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Best Aftershave?


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Old 09-10-2016, 15:10
Frazer_Young
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Hi Everyone!

I am new to DS and this is my first post. I thought that I would throw my hat into the ring with a query that has been bothering me for a while. I have read similar threads about this subject, but none that have answered my query. Anyway, here goes...

I am very fond of aftershaves. I have used many during my lifetime, some with more satisfaction than others. The ones that I use now, though are...

Old Spice - This is okay, but smells a bit cheap and the scent soon fades.

Aramis - One of my favourites. A friend of my dad's used to wear this, which is how I got to know it. I always find myself going back to this one, time and time again. I think it is one of the very best "classic" aftershaves, though unfortunately it isn't one of the cheapest.

Tabac Original - I have only ever found this in Boots, which seem to be the only shop that sells it. I like it, but the smell always reminds me of talcum power for some reason.

Jovan Musk - Again, I have only ever found this in Boots. It is one of the cheapest ones that I use and smells okay, for the price.

I do use one or two others occasionally, but these others are all EDTs and not splashes. The ones listed above are all aftershave splashes. Anyway, I wondered if any of you could recommend a nice, musky, long-lasting aftershave for a "slightly older" man (I am in my early 40s). I am interested in classic and more modern aftershaves equally, so any sensible suggestions are welcome. Also, be aware that I have limited finances, so don't suggest anything that is too pricey!

I look forward to your recommendations.

Regards,

Frazer
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Old 09-10-2016, 19:41
barbeler
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Don't do it. The overwhelming majority of aftershaves are sickeningly foul and people always use far too much. I'm convinced some teenagers think a bottle is a single dose application, although perhaps that's to disguise the smell of skunk. I once changed my season ticket seat at the football to get away from somebody who wore so much it made my eyes water.

It's not just men though as some women also seem to have no sense of smell. If people can smell it from more than about two feet away you're using far too much.
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Old 09-10-2016, 19:47
Pitman
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how much is not too pricey ?

pasha by cartier, can't go wrong
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Old 09-10-2016, 21:03
80's chick
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Issey miyake is a gorgeous scent ... Ive often just asked random strangers what Theyre wearing... Turns out to be that
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Old 11-10-2016, 20:29
Frazer_Young
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how much is not too pricey ?

pasha by cartier, can't go wrong
You have to bear in mind that my finances are limited. I do love quality aftershaves, but I am not prepared to pay any amount. I am usually prepared to pay up to about £50. Anything more than that does test my bank balance a bit too much.

I will look up that Pasha by Cartier you mentioned, though. Thank you for your suggestion!
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Old 11-10-2016, 20:34
Frazer_Young
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Issey miyake is a gorgeous scent ... Ive often just asked random strangers what Theyre wearing... Turns out to be that
I love the Issey Miyake one too. I think it is one of the nicest EDT's that I have ever used. I do have a bottle of that, but I keep it on reserve, as it costs a fortune in most shops. I do prefer to buy aftershaves from shops, though, as I don't completely trust some internet sites. I have bought them from Amazon several times in the past, though. They have a good selection.
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Old 11-10-2016, 20:42
Lushness
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Chanel Bleu is beautiful
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Old 19-10-2016, 23:29
nattoyaki
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There is no 'best aftershave'! Fragrance is personal. It reacts with your own body chemistry (sweat etc) so a smell that really suits one person may not suit you.

Try the test strips or a test spray at the store, but don't immediately react and make a purchase, wait a few hours to see how it 'sits' with you.

I like Hugo Boss Energise myself - it suits me
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Old 28-10-2016, 12:22
Jmac-25
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The Body Shop do some very nice men's ones that are pretty cheap. There's one called Arber which I've used for years.

When all else fails - Brut!
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Old 28-10-2016, 13:18
Ella Nut
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I have never smelled anything better on a man than Kouros.
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Old 29-10-2016, 12:38
LaVieEnRose
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Paco Rabanne Pour Homme always had an intoxicating effect on me but I haven't caught a whiff of it in ages.
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Old 29-10-2016, 21:10
barbeler
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I think the best advice is to find out whatever is popular with 15 year-old boys and then use something else.
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Old 31-10-2016, 20:33
Ess_Bee
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Dior Eau Sauvage - a classic, tangy aftershave, and often used by women but don't let that put you off! £49.50 from Boots for the EDT spray.

PS Stay away from Lynx!
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Old 08-11-2016, 21:51
tortfeasor
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Hi Frazer.


My first recommendation to you would be to have a look on allbeauty.com, which is a reliable UK online retailer for beauty products and quite possibly the best for discounted designer fragrances. For example at the moment they have the classic Issey Miyake L'eau D'Issey Pour Homme, which you said you liked, for £39.95 for the 125ml bottle.



As for some long-lasting, musky aftershaves in the price range you indicated, here are some suggestions:


Cacharel Pour Homme. £29.99 for the 100ml in Boots at the moment. A perfect citrus/spicy blend that lasts a while. I can definitely make out the nutmeg in this but the bergamot gives it the fresh citrus touch to begin with. While I prefer Armani's classic Eau Pour Homme (I fear that would be a bit pricey for you), this came out first and is a great example of the spicy citrus fragrance.

Aramis Havana - you would have to look online for this because it doesn't seem to get stocked in shops at the moment. As you're a fan of the classic I had to recommend at least one other Aramis fragrance from the 'Gentleman's Collection' range, which is worth checking out: if you have a Debenhams, John Lewis or House of Fraser near to you is worth going in because in my experience all 3 tend to stock at least 2-3 from the Gentleman's Collection range, if not all of them (bar Havana unfortunately).

Havana is perfect for the winter in my opinion because of its really rich and warm spicy feel. It's also something that lasts a long time and as it's not in the shops a lot isn't worn by many, if any. I've bought it from Amazon in the past and it set me back £17-18 for a 100ml bottle.


Ralph Lauren Polo. I wouldn't be surprised if you've tried this before because it is a classic, like Aramis. I personally think the tree moss they use in Aramis gives it the long-lasting edge and as tree moss is also found in Polo I think it's worth recommending Polo to you.

The current version of Polo is most likely nowhere near as strong as the original was but like recent versions of Aramis it's possibly more wearable.
Polo still packs a punch and lasts for hours. It's another one that's very masculine and great for the cooler months with its definite pine and like Aramis, leather notes.
Boots are currently matching allbeauty.com and the 118ml bottle can be had for £47.95

Calvin Klein Obsession. Another fragrance that I think is perfect for the cooler months and delivers a lot for its very reasonable price tag, though it is worth looking online. I bought my 125ml bottle from Amazon for less than £20. You have possibly tried it already, but if not it should be a familiar smell. For me it's the amber, vanilla and cinnamon that leave the long-lasting impression along with the well-blended other notes but I can make out the pine in it too. It's another warm, spicy and musky fragrance.

Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme. This, like Issey Miyake's L'eau D'Issey, was one of the best fragrances to be released in the last 25 years. It's a classic masculine fragrance. There is a great blend of citrus and lavender throughout but tobacco and woody notes are also present in it as well. I used to wear this a lot and alternated it with Issey Miyake and both seemed to work well all the year around.


Guerlain Vetiver. Another timeless classic. I'd say this is possibly a bit more 'fresh' and 'green' than some of the others but for me this would fit the masculine, musky and long-lasting but not too expensive bill. It's a well-blended fragrance with citrus, spicy and woody notes. It's definitely lighter than Aramis but it has a long-lasting, musky smell. I find it hard to describe other than to say it has a clean with a little smokey edge to it. I suppose you could say it's a bit earthy given it is a vetiver based fragrance. Worth looking on Amazon because it can be had for just over £30 for a 100ml bottle.
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Old 10-11-2016, 00:01
Mint-Opinion
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Christian Dior homme. An ex girlfriend turned me on to this. She didn't stick around but Christian did.
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Old 10-11-2016, 09:52
barbeler
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Calvin Klein Obsession. Another fragrance that I think is perfect for the cooler months and delivers a lot for its very reasonable price tag, though it is worth looking online. I bought my 125ml bottle from Amazon for less than £20. You have possibly tried it already, but if not it should be a familiar smell. For me it's the amber, vanilla and cinnamon that leave the long-lasting impression along with the well-blended other notes but I can make out the pine in it too. It's another warm, spicy and musky fragrance.
I have some of that but wouldn't recognise it from that description.

I remember reading that the female big cats in one particular zoo found it irrisistible, so it must have something going for it. Just don't wear it in a safari park.
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Old 11-11-2016, 23:39
tortfeasor
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I have some of that but wouldn't recognise it from that description.
Is that good or bad?

I remember reading that the female big cats in one particular zoo found it irrisistible, so it must have something going for it. Just don't wear it in a safari park.
I was inspired to do a bit of research after reading your post and stumbled across a clip on Youtube about that story. Very interesting! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znbIkKXM2p8

Suppose I'll leave by saying perhaps it's one to wear if you want to attract the cougars!
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Old 12-11-2016, 20:08
Tether
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Christian Dior 'Cologne'

Dolce and Gabanna 'The One'

Armani 'Diamonds Rocks'

Ralph Lauren 'Polo' Red
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Old 12-11-2016, 21:20
barbeler
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Issey miyake is a gorgeous scent ... Ive often just asked random strangers what Theyre wearing... Turns out to be that
It can't be like the women's version then. That smells as if they've just peed themselves and sat next to a warm radiator until it dried.
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Old 14-11-2016, 19:18
appledash
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creed - Aventus £250 for a 125ml bottle
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Old 14-11-2016, 19:48
1manonthebog
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I never spend big money on aftershave. My faves are Joop Go and Cool Water.
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Old 14-11-2016, 20:50
19Nick68
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Issey miyake is a gorgeous scent ... Ive often just asked random strangers what Theyre wearing... Turns out to be that
Now I have a thing with Issey Miyake in that I think it smells fantastic on others.

I actually bought myself a large bottle one year and it just made me gag to wear it myself. I eventually gave it away. I've had a number of aftershaves which haven't been great but that has been the only one that I just couldn't wear. I guess it was just my pheromones.
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Old 14-11-2016, 20:50
Lushness
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creed - Aventus £250 for a 125ml bottle
Creed is beautiful. I watched a woman on the tube who was literally kissing a man's neck who was wearing it.

It's a mortgage payment though!
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Old 16-11-2016, 17:18
Frazer_Young
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Hi Everyone!

Many thanks for all of your suggestions. You have certainly given me food for thought and some good ideas for new ones to try. I have a feeling that my bank balance may take a bit of a pounding in the next few months or so! Anyway, a big THANK YOU to everyone who came up with suggestions. You have been very helpful!

In particular,

Lushness - I have tried Chanel De Bleu and it is a really nice one. Mind you, I think that most of the Chanel products are quality products. My mum wears Chanel No.5 perfume and she swears by it. That is even older than Old Spice!

Jmac-25 - I have also tried Arber from The Body Shop and I think that is quite pleasant as well and relatively inexpensive. It is a pity that The Body Shop don't have a good range of men's EDT's, though. However, I do question your suggestion of Brut. That used to be my aftershave of choice when I was a student! I haven't worn it since then, though. I guess that my tastes have developed since then, which has unfortunately reduced my disposable income at the same time!

Ella Nut - I have a bottle of Kouros aftershave splash that I bought from Asda. I agree that it has a very warm and almost musky scent to it. It is an aftershave that I go back to regularly. It has been around a while, though, so it is another "classic" aftershave.

LaVieEnRose - I have tried Paco Rabanne, but it doesn't smell very nice on me for some reason. I desperately wanted to like it too. Maybe my skin chemistry just doesn't suit it for some reason. Oh well...

Ess_Bee - I have tried the Dior Sauvage and I think it is lovely. I managed to persuade my mother into buying me a bottle for Christmas. You are right about Lynx too. That stuff smells repellent to me and it always reminds me of teenage boys. It seems to be an aftershave of choice for them. Maybe that is why I detest the stuff so much.

tortfeasor - You have given me lots of good suggestions. I have actually tried Calvin Klein Obssession and I have a bottle on standby now. It is one of my favourites of the Calvin Klein range, though I also like Eternity too. I have looked for Aramis Havana, as Aramis is also one of my favourites, but I haven't had any luck in finding it in any shop. Even my local Boots and Debenhams don't have it. The only Aramis that my Debenhams sell are the original Aramis, Aramis Black and Aramis Gentleman, though all of those are nice. I did find it on Amazon, though, so maybe I will make a purchase. I also agree with you about Ralph Lauren Polo. That smells very nice too! I haven't tried Dolce And Gabbana....yet!

appledash - I have heard of Creed, but £250!!!! Really??? That is a very long way out of my price range, unless my numbers come up on the Lottery this week! I have read lots of favourable comments of it, though, so it does seem to be very popular. I cannot foresee there ever being an opportunity for me to buy that though. Except in my dreams, of course!

Anyway, thanks again to all of you. I welcome any more helpful suggestions if you have any.

Thanks for your time.

Frazer
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Old 16-11-2016, 17:56
LaVieEnRose
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Just a thought about availability.

My favourite perfume is the long-discontinued Métal by Paco Rabanne. For some reason this scent was never as widely advertised as others from their range, and it was not always on display. Several times in different places I asked about it, only for it to be produced from a drawer or cupboard under the counter.

So if you don't see something on display, it may just be worth asking for it.
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