Cologne that does not smell sweet

[sara20]

I want to get some cologne as a gift for my bf but I hate cologne that smells sweet like women’s perfume, any recommendations?

[Beckdawrek]

Musk is always a good spicey scent. Is citrus too sweet? There’s a unisex scent called #4711. Best stuff ever, if you like citrus scent.

[Snowboarder_Bo]

@Snowboarder_Bo

Lagerfeld

It smells like money that’s been rolled around in sex while Barry White tunes played in the background. Chicks dig it.

[Leaffan]

How about going to the perfume counter at a decent department store and sniffing some samples?

[DPRK]

Here is a perfume review magazine website where you can search for particular scents or by name. When you click on a perfume, it will say what is in it. For example, I randomly clicked on “Bleu de Chanel”, and it says

Bleu de Chanel by Chanel is a woody aromatic fragrance for men presented on the market in 2010. The nose behind this fragrance is Jacques Polge. The fragrance features labdanum, nutmeg, ginger, sandalwood, patchouli, mint, jasmine, grapefruit, citruses, vetiver, incense, cedar and pink pepper.

After shave lotion with innovative splash formula is also on the market.

and “Lagerfeld” comes up with

Woody spicy perfume introduced in 2003. It is dedicated and inspired by modern and mysterious man, shaped in the bottle which represents man silhouette as strong as a rock. The design of the bottle is made in such way as to parry the woman Lagerfeld Femme perfume, and Lagerfeld Man perfume makes man silhouette made of colored Plexiglas with gum, black top. The bottle was designed Cec le Page. It is available in the amount of 50, 100, 150 ml edt. It was designed by Christine Nagel (same as the one for woman). Top notes of this sparkling pure perfume open fresh and longlasting citrus notes of yuzu and orange, the heart is made of fresh cedar, light tree, warm spicy scent of cinnamon and the base is made of musk, amber and vetiver.

There are also user reviews.

[Snowboarder_Bo]

ewww not that Lagerfeld; that’s the Axe Body Spray of their line

I meant this Lagerfeld.

ETA: What the fuck? I can copy the text but can’t paste it here.

EATA: Not sure how they did that, but I had to right-click it into a Note then paste it here:

In 1978 perfumer Ron Winnegrad created an oriental-woodsy fragrance for prestigious house Karl Lagerfeld, named Lagerfeld Classic. The fragrance opens with aldehydes, bergamot, nutmeg, sweet orange and estragon. The heart is composed of cedarwood, intense and sweet jasmine, iris, patchouli, rose, sandalwood and tobacco. The base reveals amber, musk, oak, Tonka beans and vanilla. It comes as 65ml (2.27 fl.oz.) and 125ml (4.37 fl.oz.) EDT. The bottle was designed by Karl Lagerfeld.

Perfume rating: 3.79 out of 5 with 810 votes.

[kopek]

I always tended to Russian Leather
https://www.ebay.com/b/Russian-Leather-Cologne/29585/bn_7023476601
and have since the early 70s. English Leather isn’t bad either.

[romansperson]

@Leaffan

How about going to the perfume counter at a decent department store and sniffing some samples?

Exactly this. This sort of thing is so subjective that I think you’ll need to check it out for yourself. Go to the fragrance counter of a good store - department store, Sephora, etc. and do a smell test. Even then, you may find whatever you get may not smell the same on the recipient than it does in the store, but at least you will have a start on what you like.

[Gray_Ghost]

@Leaffan

How about going to the perfume counter at a decent department store and sniffing some samples?

This. Or use the fragrance selection tool at Sephora, and then try them in person in store… Fragrantica.com is a great database of scent notes.

There are plenty of fragrances that aren’t sweet. Musks, as mentioned above, are some. Oud scents are another group.

Edit, I see fragrantica was already mentioned.

[zoid]

Grey Flannel
And I agree on Lagerfeld