8 Perfumes To Steal From Your Boyfriend Right Now

I’m pretty sure I’m not the only girl who is fed up of overly sweet, fruity, floral fragrances dominating female perfume counters everywhere. When I need a break, I often flick my father’s fragrances because I absolutely love the rugged, robust notes of men’s perfumes. In fact, I’ve recently discovered that there are loads of other women like me who prefer spraying themselves with masculine scents, and no, they’re not tomboys. FAR FROM IT. Taking a cue from some of their favourite fragrances and a little online research, here’s my list some great masculine fragrances you can totally steal from your dad, brother or boyfriend. Better still, get them to buy one for you instead!

 

1. Kenzo L’Eau Par Kenzo (Rs 5,900)

Launched in 1999, L’Eau Par Kenzo is a fresh, aquatic fragrance that’s perfect for bright, sunshiny days. Its top notes of yuzu, lemon and green pepper are crisp and tangy, and make way for middle notes of lotus (a prominent feature in all Kenzo fragrances) and water mint, which fade into base notes of white musk and cedar. This is the kind of men’s perfume that’s well-balanced and gentle without being overpowering.

 

2. Davidoff Cool Water (Rs 1,550)

My love affair with men’s fragrances started off with Davidoff Cool Water, when I accidentally put it on after a shower. Although it belongs in the category of fragrances that’ve been done in by their popularity – every other person you know has used it at some point – it’s still a better alternative to Cool Water for Women. It is aquatic, grassy, and very outdoorsy, making it a perfect summer fragrance.

 

3. Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt (Rs 11,945)

What if I tell you that you could smell a windswept shore, salty sea spray, rugged cliffs and driftwood – all out of bottle? The mere thought of this scene makes me feel sand in my toes and utterly free-spirited, which is the exact effect this Jo Malone cologne had on our Editor-in-Chief when she stole it from her boyfriend one weekend. With its composition of ambrette seed, sea salt and sage, along with red algae and grapefruit, this fragrance is perfect to transition into autumn.

 

 

4. Cartier Declaration (Rs 3,440)

A woody, floral musk fragrance for men, Declaration works beautifully on women as well. The herbs and citrus in the top notes fade to reveal a symphony of soft spices in the middle notes like iris, ginger, pepper, cinnamon, juniper, jasmine and cardamom. A warm and classy scent, it reminds me of a long day spent in the sun and is perfect for formal occasions where you want to assert a little authority.

 

5. Hermès Terre D’Hermès (Rs 8,590)

It is peppery, has notes of orange and grapefruit that fade into woody notes, making Terre D’Hermes an incredibly complex, hard-to-miss perfume. It is more spicy than fruity, and deep but not quite so; It’s one of those scents that the wearer forgets about after a couple of hours, but is very apparent to people in close proximity.

 

6. Caron Pour Un Homme (Rs 3,085)

The burst of lavender in the top notes give this perfume a very soothing and grounding effect. The lavender fades into vanilla which isn’t a sweet, gourmand vanilla, but a very noticeable and pleasant version that fades into musky territory.

 

7. Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin (Rs 2,691)

An Oriental Vanilla fragrance for men, this is a gentle and romantic scent that works equally well for women. It smells spicy but not sharp, making it ideal for colder weather. It is a decadent smell that is totally worth wearing.

 

8. Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male (Rs 3,350)

If there were such a thing as a bombshell fragrance, then Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier would be its male equivalent. It is manly and seductive, yet sweet and deep. It is such a well-blended fragrance that it is difficult for an amateur to identify its notes (apart from those minty top notes). Le Male is one of those fragrances that you will either love or hate, depending on your preferences.