We've all run the gauntlet while passing through the fragrance section at any major department store where spritz-happy salespeople are proffering their best-smelling scents. But with the new fall season on the horizon, it might be time to stop and smell the roses. Whether you want the man in your life to smell like a turquoise blue ocean, a rain-drenched forest, or a rugged and chiseled stone, there are colognes to fit every vibe.
Sure, a scent will morph slightly with each person's chemistry, but there are many universal crowd-pleasers to consider. We've sniffed out the best of the bunch—an olfactory-pleasing list of colognes and where to find them in Houston.
Manready Mercantile
The team at Manready Mercantile puts a lot of care into their line of fragrances. The bottles are from France, the ink on the packaging is from Germany, and the oils are custom-made and blended here in Houston. The line of four fragrances, including Anvil, Lore, Cade, and Slate, has notes of leather, cashmere, dark oak, whiskey, and tobacco. Although they are billed as unisex fragrances, their heavy-hitting notes have a masculine edge.
Katari
Known as the "Indiana Jones of Beauty," Katari's whole line of beauty items is from the Mediterranean and offers simple craftsmanship to mix elements in their purest form. Their latest scent, Nui Sicilienne, is 100% perfume oil without alcohol, dyes, or other additives. The notes include bergamot and musk with cedar, patchouli, and vanilla. The packaging and bottle of Nui Sicilienne, available online, are gorgeous and will add to the whole gift-giving experience.
Initio Parfumés Privés
Men will love the tobacco, vanilla, rum, and cinnamon combination in Initio's cologne, Side Effect. Available at Neiman Marcus in the Galleria, the cologne is a heady mix of warm, familiar notes but not overpowering. The bottle is lovely; its matte black finish will look great on any dressing table or vanity.
Jack Henry
Do you know a guy who is stressed or anxious? Jack Henry's Balanced can help. The scent uses fragrances that have been scientifically proven to help reduce stress and anxiety, create positivity, and even help promote better sleep. Available at St. Bernard in River Oaks District, Balanced also promises to last more than eight hours with just two squirts.
East West Bottlers
Hailing from Austin, Texas, Moonshine Reserve Cologne will have the man in your life smelling like woodsy spices, fresh-cracked pepper, tobacco, and Appalachian gin. Available at Paris Texas Apparel Company, the cologne comes in a handsome leather pouch and is aged, making a more refined fragrance.