34 Classic Men’s Perfumes to Invest In, Part 1: Aromatic, Chypre, Citrus & Floral
These classic fragrances are great choices if you're in search of your signature scents.
23 Jun 2018
In the world of olfactory art, there is never short of new launches and excitement.
Amidst the ever-growing celebrity fragrance lines and Muse-endorsed advertisement, it is sometimes a wise choice to go for classics that have transcended time and generations.
Like owning a personal style, having a “personal scent” (or a range of) is a sign of sartorial maturity. It is also, perhaps, a sign of a mature soul who manoeuvres through life gracefully: find one thing that works for you, stick to it forever (or until the next best thing comes) while moving on to focus on other life-fulling matters. A case in point: Steve Jobs’ iconic, custom design turtleneck by Issey Miyake and his loyalty to his “uniform” since 1998.
These classic fragrances (including the relaunched versions) are great choices to try if you’re in search of your signature scents:
Aromatic Scents
Caron Pour Un Homme Bottle
The iconic Pour Un Homme was created in 1934 by nose Ernest Daltroff. It was the first fragrance marketed towards men. During the 30s, there were only unisex fragrances in the market. (Some men’s fragrance were exclusively created only for the royalty, while the infamous Colonia was originally made for handerchiefs scenting.) This classic fragrance created the market for men’s fragrances.
Launched in 1988, Davidoff Cool Water was conceived by perfumer Pierre Bourdon. It is one of the classic Aquatic men’s fragrances and one of the best selling fragrances ever. Davidoff Cool Water is quintessentially a summer casual fragrance.
Burberry for Men was introduced in 1995 by nose Creations Aromatiques with a distinct combination of woody notes, organic greens and aromatic fruit. The fragrance was renamed to “Burberry London” after the launch, and then back to “Burberry” in later 2005 when the fashion house introduced their Burberry London line, followed by a new and different “Burberry London” fragrance.
Burberry for Men is a clean and sweet fougère scent with a warming effect as it dries down.
Fougere Royale by Houbigant is a century-old legend that has transcended generations. Launched in 1882, it was the first fougere fragrance created by the House of Houbigant. (It was then discontinued and reissued multiple times.) The fragrance has been dubbed one of the must-have classics by perfume connoisseur.
Created in 1996 by nose Alberto Morillas, Acqua di Gio is a scent of freedom inspired by the fresh sea, warm sun and the earth. The aquatic fragrance is an ideal summer scent, opening with a citrusy splash, followed by floral notes and a little sweetness and bold Hyacinth note.
The modern classic La Nuit de l’Homme was conceived in 2009 by 3 noses: Anne Flipo, Pierre Wargnye and Dominique Ropion. It is a masculine, soft and powdery fragrance with notes of cardamom and bergamot.
Created in 1955 by nose Henri Robert, the timeless Pour Monsieur was the first men’s fragrance by Chanel. It’s marketed as ‘A Gentleman’s Cologne’ in the UK, ‘Chanel for Men’ in the USA and ‘Chanel Pour Monsieur’ in France. It was the only men’s fragrance created while Mademoiselle Coco Chanel was still alive.
Aramis 900 was launched in 1973 by nose Bernard Chant. Described as “tradition with a dash of the unexpected”, the perfume is one of the 6 fragrances forming the Aramis Gentleman’s Collection. It is a woody, herbal scent with a cirtus opening and a deep rose heart.
The original Derby was introduced in 1985. The reissued version was introduced in 2005 with a new bottle design in conjunction with the renovated flagship Guerlain store on Champs-Elysees, Paris.
Derby was created perfumer Jean-Paul Guerlain with his co-perfumer Anne-Marie Saget. It is considered the masculine counterpart to another legendary Guerlain perfume, “Mitsouko“, which was created by Jean-Paul’s grandfather, Jacques Guerlain.
Introduced in 1989, New York by Nicolai is a masculine scent created by perfumer Patricia de Nicolaï. It is considered one of the must-have Chypre fragrance by fragrance connoisseur.
The classic Colonia has some very legendary fans: Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, David Niven, Eva Turner, Ava Gadner and more. Born in 1916, Colonia was the first fragrance of Acqua di Parma, and it was originally used to perfume gentlemen’s handkerchiefs. The perfume was wildly popular during the 30s and the 50s.
Blenheim Bouquet is a century-old citrus aromatic perfume for men. (It’s launched in 1902.) The masculine fragrance features blend of citrus, spices and woods. An epitome of fine British perfumery and contemporary inspirations.
The current Armani Eau Pour Homme is a reformulation of the original version introduced in 1984. The perfume is a citrus aromatic perfume with notes of classic Italian bergamot, masculine peppery coriander and elegant vetiver. The much celebrated perfume was the house’s first fragrance for men.
L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme is a unique fragrance by Issey Miyake that uses unusual ingredients such as yuzu. Launched in 1994, it was the men’s equivalent to the women’s L’Eau d’Issey launched in 1992. The perfume was conceived with the idea to envoke the freshness of a mountain waterfall.
Eau Sauvage by Christian Dior was introduced in 1966 by the famed perfumer Edmond Roudnitska. It was Dior’s first fragrance for men and it has been one of the most iconic citrus fragrances in the world.
Original Musk by Kiehl’s was first introduced in 1963. The unisex scent is a combination of fresh citrus burst of Bergamot Nectar and Orange Blossom, followed by a soft floral bouquet of Rose, Lily, Ylang-Ylang and Neroli. It includes a sensual Oriental finish of Tonka Nut, White Patchouli, and Musk.
Launched in 1978, the iconic Mûre et Musc (or “blackberries and musk“) is an unisex classic by L’Artisan Parfumeur. The fragrance’s the top notes include crisp basil, bergamot and lemon. The middle notes are full of the sweetness of blackberry, blueberry, mandarin, and a hint of jasmine.
Created in 1951, No. 89 fragrance by Floris is the fragrance of James Bond – the fragrance was mentioned many times in the novels. It is also the author’s, Ian Fleming’s personal favourite. The naming “No.89” was inspired by the number of the Floris shop on Jermyn Street, London.
No 89 is quintessentially an English gentleman’s fragrance.
Daniel Arsham, pastel colors, saddle bags, clean tailoring & exclusive RIMOWA trunks – everything we love in a heavenly ‘strawberry milkshake’ set design.