Diptyque vs Jo Malone - Mens Fragrance or Alternatives?

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Guys,

Im looking to buy my friend some aftershave/fragrance for his Christmas.

He is currently a huge fan of Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir but would like to buy him something different, or even perhaps from a different company.

I have been pointed in the direction of Diptyque but I am unsure what would be most suitable.

Can anyone offer any opinions - budget around £65

Thanks
 
In my limited experience of both ranges, Diptyque frags tend to be more interesting and longer-lasting than Jo Malone.

The two Diptyque mainstays - Philosykos [green fig and coconut] and Tam Dao [Sandalwood] - are both great, and there are probably a few others worth a sniff that aren't too flowery.

For that sort of budget, you've got loads of other non-designer fragrances to choose from. Check out L'Artisan Parfumeur, Comme des Garcons and Etro, who all do a broad range of high-quality unisex/masculine smells.

English companies like Floris, Penhaligons and Czech & Speake also do some very good men's fragrances - not all of which are stuffy old-school 'days of the empire' type!

For a few dollars more, there's Creed, Serge Lutens, Ormonde Jayne or the excellent Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle.
 
If I offended you I apologise, Gayers are cool with me, just don't try and hide it :)

You did not offend, just dont appreciate that I was trying to hide it, the spam or the use of the term 'gayer' I would have preferred if they mods had not decided to clean the thread!
 
In my limited experience of both ranges, Diptyque frags tend to be more interesting and longer-lasting than Jo Malone.

The two Diptyque mainstays - Philosykos [green fig and coconut] and Tam Dao [Sandalwood] - are both great, and there are probably a few others worth a sniff that aren't too flowery.

For that sort of budget, you've got loads of other non-designer fragrances to choose from. Check out L'Artisan Parfumeur, Comme des Garcons and Etro, who all do a broad range of high-quality unisex/masculine smells.

English companies like Floris, Penhaligons and Czech & Speake also do some very good men's fragrances - not all of which are stuffy old-school 'days of the empire' type!

For a few dollars more, there's Creed, Serge Lutens, Ormonde Jayne or the excellent Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle.

Im now possibly steering towards Czech & Speake Citrus Paradisi or Neroli, do you have any opinions on this?

Cheers
 
Im now possibly steering towards Czech & Speake Citrus Paradisi or Neroli, do you have any opinions on this?

Cheers
Only tried No 88, so not smelled either of these. Neroli has some love on the Basenotes men's forum, though. Might be a bit old-school, as neroli [orange blossom] has been used in barbershop aftershaves for at least a century. I guess it depends on how authentic this formulation is.

Have you been reading the Basenotes reviews?

http://www.basenotes.net/ID26122276/reviews.html
http://www.basenotes.net/ID26122277/reviews.html
 
Thanks simisker, ive asked on the basenotes forums.....neither review seem that great. I will see what they can suggest. As well as fragrance, packaging/looks also comes as a priority. No point spending £65 on a nice fragrance if it looks like its in an old coke bottle. Call me a gayer but hey.... :)
 
Colognes are such a personal preference though.. perhaps get him one you know he likes such as the Jo Malone? I bought some cologne for my boyfriend a while back and although we both liked it, it just really didn't last on his skin like it does on other people.. Also, I find that when the cologne mixes with peoples' natural skin oils it changes the scent a bit.. so maybe douse him in testers before buying one! Good luck either way :)
 
Yes, I agree that if someone likes something then they wont be disappointed. I just feel that to buy him something which he knows, uses everyday would make it feel like I am buying a standard toiletry for him, soap, toothpaste, anti-persperant.

I would prefer something which he didnt know, something which he would perhaps only use on evenings out rather than every day in the office.

Or perhaps, its better the devil you know?
 
I know what you mean, you want that exciting new feeling as opposed to a kind of refill as such. Well could get him something entirely different and leave him to get his own cologne..or get him cologne and something? Or go to the shops and get testers/try colognes on your own skin and see how you like them after an hour or so.. I did this once and couldn't remember what I'd sprayed where! ....labels? :)
 
LOL, it all seems like lots of hard work......hence internetz to the rescue.

First Christmas, and to be frank have not been dating for very long (circa 10 weeks) but know he will be getting me something and I also have some other options to top the pressies up to my price point.

Maybe a different flavour of Jo Malone really is the answer!
 
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