THE JOURNAL
There was a time when smelling as sweet as a summer rose was the goal for men everywhere. Flowers and essential oils extracted from their blooms were used for centuries as perfume. In fact, it only began to fall out of favour around the time WWII broke out, when smelling like a lily of the valley suddenly dropped to the bottom of the average man’s list of priorities. By the 1980s, the era of power suits and big boardrooms, they were all but obsolete, replaced by musky, punch-you-in-the-face fragrances. Since then, traditional florals, the likes of rose, lavender and geranium in men’s scents, have been consigned to the history books.
But just as men’s wardrobes have taken a progressive turn in recent years, so, too, have their grooming cabinets. A new generation of brands and their noses are putting florals to use in unusual, exciting and dynamic ways. Here are five you should try now.
01. Le Labo
Rose 31 Eau de Parfum
The founders of Le Labo were conscious of the stigma surrounding floral scents for men, hence their mission to “transform the famous Grasse Rose, a symbol of voluptuousness and unqualified femininity, into an assertively virile fragrance”. Developed by expert nose Ms Daphne Bugey, Rose 31 blends its namesake ingredient with spicy cumin, warm cedar and woody amber for a heady, hazy finish. This one is a game changer.
02. Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Masculin Pluriel Eau de Toilette
A tribute to classic fougère accord, a 19th-century style of perfume that revolutionised men’s scents, Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Masculin Pluriel is a delicate balance of Provençal lavender absolute and leather. Crisp and clean, but still strong and sensual, it’s a nostalgic fragrance that nonetheless manages to feel distinctly modern.
03. Jo Malone
Pomegranate Noir Cologne
Fans of Jo Malone’s deeply sophisticated Pomegranate Noir cologne are hooked on the stuff. While its name might suggest something altogether fruitier, the addition of Casablanca lily (as well as a hit of pink pepper and smoky guaiac wood) give it a much more complex character.
04. TOM FORD
Neroli Portofino
Unlike other florals, neroli has long been considered a key ingredient in typically masculine fragrances. Extracted from the flowers of bitter orange trees, it’s known for its honey-like, fresh scent. TOM FORD’s Neroli Portofino celebrates the bloom in all its summery glory, with a dash of zesty Sicilian lemon imparting a citrusy edge.
05. Frederic Malle
Portrait Of A Lady
Another scent with rose, this time of the Turkish variety, at its heart. Frederic Malle’s Portrait of a Lady is Isabel Archer, the heroine of Mr Henry James’ novel of the same name, bottled. “Composed”, as the perfumer puts it, by Ms Dominique Ropion, it’s one of the brand’s most celebrated concoctions and is anchored by a potent base of patchouli, sandalwood and frankincense.