Though usually marketed via football superstar, stubble-clad actor or abundance of dark brown, men’s fragrances can be the perfect complement for a women’s collection. If you fancy experimenting with masculine musk and lashings of leather, look no further than one (or all) of these wonderfully woody scents.
Gentleman Givenchy Réserve Privée, Givenchy
Imagine a classic gentleman’s club, with leather seating and rich mahogany – expert perfumers Nathalie Lorson and Olivier Cresp certainly did for their new scent, Gentleman Givenchy Réserve Privée. With a woody, floral and ambery air, the fragrance does indeed capture the essence of a sophisticated evening, with notes of iris, coriander seeds, bergamot, chestnut, cedar, patchouli and vetiver. Housed in a bottle that echoes the shape of an English gentlemen’s hip flask, Gentleman Givenchy Réserve Privée is all things androgynous. Shop now
Homme Sport, Dior
Ridiculously addictive, this new Dior scent is once again fronted by actor Robert ‘The Batman’ Pattinson, whose “tender masculinity” – says the French house – sums up the fragrance. Casual and light, Dior Homme Sport is citrusy, woody and spicy all at the same time, with Calabrian bergamot, lemon and pink peppercorns working together to create an invigorating finish in this new release from heavyweight perfume-maker Francois Demachy. Shop now
Amir Two, Ajmal
Sophisticated and refined, Amir Two is the new fragrance from the boutique, 71-year-old Ajmal brand, and is a tribute to the company’s heritage and craftsmanship in the art of Oriental perfumery. With its decorative bottle cap, Amir Two follows 2021’s Amir One, and has a lot going on: floral and spicy notes of rose, geranium, nutmeg, ginger and pepper, blended with amber, cypriol, patchouli and cashmere wood, all of which are rounded off with gurjun balsam, incense, musk and oud. Shop now
Halfeti Leather, Penhaligon’s
This is a fragrance from the master British perfume house that continues its exploration of far-flung lands, collectively known as the Trade Routes Collection. Warm, woody and exotic, Penhaligon’s Halfeti Leather is designed for late nights in a warm climate, as its heady mixture of bergamot, cardamom, citrus and saffron teams up with rose, plum and pepper, and a base of incense, musk, leather and amber. Shop now
Guilty Parfum Pour Homme, Gucci
Actor Jared Leto returns to launch the new iteration of Gucci Guilty Parfum Pour Homme, this time with singer Lana Del Rey for company. Gucci has gone to town with this woody new scent, which contains exotic ingredients, such as French lavandin abrialis, uplifting lemon sfumatrice, juniper, Spanish cistus, orange flower, nutmeg and Indonesian patchouli – a complex concoction. Shop now
Haltane, Parfums de Marly
Parfums de Marly continues to celebrate the golden age of perfumery with elegant fragrances encapsulating the spirit of Louis XV’s soirees at Château de Marly. Balancing a sultry sophistication with springtime freshness, the Maison’s latest fragrance opens with bergamot and sage before intoxicating the senses with a symphony of cedarwood, saffron, leather and patchouli. Shop now
Jump Up and Kiss Me Ecstatic, Clive Christian
The prize for the best name of a fragrance this season goes to Clive Christian’s Jump Up and Kiss Me Ecstatic. Inspired by William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this surprising scent toys with the dreamlike themes of the play, with poppy, wormwood and cacao leaves just a few of the 219 ingredients that come together to make this warm and sensuous creation. Shop now
The Scent Le Parfum for Him, Boss
The fragrance department at Boss just keeps rolling out hit after hit. New for this season is The Scent Le Parfum for Him that reimagines the original Scent product with an addictive iris and leather aroma. Ginger and maninka fruit create a seductive atmosphere in the blockbuster fragrance fronted by Australian actor Jacob Elordi, star of hit TV show Euphoria, who makes his debut as a face of the Boss brand. Shop now
1 Million Elixir, Paco Rabanne
The fragrance family that comes in a distinctive gold bullion bar welcomes a new member this summer: the powerful and intense 1 Million Elixir. Crafted by perfumer Christophe Raynaud, who helped create the original 1 Million, and Quentin Bisch, this fragrance is a woody and fruity blend that combines apple, rose, vanilla and patchouli for a deep and long-lasting scent. Shop now
Bad Boy Cobalt, Carolina Herrera
Carolina Herrera says its new fragrance, Bad Boy Cobalt, is inspired by the bonds of brotherhood and “evokes the emotional tenderness that’s at the centre of the most durable of male friendships.” A grand claim indeed, but one that is backed up the striking lightning bolt bottle. Perfumer Domitille Michalon-Bertier kicks things off with clean lavender and juicy black plum, before inviting citrus to join the party in this energetic, fresh fragrance. Shop now
Indigo Tanzanite, Giorgio Armani
Rather like the iconic squared bottle, Giorgio Armani’s new fragrance, Indigo Tanzanite, is dark and enchanting. Inspired by African night skies and crafted by renowned perfumer Carlos Benaïm, this woody Oriental fragrance begins with fresh bergamot and comforting almond, before introducing the brightness of the heliotrope flower and concluding with a dark amber finish. Shop now
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- Words by Rob Chilton
