Loyal fans of the house of Creed know that if they are sitting on a bottle of Creed’s “Windsor” that they are sitting on a pot of gold. First created in 1936 for King Edward the VIII of England, Windsor has been re-released just a handful of times over the years and in very small batches. However, because of the fragrance’s universal appeal, in 2015, Creed decided to tweak the formula a little and offer it to the masses under a brand new name; that name is ROYAL MAYFAIR.

Royal Mayfair - as the name suggests - pays homage to its royal history. A beautiful masculine fragrance (which incidentally, is also adored by the ladies), Royal Mayfair  opens with a stellar shot of gin… a juniper-y note that blends well with it’s flight of pine and eucalyptus. These three accords imbue the scent with a sense of vast green open spaces. They steep over a lip-smacking heart of peach and rose, however its important to point out that Royal Windsor is not a sweet scent, and a considered woody base provides support to the composition. Royal Windsor smells sophisticated and debonair… perhaps the scent of a meticulously groomed gentleman.

Reserved for special occasions, semi-formal events, office wear and nighttime use, Creed’s sublime 82 year old fragrance is still managing to lure newcomers in the here and now. Luxurious, comforting, self-assured.

According to Giorgio Armani’s parent company L'Oreal, a bottle of Acqua di Gio cologne is sold somewhere in the world every five seconds! This No.1 best-selling men's fragrance is now a global phenomenon, and there is no wonder why. Acqua di Gio boasts a very complex blend of accords that make up the most versatile and much-loved men's cologne on the planet.

Acqua di Gio is a marine-style scent that is clean and unassuming enough to be worn to the office, yet sophisticated enough to spritz when heading out for the night. A fragrance full of contrasts, Acqua di Gio's refreshing oceanic accords are as crisp as a sea breeze, making it an excellent choice for summer. Its fragrance trail is multi-faceted with sensual notes of fruits, herbs and woods.

This eau de toilette embodies the Mediterranean isles. It evokes sensations of sea, sun, earth and air … transparent and harmonious, with an energizing aspect that is both bracing and masculine. It opens with sparkling bergamot, lemon, mandarin and orange and fades into an aromatic/floral heart of coriander, freesia, jasmine, violet, rockrose nutmeg and oceanic accords. In the base, the lingering notes are cedar, patchouli, moss and white musk. Acqua di Gio's complexity makes it difficult to distinguish any given component, but the sum of its composition is lasting and memorable.

Acqua di Gio cologne deserves every accolade and success it has garnered. It is full of refined nuances and subtleties that make it distinctly masculine, and distinctly Giorgio Armani.

In late 2010, Italian jewel merchant Bvlgari bounced back with its first male fragrance offering since the marine-inspired triumph Aqva; this time with a scent that epitomizes innate charisma and masculinity — Bvlgaria Man. Bvlgari Man is perhaps the jewel in the crown of Bvlgari's men's fragrance portfolio, one that embraces a contemporary spirit, but still communicates a refined and relaxed sensuality.

This fragrance opens with shimmering bergamot, violet leaf and lotus flower … a sympathetic blend with light, watery nuances. It then transitions to a heart of earthy vetiver, fragrant sandalwood and precious woods; a marriage of accords that is somehow grounding and familiar.

Despite the woody nuances, Bvlgari Man maintains a certain transparency - it feels ageless like a freshly laundered, crisp white shirt. The base is comprised of resinous benzoin, white honey, amber and musk whose qualities allow the men's fragrance to sit on the skin with remarkable persistence.

This eau de toilette will entice a self-assured individual; one who is level-headed and confident. Bvlgari Man is the embodiment of purity and sincerity, presented in a weighty glass flacon that will command your attention. It is fresh and clean, but in a profound, contemporary way. 

One definitely to sit put atop your ‘to-test” list!