Searching for the ultimate classically-inspired holiday gift for a family member, friend, or the gentleman in your life? Or maybe it’s time to indulge yourself this holiday season? No matter who you’re shopping for, our expertly curated gift guide, organized by price point, is sure to have something you’ll absolutely adore!

Up to $50

The ideal gent’s

Stocking Stuffer

What makes an old pair of shoes look brand new without worrying about sizing or fit and at a fraction of the cost? New shoe and boot laces! A dash of unexpected color or unique texture from new laces can change your shoes or boots’ formality, appearance, and effect. And best of all? No sizing to worry about.

Just $9 per pair!

Gentleman Jon Alum Block ($10)

Necktie Travel Roll Case ($12)

Traveling with a necktie can be risky; they are easily squished or creased in luggage, and what’s the point of having a tie if not to look good? Check out this simple and inexpensive solution for frequent travelers: the necktie travel roll case. While we don’t recommend storing your ties rolled for longer than necessary, this is a great solution for getting from point A to B.

Available on Amazon!

Kent Wang Horn Collar Stays ($15)

Keep your shirt collars looking crisp and elegant with these horn collar stays from Kent Wang, sustainably sourced from water buffaloes. Each of these stays, which measure 2.5″ by 3/8″, vary in color from a warm brown to a deep tan, and thanks to the natural flexibility of the horn, they will offer years of service, keeping your shirt collar points from appearing lank or crumpled.

BUY NOW!

Vorspack Dopp Kit ($16)

Be ready to help your man look his best on his next trip, no matter where life takes him! This durable and attractive dopp kit is 10 x 5 x 5.5 inches: large enough to handle all you need but still easy to stow in carry-on luggage. The waterproof interior lining protects you and your clothes from accidental spills.

Anker PowerCore III Sense 10K ($20)

Here is what one of our writers, Elaisa, has to say about this power pack:

“I like my purchases to be worthwhile, so I always try to find the best brands that will satisfy these three considerations: cost, quality, and aesthetic (I know not everyone will agree with this, but let’s be honest, everything needs to look good these days). So I’ve been using this power bank for almost 2 years now (gifted this during Christmas Manito-Manita last year), and it has proven its worth. This has been dropped a few times, and I couldn’t see any scratches or cracks, although the back is prone to fingerprints—it’s not really a problem for me. The standout factor for me is how super lightweight it is, despite being able to charge my phone 3-4 times, plus it’s fast charging! Compare this with other options of the same charging capacity, which are heavy, bulky, and really add weight to your luggage or travel bag. This power bank, however, is travel-friendly and compact enough to fit in small bags. I also use this to charge my DJI Pocket 2, and it can charge it up to three times, allowing me to take videos of the beautiful places I visit. If you look at its textured cover, you’ll notice the cool, modern look of the surface details, and I love the effect  (I also love gray, so …). It’s the first thing others notice, too, often earning me compliments, so I’m really happy with this one.”

scented candles by

Lulu ($20+)

With dozens of different scents available, these long-lasting soy candles with cotton wicks will help you set any desired mood in any space in your home. One of our favorites is warm pipe tobacco!

Buy now!

Colorful Montblanc Ink Bottles ($26)

What do you give the fountain pen lover who has everything? How about a bottle of Montblanc ink in an exciting and unexpected color? From modena red to toffee brown and amethyst purple to Irish green, these unique shades help even the most accomplished writer stand out in the best possible way.

Crane & Co. Stationery ($28)

Could there be a better complement for your exceptional gift-giving than when they send you a “Thank You” note with the fine stationery that you bought for them? Crane & Co. offers a wide array of writing papers, envelopes, and cards: you can even create a custom set!

Air Tags / Galaxy Tags / Tile Trackers ($30+)

Are you constantly losing little items like your keys, the remote, or a commonplace book? Or are you afraid that your airlines might lose your luggage? Consider a discreet but extremely helpful tracking tag that allows you to hunt down those lost items wherever they might be hiding. Consider Airtags for optimization with Apple products, Galaxy Tags for Android phone users, or Tile trackers for a generic option.

Classic Vinyl Records ($30+)

Audiophiles often say that nothing compares to the pressed-in audio fidelity of a genuine vinyl record. We’re inclined to agree, and if anyone on your “Nice List” owns a turntable, consider expanding their LP collection with a few classic records. We suggest In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning by Frank Sinatra, Kind of Blue by Miles Davis, and Time Out by the Dave Brubeck Quartet.

You can find re-releases on Amazon or originals in your local record shop.

Fishwife Tinned Seafood Co.

Smoky Trio ($33)

Enjoyed as a cooking ingredient, a crumble over salads, or by itself, tinned fish from The Fishwife Tinned Seafood Co. is a delectable stocking stuffer that any fish-loving fellow will enjoy. Caught in Norway and smoked in the state of Washington, he will flip over this fantastic fish; we suggest starting with the Smoky Trio pack of salmon, mackerel, and rainbow trout.

Highball Wood Cocktail Muddler ($38)

Muddling cocktails helps to release the fragrant oils of citrus fruits and herbs. Some muddlers can be too narrow or slippery, which makes a simple Mojito far more work than it should be. This muddler is nearly as wide as a typical highball glass, offering a better grip and preventing the fruits and herbs from escaping being crushed. For the home cocktail enthusiast, a muddler is a tool that is as attractive as it is functional.

Bottoms up! Find it on Etsy!

Fort Belvedere Black Tie Accessories ($45+)

Black Tie elegance has never been easier (or more dapper!)

Fort Belvedere

Black Self-Tie Diamond Bow Tie in Silk Satin Sized with Pointed Ends

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Fort Belvedere

Dark Red Carnation Boutonniere Life Size Lapel Flower

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Fort Belvedere

Eagle Claw Cufflinks with Onyx Ball – 925 Sterling Silver Platinum Plated

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Fort Belvedere

White Linen Pocket Square with Handrolled Edges, Made in Italy

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Fort Belvedere

Finest Over The Calf Socks in Black Silk

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Fort Belvedere

Black Satin Evening Shoelaces

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When it comes to formal attire, every little detail matters. Help him get the details exactly right with these stunning Black Tie accessories from Fort Belvedere. Everything you need to make a smoking Le Smoking ensemble is here, from decadent silk dress socks to crisp bow ties that are individually sized and come with various bow styles to make your formal evening look all your own.

$50 to $100

J.C. Leyendecker: American Imagist Art Book ($50)

Whether seeking out vintage style inspiration or a way to liven up a drab coffee table, J.C. Leyendecker: American Imagist by Laurence S. Cutler and Judy Goffman Cutler chronicles the life and career of this remarkable illustrator with a fascinating narrative and countless high-quality, vibrantly transferred full-color photographs of his most famous and iconic works.

Luigi Bormioli "Veronese" Rocks Glasses ($60)

When your dad drinks, make sure that he drinks in style. Luigi Bormioli is one of our favorite producers of beautiful, functional, and practical barware. We especially like their “Veronese” line of rocks glasses because they have a lovely heft that feels great and keeps your drink in place while the thick glass prevents your hands from warming up cold beverages; the beautiful classic lines don’t hurt, either!

Bottoms Up! Buy them here!

Fort Belvedere Wool-Silk Pocket Squares ($60+)

Over 100 pocket squares are available at the Fort Belvedere website!

Fort Belvedere

Buff Rabbits on Navy Blue with Green Silk Wool Pocket Square

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Fort Belvedere

Wine Red, Yellow,Blue, Green, Orange Silk Wool Medallion Pocket Square

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Fort Belvedere

Purple, Orange, Green, Blue Silk Wool Pocket Square

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Fort Belvedere

Peruse Our Entire Collection

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During the colder days of the year, pocket squares in a wool-silk blend look particularly dapper because they are less shiny than their all-silk counterparts, and the colors are still vivid but a bit more subdued and, hence, perfectly fitting for the season.

Museum Membership ($60+)

Give the gift of culture and the arts this holiday season by surprising that special someone with a local art, history, or cultural museum membership. Whether for a connoisseur or a newbie, a museum membership is a gift that can be enjoyed the entire year. Our local art museum, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, offers starting memberships at just $60.

Roberto Ugolini Fragrance Sampler Set ($70)

Can’t choose between all of the fabulous fragrances offered by Roberto Ugolini? Now you don’t have to! This sample pack gives you access to the entire line to wear and test each fragrance to find your perfect fit.

Matfer Bourgeat Black Carbon Steel 11 ⅞ Fry Pan ($70)

Raphael himself swears by this pan as a versatile option that doesn’t break the bank like other brands can. He has found that the 11 7/8″ size is ideal for most home chefs.

Want another tip? Raphael says: “Elevate your cooking experience with a Lodge silicone handle.”

Folio Society Classic Edition

Books ($75+)

For the dedicated reader, these handsomely bound and illustrated editions of favorite novels could be the perfect way to experience a beloved book again. We especially enjoy the James Bond books by Ian Fleming.

Shop the whole collection

Wireless Earbuds ($98+)

Wireless earbuds make it so easy to enjoy music discreetly, talk on the phone, or block out that outside noise! For best results, select a product that matches the make of the gift-receiver’s mobile phone. We suggest Sony WF-C500 Wireless Earbuds for Android phones and AirPods for iOS users.

$100 to $300

Annual Subscription to the Criterion Channel ($100)

Elevate their streaming experience with an annual subscription to The Criterion Channel this holiday season. An incredible repository of foreign, art, and classic films, The Criterion Channel features thousands of films that will keep the cinephile in your life busy until next Christmas!

Thrifty Traveller Premium Subscription ($100)

For the dad who loves to travel, consider a subscription to Thrifty Traveler! The Schneider family has been utilizing this program for years, and it has saved them thousands of dollars. It also allows them to upgrade to business class for international flights. Say “goodbye” to coach!

This program provides one-on-one personal credit card recommendations based on your spending behaviors, and they advise you on the best way to go about collecting miles so you can collect points and transfer them to all airlines. Even if you don’t collect miles, they have great cash deals domestically and internationally. The premium subscription gives you access tp their portal and email newsletter, where they send you deals from your home airport that you can then book, all with great step-by-step instructions.

Please note that this program currently only operates in the United States of America.

eReader ($105+)

This Gift is Preston-Approved!

A dedicated e-reader eliminates the distractions of other devices, allowing the user to focus fully on reading. When Preston was gifted an e-reader (in his specific case, an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite) by his wife, he was initially unsure whether or not he would get much use out of it; after all, he had considered himself someone who appreciates the tactile, experiential nature of paper books. While this remains true, Preston immediately realized the benefits of the e-reader when taking a trip to Sweden in the spring of 2024. Not only did he have a more engrossing way to occupy his non-conversational downtime at airport gates and on trains than simply scrolling on his phone, but he could choose from a far wider selection of books than if he had endeavored to bring physical copies along. Further, many e-readers support free e-book loans with a valid library card, so Preston was happily able to reengage with his local library. He reports with some pride that after going several years finishing one book or none at all annually, he has read five books and counting in 2024!

Genuine Balsamic Vinegar from Modena, Italy by Villa Ronzan ($110)

When we say “real” balsamic vinegar, we don’t mean the kind you buy at the grocery store or even on the shelves of your local Italian specialty store. Authentic balsamic vinegar is produced in a strictly regulated, time-intensive process carrying a D.O.P. stamp. One of our favorites is made by Villa Ronzan.

Find it on Amazon

Custom Portrait Illustration ($120+)

Give the gift of an unforgettable work of art! Online or locally, find an artist who will transform your photographs, like a portrait or treasured memory, into a unique piece of art.

At the 2023 Belvedere Bash in Minneapolis, Minnesota, we commissioned a local artist, Claire Ward, to create fashion-style illustrations of some of our guests’ fantastic ensembles.

Henckel Classic Set of Four

Steak Knives ($125)

Bon appétit! Every steak he eats will taste better thanks to these classic and elegant steak knives.

available on Amazon

Fort Belvedere 4-Cardholder Slim Wallet ($125+)

Give the gift of the slimmest, finest, most elegant card carrier wallet! The four study slots on this cardholder will allow him to carry all of his essential cards in a slim profile wallet that won’t ruin the lines or drape of his clothes. With nine colors and four leather varieties, we offer a slim wallet to suit every style, occasion, and type of gentleman in your life!

Fort Belvedere

Black Slim Card Carrier Wallet with Cash Pocket in Full-Grain Togo Leather

Only Available from Fort Belvedere!

Fort Belvedere

Golden Brown Slim Card Carrier Wallet with Cash Pocket in Full-Grain Togo Leather

Only Available from Fort Belvedere!

Fort Belvedere

Orange Slim Card Carrier Wallet with Cash Pocket in Full-Grain Togo Leather

Only Available from Fort Belvedere!

Fort Belvedere

Boardroom Taupe Slim Card Carrier Wallet with Cash Pocket in Full-Grain Togo Leather

Only Available from Fort Belvedere!

Fort Belvedere

Black Slim Card Carrier Wallet with Cash Pocket in Full-Grain Americana Leather

Only Available from Fort Belvedere!

Fort Belvedere

Vintage Gold Tan Slim Card Carrier Wallet with Cash Pocket in Full-Grain Americana Leather

Only Available from Fort Belvedere!

Fort Belvedere

Antique Mahogany Slim Card Carrier Wallet with Cash Pocket in Full-Grain Montecristo Leather

Only Available from Fort Belvedere!

Fort Belvedere

Saddle Brown Slim Card Carrier Wallet with Cash Pocket in Full-Grain Montecristo Leather

Only Available from Fort Belvedere!

Fort Belvedere

Saddle Brown Slim Card Carrier Wallet with Cash Pocket in Full-Grain Dumont Leather

Only Available from Fort Belvedere!

Piedaterre Venezia Velvet

Slippers ($135)

Throw the bunny slippers in the trash and help him upgrade his house shoe game with a gorgeous pair of velvet house shoes. Our writer Eb Daniels loves his emerald green pair from Piedaterre Venezia, and with dozens of decadent color choices, you can find a pair to suit any style or personality. They also carry slippers in other materials for warm weather and hotter climates.

It always pays to invest in items that keep you comfortable, and that’s doubly true for anything that also helps to keep you dry! A quality stick umbrella is a dapper tool that ensures you look great while avoiding the wet.

Fort Belvedere Pen Cases ($145)

Vintage Tan

Full-Grain Leather

Mahogany

Magnet Closure

Togo Black

Full Protection

Discover the ultimate in luxury and protection with our high-quality luxury pen pouches. Crafted with precision, these pouches feature folded edges and are made entirely from top-grade leather—no fabric, just pure elegance. The magnetic closure ensures easy access, allowing you to effortlessly retrieve your writing instrument whenever inspiration strikes.

These pen cases are designed to safeguard your treasured writing tools, whether it’s a fountain pen, ballpoint, or rollerball pen. Not only do they provide superior protection, but they also add a touch of sophistication to your everyday carry. Elevate your writing experience and make a statement with a pen pouch that reflects your refined taste. Choose our luxury pen pouches and protect your pens in style.

Don’t miss out on owning the finest accessory for your writing instruments. Act now and indulge in the elegance and functionality that only our pen pouches can offer!

World Poker Tour Clay Poker Set ($150)

When it is poker night at The Gentleman’s Gazette, we gather around the table and play with Raphael’s exceptional World Poker Tour clay chips. Looking for a pack of cards? We use Copag.

Fort Belvedere 4 Suits Poker Pocket Square with Embroidered Hearts, Spaces, Clubs, and Spades

Be ready for poker night with this fun 100% Italian linen pocket square from Fort Belvedere, embroidered with the four suits. We can’t guarantee it will bring you luck, but we can guarantee that it will help you look your very best!

Will Luck be a lady tonight?

Fort Belvedere

Watch Cases

Starting at just $175 for a single-capacity case and available in two- and three-watch capacities in four different Italian tannery-made leather finishes, these carriers are fully lined in grippy suede that naturally holds and protects your watch in place.

Luxury Watches need luxury cases

HORL Knife Sharpening Set ($189)

A good chef knows that his knives are only as good as their sharpness, because dull knives are ineffective and dangerous; but getting knives professionally sharpened is inconvenient and can be expensive. Enter the HORL Knife Sharpening Set, featuring all of the tools that you need to keep your fine knives in fine shape.

Raphael Schneider loves to cook, and he has derived considerable use and benefit from this set, so he highly recommends it. In fact, it is so easy and fun to use that Raphael almost looks forward to sharpening his knives, meaning that he is more regular in his care. This attentiveness drastically improves the lifespan of the expensive German and Japanese knives that the Schneiders own.

Shun Premier 8″ Chef’s Knife ($200)

We’ve tested numerous chef knives. There are many we like, such as the Wustoff knives from Germany and the Evercut Furtif from France, but the one we like the most is the Shun 8” Premier chef’s knife from Japan. It is lightweight, surgically sharp, easy to use, and comfortable for most hands. What makes it an especially stunning investment piece is how beautiful it looks on the counter with the gorgeous dark wood handle, its gold cap, and the layered Damascus cladding with a hammered tsuchime finish. 

Baturina Classic Dressing Gown ($215+)

Whether he’s bundled up against the cold or getting ready for an evening out, he will love doing it in a classic men’s dressing gown. We are particularly impressed with the offerings from Baturina. No matter your choice, it will look much better than a pair of sweatpants!

Audio-Technica Bluetooth Stereo

Turntable ($220)

Old favorites sound better on a turntable record player, and if he has a collection of records, he will love listening to them on this hi-fi record player outfitted with all the latest bells and whistles.

Find it on Amazon

Bose Portable Bluetooth

Speaker ($220)

Don’t let inferior speakers ruin your listening experience. These exceptional speakers from Bose connect wirelessly without compromising sound quality.

Available from Amazon

Roberto Ugolini Fragrances ($255+)

Give him the gift of an introduction into the rarefied world of luxurious niche fragrances with a beautiful flacon from Roberto Ugolini. These exceptional scents represent the pinnacle of olfactory excellence in the world of menswear. With an expanding collection from which to choose, find your and his new favorite scent today.

Full-Grain Leather Passport Holder ($260)

When traveling, focus on the experience, not on managing your flight credentials with bulky folders, multiple wallets, or crammed pockets. Introducing the Fort Belvedere Passport Holder, crafted from premium Italian full-grain leather and designed for frequent flyers. This passport protector and document carrier offers all the storage you need, including three passport pouches, seven card slots, and a full-sized central pouch. Elevate your travel experience with the Fort Belvedere Travel Document Holder today!

Available in Four Leather Finishes

Cotton Bathrobe by

Frette ($265)

Whether leaving the bath or leaving the pool, a quality and classic bathrobe keeps away the chill while layering on the class. Frette is an Italian company that has been manufacturing fine household products for decades and even holds an exclusive commission from some of the world’s finest luxury hotels; our writer Eb Daniels bought his from the Gritti Palace Hotel in Venice, Italy!

Fort Belvedere Leather Wallets ($270)

If he uses it daily, he should love it, so find a wallet he will love at Fort Belvedere!

We aimed to create a bifold wallet that combines spacious storage with a slim profile, using high-quality full-grain leather for durability. By precisely skiving the joining sections, we reduce thickness, and each material is chosen to ensure a sleek look without losing function or sturdiness. We redesigned the central pocket layout to make it slimmer without losing capacity.

This wallet offers eight or ten card slots and a divided main pocket, maintaining its slim profile even when fully loaded, thanks to our careful design choices. While other brands might achieve thinness with smaller card slots, tighter card placement, or synthetic linings, we focus on intentional design to keep the wallet thin and functional.

Saddle Brown

European Leather

Vintage Tan

Leather Dividers

Mahogany

Full Capacity

$300 to $500

Bossanova Kingsize Classic Hammock ($300)

Hammocks are a tradition in South America, and Raphael has enjoyed using one to relax since childhood with his Brazilian father. Unlike synthetic hammocks, this handmade Brazilian hammock is made from breathable, durable organic cotton, which keeps you cool and comfortable. 

Luxury Caviar from Paris

Kaviari ($305)

Served at some of the finest restaurants in the world, including Atlas in Atlanta, where our write Eb sampled some, this Kaviari Imperial Beluga Caviar is the ultimate luxury stocking-stuffer for the gormound in your life.

Get the toast Wedges!

Persol 649 Sunglasses ($342)

Classic rounded sunglasses not only flatter almost all faces but also have the unique ability to make young faces look more mature and more mature faces look more youthful. The iconic Persol 649-series sunglasses are rightfully famous in Classic Menswear as the epitome of stylish flair and charm and will make the ideal addition to any wardrobe. Thanks to their dark tortoiseshell coloring and combination of oversized, organically curved frames, these sunglasses will naturally suit the overwhelming majority of face shapes, meaning that no matter what your father’s face looks like, it will probably look awesome in a pair of these stylish Italian sunglasses.

Bowhill & Elliott Opera Pumps ($380+)

Let's Hear from Jack Collins!

“Am I biased because I live near Bowhill & Elliott? Perhaps. Am I biased because I’m a classic style enthusiast who loves his Bowhill & Elliott opera pumps? Absolutely. When it came to assembling my first black tie ensemble for my 30th birthday celebrations, I knew I wanted something that would be specific to an eveningwear outfit, so no high-shine oxfords for me; it had to be black patent leather. The beauty of the opera pump is that you can then also wear them with a white tie ensemble if ever given the chance, so you’re getting a surprisingly versatile shoe in one purchase. With an almost indestructible leather sole, the opera pumps from Bowhill & Elliott pair longevity with comfort, as the low vamp and quilted lining make them perhaps the most comfortable element of your eveningwear wardrobe. Plus, Mr. Sinatra found opera pumps to be so comfortable and stylish that he used to wear them for traveling. You can’t get a better endorsement than Frank.”

Riedel Wine Decanter ($400)

Decanting allows wine to breathe, which helps to release its aromas and flavors. This is especially beneficial for young red wines, which can be tight and closed off right out of the bottle. Riedel has been manufacturing luxury glassware for decades and remains a leader in the field, and our writer Eb receives nothing but compliments when he serves wine from this elegant decanter that also has the benefit of being very easy to clean.

Maglia Dark Maple Umbrella ($440)

Getting soaked in a sudden rainstorm is never a good look, so make sure the gent in your life is ready for any weather by arming him with a telescopic umbrella from Maglia, makers of fine umbrellas since 1854. Built to last, perfectly waterproof, and beautiful, too, these umbrellas are some of our favorites.

Take shelter under this umbrella now!

Baracuta G9 Harrington Jacket ($450)

When Raphael first reviewed the Baracuta G9 Harrington jacket, he didn’t think that he would like it. Imagine his surprise when it quickly became one of his favorite transitional jackets.

We’ll let his review speak for itself:

“First of all, it comes in a really large range of colors but it also has a very pleasing slim modern cut, even though it was designed in 1937. I’m really pleased with the length of the sleeves. On top of that, it’s a very functional jacket; I can wear it when it’s raining outside when I need to pick up some groceries or drop off my daughter somewhere.

If you consider the price per wear and you just wear it ten times during the spring and ten times during the fall for just ten years, that breaks down to $1.95 per wear which I think is totally worth it.”

$500 to $1000

Museum-Quality Replicas ($500+)

Make his desk or den the envy of any collector with a quality, large-sized reproduction of a beloved work of art. On a large scale, these replicas become one-of-a-kind decorative items themselves and will always make a monumental impression on anyone who sees them.

Check out these offerings from Design Toscano, the Getty Museum, and Museum Replicas.

Season Tickets to a Cultural Event ($550+)

During the season of giving, consider a gift that can be used year-around: tickets to a recurring cultural event, like a season of plays, musicals, or operas. While season tickets are available at many price points, for an unforgettable gift, why not splurge on prime orchestra or mezzanine seats? After all, who doesn’t love an excuse to get all dressed up?

Montblanc MB 01 Over-Ear Headphones ($600)

If the man you’re shopping for is an audiophile, he should never compromise when it comes to enjoying the beauty of sound; too often, headphones are made too small for men with larger ears, like Raphael. Whether he has large ears or not, he will never have to compromise with these classic over-the-ear style headphones from Montblanc. Made with high-quality aluminum, fine leather, and robust silicon, these headphones will last even when taken on the road or through the skies on long trips.

Nakata Valet Stand

“Giorno” ($650)

He will truly feel like the lord of the manor when aided in his dressing and undressing by this beechwood valet stand made in Japan by Nakata. The sturdy hangers keep his jacket and trousers handy and neat while the tidbit tray provides the perfect temporary storage for a wallet, keys, cufflinks, and similar small objects. This model even features an elevated shoe rack for airing shoes; Nakata has truly thought of everything.

Lello 4080 Musso Lussino Ice Cream Maker ($700)

We all scream for ice cream, and with this fun and easy ice cream maker, your dad can make it himself! With a 1 ½ quart capacity this industrious little machine can freeze up to three quarts of ice cream or sorbet per hour. Fully automatic, you only need to fill it with ingredients and then push two buttons with preconfigured settings for different frozen confections.

Raphael received this exact model as a gift from his family and making his own ice cream has quickly become one of his favorite hobbies. Every time Raphael makes ice cream for others he is inundated with compliments and after dessert he is happy to show off this handy gadget to his guests.

Tissot PRX ($725)

What does Chris Dummer have to say about this classic wristwatch?

“The Tissot PRX is an excellent holiday gift choice for those who appreciate timeless style blended with modern functionality. Its sleek, retro design nods to classic 1970s timepieces, offering a vintage charm that’s right on trend. This watch is versatile enough to be dressed up or down, making it suitable for any occasion and a perfect wardrobe staple. The Swiss craftsmanship ensures precision and durability, signaling a gift of quality. It’s a thoughtful present that speaks to one’s taste and the desire to offer something both luxurious and practical. For anyone looking to make a lasting impression, the Tissot PRX won’t disappoint.”

Classic Silk Pajama Set ($885)

Nothing will make the man in your life feel like a gentleman of leisure quite like a true silk pajama set. Traditional pajamas, composed of a button-down, notch-collar lapel shirt and matching drawstring bottoms, used to be a department store staple. Few men wear them anymore, so why not revisit them with this ultra-lux pair from Derek Rose made from 100% silk? You won’t be afraid to open the door for the UPS guy wearing these pajamas.

$1000+

iPad Pro 13-Inch with Keyboard and Stylus ($1250)

As a busy entrepeneur who seeks out the best technology, Raphael is never far from his iPad Pro. The 13-inch screen lets him see what he needs to see without affecting portability. And with a stylus and keyboard interface, he can utilize this tool in any way he needs to get things done, whether he’s at the office, commuting, or riding in an airplane.

Whether the lucky fellow who receives this gift uses it for business, pleasure, or both, we believe that the beautiful iPad Pro will make a welcome addition to his tech cadre; Raphael certainly can’t get enough of his!

Sony Alpha 6700 Camera ($1500)

Superlative cameras have never been cheaper, and when it comes to remarkable value at an attainable price point, the Sony Alpha 6700 leads the pack. With a 26 MP sensor, AI-based subject recognition, 16-50mm zoom, and the ability to shoot 4K video, he will put Man Ray to shame with this versatile little camera.

Jack, our senior content manager, has recently begun shooting more photographs for us and he prefers to use the Sony Alpha 6700.

Available on Amazon!

Belstaff Leather Jacket

Trialmaster ($1795)

Invest in his comfort and his style with a quality leather jacket like the Belstaff Trialmaster. The silhouette of the Panther jacket hasn’t changed in years, so you can be assured the look will remain relevant for years to come. The tumble-finished, hand-waxed cowhide leather also makes it a much sturdier leather jacket than most.

Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case ($2150)

As a regular luxury traveler, Raphael knows that there is no substitute for a quality suitcase. Recently, we partnered with Sterling Pacific to discuss their 40L cabin travel case. As part of that partnership, we carried out a thorough review of this luggage and found it to be an exceptional product.

Whether as a gift for yourself or for the jet-setter in your life, this suitcase could be a perfect addition to their travel trousseau and an ideal luggage option.

Cartier Tank Must ($3450)

Jack says: As an icon of not only horology, but also of design, the Cartier Tank has always been on my radar as a “grail watch”. The simple, elegant, and utterly timeless design pairs with so many varieties and combinations of clothing, making it an extremely versatile watch. The price is also an attractive factor, as many Tank Musts were produced in the 70s and 80s, meaning you can find an exquisite version on the vintage market for around $1500 – $3000. When compared to the price of similarly iconic watches, and when you consider how much wear you’ll get out of it, it’s a remarkably low investment AND cost-per-wear item that’s still valuable to treasure and eventually hand down as an heirloom piece. As a final thought, the quartz-powered Tank Must makes it a tremendous watch to travel with due to its reliability, and the almost silent movement (and lack of a seconds hand) means it feels and looks far more elegant. Invest in an additional strap to change out between light and dark colors for added bang-for-your-buck, or go with an expert-level forest green, oxblood, or gray strap for the ultimate “one-watch collection”.

Berkel Flywheel Slicer ($6600)

For the man who has everything and loves to eat,consider a manual flywheel meat slicer that adds a unique culinary twist to any kitchen space. Raphael enjoys this example from Berkel that offers several benefits that make it a standout choice for both home and professional kitchens.

Made with high-quality materials and attention to detail, these slicers are not only durable but also add a touch of elegance to any kitchen. Their vintage design is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, making them a conversation piece.

Using a Berkel slicer can enhance the flavor and texture of the food. The sharp blade and precise slicing help maintain the integrity of the food, ensuring that each slice retains its natural juices and flavors. This results in a superior taste experience that is sure to impress guests and elevate any meal.

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Conclusion

We hope you’ve found something for every gentleman on your shopping list! If not, here is additional content that may help you on your holiday search!

Have you ever heard of the fragrance hierarchy or considered the impact it could have on your fragrance purchases? The hierarchy of fragrances is an effort to categorize scents based on brand position, exclusivity, ingredient quality, and price range.

Ideally, the fragrance hierarchy helps consumers understand what to expect when selecting a fragrance.

Pyramid Position Doesn’t Equal Good Value

We want to be clear: where a fragrance falls on this hierarchy doesn’t necessarily reflect its quality—that will vary from person to person. You can find a good fragrance at any price point or position on the pyramid, provided that it does what you need and suits your style.

You may know the

Old Pyramid

If you’ve heard of the fragrance hierarchy, you’ve likely seen tier levels based on where the fragrance can be bought or who makes it. The common categories are Drugstore, Celebrity, Designer, and Niche. This is a helpful list, but you know us—we prefer to be as thorough as possible. Today, we’ll explore a more nuanced and expanded list, building off the conventional one with seven categories.

Our Expanded Fragrance Hierarchy

Bootleg

We’ll start with one place you never want to buy fragrances from—off of a blanket spread in a public square or down a dark alleyway. Yes, we’re talking about bootlegs.

Bootleg Fragrance Can Be Dangerous in Many Ways

Bootlegs are fake versions of a fragrance, illegally marketed as the real thing, and should be avoided at all costs. By definition, the person selling you a bootleg is lying to you by misrepresenting the maker of a product. So, you cannot trust the quality of the fragrance. They are often cheaply made and have ingredients that don’t function well or could even harm your skin.

Additionally, bootleg fragrance operations are commonly used to finance organized crime. Similarly, avoid buying any products sold suspiciously because even if they’re real, they could be stolen.

know the difference

Bootlegs vs Dupes

It is important to distinguish between bootlegs—fake versions of a fragrance illegally sold as the real thing—and dupes, legal, cheaper alternative duplicates of a more expensive fragrance that claim to smell similarly to the more expensive fragrance. Dupes are commonly found at the next tier level of the hierarchy: the Drugstore.

Drugstore

Drugstores are a good place to discover an array of different scents, all at very reasonable prices. Because these fragrances are more affordable, they allow you to experiment with different scent types and varieties to see how they interact with your natural musk.

Drugstore Fragrances Can Be An Extremely Economical Choice

And if you find a drugstore scent you like, you can use it as your daily fragrance, saving the higher-end options for special occasions. Many fragrance devotees swear by drugstores, and certain products have developed a cult following. Due to the limiting factor of price, drugstore-tier fragrances usually won’t have the diversity of fragrance types, unique, rare scents, or the lasting power of higher-end products.

So, they rely on more common synthetic ingredients and lower aromatic concentrations to stay at their price point. Some typical examples of drugstore-level fragrances include Jovan Musk, Florida Water, and Old Spice.

Examples of Drugstore-Level Fragrances

Drugstore Fragrance

Jovan Musk

Amazon

Drugstore Fragrance

Florida Water

Landman & Kemp

Drugstore Fragrance

Old Spice

Old Spice

Not All Drugstore Fragrances Are Technically “Fragrances”

It is worth noting that some drugstore-category fragrances are technically aftershave balms and lotions, which are not conventional fragrances, but they work just fine when it comes to smelling great. They were the scent many men wore during the Golden Age of Menswear.

Preston, for example, has many positive associations with the classic Ice Blue Aqua Velva aftershave balm and occasionally still enjoys wearing it as a conventional fragrance.

Drugstores can also carry higher-tier fragrances, like our next category: Celebrity.

Branded (Celebrity)

Celebrity-tier fragrances in the hierarchy are named as such because they usually rely heavily on branding and name recognition as part of their sales pitch.

Celebrity Endorsements

Branding Over Quality?

Basically, the selling point is the celebrity and not necessarily the quality or the value of the fragrance. Most of these fragrances are individually endorsed by celebrities or famous icons and accordingly bear their names. Common examples include Michael Jordan, Intimately Beckham, and 007 by James Bond.

Branded Fragrances Can Be Hit or Miss

Celebrity-tier fragrances can be very hit or miss, as the focus is more on the celebrity than the fragrance itself. Sometimes, these products have the same or even lower quality standards as drugstore-tier fragrances, yet they come with a higher price tag due to the celebrity association. And even when higher-quality ingredients are employed, they are usually at lower concentrations, like eau de cologne, resulting in reduced longevity and sillage.

That being said, like drugstore tier, there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with celebrity fragrances as long as you feel you’re getting genuine value from the product.

Fashion House

Another category of branded fragrances is the Fashion House or designer level in the fragrance hierarchy. These fragrances are created by companies that were not originally known for fragrances but have expanded into the market. Think of fragrances by Giorgio Armani, such as Acqua Di Gio and Si (both of which Eb likes!), Burberry, and Versace, whose Blue Jeans is a favorite of Jack’s.

Because fashion houses and designer labels have reputations to maintain, they often use higher-quality ingredients, greater aromatic concentrations, and generally higher production standards compared to drugstore or celebrity fragrances.

Many Fashion Houses Have Developed Positive Reputations as Fragrance Houses

Some brands, like Tom Ford or Mont Blanc, have thoroughly developed and cultivated the fragrance divisions of their companies and established solid reputations in the scent community. Of course, some companies at this level also trade largely on their name recognition and sell fragrances at inflated prices that don’t represent good value, so it all depends on the company and what works for you.

As always, don’t let brand names alone determine your fragrance purchases or any product decisions, for that matter.

Department Store

When it comes to department stores, we can’t attribute a discrete tier ranking to this level because it encompasses fragrances from nearly every tier we’ve discussed so far. Higher-end department stores can carry products all the way up to the top tier level of the fragrance hierarchy, becoming a source of a truly impressive range of scents at different price points.

However, department stores can also act as a graveyard for fragrances whose time in the limelight has passed. Of course, there’s a big difference between stores like Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, so the fragrance selection at your local department store will vary based on the store’s prestige and target audience.

Fragrance House

Fragrance houses are companies known primarily for making fragrances. While they may have branched out into other products, their main focus is crafting scents. As dedicated fragrance makers, these companies tend to use higher-quality ingredients and carefully chosen aromatic concentrations. They maintain extensive libraries of interesting and unique fragrances designed for different seasons, occasions, and levels of formality.

Fragrance houses are more likely to provide detailed information about their products than just listing fragrance notes. They often share insights into their production processes and the creative rationale behind each fragrance, which can help you, the consumer, make informed decisions.

Fragrance Houses Offer a Variety of Paired Scented Products

Many of these companies also offer iconic scents in various forms, such as soaps, body washes, shampoos, and even room diffuser oils. This is especially useful if you like to avoid scent confusion and prefer consistent fragrances across your products. But don’t think everything you own has to match perfectly; scent layering allows you to combine different fragrances harmoniously.

Examples of Fragrance Houses

Brands like Ortigia Sicilia, Diptyque, and Jo Malone are good examples of the Fragrance House category.

Still, just because a company focuses on fragrances doesn’t automatically mean their products are worth the higher prices. Remember: being expensive doesn’t make a product great; being of great value makes a product great, with a cost that justifies the product.

Outfit Rundown

Today, I’m wearing a different scent called Calle Ocho. It’s an extrait fragrance from Fulton & Roark. I’ve been experimenting with some other fragrances from this company for the last couple of years, and they smell incredible. I’m pairing that with my outfit today: a lot of navy, a lot of stripes—so a rugby-inspired blazer, a striped shirt, blue pants, brown dress shoes, and, of course, Fort Belvedere pocket square and socks.

For more great men’s accessories, check out the Fort Belvedere shop here.

Fort Belvedere

Antique Gold Medallion Pocket Square

Buy here

Fort Belvedere

Light Navy & Red Shadow Stripe Socks

Buy here

Artisanal

In the conventional fragrance hierarchy, what we refer to as the Fashion House tier is called Niche because these companies are in a particular niche of fragrances. Now, we prefer, however, to include one final tier that we call Artisanal, consisting of Niche within the tier of fragrance houses. Think of it as the crème de la crème.

Makers at this level consist of high-end companies that exclusively develop and sell niche fragrances for discerning clientele that love the rare and wonderful when it comes to olfactory experiences.

Artisinal Fragrances Have a High Cost But Often Present Good Value

Artisanal fragrances tend to be very expensive, but the best examples of companies at this tier do their best to prove that the cost is worth it. These companies offer carefully curated selections of rare and exotic scents, unique twists on classics, and an unparalleled wearing experience, thanks to their use of the finest ingredients carefully combined in skillful melodies with minutely controlled duration and sillage.

Roberto Ugolini

Marzocco

Great All-Year!

Rober Ugolini

Azzurro

For Fun in the Sun!

Roberto Ugolini

Derby

Ready for Business!

Conversely, the worst examples at this tier trade on their reputation and legacies to justify exorbitant prices. They count on consumers assuming, “If it’s this expensive, it must be good.” But remember, while quality often has a price, price does not always equate to quality. This principle also applies even at the top tier of the fragrance hierarchy.

Defining Artisinal Niche Fragrance Houses: Some Companies to Consider

We understand people can have different definitions of what can make a fragrance house truly artisanal. However, some notable examples we would suggest include Roberto Ugolini, Creed, and Clive Christian.

Keep in mind, though, that this rarefied tier isn’t for everyone, and we’re not saying this level is automatically the best just because it is the most expensive.

We’re just saying that this space on the fragrance hierarchy is defined by companies that choose to set themselves apart by catering only to very particular clients. But not being one of these clients doesn’t mean you don’t appreciate fragrances, don’t value quality, or don’t smell good—it just means that fragrances at this tier aren’t for you. That’s why we have a whole hierarchy from which to choose.

Conclusion

Exceptional fragrances can be found anywhere on the fragrance hierarchy, and members of Gentleman’s Gazette wear drugstore brands with the same discernment as artisanal ones. We understand that the fragrance hierarchy is a tool intended to help you make informed decisions as you shop for products that suit your needs, budget, and lifestyle.

Let us know in the comments at which level on the fragrance hierarchy you like to shop, or if you prefer to employ different tiers.

And on the sartorial content hierarchy, we hope you’ll rank today’s article in the artisanal category!

When you do something every day, you want to make sure you’re doing it right. That’s why, when it comes to shaving, we stand behind the double-edged safety razor and have for years. In fact, today’s guide is an update to one that we produced back in 2020 (see below), and we figured the DE razor deserves to have its praises sung again.

Why Cartridge Shaving Dominates

Of course, you might be asking yourself: If DE razors are so great, then why do multi-blade cartridge models dominate the market?

It’s all about

Clever Marketing

Cartridge razors are advertised as being the latest and greatest technology, easy and convenient to use, and effective. Just think of those pleasing animations of multiple blades gliding over and removing hair.

However, if we compare cartridge shaving and traditional double-edged shaving head-to-head (or blade-to-blade), then those marketing tricks fall away quickly.

Benefits of DE Shaving

1. Proper Engineering (vs. Overengineering)

Razor Handles

There are two major categories in which we can compare these two types of shaving and why double-edged shaving is superior; and the first of these is proper engineering versus over-engineering. What matters most when shaving is the quality of the shave and that hinges directly on the quality of the razor.

Cartridge razors create the illusion of a superior experience by piling on a lot of gimmicks. Think about the multiple arrangements of different blades, pivoting heads, or lubricating strips. These all sound neat, but when you stop to think about it, the benefits of all of these things are already represented in a traditional shave. The multiple blades, for instance, are really no different than simply taking multiple passes with a single blade.

No matter how many blades you’re using, you’re likely to take at least a few passes at a time; and, in fact, by just using a single blade, you’ll be less likely to snag a hair in between blades or cut a hair below the surface of the skin, which can lead to irritation or ingrown hairs.

A pivoting razor head is really no different than simply controlling the angle of your shave, which is easier to do with a smaller razor head, and you’ll be able to do it well with a practice technique.

And that lubrication strip will be vastly outperformed by high-quality shaving cream and aftershave balm. 

So, if you strip away all of the gimmicks of modern cartridge razors, you’re essentially left with a double-edged razor, which really is the superior shaving method.

Razor Blades

a De safety razor

Lets you choose the right blade

Rather than piling on generic one-size-fits-all blades as cartridge razors do, shaving with a double-edged safety razor allows you to pick the ideal blade for your skin and hair types.

The stationary head of a double-edged razor allows you to maneuver the blade exactly as you’d like to and be more or less aggressive, leading to the shave that’s right for you; and with a DE razor, you’ll be able to use those high-quality soaps and shaving creams that will leave your skin feeling better.

Why can’t you use these with cartridge razors? Well, you can certainly try. But, oftentimes, the higher amounts of lipids and emollient in these high-quality products will gum up the works of a multi-blade razor.

When used properly, the benefits of a DE razor will not only lead to a closer shave, but a smoother one as well. As mentioned, cartridge razors take a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to hair types and skin sensitivities.

So, while they may provide decent results for most shavers, they’ll provide truly exceptional results to very few shavers; and they’re a particularly poor choice for those with sensitive skin or especially coarse hair. So, by selecting the ideal blade for your skin and hair and using it with a DE razor, you’re likely to see better results.

2. Cost

Let’s start here by talking about how quickly blades dull. Whether we’re talking about a double-edged razor blade or cartridge blades, they tend to start dulling after around three to five uses, considering average hair texture.

Straight Razor blades are

Kept sharp by stropping

It’s actually fairly difficult to keep a razor blade sharp. Hence the need to regularly strop (and hone) a straight razor, the most traditional of shaving methods.

DE razors account for this reality by being manufactured to work with extremely simple blades that are easy to manufacture. To replace each individual double-edged blade will cost you just pennies by the pack, so it’s fairly convenient to simply dispose of a blade when you’re done using it or when it’s getting dull.

Compare that to the fairly over-engineered cartridge blade packs, which can cost over $4 for a single multi-blade implement; and while manufacturers claim that these cartridges are good for over fifteen shaves, we’ve noticed a marked decrease in quality after just a few shaves with them in our own testing. So, if you notice your cartridges pulling, that means you’ll have to shell out considerably more cash to get new ones or settle for a sub-par shave.

In other words then, this underscores how DE shaving is superior in terms of lifetime cost. Bilking you out of your money is such a major part of the cartridge shaving system that it’s literally the name of a pricing model in the business world—the “razor and blades model.”

The shaving company Gillette made the conscious decision to sell its cartridge system razor handles at cost to get shavers started for a relatively low price, but those razor handles are pretty useless without blades. So, Gillette made the cartridge heads expensive, knowing that everyone who already had a handle would essentially be locked into this system—unless they were wise enough to consider other options, that is.

So, while you might only spend $10 to get the handle for a cartridge razor, be prepared to spend as much as three times that per month in order to keep yourself well-stocked with blades.

On the other hand, DE shaving does have a considerable upfront cost—as in order to get yourself started with a basic kit, you’ll probably have to spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 to $100. Yes, that can sound steep in comparison. But, if you purchase quality tools, then you’ll likely only need to make this investment once; and going forward—potentially for the rest of your life—you’ll only be paying pennies per shave because of how cheap DE razor blades are.

The only real expense from that point onward will be the occasional purchase of shaving cream or if you’d like to treat yourself to a new tool.

As a case study here, Raphael has run some numbers himself and, in his own testing, in order to shave as comfortably with a cartridge razor as he does with a DE razor, he would have to potentially spend as much as ten times more per year.

3. Environmental Concerns

We’ll close this section out with another cost—the cost of unsustainable waste. Both cartridge razors and DE razors will likely have to be disposed of at some point. But, cartridge razors introduce a difficult-to-dispose-of or recycle chunk of hard plastic, which often ends up in landfills.

Meanwhile, the typically all metal bodies of traditional DE razors don’t really have to be thrown away and, in many cases, can be refurbished if they’re antiques to still be usable; and as opposed to the multi-blade implement of a cartridge razor, which again is a hunk of plastic, the blades of a DE razor are made from simple-to-recycle metal.

The DE Razor produces

Less Waste

If they’re properly stored, razor blades can be easily dropped off at a local recycling center or, even if you do throw them away, they will still take up considerably less space in a landfill. And while neither metal or plastic is strictly-speaking biodegradable, metal will break down in the environment over decades; whereas, some plastics can take up to hundreds or even thousands of years.

Considerations for DE Shaving

With all this being said then, we don’t want to overhype double-edged shaving. After all, we certainly don’t want you trying to shave while wearing rose-colored glasses.

1. Cartridge Razors Are Easy To Use But Results In An Inferior Shave

We do recognize that one of the main draws of cartridge razor shaving is how simple and intuitive it is. The cartridge system does make it much harder to nick or cut yourself, though it does this generally by impeding the action of the razor blade with a safety bar. This then contributes to an inferior shave overall.

2. DE Razors Offer Full Use And Control Over The Blade

When double-edged shaving, as mentioned before, you’ll have full control over the blade, which means that, yes, there is a slightly higher chance of nicking or cutting yourself, but that control will also give you a closer shave with less irritation when done well.

3. DE Razors Require Practice But Offer A Better Experience

All it will take for you to achieve this is an investment in time in order to learn how to properly use a DE razor. Fortunately, though, we’ve already produced several guides on the subject that will walk you through the process slowly and concisely, so you’ll be able to get a fantastic shave, benefiting from our years of experience.

And if you’ve got sensitive skin as I do, you can find DE razors on the market with a smaller blade gap, leading to a lower chance of cutting yourself. So, then DE shaving does require special tools and a little bit more time and know-how. But, we think the results speak for themselves.

4. DE Razors Are Not Permissible In Carry-On Luggage

Before we move on though, we will pause for a moment to acknowledge one area where cartridge razors potentially do have DE razors beat and that is the area of airline travel.

Unfortunately, DE razor blades aren’t allowed in carry-on luggage by most major airlines. This means that, unless you’re bringing along a checked bag on your journey, where your DE razor and blades can be stowed, you may have to make do with a cartridge razor, which can be safely carried in carry-on luggage. Alternatively though, you could opt for a different method of shaving that can accommodate being put into a carry-on bag like an electric shaver.

By the way, Raphael frequently employs a method of shaving that couples a DE razor with an electric shaver, which you can learn more about in another guide.

Discover the “twin-tool” shaving technique here!

So, if you’re interested in using that method, chances are you’ll already have an electric shaver on hand that you can take with you when traveling. This way, you won’t have to bother with a cartridge razor in either case.

Speaking of electric shavers then, for more information on how DE shaving compares to other shaving methods besides just cartridges, our comprehensive shaving guide e-book is a fantastic place to find this information and much more.

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Master the Art of Shaving with Our Shaving Guide

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In assembling this work, we personally tested over one hundred shaving products to see how they performed. Our expert testers have extensive experience with all shaving methods, including cartridge, double-edged or safety, and straight razors, techniques, and tools. All products were tested comparatively by the same team, so you can be sure that every suggestion, tip, and review is unbiased and the direct result of our genuine opinions and assessments.

Download the eBook for $25.00

Essential Tools for Double-Edge Shaving:

Now that we have piqued your interest in double-edged shaving, let’s conclude by running down the list of essential tools you’ll need in order to shave with a double-edged razor.

1. Razor Body (Handle and Head)

Firstly, of course, you’ll need a razor body—that is a handle and head. Unlike with cartridge razors, DE razors can be highly customized to you and your needs with variations in weight, balance, aggressiveness, blade gap, and the like to suit your individual shaving style. And for a truly bespoke experience, you can even mix-and-match the handles and heads of many different razors.

To use myself as a personal example here, I enjoy the narrow blade gap of the head of the Hansen Shaving AL13 with the weight and heft of the handle of the Muhle R89 Grande.

This guide isn’t sponsored by the way, I’ve just found that these two razor options have worked well for me.

2. Blades

Next, you’ll obviously need to load the body of your razor with a blade that suits your skin sensitivity, hair type, and shaving needs. In simplest terms here, you can consult our guide on the best double-edged razor blades as a great place to start.

BEST & WORST Blades for Safety Razor & DE Shaving

3. Quality Shaving Cream

a superior shave needs

Quality products

You’re also going to want some shaving products that will help to prepare your hair for shaving and soothe your skin afterward.

We suggest acquiring a quality shaving soap or cream featuring fats and emollient for smoothness, protection, and moisturization, paired with a shaving brush and mug to create a rich, spreadable lather. Your skin will thank you for not using cheap aerosol creams, which we cover in greater depth in another guide.

4. Aftershave or Balm

You should also procure a moisturizing aftershave or balm and, if you’d like more product recommendations for this and other related things, you can find our guide featuring some of our favorites.

Discover our favorites and why we love them!

If you’re first getting used to DE shaving you should also consider a product that will stop bleeding from occasional nicks and cuts. Even for experienced shavers, they’re bound to happen, and there’s no shame in it. Styptic pencils and alum blocks are good options here as they stop bleeding by coagulating blood at the surface.

Conclusion

With that, you should know all that you need to in order to try out double-edged shaving for yourself.

We’d like to know then, did we thoroughly convince you that double-edged shaving is a cut above or are there still some cartridge fans out there? Let us know in the comments as I go over today’s outfit.

Outfit Rundown

Today, I’m wearing a relatively simple and casual outfit—the centerpiece of which is my silver-colored polo shirt. As I have for other shaving-related content in the past, I picked this shirt today as I believe its pattern is somewhat reminiscent of the knurling on a traditional DE razor handle.

Most of the rest of my outfit—including my belt, loafers from J Butler, and trousers—are all plain black, and my socks are from our own brand, Ford Belvedere. These are part of our range of what we’re calling our two-tone, solid designs; and they’re in black and white to harmonize somewhat with the shirt.

Finally, today, for a fragrance, I’ve chosen Individuel from Montblanc as I believe the silver, black, and white tones on the bottle harmonized with my outfit and because the light and fairly neutral scent is pleasing to me. But, for the socks I’m wearing today, as well as a wide array of other classic men’s accessories, corduroy trousers, fragrances from the Roberto Ugolini collection, and our shaving guide e-book, among others—you can take a look at the Fort Belvedere shop.

Fort Belvedere

Black & White Two-Tone Formal Socks

VIEW PRODUCT

Our Original “DE vs. Cartridge” Video

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, we first published a video on this topic back in 2020. Our analysis remains largely the same, but watch it for yourself to see how far our production has come in the intervening years!

If you prefer something less seasonal, we’ve previously discussed the best and worst 80s and ’90s fragrances.

Retro fragrances tend to offer great value because they are literally time-tested but don’t have the markups of the latest, newest, and trendiest fragrances. A quick note: We’re testing modern iterations of these fragrances that have usually been reformulated—sometimes several times—from their initial launch, as these are the formulations currently available in stores. With all that out of the way, let’s get started on our retro hot weather fragrance hot or not list.

Eau de Cologne by Hermes (1979)

This is our oldest fragrance, and it’s the only one on the list from the 1970s. This was released in its iconic green bottle in 1979 as Eau de Cologne Hermes and originally developed by Françoise Caron.

It was rebranded in 1997 as Eau d’Orange Verte and reformulated in 2009 by Jean-Claude Ellena. Its current iteration is a raw, vibrant, and fresh citrine fragrance, combining initial notes of bold orange with mint that cleanly transitions into a mossy base—resulting in a dry, invigorating, and woody sensation. A 3.4-oz flacon currently retails for $144. 

When smelling this, the citrus orange is probably the most prominent scent to me. The only real drastic development I noticed in this fragrance was the depth to the orange as I continued to smell, and some of the moss elements started to come through. I didn’t feel it harmonized completely with me and my personal smell, but it’s a very bold scent and it does harmonize on a certain level in a crisp and bright way during the day.

To me, this is definitely a warm-weather fragrance. The longevity appears quite bold at first when initially applied, and it begins to subtly fade throughout the day. Personally, I would wear this fragrance for a lunch out with friends. I enjoy the bold citrus elements of this fragrance but I don’t think I’d wear this fragrance very often. 

Tuscany per Uomo by Aramis (1984)

Rather like the bold musketeer after whom its brand is named, Tuscany per Uomo by Aramis is a very traditionally masculine and warm weather fragrance inspired by the citrine and aromatic scents of the Italian region for which it’s named.

A great scent for

Warm Weather

Prominent top notes of citrines like lemon, bergamot, and lime are tempered by floral lavender before descending to more herbaceous middle notes of anise, caraway, and tarragon, tinged with orange blossom. The base notes are very typical of men’s fragrances consisting of a blend of oak moss, basic patchouli, sandalwood, cinnamon, and tonka bean with a distinct leather typical of Aramis products. A 3.4-oz flacon is $74 directly from Estée Lauder.

Lemon, lavender, and orange are the most prominent notes to me in this scent. As the fragrance matured, I started to notice a bit of spice coming through, perhaps from the cinnamon.

Personally, I felt that this fragrance harmonized pretty well with my natural scent. I find this fragrance to be a warm weather and transitional fragrance. The longevity of this fragrance is low, but good for a few hours of wear while leaving a nice lasting scent. I would wear this fragrance out for coffee or even a business casual dinner. I personally like this scent and would probably recommend it to others.

Cool Water by Davidoff (1988)

Cool Water was designed by Pierre Bourdon, and it made quite a splash when it was released in 1988. Thanks to a massive advertising campaign, this fragrance was ubiquitous in the 90s and still remains quite popular today. A surprising variety of different scents are combined to create a fresh fragrance evocative of the ocean.

Top notes include a very prominent burst of seawater with mint, lavender, coriander, rosemary, and assorted green notes. This opening is somewhat reminiscent of Creed’s Green Irish Tweed, but these fragrances develop in very different ways. Middle notes include sharp neroli, jasmine, and geranium with mellow sandalwood and base notes of traditionally masculine cedar wood, musk, amber, and tobacco. Sold by a number of retailers, Cool Water is available for about $40 for 3.4-oz.

We’ve reviewed Cool Water before and found it to be a very versatile and unique summer fragrance.

Here’s what I think now: I found that mint, rosemary, and sandalwood happen to be the most prominent scents to me when smelling this fragrance. I really didn’t notice much of a shift in the maturity of the scent the more I continued to smell it. I felt it harmonized a little bit with me and my natural scent, but nothing as well as some of the other scents on this list. I found this to be more of a hybrid scent, something you could wear in hot or warm weather climates. I found the longevity on the scent to be low, but something that did give a nice effect for a few hours of wear. I would feel comfortable wearing this fragrance pretty much any time, especially for casual or even business casual settings. I definitely like this fragrance, and I can understand why it’s quite popular.

Eternity for Men by Calvin Klein (1990)

We’ve previously reviewed this fragrance as well, and, while not quite as famous as Obsession, also by Calvin Klein, Eternity for Men, developed by Carlos Benaim, took the 90s by storm thanks to its unique aromatic fougere components.

It opens very similarly to Tuscany by Aramis, with top notes including lavender, mandarin, orange, bergamot, and lemon, but its middle notes take a sharper turn with coriander, juniper berries, basil, and sage, with potent florals like lily, orange blossom, jasmine, lily of the valley, and geranium.

At the base, we have the usual suspects: sandalwood, musk, amber, and vetiver, but with the unexpected introduction of Brazilian rosewood. This fragrance is available directly from Calvin Klein for $109 for a 100-ml flacon.

I previously found this fragrance clean and unobjectionable, like a neighborhood barbershop. Here’s what I think now: I found the orange, lavender, and lemon to initially be the most prominent scents in this fragrance. As the fragrance matures, the sandalwood and musk start to become more noticeable. I feel this fragrance does start to harmonize with my natural scent in a soft and subtle way over time. I believe this is a great warm-weather fragrance. I believe the longevity is decent for an average day’s wear. I would wear this fragrance for an evening out, perhaps even a casual walk around town. I definitely enjoy and would recommend this scent.

JF by Floris (1992)

Floris is one of the hottest fragrance houses right now, and it was no different in 1992, when this woody aromatic scent was launched. Exotic citrines dominate the top notes, including bergamont, Amalfi lemon, mandarin orange, and lime with a coarse introduction of clary sage, coriander, and even wormwood. Middle notes are warm and fresh including cypress, peregrine, jasmine, and juniper berries; and earthy bass notes of musk, oak moss, virginia cedar, and amber.

A Summer Scent that’s

Effortlessly British

According to Floris, this fragrance is elegant, fresh, and effortlessly British. Lemon, lime, and orange tended to be the more prominent notes that I noticed in this fragrance initially. As this fragrance matures, the warmth of jasmine and oak moss starts to come through.

I feel this fragrance harmonized well with my natural scent with its bright citrus notes and woody base. I feel this fragrance is a great warm to transitional scent. I feel this fragrance lasts for a few hours—maybe great for a particular event, maybe not something I would expect to last all day long. I could see myself wearing this fragrance out for a brunch or even a casual meeting. I definitely like this scent.

Nautica by Nautica (1992)

Immensely popular thanks to its attainable price point in 1992, the original Nautica spawned two successors: Nautica Voyage and Nautica Blue. Nautica Classic is a woody chypre fragrance that leans heavily into botanicals.

Top notes include a veritable orchard of aldehydes, lime, lemon, bergamot, neroli, cypress, tarragon, clary sage, coriander, and cinnamon, followed by a flower garden of jasmine, rose, cyclamen, geranium, and caraway; and a final stand of sandalwood, cedar, oak moss, patchouli, amber, and musk for base notes. It is available from several retailers for about $20 for a 3.4-oz flacon.

I initially noticed the cypress, bergamot, and lemon the most. As I continued to smell, the fragrance did start to mature; it softened from something very nautical to a very clean, crisp, and almost relaxing scent. I felt it harmonized with my scent very well with a spice of cinnamon, floral notes, and woody base notes.

I find this is a great transitional into hot weather fragrance. The longevity on this scent was decent, but maybe not ideal for heavy strength if you’re expecting to wear this all day long. I feel comfortable wearing this scent pretty much anytime during the summer when out casually. I do like this scent.

Blue Jeans by Versace (1994)

Blue Jeans was developed by Jean-Pierre Bethouart, and it was launched in 1994. It has a range of natural top notes, including bergamot, juniper, anise, Brazilian rosewood, and basil, which quickly dried down to floral middle notes of lavender, rose, carnation, heliotrope, jasmine, geranium, and lily of the valley, as well as sage and fir.

Before a sweet and conventional finish with base notes of vanilla, tonka bean, sandalwood, amber, cedar, patchouli, and vetiver with an unexpected kick of iris. Versace markets this fragrance as a classic that—like a good pair of jeans—won’t let you down. It is available from several retailers for about $30 for 3.4-oz and comes in one of the more interesting cases and flacons that we’re discussing today.

Blue Jeans is more of

A sweet scent

I found vanilla to be one of the more prominent notes in this fragrance. I noticed an increase in sweetness and overall floral notes as the fragrance started to mature. I do not feel like this fragrance harmonized very well with my scent. This fragrance is best worn in hot weather.

Longevity is decent but not long-lasting. I don’t feel like I’d wear this fragrance in any setting, and I really don’t like this fragrance.

Millesime Imperial by Creed (1995)

Fragrances by Creed are some of the most sought-after in the menswear sphere today, and it was no different in 1995 when Oliver Creed and Pierre Bourdon debuted Millesime Imperial, which was launched to mark the house’s 150th anniversary and highlights Creed’s historic place in the imperial courts of Europe. This complicated fragrance blends marine accords with floral, citrine, and woody notes for a sparkling fresh sensation that is difficult to find in other fragrances.

Top notes include bergamot, black currant, and violet leaves, with middle notes including oros and marine accords before finishing with a base of cedarwood, musk, and sandalwood. Described as warm and romantic, Millesime Imperial is intended to conjure up the seaside of sunny Sicily.

A 100ml flacon will set you back $470, and this fragrance is by far the most expensive on today’s list. We previously ranked over $4,000 of Creed fragrances, and this fragrance snagged third place. How does it stack up today?

We found the notes in this fragrance to be herby, floral, citrus-based, and light, but almost borderline too light now. As this is a blended scent, there isn’t one strong note that dominates as the fragrance matures. This ties into our biggest criticism: despite being an eau de parfum, it doesn’t last very long, even though our team feels it could be a great daytime scent for warmer seasons for those who want something fresh and light—no matter the occasion, season, or time of day—making this a very approachable, elegant, and potentially unisex fragrance. All that to say, I like it for the relatively brief amount of time that I can smell it.

Discover the BEST and WORST luxury fragrances by Creed!

Burberry Weekend for Men (1997)

Three years before Y2K, Michel Almairac developed Weekend for Men by Burberry. Known for its light, clean, and citrine opening, it descends into warmer elements as the fragrance develops.

A Transitional scent For

Warm to hot weather

Top notes consist of prominent fruity aromas like lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, pineapple, mandarin orange, and melon with woody middle notes of ivy, oak moss, and sandalwood, and warming base notes of honey, musk, and amber. On paper, this fragrance features a definite radical transformation as it progresses. It is available from several retailers for about $40 for a 100ml flacon.

Lemon, grapefruit, orange, and amber were the notes that stood out the most to me in this fragrance. Personally, I didn’t notice a big transition as the fragrance matured. I do think that this fragrance harmonized well with my natural scent. I found this fragrance to be a great transitional scent that could be worn in both hot and warm weather. I found this fragrance to be subtle; something that lasts maybe for a few hours but not necessarily the strongest scent, and it’s probably not going to last you all day long. I could find myself wearing this pretty often in a daytime and casual setting, and I definitely like this scent and can see myself recommending this to others as well.

How Do These Retro Fragrances Stack Up?

From Best to Worst

So, how does my list compare to yours? Let us know in the comments! We’d also love to hear from viewers who wore these fragrances back in the day; please share some insight on how these fragrances might have changed.

Outfit Rundown

Today, I’m wearing a striped blue blazer that has elements of light blue and gold in the stripes with a tan shirt, a burgundy and blue pocket square with off-white kind of cream color jeans, brown dress shoes, and of course, Fort Belvedere socks with blue and burgundy stripes. And for the fragrance, I can’t forget Roberto Ugolini High Heel White. For accessories like these amazing socks that I’m wearing and some other incredible things that you can find to build your outfits out in a really amazing way, check out the Fort Belvedere shop.

Fort Belvedere

Midnight Blue and Burgundy Shadow Stripe Ribbed Socks Fil d'Ecosse Cotton

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Roberto Ugolini

Roberto Ugolini – High Heel White

VIEW PRODUCT

Video Transcript (Lightly Edited for Clarity):

[Raphael] Welcome back to the Gentleman’s Gazette. Today, I’m here with Antonio from Real Men Real Style and Scenteno, as well as Nate from Paragon Fragrances. Thanks for coming over, guys.

[Nate] Yeah, thank you for having us.

[Antonio] Thanks for having us.

[Raphael] We thought we’ll do a little fun thing here, and play some blind smelling and testing. And of course, we have our special guest, Professor Preston!

[Professor Preston] Hello, everybody! I will be adjudicating the test today. But the conversation will be up to these three.

[Raphael] Awesome! Well, let’s get started.

[Prof. Preston] All right! I will go prepare your first fragrance. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves in the meantime.

[Raphael] Yeah, so Paragon Fragrances, how did you start, Nate?

[Nate] I started about two years; I’m on my second year doing this. So, I just was collecting fragrances and I was like, I’m a production guy. So I, you know, I’m usually behind the camera. But, so, I just decided let’s make a fragrance channel and start talking about some of the fragrances. Because after you collect and collect and collect and you’re not making content, you’re like, “What am I collecting for?” and so you just want to start sharing with the world. So, that’s what I was doing. Doing video production, just making fragrance content. 

[Raphael] I mean, you went, in my mind above and beyond, the general like, “Oh, I smell a fragrance and I do stuff.” You really try to understand the fragrances. Tell us more about that.

[Nate] Yeah, I really wanted to provide as much value to my, you know, audience. If you’re clicking on a video, I want to provide as much value to you as possible. So, I try to keep my video short and I even got into actually crafting and making perfume like, you know, try to understand it. I’m not a master perfumer by any means, but I’m slowly understanding and, you know, developing my skills as a perfumer. 

[Raphael] All right! Preston’s back!

[Prof. Preston] Okay, fragrance number one. Here’s a tester for each of you.

1. CK One (Calvin Klein)

[Raphael] Definitely the lighter side. What do you think, Antonio?

[Antonio] Fresh. Clean

[Raphael] Synthetic? Natural?

[Antonio] I feel a bit synthetic, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

[Raphael] I mean, you know, what I think with synthetic, what you get is like the consistency, right? It’s like a Big Mac. You know, every time what you get versus you have orange oil, you know? I don’t know. It’s a little drier this season. The whole thing smells different.

[Antonio] I think there’s a misconception in fragrances that, somehow, if something is natural, it is better than synthetic, and it’s really it’s comparing… It’s just not a fair comparison when, you know, any of these; what we’re talking about are chemicals and, you know, the molecules; and the way that they’re… I mean, as we talked about, you know, there are actually exposure to too much. You know, it’s always a danger in the extreme. That being said, in small amounts, you know, it’s… I also love synthetics because, if you think about, with a lot of the natural compounds, they had to come from animals or we were destroying plants or, like you said, they were inconsistent in making them. And so, when something uses synthetics, we’re able to oftentimes produce it at a lower price, you’re able to maintain consistency, and you’re not doing any harm you know to the environment in that respect.

[Raphael] What do you think, Nate?

[Nate] It’s good. There’s a lot of floral stuff going on here like neroli or, you know, like some kind of nice, fresh, lively stuff going on in here.

[Raphael] All right. What do you think? Grading?

[Prof. Preston] Take a moment to write down your letter grades, any other thoughts or notes you have. If you have a guess about what the identity of the fragrance might be, go ahead and write that down; and when everybody is ready, I will collect all that data from you.

[Raphael] It smells like a darling fragrance, kind of. To me, it’s more of a mainstream thing.

[Nate] Yeah, it’s very light and airy.

[Raphael] It’s not offensive, you know, no one smells this and like, “urgh!”

[Nate] Touch of like a jasmine kind of going on in here.

[Raphael] Oh, that’s good! I wouldn’t have been able to identify that, but now that you say it, I smell it. 

[Nate] And then like, a bit of grain oil. Very, like, fresh and light.

[Antonio] You can tell who the expert is. I play an expert on videos, this guy is the real deal.

[Nate] But, it’s like it’s very like white floral-y kind of style with soft, clean, laundry musk in here. It’s nice, it’s really good.

[Antonio] I will not deny that your descriptions have affected how I am perceiving like, “Oh, yeah!” And that’s what’s interesting.

[Nate] It’s gonna look really bad if the fragrance on screen is like a spicy one. 

[Antonio] I don’t know which one this is because I naturally would never be drawn to these types of fragrances, so this would not be in my rotation. Also, I think the grades we’re assigning oftentimes are just our personal opinions. This may be the right fragrance for more of a guy maybe that goes for classic scents or it could be more feminine, but all fragrances are actually unisex. It’s just usually for marketing purposes, assigning them whether it’s for men or women. So, I’m guessing the house, I’m not going to guess the particular brand. But, I could see this house putting out this fragrance.

[Prof. Preston] All right, gents!

[Raphael] Alright.

[Antonio] So, I’m seeing the house of or I’m going with with Floris. I just like like something classic, something that, you know, was formulated 70 years ago, worn by, you know, a guy that’s dressed well but would not… I don’t know, it doesn’t smell masculine enough to me, and a B because I just wouldn’t keep it in my collection.

[Raphael] Good. I have no idea what this is. Good, alright.

[Prof. Preston] And everybody scores one more time just so that we get that verbally as well as on the boards.

[Nate] Oh, B+ or B minus.

[Raphael] B minus.

[Antonio] B, yeah.

[Prof. Preston] Very good! Next up, fragrance number two.

2. 4711

[Raphael] Alright, sample number two.

[Prof. Preston] Number two.

[All three guys smelling the fragrance]

[Raphael] What do you think?

[Nate] A lot of petitgrain oil in here. It’s coming … very Bergamot-heavy lemon.

[Raphael] To me, it smells very classic, a little like old-fashioned. It’s not something I would…

[Nate] Yeah, this is wear-class. This is real class, it’s summertime class .

[Raphael] Old school, right?

[Nate] It’s very similar to the other one, too.

[Raphael] It reminds me of childhood, you know, growing up in Germany. They hit like the 4711, and it has these vibes to me. 

[Raphael] Antonio, would you wear it?

[Antonio] No, not at all. In fact, I changed my grade from a C to a D.

[Nate] I think that this one is pricey, though. Because it does smell natural … like you can smell the bergamot, you can smell the citrus in here, the nice floral, and then a soft vetiver in here too.

[Raphael] I smell floral, but I don’t think it’s nice.

[Nate] Yeah, it’s a…

[Raphael] And now that you say bergamot, I’m like, yeah, it smells like, oak gray, that’s bergamot flavored, right? Good.

[Prof. Preston] Alright, let’s everybody present our whiteboards and see what we’ve got here. 

[Nate] C.

[Antonio] D.

[Prof. Preston] Alright. Not high marks for this one. Alright, number three.

3. Bleu de Chanel (Chanel)

[Nate] So, there’s a specific musk in here that they’re using, Tonalide. It comes across as this laundry detergent kind of style musk and they use it a lot in perfume, like modern day perfume, but just … I picked up that initially. It’s very um, classic. I’m trying to put the name to it because it’s so familiar, and it just needs a…

[Raphael] Well, and really like this is extremely hard to get it right because, I mean there’s, so many fragrances there’s no, you know, it’s like… unless you are just very familiar with something and you’re like… 

[Nate] Yeah, I am not going to… I’m not going to try to guess this, but it’s like a rich in Ambroxan. 

[Raphael] I’d wear this.

[Antonio] I’m going specific. It’s like the one in a 100 chance but I’m going to say I’ll…

[Raphael] Go for that. Call your shot.

[Antonio] Yep.

[Prof. Preston] Okay.

[Antonio] I’m going with a B+.

[Nate] A. A, yeah I think it’s really good, I like that Ambroxan kind of style smell. I really like that.

[Raphael] Tell me more about Ambroxan.

[Nate] Ambroxan is…

[Raphael] It’s Ambroxan?

[Nate] Yeah. So, it’s a synthetic version of ambergris, which is whale vomit, pretty much. It’s the… so whales used to, whales when they eat squid, squid would destroy their stomach. So, they would coat their stomachs in this, um, this like phlegm, or whatever it was, I don’t know.

[Antonio] Well, it’s the sperm whale when it eats the, uh, whatever the squid, squid have, uh the only hard part of them is going to be the teeth or the pincers, whatever it is, and so they can’t digest that it ends up getting encased, and then it is spit out, regurgitated, because it’s just not going out the other end. And that right there is then found on beaches and it has a has certain properties, but a big part of this that when you find, and it’s very valuable, when you find these, yeah uh they’re hardened and it basically projects fragrances. It helps to…

[Nate] And it lays on top of the ocean. So, it’s like oil on water. So, it just lays on top and then what they can do is they can harvest it. I don’t think that they do that anymore. I think it’s very regulated that’s why they came up with aAmbroxan, and to kind of recreate, um… 

[Antonio] Again, that’s where synthetics are great because we can recreate, although, again, this is where you’re an expert in molecule breakout, what we find is with compounds, with natural molecules, um, and some of you guys I know are scientists. So, you’re like, “Antonio you’re messing this up,” but basically, the chain is going to be really long on naturals but on synthetics, they realize that it can be relatively short and we can pick up for most, 98% of people, it’s going to smell the same but a small percentage and I’m sure you’re one of those people out there watching, you know, that you’ve a nose that you can pick up, “Oh, I can tell the difference between, you know that small between vanilla and Vanille.” The natural vanilla definitely has a long chain but Vanille, the synthetic note, is going to be much shorter, and it’s again, we can consistently produce it, so that’s why you see the synthetic pop-up.

[Prof. Preston] Very good. Thank you for that whale of a tale, gentlemen. I’ll go get fragrance number 5.

[Antonio] I like this guy.

[Raphael] Preston is our pun master so that’s his… that’s his jam.

[Nate] That was, that was… can I rate that? That was that was good 10 out of 10. Yes, for Preston.

[Raphael] Alright, are you ready to kind of cleanse your nose with coffee beans?

[Antonio] Alright, so do you want to jump, like…

[Nate] So, I’m not a nose scientist, and I’m not, you know, but from what I know, this just, it just causes more stress on the nose. When you’re resetting it, and my theory is, (conspiracy theory alert!), my conspiracy theory is coffee is very addictive. So, if you’re going to, like, say, a fragrance counter, like you know, a nice lady or nice gentleman is showing you some fragrances, and you spray something on your hand and smells good, but then they put something that you’re already addicted to under your nose, you’re like, “Hmm, this automatically smells a little bit better.” I don’t know. That’s my conspiracy.

[Antonio] So, the halo effect here?

[Nate] Yeah.

[Antonio] It can make you like something. So, apparently, there was a perfumer 50 years or 70 years ago, that was his thing, is that he kept coffee grounds, and he would say it would reset his nose, but the reality is that’s not the case. If you’ve got, and we’re talking about olfactory fatigue, the idea that you’re exposing yourself to so many smells, um, usually two to three perfumes, if you expose yourself to that, within a few minutes, you need to get out of that area and just go out for a walk; five minutes, fresh air and then you can probably start again but anyone that thinks they can smell 20 perfumes in an hour and be able to tell the difference, yeah, you’re fooling yourself.

[Prof. Preston] Well, good luck to you guys, then.

[Antonio] Yeah, exactly.

[Raphael] Thank you, Preston. 

[Prof. Preston] Number four.

4. Spice Bomb (Viktor & Rolf)

[Antonio] Alright, this is…

[Raphael] What’s the sweetness?

[Nate] So, heavy vanilla in here. 

[Raphael] But you know, with vanilla, I realized there’s, you can get real different vanilla. I started making ice cream, with the beans, and then there there is differences in the… what you get.

[Nate] There’s two different types of vanilla that I’m working with right now that that are vanillin, which is like a crystal vanilla, and then there’s ethyl vanillin, which is powdery and it smells almost like cake kind of vanilla. And so when you, like from my experience, when you overdose like ethanol vanillin, it smells like a thick cake, but when you when you um, dose in vanillin, it acts as much more of a crystal fixative, like, cumerin, um, that kind of thing.

[Nate] This is so familiar. It, it’s…

[Antonio] It is, yeah.

[Raphael] I mean you guys have a lot of fragrances, so even if you smell it once, it’s like… yeah

[Antonio] Well, the way I’m, is like literally, I’m going through the fragrances in my shelves, I’m thinking, “Okay, is it that one? Is it that one? Is it that one? So, I’m using the, uh, the memory here. 

[Antonio] It’s got a bit of a spice to it so

[Nate] Yeah, slight spice and, then…

[Antonio] I’m gonna, and, and because of that, I’ve gotta… I think I know what it is but because I know what it is, I’m going to give a little bit higher of a note. 

[Nate] Yeah it’s nice and it’s something that, like, it’s so familiar and it’s something that I would wear, so I most likely have this. My… I feel like I know what it is. I, yeah, I know what it is. 

[Antonio] You better not copy mine. Don’t don’t look here. I think I got this one. 

[Prof. Preston] Alright, gentlemen. Your grades and your guesses, please. 

[Raphael] C minus.

[Nate] B plus.

[Antonio] I’m going A minus if it’s what the one I think it is, um which I can’t believe we got to make you guys wait to the end of this video to find out if we’re right or not, but, uh, I think that this fragrance is perfect for the holidays, and that’s what it reminds me of. This is a great, you know, cold weather fragrance that you can put on. And again, when we’re smelling things on these fragrance strips, it’s not the same as actually smelling it on your skin, and that’s where it’s going to react differently for every person, but, uh, but yeah, as soon as we started talking spice (hint hint), that was like, I was like, okay, I know what this is.

[Nate] Yeah. 

[Prof. Preston] Alright, I will go prepare number five.

[Antonio] So, if you haven’t picked up, no fragrance is going to be universally loved by everybody.

[Nate] Oh, no, no. Yeah

[Antonio] Which is cool, which makes it enjoyable and I think gives us a lot to talk about and fragrance content.

[Raphael] It’s also like if, you know, sometimes, you can be unique with your clothes and you can be unique with your scent, like you can intentionally say, “I don’t want to smell like everyone out there. I want to be different,” or you’re like, “I just go with what I like or what my spouse, partner, husband, whatever likes.”

[Antonio] And fragrance is one of those things that it is, you know, it just plays right with clothing. I’m sorry, you’re about to…

[Nate] No, yeah, right to that point. Like, I find making fragrance content is tremendously difficult, too, because you’re recommending it to everyone and so like that’s where you have to have, you know, a strong opinion about what you like to wear. Because if somebody connects to you and if you don’t like it, they might not have the same taste. So, it’s a tricky thing to navigate, for sure

[Antonio] I purposely stay vague and confuse all of you who watch my videos, and you’re like, “What does he really mean by that?” And that’s my tactic.

[Prof. Preston] Number five. 

5. Aventus (Creed)

[Raphael] Smells more green to me. I don’t know if the fragrances can have colors, but to me, there’s something green there

[Nate] So, this also has a musk in here. A synthetic musk called helvetolide, which is a… It’s widely used in Sauvage-kind of style fragrances like that sharp Sauvage character, and it smells like it’s a top musk, so it has a high volatile rate on it, which, like, pushes off through the air. That’s where like evaporation rates come in and stuff, where, you know, the top, middle, and base. If something has a lower evaporation rate, it would be a base note and, if something has a high evaporation rate like bergamot, it only lasts for about two hours or one hour. 

[Raphael] So, you’re saying that this is the kind of fragrance that is, you know, you’ll notice in a room? It gives off a lot, but it also lasts for a long time?

[Nate] Yeah, this is like… I’m pretty sure I know what this is, but yeah, this is this has staying power.

[Raphael] It’s a bit… There’s a sweetness in there to me at the end.

[Nate] It’s really sweet, sweet bergamot like sweet citrus. I’m pretty sure I know what this is, but I could be wrong, and I could be totally wrong.

[Prof. Preston] All right! Go ahead. What are your scores and guesses here?

[Raphael] I have B and I say, like, Green Irish Tweed. Antonio, B.

[Nate] I can… It doesn’t… For me, [Green Irish Tweed] doesn’t smell like that on… It doesn’t smell like that on me, but I could I can…

[Antonio] Do you get a lemon, a bit in that?

[Nate] A little bit. I think it’s a Creed, the new Creed. Absolute Aventus or the Aventus Absolute. 

[Raphael] It has this kind of green.

[Antonio] Oh, I see that Creed is… Pretty much everyone’s like, it has a… And this is where, I think, we can talk about a house. Like, I think Creed, in general, a lot of their fragrances have that light, airy, fresh type of…

[Nate] They have a very signature style. Like, when you spray on a Creed; they have a bunch of different, you know, styles and different fragrances, but they all have that kind of same vibe to them, which is that high quality.

[Prof. Preston] You continue to discuss. I’ll go get fragrance number six.

[Antonio] I’m going to put the cologne, Creed cologne.

Here’s our honest review!

6. Eau de Soleil Blanc (Tom Ford)

[Prof. Preston] All right, this is number six. Initial thoughts here?

[Antonio] I like this one. Clean and soapy.

[Raphael] Soapy! That’s it! It’s soapy. Man, you’re good.

[Antonio] Which is usually going to be what? An Iris or a… What’s the?

[Nate] It could come, it could be like… I don’t know exactly the formulas and stuff to make it something like that because like I’m still…. 

[Antonio] Lavender and iris?

[Nate] Lavender usually… Lavender and this… If you mix a soft spicy, usually they can do it with frankincense. If you add a touch of frankincense and a few other things with some clean laundry detergent musk like tonalide or galaxolide, ethylene brassilate, those kind of things; you can get this like soap-like quality, but this is good. It’s very soapy and fresh.

[Raphael] It’s almost too much soap for me.

[Nate] I think this could benefit from some sweetness, but yeah, I like a little woody nuances in there, too.

[Raphael] Really?

[Antonio] I like soapy fragrances overall. Yeah, I’m going a little bit higher. I think that soapy fragrances are great for the office if you want something that’s not going to offend anybody, smells good and clean, and anything. I don’t know, lavender and iris.

[Nate] Yeah, I don’t know if there’s so much. Because it doesn’t come across powdery, but like a nice soap.

[Antonio] I’m going to throw out like Prada L’Homme. Yeah, Prada L’Homme. Or maybe the Intense, maybe. And, again, like smelling it on the stick—this is where you got to be careful—I would maybe not pick this up, but I know with Prada, I think those are great office fragrances. They use good ingredients and, yeah, that’s what I’m guessing.

[Raphael] What does your wife like?

[Antonio] I don’t care. I wear for myself, man. I’m like learning perfumery, I’m not like an expert yet, and I haven’t even released one yet; and you know, I’m just learning the process and falling in love with it. But, there was this process that I came across, and I told Antonio about it the other day, called “tinning,” and it’s a process that they use in wine creation or like winery. And when you’re making wine, there’s all this like particles that are floating around in the wine like pulp and that, those kinds of things; and from my brief knowledge about it, they use egg whites. They pour egg whites into the wine, and it acts as this glue substance to bring everything down to the base where then they can filter it. Why I bring this up is I made a big formula, a big batch of my fragrances and it was cloudy. And so I used this clay to do the same thing, this tinning process where I pour clay into the perfume, mix it around. It’s a natural clay, so it’s safe and they use it in a lot of cosmetics. But, like bentonite clay? Yeah, something like that, and then you mix it around. You put it in the freezer. Because it’s alcohol, it doesn’t freeze, and then you can, you know… It all seeps to the bottom and then you can filter it from there. But, I thought that was really interesting.

7. L’Eau D’Issey Pur Homme (Issey Miyake)

[Antonio] I get… I don’t know. For me, this is synthetic.

[Raphael] When I smell this, I think of chartreuse like the color. I don’t know why I have this association. 

[Prof. Preston] Synesthesia, perhaps?

[Nate] There’s a marine aspect in here.

[Antonio] Yeah, but for me, not really high-end marine. Again, I’m just guessing here. I know where I’m going with this.

[Nate] This is aquazone. 

[Antonio] If you think about it, how do they get a marine smell in to a fragrance? Because it’s not like you can take the ocean and squeeze it. Well, you could but, you know, what you’re going to get out is probably not… And marine smells are complicated because, yes, it’s the salt and it’s the air but there’s also, if you’re close to the shore, there’s decay, you know?

[Nate] So, most of the aqua notes that you find are 100% synthetic, and they have to do with a molecule called calone and then helional, which comes across as this, like, watery, almost like hay-like quality. And then, you have… 

[Antonio] With a bit of fruit as well? There’s a melon in…

[Nate] You add in some nuances on top of that to give that fruitiness in there. So, you’ll have accords that you add to the perfume to kind of like expand it out. But, yeah, it’s usually a very synthetic mix.

[Antonio] Got my guess.

[Nate] I’m not sure about this. My nose is getting beat up here.

[Prof. Preston] Yeah, well, we’re just about at the halfway mark here, gents.

[Nate] But, this is like very ozonic. Like a Light Blue, Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue kind of thing.

[Antonio] It’s a Light Blue smoother. And there are certain houses out there that are kind of a little bit more well known for being synthetic, and they embrace it. Not that I feel that this one fits in there, but Park Avenue Bond is a great example. But with that synthetic, it’s usually for a younger crowd. They want something that’s going to pierce through the night, be able to draw people in. The area where I think this falls is going to be Azzaro. Another, it’s a great inexpensive brand that, I think they’ve got a wide variety of very easily accessible fragrances. That one of them in particular. What you’re going to find on those cheaper fragrances is they’re going to cut back on the oil as you guys probably know. When you hear like EDT, you hear EDP, parfum, eau de toilette, eau de parfum, usually it’s the concentration of the oil mixed in with the alcohol. And they mix with alcohol because, with the oil, they come together, it macerates and it’s easy to project onto the skin. But, more expensive like niche fragrances and the parfums and stuff, they’ll use a higher concentration of oil, and that oil then will allow the fragrance to last longer on the skin and project more, in theory. That doesn’t always happen.

[Raphael] The problem is it’s a bit like super numbers, right? Where it’s like, there is no like standard where we’re like, “Hey, eau de parfum means, you know, at least 10% oil concentration.” Like we don’t have that. So, it’s every house…

[Antonio] I created an infographic. I’m like, “Why doesn’t the world follow my infographic?”

[Raphael] Yeah, there you go. Antonio’s standardized…

[Antonio] I try to standardize things that people like, go like, “Why are you….”

[Prof. Preston] All right, I’m going to ask for your grades

[Raphael] B minus, C minus…

[Antonio] You are a tough critic, Raphael.

[Raphael] Well, you know in Germany, when I went to law school, you have these, like, grades, right? And you can get…

[Antonio] That sounds like a not a very happy place.

[Raphael] Yeah, it’s… no, it wasn’t a happy place for me, but you…

[Prof. Preston] You discuss, I’ll get number eight. 

[Antonio] Yeah.

[Raphael] There isn’t, and I forget, I think the great was, the highest score you could get was 18 points, and sometimes only the average is like four so they grade really hard.

[Nate] Yeah, I moved into, like on my fragrance channel, I moved into rating things from like one out of 10, but I do decimal points, so you know. 

[Raphael] 1.1?

[Nate] Yeah, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3. So, it kind of gives somebody a little bit better understanding of, like, where I would put it, because like a 7 out of 10 would be, you know, that could come across very… but if it’s a 7.4, it automatically, you see it kind of leans over to the, you know, six. A little bit more, so.

[Raphael] Do you find that on different days you’ll have a different grading? 

[Nate] Oh yeah, absolutely, and two, there’s fragrances that I love one month, and then as I wear them, wear them, wear them, I’m like, “Hmm, well this is not really great anymore,” and then I’ll let, you know, my audience know, like, “Hey, I don’t really like this one anymore. 

[Prof Preston] Alright, number eight.

8. 17 Rosso (Roberto Ugolini)

[Nate] This is classic.

[Raphael] It’s bold.

[Antonio] Uh-hm 

[Raphael] So, this is number 8?

[Prof. Preston] Number eight, correct. 

[Raphael] So Nate, when you, you know, having all these oils,  so do you just have these oils at home that you don’t combine, and do they go off when they’re not stabilized with with alcohol? 

[Nate] Yeah, so I have, like, I have a… I’ll order my raw materials in and then I’ll dilute them down in alcohol at 10% concentrations, and sometimes, like, 1% concentration. Some of the more volatile materials that, like, are so pungent that you only need just a drop. But yeah, I will, I’ll dilute them down, and then I’ll smell them from there because then you can smell them more accurately when you’re dosing them like really low. 

[Antonio] You got a grade for yours? 

[Raphael] Same as you.

[Antonio] Well, write it big, like… 

[Raphael] Alright.

[Antonio] Because this is… Oh, I love that. Bigger than mine. Okay.

[Raphael] A minus, A minus.

[Antonio] I like strong masculine fragrances, maybe I’m trying to compensate for something, but when I wear this stuff it’s just, uh…

[Nate] It smells like a like a really high quality fougère fragrance, like patchouli, frankincense in here, lavender, some green aspects in here, like a touch of a basil.

[Raphael] I think it’s the Roberto Ugolini 17 Rosso, but these are the fragrances I’m most familiar with, you know, I smell them a lot so I may be wrong. I may like you know like but…

Discover Roberto Ugolini Fragrances

[Antonio] I put the second cousin to Yves Saint Laurent Kouros so that could be right. 

[Prof Preston] Alright, gentlemen. We have reached the halfway point. How are your noses holding up?

[Antonio] Good, good. Let’s power through! 

[Prof. Preston] Great. Alright, with that, I’ll go get number nine. Alright, here is number nine.

9. Polo Green (Ralph Lauren)

[Nate] Stinky or skanky, I should say, not stinky. If anybody wears this, I’m sorry.

[Raphael] But are you really?

[Nate] No. If you wear this, don’t come near me. 

[Raphael] Yeah, what what is that? This thing I can’t tell but it’s like…

[Nate] It’s, um…

[Antonio] What’s the animal note, the, like, it’s not musk but it actually comes near the…

[Nate] It is a musk. It’s like near the butthole of the animal, it’s like literally there’s a gland that they used to extract this from, which again, why naturals are not always a great thing.

[Raphael] It’s always like, you know, who had the idea to go there to extract that, you know. Would that be from the civet musk? Is that… okay. 

[Antonio] Well, civet is the, actually, the note, one of the notes they call, there’s like three animal notes that I’ve heard 

[Nate] Yeah.

[Raphael] Thank you, Professor Preston.

[Prof. Preston] I do what I can.

[Antonio] Look at this the assist right there.

[Nate] Yeah, this is like heavy heavy patchouli, heavy castor, I think it’s castoreum, this is, like uh…

[Raphael Do you think this was popular?

[Nate] I hope not. 

[Antonio] Alright, let’s put our grades.

[Raphael] F, F, A.

[Antonio] I like wearing animalistic fragrances. It’s just…

[Raphael] What is it triggering you?

[Antonio] Sex. 

[Prof. Preston] Simple enough. Next up, number 10.

10. Gentleman (Givenchy)

[Antonio] Thank you.

[Nate] Picking almost a hemp note. 

[Raphael] I have no idea what hemp smells like.

[Nate] Like a… 

[Prof. Preston] Or so he claims. 

[Nate] Yeah, no.

[Nate] Got it?

[Antonio] Yeah, on this we can agree, Raphael.

[Raphael] Oh, D, D, F.

[Prof. Preston] Not high marks for this one.

[Antonio] I really didn’t pick up too much, and so that sometimes, people, a lot of people don’t like a fragrance simply because it doesn’t project or doesn’t have much, and when people spend money, especially someone getting into fragrances, they usually equate value with projection and power of the fragrance.

[Raphael] Like hitting it over your head kind of thing. 

[Antonio] So this one could be a great fragrance just not…

[Nate] It comes across very, like, sour patchouli kind of smell, and it has this subtle aquatic note in here that it, it just, I don’t know, it doesn’t really balance that well on the paper here.

[Raphael] What’s your experience, you know, sometimes  taking like the exact same formula, and having it like, you know, 20% oil, 10%, 5%, it does, it lead sometimes for you to say, “Oh, I like it, and I don’t?”

[Nate] That’s actually, so that’s a great point with, like, concentrations and stuff with people think that you know the eau de toilette, the eau de parfum, and the parfum, though you know that’s where you get better performance with the parfum, but that’s simply just not the case because it’s all the way that the perfume is constructed, and parfum, eau de parfum, it’s merely for branding purposes. Because you can, I mean, you can, the way that they’re crafted, you can, like with an Elixir you usually use denser materials, more base notes, but you know we see it nowadays with all these brands coming out with their new elixir–they don’t last, you know, terribly long, and they’re putting the elixir, you know, you know, branding on it but it comes down to… 

[Raphael] Elixir branding is supposedly something that lasts long. It’s like the… 

[Nate] It’s like the pure form of the oil, but usually, these elixirs are 20% oil concentration. So, uh, it usually comes down to fixative, which make fragrances last longer, fixatives are like ISO E supers, hedione.

[Raphael] Like stabilizers. 

[Nate] Yeah. They’re almost like their solid form at room temperature. So, ambroxan is a crystal when it’s in room temperature … but when it’s diluted down into, um… I just scared him out of the room.

[Antonio] I know.

[Prof. Preston] Alright. I didn’t want to interrupt your previous conversation but we are now on to fragrance number 11.

11. Old Spice Aftershave (Procter & Gamble)

[Raphael] It’s like a lighter… summery.

[Nate] Where are those coffee beans? Need those coffee beans.

[Nate] This is just like a clean suit, clean guy, soap qualities. 

[Raphael] It’s not very adventurous. It has less soap than the other one; the number six.

[Nate] This is the smell that, like wafts into your office, you know your boss is here, and you’re like trying to organize your desk really quickly. It’s like, “We’re in trouble now, boys.” 

[Raphael] So would you say it’s something classic like…

[Nate] I, my, my general thing is like I think this is like Eau Sauvage, eau de toilette kind of thing, um in that kind of general realm of things, like nice fougere. 

[Antonio] If it was like an eau fresh mixed with another 50% alcohol, it would be like… because this…

[Raphael] I lost Eau Sauvage, I had a bottle I think to spray it, just malfunctions, but yes you’re right, it is similar to that. 

[Nate] That like nice airy, citrusy light kind of stuff. 

[Prof. Preston] All right, are we ready for letter grades here? 

[Nate] Oh yeah, I got to erase this F here. Let me think… 

[Raphael] But this is also the fragrance that, in my experience, wouldn’t last very long; you put it on, and a few hours later it’s like you can’t tell anymore.

[Nate] Yeah, this is a spray before you leave, and then once you show, yeah, once you show up…

[Raphael] Reapply. 

[Nate] But very classe, nice and light. Let’s see…

[Antonio] C. 

[Nate] B; I’d probably wear it.

[Prof. Preston] Very good! Next up, number 12. 

[Raphael] So, Antonio, how did you get into fragrances. I mean, I’ve known you for a little while, and you’re an analytical guy, so what was that like? 

[Antonio] No, you know, I didn’t wear fragrance for the longest time. We obviously talked about style at Real Me Real Style. For me, growing up in the Midwest, Midland Texas, like nobody wore, like, fragrance. It just wasn’t seen as… Actually, I did receive, like when I was a kid, Stetson, and then Aspen, and some, I’m sure somebody’s dad had Drakkar, you know, Polo, you start to get in the Marine Corps, I noticed people start to wear fragrances.

[Raphael] Like Polo Green, you mean?

[Antonio] Polo Green, Polo Red…

[Raphael] There, the Blue one… 

[Antonio] That was pretty, yeah, those things were popular in the, you know, 2000s, around some of the guys, you know, and so you would see guys go out, spray something on, but I always stayed away from, I just thought if you’re showered and clean, you’re perfectly fine. But then I started hanging out, you know, got to know Jeremy Fragrance, I was in Germany, and he gave me, what was it? Acqua di Gio Profumo Special Blend. He had an extra one, he’s like, “Hey, check this out.” And I met up with him, Jeremy, again at Artisan Pure. We were at the Varvatos store I got a… so I started getting, Victor & Rolf sent me Spice Bomb, so I started having some of these laying around, and my son really got into them. And I started saying, “You know, this smells really good.” So, I think it was it was that… it was those fragrances that three right there that I started wearing and getting into, and I really did like them. And I’m maybe a little bit obsessive with things, so I’m like, “Okay, if I’m going to get into this, I just, justified that it’s it’s like a college education every time I would buy a fragrance.” I would go to the website Fragrantica and research it, and I just kept doing this. And, it was… The next thing I know, some of those fragrance videos on the channel did pretty good, and uh it, yeah, went from there went from three fragrances to 600 within a couple years. 

[Nate] That’s usually how it goes.

[Prof. Preston] Alright, number 12. 

12. Individuel (Mont Blanc)

[Raphael] What I found, though, is, you know, once they they reach air, right, once you start pumping, after a while, I remember, I had an old Polo Blue, for the longest time, and after a while, it just didn’t smell like it used to at all anymore. 

[Nate] So there’s a there’s a note in here it’s it’s a synthetic note called Dihydromyrcenol, and it’s heavily used in Cool Water, and Green Irish Tweed, that kind of thing that that it … it’s almost kind of like a lime, lavender, fresh airy kind of note.

[Raphael] Mmhm, I smell a lime. 

[Nate] But it comes across super clean and, uh, it’s, uh, they used it a lot in the ’90s, for all their fragrances in 90s.

[Raphael] Which is, you know, do, I mean stylistically, right? 90s are making a big comeback whether it’s like, you know, I don’t know, the Shaq Reebok shoes, or like the jackets do you see kind of a ’90s resurgence in the fragrance world?

[Nate] Yeah, with this kind of DNA, I do, like, this … this stuff kind of makes it come back a little bit. 

[Prof. Preston] Alright. Are we ready for grades here?

[Nate] A.

[Antonio gives a B-]

[Raphael] It’s, I say B+ here. It reminds me of, like a bit of the Montblanc Individuel. 

[Nate] Yeah.

[Prof. Preston] Alright, very good! we are entering the home stretch now; just four fragrances left to go. So I will go prepare number 13. 

[Antonio] So you think that, you think that was GIT?

[Nate] Yeah, it’s either GIT or Cool Water.

[Raphael] But the Cool Water, I mean, yeah, I, you know, when I remember when I smelled the Green Irish Tweed and the Cool Water, they smelled similar to me.

[Antonio] Yeah, they are. 

[Nate] I’m pretty sure, I could be wrong on this, but I’m pretty sure the perfumer, and I apologize, I forgot his name or her name, but the perfumer that put together Geen Irish Tweed was the same person that put together Cool Water because Davidoff hired the same perfumer ’cause they … they wanted that kind of fragrance, and then they … he reworked it specifically for Davidoff to meet their price, because perfume is… it’s all about price, you know, per kilogram. 

[Raphael] Per kilogram, which is a thousand grams.

[Nate] Yes, and some brands need a lower threshold or to stay within their budgets and stuff, but… 

[Raphael] Well and that’s how a lot of scents are, oftentimes, designed, right? It’s like you have a price goal, and then you go to your perfumer, “Here’s a price goal. Please do this.” And then they go for that. 

[Nate] But I could be I could be wrong if those are the two same perfumer so I’m not… 

[Raphael] Thank you. 

[Nate] We need a fact check. 

13. Blenheim Bouquet (Penhaligon’s)

[Raphael] That’s lighter.

[Nate] Yeah, very light.

[Raphael] To me, like that’s more of a, you know, like one of those, sometimes, these English scents of like lime or like something like this, you know.

[Nate] Heavy lemon in here.

[Raphael] Yeah, that kind of I often find them, you know, they’re all these what is it Floris, Penhaligon’s. All that stuff. They have these sometimes, I don’t want to say simple, but more straightforward. 

[Nate] A lot of it is coming this is not, like, a guess, ’cause I know this is not it, but like like a Dior L’Homme cologne like with that nice bright lemon.

[Antonio] They do a really good job with that. This, and with those brands you just mentioned, uh, I mean, they’ve got formulations, I mean, I don’t know if they’re using the exact same ones but they’ve been around for a hundred years or 150 years, and you know, fragrance at that point, when they started this stuff, it was pretty simple. It was, you know.

[Raphael] When you put it on your, like handkerchief, so when you walk through the street, and it smelled you had something that smelled better than…

[Antonio] No, Raphael, that’s what the peasants….

[Raphael] Look at this! We’re like almost the same. C minus, C.

[Prof. Preston] Who had the C minus?

[Nate] I did.

[Antonio] I don’t, I haven’t failed anybody so…

[Raphael] I always like the kind of the different aspects of it and you know learning, and … and just I’m impressed by your, to just say, you know, it’s this, right? ‘Cause ultimately, it’s like you … you practice, right, it’s like … there’s talent, and then there is practice. And even if you don’t have much talent, even with practice, you can get to a really high level, and then if you have talent, and then you know, but you need to smell it. 

[Nate] What I love about creating perfume is like, you’re never an expert, you’re never, you’re never at the top of your game like you’re always learning and even the top perfumers are always, always learning and always researching new materials. And I’m the same way. I always try to research, smell stuff, order samples in … of molecules and smell them, and it and it, I never want to try to come across. I know it might come across sometimes, but I never want to come across like I know it all, ’cause  I simply don’t, and it’s, it’s just memory, going off memory. 

14. Green Irish Tweed (Creed)

[Nate] This is Green Irish Tweed. 

[Antonio] No, I think it’s… I think that one to me is Cool Water. 

[Raphael] Now that, now that you say, that this is instant, like it’s like, my wife is like when I put this on, she’s like”Ohhh,” and now that you say that, I think you’re right. I said I think, I thought Green Irish Tweed was number five earlier, and I don’t think that anymore. I had … I had written that down, but you’re right. I even on the 12. I had, I said Mont Blanc Individuel, but potentially Green Irish Tweed. 

[Nate] Yeah, this is like very noticeable, but I said Green Irish Tweed for the other one, so I’m already failing. I am failing, but … and I could be wrong here too.

[Raphael] But now, but I … this … now did you say that…

[Nate] Yeah, very noticeable.

[Prof. Preston] The purpose of this video is to make all of you feel like failures. 

[Antonio] Yes, yes, that’s the purpose. 

[Nate] But yeah, it could be Cool Water, ’cause it is very pungent and potent. 

[Antonio] That’s, yeah, I just feel Green Irish Tweed. 

[Raphael] Personally, with the Green Irish Tweed, I don’t like the smell it and like, “Hmm, I love,” it but because Teresa loves it, I definitely wear it. 

[Prof. Preston] Alright, letter grades here. 

[Nate] B  

[Raphael] C

[Antonio] B plus. 

[Prof. Preston] Very good! 15 up next. 

[Raphael] How much do you think is the formula like getting something that no one is offended by and then the marketing behind it, and the brand in kind of pushing something. 

[Nate] I think what’s really interesting about perfume is it’s… I look at it as all marketing because nowadays, with a lot of formulas nowadays, are usually like, Sauvage is like 25% ISO E Super, usually 20% musk, and it’s hedione, too, and it gets you all the way up to about 80% all of these like ISO E Super, hedione, musks. Dihydromyrcenol is a very popular one with like Invictus style DNAs, like that nice fresh, sweet ’cause dihydromyrcenol is a very potent molecule, and so if you add that in with sweetness, you get this like pungent volatile…

[Raphael] But do you think Creed is doing that much marketing or is it, just have that strong brand that carries it?

[Nate] I don’t know, know what Creed is doing, to be honest, I … because I really don’t think I could be totally wrong here so if somebody from Creed is watching this and they get upset at me, I, this is just the take that I’ve noticed with my viewers and stuff, but a lot of Creed fragrances don’t perform that well. And if they listen to their audience and listen to the people that are wearing their fragrances, they want longer-lasting fragrances. They want… so readdressing that, and I don’t know, they could be doing that, I, just from a consumer point of view, I don’t see it, and from hosting a fragrance channel, I don’t see that they’re making strides for that.

15. Cool Water (Davidoff)

[Prof. Preston] All right, some thoughts on fragrance number 15 here before I ask you for your letter grades? Any impressions of this one?

[Antonio] No real Impressions on it, uhm…

[Nate] Smells a lot like the… 

[Raphael] Crowd-pleasing kind of to me.

[Nate] It’s yeah, Green… it almost has like a Green Irish Tweed kind of a thing going, but…

[Raphael] It’s lighter

[Nate] It’s lighter. It’s much lighter. 

[Antonio] We get any floral with that?

[Nate] Uhm, more Green aspects like, 

[Nate]  Yeah, yeah. I mean, I would not be shocked if there’s like a touch of a lily, lily of the valley.

[Prof. Preston] All right, letter grades.

[Raphael] B minus. C minus. B. Okay!

[Prof. Preston] Raphael, your grade was?

[Raphael] B minus. 

[Prof. Preston] All right! Okay, here we are the final fragrance number 16 coming up… All right, number 16.

16. Terre d’Hermes (Hermes)

[Raphael] That smells unusual to me.

[Nate] I’m not feeling this.

[Nate]  It is, I feel like that this last one is getting the end of our noses.

[Antonio] Yeah.

[Nate] Yeah, this is nice. It’s coming across, I don’t know, I’m picking up like Roja Dove, something like a, something or other it’s got… 

[Antonio] It’s very old school. 

[Nate] Yeah, it’s got Roja’s kind of style on it, yeah.

[Raphael] So I, mean obviously you guys knew you have a lot of stuff, and you … you try a lot of things. Sometimes, when I walk into my thing like, “Oh, today, I feel like this.” And another day, I don’t feel like that at all. Do you have that sometimes or…?

[Nate] Oh yeah, yeah. 

[Antonio] We were talking about that, like, when you have so many fragrances you’re, like, “What do I want to wear today?” Or wear this, and I oftentimes like, story, like oh I like them all, like them all, but you know, one of the things with talking about this, we have the luxury of there’s always new fragrances coming in so I’m like I’ll just wear what’s new, you know.

[Raphae] Yeah.

[Nate] You know, I always, I always like to make good joke out of it; I like, stand back and put my hands on my hips and like, I have nothing to wear.

[Nate] This has that Healy musk in there, too. 

[Prof. Preston] Letter grades for the final fragrance 

[Antonio] What’d you put? C+?

[Raphael] C+. 

[Nate & Antonio] B.

[Raphael] All right.

Ranking and Guessing The 16 Fragrances

[Prof. Preston] Okay, gentlemen. Well, now comes the big reveal for all 16 of our fragrances. I hope your noses have held up okay.

[Nate] And look at how many notes I took.

[Antonio] Yeah. 

[Prof. Preston] Alright. So, let’s start back at the beginning with fragrance number one. This one got an aggregate grade from all of you of B. So, starting off fairly strong. I was a little cheeky with this one because for number one I went with CK One from Calvin Klein.

[Raphael] Nice.

[Prof Preston] Okay, number two, with a aggregate score of D+ was 4711 which Rafael guessed correctly. 

[Raphael] It has a very distinct, like, old smell.

[Nate] I’ve never smelled this before so….

[Raphael] Oh, yeah?

[Nate] Yeah, it’s nice

[Prof Preston] I think Raphael had the advantage being German on that one, so. Number three with an aggregate score of B+, Bleu de Chanel.

[Antonio] That’s surprising.

[Prof. Preston] Number four. Aggregate grade of B is Victor and Rolf Spice Bomb. I think we had some correct guesses on that one. 

[Raphael] Yeah. 

[Prof. Preston] Number five. Aggregate score of B+ was Creed Aventus. I think we had some other Creed guesses there. 

[Raphael] Yeah, okay.

[Antonio] I went with Aventus cologne, and you with…

[Prof. Preston] Absolute. 

[Antonio] It’s funny we all go for the…

[Nate] Was it just the standard one? 

[Prof. Preston] Yes, that was standard Aventus, yep.

[Nate] Wow, does not scream Aventus.

[Prof. Preston] Number six. Aggregate grade of C+ Tom Ford Soleil Blanc. 

[Antonio]  I don’t have that one, so… 

[Nate] Neither do I.

[Prof. Preston] Number seven. Aggregate grade of B minus was Issey Miyake’s L’eau D’Issey Pour Homme.

[Raphael] Yeah that was also big like CK One and Issey Miyake. I remember that I had a buddy in, when I did my civil service in 2003, he had an Issey Miyake.

[Prof. Preston] Number eight with an aggregate grade of A minus, which was the highest aggregate grade received today was, I’m happy to announce, 17 Rosso by Roberto Ugolini. It’s a good thing Raphael guessed that one correctly.

[Raphael] Would have been funny if not, but…

[Prof. Preston] Number nine. aggregate grade of D+, not a strong showing for this one, Polo Green. 

[Nate] Oh, what?

[Prof. Preston] Number 10, aggregate grade of D minus, which was the lowest grade received by any cologne today was Givenchy’s Gentleman. 

[Nate] Wow. 

[Raphael] That was… which one was that? Number nine?

Number 10. 

[Raphael] Number 10.

[Nate] That’s incredible. I did not… wow. 

[Prof. Preston] Number 11, with a grade of B minus, was Old Spice.

[Raphael] Oh, wow! 

[Prof. Preston] Just standard, good old Old Spice. 

[Raphael] How much does Old Spice cost?

[Prof. Preston] Not much. It’s a drugstore scent. 

[Prof. Preston] Okay, number 12, which was guessed correctly by Raphael. An aggregate grade of B+ was Mont Blanc Individuel.

[Prof. Preston] Number 13, with an aggregate grade of C, perfectly average, was Penhaligon’s Blenheim Bouquet. Guessed, uh the house was guessed correctly by Raphael on that one.

[Raphael] They just, you know, when I, in England, they have this, I went with um Jack Collins, we went to like a Penhaligon’s store, and I smelled a lot and I that was my association.

[Prof. Preston] Number 14, with an aggregate grade of B minus. Guessed correctly over here by Nate was Creed’s Green Irish Tweed. Number 14.

[Prof. Preston] Number 15, also with an aggregate grade of B minus, Davidoff Cool Water.

[Nate] I think you got that one, right? 

[Prof. Preston] I believe Antonio guessed Cool Water for number 14. Was the Green Irish Tweed… 

[Antonio] Which was GIT. 

[Raphael] Well, I mean, which is yeah. 

[Prof. Preston] Similar fragrances, similar…

[Antonio] I was just a little bit early. 

[Raphael] So, which one was the second, the 15 was the…

[Prof. Preston] 15 was Cool Water.

[Raphael] Yeah, I mean, they really smell similar here, but it’s a huge price difference, right?

[Nate] Yeah, yeah. It’s like cool water is like 20 bucks, and then Green Irish Tweed is like 300. 

[Prof. Preston] And finally, number 16, also with an aggregate grade of B minus, was Terre d’Hermes. 

[Raphael] The soil of Hermes. Awesome! Thank you, Preston!

[Prof. Preston] Absolutely! Any final thoughts here as we wrap up the video?

[Raphael] I’ll leave it up to you, gentlemen. 

[Nate] No, I’d say it, now you know, it’s going back to what you were saying about marketing and fragrance, I think marketing plays a huge deal with this because if you order, say, a fragrance and you’re blind smelling it like we are, where, we don’t pick up things until they’re shown to us, like if you…

[Raphael] There’s no flacon, right, there’s no color there’s no packaging it’s all stripped out.

[Nate] It’s, it’s…

[Raphael] Same strips.

[Nate] It’s, yeah, it’s paper. 

[Raphael] Like we have a collection of maybe 80-90 fragrances, you guys have 600, so I probably knew that these were out of my realm of fragrances. And so the … the 17 Rosso for me was very distinctive ’cause I’ve smelled that. This one I wasn’t so sure. You see I had like Green Irish Tweed on it as well, and you know, then when you said that it was, like, “Oh, yes, that’s right!” But I didn’t, I would not have I guess that.

[Nate] But the other thing, too, I haven’t smelled most of these, so you know, I have a lot of fragrances and it’s like, you know, that that just shows you how many of there are out there, and it’s like, it’s impossible to smell everything.

[Raphael] Well, I would not have known you know, Polo Green or  Old Spice or whatever.

[Nate] That’s shocking. We tore that apart

[Antonio] I gave it an A. 

[Raphael] The Polo one? 

[Antonio] Yeah, Polo Green, I gave an A.

[Raphael] Yeah, that’s true, yet that was…

[Raphael] So, if you enjoyed this really good analysis by Nate head over to Paragon for fragrances on YouTube, and this guy has a Real Men Real Style, but Scenteno is, I didn’t know for this about a while. How long has…

[Antonio] Yeah, I kept it secret, yeah, we’ve had it for like three years

[Raphael] And it’s shorts only?

[Antonio] Just shorts. It was just an experiment, you know, I created, I’ve got a main channel, which Real Men Real Style, but uh, yeah, the Scenteno channel was just to learn about fragrances, and obviously, I have a lot still to learn. 

[Raphael] And with that name, I mean, come on, that’s ideal.

[Antonio] Yeah, we had someone on our team, Jean, she came up with that. I was like, that’s good!

[Raphael] Did you trademark it? Scenteno? I mean, come on!

[Antonio] No.

[Prof. Preston] All right. Well, thanks to everyone for joining us, and uh, in conclusion, smell you later! 

[Antonio] Okay, see ya. Nice, Preston.

[Raphael] Ah, good!

The History of the Secret Language of Fragrance

When we refer to the secret meanings of fragrances, we aren’t referring to the formalities, seasonalities, or occasions for which particular fragrances are appropriate; I cover those subjects in our guide on How To Pair Fragrances With Your Outfit. Instead, we are referring to certain meanings and associations that have been tied to individual scents throughout history and codified in the late 19th century.

A portrait painting by Irving Ray wiles

Late-Victorian society was somewhat obsessed with clandestine communication, especially through sartorial choices that conveyed secret meetings to those in the know. According to the language of flowers, a yellow rose worn in the hair indicated that a young lady only had friendship on her mind.

[Image Credit: meisterdrucke.ie]

Conversely, as Preston reveals in our guide on the secrets of colors, wearing orange signals that you are a go-getter with the ambition and outlook of a young man. Similarly, a language of scents developed, and that’s the topic of today.

We will note that these meanings were most often romantic creations of retailers, usually employed to sell products. But, while these meanings were not standardized or scientifically based and could vary greatly between people and places, they did draw on general cultural significance to create a coherent code.

References to fragrances have secret understood meanings, even appearing in several prominent works of literature in this period, including The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Il Piacere by Gabrielle D’Annunzio, and A Rebours by J.K. Huysmans.

While we will be drawing from historical and cultural sources when we outline the meaning of today’s scents, we want to be clear that this post is mostly for fun. Don’t expect many people to decode your scented messages unless they’ve read this article, of course; and while aroma therapy is vaguely related to today’s topic, it won’t be our focus.

The Secret Meanings of Scents

Let’s now cover a wide array of scents in menswear, organized according to the presence you are attempting to project. This list consists of individual ingredients and not fragrances. You can therefore apply this information when shopping for fragrances, seeking out components that you like, suited to your intentions.

Scents For When You Want To Be Energetic

To put a pep in your step and those around you, opt for stimulating and invigorating fragrances. 

Lemon

Tart and tangy, lemon stimulates the mind and body. When you need to be attentively focused on a task, the brisk smell of lemon will keep you productive and convey to others how hard at work you are.

Lime

Lime has a similar effect, but is better suited to social occasions.

Orange

The sweet and bitter variations of orange indicate that you’re hardworking and dedicated but that you don’t let work rule your life.

Bergamot

Bergamot is an orange-adjacent scent. It is traditionally associated with courtly and refined living, perhaps because it was historically favored by country squires and gentleman planters. Our writer Tyler loves how refreshing and distinct, yet not overpowering orange is; especially in our signature fragrance, Roberto Ugolini’s Marzocco.

Cinnamon

When you need energy that lasts all day, enjoy the slow, spicy burn of cinnamon. This scent indicates that you are solid and dependable and that you’ll get the job done no matter how long it takes.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a revitalizing scent that perks you up for high-intensity moments. When you’re fully focused on fun, this scent energizes you and those around you with a pleasure-seeking intensity.

Coconut has a similar effect, but it’s best employed in hot weather.

Bright citrine scents are some of our writer Jack’s favorites, and he especially enjoys how they are presented in fragrances like Penhaligon’s Blenheim Bouquet, Hierbas de Mallorca, and Roberto Ugolini’s Giardino di Boboli.

Scents For When You Want To Be Attractive

Italian heartthrob Marcello Mastroianni calls fragrance “the most powerful weapon in the fight for romantic attention.” So, consider putting these scents into your arsenal.

Ylang-ylang

This tropical flower is dreamy and romantic. With a penetrating multi-layered odor, it is perfect for the first date when you want to leave a lasting impression without being overpowering. 

Smoke

While technically an accord, a collection of scents and not an individual scent, smoke is a combination of scents that conveys a sense of mystery, allure, and charm. As such, it is perfect for dates, especially early on when you want to leave your partner wanting more.

Lily of the Valley

Floral & Citrusy

Sweetly floral with just a hint of citrines, lily of the valley is a balanced floral scent evocative of intimate warm days. Often associated with nuptials, the scent of lily of the valley will subtly communicate that you’re ready to make things more serious and take them to the next level. 

Styrax

Known for mimicking the natural musk of skin, styrax is a deeply intimate and alluring scent when you want to exude sex appeal, but be wary about employing it too early in the courtship. 

Violet

Evocative of nostalgia and lost loves, this scent is ideal for days when you want to reminisce or encourage others to recall the past; possibly the best scent to wear around the one that got away.

Scents For When You Want To Be Confident

To give yourself that little boost and to help build yourself up amongst others, consider these smells.

Cedarwood

Like a tranquil forest, cedarwood smells have calming qualities that set your mind at ease and reassure you that you’ve got this. Wear it to project to others and to yourself that everything is under control; incidentally, a great daily wear scent.

Leather

Accords that are evocative of leather conjure visions of traditional dependability and work ethic, whether that puts you in mind of stuffed leather chairs in a boardroom or leather work gloves in a stable.

Unobjectionable and versatile, leather can be worn under any circumstance where you need to show that you’ve got what it takes.

Vetiver

Earthy and exotic, this musky scent instills a sense of primal command; it boosts perceptions of ability and skill, so others are more likely to have faith in you or the scent when you need to win over others, especially those who don’t know you, like an interview situation.

Lavender

Often associated with relaxation, lavender is a calming, fortifying scent that will boost your confidence by reducing your anxiety and quieting your mind. It also encourages a sense of calm around you, perfect for hectic office environments.

Another way to enforce the confident nature of lavender is by picking up the color of lavender in your accessories, like I am in today’s outfit, with a purple-inspired pocket square. It’s not quite lavender, but if I wanted to have a more strong pop of lavender, I could take that out and utilize a floral boutonniere like this one.

Outfit Rundown

Today, I’m wearing a blue sport coat with different shades of blue, a light blue dress shirt with a Mandarin collar, navy blue trousers with blue boots, and Fort Belvedere socks; and to round out the theme of blue today, I’m also accenting the outfit with Roberto Ugolini’s Blue Suede Shoes. 

So, if you’d like to see this fragrance and many others and some of the other amazing accessories that we have at the Fort Belvedere shop, you can visit the Fort Belvedere website.

Fort Belvedere

Shadow Stripe Ribbed Socks Navy Blue and Red Fil d'Ecosse Cotton

Available Here

Fort Belvedere

Roberto Ugolini – Blue Suede Shoes

Available Here

Scents For When You Want To Be Effortless

When you want to make it all look so easy with that charming sprezzatura attitude, turn to these scents.

Myrrh

Luminous and dignified, myrrh is relentless with excess and exoticism. With a pedigree going back a millennia, valued as a luxury good, myrrh has nothing to prove and neither will you when you wear this fragrance scent.

Vanilla

Warm and sweet, vanilla imparts joy to those who wear it, along with fond memories of home and a general feeling of contentment. Ideal for cooler weather, when we all want to feel protected, it’s especially suited to gatherings with family and loved ones.

Tonka Bean

Tonka bean is a less seasonally restricted alternative to vanilla.

Patchouli

To convey that you go with the flow, but never lose sight of who you are, consider wearing patchouli. Spicy and sweet, earthy and musky, patchouli is ready for anything, so the scent is well-suited to moments when you’re not sure what’s coming, but you want to face it with ease and class.

Apple

Tart and sweet, apple imparts a sense of fresh eagerness like a clean, new beginning. It conveys a carefree, come-what-may attitude that is sure to keep the doctor away.

Scents For When You Want To Be Introspective

Ultimately, your fragrance should benefit you as much as it does anybody else. Wear these scents to encourage a sense of self-evaluation and reflection.

Cloves

Often associated with the culinary arts, the scent of cloves produces a cozy, safe feeling. Typical of the home, it’s ideal for private moments, especially with immediate family when you want to unwind and unpack the day’s events.

Iris

Delicate and powdery, the effect of iris can vary greatly depending on your mood. Therefore, it can be worn to help you emphasize how you are feeling as you delve into your mood and emotions.

Frankincense

The smell produces an eerie, otherworldly effect, ideal for when you want to appear aloof and exotic or when you want to put yourself into a unique state of mind.

Scents For When You Want To Be Adventurous

Whether starting a big project at work or setting across North America on a motorcycle, these scents will stoke your sense of excitement.

Artemisia

The sharp and better scent is extremely popular in green fragrances; think of Green Irish Tweed by Creed, a favorite here at the Gentleman’s Gazette. An evocative of herbaceous beverages like vermouth and absinthe. As such, it conveys a sense that you’re not afraid to be daring, either in the world of venture capitalism or on a night on the town.

GERANIUM

Zesty & Floral

Being zesty and floral, geranium has a remarkable depth that gives a kick that most flower-based scents lack. Some find this off-putting, but this is ideal for when you want to convey a take-it-or-leave-it independence. For a similar but less polarizing scent, try rose.

Ambergris

This scent stirs up deep seated passions, both good and bad; making it ideal for social and romantic encounters with good friends. But, be wary of strangers or those with whom you have quarreled.

Jasmine

The muskiest of the floral scents, jasmine has an edge that sets it apart and will set you apart as someone who combines dignity and elegance with charm and a devil-may-care attitude. It’s great for dates and romantic encounters. Maybe that’s why the jasmine in Roberto Ugolini Giardino di Boboli is the favorite note of John, one of our videographers.

Fresh

Sometimes, we don’t want to smell like anything in particular. These scents are essentially a blank slate that will heighten, but not overwhelm your natural musk. Scents like these are typical of Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue, which Preston is found to be an unexpected yet thoroughly enjoyed fragrance.

Peony

While natural peonies can vary somewhat in their scent, in fragrances, peony is consistently soothing and sweet with a fresh, unobjectionable aroma and a hint of pepper for zest. This floral scent is ideal for when you want just a hint of the unexpected. It is also elegant and refined, like for social occasions or days at the office.

Birch

The most crisp and light of the woodsy scents, birch conveys a sense of solidity but not intractionability. As such it’s an ideal everyday scent, especially in work environments.

Mint

Cutting clean through other odors, mint is like a palate cleanser, it will serve as a reset, ideal for first encounters or new beginnings; as its sharp tang draws attention and then fades to bring all attention to you.

Cardamom

Charming Scent

The warmest scent we’re suggesting in this section, cardamom, combines crisp and balsamic notes for a charming, approachable fragrance. It’s a lovely way to show that you’re open and receptive to meeting new people and inviting them to get to know you, definitely consider this scent for interviews.

Conclusion

Now that you know more about the secrets behind scents, you can craft fragrances on an entirely new level. We hope you found this guide to be fun and informative, and don’t forget, you can always create your own personal meaning for fragrances that are just as meaningful as what we’ve covered today.

Let us know if any of your fragrances have a secret meaning to you. We won’t tell. Also, let us know if you’d like another post covering the secret meanings of even more scents.