Looking for a signature scent - very picky and specific taste

[stinkymathis]

Looking for recommendations for something that checks all these boxes:
- interesting and slightly unique scent and not too popular (not a 'blue' shower gel scent and no sauvages, BDCs and Dylan blue)

- versatile, must be wearable all four seasons, 1 or 2 sprays in summer

- cuts through the winter cold

- not cloying in summer heat

- office safe (nothing beast mode with high projection)

- also works well in an evening/date/restaurant or bar setting

- LONG lasting (I’d like to spray in the morning and still catch whiffs after a full work day)

- decent sillage (i want people standing next to me to smell it but not fill up a room)

- not citrus heavy (feels too summery, none of the main ADPs or classic 'cologne' type scents)

- fresh but also slightly sweet

- I don't like strong vetiver notes so no Terre De Hermes


Some I like:
- Green Irish Tweed Creed - I LOVE GIT and it would be my signature but it just doesn’t last and I don’t want to be paying Creed prices bringing a decant everywhere I go, feels like a sucker move. Rather pay a premium price for something that lasts all day. This disappears in 4 hours unfortunately.


- Gentle Fluidity Silver Maison Francis Kurkdjian - The closest I’ve found to a signature is Gentle Fluidity Silver but it’s out of stock in Australia right now. I'll only buy it if I can find a big 200ml bottle, too expensive at the price per ml at the smaller bottles. If I don’t find something else before it’s back in stock I’ll get that, otherwise I’m looking for other suggestions in the meantime.


Some I don’t like:
- Sedley (too much on the citrus and i dont like the ambroxan in this)

- Percival (too generic and not interesting enough to my nose, but really nice)

- Y EDP (doesnt last on my skin more than 4-5 hours - dark skin, also bit generic)

- Allure Sport Extreme (same as Y EDP)

- Dior Homme 2020 - LOVE this but i get bored of it, not interesting enough

- Prada Lhomme and all its flankers, same as Dior Homme 2020

- Chanel Platinum Egoiste - performance sucks

In case it makes a difference I'm a 27yo male working in a professional environment (9-5)

 

[hednic]

Perhaps Wood Platinum by Maissa Parfums.

 

[ErroneousFact]

Valentino Uomo Born in Roma

 

[Nayrobi]

Azzaro pour Homme

 

[dogtoe]

Frederic Malle French Lover

 

[Zenwannabee]

If GIT is your favorite and yet too expensive and not long lasting, why not go with Cool Water….?

 

[The Cologne Cabinet]

Tom Ford Beau de Jour Signature (2020)

Azzaro Pour Homme (Vintage)

Davidoff Cool Water (Vintage)

 

[Dandydude]

Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier Garrigue​

checks all your boxes​

also try:
Straight to Heaven
Lafayette Street
Layton
Amyris
Reflection man
Masculin Pluriel
1270 intense
Riverside Drive

but I immediately thought of Garrigue

 

[JyyskNotes]

Frederic Malle French Lover

I was about to suggest this one as well. Ticks all the boxes. Not heavy performance wise but lasts full work day at least on me.

 

[sjg3839]

Royal Oud

 

[NettyYeti]

If you like GIT, try sampling something else with violet. It’s a great all-season, all-purpose note. A few to consider:

- For a classic, Dior Fahrenheit

- For something modern, Brioni Eau de Parfum

- For more upscale, Amouage Portrayal Man

- For an affordable option, Carven pour Homme

- For that dandy vibe, Moschino Toy Boy

- For a touch of the Middle East, Mancera Aoud Violet

 

[AndyL]

Guerlain Homme & Allure Homme are ones to look into!

I know you mentioned the dislike for vetiver. And while it's listed in both, it's really not a prominent note. It is safe. Both are bangers!

 

[Rock72]

Have a look at YSL Tuxedo

 

[Diddy]

If you’re that much in love with GIT, which is a solid scent, you’ve got a couple choices…. Get older bottles of GIT because the longevity is so good, or, get Rasasi’s Egra which is very close to GIT and performs appreciably better than the new GIT. Other than that, get samples of everything mentioned before and after this post and trust your nose.

 

[AJ1515]

Bois Imperiale by Essential Parfums. So, so good, and both my wife and colleagues have complimented me many a time.

 

[Scentologist]

Mancera Wind Wood, although I was going to say Dior Homme 2020 and Platinum Egoiste. Both stellar in my book and hate they fell short for you.

 

[ION-ONE]

Agreed with the French Lover suggestions. Same nose as GIT and probably his best work IMO. Only caveat being it wears somewhat light so performance may be seen as lacking.

Malle would be a house worth exploring as Geranium PM could also work wonders.

Another good one would be Guerlain LIDG (non extreme version in this case).
Finally Cartier L'envol

 

[Mak-7]

Hera by Papilon

 

[Marty McFly]

• Hugh Parsons Traditional...has a lot of the same creamy drydown of GIT (ambergris/violet leaves/sandalwood accord) but a slight peppery fruity open, and I get great performance from this (albeit GIT for me also lasts all day.)
• Dior Homme Original (pre-2020). ..gorgeous iris with creamy cocoa and leather hints (the notes say vetiver, but there is none fortunately)

 

[Ken_Russell]

With so many great names already mentioned, also adding Geranium pour Monsieur by Frederic Malle, l'Occitan by l'Occitane and Lalique Homme EDP (both in the Le Lion and the Equus version).

 

[sagebrush]

Bottega Veneta pH EdT.

 

[DeathArrow]

YSL Kouros
Azzaro Pour Homme
Paco Rabanne Pour Homme

 

[smockle]

I recommend trying Carven pour Homme (2014) and Carven L'eau Intense (2016).

They satisfy many of your criteria: Both are versatile, but not “too popular”. Both could be worn year-round. Both are office-safe. Both are fresh, with slight sweetness. Citrus is present in both, but not dominant: The dominant notes are violet leaf and mint, respectively, and there is a sort of dryer sheet vibe that rounds and softens both.

Beyond your criteria: Since you like Gentle Fluidity Silver, it may interest you that Francis Kurkdjian worked on both Carven fragrances. Also, they are relatively affordable.

 

[emtee]

YSL Rive Gauche

 

[Ken_Russell]

If YSL Rive Gauche PH and/or Carven PH arew considered or at least recommended options, Amouage Bracken, most of the Hugh Parsons brand including but not limited to Blue and Yellow as well as Knize Forest are certainly worth some possible (re) testing.

 

[Salumbre]

Off the top of my head, Nicolai New York Intense and Hermes Equipage Geranium seem to check all your boxes.

 

[ScentBeagle]

Roja Parfums Elysium Parfum pour Homme...this would be a great signature scent for a young man in his 20's

 

[Mai7]

Unum, Filippo Sorcinelli, Nasomatto, Orto Parisi...

 

[LeeroyDaBoy]

Acqua di Gio Absolu
Acqua Di Gio Profumo
Tom Ford Oud Wood
Paco Rabanne Phantom