10 MUST have fragrances

[DeathArrow]

Kouros
Azzaro Pour Homme
Grey Flannel
Aramis
Al Rehab Lord
Etat Libre d'Orange Rien Intense Incense
Furyo
One Man Show
Boss Number One
Ted Lapidus Pour Homme
Knize Ten

There are 11 but I couldn't throw any of the above.

 

[speedracer]

Fahrenheit
Lanvin Avant Garde
Creed Aventus Cologne
ATH Guapo
Bulgari Aqua Amara
YSL La Nuit Frozen Cologne
Roja Elysium pH Cologne
Ombre Leather Parfum
Bulgari Tygar
Kilian Angels Share

 

[Renato]

Kiton Men - wound up married after wearing it.
D&G Homme (vintage, not current version)
Tiffany For Men (supposedly made by Chanel back in the 2000s)
L'Eau D'Issey
CK Eternity (vintage, when it was a powerhouse).
Polo (later version, vintage was too much for me)
Salvatore Ferragamo PH (best fig leaf scent)
Paris Hilton For Men (after I gave bottles to nephews, they told me it was the one that most young women complimented them on)
B*Men - most wearable of that range, though a toss-up with A*Men Pure Tonka.
Azzaro Chrome - best scent for when being a tourist in hot countries.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[tspencer]

This one is very difficult. You would force me to keep the sentimental fragrances that aren't necessarily 'better' than some that would be left off the list.

If sentimentality is involved:
1. Creed - Spice & Wood
2. Ralph Lauren - Safari
3. Creed - Bois du Portugal
4. Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements - Atomic Age Bay Rum
5. Old Spice (sentimental scent from childhood)
6. Tommy Hilfiger Cologne (sentimental scent, my signature scent in my 20's in the 1990's)
7. Frederic Malle - Bois d'Orage (aka French Lover)
8. Chanel - Pour Monsieur EDP + Pinaud - Clubman (layering required to be in Top-10)
9. Creed - Green Irish Tweed
10. Costume National Homme

If sentimentality wasn't involved, just picking the best scents:
1. Creed - Spice & Wood
2. Ralph Lauren - Safari
3. Creed - Bois du Portugal
4. Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements - Atomic Age Bay Rum
5. Frederic Malle - Bois d'Orage (aka French Lover)
6. Chanel - Pour Monsieur EDP + Pinaud - Clubman (layering required to be in Top-10)
7. Creed - Green Irish Tweed
8. Costume National Homme
9. Amouage - Bracken Man
10. Creed - Royal Mayfair

The list is subject to change because I have grown more enjoyment out of fragrances and some fragrances have worn on my and dropped down/off the list over time. Atomic Age Bay Rum wasn't on the list until 2022 and now it's at #4. Green Irish Tweed used to be in the Top-5 but now it's dropped. Bracken Man from Amouage is the best Fougere and had to be on the list, but I think Roja Dove's Scandal (that I just bought) may give Bracken Man a challenge. Also, there is a fragrance I don't own, but have sampled, that is the best Citrus scent I ever smelled....Xerjoff Nio. If I did own it, it would be close to making the top-10.

I know it's a bit cliche to say but Creed has many scents that are just really easy to love that used to be in the Top-10 but are still highly ranked for me such as Royal Water, Original Vetiver, Royal Oud.....and even still there are more that are fantastic beyond those. So, Creed still has, overall, more home runs than any other house. My favorite 'niche' house is Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements who make original scents that don't follow any modern "trendy" pattern (exception is their cloned fragrance line called "Doppelganger").

I still have a long way to go to explore and find the best of each type of fragrance genre. I still need to explore deeply into the Rose-centric scents and find the best Rose-centered fragrance. So far my favorite is Royal Mayfair, but there must be others that are top-shelf masculine Rose fragrances. And that's just one genre or many remaining.

 

[pelle]

Onda extrait - Vero Profumo

Pierre de Velay No 6 - Roja Dove

Patou Pour Homme - Jean Patou

L’Heure Verteuese - Cartier

Cuir de Russie - Chanel

No 18 - Chanel

Le Loden - Jacques Fath

Vol de Nuit - Guerlain

Dark Rose - Czech & Speake

Ungaro II - Ungaro

 

[samcherr]

This one is very difficult. You would force me to keep the sentimental fragrances that aren't necessarily 'better' than some that would be left off the list.

If sentimentality is involved:
1. Creed - Spice & Wood
2. Ralph Lauren - Safari
3. Creed - Bois du Portugal
4. Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements - Atomic Age Bay Rum
5. Old Spice (sentimental scent from childhood)
6. Tommy Hilfiger Cologne (sentimental scent, my signature scent in my 20's in the 1990's)
7. Frederic Malle - Bois d'Orage (aka French Lover)
8. Chanel - Pour Monsieur EDP + Pinaud - Clubman (layering required to be in Top-10)
9. Creed - Green Irish Tweed
10. Costume National Homme

If sentimentality wasn't involved, just picking the best scents:
1. Creed - Spice & Wood
2. Ralph Lauren - Safari
3. Creed - Bois du Portugal
4. Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements - Atomic Age Bay Rum
5. Frederic Malle - Bois d'Orage (aka French Lover)
6. Chanel - Pour Monsieur EDP + Pinaud - Clubman (layering required to be in Top-10)
7. Creed - Green Irish Tweed
8. Costume National Homme
9. Amouage - Bracken Man
10. Creed - Royal Mayfair

The list is subject to change because I have grown more enjoyment out of fragrances and some fragrances have worn on my and dropped down/off the list over time. Atomic Age Bay Rum wasn't on the list until 2022 and now it's at #4. Green Irish Tweed used to be in the Top-5 but now it's dropped. Bracken Man from Amouage is the best Fougere and had to be on the list, but I think Roja Dove's Scandal (that I just bought) may give Bracken Man a challenge. Also, there is a fragrance I don't own, but have sampled, that is the best Citrus scent I ever smelled....Xerjoff Nio. If I did own it, it would be close to making the top-10.

I know it's a bit cliche to say but Creed has many scents that are just really easy to love that used to be in the Top-10 but are still highly ranked for me such as Royal Water, Original Vetiver, Royal Oud.....and even still there are more that are fantastic beyond those. So, Creed still has, overall, more home runs than any other house. My favorite 'niche' house is Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements who make original scents that don't follow any modern "trendy" pattern (exception is their cloned fragrance line called "Doppelganger").

I still have a long way to go to explore and find the best of each type of fragrance genre. I still need to explore deeply into the Rose-centric scents and find the best Rose-centered fragrance. So far my favorite is Royal Mayfair, but there must be others that are top-shelf masculine Rose fragrances. And that's just one genre or many remaining.

So nice to see Royal Mayfair on somebody's list! Kind of feel bad for leaving it out of mine, but it has too many creeds already...

Love all the top tens that i see here

 

[NettyYeti]

So nice to see Royal Mayfair on somebody's list! Kind of feel bad for leaving it out of mine, but it has too many creeds already...

Love all the top tens that i see here

I’ve not tried Royal Mayfai, but I was this close to putting Phoenix Artisan Accoutrement’s Doppelgänger Gold Label on my list. It’s an homage to Royal Mayfair and it’s great! I own the aftershave though, so in my head I cheated and considered it safe from the purge.

 

[dealt7faux]

Chanel Pour Monsieur
Dior Eau Sauvage edt
Dior Eau Savage Parfum 2012 & 2017
Guerlain Eau de Cologne Imperiale
Tom Ford Grey Vetiver
Bleu de Chanel edt
Gucci Guilty Absolute
Chanel Allure Homme Sport

 

[Marty McFly]

Creed GIT
Xerjoff Uden
Bulgari Tygar
Dior Homme Original
PdM Percival
PdM Layton
Chanel Allure Homme Sport
Prada Luna Rossa Carbon
YSL La Nuit de L'Homme EDP
Creed Aventus Cologne

​

 

[tspencer]

I’ve not tried Royal Mayfai, but I was this close to putting Phoenix Artisan Accoutrement’s Doppelgänger Gold Label on my list. It’s an homage to Royal Mayfair and it’s great! I own the aftershave though, so in my head I cheated and considered it safe from the purge.

PAA's homage to Royal Mayfair is incredible. If someone can't afford a bottle of Creed, PAA's Gold Label version is a fantastic option.

 

[Dandydude]

I can get down to 20…..but even that’s hard
If forced to choose 10
1872
Masculine Pluriel
Green Irish Tweed
Kobe
Epic Man
Grey Vetiver
Millesime Imperial
Lafayette Street
Lyric Man
Black Afgano

I could easily substitute these 10
Danger
Garrigue
Aventus
Aqua Universalis Forte
Colonia
Straight to Heaven splash of lemon
If by. RK
Sel Marin
Nio
l’air du desert Morocain

Or these 10
Layton
Mafiesto
Herod
Speakeasy
Racine
Bleeker Street
Musc Ravageur
Bergamot Extrait
Cruel Intentions
Vodka on the Rocks

way too hard

 

[slpfrsly]

I don't think there are any must haves, per se, so I'll list some must tries.

1. Creed Aventus
2. 4711 Eau de Cologne
3. JPG Le Male
4. Paco 1 Million
5. Dior Sauvage Elixir
6. Chanel Egoiste Platinum
7. Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey
8. Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
9. Dior Eau for Men
10. D&G Light Blue Intense

It's not very 'out there' but these 10 would be good for a beginner coming in 'fresh'.

 

[SixCats]

Ugggh, this is just too difficult! My top SEVEN Fragrances seldom (if ever) change. The following listings are for Fragrances I "own" bottles (as opposed to Fragrances I'd LIKE to own). Note: I added two more Fragrance into my TOP favorites. That is to say, I now have nine out of ten. One more to fill!

L'Artisan DZING!
Santa Maria Novella "Acqua di Cuba"
Christian Dior Eau Sauvage (2012)
Santa Maria Novella "Nostalgia"
Caron "Yatagan"
Maître Parfumeur et Gantier (MPG) "Eau des Iles"
Marlou 50ml d'ambiguite
L'Occitane Eau des Baux
Lalique "Encre Noire"
-------------------------------------------------
Other favorites:

Terre d'Hermes by Hermes
YSL Body Kouros
LUSH "Breath of God"
G. Beene "Gray Flannel"

Lorenzo Villoresi Piper Nigrum
Bogart Furyo
Guerlain Mitsouko
Serge Lutens Chergui

LUSH "Breath of God"
Issey Bleue
Givenchy "Gentleman"
DALI

Cerrruti 1881
Boucheron Pour Homme
Guerlain "Heritage"
PINAUD Clubman Lilac Vegetal
CARON L'Anarchiste
CARON Pour Homme
MPG Perfume d'Habit
Hanae Mori By Hanae Mori For Men
L'Artisan Merchant Loup
L'Artisan Al Oudh
CARON "3rd. Man"
Tabac


New to me:

Davidoff ZINO (vintage)
Masque Milano "Montecristo".
Mancera Red Tobacco
JD Juste Filthy by JD Jeffrey Dame

SixCats!

 

[joe king]

Not my most favorite perfumes but my "mainstream office safe top 10"

Green Irish Tweed by Creed
Hyde by Hiram Green
Terre d'Hermes by Hermes
Bois Du Portugul by Creed
Leather Oud by Dior
Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford
Knize Ten by Knize
Aqua di Gio by Armani
Al Qurashi Blend by ASQ
L for Men by Clive Christian

 

[SixCats]

Not my most favorite perfumes but my "mainstream office safe top 10"

Green Irish Tweed by Creed
Hyde by Hiram Green
Terre d'Hermes by Hermes
Bois Du Portugul by Creed
Leather Oud by Dior
Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford
Knize Ten by Knize
Aqua di Gio by Armani
Al Qurashi Blend by ASQ
L for Men by Clive Christian

Awesome list Joe!

SixCats!

 

[joe king]

Awesome list Joe!

SixCats!

Thanks my actual 10 favorites at the moment are;

Russian Oud by Areej Le Dore
Inverno Russo by Areej Le Dore
Atlantic Ambergris by Areej Le Dore
Established Congnac 66 by Krigler
Oud De Nyonya by Auphorie
Tabac Oud Tlatoani by Auphorie
Tabac by AbdesSalaam Attar Profumo
Heritage Blend by Abdul Samad Al Qurashi
Mukhallat Dahn Al Oudh Moattaq by Ajmal
Fall Into Stars by Strangelove

But these are a bit more niche

 

[SixCats]

Thanks my actual 10 favorites at the moment are;

Russian Oud by Areej Le Dore
Inverno Russo by Areej Le Dore
Atlantic Ambergris by Areej Le Dore
Established Congnac 66 by Krigler
Oud De Nyonya by Auphorie
Tabac Oud Tlatoani by Auphorie
Tabac by AbdesSalaam Attar Profumo
Heritage Blend by Abdul Samad Al Qurashi
Mukhallat Dahn Al Oudh Moattaq by Ajmal
Fall Into Stars by Strangelove

But these are a bit more niche

Nice Joe! I take it you're an OUDH Man ? I have at least two dozen Attars (which I need to wear more often).

SixCats!

 

[wisemenofgotham]

My top 10 fragrances from what I currently own (no specific order):

Acqua di Parma Colonia
Chanel Sycomore EDP
Chanel Allure Homme Blanche EDP
Creed Green Irish Tweed
Creed Royal Oud
Initio Oud for Greatness
MFK Grand Soir
Tom Ford Grey Vetiver
Tom Ford Lost Cherry
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

 

[flamechief]

VC&A Tsar
Chanel Antaeus
Dior Bois d'Argent
Guerlain Habit Rouge edt
Caron Third Man
Narcisso For Him edp intense
Lutens Chergui
L'artisan Timbuktu
Bvlgari Aqva
Jubilation XXV

I'm happy with this list, but think I'd need 10 more.

 

[hednic]

ATH Guapo

What does the acronym stand for?

 

[speedracer]

What does the acronym stand for?

Aaron Terence Hughes

Aaron Terence Hughes - Guapo cologne

basenotes.com

 

[FSOCI3TY]

Figment Man - Amouage
L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme - Issey Miyake
Light Blue Forever - D & G
Neon Graffiti - Jazmin Sarai
Chypre Mousse - Oriza L. Legrand
This is Him! - Zadig and Voltaire
L'Ombre Dans L'Eau EDT - Diptyque
Baccarat Rouge 540 EDP - MFK
Oud Cashmere Mood - MFK
and last but not least, Club De Nuit Intense Man EDT - Armaf (yes, I'm adding a clone to the list)

 

[Dorje123]

Puredistance M and Aenotus
Roja Apex and Elysium
YSL Kouros (vtg)
ELdO Rien
Bvlgari Le Gemme Garanat
MFK Masculin Plureil
EO #2
M Micallef Osaito or Millesime Imperial

 

[rexsport]

Wonderful lists, everyone.👏🏻
I note that many of us list multiple fragrances from the same House. Some obviously are inclined to Creed, some to Chanel, etc. I confess I myself would list multiple Creeds as well as some of you. However, just for fun it would be cool to see everyone’s top 10 if there could be no repeats from any one House. So, in that spirit I might list:

Creed Bois de Portugal
Chanel Egoiste
Amouage Interlude Man
Tauer Au Coeur du Desert
Ralph Lauren Polo Blue Eau de Parfum
Armani ADG Profumo
Tom Ford Grey Vetiver
Aramis Havana
Dior Sauvage EDP
Armaf Club de Nuit Milestone (ok, I know I’m cheating here 🙄).

 

[FOXHOUND]

Top 10 that I own (and could easily be a Top 20 list)

Dior Homme Parfum
Dior Sauvage Elixir
Pasha de Cartier Parfum
Terre d Hermes EDT
Terre d Hermes Parfum
Bleu de Chanel EDP
Tom Ford Grey Vetiver
Tom Ford Noir Extreme Parfum
Houbigant Fougere Royale
Initio Parfums Prives Oud For Greatness

 

[Julian.B]

Pegwell bay
Bel Respiro
Dawn
Carnal flower
Nuit de feu
Declaration
Ambra aurea
Amber pour homme
Dior Homme original
Lux Visionaria

 

[magnus611]

Pdm Galloway
Pdm Layton
TF Tuscan Leather
CD Fahrenheit edt
Issei Miyake Lea’u Dissey
Bleu de Chanel Edp
Frapin L’humaniste
TM pure Malt
Ysl M7 Fresh
Pdm Layton Exclusif

 

[FMilan]

From my current stash (bottles only):

Ten "must have":

- Kouros (YSL)
- Paco Rabanne Pour Homme
- Musk Cologne (Bortnikoff)
- Bel Ami (Hermès)
- Nobile (Gucci)
- Invasion Barbare (MDCI)
- Gold Pour Homme (Amouage)
- Basala/Basara (Shiseido)
- Tiffany For Men
- Santal Noble (Maître Parfumeur et Gantier)

Ten "might have":

- Boy (Chanel)
- Great Jones (Bond N.9)
- Chanel Pour Monsieur
- Derbi (Guerlain)
- Lui (Rochas)
- Beau de Jour (Tom Ford)
- Cuir Fétiche (Maître Parfumeur et Gantier)
- Envy For Men (Gucci)
- Pour Un Homme (Caron)
- Boss Number One

Ten "should have":

- Bel Respiro (Chanel)
- Bois Oriental (Serge Lutens)
- Elements Acqua (Boss)
- Musc Ravageur (Frederic Malle)
- Ambre Doré (Maître Parfumeur et Gantier)
- Oscar de La Renta Pour Lui
- Tsar (Van Cleef & Arpels)
- Ungaro Pour L'Homme I
- Ungaro Pour L'Homme II
- Jicky (Guerlain)

Ten "would keep"

- Pour Un Homme Sport (Caron)
- Luna Rossa Extrême (Prada)
- Gucci Pour Homme
- Gucci Pour Homme 2003
- Ambre Muscadin (Laurent Mazzone)
- Chanel Pour Monsieur Eau Concentrée
- Salvador Dalí Pour Homme
- Dans Tes Bras (Frederic Malle)
- Eau Sauvage (Dior)
- Epic Man (Amouage)

 

[inasia69]

Creed - Spice & Wood

Clive Christian - C for Men

Areej Le Dore - Russian Musk

Chanel – Sycamore

Odori – Tobacco

Malle - Portrait Of a Lady

Tom Ford - Italian Cypress

Gucci - Nobile

Amouage – Jubilation XXV

Santal Noble - Vintage (Maître Parfumeur et Gantier)

 

[Hugh V.]

1. Drakkar Noir
2. Azzaro Pour Homme
3. Eternity for Men
4. Santos de Cartier
5. Paco Rabanne Pour Homme
6. John Varvatos Artisan Acqua
7. Gucci Guilty Absolute
8. K by Dolce & Gabbana
9. Mr. Fine American Blend
10. John Varvatos Dark Rebel

 

[Santos]

Here are my top 10 at the moment:

- Santos de Cartier EDT/EDT Concentree/ Eau de Sport
- Chanel Antaeus
- Dior Fahrenheit
- Dior Fahrenheit Cologne
- Terre D'Hermes EDT & Parfum
- Dior Jules
- Bijan Men
- Geoffrey Bene Gray Flannel (Vintage)
- Guerlain Vetiver
- Antonio Puig Quorum

 

[SLNY]

Interesting lists - what variety. But I do know/have tried a large number of those mentioned. But damn hard to pick just ten. Of note, I'm obviously particularly drawn to Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud's scents for LV. His sensibility seems to align right with mine, and at LV it seems he’s been given the abilty to use top ingredients. So that explains three of the ten.
My ten in (largely) alphabetical order:

- Hermes - Ambre Narguile EDT (love vanilla and this is my vanilla favorite)
- Le Labo - Rose 31 (for rose/flowery days)
- Les Indemodables - Vanille Havane (my tobacco favorite, hands down; wife loves this on me)
- Louis Vuitton - Afternoon Swim (freshie favorite - this is summer in a bottle)
- Louis Vuitton - Ombre Nomade (my evening favorite)
- Louis Vuitton - Pacific Chill (just got it this week but am loving it; whether it will stay a top 10 I don’t know but I’m seriously digging it right now)
- Matiere Premiere - Encens Suave (spicy warm winter favorite)
- Nishane - Ani (light vanilla alternative to Ambre Narguile)
- Roja Parfums - Elysium pour home (so, the perfume over the cologne; another consideration would be his Nuit No. 3, which I inexplicably either love or find cloying depending on the day (and not because of the price))

And perhaps the surprise choice
-Pierre Guillarme - 4.1 Le Musc & La Peau (a slightly creamy white musk; that, frankly, smells like soft, sexy skin magnified; also happens to pair as a base exceedingly well with others to add a musk undertone; my easy choice over Molecule, for instance)

 

[hednic]

Aaron Terence Hughes

Thanks.

 

[TRBeck]

I'm a little late to the party, plus I'm basic, but I've been thinking of trying to reduce the oversize rotation to 10 bottles, and here's what I'm thinking as of now:

1. Guerlain Vetiver
2. Terre d'Hermes EDT or Parfum (but maybe both)
3. Zaharoff Signature
4. Bleu de Chanel EDT
5. Montale Vetiver Patchouli
6. Cartier Declaration or Declaration Essence (but maybe both)
7. Prada Luna Rossa Carbon
8. Diptyque Tam Dao EDT
9. Dior Homme 2020*
10. An aromatic fougere: Azzaro PH, Paco Rabanne PH, Caron 3rd Man, R&G Open, Zino Davidoff, something else...?

*haven't bought this one yet, but the decant I bought has really wowed me, and I'm ready to commit hard.

 

[Toxicon]

These exercises are always fun. In no particular order, but I limited myself to one per house (lest I wind up with too many from Lutens and Parfum d'Empire):

Chanel Sycomore EDP
Serge Lutens Fille en Aiguilles
Histoires de Parfums 1828
Parfum d'Empire Aziyade
Cacharel pour l'Homme
Caron Yatagan
Cartier Declaration Essence
Mugler Cologne
Jovoy Private Label
Guerlain Vetiver

EDIT: no surprise that 9 out of 10 have vetiver notes (the exception being Aziyade).

 

[Dorjeee]

Every time I play the 'Top 10', "Ultimate 12' or 'Rebuild your collection from 10' games, I'm reminded how I just stick too much with one or two particular genre, here is my list anyway,
Amouage Memoir Man

Balenciaga Ho Hang Club

Carven Homme (1999)

Hermes Concentre d’Orange Verte

Lorenzo Villoresi Sandalo

L’artisan Parfumeur Al Oudh

Miller Harris La Fumee Vtg/Classic

Murdock London Patchouli

Olympic Orchid Dev Four_Reprise

Olfactive Studio Ombre Indigo

Again, too much woody, dirty leather amber there, and I put Hermes Orange Verte there just because I would have no green freshie for hot summer if I keep Parfum d'Empire Fougere Bangle.

 

[du57in]

Off the top of my head:

1. Rive Gauche PH
2. TdH the original EDT
3. Grey Vetiver
4. Chanel AHEB
5. Chanel Sycomore
6. AdG Profumo
7. Dior Homme silver stem
8. Eau des Baux
9. Aventus
10. Guerlain Heritage

 

[maxwell_]

1. Dior Homme Intense
2. Chanel Bleu Parfum
3. Creed Virgin Island Water
4. Prada L’homme
5. Guerlain Heritage EDT
6. Aventus
7. Edition Blanche
8. Givenchy Pi
9. Royal Oud
10. Herod

My 9 & 10 are placeholders that I enjoy but could easily go without but the first 8 are my 10/10 favorites

 

[speckmann0706]

Hi friends!
If you have to give away all your fragrances and just keep 10 - what would they be ?

i always want to improve my wardrobe and i am leaning to your suggestions on the SOTD thread a lot, love to explore!

would be great - thanks!

My current must haves are: (in no order)

Chanel - Platinum Egoiste
Chanel - Pour Monsieur EdP
Chanel - Antaeus
Chanel - Allure Homme
Dior - Eau Sauvage Parfum
Azzaro pour Homme
Guerlain - Habit Rouge EdT
YSL - Kouros
Dior Homme Parfum
Creed - Green Irish Tweed

cheers and i am looking forward to your suggestions!
Robert

Fantastic selections! ✊

 

[cheapimitation]

Pegwell bay
Bel Respiro
Dawn
Carnal flower
Nuit de feu
Declaration
Ambra aurea
Amber pour homme
Dior Homme original
Lux Visionaria

We've got similar taste. I've still got to try Pegwell Bay, those Wafts from the Lofts guys must have sold a thousand bottles for them. 😂