I've had 2 bottles of stetson for like 20 years. Wife likes it but i feel like it quickly fades and almost stars too strong.
Never use it hardly given I've not finished them. Not sure if folks just reapply when some body has a good perfume/cologne smell from 5 feet away at 4 in the afternoon.
Id probably use something just because I get insecure about getting a bit stale by the end of the day being just under the level of sweating due to my vest am day, I always shower the second I'm home.
Anything pleasant but not "loud" that is long lasting and isn't some >$100 fru fru thing?
Regarding long-lasting frags:
-EdPs (Eau de Parfums)
generally project less (less "loud") and last longer versus EdTs (Eau de Toilettes).
-Some people just have skin chemistry that allows fragrances to glom onto them for longer
-Apply right after you get out of the shower in the morning, because your pores will be open.
-In some cases, people do reapply - there are some frags that last all day, there are others that only last a couple hours
There are so many different varieties of fragrance out there; it's really hard to get a sense for what you might like unless you have a reference point for one that you really like or hate.
2 ways to get a baseline:
1) Go to a department store like Macy's or Nordstrom and do some sampling. Write down the names of some things that you like (and hate), and then you'll have a general sense of the notes that you like and dislike. I generally don't like vanilla or flower/powder bombs, for instance.
2) Find a site like
Dossier that makes dupes (generic, non-brand name frags) and lets you do no/low-cost returns if you don't like the scents. They are where I get my Wood Sage and Sea Salt dupe from. Costco also lets you do free returns, although you'll need to buy enormous bottles.
Fougeres: Stetson is a fougere. The most popular "AAA" designer fougere right now is probably Sauvage. Not specifically recommending Sauvage, but that'll at least give you a sense as to whether you like fougeres.
Woods: Hermes does good woody stuff - Terre d'Hermes if you like spice with your woods, H24 if you don't. They are on the more expensive side, but not as insane as the really high-end stuff like YSL or Creed, and they usually last a reasonably long time. Dior Homme Sport is also good. The Chanel that SFAL mentioned is also good.
Aquatics: Everyone wears Acqua di Gio, but there's a reason why everyone wears it - lasts a while, moderate price, crowd-pleaser. Kenzo does good aquatics, too. Jo Malone's Wood Sage and Sea Salt is one of my favorites, but again, it's not a very strongly masculine scent, and the performance is awful (only a couple hours), so you are better buying dupes of it.
Vanilla Bombs: Pick literally any cologne by JPG. They are "in" right now.
