Words: Jonathan Wells
It’s spritzing time! For the fourth final of the Gentleman’s Journal Grooming Awards 2020, we tasked our five expert judges — including actor Max Brown and ballet dancer Eric Underwood — with overhauling their aftershave collections. But, with big brands including Floris, Creed, Acqua di Parma and Penhaligon’s on the grooming table, which made the cut?
Sam Harwood’s winner in the scent category sees the reappearance of a Grooming Awards favourite; Acqua di Parma. The brand’s Colonia Eau De Cologne caught the model’s attention. Here’s why:
“Okay, I’m a little bit biased on this one. You see, Acqua di Parma is my personal aftershave. And I’ll never change! This aftershave is the stuff of male grooming legend. It’s iconic.”
It certainly is. Embodying the quintessential Italian sense of lightness and sophistication, the Colonia cologne is crafted from sunny Sicilian citrus fruits and perfect for a summer’s day. There’s a heart of lavender and damask rose, and the whole easy-breezy spritz rounds out with woody notes of vetiver, sandalwood and patchouli at the base.
Next up, and almost certainly winning the award for the best bottle in this category, comes Adam Tanous’ choice. The grooming expert had his head — and presumably nostrils — turned by Penhaligon’s The Impudent Cousin Matthew. It’s got depths of masculine woody scents, from which the citrus punch of mandarin comes cutting through. Here’s what he had to say about it:
“I’m a big fan of the Penhaligon’s Portraits series, not least because the bottles look so stylish on a grooming table. As I’ve come to expect with all new Penhaligon’s fragrances, this one is an entirely unique scent. It’s fresh, not overwhelming and will last throughout the day.”
Tanous also highly commended a different type of scent; Bamford Grooming Department’s Deodorant. “It has become a permanent addition to my sports bag,” he tells us. “The invigorating scent resets you after a workout and anti-inflammatories in the form of patchouli oil act to calm and soothe areas that have been active in the gym.”
Model and personal trainer Toby Huntington-Whiteley kept things classic with his winner, turning to the heritage perfumer Floris. Crowning Floris’ Vert Fougère Eau De Parfum champion, this is why it appealed:
“I have always been a big fan of Floris. Being a British brand, I like how it still produces its products in England. This scent, at first, has an earthy green note — but then settles into a more smoky nature. For me, this fragrance is great for an all-day scent that could also work for evenings.”
One of Floris’ more modern offerings, Vert Fougère is a moody fragrance that embraces its green, mossy foundations with commendable confidence. There’s also a bittersweet blend of grapefruit, bergamot and neroli in there, with ginger and lavender rearing their aromatic heads if you catch it the right way. An enigma in a bottle, we’re wholly behind Huntington-Whiteley’s choice.
Max Brown has chosen a scent from another iconic British perfume house. The latest creation from Master Perfumer, Olivier Creed, Aventus Cologne is the newest legendary addition to the men’s fragrance collection. Here’s why it topped the list for our actor:
“All the scents were lovely, but the standout was Creed Aventus Cologne. It was the right combination of spice, musk and leather scents — managing to give an overall masculine and sexy smell!”
That singular scent comes thanks to a heady blend of ginger, mandarin and pink peppercorn — swirled together with the heart notes of patchouli, sandalwood and vetiver. And the sex appeal of which Max Brown so freely speaks? That comes from the musky, dusky base notes of birch and tonka bean. It’s the most sensual offering on our list; definitely one for date night.
Yet another win for Acqua di Parma, Eric Underwood has chosen the Italian brand’s Oud Eau De Parfum as his winner in the scent category. Warm and deep, here’s why it made the cut for the American British ballet dancer:
“It was rich and deep, but never overwhelming. Perfection!”
Simply put, but need Underwood say any more? Acqua di Parma has whipped up an intense, vigorous and precious fragrance with the handsomely-packaged Oud. It captains the warmth of the oud essence, and has an ingredient list so exotic it reads like a Michelin-starred menu; with Russian coriander and luminous orange blended with Haitian amyris oil and patchouli.
Want more recommendations? Take a look at the products that came out on top in the shower category…
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