masculine | The Scented Hound

February 10, 2012
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Jaipur Homme by Boucheron

What I love about oriental scents is that they make you feel exotic and propel you to far away places (or what you imagine far away places are like). A continued standby for the past few years for me has been Jaipur Homme by Boucheron. This is a spicy scent… the cinnamon, clove and nutmeg really pop. There is no dry down, there is no change as the day goes on. It is a one level scent that so beautifully feels exotic. It’s light enough in the summer to wear; mixed with a little perspiration and you feel like your walking through the streets of India. But it’s also perfect as a winter scent, the spices comes alive and adds color to any gray, cold and damp day. Whenever I wear this, I feel elegant. This is not a young man’s cologne, and it is most suited for evening wear unless you work in a law office. Jaipur has wonderful sillage and is incredibly long lasting. This is a scent for the sophisticated man…the exotic man.

Notes:

Heliotrope, Bergamot, Amber, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clove, Tonka Bean

Bone Rating: 5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: oriental, spicy, exotic
Classification: Masculine
Expense: Moderate. Available in EDP and EDT

February 4, 2012
by The Scented Hound 5 Comments

Bel Ami by Hermes

Today we’re going old school. I rarely find an Hermes scent that I don’t love, and this is not an exception to that rule. Bel Ami is a man’s cologne. There is nothing feminine about this scent. And when I say that its old school, it conjures up images in my head of Cary Grant wearing a tux on the Riviera. It is one of those scents that is distinctive, long lasting, powerful and one that I always get comments on when I wear it (all good). So what’s so special about it? I think it’s the wonderful combination of the patchouli and leather that really stick out. Which is funny, because I am typically not a fan of either in most scents. But add the cardamon and amber and something magically happens. I highly recommend this for men who love real manly man men’s colognes. Just remember, a little goes a long way with this scent.

From the Hermes website:

Irresistibly charming and masculine. An audacious mix of cardamom, amber, patchouli and leather.

Bone Rating: 5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: leather, patchouli, amber, cardamom
Classification: Masculine
Expense: Moderate – Approximately $110 for 3.3 oz.

February 3, 2012
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07 Tanoke by Odin

When I first put this on, I wasn’t quite sure that I was going to be able to sit at my desk all day and put up with this scent. One of the downside of sampling is that sometimes you put on a scent and you feel trapped wearing it all day. Given that, the first thing you notice is the heavy pepper. Very spicy, and very dry. A very earthy scent. Again, not that it’s bad, it’s just that I tend to lean towards the ambers. However, as the day went on, I found myself lifting my wrist to get a whiff…after about an hour or so, I found myself doing this continuously. The scent mellowed to a very nice and calming smoky and woody scent, with just a tinge of sweetness. Very calming, clean and masculine. I found this to be a very complex and lasting fragrance. This turned out to be a great surprise and I can’t wait until the next time I put this on. I read that this is supposed to represent the “natural aromas of the California landscapes.” I can see that…and I’m ready to go.

From the Odin website:

Amid the wilderness of coastal hinterland comes a woody blend grounded in soaring redwoods and warm musk. The core of Tanoke brings forth the balsamic resin of wet gaiacwood wrapped in smoky incense. Crisp black pepper, spicy ginger and bitter orange hover the surface with invigorating freshness. 07 Tanoke was selected for W Magazine’s “Top 10 Indie Fragrances”.

Top: Spice Ginger, Bitter Orange, Black Pepper
Middle: Gaiacwood, Smoky incense, Nutmeg
Bottom: Redwood, Patchouli, Black Musk