I'm new. Help me start a good collection.

[robert.s]

Hello guys, I'm Robert, and I'm 32. Recently I've been getting more seriously into frangrances.

Plan to form a 10 bottle collection at most, and thought this is the best place to ask for advice. Just received my first 6 bottles.

Aqua di Gio Profumo
Bentley for Men Intense
Davidoff Coolwater
Lalique Encre Noir
F by Ferragamo
Azzaro Pour Homme

Most of those I got because they were on sale and/or recommended by some youtubers.
Out of those, I don't like Coolwater and Acqua di Gio at all.

Bentley and Ferragamo F are both decent. Bentley will not buy again as it oversweet to me.

Azzaro and Lalique were among the cheapest and love them a lot. Definitely will keep and buy again.

I am wondering if there are more perfumes like those two. Not the same as in they smell the same, but a bit of an unusual smell.

Many thanks.

 

[hednic]

Welcome to you robert.s! Enjoy your time here at Basenotes!

 

[Adonna]

Welcome to Basenotes @robert.s . ☮️
a~~

 

[N.CAL Fragrance Reviewer]

Welcome aboard robert.s! 🍺

For Encre Noire I recommend looking at Guerlain Vetiver

 

[hednic]

Just received my first 6 bottles.

Aqua di Gio Profumo
Bentley for Men Intense
Davidoff Coolwater
Lalique Encre Noir
Azzaro Pour Homme

You're off to a good start with these!

 

[robert.s]

You're off to a good start with these!

Hey, I'm thinking of adding Egoiste by Channel or Fahrenheit by Dior, they seem to be two classics around here. I'm thinking to get one of these two as my "special occasion" bottle, but I have no idea how they smell like.

 

[robert.s]

Also they're a bit too expensive to just buy for trial and error. Even on smaller bottles.

 

[N.CAL Fragrance Reviewer]

Hey, I'm thinking of adding Egoiste by Channel or Fahrenheit by Dior, they seem to be two classics around here. I'm thinking to get one of these two as my "special occasion" bottle, but I have no idea how they smell like.

Egoiste is more of a woody oriental and Fahrenheit is more woody leather. But are good starting points.

I'd add Guerlain Heritage, Chanel Antaeus into consideration.

 

[hednic]

Hey, I'm thinking of adding Egoiste by Channel or Fahrenheit by Dior, they seem to be two classics around here. I'm thinking to get one of these two as my "special occasion" bottle, but I have no idea how they smell like.

Either one is a good choice and you won't be disappointed.

 

[Ken_Russell]

Hello Robert, welcome to Basenotes!
If liking Encre Noire and Azzaro PH the most, also adding for a possible (re) testing list especially: Azzaro PH l'Eau, Mugler Cologne, Cartier Declaration, Encre Noire Sport, F Black by Ferragamo, TDH Eau Intense Vetiver.

 

[Diddy]

Welcome!

 

[PaTomas]

Great start! Really interesting because, though Acqua di Gio Profumo is popular, it definitely has an Italian side that's unique, and nothing like a classic lavender and musk, for example. Cool Water was so nice when it was original. Now its so reformulated and weak as to be an entirely different fragrance.

Egoiste is so good. I think that Platinum Egoiste is absolutely beautiful and, in fact, not metallic as the name may suggest. Give it a try! +1 for Antaeus already suggested. Awesome date or suit and tie frag, also for just feeling sharp 😊.

Have fun on Basenotes! Welcome!

 

[The Cologne Cabinet]

@robert.s

A few you may enjoy that are not expensive-

Drakkar Noir
Tabac Craftsman
Jacomo de Jacomo
John Varvatos Vintage

 

[Toxicon]

I love that your favorites from that list are Encre Noire and Azzaro Pour Homme - two very different scents, but both uncompromising and classics for a reason. You're off to a great start!

Egoiste is beautiful (vintage in particular, but the current stuff is still very good) - but it is a very different style. It's not oversweet or cloying in the way that Bentley Intense can be, but it does have a semi-sweet oriental base of sandalwood, vanilla, and cinnamon, and you have to be able to hang with rose. I love it, but I know it's not to everyone's taste. Fahrenheit is a stone cold classic, but it's weird in a different way - it's basically a floral leather scent, but the combination of violet and leather come off smelling like gasoline. I love it; some people find it off-putting. Fahrenheit should be pretty easy to sample at a department store perfume counter, though.

Some other distinctive / interesting scents you might consider, mostly on the cheaper side with a few closer to the $100 range:

Burberry London (spiced tobacco)
Bentley for Men Absolute (dark, smoky cedar & frankincense)
Cartier Declaration or Declaration Essence (sharp, spicy citrus & woods)
Comme des Garcons Black (bonfire smoke, black pepper, black licorice, frankincense)
Guerlain Vetiver (a must for vetiver fans - strong vetiver, citrus, tobacco)
Eau de Rochas Homme (bright summer citrus that dries down to clean cedar & vetiver)
Mugler Cologne (soapy green Eau de Cologne-style neroli, petitgrain, vetiver, & musk)

 

[PaTomas]

@robert.s

A few you may enjoy that are not expensive-

Drakkar Noir
Tabac Craftsman
Jacomo de Jacomo
John Varvatos Vintage

+1 Jacomo de Jacomo! Beautiful smoky spicy, cloves, so smooth. Apparently in 80's release a beast mode frag, but current one nice and subtle, good for all occasion. Surprising inexpensive.

 

[Toxicon]

+1 Jacomo de Jacomo! Beautiful smoky spicy, cloves, so smooth. Apparently in 80's release a beast mode frag, but current one nice and subtle, good for all occasion. Surprising inexpensive.

+2, especially considering the stuff OP seems to enjoy. Black ashes, burning cloves, leather, and moss. I should wear this more!

 

[robert.s]

Thanks guys, out of those recommendations, I found good deals on F Black and Jacomo de Jacomo and ordered both.

 

[CookBot]

Cartier Declaration or Declaration Essence (sharp, spicy citrus & woods)

^^ This, especially the Essence version. And for a good summery cologne, Eau de Rochas. All very affordable.

Welcome to you, Robert! Enjoy yourself here.

 

[Brian Buchanan]

Egoïste or Antaeus, both are excellent but in a small collection they might cover too much the same ground.
I would say try one of these, maybe Egoïste - which is drier and harder, Antaeus is sweeter and more powdery.

 

[Toxicon]

Thanks guys, out of those recommendations, I found good deals on F Black and Jacomo de Jacomo and ordered both.

Decided to wear Jacomo de Jacomo today based on this thread - it's a fascinating one, definitely left of center. I have the newest bottle, which has the black plastic cap and the plasticky silver chrome around the Jacomo logo. I understand that for many years before this, it had a zippo style flip top; really early versions had a black cap like mine, but with blue text printed directly on the bottle.

It took me a few wears to get a feel for this one, and I find it wears much differently depending how much you spray. Light application, like 1-2 sprays, and it's pretty easy-wearing but still quite dark and strange when you sniff up close. I'm more of an undersprayer, so this is how I usually wear it. Three or more sprays and the bitterness and dark character are much more pronounced. It has an almost acrid burnt clove accord, faint whiffs of ashtray and burning tires, and a stronger oakmoss note. I didn't really get all the talk about JdJ as this smoldering gothic beast until I sprayed heavier. Some days that's more than I want, but it's nice to have the option.

 

[The Cologne Cabinet]

Decided to wear Jacomo de Jacomo today based on this thread - it's a fascinating one, definitely left of center. I have the newest bottle, which has the black plastic cap and the plasticky silver chrome around the Jacomo logo. I understand that for many years before this, it had a zippo style flip top; really early versions had a black cap like mine, but with blue text printed directly on the bottle.

It took me a few wears to get a feel for this one, and I find it wears much differently depending how much you spray. Light application, like 1-2 sprays, and it's pretty easy-wearing but still quite dark and strange when you sniff up close. I'm more of an undersprayer, so this is how I usually wear it. Three or more sprays and the bitterness and dark character are much more pronounced. It has an almost acrid burnt clove accord, faint whiffs of ashtray and burning tires, and a stronger oakmoss note. I didn't really get all the talk about JdJ as this smoldering gothic beast until I sprayed heavier. Some days that's more than I want, but it's nice to have the option.

A good take. It definitely behaves differently based on application and time of year.

 

[sjg3839]

Dior Homme Intense is a nice one.