Need a Cologne Suggestion

[Tat2d Bald Dude]

Hi all. I am looking for a new cologne after my current remaining supply of Burberry London runs out. I don't mind spending a fair amount, but I don't want to go broke on a bottle of cologne either. I'm looking for something that:

-is reasonably priced

-has a nice masculine smell to it

-is NOT mainstream

-and most importantly, if I put it on a 6:00, it won't wear off by 7:30. A scent that will be able to be smelled by others ALL NIGHT, but not in a way that is overpowering.

 

[Blue-EyedSon]

Try getting a sampler pack from Trumper's. I really like the way their colognes smell and they definitely aren't what I'd call 'mainstream.' The longevity on their colognes varies. Some last pretty strong all day, but others are very faint and noticeable only if you go looking for it by the end of the day. I think my favorites are Eucris, Marlborough, Astor, Spanish Leather. I'm still trying to decide which is my favorite, but I think I"ll try to get my hands on some TOBS samples before buying something as I have a number of their other products and really like them. You might also consider a sampler from T&H, but to me most of their colognes seemed too 'mainstream.' Almost all of them had a very strong oceanic marine kind of scent that me feel like I was walking by an Ambercrombie and Fitch store. Grafton and Traflgar were the two notable exceptions, but even still not incredibly remarkable for me.

 

[gone down south]

You'd be best served by getting a couple of the "intro to cologne" sampler packs from one of the decant vendors here. All you're going to get here is a long list of random cologne names, won't mean anything to you, and the odds of any one cologne that someone else loves working perfectly on you is pretty low.

By getting a sampler, you can at least narrow your search down to specific families that you like (marine, citrus, fougere, chypre etc) and eliminate the rest. That'll help focus your search for the right cologne.

 

[Scentronic]

Yes sir, samples are what you need!

"suggest a fragrance" is just too broad! We have no idea what you like and dislike, and although we could recommend some "blind buys", that is generally an unsafe way to go, especially when money is an issue.

 

[StylinLA]

Poke around in Basenotes.net and Lucky Scent.

Basenotes has reviews from a lot of real "fragrance fanatics" for pretty much every cologne you can imagine.

Lucky Scent is a great source for niche frags, has a handful of customer reviews for many frags. It also has a nice "if you like this, you might also like these" feature. It can point you in a direction of some frags to research a bit.

You can also search colognes by the "note" you're looking for (e.g. sandalwood or lavender). They sell 1 ml samples for $4. Most of their stuff is pricey, but not all of it is break the bank expensive.

The Perfumed Court sells a better assortment of sample sizes, but doesn't offer as much in the way of info as Lucky Scent.

I love frags and I've been burned a lot buying on recommendations...sample, sample, sample. I really like The Perfumed Court for larger sample sizes to give a more thorough test wear for a couple of days. But there are other sources for decants too.

 

[tsmba]

Suggesting fragrances is a rather pointless exercise. So many of the terms thrown around: modern, masculine, long-lasting, clean, etc. are so subjective that they mean nothing. Same way with using one scent as a yardstick. Samples/decants are your best bet....as is using TPC's search functions to view related scents.

 

[tarheel1]

I think you should pick up some penhaligons samples and floris. I love the Floris santal as it is spicy masculan smell kinda how burberry london is as is Penhaligons Edymion. Penhaligons racquets will be my next purchase.

 

[The Knize]

I think you should pick up some penhaligons samples and floris. I love the Floris santal as it is spicy masculan smell kinda how burberry london is as is Penhaligons Edymion. Penhaligons racquets will be my next purchase.

Two strikes on Pen's, though, he wanted "reasonably priced," and he wanted staying power.

Fits "NOT mainstream" and keeps in the Brit camp given that he liked Burberry,

Czech & Speak would be along exactly the same lines. Maybe even less mainstream.

I am sure that Floris is in there, too, but a bit less expensive and better staying power.

 

[bokaba]

Green Irish Tweed or Eau Sauvage

 

[tarheel1]

Two strikes on Pen's, though, he wanted "reasonably priced," and he wanted staying power.

Fits "NOT mainstream" and keeps in the Brit camp given that he liked Burberry,

Czech & Speak would be along exactly the same lines. Maybe even less mainstream.

I am sure that Floris is in there, too, but a bit less expensive and better staying power.

Penhaligons endymion lasts all day on me.

 

[RollingExplorer]

Definitely go with cool water. it smells great and the ladies love it!

 

[The Knize]

Definitely go with cool water. it smells great and the ladies love it!

Cool Water is very popular, so it does not meet your criteria of not mainstream!

 

[Ru4scuba?]

Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet....it is by far the most unique, manly and classy scent I've ever sniffed.

That said, the "sniffer factor" is VERY YMMV

 

[The Knize]

Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet....it is by far the most unique, manly and classy scent I've ever sniffed.

That said, the "sniffer factor" is VERY YMMV

Better get a sample of this one first. I completely agree with Ru4scuba, but have been repeatedly surprised when others, whose noses I often agree with, do not feel the same way about it.

Also, not inexpensive!