How to find an EDT?

[RHVette]

Hi all. First time posting in the Fragrance sub-forum, so I apologize if this has been covered ad nauseum, but I didn't find a thread on it. How do you figure out which colognes to try? I stopped in at Macy's (pretty much the only place around here that I know of that sells this stuff) and asked for some help picking out a new cologne. But after a few minutes, I couldn't tell what anything smelled like due to all the background fragrances. So, is there a better way to smell a broad range of scents before picking one? And is there a place to get small samples? I don't really want to jump into buying a full size bottle of something I've barely tried.

BTW, for reference, I tend to like cedar, sandalwood, tobacco, and leather scents. Not a huge fan of the modern, fruity stuff, though I think I might like an EDT where that kind of smell lightened up my preferred scents a little, as I'm told those come across a bit old-mannish and I am only 23. Oh, and definitely can't stand patchouli. Makes me flashback to the dirty hippie I had as a neighbor in college.

Thanks!

 

[Harry Snider]

If you don't mind, try Macy's again and again just center on a few scents. Ask for samples, explain your desire to purchase something and try them a few times before buying. A few members here have decants for sale and also another great way to try. I tried something from Garry's Sample Shop and ended up buying it from Amazon, dirt cheap. Hope this helps

 

[Schad]

If there is a Sephora or Ulta nearby try those places too. They have lots of scents and are less pushy than a full dept store like Macy's or more high end places.
Also hold your ground and be polite with sale associate so they don't steer you toward a purchase or toward their merchandise. Some of those folks are private vendors pushing a specific product, not employees of the store trying to do whatt's best for you.

 

[RHVette]

Hmm, I could try going to Macy's again. The biggest concern was really just that I very quickly stopped being able to tell what a given scent was because the whole fragrance section had been more effectively gassed than a house with termites. I may have to try the decants if they have anything that catches my eye.

ETA: Where are these decant sales, BTW? Are they in the BST classifieds or do they have a specific location?

 

[Schad]

Do the local stores first since they are free. Decants while less expensive than free bottles can still become expensive and you'd had to spend money on decants that you could sample for free at a local store.

 

[coloradomonkey]

Hmm, I could try going to Macy's again. The biggest concern was really just that I very quickly stopped being able to tell what a given scent was because the whole fragrance section had been more effectively gassed than a house with termites. I may have to try the decants if they have anything that catches my eye.

ETA: Where are these decant sales, BTW? Are they in the BST classifieds or do they have a specific location?

It takes a while. Try two at once, one on each wrist. The scents smell different on your body than in the bottle or the paper test strips. And as the fragrance moves through its notes on the dry-down you want to experience it to get the full impression. If you smell too many fragrances all at once your nose can actually become anesthetized and it will all smell alike.


Poke around on Basenotes to see what other cedar, sandalwood, tobacco and leather scents come highly recommended. Then get decants of those online. Macy's is great, but still limited to the really mainstream scents.

 

[StylinLA]

Well, if Macy's is your only option, you'll be best off hanging around in here a bit and looking for some suggestions. Then read up on the suggestions. Your best bet will be to see what suggestions interest you, then ifind a way to get a sample. Some samples can be had free, but many will have to purchased for a small amount ($3-$8 or so). Just starting out with scents, you want to have a sample in hand in your house to give it a fair test. Standing in a Macy's with an SA trotting things last you will just confuse your nose as you have noted.

There's a core group in here that like a lot niche scents...the type of scents that are harder to find and never carried at Macy's style department stores. Some of us like pricey stuff too, but there are a lot of great scents in all price ranges.

There will be a lot of great suggestions for those scent families you like. I'll start with Diptyque Tam Dao... A cedar and sandalwood scent. Pinaud makes an after shave called Special Reserve that is an underrated leather scent. It can be had for $9. It doesn't smell cheap. I find tobacco scents a bit trickier myself. Will have to see what others suggest.

You might let's know if there is a price range you have in mind. The scents we like range from $9 to two or three hundred and all points between.

Macy's has some okay stuff, but you're already a wet shaver and wet shavers don't go for "okay stuff" or we'd be using canned goo and disposable Bics. Be patient. Read, research and sample. You'll know when something clicks.

 

[Oscroft]

The biggest concern was really just that I very quickly stopped being able to tell what a given scent was because the whole fragrance section had been more effectively gassed than a house with termites.

My answer to that is - go outside!

It really is close to impossible to tell if you like a fragrance when you're engulfed in that fog of stench, so what I do is...

* Try on card just to reject the obvious horrible ones
* Pick 2 possibilities from the "not horrible" ones and spray on my wrists
* Leave the store and walk around in the fresh air for half an hour and sniff them
* Return to store, head for the washroom, scrub wrists, and repeat

 

[The Nid Hog]

StylinLA speaks the truth. Clubman Special Reserve is an exceptionally nice fragrance at the price. I don't think that it falls into the barbershop zone like most other Pinauds, and it's nowhere near as polarizing as Lilac Vegetal. Great place to start. Also, get yourself some free samples. Geo F Trumpers has a sampler package that they send out to potential customers. You can try out most of their fragrance ranges and a bunch of their shaving creams too. If you are into traditional frags, you should find something there. You can also buy samples from some (like Penhaligon's) or from merchants like Lucky Scent. Plus there are places that just sell samples/decants: check our own vendors or look through the archived threads here or at Crystal Flacon (I haven't bought anything there for a while but lots of reliable sellers--buyer beware, etc.).

Once you get an idea about what you want, there are some reliable on-line retailers where you can get frags at a reduced price. Check out local discounters too. I saw a surprisingly good selection of quality men's fragrances at TJMaxx the other day (there were some dogs too), and the little shops at outlet malls also have good stuff. The truth is, you could probably outfit yourself quite nicely at a big Walgreen's. A bottle of whatever Clubman they have, a bottle of Grey Flannel and a bottle of Fahrenheit. Not a bad start.

Also, don't be discouraged if you get something you don't like. Buy small at first so you don't have 4.2 oz of a frag that you find out you don't like after wearing it a few times. Your taste is going to change as you try new things (although I find that I've kind of turned around full circle and I'm back to the same general family of fragrances that I liked 25 years ago). You can always sell it on the BST.

 

[mdevine]

The Fragrance Forum is doing a scent of the month through the winter. For November, it's L'Occitane Eau des Baux and December is By Kilian's Back to Black. Decants of both are available through the vendors. You can try them and discuss your opinions with the others participating. You may find this to be a good way to learn about fragrances.

Mike

 

[jpipes3]

Your tastes sound somewhat similar to mine. Check out the Varvatos stuff and Burberry London. If you have TJ Maxx or Marshalls in your area, Burberry Men (red box) and CK One Shock can often be found there. CK One Shock is a cheap sleeper... spicy tobacco scent. Burberry Men is bright woodsy.

 

[SuperChris]

You can find Kanon Norwegian Wood at Marshall's/TJ Maxx for $7. I have two bottles of the stuff, it is very good for the price. Its sort of a Sandalwood vanilla blend.

 

[coachschaller]

I have found that I will try on a few scents in a different location. Neck, and wrists. I will ask for their tester bottle and give myself a full spray. I will be done with the fragrances for that day. I will keep checking each to see how it matures. When I have it down to a few, I will go back and try it on by itself. Only one per day! Once a decision is made, I will buy it at that store since I used up their goodwill and customer service. One manager (politely) laughs when my wife and I come in and tells her associates that we are a hoot! Takes me a couple of months to find what works, but I don't have the budget to buy several fragrances.

 

[musicman1951]

I have the same problem in Sephora - the cloud of 1000 scents is overwhelming. Oscroft gave a great suggestion and I'm going to try that myself.

I have gone the ordering samples route. I can take my time with each one and I have quite a collection of things I like. The choices are many and the search is a fun part of the journey. On the other hand I've spent quite a few dollars and found a few I will never wear again.

 

[Matt555]

All of the above is good advice, but the end result is you need samples or decants you can wear on your own at your own choosing. Archefire and Garry in the vendor section have good ones for the best prices.

 

[Niles]

All of the above is good advice, but the end result is you need samples or decants you can wear on your own at your own choosing. Archefire and Garry in the vendor section have good ones for the best prices.

+1

 

[mistercitizen]

All good advice. I can't really add too much except to say that if you can get the note breakdowns of the fragrances that you get samples of you can read those and try to get a feel for what some of these notes are like. I think many guys like the idea of woody, incense, oud, tobacco, leather notes..... but don't really know what they smell like in a fragrance. You might be surprised to know that you do prefer scents that you didn't think you would like. As someone mentioned above, it takes time to teach your nose to identify a scent. I got samples from all of the T&H colognes, GFT, Floris, Penhaligon's..... they all come with the note pyramid breakdowns. If you get a sample and you have no idea what is in it, check basenotes or fragrantica to found out as those two sites most often have the note breakdowns. I usually did my sampling in the evening before I would go to sleep where I would really focus on trying to recognize the different notes. I would also give them full wearings throughout the day. To this day I still re-sample fragrances that I didn't like initally or still don't like.... because it helps me identify the notes and why I don't like it and helps me with future purchases.

Ben