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Gift Worthy Colognes

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Skip the usual holiday bottle this season and gift your friends one of these top-shelf colognes instead. Much like a signature cocktail, choosing a fragrance comes down to personal taste. If you were to get him wine, vodka or scotch, you would match the booze to the guy, right? Do the same when picking cologne and pair the man to the scent. Here are five top choices to get you started. All are new and from a very good year, 2015.

John Varvatos Dark Rebel
John Varvatos Dark Rebel Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Rebel Rocker will like John Varvatos Dark Rebel

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There’s a nonconformist in every group, gift him Dark Rebel. The juice has hints of Jamaican Rum, black leather and the exotic dragon skull flower accord. Nutmeg essence brings the sweetness and black pepper gives this cologne an edge. According to John Varvatos “Its DNA exudes a timeless style and fearless attitude.” It’s tough and rebellious just like this guy’s leather jacket and biker boots.

Gentlemen Only Givenchy
Gentlemen Only Givenchy Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Relaxed Weekender should try Gentlemen Only Givenchy Casual Chic

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He’s super chill and effortlessly cool. He’s relaxed but never sloppy, easy to be around and never keyed up. Make Gentlemen Only Casual Chic his new favorite. A fresh tonic of spices including Cardamon, Ginger and Juniper make up the top notes. In the middle are comfortable Birch Leaf and Cedar Wood, rounded out with warm notes of Sandalwood and Ambroxan.

Yves Saint Laurent L'Homme
Yves Saint Laurent L’Homme Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Power Player will want Yves Saint Laurent L’Homme Intense

It’s all about the art of the deal for this guy. He works hard and he plays harder. Gift him a fragrance that matches his type A personality. Yves Saint Laurent L’Homme Intense is a blend of woody, aromatic notes with a suede accord. Super masculine and hyper-powerful, this fragrance is strong and magnetic without being overbearing.

Acqua di Parma
Acqua di Parma Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Club Sportsman gets Acqua di Parma Colonia Club.

When gifting an ordinary bottle won’t do, turn to the stylish Acqua di Parma Colonia Club. This fragrance is for the sophisticated player with access to the best of the sporting life. Meet him at the 19th hole and gift him this vibrant new cologne. Lemon, Bergamot and Mandarin are at the top of this fragrance with a twist of Mint and Noroli. It’s fresh and clean at the heart with a rich vetiver, smoky musk at the base.

Dior Sauvage
Dior Sauvage Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Road Warrior should try Dior Sauvage.

This guy never sits still. He’s inspired, like this fragrance, by wide-open spaces and blue sky. He’s a free spirit and will dig this fragrance made with fresh top notes of Calabria bergamot and Ambroxan. Give him Dior Sauvage before he hits the dusty trail.

Jennifer Ryan Jones
Jennifer Ryan Jones
Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual
Jennifer Ryan Jones is a fashion and grooming expert who contributed regularly to The Manual and AskMen.com. Her past…
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Not the usual woody foundation fragrances
 
While cedar might feel familiar as a foundation ingredient in men’s fragrances, this particular version is different.  Atlas cedar is native to the Atlas mountains in Algeria and Morocco, and it’s prized for having a warm scent that also offers a hint of delicate sweetness.
Gaiac wood is equally unique. It comes from a tree native to South America, and its smoky, sweet scent blends with both its woody cousin and the leather in the next layer. It offers traces of amber, too, and in its natural form this versatile, super-hard wood is used in both tool handles and traditional medicine.
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