Stylish Men’s Scents for Spring

Carven Vétiver Eau de Toilette, from $80, 50 mL, at Holt Renfrew

Carven Vétiver Eau de Toilette, from $80, 50 mL, at Holt Renfrew

Carven Vétiver Eau de Toilette

According to the house of Carven, its earliest iteration of Vétiver, released in 1957, was the first-ever vetiver scent to land on counters. Now, with the French brand’s recent revival, the citrusy, aromatic, woody men’s spritz is back. While the company hasn’t tampered with the original formula, the eau’s sleek neon-green bottle is decidedly modern. 

 
Tom Ford Grey Vetiver Eau de Toilette, $85, 50 mL, at Holt Renfrew

Tom Ford Grey Vetiver Eau de Toilette, $85, 50 mL, at Holt Renfrew

Tom Ford Grey Vetiver Eau de Toilette

For fashion arbiter Ford, vetiver is the olfactory equivalent of the classic blue sports jacket, refined but relaxed and a bit traditional. In this men’s eau, the ingredient’s core character is combined with a fresh first impression of winter lemon, bergamot and grapefruit; a warm heart of orris, artemisia and sage; and a lingering touch of amber woods, oakmoss and musk. 

 
Dolce & Gabbana Intenso Eau de Parfum, from $81, 75 mL, at Hudson’s Bay, Holt Renfrew, Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques, Sephora and Ogilvy

Dolce & Gabbana Intenso Eau de Parfum, from $81, 75 mL, at Hudson’s Bay, Holt Renfrew, Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques, Sephora and Ogilvy

Dolce & Gabbana Intenso Eau de Parfum

This woody aromatic for him features whiffs of basil, lavender, and absolutes of bran and hay, but the quirkiest element is moepel accord—purportedly never before used in a perfume. Characterized as an almost animalic note with floral, balsalmic and honey-like undertones, it was recreated from South African milkwood flowers and leaves via “headspace technology,” which captures the smell of hard-to-extract substances by surrounding them with a special, belljar-shaped apparatus. 

 
Bottega Veneta Pour Homme Extrême Eau de Toilette, from $90, 50 mL, at Holt Renfrew, Ogilvy and select Hudson’s Bay stores

Bottega Veneta Pour Homme Extrême Eau de Toilette, from $90, 50 mL, at Holt Renfrew, Ogilvy and select Hudson’s Bay stores

Bottega Veneta Pour Homme Extrême Eau de Toilette

Launched in 2013, the original Pour Homme conjured a rugged escape in the Dolomite mountains with pinewood, fir balsam and aged leather. It went on to claim the 2014 FiFi Award for Best New Male Fragrance in Limited Distribution. This latest spin doesn’t stray far from that winning formula, but it does dial up the notes of labdanum resin, pimento and leather for intensity. 

 

This article was originally published in the Spring 2015 issue of Cosmetics magazine. For more, download our iPad edition.

fragranceCosmetics Magazinemen’s fragrance, spring 2015