I remember when Boucheron introduced Pour Homme Eau de Parfum in the early nineties. It was considered rather decadent, rather gay, to have a man wear something called “perfume”. In retrospect such concerns over one simple word are hilarious, but at the time it took some days for me to muster up the courage to go into Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills to investigate the scent. Thankfully, a kind salesman guided me to the tester. I immediately loved Pour Homme and bought it.

You may chuckle at my trepidation, but times were different 15 years ago for men and toiletries. Just before searching out Boucheron Pour Homme, I had been openly laughed at, ridiculed!, by two young female customers at Robinson’s department store when I bought some moisturizer and skin cleanser from the (now discontinued) Lancôme men’s skin care line…

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