I have been sampling things, chosen by a combination of randomness, what seems popular around here, and what I believe I would like. Below are my reactions to things, so far ("AS" meaning that I tried the aftershave version of something). To summarize, citrus and cedar wood seem to be my things, while sandalwood obviously is not. Given these reactions, does the collected forum wisdom think there is something particular I should try next (or should I just go and buy a bottle of Opus 1870 and be done with it)?
Trumper's "Sandalwood": It has been long time since I tested this, and I have thrown the sample away, but I remember that my reaction at the time was that it was something that an old woman would wear.
Taylor of Old Bond Street "Sandalwood" (AS): I absolutely love TOBS Sandalwood shaving soap, so I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, I do not find this very similar. The scent of the soap probably is in there, somewhere, but in concentrated form it is just too heavy, too much.
D. R. Harris "Sandalwood" (AS): Like with the TOBS Sandalwood, there is actually a nice scent in here somewhere, but it gets overpowered by something that smells like your clothes after a minor accident at the stove, or just something that has been hanging in the closet for much too long and needs to be taken out and aired.
Diptyque "Tam Dao": I can see what people mean when they call this "creamy", but... no. I guess sandalwood just is not for me.
D. R. Harris "Arlington" (AS): Fresh, sharp, almost harsh, citrus. Quite nice, but staggeringly close to something one would use to clean the bathroom. Also seems to be all top and no bottom. I have a bottle of this, I have used half of it, and I will seriously consider buying another one when it runs out.
Penhaligon's "Blenheim Bouquet" (AS): A bit more round than the Arlington, this has at least a hint of middle and bottom. Reminds me of a brand of lemon and orange flavoured candy I used to like... I wonder if they still make it! Still staggeringly close to cleaning fluids, though. Got a bottle, not sure what will happen when it runs out. Probably better than the Arlington, but 70 for a bottle? Please!
Dior "Eau Sauvage": Can't quite make my mind up on this one. Sometimes it seems like a very harsh citrus, even harsher than Arlington, and a really stuffy old woman's fragrance, standing at opposite corners of the room, glaring at each other. Sometimes, however, they seem to meet in the middle and get some interesting cooperation going. Jury is still out.
L'Occitane "Cade" (AS): Juniper and cedar wood... new butter knives and pencil shavings. Somehow balances rather nicely between warmth and freshness. If Arlington is top only, this is middle only, though. I have actually emptied a bottle of this stuff.
Penhaligon's "Opus 1870": That cedar wood again, but this time with some top and bottom added (not sure what they are). This is nice. I could wear this.
Acqua di Parma "Colonia": This is weird. When I sniff the bottle, all I get is citrus. However, the instant the stuff goes on my skin, it turns into another of those old woman scents. The citrus is completetly gone, and all I smell is some sort of flowers. Actually, it reminds me a lot of TOBS Sandalwood.
Guerlain "Vetiver": Grass-like... or some sort of candy... interesting. I cannot decide wheter this is to feminine or not. I do believe I could wear it.
Trumper's "Sandalwood": It has been long time since I tested this, and I have thrown the sample away, but I remember that my reaction at the time was that it was something that an old woman would wear.
Taylor of Old Bond Street "Sandalwood" (AS): I absolutely love TOBS Sandalwood shaving soap, so I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, I do not find this very similar. The scent of the soap probably is in there, somewhere, but in concentrated form it is just too heavy, too much.
D. R. Harris "Sandalwood" (AS): Like with the TOBS Sandalwood, there is actually a nice scent in here somewhere, but it gets overpowered by something that smells like your clothes after a minor accident at the stove, or just something that has been hanging in the closet for much too long and needs to be taken out and aired.
Diptyque "Tam Dao": I can see what people mean when they call this "creamy", but... no. I guess sandalwood just is not for me.
D. R. Harris "Arlington" (AS): Fresh, sharp, almost harsh, citrus. Quite nice, but staggeringly close to something one would use to clean the bathroom. Also seems to be all top and no bottom. I have a bottle of this, I have used half of it, and I will seriously consider buying another one when it runs out.
Penhaligon's "Blenheim Bouquet" (AS): A bit more round than the Arlington, this has at least a hint of middle and bottom. Reminds me of a brand of lemon and orange flavoured candy I used to like... I wonder if they still make it! Still staggeringly close to cleaning fluids, though. Got a bottle, not sure what will happen when it runs out. Probably better than the Arlington, but 70 for a bottle? Please!
Dior "Eau Sauvage": Can't quite make my mind up on this one. Sometimes it seems like a very harsh citrus, even harsher than Arlington, and a really stuffy old woman's fragrance, standing at opposite corners of the room, glaring at each other. Sometimes, however, they seem to meet in the middle and get some interesting cooperation going. Jury is still out.
L'Occitane "Cade" (AS): Juniper and cedar wood... new butter knives and pencil shavings. Somehow balances rather nicely between warmth and freshness. If Arlington is top only, this is middle only, though. I have actually emptied a bottle of this stuff.
Penhaligon's "Opus 1870": That cedar wood again, but this time with some top and bottom added (not sure what they are). This is nice. I could wear this.
Acqua di Parma "Colonia": This is weird. When I sniff the bottle, all I get is citrus. However, the instant the stuff goes on my skin, it turns into another of those old woman scents. The citrus is completetly gone, and all I smell is some sort of flowers. Actually, it reminds me a lot of TOBS Sandalwood.
Guerlain "Vetiver": Grass-like... or some sort of candy... interesting. I cannot decide wheter this is to feminine or not. I do believe I could wear it.
