Today’s blog post comes from a reader question. Well, technically, an Instagram follower question, but you get the idea. I was asked to recommend some everyday fragrances for daily wear. This follower was looking for a fragrance that he could wear to work on a daily basis that smelled good, wouldn’t be offensive, wouldn’t break the bank, but would still feel original. I think that’s part of the difficulty with men’s fragrance. Sometimes it feels like the only options are drugstore bottles that smell like a chemical spray with no character and $500+ designer options. I decided that I would break my picks up into three fragrance categories that might fit the season, your personality, or just your mood: Citrus, Woodsy, and Green.
Citrus: Acqua di Parma Colonia
The original Acqua di Parma, this is my go-to summer fragrance. In fact, after I write this piece I’m on my way out to grab a new bottle. I really wear it year round, and with other devotees like Cary Grant and Gregory Peck, I’m in pretty good company.
This citrus based fragrance is backed by herbs and lavender, and feels like a sunny day in Positano. This is the fragrance that an Italian grandfather (who’s much cooler than you) would wear.
Woodsy: Floris Elite
Think of Foris Elite like something a British investment banker would wear. It’s not as aggressive as a French fragrance, but it’s quite masculine. With notes like leather, cedarwood, and juniper berry (you know, gin), it’s tough to imagine this scent without the flannel suit and madder tie. I like to wear Elite in the fall when those scents really shine. However, with green notes too, you can easily wear this in the spring.
Green: Guerlain Vetiver
Guerlain Vetiver is, of the three here, the most unique and most complex fragrance. This version of vetiver is green, smoky, and soapy. It smells fresh and masculine at the same time. You can almost feel it stepping out of the 60s, but in the same breath it’s still new and exciting. This is reportedly the fragrance choice of numerous leading men in Hollywood. It’s both masculine and expressive, just like them. When I really started wearing fragrance, this is the one that showed me what a man’s scent could really be.
With over 600 years of history in these three brands, you know they must be doing something right. I think all three of these fragrances are office-friendly and inoffensive while remaining original and lively. And at reasonable prices, you won’t feel bad about wearing them every day.
