Fragrance For Dads That Hate Cologne

I suppose I could just compile a list of colognes that you could simply go get for the dad in your life, but that would be boring and likely leave that dad with something he won't use. Especially if he isn't a cologne wearing kind of dad. There are ways to encourage dad to step it up from Irish Spring soap (which is actually pretty nice...) and give dad some different options for smelling good. I don't think anyone wants their father any father anyone to smell like a Jersey Shore club, so no Axe, ok? Let's keep it simple, and make it easy for dad.

Bulgari Pour Homme Shampoo & Shower Gel: This is a favourite of mine. It smells amazing- clean, fresh and manly, but it is also quite subtle. Firstly, it is a shower gel and a shampoo, so it's one stop shopping for the low maintenance dad. For those dads with beards (ahem, like my dad), they need to use this as, well, beard shampoo. The scent lingers gently in hair and on the body, and is perfect for the cologne-shy dad. I've suggested Bvlgari Pour Homme, but really, get thee to the men's cologne counter, do some sniffing, and pick a shower gel/shampoo that smells like something the dad in your life might like. The Bvlgari is just always elegant and perfect. There is a new one called Bvlgari Man that is also quite good, has the shampoo/shower gel combo and is worth a sniff.

Ralph Lauren Polo Black Deodorant: Cologne delivery via deodorant is an excellent way for a man to wear his scent in a very subtle and understated manner. The new Polo Black is a fantastic twist on the classic Polo Green- toned down and grown up. The scent of perfumed deodorants is the same as the bottles of cologne they go with, and costs so little you can get him one for home, the gym bag and the cottage. Or, choose one for evening, one for work, and one for play. Tip: this is also a great way to prevent over-application of cologne.

Acqua di Parma Colonia Collezione Barbiere Shaving Line: Ok, I'm biased. This is probably the best smelling stuff for men in the world. So good, in fact, that I also wear it. But, back to dad. This shaving line is so gorgeous that you can be assured you are getting the best of the best for the dad in your life. The classic cologne scent with citrus, lavender, amber and other Very Good Smelling Stuff. The shaving cream or shaving gel elevates the shaving experience and makes everyone happy. High expectations, I know, but Colonia is special.

Tom Ford Grey Vetiver After Shave Balm: This is a gorgeous and elegant fragrance, not loud, and about as far from tacky and garish as it gets. An after shave balm is a lovely and luxurious way for a man to wear fragrance, as well as perhaps a gentle way to usher him into Skincare (more on that in another post).

These are also endorsements of the actual colognes for these products, as I personally like them and think they smell wonderful. Feel free use them as a guide and choose the body products for the cologne of your choice. You could create a basket of cologne scented products to keep the dad in your life smelling and feeling fresh and clean. Everyone wins.

Simple & Clean is Beautiful

Love the smell of clean laundry, fresh air & sunshine.

I am a big fan of special scented deodorants, to the point where I rarely buy drugstore products anymore. I love the original Dove antiperspirant but prefer a special perfumed deo. I was at Sephora with my daughters the other day, and after about an hour of wandering we grabbed a few things and were leaving. The part of Sephora that is often most dangerous to my wallet is what I call the candy section. Those little bins full of temptation that call to me with their pretty sparkly offerings. This time I spotted a Clean Perfume deodorant. Now, I know Clean takes a lot of flack in the perfumista world. It smells like cleaning solutions, laundry detergent etc etc. Well, yes I suppose it does, but there is no question that some people just want to smell clean and soapy. The massive success of this product tells us that. And the plethora of flankers tell us people want all sorts of clean smelling stuff. I like a couple of them, but certainly not all. And, I would rather stand in a room of people wearing various incarnations of Clean than next to one person wearing, say, Cool Water. Or Angel. Or [insert your hated perfume here].  These perfumes are by design, soft, and don't project all over the place.

Sometimes a simple clean scent is actually all I want. Yes, sometimes I want my stunning Guerlains and Chanels, and they will always be my beloved beauties. But my nose is sensitive, even hyperosmic, and sometimes almost any scent is too much. I have sympathy for those who feel a bit sick when someone's big perfume is taking up the room. That is likely the wearer becoming anosmic to their favourite scent and over applying because they can't smell it anymore. I've heard people say they're perfume has lost it's strength or scent. No. You just can't smell it anymore. People! Before bathing in it, you need to ask someone else's opinion when you think you can't smell your own perfume. You are giving perfume a bad name and making it hard for those of us that use a light hand. Anyways, that is my excuse for having so many perfumes of course, so I can go days without wearing the same thing twice. 

Clean came out with some neat add ons to their line a few years ago. Although I never wore the original Clean scent, I enjoy it the scent in the ancillary products like their dry/powder shampoo. It was terrific after a workout, or if any unwanted smells (cooking, smoke etc) were lingering in your hair. The deodorant is excellent. It is free of parabens, sulfates and has no aluminum. And best of all, the fresh scent. It is gently lemony- just soft and innocent and of course, clean. The lemony note takes me back and reminds me of all well loved perfume from my youth- Love's Fresh Lemon! This deo keeps me dry, lasts all day and my skin feels soft and moisturized. I got the small size at Sephora for $11, and I think it will last quite awhile. The large one is $18 and I may get that one and keep the little one for my travel bag.

How cool is this collage! From the Dana website.

Did any of you wear Love's? I bought a bottle of Love's Fresh Lemon on ebay- smells just like remember. Sweet, simple and lemony. That's it, that's all. And sometimes, that's just enough.