Written By
Brian Sacawa
Brian Sacawa is the Founder of He Spoke Style and one of the original men’s style influencers.
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Our Favorite Standout Scents For The Season
We spend a lot of time here talking about how to transition your wardrobe for seasonal changes. And while that’s certainly a topic worth investing a lot of ink on, there are other important elements related to seasonal transitions that need to be discussed, including your choice of fragrance.
I believe that fragrance is the finishing touch of any great outfit and it’s also something that must be carefully considered to complement any particular season. So as we start to ease into fall proper, I put together this list of my five favorite fall fragrances for men right now.
Frederic Malle French Lover
Launched in 2003, Frederic Malle’s French Lover is a masculine, sophisticated, and classic yet contemporary fragrance. It opens with a vegetal burst that dries down into a long-lasting rich, but dry, bitter wood.
- Top notes: pimiento, angelica, juniper
- Base notes: patchouli, vetiver, frankincense
There’s a distinct kind of sensuality to French Lover. It’s not overpowering but seems to pulse against your skin. It’s the type of fragrance that will intrigue others and invite them to lean in just a bit closer. Yet despite its seductive qualities, French Lover is appropriate for everyday wear. In fact, it’s been my signature fall scent two years running.
Roja Parfums Scandal Parfum Cologne
In my opinion, Roja’s Scandal may be one of the best and most elegant fougères ever created. Eminently classic, it’s for the man who, like Winston Churchill has simple tastes and is easily satisfied with the best.
- Top notes: Lemon, bergamot, spearmint, lavender, basil, tarragon
- Heart notes: Lily of the valley, Jasmin de grasse, violet
- Base notes: Rhubarb, cardamom, clove, nutmeg, moss notes, patchouli, vetiver, cedarwood, casmir wood, sandalwood, tonka bean, labdanum, ambergris, musk
So, that is a pretty heady list of notes. And although Scandal definitely has a complexity to it, at its core, it is a simple and classic—albeit exceptionally sophisticated—barbershop fragrance. Scandal comes in two formulations—a parfum and parfum-cologne. As a daily wear, I would recommend the parfum-cologne version as it’s a bit lighter and fresher. But for an an elegant evening out, the Parfum is a truly refined standout.
Geo. F. Trumper Eucris
Uncompromisingly masculine—in the best way possible—I firmly believe that Eucris by Geo. F. Trumper deserves a place in every man’s fragrance lineup. It was good enough for James Bond in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” so it’s good enough for you.
- Top notes: black currant, caraway, coriander
- Heart notes: lily of the valley, jasmine
- Base notes: oakmoss, sandalwood, musk
Like Roja’s Scandal, I find the notes listed for Eucris to be a bit misleading. Rather than get into the nitty gritty, what I’d like you to do is to imagine your grandfather who may have worn Old Spice or Brut. Think of that, but then imagine that your grandfather lived in London’s Mayfair neighborhood. It’s a classic gentleman’s scent for a classic gentleman that doesn’t take BS from anyone.
Hermès Terre d’Hermès
An underground classic, Terre D’Hermès is the connoisseur’s signature fall scent. A quick flash of citrus dries down to reveal a smooth, elegant, and lasting cedarwood. I consider this one to be a softer (and much less expensive) version of Krigler’s Blue Escapade 24.
- Top notes: orange, grapefruit
- Heart notes: flint
- Base notes: woodsy notes, oakmoss, benzoin
If you consider yourself a bit of a fragrance geek, chances are you’re in the IYKYK camp with Terre D’Hermès. But if you have mildly hipster leanings when it comes to fragrances and don’t already know about this one, it’s possible you might be a little put off by the fact that it’s pretty accessible, which a trip to your local Sephora will confirm. Don’t let that fool you. It’s a diamond in the rough and an island in the ocean of similarly scented designer fragrances.
Ralph Lauren Polo Black
While perhaps not as well-known as Green, Blue, or Red, Ralph Lauren’s Polo Black is one of my dark horse fall favorites. Don’t let any “light and crisp” description fool you, because it also falls squarely into the category of unique and intriguing.
- Top notes: Mango, tangerine, lemon
- Middle notes: Tonka bean, sage
- Base notes: Sandalwood, patchouli
If you’re a fan of Ralph Lauren fragrances and have sampled the other colors I mentioned, Black may come as a bit of a surprise. Hell, like me, you might not even like it that much the first time you spray it. But once you get over what you “think” it’s going to smell like and enjoy it for what it does smell like, you may find that you’ve just completely changed your fall fragrance game.
What are some of your favorite fall fragrances? Join the conversation and share the, below! And thanks, as always, for reading.