Men’s grooming expert Steven Cabral takes a sneak peek at this winter’s most tangible new fragrances featuring wood, leather and copper.
We all know choosing the right fragrance can be a difficult task but look no further gentlemen as everything you need to know about picking the right smell for your style is here. Given all the variety of choices nowadays, it’s no wonder why many of us guys find it difficult to select the right fragrance. Saying that, fear not gentlemen because with the right tools you’ll be able to pick the most suitable cologne to match your personality and complement any outfit.
When selecting a perfume, it’s wise to start from scents you are familiar with and like. The smallest whiff of a fragrance can trigger memories in your brain, thanks to the 450 receptors connected to your brain’s smell centre. This is why using a specific men’s cologne will help you feel empowered, free and happy. Trying a fragrance directly on the skin will allow you to understand how it interacts with your skin and your natural scent. So ideally, it’s best not to wear any other cologne on the day and also let the fragrance settle for at least 30 minutes. When trying out any of these looming fragrances, make sure to follow these crucial steps to maximise the final result.
As we move on to fragrance trends, what’s interesting is that although most perfumers tend to work in isolation, trends in fragrances do tend to appear now and again. Last year it was all about gourmand notes, vanilla, apple and mandarin where all hot picks. This year has changed ever so slightly as it seems to be more centred towards ingredients drawn from the world of interior decoration. From velvet and intense woody notes to the copper overtones, your favourites designers offer some of the season’s most sensational choices.
Dolce and Gabbana – Velvet Oriental Musk
So, starting off our list is Dolce and Gabbana’s new Velvet Oriental Musk, this luxurious scent is exactly the way you’d expect. A fragrance dedicated to a complex, lush fabric most often found in gentlemen’s clubs and lady’s dressing room to smell. Mixed with rich, virtually deep notes of cardamom, sandalwood and tonka bean. it’s slightly sweet, very soft and totally seductive.
Velvet Oriental Musk by Dolce and Gabbana
Price: £200 for 150ml
Buy online at Harrods
Comme Des Garcons – Copper
At the sharper end of the olfacere pool is a unisex scent, Comme des Garcon’s most recent release is as mysterious as you’d imagine. Housed in a smart copper-hued bottle, the fragrance comes infused with notes of blackcurrant, ginger, myrrh and metal. Wear this enigmatic scent to the copper-clad Tom Dixon store in Coal Drops Yard for full sensorial effect.
Copper by Comme Des Garcons
Price: £115 for 100ml
Buy online at Escentual
Issey Miyake – Wood
Woods such as cedar and sandal have been applied in the formation of luxury fragrances since many years ago but Issey Miyake’s latest take on the theme elevates the form. Containing temperamental, and masculine notes, Wood and Wood features Virginia Cedar and Sandal Essence, but it’s the kick of grapefruit which gives this scent its unique olfactive profile.
Wood and Wood by Issey Miyake
Price: £51 for 50ml
Buy online at John Lewis
Tom Ford – Leather Tuscan
There’s been a subtle rise in leather-based scents in recent years with the most notable examples being Acqua di Parma’s Colonia Leather and Tom Ford’s Ombre Leather. The newest and hottest innovation by Tom Ford takes the genre to sexy new heights. Tuscan Leather Intense consists of sensual animalic notes alongside suede and of course, leather.
Tuscan Leather Intense by Tom Ford
Price: £220 for 50ml
Buy online at Tom Ford
