World's Best Fougere's Classic and Modern...Give us Your List!

[Scent Detective]

Hello Everyone! Hope this hasn't been discussed into the ground, but rather than find an old thread, I thought maybe we could make a new list for reference sake.

So...what is your own personal "Best Fougere" list of all time? Please list your best modern fougere's and classic fougeres. Or, you can combine classic and modern in your list, however you want. Here is mine at the moment.

1. Oud Fougere by Agar Aura: My currrent favorite fougere. Soooo wonderful! A dark yet silvery oud note that is enveloped by the best green, fern note in recent memory. I love this stuff a ton.
2. Norne Oil by Slumberhouse: Ahh...Norne, turned into a fougere. Need I say more?
3. Bon Monsieur by Rogue Perfumery: A wonderful classic smelling fougere with the addition of a conifer note, (fir balsam), that brings an instant smile to my face. Beautiful stuff!
4. Fougeriste by Angelo's Olfactive Creations: A fougere with some modern spin. This one is so smoooooth. Absolutely beautiful stuff that I've just smelled a few days ago and it's already infiltrated my brain with the "Buy Me NOW" enzyme. LOL.
5. English Fern by Penhaligons: Crisp, bracing, old school amazingness! I love this one so much and when in the mood only GEO F. Trumper's Wild Fern comes close to filling the gap.

Okay, so...what are the best fougere's on the planet in your opinion?

 

[slpfrsly]

I don't know where Chanel's Platinum Egoiste falls in the classic-modern spectrum but I would say that is the best overall fougere I've smelled. It's not strictly traditional but it meets just about every need or want of a masculine fragrance, so it's easy to dress it up or down. It's hard to talk highly enough of Platinum Egoiste, and reformulations have been kind to it as well.

For a modern fougere, it has to be Beau de Jour. It's the one I have kept going back to time and time again, despite the obvious synthetic smell to it. It's just a really well-balanced, sweet spot of a fragrance.

Honourable mention goes to Geo F Trumper's Wild Fern. It's the only fougere I've smelled that actually smells like a fern, which was a welcome surprise. Penhaligon's English Fern is essentially a very similar fragrance but, for whatever reason, had less of the real fern smell to it (too much clove, perhaps).

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

These are some favourites fougeres. All plenty manly smelling with a lot going on. If they are best is kinda subjective.

Rive Gauche PH (modern made classic sensibility) - shaving cream mossy woods

Bon Monsieur (modern made classic structure) - Green woody mossy aromatic

Brut (classic through and through) - Sweet floral mossy aromatic

Kouros (classic but could be seen as nuevo to a first timer) - Aromatic and animalic amber

Insignia (classic aftershave) - Piney amber mossy

Sport de Paco Rabbane (classic 80s-90s vibe) - Sporty spicy citrus sandalwood

Pasha de Cartier (classic through and through) - spicy pungent top, smooth base oakmoss and sandalwood

 

[_Nicolas_]

HdP 1725 Fougere/gourmand hybrid
Azzaro PH in vintage form for being one of the best anisic fougeres of all time
Houbigant Duc de Vervins EDT and Gucci Nobile for a similar scent profile to yours with the Rogue, from Houbigant I would also add Fougere Royale to represent the traditional fougere style
Rogue Fougere L'Aube Love the way this one combines bright green notes with a prominent costus! You're fresh out of the shower, but forgot to wash your hair!
Givenchy Insense Fougere/floral hybrid
Chanel Platinum Egoiste for the fantastic combination of geranium and vetiver. A simple thing, but done beautifully! Also love the more lavendery, soft-focus Egoiste Platinum.
YSL Rive Gauche PH and its flankers for the same reason as Azzaro PH

English Fern by Penhaligons: Crisp, bracing, old school amazingness! I love this one so much and when in the mood only GEO F. Trumper's Wild Fern comes close to filling the gap.

Agreed on this traditional gem and think Sartorial is one of the best modern fougeres out there. Also one of the best fragrances at evoking a particular space!

 

[Scent Detective]

I don't know where Chanel's Platinum Egoiste falls in the classic-modern spectrum but I would say that is the best overall fougere I've smelled. It's not strictly traditional but it meets just about every need or want of a masculine fragrance, so it's easy to dress it up or down. It's hard to talk highly enough of Platinum Egoiste, and reformulations have been kind to it as well.

For a modern fougere, it has to be Beau de Jour. It's the one I have kept going back to time and time again, despite the obvious synthetic smell to it. It's just a really well-balanced, sweet spot of a fragrance.

Honourable mention goes to Geo F Trumper's Wild Fern. It's the only fougere I've smelled that actually smells like a fern, which was a welcome surprise. Penhaligon's English Fern is essentially a very similar fragrance but, for whatever reason, had less of the real fern smell to it (too much clove, perhaps).

Thanks for sharing. I own bottles or decants of these three and appreciate them as well!

 

[Scent Detective]

These are some favourites fougeres. All plenty manly smelling with a lot going on. If they are best is kinda subjective.

Rive Gauche PH (modern made classic sensibility) - shaving cream mossy woods

Bon Monsieur (modern made classic structure) - Green woody mossy aromatic

Brut (classic through and through) - Sweet floral mossy aromatic

Kouros (classic but could be seen as nuevo to a first timer) - Aromatic and animalic amber

Insignia (classic aftershave) - Piney amber mossy

Sport de Paco Rabbane (classic 80s-90s vibe) - Sporty spicy citrus sandalwood

Pasha de Cartier (classic through and through) - spicy pungent top, smooth base oakmoss and sandalwood

Exactly, but that's why it's from your perspective and I respect the heck out of everyone's perspective here on Basenotes when it comes to "best" in their opinion.

Let's face it. We all spend a lot of time and focus on the fragrances we love, so who's opinion's are more important to us...fragrance reviewers?

Perhaps some of them, but many times their opinions can be skewed by a conflict of interest as they get fragrances for free from many perfume houses and want to keep the supply lines running.

Obviously not all reviewers are in that situation. Some can definitely be very helpful, but I also highly value the opinions of my fellow Basenote members who have been focused on perfumes for so many years!

I've received fabulous input over and over again from Basenote members and I love and appreciate you all! 👍

 

[Scent Detective]

HdP 1725 Fougere/gourmand hybrid
Azzaro PH in vintage form for being one of the best anisic fougeres of all time
Houbigant Duc de Vervins EDT and Gucci Nobile for a similar scent profile to yours with the Rogue, from Houbigant I would also add Fougere Royale to represent the traditional fougere style
Rogue Fougere L'Aube Love the way this one combines bright green notes with a prominent costus! You're fresh out of the shower, but forgot to wash your hair!
Givenchy Insense Fougere/floral hybrid
Chanel Platinum Egoiste for the fantastic combination of geranium and vetiver. A simple thing, but done beautifully! Also love the more lavendery, soft-focus Egoiste Platinum.
YSL Rive Gauche PH and its flankers for the same reason as Azzaro PH



Agreed on this traditional gem and think Sartorial is one of the best modern fougeres out there. Also one of the best fragrances at evoking a particular space!

Thanks Nicholas! Great list! I need to dig out my Fougere L' Aube sample to check it out again. There was a note in there that I didn't enjoy like I do Bon Monsieur...maybe it was the unwashed hair effect as you say. LOL. I need to smell it again. I also love Sartorial and need to wear that one soon. There's a beeswax note in there that mixed with the other notes gives it a certain dapper effect as the name implies.

 

[Ken_Russell]

Many great names, also adding:

- Amouage Bracken: modern take on a very classic fougere theme,

- Knize Forest: far more of a mossy, green grassy/coniferous resin scent while still with some great fougere hints,

- Felci as well as Assenzio by l'Erbolario: simple, clean cut yet not bland natural smelling fougere EDPs, in classic, versatile and naturally invigorating style to also fit more casual, modern occasions/outfits

- Faconnable Homme: technically, more of a citrus-chypre but still with decent fougere hints during the mid phases leading up to a more powerhouse leathery base

- Floris Elite: a fairly classic fougere meets early 80s powerhouse incense and also hints of (rather late 70s type) resins, leather, balmy notes

- Bogart Signature: one of the most affordable and yet wonderfully gentleman-like, almost austere dry classic fougeres

- early 70s Drakkar (before its more famous flanker Noir became ubiquitous) and the early 90s Horizon, the first one of these as a more typical 70s fougere, the latter also classic in style, but with an ozonic, almost aquatic green take on smooth rather than more beast mode vetiver, musk, cedar final base

- Davidoff Relax- sadly discontinued, one of the most underrated fougeres, in many ways a more classic and multi faceted complex fougere dominated take on the Cool Water (and GIT) style launched a bit earlier, without being neither a flanker nor even a plagiarism/pastiche of these two

while fully aware of not even barely covering the surface, let alone a more substantial selection of the best fougeres ever, this comparatively modest size list might still provide at least a tiny cross section of classic (and/or classic inspired modern) fougeres worth some additional testing and rediscovering.

 

[Scent Detective]

Many great names, also adding:

- Amouage Bracken: modern take on a very classic fougere theme,

- Knize Forest: far more of a mossy, green grassy/coniferous resin scent while still with some great fougere hints,

- Felci as well as Assenzio by l'Erbolario: simple, clean cut yet not bland natural smelling fougere EDPs, in classic, versatile and naturally invigorating style to also fit more casual, modern occasions/outfits

- Faconnable Homme: technically, more of a citrus-chypre but still with decent fougere hints during the mid phases leading up to a more powerhouse leathery base

- Floris Elite: a fairly classic fougere meets early 80s powerhouse incense and also hints of (rather late 70s type) resins, leather, balmy notes

- Bogart Signature: one of the most affordable and yet wonderfully gentleman-like, almost austere dry classic fougeres

- early 70s Drakkar (before its more famous flanker Noir became ubiquitous) and the early 90s Horizon, the first one of these as a more typical 70s fougere, the latter also classic in style, but with an ozonic, almost aquatic green take on smooth rather than more beast mode vetiver, musk, cedar final base

- Davidoff Relax- sadly discontinued, one of the most underrated fougeres, in many ways a more classic and multi faceted complex fougere dominated take on the Cool Water (and GIT) style launched a bit earlier, without being neither a flanker nor even a plagiarism/pastiche of these two

while fully aware of not even barely covering the surface, let alone a more substantial selection of the best fougeres ever, this comparatively modest size list might still provide at least a tiny cross section of classic (and/or classic inspired modern) fougeres worth some additional testing and rediscovering.

Thanks Ken! I knew I could count on you!

I remember doing a side by side of Bracken Man and Fougere Royale about six years ago and they were so very much alike. Bracken Man was an obvious nod to Fougere Royale in my opinion.

 

[Melbourne Man]

I'd add Patrick

 

[Foxsbiscuits]

I'm not really into fougeres so my list is just one that I own -
AdP Colonia Futura. Very herbaceous and natural smelling. Bitter and refreshing. A delight in the heat.

 

[hednic]

Rive Gauche PH is one i enjoy.

 

[The Cologne Cabinet]

From my wardrobe:

Azzaro pour homme
Aramis Tuscany
Brut
Chanel Platinum Egoiste
CK Eternity for Men
TF Beau de Jour
YSL Jazz
Zaharoff Signature pour homme

 

[Zenwannabee]

A great thread and some grest suggestions already.

For me, the best of the classic fougeres:
—Brut
—Clubman
—Azzaro PH
—Polo Green
—Drakkar Noir
—Tuscany
—Cool Water

And those with fougere qualities but leaning a bit more chypre or oriental:
—Wild Country
—Pierre Cardin PM
—Jaipur EDP
—Quorum

For modern fougeres: Tom Ford Beau de Jour.

 

[otterlake]

Houbigant Fougère Royale (2010 revamp) is my favorite of the modern luxury fougeres.

 

[FiveoaksBouquet]

I love a fougère note, have worn Jicky, Canoe and Tweed. Some fougères such as those seem more unisex, some more recognizably men’s colognes. I probably wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing the very manly ones.

Just yesterday I sniffed Nobile 1942 Fougère Nobile, liked it and intend to test more thoroughly. For those here familiar with it, what’s your take, on its versatility and in general?

 

[Pippin06]

My vote goes to Pehaligon's Sartorial--modern meets old school classic fougere. Beautiful.

 

[otterlake]

Just yesterday I sniffed Nobile 1942 Fougère Nobile, liked it and intend to test more thoroughly. For those here familiar with it, what’s your take, on its versatility and in general?

Pretty nice, if simple, take on the fougere. A bit like Fougère d'Argent without the more overt synthetic elements.

 

[PrinceRF]

Classic: Fougere Royale.

 

[sagebrush]

Penhaligon's Sartorial
Aramis Tuscany
Jacomo de Jacomo (aromatic fougere with cloves and leather)