With a name synonymous with exquisite craftsmanship and unrivalled opulence, Lalique shot to stardom at the dawn of the last century as glassmaker Rene Lalique wowed the world with his highly ornamental perfume receptacles and jewels. Today, over 100 years later, Lalique is still producing parfums d’exception, housed in some of the most beautiful flacons in the world! In September 2016, Lalique launched L’Insoumis - a scent for men which in both composition and presentation, embraces the man of the modern age.

L’Insoumis means unsubmissive; an ode to a man’s charm, charisma and confidence. A dreamer and a modern day adventurer, Lalique’s male muse is already charming the noses of men and women alike! In a bottle decorated in relief with curling fern fronds, it hints at the fragrance inside. L’Insoumis is an aromatic fougere with topnotes of bergamot, rum and basil that seep over a heart of black pepper, sage and lavender. The composition feels crisp and green. It's trail comprises a marriage of vetiver, cedar, patchouli and tree mosses. Fans of Creed’s Aventus would appreciate its very polished, well-groomed nature.

Perhaps the ideal scent for office or nighttime, L’Insoumis feels elegant and authentic. It’s the cologne of the kind of guy you want to know… or to be known as.

In the early 'noughties', the Western world finally cottoned on to a raw material that the Middle East has been using in perfumery and has held in high regard for millennia. That component is oud - a deeply balsamic, woody oil.

As soon as it hit the mainstream, this time-honoured ingredient began popping up in niche and designer releases faster than we can count, so it comes as little surprise that purveyors of luxury perfumes Creed have come to feature it in one of their own.

Royal Oud just happens to be an exceptional example of how oud can be worked into a fragrance and leave us yearning for more. Warm cedar and fragrant sandalwood provide an enchanting backdrop against which this precious material is featured. Royal Oud opens with a shimmer of citrus and a prickle of pepper, before a toasty, lightly smoked melange of woods shifts to the surface. It smells distinguished and luxurious. A delectable trail of galbanum, tobacco-like spices and commanding musks round off a scent that would not be out of place worn in a Persian palace.

Royal Oud, whilst at the more masculine end of the spectrum, can be worn by both sexes.

Shop for Royal Oud https://www.fragrancenet.com/fragrances/creed/creed-royal-oud/eau-de-parfum#217176 

American designer Narciso Rodriguez pounced into the world of perfume in the early nineties with his award-winning Narciso Rodriguez For Her - a head-turning solar musk scent that won the hearts of many. Several years later he launched “For Him”, it’s stirring male counterpart. In 2015, Rodriguez produced his second male offering ‘Narciso Rodriguez Bleu Noir’, a woody spicy scent that captures a vivid snapshot of our time.

Following swiftly on the successful heels of Bleu de Chanel, “Bleu Noir” shares a commonality with the aforementioned masculine not only in it’s construction, but also in that it is both modern and elegant. Sensual cardamom and comforting nutmeg are in the flight of Bleu Noir, but the fragrance retains some of its lovely musky facets present in it’s older sibling, ‘For Him’. A heart of musk, and lingering trail of vetiver, ebony, amber and cedar make it a notable release, and one suited to use any time and any place.

Despite it’s name, Bleu Noir may not necessarily smell anywhere near ‘blue’ or ‘black’, however it is one of several scents that men are reaching for, and women are relishing on their man these days. With generous application Bleu Noir commands attention without being arrogant or flashy.