Fragrance Newb: Help me find my scent!

[bmilcs]

Hello.

I'm new to B&B and I want to first say that I am HOOKED. My girlfriend and family are convinced I'm a full blown OCD headcase =].

Anyways, I'm looking for a bold, long lasting cologne that's unlike that of my typical Adidas cologne that I usually wear. I do happen to have a Sephora Sampler Pack which allows me to pick a decent size bottle of any fragrance I like but I rushed through them and didn't really find out what I liked. Are any of the following a "respected" fragrance among the B&B community? Anyone wear any of these?

Dolce & Gabbana The One Sport – redeems to a 1 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
- Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò – redeems to a 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
- Givenchy Play – redeems to a 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
- Gucci by Gucci Pour Homme– redeems to a 1 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
- Hanae Mori HM – redeems to a 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
- Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme – redeems to a 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
- Jean Paul Gaultier LE MALE – redeems to a 1.3 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
- John Varvatos Artisan – redeems to a 2.5 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
- Lacoste Eau de Lacoste – redeems to a 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
- Paco Rabanne 1 Million – redeems to a 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
- Versace Pour Homme – redeems to a 1 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
- Yves Saint Laurent L'Homme– redeems to a 1.3 oz Eau de Toilette

 

[laph]

L'Homme is a great daily wear. Can I suggest you also check out Fleur Du Male? Just getting to know it at the moment and it's wonderful.
If you don't mind older frags Kouros is worth a look too.

 

[hotreds]

Frankly, everyone has his own taste. I might love a scent, you might hate it. The only way you'll discover what you like is by trying and trying. Buy decants so you don't hafta spend beaucoup bucks on a bottle that you end up hating.(An expensive newb mistake I made all too often, alas!)

If you want ideas- check on the "frag of the day" thread, and the various rating threads in here. I still think Soliani's Bell'Antonio is the top tomato.

 

[bemiller]

Most of what you mentioned are highly regarded amongst some if not many B&Bers. For what purpose are you looking, as a signature scent? for all seasons? Do you want uniqueness or don't mind buying very popular frags? For one, as a summer frag i love Acqua di Gio, however, it does not last long on me. Verscae PH is another very nice summer/spring frag with a bit more spiciness but I prefer vintage Cool Water to it. Hanae Mori is also a very nice pleasant scent (I believe unisex). I suspect these 3 would not offend anyone but I would hardly call them bold.

 

[badgertourist]

I wouldn't worry about what is respected or not, the main thing is do you like it!

I would say that you have quite a wide range or styles in your list. As mentioned above I would consider what you are wearing it for? I like having a handful of scents for different occasions.

For instance, I wear acqua di Gio or cool water for work (just a spray) as they are light clean scents that are unlikely to offend.

Givenchy play is a bit of a generic fragrance but play intense is more interesting IMO (thick chocolate, coffee and tobacco, wish it came in a classier bottle) and lasts forever- but you wouldn't wear it to work and isnt a sports fragrance! Goes great after an almond based shave!

1 million is probably one of the bolder you have mentioned- its very sweet and citrusy (possibly not a formal wear frag again).

One of the nice things about frags is they smell different on different people and in different settings (due to heat and humidity)- the only way to know is to try them out!

It's not in your list but my favourite/signature scent is Tuscany pour Homme by Aramis- IMHO a bold classy scent that lasts all day (cinnamon and citrus on a background of bergamot, lavender and patchouli)- check it out if ou get a chance (different from the other aramis offerings)- keep an eye out for it!

 

[stewartmuir]

These are mostly quite modern, and might not get as much love here as some of the classics by the likes of Penhaligons, Czech & Speake, Floris and Trumpers.

From your list, my favourites would be Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò and Jean Paul Gaultier LE MALE.

 

[Frankthetank]

If you want bold, you can kick out any aquatics, including givenchy play and probably the lacoste, etc. Le Male is bold, sweet and very distinct, I personally think it smells awesome. The One (NOT the sport) version is nicer. YSL L'Homme is a very nice frag, smells sweet, but again, I don't know if I would call it BOLD. 1 Million is bold in a bit of a dooshy way, although it also smells pretty good. And JV artisan smells good if I recall correctly, a slightly more mature scent? I only smelt it in store on a card, and my memory is a bit hazy on it.

Of the ones you listed, my vote would go to Le Male, but there are several in there that I haven't smelt. If you can venture outside those, I'd give Azzaro pour homme a shot, I haven't smelt it personally but its very highly regarded. Be careful with Le Male though, it is SUPER easy to over apply it due to its nuclear sillage and longevity, and its not a very good frag for everyday, such as work or school, a bit too bold. More of a going out frag IMHO.

 

[litespeedone]

I bought my son this sampler for Christmas and he has yet to choose the bottle he wants.
Most of them are pleasant, if not exceptional.
I find the Issey Miyake to be a very nice summer scent. Hanae Mori is on the sweet side for me, but I do like it.

 

[osiis]

This is what I would do. Take said girlfriend to the mall. Ask her to pick a few colognes she finds to be nice. Pick one of those that you like best.

Thank me later! This is how I've accumulated about 5 colognes I have. Woman comment quite often on my colognes. They should cuz they picked them!

 

[bmilcs]

This is what I would do. Take said girlfriend to the mall. Ask her to pick a few colognes she finds to be nice. Pick one of those that you like best.

Thank me later! This is how I've accumulated about 5 colognes I have. Woman comment quite often on my colognes. They should cuz they picked them!

Exactly what I did

 

[Graybeard57]

It's all so individual. Personally, I like Canoe, which fits me like a glove. I doubt it'll win any prizes against many of those you've listed. Do remember, more expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. Try a bunch, and settle on your two or three favorites. That way, no matter your mood, you can choose one you like. Enjoy the hunt!

 

[oldhickory]

As far as designer fragrances go, Aqua di Gio is very well regarded. I personally use T&H Trafalgar and I love it. It has real nice spicy note to it that I love. I still need to find a citrus cologne and musk cologne for evening events.

 

[tehtimmeh]

Not on your list, but if forced to choose something from Sephora, I'd go with Terre d'Hermes or Dior Homme.

 

[bmilcs]

I ended up picking the all gold bottle cologne. Can't remember the name. Wicked cool bottle.

 

[fallingreason]

you got 1 million. Good choice but be easy on the trigger.

 

[Zombeezy]

OK, I'm a newbie as well - thought I'd relay my experience. Not really have any close friends or work buddies that wear EDTs or EDP, I watched a fair amount of youtube reviews with huge huge variations in likes/dislikes and made a list of about 20. Then I went to the mall to check out Nordstroms and a couple of other places and found myself spending a lot of time that I didn't really have, with a list that nobody ever brings along.

Most of salespeople would squirt onto a strip of paper, and after 20 minutes I'd walk away with 5 strips that I had no clue as to what was what. And no samplers. The male salesmen were a bit more opinionated as to what was "good" or not, the women very helpful and more informed about unisex EDTs. So, gave up on that route, went online, trolled through basenotes.net and here and a few other sites, then bought some samplers from luckyscent, surrendertochance and ebay.

After this, while waiting for samples to arrive, I found that there was a lot to learn. Initially I was told "woody or citrus" are the two types of smells. But I soon found wondering how the several different type of lavender or vetiver differ, or what is really woody or cut grass or tires or musk or leather. You also have summer and fall, or day and night scents. Do you want something that projects or or not? French or Italian? Etc.

http://www.fumefinder.com/m/ is a good site to get a better idea of the complexity of this all. It all comes down to - do you like a particular scent, and does it work for you? But that can take a lot of time and money. You might consider, while still open, signing up to be on the traveling sampler box here - 19 people so far, expected limit at 25. It will take awhile to make it's way to you, but you only pay shipping forward to the next person. Cheaper than the $75 I've spent on EDT samples so far, and at least that much on shaving cream/soap samples.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/346050-Traveling-Fragrance-Sample-Box