There was a time when choosing a fragrance was relatively straightforward. Find a scent you like, spray it before leaving the house and strut around in the hope someone asks what you’re wearing.
Today, men’s fragrance has become considerably more sophisticated. Much more discerning.
The growing popularity of niche perfumery, independent fragrance houses and more unusual scent profiles means men have never had more choice. The result? The traditional rules around what constitutes a “men’s fragrance” are becoming increasingly irrelevant.
Forget the Rules
Fresh, aquatic and traditionally woody fragrances have long dominated men’s fragrance counters. They’re safe, familiar and easy to wear — but they’re no longer the only options. What’s more, these are the mainstream.
Vanilla, iris, incense, leather, amber and even gourmand notes are increasingly appearing in fragrances marketed towards men. The modern fragrance wardrobe is less about fitting into a particular category and more about finding scents that complement your personality.
That also means moving beyond the idea that one fragrance should do everything. Like with clothing, you need more than one go-to.
Build a Fragrance Wardrobe
Think about fragrance in the same way you think about clothing.
You wouldn’t necessarily wear the same outfit to a summer wedding, a Monday morning meeting and a dinner date on a Saturday night. Your fragrance should work in much the same way.
A lighter citrus or aromatic scent works particularly well during the day and in warmer weather, while richer woods, amber and spice can provide greater impact during evenings and colder months.
Having two or three fragrances also gives you the opportunity to experiment rather than becoming defined by a single signature scent.
Don’t Underestimate Application
More fragrance doesn’t necessarily mean better fragrance.
Apply your scent to pulse points — wrists, neck and behind the ears — and resist the temptation to repeatedly spray throughout the day. A good fragrance should be discovered rather than announced from across the room.
And don’t rub your wrists together. It can alter how the fragrance develops on the skin and potentially shorten the experience of the top notes.
Find Your Signature
Ultimately, the best fragrance is the one that feels like you.
Don’t choose a scent simply because it’s fashionable, heavily advertised or popular with someone else. Fragrance reacts differently with individual skin chemistry, so testing it on your skin and allowing it time to develop is essential. How it develops with the ebb and flow of your body temperature throughout the day is how you wear a fragrance.
The modern fragrance landscape is about individuality. So rather than asking “What fragrance should a man wear?”, perhaps the better question is:
“What do I want to smell like?”
That small change in mentality could completely transform your fragrance wardrobe and see you building out scents to suit each occasion.
