The Best Woody Fragrances for Men
Reviews by Thom Watson, qualified beauty therapist, testing men’s grooming since 2011. About Thom
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Austin Reed Signature Pour Homme
When it comes to grooming, particularly men’s fragrance; I roll my eyes a lot. I mean loads. So when I was told about a new Austin Reed fragrance over a cocktail at Manchester’s Malmaison (non-alcoholic, so no cushioning there) I almost severed my optic nerve. The thought of yet another clothing brand releasing another ‘blah’…
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Jo Malone London Incense & Embers Candle
It’s been a good while since I got myself a Jo Malone candle. I think the last was when I was still working for ELC over 3 years ago and got the giant 4 wick Orange Blossom on staff discount. So Jo Malone London Incense & Embers Scented Candle was a delightful welcome back to the…
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Jo Malone London Saffron Cologne Intense
Here’s a welcome return of Jo Malone London to Manface with the insatiable Jo Malone London Saffron Cologne Intense, part of the Jo Malone London Cologne Intense collection. I’ve always been one for weird, intense, pulsing and enshrouding fragrances; I want my presence to be felt and I want it to be unpredictable. With incense, saffron…
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Victorinox Swiss Unlimited ENERGY
This is masculine, I mean, damn, the guy in the commercial not only has a surfboard, but he rides to the beach carrying the surfboard on a freakin’ skateboard! That’s Energy for you (he says sat slumped at his keyboard covered in the crumbs of a Christmas tin of Cadbury’s Fingers). You may have read…
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Clinique Chemistry for Men Eau de Toilette
Launched three years after I was born, this is one of Clinique’s hidden gems and you’ll find it tucked away at the bottom of your local Clinique counter’s Skin Supplies for Men display. The fact they’ve not updated the Clinique logo on the packaging (it’s the old bold logo) always made me think it was…
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Thierry Mugler A*Men Pure Malt Creation 2013
Introduction, blah, blah. Right, here are the notes, get a load of this: Coffee, caramel, honey, patchouli, vanilla, milk, benzoin, amber, musk, malt whiskey, fruits, lavender, mint, lilly of the valley and jasmine. It’s out of this world. A*Men Pure Malt Creation 2013 is a limited edition for 2013 and created using patented techniques that…
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Victorinox Swiss Unlimited Eau de Toilette
I really wanted to hate this. I saw it and thought, “OK, the Swiss-Army knife people have made what they think is a fragrance, maaaww!” Well shut me up, it’s damn good! It puts big fragrance houses, Ara cough! mis cough, to absolute shame. The bottle is stupid and annoying/fiddly but I get it, it…
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Tom Ford Tobacco Oud Review
When I was moving to Manchester for University at 18, the second week in, my mum came to visit and we went shopping at Selfridges Exchange square (my first shopping trip in Manchester and my first ever trip to Selfridges). We came across the teeny-tiny Tom Ford Private Blend counter and we discovered a range…
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Tom Ford Oud Wood Review
You’ll probably know by now that I have a bit of a love for Oud scents; be sure to check out my past reviews of Francis Kurkdjian Oud Mood, Versace Oud Noir and Perfume Calligraphy by Aramis. When it comes to Tom Ford Private Blend, Tobacco Vanille is my first love, followed by Neroli Portofino and until now I’d never…
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Summer SCENT-acular
Every year, an explosion of ‘summer scents’ are launched onto the scene. Every department store in the country turns into a duty-free lounge and you know something, I LOVE IT! However, of recent years, some of the fragrances available have lacked imagination, particularly in the men’s department. Most summer scents tend to be light and…