He is lying on a rock. Cool sea water splashes on his muscular chest. The rough cliff says: I am confident, I stand in life. The wide, blue sea says: I am freedom, I know no boundaries. The bright sun on his face says: I'm tough, no situation is too hot for me. And this feeling comes as a fragrance in the bottle.
Then Johnny Normalo is back in the middle of life. At the bus stop somewhere in Lower Saxony, at minus 5 degrees. The poster advertising for the latest men's fragrance has given way to the Aldi weekly hits. Canned herring for fifty cents, not bad either. Johnny freezes a little on the beer belly. For a moment, however, he was a dream guy. An Adonis on the Greek coast. A swarm of women under the Mediterranean sky.
Smells like a Bentley, but drives Skoda
Scent is not just scent. Many a man knows the feeling: With the perfume he turns into a hero, becomes irresistible like a diamond, confident like a great white shark and sexy like George Clooney over coffee. Alpha male stop.
But beware, the processes in the male brain are much more complex here! The fragrance selection is a deep psychological process and says something about who he would like to be. Whether bearded-wild or cut-smooth, here is a typology of men's fragrances.
THE ADVENTURER
What he wants to be:
The beach boy, the muscular yoga instructor, the jet ski extreme athlete, Jacques Cousteau's beautiful diving son, the heli-snowboard, the summit climber, the waterfall shower, Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Wolf of Wall Street"
What it says about him:
He loves adventures that give the adrenaline rush. He loves the freedom of the world's seas and waters. Cool morning wind on the face. The main thing is fresh and sporty. He prefers to drive racing cars. And convertible, of course.
Then he smells:
Cypress, basil, spearmint, pepper, eucalyptus, lemongrass, lime, mandarin, clementine, grapefruit – all citrus fruits –
Fragrances:
"Invictus Intense" by Paco Rabanne, "Eternity for Men Summer" by Calvin Klein, "Atlantique pour Homme" by Bulgari
THE ORIGINAL
What he wants to be:
The Canadian lumberjack, the jungle survivor, the thoughtful autumn walker, the whiskey-drinking bookworm, the moon worshiper, the pseudo-commissioner, Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Revenant"
What it says about him:
The wood type loves the heavy, thoughtful. Like the fir forest. He is a connoisseur but doesn't like commerce – he drinks Laphroaig, not Glenfiddich. Loves black chocolate and Scandinavian thrillers. Prefer to hear a beard with 90 percent probability.
Then he smells:
Musk, wintergreen, cedar leaves, resin – everything from the forest area – cardamom, balsam turpentine, juniper, sage, birch bark.
Fragrances:
"Uomo" by Valentino, "The Scent" by Hugo Boss, "Sauvage" by Dior
THE ROMANTIC
What he wants to be:
The French winemaker, the metrosexual gentleman, the handsome son-in-law, Florian Silbereisen singing the pop song, the poetic knight, the connoisseur of love films, the amateur chef, the home gardener, Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Man in the Iron Mask"
What it says about him:
He is the romantic type, down to earth and dreamy. Has few corners and edges, fits in every round like the soy milk in its decaf. Loves Sundays in the park and the environment. But would like to be a knight. Wants to go to the Christmas market.
Then he smells:
Rosewood, vanilla, chamomile, honey, jasmine, tuberose, amber, lily of the valley, tulips, lavender, sweet orange, mimosa, herbs of Provence – just like the herbs in the salad dressing.
Fragrances:
"Acqua di Parma Colonia" by Acqua di Parma, "Declaration d'un Soir" by Cartier, "Gray Vetiver" by Tom Ford
THE MOONNE
What he wants to be:
The long-distance traveler, the Indiana Jones in the circle of friends, the mysterious stranger, the one with accessories from all over the world, the ivory millionaire, the Stephen King, the unpredictable bachelor, the jaguar, the one who saw death, Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Great Gatsby"
What it says about him:
He embodies heterosexual extravagance and looks slightly crazy. He saw everything, is a man of the world. Nobody knows exactly how he makes his money. There is always a historical novel somewhere. "Based on a true story" movie lover.
Then he smells:
Ginger, clove, chilli, coconut, incense, patchouli, sandalwood, leather, tobacco, cinnamon – and all other spices that you usually find in the form of triangular piles on the bazaar.
Fragrances:
"Spicebomb" by Viktor & Rolf, "Habit Rouge" by Guerlain for Men, "Egoiste" by Chanel
THE MYSTERIOUS
What he wants to be:
The forbidden lover, the son of Hans Klok and David Copperfield, the shadow man, the absinthe among men, the orgasm trigger, the magician, Leonardo DiCaprio in "Shutter Island"
What it says about him:
He is self-assurance in person. He goes to Michelin restaurants alone and empties a bottle of wine. Doesn't like dogs or cats, only women. Doesn't like talking about himself. Eyes like black holes. Somehow weird like Gideon, Castor or Courtship.
Then he smells:
Sensual perfumes are usually characterized by a mixture of two of the "types" mentioned above. The sensually surprising thing comes from the fact that individual notes flip out. Yes, of course it can go wrong.
Fragrances:
"L'Homme Intense" by Prada, "Black Afgano" by Nasomatto, "Dark Sapphire" by Agonist