I have a bottle of Jo Malone, Vetiver and Golden Vanilla, and I absolutely love it, but I am not great with all the delicate scents and cannot identify different oils / plants if my life depended on it. I am not entirely sure what it is I am smelling in this perfume, but I love it. I know that sounds strange but hopefully you might know what I mean. I definitely know what the smell of vanilla is, lmao, but how would you describe the smell of vetiver?

https://imgur.com/a/0R2Kan6

• Creed - Green Irish Tweed (All time fav and signature scent 2016-2020. Absolute masterpiece.)
• Coty - Aspen (You can guess why I have this.)
• Guerlain - Vetiver (Smells nice but reminds me of my uncle and Grandpa - a bit dated imo. I've realized as much as they smell nice, I'm not a "barbershop" guy. Also have samples of Dior eau sauvage parfum and Tom Ford Beau de Jour and feel the same way about these.)
• Lalique - Encre Noire (Most recent blind buy and a great one at that. One of my new favs - reminds me of my sample of Frederic Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire, but more airy, cleaner, and a bit sweeter. I really don't understand how people get dark/brooding/"like sniffing a coffin" with this at all. I just made a whole post about this. I can see reaching for this when I don't know what else to pick. It's so easy to wear to me. My roommate described it as "....early?" "This smells.........."early"" which I found hilarious. As in, an early morning walk on a drizzly, overcast day. That's what I took from that interaction anyway.)
• Bond No.9 - Scent of Peace for Him (Solid daily driver for me the past few years- especially for spring & summer. Such a clean scent - the juniper is there but doesn't remind me of gin. Fresh citrus/orange. There's a silky, cloudy smoothness to this that I find unique. It's got a little bit of dryer-sheet vibe, but doesn't put me off whatsoever. I love it. Gets lots of compliments.)
• Versace - Pour Homme (Reached for this almost daily 2013-2016, and still do fairly often. Great affordable scent. Very alluring.)
• Tom Ford - Tobacco Oud (Recently got back "into" fragrances, and found I had most of a 3ml sample of this left. I put a little on my wrist and could not stop smelling it all night. Found it it's been discontinued, so I bought a bottle on ebay. Dense, sweet, smoky, rich.)
• YSL - m7 Oud Absolu (Back when I was doing a lot of experimenting, I was bummed the original m7 was so hyped yet discontinued, so I got a sample of it and blind bought this new one since I found a great deal. I wanted to learn about oud. It's certainly unique. I get a bit of that cherry cough syrup note that people mention, but also an incense note that almost stings the nose when you get a good whiff right up against the skin (think this is the myrhh?) I like this but an ex of mine made a "stank face" and just said "nope!" when she smelled it. Not a crowd pleaser but something I wear for me)
• Dior - Homme Intense (Blind bought this after seeing the overwhelming hype and noting that I needed to diversify a bit, and it seemed distinct from my collection at the time. I did not care for the regular, as the iris did remind me of makeup/lipstick. I still get that note in the Intense, but it's way more balanced with the gourmand/cocoa note going on. Becoming more and more a fan of this. Got called out for smelling feminine a few times, but I don't care about that! Good evening scent in my opinion.)
• Dior - Fahrenheit (I have this for two reasons: It evokes such an unfathomable and intensely vivid sense of nostalgia unlike almost any other smell - my dad wore this in the 90s and it brings back good memories. I also love gasoline.)
• Gucci - Pour Homme II (Another hugely successful blind buy. Love the black tea and spice notes. It has a very cozy vibe. Great fall scent. I've had some problems with longevity, but I've gotten compliments when I could no longer smell it on myself, so maybe my nose just gets used to it more than others. Bummed this is discontinued, but I've found YSL Tuxedo to be pretty similar.)
• Currently wearing a sample of Amouage Beach Hut Man, and man, it's nice. Very minty but in no way toothpaste-y. Makes me yearn to be on a leisurely summer vacation with a mojito.

Where should I go next???

I have a bottle of fragrance oil called Aspen Winter that smells like old candied gumdrops with sugar crystals and something warm like amber mixed into it. I know this must be good for a wintery candle but... If I ever walked into a room smelling like this I would turn right back around with a quickness.
Another called Pecan Pie, that smells like maple syrup and pecans. I see no use for this. I can't think of a situation other than Thanksgiving where the smell would have a use.
Lastly, a vetiver from amazon. It was disgusting and saplike. I couldn't even open the bottle. It already had oil hardened on the outside. Touching it left a skunky vetiver smell on my hands that took 10 minutes of washing to remove. I kept the bottle to revisit when I needed a laugh. I was given a full refund without sending it back. Yes. It was that bad.

Me: I never knew that there existed a "fragrance community." Now that I found it, it's interesting to me. I've always enjoyed "smelling good" and in champagned fueled poking around reddit, I found this sub. So, I thought you guys might be interested in my thoughts on some of the fragrances I've accumulated over the years, essentially immune from an internet community that I really didn't know existed. A little bit about me, if you're interested. I'm 44, male and am "in finance." I am at a point in my life where I am divorced, financially independent, and dating women across an age range from 24-50. I mention this only because it seems like a lot of the fragrance discipline seems to be oriented around what the opposite sex seems to find attractive. Sure, all that is fun but mainly, I enjoy the ideas of scent memories and the stories that are in the smells I wear. Probably unnecessarily romantic but in the long run, we're all dead so..who cares? May as well have a blast while we're here..
Anyway, here is a quick look at my "scent wardrobe," I think you guys call it? And my thoughts about some of them.
Adidas: Sport Fever I bought this probably 15 years ago at a drug store because once upon a time, I enjoyed a Hugo Boss fragrance which came in a round ball and smelled like oranges and coriander. This had orange on the label and seemed "sporty." It smells approximately like Creed Aventus (more on that later) because it has a lot of fruit and mint business going on. It doesn't smell anything at all like the Hugo Boss that inspired its purchase. It's just ok. It smells like a drugstore cologne that cost $5. It's not terrible but don't buy it. There's nothing exciting going on, here. If you want to toss this on after a shave, no problem but don't expect to smell amazing. Also, though, you won't smell bad. Next.
Aqua Velva: Musk This stuff.... It's another $6 drug store smell but it smells like getting deals done in New York City in 1986. It's too strong and it smells artificial but it somehow smells like business. I feel like this is what men think men should smell like to get the secretaries excited in the movie "Big." There is a woman out there who will follow you anywhere because you wore this but you better want her because all the others will think that you smell like Harvey Keitel in "Bad Lieutenant" but maybe you A, don't care and B, want to smell exactly like that. You should own this.
Aqua Velva: Aqua Velva Ice Blue This will make you smell like you just got back from a submarine assignment in WW2. It's great to throw on liberally after a shave. Least of all because it burns like a mother fucker and will mix with your coffee and morning cigarette to wake you up. I used to wear this all the time because my cheating ex wife liked it. Probably because it reminded her of her grandfather. Even at the time, I thought, "This appeals to women who have daddy issues." It probably still does but for probably obvious reasons, I don't wear it anymore.
Ariana Grande: Cloud I bought this because a really cute sales 20 something year old sales girl at Ulta told me that it smelled exactly like a much more expensive perfume while I was there buying nail polish with my kid. To be honest, I didn't give a crap what it smelled like. I was hitting on the 20 something year old Ulta girl. It smells like dessert. I'll wear it sometimes but not when I expect to be taken seriously. This is actually a fun fragrance and not offensive. If I'm "jeans and a sweater" and picking apples or something, I'll wear this. It's like an actually reasonably well made version of what I think I remember the freshman girls in college wearing (which was probably Charlie or Teen Spirit deodorant or something.) I should probably throw this out or give it to my kid. The 20 something and I went out a few times for drinks but I think she needs surgery to remove her cell phone from her hand and an intervention on her social media addiction.
Bath and Body Works: Bourbon I go to Bath and Body works because they sell Proraso shave cream, which you can really only get in Italy, under the name of "Bigelow." They also have fragrances which I will occasionally sniff when I go in to buy shave cream. This one was one of those. I have a thing for stuff that smells ambery and churchy and this one gets there. This has that "new perfume" smell. I don't know, is that "ambroxyn?" who knows. But once it mellows down, it's really rich and smooth. Very woody and masculine. It's probably a little "young" for me but it's pretty generic and just smells like "fall." That said, I haven't worn it this fall, yet. It's strongish and I've had people either tell me that it smells "nice" or not comment on it at all which is potentially a worse indictment since they definitely smell it.
Bath and Body Works: Dark Amber This shit smells delicious. It smells like powder and amber. Period. I like the smell of amber way more than powder but this is really nice and cold weather feeling. I think that this is might be a shittily created scent because Bath and Body works, right? But it consistently gets me told that I smell good. This seems inoffensive, generally pleasing and I like the way that it smells, even though it isn't really that complex. You can buy this pretty worry free. Could also easily be worn by a woman.
Bigelow: Lemon 1999 This is, to my mind, just great. It smells like lemons and salt water and once you spray it on your skin, it almost disappears unless someone is right on top of you. There's very little complexity here but the lemon smell is so pure and clean. I cook a lot so I really appreciate pure smells like garlic, lemon and strawberries. This doesn't smell "like" lemon. It smells lemon. It smells like you just walked by a lemon tree in Sicily. I don't wear this because I want to smell good to anyone but me. It stays tight and really close to you. You're not going to leave a lemon cloud behind yourself. This one, impossibly, came also from Bath and Body Works. If it were $200 at Bloomingdales, I would have bought it. I think it cost me $30. This is great. Next time you're in Bath and Body Works getting cookie scented hand sanitizer, buy this.
Burberry: London This smells like the drawing room at Christmas from the Nutcracker. It's fucking brilliant. I'll wear this in the middle of the summer when I want to smell like Santa Claus is coming. It hits all the spots. It's clean but heavy. It just smells like home and comfort. If you want to feel at peace while things are seemingly out of control, wear this. I don't remember why or when I bought this but it smells like comfort. Buy this.
Burberry: Touch People have commented that this smells great on me. I think it smells like shit. It smells like a baby powder bomb. I really only wear it very occasionally because it apparently smells much better on my skin than I think it does. Don't buy this. I don't trust people who say that this smells good. Too heavy, too sneezy and too much powder. No go.
Burberry: Brit for Him This is ok but only smells "sophisticated" if you don't know what Guerlain fragrances smell like. I honestly think that there are $5 CVS fragrances that smell better than this. It's really thick and has a fake rosy smell to it. I smells like they tried hard to make it smell good but focused mostly on making it smell "strong." I don't love this one but will very occasionally wear it to convince myself to not wear it next time.
Burberry: Brit Rhythm This smells better than the Brit. But is also probably too "young" for me. It's got a nice vegetal flavor going on and smells like it wants to smell like basil and patchouli but it also smells very grating and aggressive (while still not offensive.) I could wear this but I'd vaguely smell like everyone else in my firm. Pass on this one. It's ok but not great. It's pretty generic and smells at the same time like everything else but just enough different from everything else that it's not quite the same.
Cartier: Pasha de Cartier Now, we're starting to get into serious business. This smells like money and also, vaguely, my pediatrician in 1979. Pasha just smells aggressive. I'm pretty sure it will fill a room with a strong but tolerable smell. It smells uniquely like Pasha de Cartier. You know it immediately, when you smell it. It smells like you paid an interior designer to tell you to have no furniture except for Relling chairs in your office. It smells like you own a 911 turbo which you've never taken above 80 mph. It smells like you could fuck the wife of the guy you're talking to but you'd probably chicken out if it came down to it. I love Pasha de Cartier.
Cartier: Declaration This shit stinks. I love it but it stinks. When you put it on, you think, "Do I smell like cumin seed? Will people think I stink?" The answer is "Yes." I wish I were brave enough to wear this more often. It is an absolutely fascinating smell. But the only one who will find it "fascinating" is you. Do NOT wear this in public. But DO buy it. I dare you.
Creed: Aventus I paid way too much for this because I was in Bloomingdales and was looking to spend "stupid money" for no reason whatsoever and the shopper girl told me that this was the next hot thing. It seems like this is highly regarded in the fragrance reddits but I don't think that it's worth the price. It's funny because somehow, in the store, it seemed a little steep but not wholly unreasonable. So I bought it. But I have worn this very infrequently. I can't put my finger on it but it's simultaneously strong but weak. Sweet but not. Cloying yet subtle. I originally thought that it smelled good but I don't anymore. When I put this on, it somehow convinces me that it smells great and will smell even better but it never makes good on that promise. It's weird. I don't hate it but it aggravates me that I paid so much for it, to smell essentially like fruit cocktail. It's just ok. I feel like maybe Guerlain and Penhaligons have spoiled me and I would have enjoyed this more if it had been way less money.
Davidoff: Cool Water Coral Reef This one, I like. It seems like "dirty" Cool Water to me. I like cool water just fine but this is a little bit more (or less.) There's nothing ground breaking, here. It smells like the sea, sans fish and stink. When I'm on a boat, I will wear this. I don't know how to be more plain. It seems like there's a minty bit in there that pushes it a little beyond the saltiness of Cool Water. I think Cool Water is really a classic and this is a good if slight improvement on it. You can't go wrong with this one but it's also not going to knock anyone's socks off.
Dior: Sauvage This is garbage. Plain and simple. I bought this because I was talking to another guy in my office about fragrance and he told me all about how Sauvage was that best thing that had been released in the past hundred years. So, I went to see my guy at Bloomingdales and got a bottle. This shit stinks. It smells like Axe body wash. There's something in it that makes me think of the "too much cologne" guy. I don't even care about the stuff that's under that. The primary smell is the "too much cologne guy." I was honestly shocked. I didn't figure that Dior would release something so brutal and blunt. Maybe this is just too "young" for me but I think that it's unnecessarily heavy and falsely deep. Not impressed. I like Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue Sun for women WAY better. More on that later. Regardless, Sauvage is a no go. Do not buy this.
Dolce and Gabbana: Light Blue Sun This is a women's fragrance. I don't care. It smells amazing. It's not unisex. If you're a man and you wear this, you're going to smell like a chick. But a really sophisticated chick with her shit entirely together. This smells like the beach and salt water and the sun and coppertone. It smells like a day that you wished you'd known was going to be as perfect as it turned out to be so that you could have paid attention better. This smells like a sexy librarian with a trust fund who you think, "She has no idea how hot she is." You're wrong. She knows exactly how hot she is and she wrecks men like you. I love this and wear it regularly during the summer. When told that this smells good, I always think, "Of course you think it smells good. I smell like the woman with the story you'd like to be yours."
Dunhill: Edition Do you want to smell like Magnum PI? For an hour? Buy Edition. Edition is magical. For a very short time. If you want to smell like James Bond, killing people after you just met a smoking hot spy at some roulette table, you need Edition. I don't know what this smells like. But it doesn't last long. It just smells like British. I don't know what more to say about that. It smells like green plants and assertiveness and a Jaguar XK150. You'll think you smell good and you'll be right but nobody else will be able to smell you after you leave the house. Edition smells absolutely amazing but you better do whatever you're up to quickly because it will leave you just as quickly as you put it on. This is like a less aggressive de Pasha. Buy it and then, be annoyed that it lasts for shit. Come to think of it, James Bond movies are only 2 hours long so maybe it lasts exactly as long as it needs to.
Dunhill: Fresh Do NOT buy this. Because it smells amazing and like very few other fragrances and it is my secret. This is very near all the other "sea" fragrances but goes further, somehow. This smells like the movie Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in the best way possible. This smells like Nice in August. The sea is there, the flowers are there, the food is there. This smells like that linen shirt that you almost don't put on because you think, "This makes me look like P. Diddy...I probably shouldn't wear this." But, yes, you should and who cares? Dunhill Fresh is so slick and subtle but also different. Nobody will tell you that you smell great because you just will and it smells like you're expecting to smell great and it's not a big deal. I've worn this on the Mediterranean and it was exactly perfect. It doesn't need to be warm and sunny to wear this. But it will definitely remind you of the days of summer.
Guerlain: Habit Rouge I bought this because my grandfather always had it. This smells like your grandmother's ass and lipstick when you first spray it on. But....wait. It turns into something amazing. I don't know how but it does. Habit Rouge starts out smelling like fake roses and playdoh. And then, it somehow morphs into something that can't be described. It smells like meritocracy and maturity and magic and the drawer of a dresser that has smelled exactly the same in one of the houses on Bellevue Avenue in Newport for 100 years. Be clear. You will not like or "get" Habit Rouge the first time you wear it. You will think that it smells like an old lady. You will think that it's a lot of things but none of them, "male." Stop. Let it sink in. Let it sit. Habit Rouge is so good it should be illegal. You need to have balls the size of Godzilla to wear Habit Rouge. Or, wear Habit Rouge and you will end up with Godzilla sized balls. I don't want to be crass but, there are two fragrances (both Guerlain) that have elicited the statement, "You smell fucking amazing" in bed. The first is Habit Rouge. Once you get Habit Rouge on your skin it's nearly impossible to understand why other fragrances exist at all. Habit Rouge mixed with light body odor and the smell of having been outdoors is so good it should be a federal offense.
Guerlain: Heritage This is what Chanel Egoiste would smell like if they took the "bug spray" smell out. Again, almost impossible to describe. It's got that "Dead Poets Society" smell but deeper and more serious. It's got a warmer, velvety feel to it. There's a leather background to it and something that just makes you want to keep smelling it. How Guerlains are around $100 a bottle, I have no idea whatsoever. Heritage isn't my "signature" scent but it could be. It could be anyone's. I'm probably wrong but if you're a young guy who has been told to get Sauvage...ignore that and get Heritage. They don't smell the same but trust me that you'll realize that this was a great idea much later.
Guerlain: L'Instant I'm going to keep this short and tell you two things, here. 1. L'Instant smells like chocolate covered orange peel, incense, vanilla and the heavy red velvet curtains in a French whore house and will change but lasts almost 24 hours. 2. L'Instant WILL get you laid. Guaranteed. By women or men who know exactly what they're doing and are unnaturally talented at fucking. I'm sorry to be coarse but some things need to be stated exactly as they are. L'Instant goes great with my Ferragamo loafers. L'Instant smells like you've never made a bad decision because even your bad decisions turn out brilliantly. L'Instant smells like the integrity of Abraham Lincoln crossed with the filth of a really artfully shot porn film. If all Guerlain made was this, they could consider themselves "done." This stuff is in an entirely other league. This is the other Guerlain that has elicited the contextual comment referenced in the Habit Rouge summary. The things that you will do and the situations that you will find yourself in while wearing L'Instant will ruin your life and you'll love every minute. Please, don't buy this. I'm warning you. You'll accidentally buy a boat. You'll have a soundtrack that only you can hear. You'll feel bad for Chris Isaak and Helena Christensen that they were so prudish and awkward in that Wicked Game video in comparison to you.
Guerlain: Vetiver I read somewhere that JFK used to wear this. I can see that. If you want to smell like Don Draper, wear this. It's pretty straight forward and smells like Vetiver. How do I know that? Because I have Royall Vetiver and the smell is almost identical. You can tell that this is well made and classic but it might not be the smell for you. I think that maybe, once upon a time, vetiver was a man's smell. But I think that enough time has passed that nobody remembers when men smelled like this. You'll have to decide how you play that. If you want to know what vetiver smells like, get this. If you want to smell like vetiver, get this. I haven't given this one a fair shot but I want to. It's very even toned and reasonable. It smells like it could be worn by someone dangerous but probably wouldn't be.
Lacoste: Pour Homme This is a great middle of the road smell. This is suit but with no tie. It's citrusy but also smells a little like burning leaves. I had a friend in high school who wore United Colors of Benneton and this reminds me of that. I don't think that they smell the same but I get the same, fun, innocent feeling from those days when I smell this. I think this would smell great on a man or a woman. I wear this now and then when I think, "Oh, I like that one. I haven't worn it in a while. I think I'll wear it today. This smells like a really solid concierge at the Hilton. He'll get you whatever you want and make you feel like a million bucks. No reason not to have this one.
Lacoste: Essential I like this Lacoste, too. It's very simple and very fresh. It smells like a fancy tennis game in 1983. Another high school memory, here. When I was in high school, I spent my summers working at the pool restaurant at the country club. This smells like that. It smells like sporty money but nothing too obnoxious or simplistic. It's exactly what it needs to be. This is a good fragrance for a steak dinner at one of those places where everything is a la carte. If you're wearing a polo shirt with an alligator on it, you should wear this because you'll smell exactly right and it's what everyone is imagining you probably smell like, anyway. Give the people what they want. I don't remember where or when I bought this but I feel like it's probably too cheap to not get. Again, if you're a young guy and someone told you to buy Dior Sauvage buy this instead. I say that because demographic-wise, this skews towards the younger women I've dated. 25 year old women with their first "real job in the city" seem to like this scent.
Lalique: Encre Noir I bought this at Neiman Marcus. I think that I'd be blown away by this if I hadn't smelled anything from Guerlain. This is heavy and smells like Dracula in a mossy forest. This might be one of my favorites if I could stop wearing L'Instant. This is very dark and thick. It's almost choking and intoxicating. It smells like new money. It smells like someone who knows that class and manners are important and is trying their best to be appropriate but didn't stop to consider whether smelling like forest Dracula is necessarily appropriate in all instances. This smells great and is very forgiving despite its heft. I wouldn't let my daughter date a guy who smelled like this but I would appreciate the hell out of his effort. On the right woman, this would smell incredible and dangerous. Buy it but don't wear it all the time.
Lalique: Encre Noir Extreme I also bought this at Neiman Marcus at the same time as the other one. Everything I said about the first one stands but this one somehow has a more citrusy furniture addition and the smell of incense inside a confessional. It's hard to decide which of these is better because they're simultaneously very close but also very different. Another solid one. I'm not as convinced that this one would be good "on the right woman" it might be good on the "wrong woman." If you smell her, let me know. I bought this once and would again.
Lalique: Bentley Intense Ok, in defense of "Sauvage guy" in my office, he also recommended this and he was right. I wasn't keen on the idea of a car fragrance. It seemed tacky to me. Is that the second place prize? "I can't afford a Bentley but I smell like their perfume?" But I must admit that this stuff smells great. Super easy to wear with a suit and tie or open collar and jeans. It's very rummy and a little bit leathery and has a smell of iced tea. Maybe it doesn't and I just get confused because it's the color of iced tea. This could almost be a Guerlain scent if Guerlain didn't insist on making everything smell like it came out of a steam powered time machine. It's modern enough to be modern but classic enough to be classic. This smells like a solid upstanding family man who was a little wild in his younger days but has toned it down and has settled into his adult life but still probably shouldn't be allowed to go to a bachelor party.
Michael Kors: Extreme Sky I feel like I shouldn't like this but I do. To me, Michael Kors is synonymous with people buying a Michael Kors bag when they really want a Vuitton but don't have the coin and convince themselves that Michael Kors is just as good. But this stuff smells like lightning and rain. I don't know another way to describe it. It's fresh and windy and feels like what the Sharper Image should smell like back when Sharper Image was cool and not just more expensive Spencers Gifts. (Are these references contemporary? Do those places still exist?) This smells like chrome and glass and track lighting. This smells like the guy at the BMW dealer who's the best salesman there and is somehow making 6 figures selling cars and has no idea that he could triple his income doing exactly what he's doing but selling something other than cars. I don't wear this often but I will miss it when it's gone because by that time, you won't be able to get it anymore. I probably shouldn't like this one but I do.
Penhaligons: Bayolea Do you want to spend an insane amount of money to smell like a barber shop in 1952? Then, this is for you. This stuff smells like a pirate ship if pirates weren't filthy and showered. This is like the best Bay Rhum that you will ever inhale. It smells like someone else's signature smell that they found ages ago for next to no money in some little shop in the Virgin Islands but which you will never be able to get. It smells like it should be cheap but the quality is just beyond next level. This is classic. They say that vetiver is the classic male scent but I think, really, it's this one. This smells like the guy with the 150' sail boat who used to sail his own boat but then hired a captain to sail it for him but then decided that he was going to go back to sailing his own boat again.
Penhaligons: Endymion This stuff is unbelievable. It reminds me of a very British Guerlain. This is up there with L'Instant and is somehow similar but with the addition of espresso. Very sophisticated. You might want to take up pipe smoking if you want to wear this. Or, at least, increase the number of leather bound first editions that you own. This is what Winston Churchill would smell like if he looked like George Clooney. I don't think that a younger guy could wear this. It doesn't smell like an old man but just like you need to mature into your first Kiton shirt, you need to be ready to step into this one. This smells like an F-50 CEO who somehow never has to do any work. No problem whatsoever with a woman wearing this one. I have one in particular who always uses a bit when she leaves.
Penhaligons: Juniper Sling. Gin martini. That's it. This smells like a gin martini without the alcoholic stink. People will ask you if they're correct that you smell like a martini. They will be. This one is fun to wear and I feel like it's a companion to Bayolea. To be fair to this one it only really smells like a martini for the first hour and then it turns into something that smells like the flowery freshness of a garden on a not too humid day. This reminds me of the 100 year old tile bathroom on the first floor of the NYAC. It smelled that way 100 years ago and will still smell the same 100 years from now, long after you're dead. This just smells like class in a bottle. If you actually want to embrace smelling like Gordon Gekko with absolutely no apologies, you should buy this. I don't think women like the way this smells. I don't think that the men wearing it particularly care.
Pinaud: Clubman Classic Vanilla This is in a plastic bottle and costs $6 at your local Walgreens. Penhaligons could easily take this and just dump it into fancier glass bottles and sell it for $150. I think that they've been making this the same way for decades and it is such a sleeper that I almost hesitate to mention it. This has so much going on and is spicy without being too spicy, only faintly vanilla-y and is an all around great scent. I'll go through phases where this is my go-to for a month at a time. This smells the way Mrs. Robinson from the Graduate wanted her men to smell. Benjamin didn't smell that way because I'm sure he wore Old Spice but she let it slide. You're a fool if you don't buy this the next time you have to refill your tooth paste supply.
Royall: Vetiver I find this one interchangeable (more or less) with Guerlain Vetiver. It's a little bit citrusy and very thickly vetiver. I read somewhere that the origin of vetiver was from the fact that they used vetiver oil to ship very expensive men's clothing and keep bugs away from it but that the Vetiver smell never really went away. That seems to make sense to me on this one. This is exactly what I imagine a very nice suit would smell like if it were shipped to me in 1870. It smells classic and grassy and seems like it wants to be cloying but never really gets there. I think that for a while Royall stuff was cheap and then expensive and then cheap again. I bought all my Royalls ages ago at Brooks Bros so I'm sure I paid way, way too much for them. But whatever they cost, it's worth it just for the cool bottles with the crown caps.
Royall: Spyce This Smells like super fantastic Old Spice. It smells like a super deep version of your grandfather after he just got back from playing golf in a nice cashmere v neck sweater. If you want to smell like old spice but better, this is a very refined way to go. It really does smell like allspice, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom but it never ventures into cookie territory. It's very warm and fairly heavy. I think that Royall, being Bermuda based, thinks that it has mostly warm-weather type scents. I'd be careful with this in warm weather. It's not unwearable in the warm but I'd go light on it.
Royall: Muske Musky and powdery. This is like a warm manly blanket. If you want to smell like you're very clearly in charge and nobody needs to worry anymore because you've shown up...this is the one. Mrs Robinson wanted her men to smell like Clubman Classic Vanilla but when they smelled like Royall Muske, she was immediately made weak in the knees. This is another one that could almost be in the Guerlain / Penhaligons mix but isn't subtle enough. And it's not apologetic about it's unsubtlety. It's very refined but still rough around the edges. This is what Ernest Hemmingway should have smelled like if he had gotten his shit together, grown up and conquered his alcoholism. Easy buy.
Viktor and Rolf: Spicebomb Fresh I bought this accidentally because I thought that it was Spicebomb. This is nice and easy to wear. It's got a little bit of smokiness, somehow and a lot of citrus. I don't detect much spice there but who knows. I've been told more than once that this smells good on me. It's easy when I'm not in the mood to think too hard about what I want to wear or be bothered to "pick one." Middle of the road, probably could be worn pretty easily by women.
So there you go. Going back and reading this, I'm realizing that I likely have Peter Pan syndrome but also want to smell like something from 200 years ago. But the stories are fun. I look forward to continuing to read all about everyone else's excitement about fragrances. It's a real kick.

https://i.imgur.com/U51coVL.jpg
Added a few to my collection. Here are my thoughts on them. All purchased from Fragrancex.

1. Montblanc Explorer – I already have Aventus and it’s one of my top favorites. Tried Explorer in-store and quite liked it so ended up buying a bottle. Feels like a lighter Aventus with perhaps a unique dry down. I can see why a lot of similarities are drawn between it and Aventus. This is especially the case in the opening and I concur. Got it because the dry down is a little different from Aventus. Aventus comparisons aside, I think most will like this. Performance is not the greatest though.
   
2. D&G The One Intense – Blind bought this because the notes looked interesting and the tester was cheap. In general, I think D&Gs are a little safer to blind buy. Anyways, took me a few days to warm up to this and now I’m liking it a lot. I’m getting strong spicy nutmeg and curry from this but I don’t see nutmeg in the notes on Fragrantica. Performance is not the greatest though. Not sure what the deal is with D&G fragrances and performance.
   
3. Encre Noire Sport – Blind bought this due to the polarizing reviews, relatively high rating and cheap price. I was very curious. It has a very strong woody smell. I don’t know what vetiver smells like but I guess that is what I must be smelling. I actually like it but at the same time a bit split. My issue is I don’t exactly know which occasion I would wear this. I hate to admit it but I also do get the death/funeral vibe from it (maybe this notion was already planted in my head from reading the reviews). I can smell some similarity between this and The One Intense which I’m assuming to be the Cypress.
   

P.S. Bought CDNIM EdP as part of this haul as a gift to someone. I was curious so gave it a try due to all the rave reviews. Wow, terrible opening. The dry down has some similarities to Aventus but to my nose, I can’t get past the opening to use this personally. If you like Aventus and are familiar with it, I wouldn’t recommend you blind buy this even based on the rave reviews on it being an almost exact clone.
Next Possible Purchase: Really eyeing AdG Profondo and Profumo. Tried them a few times in the store but can't decide on which I like best. Really need samples of them to decide but can't find samples of them anywhere.

Hey guys,
Long time olfactory freak and fragrance lover. My fiance always laughs about my love for perfumes because shes very sensitive to smell and only wears one perfume if anything (though admittedly it suits her nicely). Ive been on reddit for a while and never thought about actually joining a fragrance subred so here I am. Ive been lurking a lot and have definitely picked up some great suggestions so far. Here is my collection up til now. I am by no means a snob and I have a good mix of high end niche fragrances, designer frags and cheapies as well. As long as it smells good to me, I am pretty much game but I do have a bit of a style:
High End/Niche Fragrances:

• Acqua di Parma Colonia Intensa (this reminds me straight up of a summer in Spain)
• Creed Royal Oud - nothing Oudy about this one but its one of the classiest scents ever made in my eyes.
• Byredo Super Cedar - just heavenly and beautiful for cold weather. Like Creed I do believe that Byredo has a very unique profile for their scents
• Une Nuit Nomade Memory Motel - this one reminds me of when I first met my fiance and gives me butterflies in my stomach. Not an easy perfume to find and just tested it in a store in Berlin and loved it
• Le Labo Santal 33 - not much needs to be said. Adore this smell though I know its a love it or hate it kind of scent

Designer Fragrances:

• Ermenegildo Zegna Acqua di Bergamotto - such a lovely summer scent even if it doesnt last very long. Fresh neroli and bergamot all-round.
• D&G The One EDP - just a classic and brings me back to a crisp autumn day in 2010.
• Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male - Don't wear this one too often but I still enjoy the smell. My mom got it for me a few years ago because she knew I liked it and frankly it will always remind me of her, which isn't a bad thing at all.

Cheapies - I often bargain hunt at TK Maxx and have had some good luck

• Karl Lagerfeld Bois de Vetiver - this was a blind buy and wow absolutely love it. Really fresh and while it isnt a strong Vetiver smell, I think it is a great entry level Vetiver fragrance for those unsure. Bought on suggestion of this forum. The only KL perfume that I actually really like. Everything else smells super synthetic. This has a very nichey vibe to it and the bottle is straight up Louis Vuitton.
• L. T. Piver Vetiver + Cedre - These perfumes from the classic French maison just reek of Old Money or if you catch my drift. There is something so timeless about them. Vetiver reminds me of my great Uncle who I very much look up to. Cedre is beautifully unisex and I could imagine my mom really enjoying it too. None are offensive and while the projection isnt amazing, ultimately I wear perfume for me. I am not the perfume cloud following me around a la Tom Ford kind of guy anyway.
• Peaky Blinders Eau de Cologne - this shit was a shot in the dark but I was blown away by how good it is especially considering it was only 8 bucks. Really nice and subtle oriental fragrance that definitely is a lot stronger than an EdC.
• Olivia Care Man body spray in Vetiver and Sandalwood - man if I could find a proper perfume version of the Vetiver body spray I would be elated. It just smells like a barbershop in the 50s or 60s and of men wearing nice suits. I wear it when I get out of the shower sometimes and its very refreshing. This is a cheap TK Maxx brand but overall it works.

So that is it for now and I hope it is it for now. Fragrances are really a pain in the ass for the wallet and I am running out of space in my bedroom for them.
Questions, suggestions or comments are always welcome!

I'm trying to figure out if vetiver has a "sexy" or attractive kind of feel to it. I posted about Encre Noire yesterday, and I'm loving it so so much. The dirty vetiver just smells so rich and deep and I think it smells attractive- like you would want to be near someone who smells like this. Its very alluring.
I really began to understand what vetiver was after smelling a few fragrances with it and being able to pick it out and I just absolutely adore this note because it is so damn unique but easily recognizable.
I also bring this up bc my ex-gf LOVED Fat Electrician and she always wanted to be up next to me smelling it. I know that one is sweeter, but to me it just gives off a masculine, mature smell in any fragrance where it is up front. I'm 31 and vetiver makes me feel classy. She was a few years younger and really adored vetiver too. Is it ageless? Timeless?
I haven't smelled Guerlain vetiver but I am sure it's good. That's on my next to buy list when I get paid alone with encre noire extreme.
I don't know, maybe I just fell in love with vetiver and it's just me. But what do you guys think of it? What's the appeal? What is it that we like about it so much ?

Cape Heartache - Sadly makes me nauseous. The best word I can think to describe CH is pungent. I am a strawberry fanatic, unfortunately this is more like moldy rotting strawberries at the bottom of a hot dumpster. And then the store had some unsellable fake forest car air fresheners and candles and threw them on top of the dumpster berries. Honestly making me sick to keep smelling it. This sample has got to go.
Yesterday Haze - Love it.. Reminds me of car rides to the beach, my much older sister driving, fresh air swirling by, the smell of her cocoa butter lotion and my sunscreen coming together to make a nutty gourmand fragrance. I thought maybe I would restrict YH to summer, but upon repeated wears, I found out it can be cloying and headache-inducing for me, even with a single spray from the sample bottle. Looking forward to smelling this in cool weather.
Memoirs of a Trespasser - Reminds me of the infamous Tobacco Vanille, which is to say, it’s just okay in my book. I guess that type of tobacco isn’t for me, since TV and Memoirs are both highly regarded. It’s mostly tobacco, a little vanilla.. Normally I can’t go wrong with those notes but they do nothing for me here. Perhaps if a different person wore it, I could appreciate it, but on myself I don’t find it yummy.
Every Storm a Serenade - Another one where I think a different user could make this smell great, whereas on me it just doesn’t spark joy. All of IA’s fragrances are unique, don’t get me wrong, but I think I see Josh Meyer’s vision for them. They are mostly parfum-like, with only a little bit of “supposed to smell like a scene” and I just expected the notes to be more on the nose. Serenade is definitely an interpretation. Don’t go looking for the scent of the sea in a bottle. A tiny bit salty, definitely smells aquatic, but not completely so.. it’s just not my style. Probably the 2nd best after YH for me.. just remember start light with these, they’re stronger than they seem.
Slow Explosions - Not terrible smelling, but it’s a parfum for sure. No interpretation here (for my nose). But it also smells like a shiny calendar.. 3rd favorite only because it’s inoffensive and not making me sick. I will save my sample of this one for cooler months to see how it goes.
A City On Fire - Wtf. BBQ sauce! Seriously every time I test this. BBQ sauce. It never strays from that scent for me. It’s too bad. This one had potential but it just went so foody. I would encourage Josh to tweak this formula.. maybe make a bonfire type smokey scent, with burnt marshmallows instead of meat. It’s almost like, pure vetiver x 10. Cus vetiver smells like cooked meat to me from a dram.
I mean no harm to Josh Meyer or any Imaginary Authors fans. Not every house will work for somebody, and it seems IA will have to be my loss. Remember these are only what I smell, you could have a totally different experience. I say IA is still worth trying!

Trying to buy perfume in lockdown.....

Despite the advance of modern analytic techniques, the smelling principle of vetiver oil is still unknown owing to its extremely complex matrix of over 150 compounds. A concise stereoselective total synthesis proves (+)‐2‐epi‐ziza‐6(13)en‐3‐one to be the key to the quasi‐pheromone‐like aura of vetiver that magically resembles the effect of Iso E Super.

Abstract

Vetiver oil, produced on a multiton‐scale from the roots of vetiver grass, is one of the finest and most popular perfumery materials, appearing in over a third of all fragrances. It is a complex mixture of hundreds of molecules and the specific odorant, responsible for its characteristic suave and sweet transparent, woody‐ambery smell, has remained a mystery until today. Herein, we prove by an eleven‐step chemical synthesis, employing a novel asymmetric organocatalytic Mukaiyama–Michael addition, that (+)‐2‐epi‐ziza‐6(13)en‐3‐one is the active smelling principle of vetiver oil. Its olfactory evaluation reveals a remarkable odor threshold of 29 picograms per liter air, responsible for the special sensuous aura it lends to perfumes and the quasi‐pheromone‐like effect it has on perfumers and consumers alike.
https://ift.tt/2IRkHyK

For a while, I thought all violet perfumes were powdery and soapy and somewhat sweet. Like lavender, iris, violet and orris are problematic for me when they're the main accord. Sometimes they make me instantly sad, like L'Heure Bleue. Or irritate my nose like soapy Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile. Powdery and soapy aren't on my favorite accords list. And if they weren't powdery or soapy, they smelled like lipstick, makeup, or candy.
Iris Pallida is the most commonly used iris in perfume. Fragrantica calls it powdery and starchy with a nuance of boiled carrot and earth. To me, iris is also more floral, sweet, watery, and stemmy. It is both light and shadow for other, showier florals.
Orris, iris' roots, are cleaned, dried, then aged for 3 to 5 years and steam distilled to produce an oily semi solid substance called orris butter. Orris smells similar to iris, but add bitter, and subtract carrot, sweet, and stemmy. I find it earthier than violet or iris. It's rootiness is is very apparent to me and I think of it as grounding other accords.
Violets I find sweet, powdery, lipsticky, sometimes like a Necco wafer candy from my childhood.
It took some happy accidents, trial-and-error and looking at accords to see that, in discreet proportions, I actually like orris, violet and iris. Quite a few of the fragrances I like have orris, iris, or some violet note lurking in the background, which is exactly where I like that accord to be. Make that rose rosier; complement that sandalwood, soften that citrus or ginger. Just stay out of the spotlight.
Here are my likes and dislikes. As I was writing this I began to associate certain perfumes with a clothing style or fashion designer, so I threw in a few.What's your favorite or least favorite perfume with an iris, orris, or violet accord?
Fragrances with Iris/Violet/Orris I like:
33, Chris Rusak. A discreet orris butter that bolsters the earthiness of the vetiver. Smells wonderful on skin. Yohji Yamamoto
House of Matriarch Violet Flame — violet, fruity/juicy, floral woody, musky, herbal, powdery. A tad too sweet (although there are much much sweeter, believe me). I don't do fruity all that well; though I like it, I doubt that I will get a bottle. Desigual.
Beau Kwon Iristrio — iris/orris, sharp, woody, earthy, amber, powdery. As spare and elegant as a well tailored Georgio Armani suit. It takes real talent to put together something so deceptively simple. Neal Peters of Mirus Fine Fragrances composed it.
Serge Lutens De Profundis — green, earthy woody, sweet, powdery, tart/herbal, floral, slight carrot. Christopher Sheldrake in a more serious mood, it exudes dark, rich color in the fresh dawn. Dries Van Noten.
Guerlain Vol de Nuit — dry, green, citrus, floral, powdery, woody. Like a good brut champagne. At 85 years old, it has more than stood the test of time, like a Mario Fortuny gown.
Tauer Les Années 25 — earthy gingery, citrus, effervescent, sweet, powdery, spicy, woody, incensy. A Tauer without the Tauerade. Imagine chiffon over satin or something floaty but simple from Jean Paul Gaultier.
Soivohle Violets and Rainwater — watery, earthy, floral, sweet. The name is what it is. It's your back garden.
Mademoiselle Guerlain — iris, orris, or violet is in most Guerlain perfumes. It's part of their Guerlainade DNA. The iris in Mademoiselle Guerlain aka Iris, Galbanum and Marshmallow is atypical. With an alternate name like that, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's saccharine-sweet and powdery and whatnot. Instead, thanks to violet leaf and some other accords, it's tart, green, dry, floral, sweet, powdery, flirtatious, and very Parisian. if you like sweet but need a break from the celebrity and designer sugar bombs out there, get a whiff of this. Christian Dior
Neela Vermeire Mohur — it's right behind the rose and spice, making the rose deeper and richer. Rose and violet get paired together in many a rose perfume. Oud also gives it depth. Vivienne Westwood
Pharrell Williams Girl (Comme des Garçons)— very rich. Slightly plasticky at the top, then almost plummy violet. I don't wear it often; a good cool weather fragrance. Maison Margiela
Violets/Orris/Iris fragrances I don't like:
Guerlain Insolence Extrait — Sharp deep woody Iris. Actually reminds me a little of Iris Silver Mist. I think Thierry Wasser was channeling Maurice Roucel. Sharply, coldly sweet. .
Guerlain L'Heure Bleue — melancholy, powdery, moist iris. The answer to "Why are you so sad?" is, because I'm wearing this.
Guerlain Après L'Ondee — powdery, sweet, floral, woody, soft spice
Borsari Violetta di Parma — green, violet, sweet, sharp, soapy
Prada Infusion d'Iris — Soft, powdery, soapy, floral
Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile — powdery, soft, floral, citrus, soapy
April Aromatics Irisistible — sharp, violet, carroty, woody
All of the above are excellent perfumes. They just got filtered through my very picky, very selective nose.

Hi all: The world's smallest dilemma.
35M here, building up a fragrance collection, aiming for maybe a dozen. I'm slowly going thru samples, learning what I like. So far, I've got a four bottles:

• Creed Aventus
• Tom Ford Grey Vetiver
• Hermes Terre d'Hermes Eau Intense Vetiver
• Atelier Cologne Grand Neroli

They're selling a couple of Creeds at Costco: tempting! Unfortunately, Green Irish Tweed: not for me. Erolfa, same. . . and on.
That said, Original Vetiver smelled terrific.
I don't know whether OV is:

• A unique, additional scent--despite ending it "Vetiver" like TF and Hermes--and at a good price, something to grab
• A redundancy, and me just a dumb consumer jumping at a sale

Would you say OV adds something extra to my small collection, or should I be patient and pass on it?

So I recently acquired Cocoa Pink's Angelica, which, according to scent notes, "is an urban maiden, surrounded by hot asphalt and broken down cars leaking oil. She walks the streets armed with a .357 magnum and a heavy ax to seek out the living dead. Gun powder, cement, motor oil and vanilla musk."
Unfortunately, even in the bottle I got none of that, and instead wound up with plain old vanilla musk. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Could anyone recommend something which reads similarly? Vanilla musk is great and all, but the thought of it working alongside gun powder, cement, and motor oil is breaking my brain in all the best ways. Now if I can just find the thing.
Special guest request by: Favorite scents where vetiver is the star? I live for ZOMG Smells' Vory v Zakony ("black Baltic amber, vetiver, the faintest touch of tobacco, and woody char.") and enjoy it in BPAL's Death Adder ("Snake Oil with vetiver, black coconut, vanilla, and opoponax."), but otherwise have struggled to find much else where the note is super prominent. I have tried Possets' Lady & a Baby Unicorn, SS' Estate Vetiver, and Arcana's various Black Sands scents to no real luck.

I've been a longtime lurker and after reading plenty of amazing reviews I think I'd like to order two sample packs from Alkemia! This subreddit has piqued my interest in perfumery in general and I've been trying to get more into it but needless to say I'm pretty overwhelmed by...everything. All the scent descriptions sound wonderful however I'm not entirely sure whether they'll be up my alley or not, seeing as I've only recently started exploring different notes/trying to identify my likes and dislikes by aimlessly testing perfumes in department stores.
In general I think I’d like my scents to be rather subtle, elegant, smooth and fresh. Things that wouldn't be considered to be offensive but are still a bit unique. I don't think I'm into Orientals, Gourmands, anything super "witchy" or intensely masculine scents. Not sure how I feel about leather yet. However I always seem to go for the same “type of scent” so I’d really like to expand my horizon, as long as I don’t venture too far out of my comfort zone. I’m also specifically looking for a soft, warm “my skin but better” scent, something that could be considered to be a spicy cologne and a petricho”wet landscape or flowers” scent with just a tiny hint of sweetness.
Here's some more information about my preferences:
Notes I like: Green tea (!!!), vetiver, cardamom (spices in general, as long as they are not overpowering), grapefruit, mandarin, bergamot, moss, lotus, lily of the valley, anything that would be considered to be herbal/fresh/a bit green is great
Notes I occasionally like: Jasmine, rose (florals in general I guess), oud, vanilla (as long as it's not cloying), light incense, musk, sandalwood
Notes I dislike: Patchouli, Smoke, anything foodie/overly sweet, heavy incense, anything cloying, really heavy white florals
Mainstream perfume I like:
Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca by Guerlain: The signature scent of my mom- it's supposed to smell like green plants after a storm. Top notes are Clover and Lemon, heart notes are mint and green tea, base notes are lily of the valley, cyclamen and pear flower.
Thé Vert by Roger & Gallet: The only scent I own. Unfortunately the silliage is poor (3-4 hours) and I now associate it with lots of unpleasant memories. I'd describe it as "Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea but more complex". Top notes are mandarin, bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, yuzu. Heart notes are green tea, freesia, jasmine, lily of the valley, cyclamen. Base notes are cedarwood, gaiac wood, amber.
Grey Vetiver by Tom Ford: Clean and smooth, as if you just used very, very expensive soap that is lingering on your skin. Notes are vetiver, orange flower, grapefruit, sage, orris, nutmeg, pimento, amber woods and oakmoss.
CK One by Calvin Klein: Yeah, I think you all know what that smells like. Can’t use this one because it’s the signature scent of a guy whom I used to date. Top notes are bergamot, lemon, mandarin, pineapple, papaya, cardamom, green tea accord. Heart notes are hedione high cis, violet, rose, lily of the valley, freesia, nutmeg, green tree accord. Base notes are green tea, oakmoss, cedarwood, sandalwood, nutmeg, musk, amber, green tree accord.
Clean Skin by Clean: A low throw vanilla and musk scent (for some reason it smells a bit like coconut?) A delicate and sensual “my skin but better” scent. Top notes are honeydew, lotus blossom, fresh air accord. Heart notes are dewy petals, aquatic notes, blue rose. Base notes are white musk, amber wood and vanilla.
I also reaaaally like how Diabolique Homme by Eisenberg smells after a couple of hours (base notes are benzoin, musk, sandalwood and vetiver). Smells like spicy cologne to me.
Mainstream perfume I hate:
Fahrenheit by Christian Dior: The most vile thing to ever grace my nose. Literally smells like an ashtray and for the love of me, I can’t figure out why anyone would wear this. Top notes are hawthorn and honeysuckle. Heart note is sandalwood and base notes are lenstiscus and styrax (benzoin).
Alien by Thierry Mugler: Smells like someone doused me in grape soda- extremely cloying and sugary. Notes are Sambac jasmine, Cashmere wood and white amber.
Chanel No. 5 straight up smells like cat pee on me, but I kind of learned to appreciate it. Still not a fan though.
Pretty sure I’m going to get Madame Pearl, Desiderata and Turquoise Trail. I’m also considering Enigma (very interested in reviews of this one!), Haiku, Wilde, Divine Goddess Musk, Lilacs along the Winding Drive, Mist becoming Rain, Wild Swans at Coole, Moss Maiden, Les Mystères, Dalliance, Aeria, Mesnée d’Hellequin, Moroccan Tea, The Raven (the descriptions made me really curious), The Rhymer’s Club, Kintsukuroi, Foxfire, Rara Avis, Vanille Amour, Ambre Gris and Antares. So, basically the entire catalogue. Do you think it’d be a good idea to contact Sharra and ask her for recommendations?
Any help is appreciated!

You guys appreciate this stuff I think. Here's a mental dump I've been mulling over during the weekend.
I remember when I was just out of high school. CK Obsession and Drakkar Noir was the greatest stuff ever. These days it seems like the kids are wearing Aqua de Gio. I can't stand the smell of any of it at all. When I was younger I couldn't stand the smell of the likes of Aqua di Parma, Amaris or Guerlain Vetiver.
Aqua di Parma smelled like asshole uncle to me. Guerlain Vetiver smelled like grandpa. Bay rum smelled like the chatty old farts at the barbershop.
The fragrances of a male age range tend to attract the noses of likewise mature females. I never really liked Tommy but 20 years ago I'd wear it to attract college girls. They all loved it. Now I cant stand that demographic and will gladly wear something repellent to it.
I think that's how a personal fragrance evolves. Not only do our tastes change, but those we want to attract/repel changes as well. Also, who wants to be 40 and smelling like 18. My nose has matured as well, I appreciate things that I didn't before. This goes with everything in life. When I was a kid I wanted cheddar cheese. Now I'd like a good stilton. Everything in its season as well. I didn't know I shouldn't be wearing Tommy on a hot August evening at the opera. (Yes I've always enjoyed the opera)
Wet shaving helped evolve my nose even further lately. Not only do I now appreciate niche fragrances, but I know and understand their base notes and proper season. Wet shaving moved me closer to the deep end of fragrance snobbery, much to my wife's delight.
Fragrances should be interesting. Interesting people are attracted to interesting fragrances as well, I've found. There's nothing interesting about mainstream "high school/college" fragrances, they're just mainstream. Like good music. Who wants to strike up a 30 minute conversation about the latest Nicki Minaj album and her finer, less-appreciated nuances? No thanks. If I'm playing Ege Bamyasi and someone is lured in and starts discussing it I am truly interested in such a person. Those types of people tend to have suggestions on like-minded things and new things to discover.
Dry down is an amazing thing. Now I know why it's silly to buy based on test strips or a quick huff of EdT after it's been on my wrist for 2 minutes. Fragrances should be obtained in samples and tried for 2 days, then tried again months later. A good fragrance might smell like one thing at application, another 30 mins later, another 2 hours later and a completely different animal even 6 hours later. You'd be hard pressed to discover such a thing in a 20 minute session at the Sephora counter. Come to think of it, I think this is a big reason why I strayed away from a lot of niche fragrances, many of them have strong/awful openings and cant begin to be appreciated until an hour or so after application.
I love mixing shave soap / aftershave scents with fragrances as well. I've found that B&M does an excellent job of making soaps across a range of fragrance types. He has florals, orientals, spice, woody, leather - something to go with everything. Not only is it incredible soap, but there's a scent product to pair with just about anything out there to add to the complexity of whatever else you're wearing. I appreciate that. Most people rinse their lather off after shaving, I think its important to leave it on your skin as both a fragrance base and facial moisturizer.
I've learned a few tricks lately too. Samples, buy samples as mentioned before and use them. If you don't like something, revisit it in a different season/time and see again. Testers are great if you don't want to pay full price - you can find tester bottles on EBay for sometimes half the price of a normal bottle of something. Same fragrance, cheaper packaging. Have someone else gauge the sillage of a new fragrance for you. Also, don't ask for opinions - input from unsolicited responses to your fragrance are the most informative.
Many of you already know all of this stuff anyway, but I'm excited to be exploring so much lately. I'm also interested in your input as well.
Some scents that I've either discovered or rediscovered lately that I am enjoying particularly these days:
Guerlain Habit Rouge For me pairs well with B&M Roam
Lalique Encre Noir Pairs well with HeatheVetiveClary Sage
Caron Yatagan (Thanks BostonPhotoTourist) Pairs well for me with B&M Nocturne
Guerlain Vetiver Pairs well with B&M Ferox
Tom Ford Black Orchid Wife wears this lately
Versace Crystal Noir Also for the ladies
Givenchy Pi Seems to pair well for me with Bay Rum soaps
Good stuff. I can't wait to discover more.

After 20 years of using a cordless electric (rotary head) shaver on my head and face, I realized I finally had enough of the irritation on my neck including some ingrown hairs, so I decided to do a little reading and thanks to this sub I got pointed in the right direction of some good equipment to start out. I ordered a starter kit from Maggards with their V3 DE razor, brush, two Maggards soap samples (Limes and Bergamot, and London Barbershop), and a bunch of various blades. It took me a week or so to get the technique down, but I didn't really have any bad habits to carry over from shaving with multiblade disposable razors. The two most important things I learned to keep me from getting cut were learning the growth pattern of my facial hair and letting the weight of the razor do all the work not applying any added pressure. I'm happy to say that I'm getting excellent shaves so far, in fact my new setup inspired my wife and reminded her of the times she took her dads DE razor to shave her legs when she was younger so I got a cheapo Baili twist-to-open razor in rose gold just for her. I've been experimenting with a bunch of different blades now for about two months so it's a bit premature to claim that any one is or isn't good, there are still more to try, however I am leaning toward the Voskhod blades as a favorite so far. I tried a Shark blade once and I had too many cuts on my face, however it may have just been my poor technique at the time since it was my first week of shaving with a blade. I'll give them another chance.
Now for the other part which is really what drove me to create a post here. In addition to the products mentioned above, I ordered several soap and aftershave samples from Stirling Soap. I know the owners are active here and they seem to have a loyal following with lots of rave reviews of their products and scents, and I'm not trying to bash them in any way. It's just that I had very high hopes and was excited about all the various scents yet I was NOT very impressed with most of them. I know smells are very subjective, but most of the ones I ordered were 'cheap' smelling if that makes any sense, reminding me of scented candles or air freshener from a dollar store. Some are nice scents, but just not something I would want to smell like for a long time. I had planned on giving some of these to my brother, so as soon as I opened the box I picked the ones I liked and sent the rest aside for him.
Shave Soap Samples:

• Almost Heaven - I don't remember much about this one, but it was in the pack I gave to my brother
• Agar - I liked this one but decided to give it to my brother so I felt less guilty about giving him the ones I didn't want. I smelled a mild amount of patchouli, not sure if that's present or not, but I really liked it
• Ozark Mountain - Smells like a pine air freshener spray, I kept this one and I almost like it, but just for a shaving soap since the smell is pleasant only while shaving. I don't think I would want to smell this all day.
• Gatlinburg - Old man smell. I wanted to like this but my wife said it smelled like her father (old man). My brother is in his mid 30s and this is is favorite scent of the ones I sent him.
• Port Au Prince - Heavy earthy vetiver smell. I like the smell and I kept it, but not enough to order a full size puck and wouldn't order this again
• Sandpiper - I wanted to like this one. I kept it, but after using it a few times I had to throw it out. The description states "Cardamom, middle notes of Bergamot, Cedar, and Lavender, and base notes of Vetiver and Caraway" which sounds incredible however I didn't get any of that. I wonder if I got something else that was mislabeled?
• Bay Rum - Another one I was excited about but ended up having a cheap smell to me
• Electric Sheep - This smells like a citronella candle, exactly how the description says AND I LOVE IT! I'm really surprised by this. I was a bit afraid to even order it, and just as afraid before lathering up, however this turned out to be my favorite and I will likely be ordering a full size puck of this stuff. It's so good. I'm not sure I'd want to smell like a citronella candle all day long but this is very pleasant while shaving, and the sheep tallow is just so slick!

Aftershave sampler:

• Executive Man
• Baker St
• Barbershop
• Mountain Man

I tried to like these but couldn't keep any of them. I liked Baker St out of the bottle but after wearing it the scent was too overbearing for me. Mountain Man was nice but not something I want to smell like. My brother really likes Executive Man and Barbershop.
Aftershave (Witch Hazel and Aloe):

• Ben Franklin - This one is weird but it's another one I absolutely love! I'm glad I ordered a full size bottle of this. It initially smells like heavy clove with a touch of parchment (one description I read said it smells like an old library book, which is pretty accurate) but then it fades to a mild root beer smell. I use this aftershave at night and it makes my skin feel great, and I love the smell!

Overall I was expecting to love most of the scents I ordered but it turns out that's not the case. I find it odd that the two smells I really like, Electric Sheep and Ben Franklin, are ones that are seemingly very polarizing, at least based on the warnings in the descriptions. I have plenty of the Ben Franklin aftershave to use for now and I'll be sure to order a full size puck of the Electric Sheep when my sample runs out. I will probably order a full puck of the unscented Sheep soap, and despite not being satisfied with most of the scents I would still like to try Glastonbury and a mentholated soap such as Margaritas in the Artic.
For comparison, I have a jar of Maggards London Barbershop shave soap and I absolutely love that smell but the soap doesn't seem as good as the Stirling products. It's still a good soap but the lather isn't as smooth and creamy as the Stirling soaps, it seems to dry on my face in some spots before I'm done shaving, and it leaves a residue on my razor which doesn't happen with the Stirling soaps. So I'm very happy with the soaps from Stirling, just not all the scents.

Obviously not actually, I’m not asking you to force another human to smell a certain way, I’m trying to figure out what people’s favorite fragrances are not for themselves but on others.
Think of the gender you’re attracted to, what fragrance would they wear?
My friend’s answer: Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Gold Edition - “smells like the perfect girl next door”
My answer: lately, Tom Ford Grey Vetiver. Smells like a man who is quietly confident; successful without being flashy; he lets his actions speak for themselves (and damn does he smell sexy)

I love vetiver scented stuff. Except when I don't. I have used 5 vetiver products:

• Stirling Port au Prince soap: Unbelievably great. Grassy, earthy, funky, with bright lemongrass freshening everything up. If I was synesthetic, this is what "Struttin'" by The Meters would smell like.
• Mike's Natural's Vetiver: Really nice. Very similar to Stirling's but without the lemongrass and slightly less funky.
• Stirling Vetiver witch hazel/aloe splash: A pleasant, cleaned-up, soft-spoken, well-mannered version of Mike's Natural's vetiver.
• Razorock Nervous Wreck soap: mild, inoffensive, soapy, powdery scent
• TSD Grey Vetiver Type limited edition soap: Ever been stuck on a long elevator ride with That Guy who doused himself in waaay too much cologne, and your eyes are watering and you feel like you can't breathe? (To be fair, I just seem to have this reaction to some cologne scents that others seem to love. I think there's something specific I'm especially sensitive to... maybe patchouli? I'm not sure.)

So, the first three all are clearly variants of the same scent. The other two... not only do they have other stuff going on, I can't pick out anything at all in common with the first three or with each other.
My two questions:

• I am assuming what I smell in the two Stirling products and Mike's Natural is what vetiver smells like. Do others agree that scent is not present in Nervous Wreck or Grey Vetiver (either TSD's, the genuine product, or Fine Fresh Vetiver, though I suppose I don't know for sure how close TSD's is to the others), or is my nose playing tricks on me?
  
• Can you recommend other vetiver scented soaps, aftershaves, etc., that actually smell like vetiver? I don't mind at all if there's other stuff going on, but I want to be able to easily pick out that distinctive scent.
  

Hello! I'm looking for a perfume or a perfume oil that has notes of fig and vetiver.
There's a candle from paddywax that I smelled at wholefoods called "wild fig and vetiver", which smelled amazing but doesn't really have a strong scent when lit.
are there any indie houses that have anything with fig and vetiver?
Thank you

Vetiver is the note that sent me down the proverbial fragrance rathole. I took an aromatherapy class where the instructor passed around essential oils and had us write down impressions and guess the notes. When we passed around the vetiver, I was hooked: bitey, earthy, smokey, citrusy. I loved it.
I have a list of favorites and am always interested in trying new ones. It's hard to find vetivers that aren't overly masculine. Here are some of my favorites:

• Chanel Sycomore - my first must-buy.
  
• Guerlain Vetiver - the quintessential vetiver.
  
• Guerlain Vetiver pour Elle. Sadly discontinued. This could have been an everyday scent. Vetiver paired with delicate white flowers.
  
• Annick Goutal Vetiver - Earthy, smokey, unisex. The caraway adds a creaminess to this that other vetivers do not have. Gorgeous.
  
• Miller Harris - Fleurs de Sel - Herbaceous, leathery, salty vetiver. Smells a bit like cooking herbs in the initial blast and then dries down into a lovely warm scent. Not so easy to find in the US (even online), but worth it.
  
• The Different Company - Sel de Vetiver. Like a vetiver seltzer. Aldehydic, sharp, and surprisingly long-lasting for the lightness of the scent. JC Elena fans should check out this offering from his daughter.
  
• Frederic Malle - Vetiver Extraordinaire. I love this but find it a bit too masculine for everyday wear. I'll secretly huff it from my wrists.
  
• Etro Vetiver - A warm vetiver. Similar to the Fleurs de Sel but with a honeyed tobacco note instead of the agro leather.
  
• Givenchy Vetiver - Bought a tiny tiny mini of this off of ebay and I love it. Earthy and warm without a lot of smoke.
  
• Lush - Breath of God. Weird melon and vetiver. Get through the plasticy top notes and you'll be rewarded for it. Warm, spicy, inviting. I'd put this one away and decided to give it another try today. Lovely.
  

What are some of your favorites?

Here’s a poorly-kept secret of the perfume industry: the price charged for a fragrance in no way determines its quality. For instance, let us consider Creed Original Vetiver, a perfume that Luca Turin famously wrote is “defective, because it does not smell of vetiver at all.” While I do not always agree with Dr. Turin, in this case he’s spot on; to my nose, Original Vetiver smells of bubblegum and laundry detergent, a muddled, chemical mess that I wouldn’t use to deodorize my bathroom let alone spray on my person. Olivier and Erwin Creed have seen fit to slap an exorbitant pricetag on this vile stew and people buy it thinking that they’re getting something of high quality, when in fact they’re purchasing a perfume that’s barely worthy of a first year perfume exercise.
Thankfully, most vetiver perfumes do not follow in the Creed footsteps. In fact, many of them are both gorgeous and gloriously inexpensive, but overlooked due to their low price tags. Franck Olivier Black Touch is one of these.
The most obvious note in Black Touch is vetiver. This is not some chemical stew lacking in any true vetiveryl character but instead an inky, spicy, woody creation that unmistakably growls “vetiver, motherfucker.” It’s rich and masculine and warmly dry, like the inside of a cedar humidor that has been converted into a spice pantry. It carries hints of geranium and citrus, underlain by a clean, fruity patchouli (my guess is that this is Clearwood, a specially processed Firmenich patchouli that removes the rubbery, “dirty hippy” notes present in natural patchouli oil).
The longevity of the stuff is outrageous. Most wearers report getting 8-10 hours, and some report getting up to 14. I get around 9 myself, so it’s a great all-day fragrance. Not really something that I’d wear outside the wintertime, but definitely one of the best budget fragrances on the market today.