I have a thing for boutique fragrances. Over the years I have tried the good, the bad and as tradition dictates, the ugly. Now however I feel I have successfully refined my tastes and more often than not smell wonderful. Here is a pictorial list of my fragrance collection:
Le Male by Jean-Paul Gaultier. Of all the scents I have tried this one has been with me the longest. I was bought this for my fourteenth birthday and I am still using it today. I have heard it is meant to be evocative of old barber shops whether this is true or not it has become a personal classic.
Eucris by Geo. F. Trumper: of the fragrances I own this is the most classic. Eucris has become legendary in gentlemanly circles and was noted as James Bond's favourite in Diamonds Are Forever; musky, intense with notes of cumin, sandalwood, moss and black-current. It was also mentioned in Officers & Gentlemen by Evelyn Waugh. All round manly.
Ajaccio Violets by Geo. F. Trumper: When I first sampled this at Trumpers Jermyn Street shop I wasn't sure that I liked it, of everything I own this is particularly sweet but after some experimentations with complimentary sample bottles I am now a fan. Clean and crisp and created from real Corsican violets; image the smell of Parma Violets and you are not far off.
Sandalwood Cologne by Geo. F. Trumper. This is powerful stuff, when I first bought this I always seemed to spray too much onto myself and stank out any given room. Little and occasionally has become the unwritten rule. Sandalwood is apparently the most expensive fragrance ingredient as the tree it derives from is a protected species. For some reason it makes me think of Elizabethan explorers, I could imagine Sir Francis Drake wearing this. Pricey but worth it.
The Eton College Collection (Aftershave) by Taylor Of Old Bond Street: I really like this fragrance and it is fairly inexpensive. Inspired by Eton College you can imagine the likes of Stephen Fry, Aldous Huxley, George Orwell and The Duke Of Wellington wearing this. Sweet with citrus notes together with a herbaceous twang anyone fancy a spot of rugger?
Fleur De Male by Jean-Paul Gaultier: The brother to 'Le Male' I first purchased this on a trip to Paris and thought I had found something fairly unique, which at the time it was but now it has marched its way from France and is the scent on every-bodies lips, well... face. This particular one is for the most part androgynous although on second smell distinctly pour homme.
Blenheim Bouquet by Penhaligon's: This was Oscar Wilde's favourite fragrance and has, as you might have guessed been in production for eons. With notes of bergamont and jasmine and a plethora of rare ingredients this is my current favourite but expect to pay for the privilege. Smelling like Oscar Wilde? The privilege is all mine.
English Fern by Penhaligon's: Created in 1910 this is fresh and woody with scents of clover, fern (of course) alongside lavender it doesn't get any more English than this, unless you are listening to the Archers and shooting woodcock whilst spraying it onto yourself.
