If you missed it, see Holiday fragrance gifts 2010 part 1.
From L’Artisan Parfumeur, two coffrets: Les Masculines, shown above, with 15 ml bottles of Timbuktu, Fou d’Absinthe and L’Eau de L’Artisan; or Les Best, not shown, with Mûre et Musc, Premier Figuier and La Chasse aux Papillons…
As the “publish” button was pressed for this post, I heard the frantic, desperate opening words of Etta James’ Stop the Wedding swirling in my head: “Wait!…WAIT!”
But it was too late…there was no turning back.
Choosing ten men’s fragrances that have been released in the last couple years and deeming them “the best” was difficult. I’ve certainly owned and sampled more than my share of perfumes over the years, and I’ve reached a Perfumed State of Grace (i.e.: I’m jaded), but I’ve certainly not smelled every masculine fragrance released in 2009-2010. Has anyone? (Many of these unsniffed perfumes loom large in my imagination: Miller et Bertaux Om, Christian Dior La Collection Couturier Parfumeur, Honoré des Prés We love NY scents, and The Different Company De Bachmakov.)
My list of best new fragrances for men is personal, and it isn’t categorized with available spots for citrus, chypre, sport, “dressy,” mainstream, or niche perfumes; I’ve simply included what I like. If you can’t believe a certain fragrance is on, or is missing from, the list: GOOD! I’d hate to think I’m predictable.
Please comment if you feel a great fragrance is absent from this list, but if “top 10-type” lists drive you crazy and keep you up at night: “Wait!… WAIT!” … don’t torture yourself by reading mine…
Even though I’ve finally finished my years (and years) of higher education, I still think of autumn as a season of “back to school” anticipation, complete with new books, new shoes, and new friendships — as well as the renewal of older friendships. Angela’s recent post describing her fragrance collection as a group of friends made me smile and made me look at my own fall fragrance line-up in a similar way.
Les Parfums de Rosine Poussière de Rose was one of my first “niche” perfume purchases, and it’s still one of my closest fragrance “companions.” I actually wear it from fall through spring, because it always feels right. It reminds me of rose potpourri in a cedar box; very nostalgic. We’re two of a kind.
Rochas Tocade is another longtime acquaintance, a rose-and-vanilla floriental that I bring back into rotation every autumn. It can feel a bit overdressed sometimes, and it’s definitely not shy, but I always know I can rely on it to boost my confidence for a night out.
Ormonde Jane Ta’if is a more recent arrival to my perfume wardrobe…
When he reviewed Coeur de Vétiver Sacré last week, Kevin said that L’Artisan Parfumeur (along with Diptyque and Comme des Garçons) no longer had “the heart for off-center or ‘risky’ perfumes”. I’ll have to regretfully agree about Diptyque, and I haven’t thrown in the towel yet but admittedly Comme des Garçons’ output has seemed a wee bit repetitive lately. On the subject of L’Artisan though, I’ll have to respectfully disagree. I did not love Coeur de Vétiver Sacré, and I didn’t love the two before that — Al Oudh and Nuit de Tubéreuse — either, still, loving a perfume is not the same as respecting it. None of them were dumbed down or boring, and Coeur de Vétiver Sacré and Nuit de Tubéreuse in particular struck me as interesting attempts to do something new with raw materials that can easily descend into cliché.
If anything, I think L’Artisan is looking better than ever since they took on perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour as the not-really-exactly-the-house-nose. I adored Havana Vanille (and in today’s rapid launch environment, it’s hard to remember that Havana Vanille is barely a year old). I adore Traversée du Bosphore even more…
One nearly full (I did decant several large samples, but it’s at least 90% full) 100 ml bottle of Coeur de Vétiver Sacré by L’Artisan Parfumeur.
Want one? For a chance to win, leave a comment. We’ll make it easy…