Hello Gents,
I've been looking through a lot of the Fragrance threads to get some input on some good cold weather fragrances. I don't mind spending a good chunk of change on a nice scent, but Creed $400+ is a bit scary unless I have a sample to evaluate for a week or so to know I'll absolutely love it. The online sites that provide samples seem to have the more common/popular scents, but I'm more interest in the niche fragrances, many of which were suggested in other threads here. Also, if I can find some scents around the $100 range and can pick up a couple as opposed to just one for $400, that seems like more of a win for me.
I stopped at a Nieman Marcus yesterday to see if I can locate some of the scents I wrote down that were frequently mentioned here. Creed Bois Du Portugal, Vetiver, Viking and GIT were a few I tested from their scent cards. For cold weather scents, BdP and Vetiver were pleasing enough, and seem as though they have some staying power. I also received a sample of Tom Ford's Oud Wood. That one was OK but, surprisingly, even after spraying it me 30 minutes ago it's very hard to detect. They directed me to Tiziana Terenzi Gold Rose Oudh (~$100.00) and Initio Oud for Greatness (~$375.00). Both of these were also very good, and has the benefit that the wife could probably wear, too.
As far as scents I've owned and enjoyed in the past:
Terre de Hermes, Polo Green, Eau Des Baux, Tom Ford Tuscan Leather, Maison Margiela By the Fireplace, Joop! (many years ago) and some random Jo Malone's. Out of these, TdH and Eau Des Baux were probably ones I enjoyed the most. If they aren't crazy expensive I don't mind blind buying and rolling the dice. Whether it's a fault or not I can say, but there are few scents that repulse me, which makes narrowing decisions down that much difficult. I could have easily walked out of Nieman Marcus and probably enjoyed anything they would have put in front of me.
Would the recommendation be to just look for samples across various fragrance houses, try my hand at dupes or maybe stick with a specific fragrance house? If going the sample route, is there a site that has the widest range of samples that you know to be legit? As a side note on dupes, I've tried a few sample from Stirling and a bottle Fine Platinum (Creed Aventus dupe), but didn't find them to have much staying power. TIA!
I've been looking through a lot of the Fragrance threads to get some input on some good cold weather fragrances. I don't mind spending a good chunk of change on a nice scent, but Creed $400+ is a bit scary unless I have a sample to evaluate for a week or so to know I'll absolutely love it. The online sites that provide samples seem to have the more common/popular scents, but I'm more interest in the niche fragrances, many of which were suggested in other threads here. Also, if I can find some scents around the $100 range and can pick up a couple as opposed to just one for $400, that seems like more of a win for me.
I stopped at a Nieman Marcus yesterday to see if I can locate some of the scents I wrote down that were frequently mentioned here. Creed Bois Du Portugal, Vetiver, Viking and GIT were a few I tested from their scent cards. For cold weather scents, BdP and Vetiver were pleasing enough, and seem as though they have some staying power. I also received a sample of Tom Ford's Oud Wood. That one was OK but, surprisingly, even after spraying it me 30 minutes ago it's very hard to detect. They directed me to Tiziana Terenzi Gold Rose Oudh (~$100.00) and Initio Oud for Greatness (~$375.00). Both of these were also very good, and has the benefit that the wife could probably wear, too.
As far as scents I've owned and enjoyed in the past:
Terre de Hermes, Polo Green, Eau Des Baux, Tom Ford Tuscan Leather, Maison Margiela By the Fireplace, Joop! (many years ago) and some random Jo Malone's. Out of these, TdH and Eau Des Baux were probably ones I enjoyed the most. If they aren't crazy expensive I don't mind blind buying and rolling the dice. Whether it's a fault or not I can say, but there are few scents that repulse me, which makes narrowing decisions down that much difficult. I could have easily walked out of Nieman Marcus and probably enjoyed anything they would have put in front of me.
Would the recommendation be to just look for samples across various fragrance houses, try my hand at dupes or maybe stick with a specific fragrance house? If going the sample route, is there a site that has the widest range of samples that you know to be legit? As a side note on dupes, I've tried a few sample from Stirling and a bottle Fine Platinum (Creed Aventus dupe), but didn't find them to have much staying power. TIA!
