Fresh and classic are the two buzzwords for this pack, and Je Suis Un Homme (Etat Libre d'Orange) fulfils both of these labels. With a prominent vintage inflection, green bitter notes mingle with bright lemon and clove, and settle on a base of leather, Cognac, and birch wood. Je Suis is instantly memorable and incredibly versatile. Softer greens are achieved in Green Irish Tweed (Creed), where the traditional hot-and-cold Fougère is given a fresh aquatic kiss, with a springtime feel through lemon verbena, stirred with cool green violet leaf, traditional sandalwood, and a warming base of amber. Cologne Officinale (Heeley) dreams of the azure blue Mediterranean, and employs emblematic notes of lavender and aromatic herbs to stir this fantasy. The completed work is clean, soapy, smooth and crunchy all at once – with a quiet opulence which results from its many layers, which endures with a long musky freshness.
For something rounded and spicier, try 1899 by Histoires de Parfums, as cinnamon hums its distinctly mellow tone, mixed with creamy smooth vanilla, sizzling black pepper, and refreshing juniper berry. 1899 is quiet intelligence, reserved but essential, and is an elegant medley of perfect proportions. The Orchid Man by Frapin heightens this general theme, and has an outwards confidence. A modern classic, a winning accord of zesty bergamot mingles with patchouli and leather, to make a beguilingly sweet and sour blend of notes that attract like a magnet. Finally, Parle Moi de Parfum’s Woody Perfecto reminds us that elegance can take on darker tones, relying on a wood and leather tones driven by vetiver, roasted coffee, and black pepper. Darkness is here rendered beautifully, with a certain happiness that is characteristic of the brand, made matte and approachable. The resulting scent exudes a confidence, a certain signature that can move seamlessly between the office and outside the 9-to-5.
