We put Joanne Ward on the scent of some of the best after shaves

Scent is a very personal thing, its strength and character dictated by the body chemistry of the wearer.  The sillage – the teasing trail of a fragrance – can be powerful or understated, and if worn right, can solicit deep, satisfied intakes of breath from female passers-by.

For men, aftershave is so many things; skin soother, moisturiser, confidence booster. Family and friends will often associate certain scents with a particular person, therefore creating happy, warm memories that are constantly triggered by a single whiff. Aftershave wears many different hats these days, with numerous manifestations offering varying levels of scent, antiseptic agents and other skin-saving ingredients.

Modern, old-fashioned, fresh, spicy; trying to decipher the code of men’s fragrances can be tricky, however the principles of wearing it are the same. Namely, wear it how you wish.  There is no right or wrong way, and the wearer usually discovers what works best for them after a little experimentation. For most, aftershave is an umbrella term for a range of products, sometimes all mistakenly thought to have the same properties but in fact being just that little bit different from the next.

Aftershave has the weakest scent, but the best antibacterial properties for splashing on after a shave, not surprisingly.  Eau de Toilette and Eau de Cologne are the next strongest, with perhaps a little too much oil to be applied liberally to the face.  The strongest of the bunch is Eau de Parfum, with a scent that will last into the small hours. With the strength decided, finding the perfect scent is next on the list.

Truefitt & Hill’s West Indian Limes Aftershave

Truefitt & Hill’s West Indian Limes aftershave sounds like a delicious cocktail, refreshing enough to drink on a warm summer evening.  Consumption is not advisable, however, but you can be sure of exuding a summery vibe when you douse yourself with this popular offering from the world’s oldest, London-based barbershop.  If the appointment book for its St. James’s Street address is anything to go by, you’ll be amongst a number of illustrious clientele who indulge in its fine and traditional men’s toiletries.  Top notes of lime, lemon, and bergamot strengthen undercurrents of petit grain, neroli and citronella, with a fundamental base of orange-flower and clove.

Castle Forbes’s Forbes of Forbes Eau de Parfum

A sophisticated scent from the world’s smallest perfumery, Castle Forbes’s Forbes of Forbes Eau de Parfum was created to emulate the Scottish highlands in fragrance form.  Encased – rather fittingly – in red and black, with silver trimmings, this caters for the rather astute and itinerant gentleman who favours a one-for-all product.  The amount of perfume oil means this potion has the ability to linger all day, but is subtle enough due to its nose-pleasing blend of exotic woods and pine on an amber base.

English Leather Cologne by Dana

English Leather by Dana can only be referred to as a blast-from-the-fragrant-past, reminiscent of the Seventies when teenagers and their fathers alike would splash it on and be confident in its chic, classic scent.  One of the ‘heritage’ fragrances currently enjoying a comeback – it was launched in 1949 – its status as cologne renders it as not overly powerful and long-lasting.  However, the ingredients themselves are interesting and harmonise to create a wonderfully deep, masculine scent by merging citrus, woods, moss and warm leather.

1Million Eau de Toilette by Paco Rabanne

Spanish designer Paco Rabanne has an undeniable reputation for innovative and exciting creations, and his 1Million Eau de Toilette is no exception.  A well known love of metals – which he would often incorporate into his designs – is demonstrated here, and inspiration is drawn from gold, one of the worlds’ most precious materials.  Naming the fragrance 1Million and housing it in an irresistible gold-bullion style bottle goes that one step further, and imbues the wearer with a sense of luxury and wealth.  There are fresh and spicy notes here, combining an array of tempting traces such as grapefruit, mint, rose absolute and cinnamon.

Montblanc Legend Eau de Toilette

Montblanc, Germany-based fabricators of fine writing instruments and wristwatches, certainly don’t rest on their laurels.  Take their Legend Eau de Toilette in its stocky black and silver bottle, opaque and mysterious but at the same time in keeping with the simple elegance of their other product lines, namely their Meisterstück pen design.  The release of the scent marked the company’s hundred-year history, in 2011, and it flaunts itself as luxuriously and intriguingly masculine, albeit subtle, with a list of contrasting ingredients that includes bergamot, lavender, jasmine and sandalwood.

Montblanc Star Classique Automatic

A handsome bottle of fragrance such as this always needs a handsome accessory to complement it and instil confidence in the wearer; the Montblanc Star Classique Automatic is capable of just that.  In stainless steel and black alligator leather, it was designed with the same principles in mind, with an element of sleek practicality and non-overbearing features.  The polished 39mm case encircles a black dial with stylish indices, and a sapphire crystal back reveals the automatic movement within.