How to start a collection - Finding your Signature
2 minute read
Which one would you choose?
When getting serious about your cologne game, starting a collection can be a daunting process. There’s a tonne of fragrances out there in the designer and niche market! Where do you start and how do you get the most out of your money?
In this new series we’re going to start with fragrance number one. In my opinion, this should be your ‘signature’ or versatile scent. I’ve seen many guys in our Instagram DMs start off with a super sweet date night fragrance as their ‘daily’ scent! (JPG Ultra Male for School? Huhhhhh?!)
In this week’s post we’re going to cover three signature cologne ‘categories’ you can wear and the different personalities they represent. Tell me if you agree with these…
Category 1 - Blue Fragrances
The EDP is my top choice for Bleu de Chanel
A blue fragrance is the category to go for when you don’t want to think too much about your cologne and you need something safe.
These are mainstream, mass appealing and are known to work well in any environment. The main contenders in this category are Bleu de Chanel (the most refined), Sauvage (most complimented but most common) and YSL Y EDP (the most ‘sporty’ fresh). Dylan blue would also be in here as the most ‘youthful’ scent.
The scent DNA of these fragrances involve some sort of sharp note up top and a ‘woody’ synthetic note in the base to provide longevity. Think pepper and ambroxan for Sauvage or Grapefruit and Sandalwood for Bleu de Chanel.
Category 2 - Lavender Bombs!
Beau de Jour is hugely slept on.
These are for the man who wants a more ‘classical’ approach to his signature cologne. These are for men who enjoy the traditional ‘barbershop’ scents that they smelled on their father growing up. These smell more soapy clean and serious.
Two suggestions from me that are not outdated are Tom Ford’s Beau de Jour and Parfum de Marly’s Percival. People go straight to the first category and forget about these kind of fragrances when they need something versatile, not realising that both these lavender fragrances I have mentioned get a lot of compliments and last a really long time!
One last caveat about these fragrances is that you need to generally be a well dressed man to pull off these scent profiles!
Category 3 - The Creative Signature
Your thoughts on this bottle design?
This last category is for those who want to make a statement. Your signature cologne should be what people remember you by. While you may smell ‘pleasant’ with a blue fragrance, you may end up being forgettable if everyone else is also wearing Sauvage…
There’s no limit to what fragrances can be included in this category, these can be as ‘weird’ as you want but I would say always make sure there’s some kind of ‘fresh aspect’ to these.
For example, I would suggest looking in to Moschino Toy Boy, the bottle design doesn’t do justice to how versatile it is, it’s strange for a man to wear a pear fragrance but there’s a lot of freshness coming from rose here also, definitely unique.
More examples would be things like Versace the Dreamer (florals and tobacco) or Tom Ford’s Ombre Leather (wearing leather all year round?)
Finishing Thoughts
Girls come and go, but Aventus will always be here to stay.
This is not an exhaustive list of signature ‘categories’.
For example there is also the ‘sharp’/citrus category that scents like Aventus would fit in to, or the ‘green’ category of fragrances like Creed’s Green Irish Tweed or Tom Ford’s Oud Wood.
What would you say is the best ‘creative’ signature out there to leave a lasting impression and what do you personally wear as a signature or are interested in purchasing?
Until next time,
Omar
