Can you recommend a "natural" cologne?

[friendo977]

In the past I have always used the standard department store scents (Burberry, Acqua di Gio, Tom Ford, etc). However, at the beginning of the summer I noticed that I was sneezing a lot for no reason. I purchased some Issey Miyake, and through a process of elimination I realized it was my cologne that was doing this. At first I thought it was just one specific scent, but then I tried the other scents I had purchased for the summer (Dolce&Gabbana, and Thierry Mugler) and they all made me sneeze. Which is why I have decided to go the route of "natural" or "organic" parfums.

At this point all I have been using is Nancy Boy Butch parfum and their signature body spray. Both are decent but nothing that I am crazy about. I have searched online and tried to find something but have had little success. I seem to remember a friend in college telling me about scents made up totally of essential oils and how great they are, but back then I didn't pay any attention. Anyways, I am ignorant in this area, so any guidance would be great. Thanks.

The only site I have found so far, that may fit, is this one, has anyone tried it?
https://nantucketnaturaloils.com/viewbasket.php?currentCategory=1&ProductCategoryID=3

P.S. Now that I don't use department store brands anymore I really can smell the synthetic and chemical nature much more than I ever did before. Just an FYI.

 

[buffdaddy]

Check out Gendarme. The maker of the fragrance developed it in response to his similiar reactions to ordinary colognes. Has a nice clean soapy scent and is very easy on the nose. This one of my go to scents to wear during the work week.

 

[cryhavoc]

Speick EdT may fit your need.

 

[Prof. Moriarty]

Check out Shay & Blue. I have their Blood Orange which smells absolutely wonderful.

 

[Handy]

Look into essential oils in a organic carrier oil like almond sweet. It would be a roll on fragrance. Now if find one made with organic essential oils you will not find anything more natural than that. example: http://www.etsy.com/listing/1305229...type=gallery&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_search_type=all

 

[Schad]

I have same problem in the summer when my allergies kick in. Very same scents don't bother me in other months but really cause problems in summer. These include GIT, Dior Hommr (anything powdery actually), Bleecker St and many others. But since I now take an allergy rab in morning it doesn't bother me like before.

 

[rebos]

Hey back when I first got into fragrances, and when I cared about going the "natural" route, I asked the same question here and got a bunch of
helpful suggestions. Here's that thread.

I decided that there are too many synthetic fragrances that I want to try so I didn't pursue the "natural" route.

Good luck with the search!

 

[Cheapshot]

You could try Zyrtec.

 

[The Nid Hog]

If you want to try the Gendarme, you can get samples at Nordstrom's. Whole Foods (and similar stores) usually have a selection of oils too. You'll have to check to see what's an EO and what isn't, but you should be able to sample some different ones there.

You might also want to give Black Phoenix a try. They have a million varieties, but they give a pretty good description of the notes in each. I've smelled a couple of them and I thought they were OK. Also, you could shoot an email to Josh at Imaginary Authors and see what he says.

 

[jpipes3]

What makes you think it is an allergy to the fragrances, and not just regular seasonal outdoor allergies?

 

[Squidma]

I believe SMN fragrances are natural, in addition to Boellis.

 

[Schad]

You could try Zyrtec.

This is actually the right answer IMO for those with allergies. But in my case it's Alavert It solved my problem with summer allergies to fragrances that I can tolerate in other months.

 

[friendo977]

What makes you think it is an allergy to the fragrances, and not just regular seasonal outdoor allergies?

The only time I ever find myself sneezing is when I use colognes. Also, since I have switched to the Nancy Boy body Spray and Parfum, I haven't had any problems. Yesterday I tried some Dolce&Gabbana Light Blue and I found myself sneezing again. I haven't any issue with seasonal allergies otherwise.

 

[friendo977]

Hey back when I first got into fragrances, and when I cared about going the "natural" route, I asked the same question here and got a bunch of
helpful suggestions. Here's that thread.

I decided that there are too many synthetic fragrances that I want to try so I didn't pursue the "natural" route.

Good luck with the search!

Thanks for the help. I guess I could have searched and found that thread on my own, but I appreciate you passing on the knowledge. So do you find that synthetic fragrances don't bother you, or were you just worried about carcinogens before? Honestly, I have read articles online saying that a synthetic fragrance is the worst thing in the world and that it isn't, so I don't know what to believe on that.

I will say, that I like that "natural" colognes don't seem as overpowering and the fact that they don't last on the skin as long, makes them seem better for you in general, but that could just be me projecting what I read onto the issue.

 

[friendo977]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. As always the B&B community is amazingly helpful. I have a lot of research to do, and I look forward to learning about all these new fragrances. I won't be taking any pills to help though. I don't have any issues with allergies and it just isn't worth it to me to take a pill every time I want to put on a little cologne (even though I smelled the new Tom Ford Noir the other day, and it smelled like sexy heaven in a bottle). But, thank you for the suggestion.

One thing, I will be doing for sure, is monitoring how much I use. I was in Frankfurt last month, and had to take a bus at the terminal to get on the plane. As the doors closed a nice looking, well dressed older gentleman got on and stood next to me. His cologne was so powerful it was almost like I could taste it, it may have been 3 of the longest minutes of my life. May I never do that to anyone.

 

[bemiller]

It seems odd that you'd be allergic to all cologne, especially because many of these frags do use natural essential oils. Just because something is natural doesn't mean you won't have an allergic reaction (e.g., peanuts are natural). But you might want to try frags that are based on one single, or just a few essential oils (e.g., Saint Charles Shave Bulgarian Lavender or Sandalwood) to maybe rule out the culprit.

 

[friendo977]

Thanks for the input. I was thinking that maybe instead of the essential oils, it is the synthetic components of the frags that are giving me the problem. But maybe a single note frag like a C&E Sandalwood would work. I will drop by one of their stores spray some on and see how I respond during the course of the day.

I purchased a sampler pack of Le labor, which is in the mail. Thinking that working with a more upper end frag house as opposed to standard department store merchandise may help too.

 

[bemiller]

Know what would actually be a great test for you? Go to an organic/natural/hippy store where they have the essential oils and smell each one (waiting a few minutes in between). It might be one main ingredient (like patchouli) that is in the base of many frags causing the problems.

 

[rebos]

Thanks for the help. I guess I could have searched and found that thread on my own, but I appreciate you passing on the knowledge. So do you find that synthetic fragrances don't bother you, or were you just worried about carcinogens before? Honestly, I have read articles online saying that a synthetic fragrance is the worst thing in the world and that it isn't, so I don't know what to believe on that.

I will say, that I like that "natural" colognes don't seem as overpowering and the fact that they don't last on the skin as long, makes them seem better for you in general, but that could just be me projecting what I read onto the issue.

Yep. They don't bother me physically or mentally.

I was into the idea of natural ingredients for the same reasons as you. I like a subtle scent & I normally steer clear of what might be considered unhealthy products.
With diet I'm more strict about the chemicals in my food.

I haven't read the articles that you've read about the harmful properties of synthetics, but I decided that one must pick their battles and that fragrances just weren't on
my "keep it natural" radar. I've become less demanding about "natural" ingredients is all. (Probably has something to do with moving out east; in the west the "natural" sensibility seems to be more omnipresent).

Money is another factor. If I had more of it I'd be more inclined to try more naturals: ouds, sandalwoods, etc.

 

[greenie]

Have you tried Mother's Sun?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_UMlBlx8Kw

If not, there are others out there, too!

I have a tendency to get a headache from some "woody" and "marine" scents. I haven't found out yet, how it's related to the fragrances (ie. the oils or other aromatics). I'm not sure is it the fragrances themselves or is it some other part of the products that cause the headache. Probably not the alcohol though, though sometimes that could explain the morning afters.

That said, I'm sure you can find plenty of essential oils and tinctures, that you could work with. Vetiver, musk, vanilla, bay oil etc. Sounds like you might be a little more sensitive to the ingredient that cause some of the scents to open up more when sprayed, can't think of it by it's name, but I'll bet there is one or more - like throughout the history of the wines, people have added different chemicals (lead, glycol etc) to the product to make them more sweeter, for example.

Hopefully you'll find it what it is!

(Have you ever taken a ***** - allergy - test?)