Suggest me a first cologne

[cybrok]

Hi

I'm a 24 years old college student and just took a look at "your first cologne" thread and I'm telling myself I should try. If you also have advices on how to wear cologne it would be appreciated. I saw a few times "teens don't know how to wear cologne". Well I'm not a teenager anymore but I'm not used to cologne.

Little bit of my nose history.

The only scent I had on myself have been deodorants, mainly the ones with marine scents. I loved Speed Stick's Ocean Surf but had to change due to irritation. These days I use Mitchum Marine.

Like every teen in the early 2000s I bought some Axe, the only one I could stand was the Phoenix. I still think it smells good, a huge step behind all the other Axe products. Don't throw rocks at me, but the first time I tried TOBS St James cream, I tought it smelled a little bit like this Axe.

It will probably help if I tell you the scents I like in my den at the moment:

Like (no particlar order):
-Proraso splash
-TOBS sandalwood cream
-Avon Black Suede splash
-Booster Oriental Spice
-The Gentlemen's Quarter Desert Ironwood
- Absinthe cream by Chad Steward, I really like absinthe/anise smells.
- In the T&H samples I got, I prefered the 1805.

What I like less:
-Tabac splash, good but a little too floral. I might come to like it with the use.
-AV, the blue one. Smells old to me (or on me)
-I'm not really into citrus smells. I don't know if I will finish the TOBS lemon and lime sample.

Also as I said, I still am in college, so the cheaper the better.

Thanks


EDIT: And of course, I don't want to smell like an old man and want the girl to like it ;)

[sapito318]

A good, relatively cheap cologne would be the T&H 1805. You say that you really like marine scents, so you should love that one. It goes very well together with the ASB and shave cream, and lasts a good long time.

To wear most colognes, you just spray 1, or maybe 2 sprays if its a weaker cologne on your chest or neck. The general guideline is that the scent should only be immedately obvious to yourself or significant other in the sense of strength. Meaning that only those who are very close to you should notice your cologne fragrance. If everybody can smell you, then you are probably wearing too much.

Axe is simply awful, and not gentlemanly at all, imo. I think it smells gross. For your deodorant irritation problem I would recommend looking into an Alum Block.

[cybrok]

Do you guys (those in their 20s) use cologne everyday?

I'll try my 1805 sample, but I'd like to try a few more to see wich one fits my body chemistery the best (at least I know about body chemistery). I will have to check with wich of my actual aftershave it smells the best. I can't really afford the 1805 ASB.

As for the deo, just changing brand solves the problem, I'm ok with Mitchum at the moment.

Another question, while checking on basenotes, I saw someone talking about a "black" cologne, I think it was for the Black Suede. What exactly is a "black cologne"?



Or I could try this (http://trekmovie.com/2009/03/04/trek-spring-collection-preview-first-look-at-genki-star-trek-fragrances/). (na, not really)

[Rorschuck]

You might look into some citrus scents, always good for both the younger crowd and warm-weather wear. Two of my favorites (and arguably two of the finest citrus scents ever) are Christian Dior's Eau Sauvage and Guerlain's Eau de Guerlain. Creed's Virgin Island Water is magnificent, and TOBS St. James is another great (not citrus) scent.

If you like the TOBS Sandalwood cream scent, you'd probably like the EdC, as well, but it's definitely on the soft/powdery side of things, which some associate with "old man" smell.

If you like anise, you really should try Azzaro Pour Homme. Simply amazing, and I don't normally like anise, either in my mouse or my nose.

[Doc4]

-TOBS sandalwood cream
- In the T&H samples I got, I prefered the 1805.


EDIT: And of course, I don't want to smell like an old man and want the girl to like it ;)

Both the TOBS sandalwood and the 1805 are sold in cologne form too. IMHO the TOBS sandalwood is 'old-man', but YMMV.



Most of the comments about teenagers not knowing how to wear cologne are about teenagers who wear waaaaaay too much cologne ... one spray should be all you need.

[JaeBeam]

Black probably referes to Armani's "Black Code", but I could be wrong. Black Code is more of a evening/date type of cologne.

Bvgari Avqa - Aquatic scent, spring/summer appropriate
Bvgar Extreme - nice tea notes IMHO
Burberry Brit - Complex Oriental/flower, but manly

You can pickup a tester for less than $30 online. I'd recomend hitting the department stores to test them out, and possibly getting a good deal if there is a sale going on.

[cybrok]

I will pass on the Azzaro.

My father has a few colognes (wich he never use), one of them is Azzaro, I tried some on my wrist and it's not for me.

He also has Antartic (Yves Rocher) and Chaps (Ralph Lauren). I should try them on my wrist too.

My bet is that he got those as gifts and he's just not into colognes... or shaving.

[drumana]

Get some samples from Trumpers - It costs around $5 last time I checked. You might like their Sandalwood, or GFT - some of them might be a little too 'old man' for you (Spanish Leather)...

Off the top of my head you could also try Acqua di Parma Colonia or Intensia. And the rest of the T&H line - particularly Trafalgar or Grafton you might like.

[john.crissman]

Get some samples from Trumpers - It costs around $5 last time I checked. You might like their Sandalwood, or GFT - some of them might be a little too 'old man' for you (Spanish Leather)...

Off the top of my head you could also try Acqua di Parma Colonia or Intensia. And the rest of the T&H line - particularly Trafalgar or Grafton you might like.

I don't think he will like the GFT (sweet lemon top notes). I would recommend the ToBS Sandalwood.

[cybrok]

He also has Antartic (Yves Rocher) and Chaps (Ralph Lauren). I should try them on my wrist too.

Done, not for me.

I guess if he doesn't use them, he doesn't like them. So we must have a similar nose.


I was considering Acqua Di Gio, but I see it's a best seller. I don't really want to smell like half of the guys there (more chances to smell like the ex too). Is it true that this one is practically the same as 1805? How about l'eau D'Issey?

[Lynchmeister]

Done, not for me.

I guess if he doesn't use them, he doesn't like them. So we must have a similar nose.


I was considering Acqua Di Gio, but I see it's a best seller. I don't really want to smell like half of the guys there (more chances to smell like the ex too). Is it true that this one is practically the same as 1805? How about l'eau D'Issey?

For what it's worth, I don't find AdG and 1805 similiar. They are both considered aquatics, but miles apart in my mind...1805 is the winner. :thumbup1:

[joto]

The best thing to do is head to the nearest mall and smell 'em. Nothing like dropping $50 or more on a cologne you don't know if you like and finding out... YOU DON'T!!:mad3: The better stores have paper strips to spray them on- certainly not ideal, but a good way to winnow the list down without spraying every exposed mm of skin with fragrance. If you like any, spray them on a wrist and see how it goes. I found that I hated most of the store's selection, but there were a few I liked. It's free anyway, if you've got the time.

If you want to make a cold purchase, and liked the 1805, you could try the Taylor of Old Bond St. St. James cologne. It has similarities to the T&H 1805- I like the top notes better, and the 'aquatic' scent is more subdued than in the 1805 sample I tried. If you have smelled the cream, it's quite similar minus some of the deep warmth I attribute to the natural scent of the cream. It's not exactly 'cheap,' but cheaper than other scents being tossed around so far. Around $30 from classicshaving.com and others.

Hoyt's is also a good inexpensive cologne at $10 from QED for 5oz. There is a minute or two of citrus in the top notes, but it is gone quickly and leaves a nice floral scent that lasts a few hours on my skin. I know 'floral' may sound feminine, but I thought it had a little touch of something masculine in it that I very much liked. Sounded like you might like something floral, might not. YMMV.

If you like spicy, you could try the Master's Bay Rum aftershave you can buy at a local Sally's beauty supply for $7-8. I personally like it a lot, although it only lasts a couple of hours and hovers very close to my skin (being an A/S splash and not a cologne) after the first few minutes. Not exactly a cologne, but is inexpensive and lasts long enough on my skin.

The Clubman aftershave/ colognes you can buy at Sally's or most Walgreens last a LONG time on my skin, and use usually very inexpensive.

There it is, hope it helps.

[Dandaman]

Not to be negative, but also watch out for reactions. After buying 3 colognes to try, I discovered all I needed to do was spritz once and wait. Anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes later, here came the headache. It barely responded to painkiller, and lasted 12+ hours. So maybe start slow...

[richmondesi]

How to wear cologne: The best way to not over-power and have a long-lasting scent (IMO of course) is to dab a little on each wrist and on both sides of your neck right by the corroded artery (on either side of your esophagus). When I say little, I mean little. The location is critical (this is from the "experts" that were coaching me up on this). These locations are ideal because of the pulsing of the ulnar artery (wrist) and the corroded artery (neck). If that makes sense to anybody, great (I'm not sure). I've tried a lot of other ways, but this works well without being obnoxious.

For scents: I find that Tommy Bahama makes some really nice scents. They will also give a lot of samples for free. I've gotten one tube of sample scent that lasted me over a year. Other scents... there are just too many & I swear they all smell different depending on your body chemistry. So, you just have to suck it up and go smell them, wear a sample, and get feedback. *** I also want to give a +1 to the recommendation to watch for the headache effect of some colognes. They can suck, and you don't want to waste money on something that you won't use

[OldGrowth]

Dolce & Gabbana pour Homme

Since you're on more of a budget, check out the men's fragrances at Bath & Body Works (seriously). They have 4 different scents, and they're only like $20/bottle. I'm not saying they can compete with some of the big boys from England or Tom Ford's most complex creation, but they are good for what they are...inexpensive everyday colognes.

[millertime150]

http://www.basenotes.net/ID26121010.html

Has Aniseed in it. You can get it for a pretty decent price online.

http://www.scentiments.com/Product/SkuInfo.aspx?id=97248 $28.99 for 1.7 ounce

$38.99 for 3.4 ounce

I wouldn't go with anything real expensive until you have more experience. Alot of the niche fragrances have a lot of depth and are not always common smelling and are sometimes very odd but good.

Another recommendation is Terre De Hermes. Winner of 2008 Basenotes best mainstream scent. I have it and love it. Kind of a bitter orange/woody/vetiver scent.
http://www.basenotes.net/awards/2008/mfine.html

Also I hate to mention it because everyone wears/wore this but Acqua di Gio is well liked for a mainstream scent.

[scavenger]

I like Tommy boy ( Tommy Hilfiger ) for day time it has a crisp light citrus scent.For evening I like Fahrenheit by Christian Dior which is very potent,a bottle will last me like five years.The Tommy is also avalible as Tommy girl a citrus/floral scent that my wife likes for casual use.

[Kouros]

Spray a mist in front of you then walk through it. Anything more than that and you risk pissing people off.

[Boyextraordinare]

Go with Pierre Cardin's PM. It's inexpensive and among the best of the best.

I like the scent of traditional shaving creams but don't feel like they translate well into EDCs -Ts and -Ps for a young guy.

[desmoface]

Terre de Hermes is pretty tasty stuff and can be had for around $50 on line.

Steve

[Scentronic]

Tauer L'Eau du Desert Air Marocain - An incredibly rich amber scent, dry as a bone that has baked in the desert sun for a century. It is backed with resinous woods and spices, and it was the first one I thought of after reading your list.

Dunhill 1934 - An excellent effervescent sandalwood scent, with leather and only a bit of citrus and floral. Actually smells a bit like cola at times. Very gentlemanly in nature.

Boucheron Jaipur EDT/EDP - A top-notch oriental, with spicy vanilla and amber as it's focus. Often referred to in comparison to other scents. A modern classic. The EDP is a bit richer and sweeter than the EDT.

Chanel Egoiste - A bit harder to find, but worth the effort. Spicy and rich honeyed sandalwood and a bit less vanilla than Jaipur.

Floris Santal OR Trumpers Sandalwood - Both great, bright, bold brash sandalwood interpretations. I like these two more than the Art of Shaving's Sandalwood offering.

Geo F Trumper Curzon - Woody, leathery, musky. Pretty simple. Might be your thing.

L'Artisan Fou d'Absinthe - This is the priciest of the scents I'm recommending, but I only do so because you said you like ANISE scents. Well, this is among the better anise scents. Smells like woody absinthe.

Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin - Another anise scent. This one smells a bit more like black licorice. I don't really care for it, especially in comparison to FdA.

Penhaligons - [these are expensive too, up around and above the $100 mark, but are all excellent] Endymion (just great. Tobacco, a bit of amber, and a bunch of other things I don't ever really care to identify. Just great)
Racquets Formula (Musk, powder, citrus, and incense. Really does smell like something to be worn while playing tennis! My go-to sport fragrance. It really grows on you.)
Douro (always a winner. Extremely gentlemanly. Not sexy - although I have gotten compliments. Green, musky, aromatic, a bit of citrus on top.)
Opus 1870 (Excellent woody and peppery scent. Very refined - smelling. Not very casual, but comforting at the same time.)

[BAMF624]

I like Gucci by Gucci. But try out some testers in the mall and see what you like.

Although you can order most off the internet for far less $ than the department store.

[xgunterx]

I like woody fragrences.
One which is very good and which is not too heavy is Kenzo.

For now I have a lot of succes (by succes I mean people asking what I'm using in a positive manner) with Dior Homme.
It is a classy business style smell.

If you like the sportive marine fragrences, then coolwater may be it.
This one really fits all ages.

[cybrok]

I went to a cologne store last weekend and tried a few, and my best bet for the moment seems to be Acqua di Gio or T&H 1805. Now let's see wich one I can get the cheaper. I'll have to try l'Eau d'Issey too before I order.

I'll eventually have to try TOBS Sandalwood and St-James too.

Anyone knows where to find T&H colognes in Canada? My Canadian wallet hates the exchange rate these days.

[BarryR]

Terre de Hermes is pretty tasty stuff and can be had for around $50 on line.

Steve+1. A very good (less expensive) scent.
I agree with the go to the mall advice.
You might be able to pick up enough samples to last weeks at least and then figure out what you like.

[tonyfrnjd]

I've built my fragrance collection by 'experimenting' with 1ml - 5 ml decants purchased from a website named "The Perfumed Court" [ www.theperfumedcourt.com ]. They have tons of perfume but they also have Mens 'sample sets' which are quite reasonably priced . For example, there is a set entitled "Boys Will Be Boys" which consists of four (4) 1ml samples (Bvlgari Black - Ormonde Jayne Isfarkand - Narciso Rodriguez for Him & Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan) for $14.99.

I currently have about 30 different samples which I am in various stages of trying out. As I said earlier, out of these samplings I've built up my collection.......If I like something I will usually buy another 5-15ml decant from them (I'm not keen on Big Bottles of Cologne hanging around on my dresser)

It's a fun way to see if a scent is really for you and sure beats the heck out of spending $75.00 for something that ends up smelling like ------ dare I say it?... Axe. . .

PS ...and if I don't like the scent, I pass the remainder of the sample onto my brother (who sometimes loves what didn't work for me)...a real bargain!

[BarryR]

I've built my fragrance collection by 'experimenting' with 1ml - 5 ml decants purchased from a website named "The Perfumed Court" [ www.theperfumedcourt.com (http://www.theperfumedcourt.com) ].

Thanks for that link. I'm doing basically the same thing. A while back I got a bunch of samples from some of the biggies (Penhaligon, T&H, GFT and Floris, Creed). I also bought in on the B&B sampler package a year and change ago.

As we speak I'm awaiting a shipment of samples from Rorschuck http://www.badgerdecants.com/ (whose prices are very reasonable) . I agree, I wouldn't buy a large bottle of cologne unless I knew it was one of my all time favorites.

[tonyfrnjd]

Thanks for the link to Rorschuck! i see he has some decants that the other site doesn't have. Here in Northern NJ, it's been my experience over the last several years, that the retailers are very stingy in providing samples. The sales people want you to believe that a scented piece of cardboard is a suitable equivilant to your skin.

[cybrok]

Unfortunately, I'm in Canada, and Rorschuch can't ship decants to me :( Can't blame him.

I'll try to get some samples from somewhere else, even ask on the selling section.

New question: Are the AVON colognes any good? I have the Black Suede aftershave that I really like. I guess I could spend 10$ on the cologne (when back on special).

[Aerodyne]

I find that most of Lacoste's scents are pretty nice; light and fresh, without being an AdG clone. They can be found quite easily at most dept. stores, I do believe.

[benjy85]

TOBS Eton College collection is nice !

[smoov and deadly]

Trafalgar, Aqua di Gio, 1805, Givenchy Pi Neo

[Devil Doc]

Lot of great suggestions here, but since I'm an old man with an old scent, I'll refrain from making a recomendation. However, my advice would be, don't drown yourself in it like my 24 year old does.

Doc.

[bokaba]

I second Dunhill 34 if you can find it. Also, try Chanel Platinum Egoiste and Isse Miyake for men or even the new Van Cleef and Arpels Tsar. You asked about a cologne being black. In the fragrance industry, designers sometimes pick a color they think describes the mood of their fragrance like black (dark, resinous, demur), blue (oceanic, aquatic, fresh), or green (cedar, pine, woods, fresh florals), and so forth. These color designations are usually far from accurate.

[cybrok]

I tried a few, I hesitated between 1805 and AdG, and since they are the same price, I will probably go with the one that is not a best seller.

Still, I'll check with the new SWMBO to see wich one she prefers :P

[olafurson]

I know I'm a little behind on this one, but I think a good first cologne would be Rive Gauche pour Homme by Yves Saint Laurent. Nice barbershop fragrance, great longevity.

[D.Irving79]

JOOP.
















ive never been less serious in my entire life.

:001_smile

[hunter87597]

If money is an issue, buy some grey flannel. You can find a pretty decent sized bottle for reeeeaalllly cheap. I just got a 3.4 ounce bottle for 14 dollars new on the Bay. That's a win if you ask me. Read the reviews on here. It's considered quite a hit with the majority of the B&Bers

[jrtaster]

rorschuck...with you on eau sauvage. have you tried eau sauvage extreme?? if so, thoughts?? loved the original version and used to p--s off my boss, since we were competitors of dior. tho, our men's fragrances were also pretty good (aramis). jr/john

[Gaz]

Quebec City should have some decent malls. Granted, I don't know what stores you have up there but ...

1. Many folks sell samples. Geo F Trumper, Truefitt and Hill, Czech & Speake, and Colonial Drug used to ship sample Castle Forbes samples for free. See the link below and try to get some free samples. They might charge some $ tho for the samples and/or to cover s/h. It never hurts to try.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2765

2. Hit the large department stores : Sears, JCPenney, Macys, Sephora, etc. Many have testers by their cologne. Try some and see what you like. My local mall is small and has a Perfumania in it. Prices are high but it's great for checking out samples. Bath and Body Works, L'occitane (sp?), etc have testers too.

[The*Cincinnati*Kid]

I was considering Acqua Di Gio, but I see it's a best seller. I don't really want to smell like half of the guys there (more chances to smell like the ex too).

Cybrok, try getting a smal bottle of Ralph Lauren Safari of the bay to try. I think you will like it, and you definantly won't smell like the next guy because its been dicontinued . You may have to wait it out a bit for a good deal like I do but this stuff is the S**T!

Here is one, it's not the best deal but not to expensive just to give it a try.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120634109845&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Regards
Louis.

[vertigo12314]

Citrus:
Terre D'Hermes
Dior Eau Sauvage

Vetiver
Guerlain Vetiver
L'Occitane Vetyver

Different:
Yatagan

[The Nid Hog]

Guys, this is a two year old thread. I like digging through the archives, but if Cybrok hasn't picked his first frag by now, I'd be surprised.

[mftoms59]

I would HOPE Cybrok has found his EDC by NOW :ohmy:

[vertigo12314]

:lol: We sometimes are lazy posters.

[Gaz]

Hopefully, he is on to his 2nd or 3rd cologne by now. :lol:

I need to check dates and times more carefully.

[mftoms59]

Hopefully, he is on to his 2nd or 3rd cologne by now. :lol:

I need to check dates and times more carefully.

No Biggie, I was about to respond with British Sterling... then thought this thread was Familiar:001_rolle

[jtbgator]

Might be a bit older for you, but my daily go to cologne is John Varvatos Vintage.

[WhiteKnight]

It seems you're into aquatics. Personally, I liked Davidoff Cool Water when I was in my early 20s (I've come a long way ever since). It is however a scent that the ex might have worn too, due to its popular nature. :001_smile

[OUFINNY]

Have you checked in with Mama Bear, Sue makes a lot of colognes that are very inexpensice and I am sure she can help you pick one out that fits your taste.

[mftoms59]

It seems you're into aquatics. Personally, I liked Davidoff Cool Water when I was in my early 20s (I've come a long way ever since). It is however a scent that the ex might have worn too, due to its popular nature. :001_smile

I was a COOL WATER Man in the 80's, got away from Aquatics and like spicier & Classic scents. I was given a gift of D&G Light Blue and would purchase that again, very nice longevity on me ~8-9 hours.

[Edward 1689er]

The best thing to do is head to the nearest mall and smell 'em. Nothing like dropping $50 or more on a cologne you don't know if you like and finding out... YOU DON'T!!:mad3: The better stores have paper strips to spray them on- certainly not ideal, but a good way to winnow the list down without spraying every exposed mm of skin with fragrance. If you like any, spray them on a wrist and see how it goes. I found that I hated most of the store's selection, but there were a few I liked. It's free anyway, if you've got the time.

If you want to make a cold purchase, and liked the 1805, you could try the Taylor of Old Bond St. St. James cologne. It has similarities to the T&H 1805- I like the top notes better, and the 'aquatic' scent is more subdued than in the 1805 sample I tried. If you have smelled the cream, it's quite similar minus some of the deep warmth I attribute to the natural scent of the cream. It's not exactly 'cheap,' but cheaper than other scents being tossed around so far. Around $30 from classicshaving.com and others.

Hoyt's is also a good inexpensive cologne at $10 from QED for 5oz. There is a minute or two of citrus in the top notes, but it is gone quickly and leaves a nice floral scent that lasts a few hours on my skin. I know 'floral' may sound feminine, but I thought it had a little touch of something masculine in it that I very much liked. Sounded like you might like something floral, might not. YMMV.

If you like spicy, you could try the Master's Bay Rum aftershave you can buy at a local Sally's beauty supply for $7-8. I personally like it a lot, although it only lasts a couple of hours and hovers very close to my skin (being an A/S splash and not a cologne) after the first few minutes. Not exactly a cologne, but is inexpensive and lasts long enough on my skin.

The Clubman aftershave/ colognes you can buy at Sally's or most Walgreens last a LONG time on my skin, and use usually very inexpensive.

There it is, hope it helps.

:thumbup:

[OLDMAN]

Believe it or not the one I still get the most compliments on is Old Spice. It was my first try at smelling better when I was in high school and I have used it on and off since (I'm 57) the price can't be beat at around $8 or lower.

[OLDMAN]

Guys, this is a two year old thread. I like digging through the archives, but if Cybrok hasn't picked his first frag by now, I'd be surprised.

God....I need to pay better attention.

[The Nid Hog]

Hopefully, he is on to his 2nd or 3rd cologne by now. :lol:

I need to check dates and times more carefully.

It's too bad he never reposted to say what he got! Cybrok?

[Aku Aku]

A little late with the recommendations, but here are a few. Both get rave reviews from the ladies.

Daytime - Safari by Ralph Lauren
Romantic - Boucheron pour Homme

[cybrok]

It's too bad he never reposted to say what he got! Cybrok?

Okok :P

I got myself a small bottle of AdG (15ml) and still have some left. I don't use cologne a lot.

I also got a cheapo Avon marine-ish cologne, the Ironman. Not bad. I should use it more.

I don't use cologne a lot, especially this semester where I'm intern in a mine. Cologne and Big Bill clothes don't fit together ;)

I still plan on getting a bottle of T&H 1805.