So the cologne I tried on is for women.

[aspriel]

I tried on Bond No. 9's So New York. In Saks Fifth Avenue's Men's Store here in Chicago. I really really really like it. I look it up online and see it's marketed to, designed for, and sold to women. Whoops.

 

[mack11211]

So?

 

[texas_jack]

Doesn't matter. It will mix with your male scent.

 

[Babar]

One of my favorite fragrances, and the one I'm complemented on the most, Costume National Scent Intense, is also found in the women's department. Who cares as long as it doesn't actually smell like a girl's perfume?

 

[Joel_Cairo]

Alot of high-end fragrance houses don't go in for gender-based market differentiation. Bond no. 9, L'Artisan, Serge Lutens, etc. I guess the reasoning is that if you are willing to pay the premium, and are going the distance to find scents that aren't just the same old mall crap, you're a big enough boy to not have to be told what to wear.

 

[Ivan Kipling]

Before a sexual identity if attached to a fragrance, it's neutral. So many women wore Eau Sauvage, that Diorella was created, specifically for them. A while ago, I saw Diorella listed as an 'undiscovered' men's fragrance. I've read that Joy is a favorite scent, among men in the Middle East. A stylish person decides what's good for him, and uses it.

 

[aspriel]

True, true.

I smelled all the Bond No. 9 fragrances yesterday. I liked So, Fire Island, and the Scent of Peace.

 

[Ivan Kipling]

aspriel . . . for spring and summer, you may want to try Dior Eau Fraiche. It's marketed as a woman's fragrance, but immediately became unisex. Refreshing, high style and crisp. Available at Imagination Perfumery.

 

[greg_atlanta]

I've bought Marc Jabobs women's perfume as a gift (love it) so I tried the men's cologne. Decided it's not for me, but it is a nice crossover scent... a bit femme but a few manly notes. Worth a try if you're looking for something different.

 

[Joel_Cairo]

Originally Posted by greg_atlanta

I've bought Marc Jabobs women's perfume as a gift (love it) so I tried the men's cologne. Decided it's not for me, but it is a nice crossover scent... a bit femme but a few manly notes. Worth a try if you're looking for something different.


Yeah, Marc Jocobs's mens scent has a nice caribean vibe to it. A great beach scent. I especially like that coconutty-ness (which is actually a fig accord).

 

[Dormouse]

Mr. Cairo, do you apply cologne on your pocketsquare like your namesake?

 

[Joel_Cairo]

Originally Posted by Dormouse

Mr. Cairo, do you apply cologne on your pocketsquare like your namesake?

But of course, and my business cards

 

[j]

I've heard of more than a few women using Dior Homme. I tried it, and I'm not surprised - very floral and makeup-smelling (at first, anyway). Without the name, it'd be a toss-up. But then the guys Dior Homme is marketed to aren't exactly the Drakkar Noir/Acqua Di Gio demographic...

 

[Joel_Cairo]

Originally Posted by j

I've heard of more than a few women using Dior Homme. I tried it, and I'm not surprised - very floral and makeup-smelling (at first, anyway). Without the name, it'd be a toss-up. But then the guys Dior Homme is marketed to aren't exactly the Drakkar Noir/Acqua Di Gio demographic...
I fully agree about the "make-up" smell at first. It comes from Iris, a powdery dry floral note rarely used in Men's Fragrancce (the most mainstream men's frag I know which has a notable iris note is Versace's the Dreamer, but there Iris is the sidekick to Dreamer's heavy tobacco ka-pow!). However, its 30 minutes after that avant-garde face-powder opening that Dior Homme really hits its stride. There is this dry warmth to it that is incredible, and very very masculine. Reminds me of suede everytime I wear it. I really highly recommend Dior Homme, easily the best thing from a designer house in the last 2 or 3 years. You just gotta get over that shrill Iris opening note. Its a lot like runways & fashion spreads vs. how clothes are actually worn. That topnote is the attention grabbing "hey look me and how unusual I am", where as the warm dry leather in the botom note is the stuff you see in stores or on SF and think "damn, I get get into this".

 

[louieann34]

Don't worry...I'm sure you will work it out in the long run..

What matter's most, is how you carry it.