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I've used Dark Obsession by CK for decades, but it's gone now. Any recommendations with a similar profile?
- 1
Cologne / Perfume Reviews
- Thread starter Aevry
- Start date
sleevedraw
Revolver Ocelot
- 2,211
- 6,404
Some ideas here, but I can't personally vouch for any of them.
DecantX is good if you are just looking for small 1-2mL sample bottles, as is Scent Split. The per-volume cost is high compared with buying a full bottle, but it's also a lot less wasteful if you decide you don't like it (and saves the hassle of trying to re-sell on Ebay or whatever).
For full-sized bottles, Jomashop and Fragrance.com are the big gray market retailers.
Local brick and mortar department stores that are midmarket and above (think Macy's, Belk, Dillard's, Nordstrom, Nieman, Saks) will usually let you sample something you're interested in if you ask. Or if you have absolutely no idea where to start, they often sell sampler kits like this.
- 2
SirFapsAlot
Von Clippowicz
- 988
- -4,975
I use Decant House for samples, they have a huge selection of stuff. Takes a few days for them to ship out because they fill to order and if you get the standard shipping it might take a week, at least that's been my experience, but otherwise solid.
In addition to the sites sleevedraw mentioned, fragrancenet.com is another decent site. https://www.fragrancenet.com/
- 1
Sludig
Potato del Grande
- 10,524
- 11,324
Looks like Decant house will be worth a try.
Macys sampler annoyed me just because the website was kinda shit and was shockingly hard to find anything mildly interesting for $10-15 for free shipping.
Little lost on why you need a spring vs summer fragrance. I can kinda understand late fall/winter holiday season inviting woody smoky warm smells, but I'd think pretty much all the civilized months of the year would go well as something light and pleasant.
I hate wine snobs, so trying to read reviews kinda is lost on me. All in the beholder anyways. Only problem w/ decant is I'll be a little lost with options.
I don't really get so sweaty I get complaints. But I started my interest mainly because I feel self conscious that I stink more than I do working in body armor all day albeit indoors. So just kinda would like something pleasant to aid over and above what my normal deodorant does.
Macys sampler annoyed me just because the website was kinda shit and was shockingly hard to find anything mildly interesting for $10-15 for free shipping.
Little lost on why you need a spring vs summer fragrance. I can kinda understand late fall/winter holiday season inviting woody smoky warm smells, but I'd think pretty much all the civilized months of the year would go well as something light and pleasant.
I hate wine snobs, so trying to read reviews kinda is lost on me. All in the beholder anyways. Only problem w/ decant is I'll be a little lost with options.
I don't really get so sweaty I get complaints. But I started my interest mainly because I feel self conscious that I stink more than I do working in body armor all day albeit indoors. So just kinda would like something pleasant to aid over and above what my normal deodorant does.
- 1
sleevedraw
Revolver Ocelot
- 2,211
- 6,404
As far as seasonality goes, it's mostly just winter and summer-geared things that clash. General rule - aquatics and citrus are mostly geared toward summer; "warming" things like coffee, smoke usually tend to be geared more toward winter, but there are some exceptions. Spring and fall are usually much more forgiving - most everything works, although in my mind, florals are more geared towards spring, while woods are more geared towards fall.
I personally focus more on temperature than I do strictly on the seasons. In Florida, you can pretty much wear aquatics year round. In North Dakota, you might only bring them out for July and August.
The above also assumes that you are "politely" wearing fragrance (i.e. trying to be conventional and blend in with other people, or have close personal contact with the public and are worried about sending someone into an allergic/asthmatic fit). If you are a member of the laptop class and work from home in a 70 degree house, you can pretty much wear what you want.
If the type of Old Spice you like is Swagger, it's predominantly cedar. Burberry Hero Parfum is pretty much a one-note cedar. Jo Malone makes a Whiskey and Cedarwood, although I personally wouldn't wear anything with booze notes in a work situation. Both of those would be considered more cold-weather fragrances. You can also take a look at Armani Code Parfum, which has some cedar, but also quite a few other things (iris, bergamot, orris, among others).
Or, if you want to try something other than cedar, look for a frag that people characterize as a "dumb reach" - one that works well regardless of situation. Some of the "in" ones right now:
BdC (Bleu de Chanel)
Dior Sauvage; Prada's Luna Rossa Carbon is considered to be a "cleaned up," more mature version
Versace Pour Homme
YSL Y (marketed to Millennials, but I think it's acceptable for men of pretty much any age)
Acqua di Gio (old classic that's been around since the 90s but may come across as dated and generic)
I've been wanting to try Pacific Chill so damn bad. Got a bunch of other samples to get through first, though.
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Sludig
Potato del Grande
- 10,524
- 11,324
Went w/ macys sampler for now as I can't narrow down the others very well but I'll revisit later.
Kinda irritated me, had a 15% off sale compared to the other day when I looked. But got billed for $10 extra, cancelled it, but seems to be no discount codes etc valid when using paypal (Reduce my risk of compromised card etc). So had to redo it manually because Fk paying an extra 15%
Not sure how many spritz'es I'll get out of .07oz little vials. (And worse might be roll on not a spray) But $60 for like 30 and change samplers doesn't seem the worst. (Mens set + mixed gender to give the wife a few as a gift)
Kinda irritated me, had a 15% off sale compared to the other day when I looked. But got billed for $10 extra, cancelled it, but seems to be no discount codes etc valid when using paypal (Reduce my risk of compromised card etc). So had to redo it manually because Fk paying an extra 15%
Not sure how many spritz'es I'll get out of .07oz little vials. (And worse might be roll on not a spray) But $60 for like 30 and change samplers doesn't seem the worst. (Mens set + mixed gender to give the wife a few as a gift)
- 1
sleevedraw
Revolver Ocelot
- 2,211
- 6,404
There can be a little variation (some dispense more, some less), but assuming 2-3 sprays per day applied once, usually about a 5 day to a week supply per sample vial in my experience.
- 1
SirFapsAlot
Von Clippowicz
- 988
- -4,975
Great site, definitely try it out when you're ready.
sleevedraw explained the spring / summer thing pretty well. It really is about the temperature. When it comes to Spring and Fall, you don't really NEED a dedicated fragrance, almost anything can work well during those seasons. I like to think of high heat fragrances as something that melts in the heat and releases the scent and cold fragrances as strong enough to bite through the cold. If you wear cold weather fragrances in the high heat, that shit is going to overwhelm your sense of smell and if you wear high heat fragrances in the cold, they're not going to perform.
In addition to his suggestions, I think Chanel Allure Homme Sport is great, it is a fresh, citrus, soapy / body wash type of scent, just more exquisite. The dry down has hints of vanilla in it and I think it's mind blowing. I don't find it to be overbearing in the least, it's "just right."
As far as seasonality goes, it's mostly just winter and summer-geared things that clash. General rule - aquatics and citrus are mostly geared toward summer; "warming" things like coffee, smoke usually tend to be geared more toward winter, but there are some exceptions. Spring and fall are usually much more forgiving - most everything works, although in my mind, florals are more geared towards spring, while woods are more geared towards fall.
I personally focus more on temperature than I do strictly on the seasons. In Florida, you can pretty much wear aquatics year round. In North Dakota, you might only bring them out for July and August.
The above also assumes that you are "politely" wearing fragrance (i.e. trying to be conventional and blend in with other people, or have close personal contact with the public and are worried about sending someone into an allergic/asthmatic fit). If you are a member of the laptop class and work from home in a 70 degree house, you can pretty much wear what you want.
If the type of Old Spice you like is Swagger, it's predominantly cedar. Burberry Hero Parfum is pretty much a one-note cedar. Jo Malone makes a Whiskey and Cedarwood, although I personally wouldn't wear anything with booze notes in a work situation. Both of those would be considered more cold-weather fragrances. You can also take a look at Armani Code Parfum, which has some cedar, but also quite a few other things (iris, bergamot, orris, among others).
Or, if you want to try something other than cedar, look for a frag that people characterize as a "dumb reach" - one that works well regardless of situation. Some of the "in" ones right now:
BdC (Bleu de Chanel)
Dior Sauvage; Prada's Luna Rossa Carbon is considered to be a "cleaned up," more mature version
Versace Pour Homme
YSL Y (marketed to Millennials, but I think it's acceptable for men of pretty much any age)
Acqua di Gio (old classic that's been around since the 90s but may come across as dated and generic)
I've been wanting to try Pacific Chill so damn bad. Got a bunch of other samples to get through first, though.
You'll be delighted with Pacific Chill. I read a few reviews that talk about its longevity being an issue, but I personally did not have that problem. If you're wearing a short sleeve shirt, try to hit the edges of the sleeves with your sprays and you'll be getting whiffs of it for a while. I usually spray my arms / shoulders instead of neck / back of neck, but if you spray the neck area, try to hit the collar with a little of it.
Are you referring to Decant House with the paypal issue? If you email them they will likely help you out, or at least explain what's going on. I know the owner is very active on Trust Pilot, so their customer service is good.
A lot of people don't wear scents, despite how popular it seems to have become, so if you wear anything pleasant, you'll stand out in a good way. Looked up Lagerfeld Classic, read the notes, seems like it smells fucking amazing.
- 1
Sludig
Potato del Grande
- 10,524
- 11,324
No Macys. Like I said fixed it by cancel and redo w/ my CC directly, just annoying.
- 1
SirFapsAlot
Von Clippowicz
- 988
- -4,975
Got it, wasn't sure. Got confused for a second because I remembered Decant House also gives you a percentage off your first order, but didn't remember at the time of posting if it was 10 or 15 percent, it's 10 percent.
