes.

cacio

 

[hednic]

APOM Pour Homme by Maison Francis Kurkdjian

 

[mgrigoriev]

Fleur De Louis by Arquiste - in honor of Louis the XIV who adored orange blosson. It's a masculine no doubt.

 

[Scent Detective]

I love Neroli Portofino and feel like it's a very balanced unisex orange blossom fragrance.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

There are quite a few masculine orange blossom fragrances. A couple that come to mind are Penhaligon’s Castile and Ferrari Bright Neroli. Although Castile has other ingredients blended in, it’s still OB forward. That and the petitgrain. It has some woody soapy facets too so doesn’t feel at all feminine.

Some orange blossom fragrances are boosted with jasmine so can come across with a more feminine tilt due to the indoles, like Penhaligon’s Orange Blossom.

Straight up orange blossom feels foody not womanly/manly, to me.

 

[maksidrom]

JV Artisan is masculine leaning IMO.
But yeah, I agree, hard to find an orange blossom centric fragrance that doesn't lean feminine, with that soapiness and sweetness.

P.S. a little over a year I acquired Penhaligon's Orange Blossom and on my skin it is firmly unisex. I fully expected it to lean feminine, but there's so much more going on than just orange blossom, that it doesn't smell like your typical orange blossom to me - it's grassy, green, unsweet, dry herbal-aromatic with some old school unisex florals. Many folks mention a prominent tuberose note, which I don't get at all and I'm not a fan of scents with a strong traditional tuberose note.

 

[Ken_Russell]

Quite a few great names already mentioned, also adding to a certain extent the niche unisex (thus partly off topic) rather than exclusively masculine scent Oesel by Xerjoff.

 

[PaTomas]

+1 APOM (a part of me) is sometimes described as Neroli but many of you have rightly distinguished that from Orange Blossom.

This is wonderful if you like powdery amber barbershop though lavender is not a part. One reviewer mentions that this came out along with the masculine take on rose Lumière Noire pour Homme when Francis himself seem to be making personal expressions not so people pleasing. Later fragrances of that house seem a bit more mainstream appealing to me.

When I first smelled I said, "Does a man wear this?" followed quickly by, "A man has to wear this."
And... it seems orange blossom to me, and not neroli.

 

[ThVH]

Fleur du Male

 

[dogtoe]

I pulled an orange blossom off a tree yesterday, inhaled its sweet delicate aroma and wondered why it has never been adequately captured in any of the hundreds of fragrances I’ve tested. It isn’t soapy. It is sweet. It’s ever so delicate.

 

[Diddy]

To answer the title - yes. Examples have been given.

And as pointed out previously, it’s the accompanying notes that make the overall presentation lean towards masculine or feminine tastes. Orange blossom alone sits squarely unisex to my nose. I’d like to see osmanthus used more in masculines. Darren Alan does a fine job using the note in his fragrances but I don’t see it come up nearly as often as I’d like.

 

[baklavaRuzh]

I really like divin'enfant by ELDO.

 

[tripler]

Prada Amber, Lutens Fleur D’Orangeur (the original bottling is supposed to have a heavier dose of cumin), and I get an steely orange blossom note in Jaipur Homme EDT which I really enjoy for a cheapie.

 

[The Cologne Cabinet]

D & G The One for Men EDT

 

[Varanis Ridari]

Some clubbers go with an orange blossom note, but they are not singular/soliflore.

Joop! Homme, Lagerfeld Photo, MCM Success, Roma Uomo by Laura Biagiotti, Nikos Sculpture, Altamir by Ted Lapidus, Montblanc Individuel.

Some of those might read feminine to you anyway, but they're all marketed male.

 

[Foxsbiscuits]

Guerlain Cologne du Parfumeur

The discontinued (and largely overlooked) Fahrenheit 32

 

[ihxb01]

The Gucci Guilty PH line. I was looking for the sweet flower warmth as well and after trying all flankers chose the EDP.

Nikos Sculpture

Planning to wear this today in the first time in order to consider whether I should buy the new Parfum version blindly.

largely overlooked Fahrenheit 32

Wore it twice already since the spring started. Can’t get that melting snow feeling enough. Agree that it is a unique fragrance.

 

[Sandy]

APOM Pour Homme by Maison Francis Kurkdjian

This, although Orange Blossom plays only a smaller part in it. This was my signature for years.