‘An effortless, elegant and distinguished scent!’

Groucho Marx once said that he’d never sign up to anything that would have him as a member. He was forgetting that joining the well- groomed club is always a winning move. As you will know by now we are fully paid up members. So when we heard that Givenchy were launching a new fragrance inspired by the idea of a gentlemen, we had to find out more…

Gentlemen Only harks back to a time when men were mannered and fragrances were the epitome of classic style and the face of the new fragrance is ‘Mentalist’ and ‘Devil Wears Prada’ star Simon Baker. It’s a good match, like the fragrance itself he is suave and possessed of an effortless elegance and is living proof that with a little olfactory effort you can be a gentlemen ‘Any time, anywhere’.

Sure this offering may share its name with the sadly not so one hit wonder Psy’s song, but this is one scent that won’t leave you feeling cold. With opening notes of Green Mandarin Orange, Nutmeg and Peppercorns leading through to a heady blend of wood notes featuring Cedar, Vetiver and Patchouli. Finishing with a distinctive and dapper final note of powerful and memorable Incense it manages to be both fresh and sensuous in equal measures. This is definitely one distinguished Gentleman!

Verdict:‘Good enough for Gatsby!’

Price: £41.50 / €58.50 for 50ml,  £58.00 / €80.00for 100ml

Available: Exclusively at John Lewis

AVAILABLE FROM MAY 2013

STOCKIST 01932 233 824

‘Exercise never smelt so good!’

Gentlemen, it’s time to get fresh for Summer thanks to the new Sport collection from Molton Brown. Here at the Grooming Guide we never underestimate the power of great preparation when it comes to our grooming regime. A great finish always needs a great start….whether you’re a sports fan or sofa surfer!

The Molton Brown Sport Collection consists of a multi-purpose 4 in 1 Sportswash, a must have performance product that takes no prisoners and will take away that tired Monday morning feeling. A blend of Cassia Bark helps rough pups smell fresh, while guar gum works to soften up bristly stubble and skin conditioners to leave you feeling soft in all the right ways. Used in conjunction with the Sportbalm, this companion to the Sportswash will help look after your muscles before and post exercise thanks to a heady combination of Macademia Nut Oil and Vanilla Butyl. Finish off with the Anti-perspirant Sportstick to round off your grooming game

Don’t worry if the closest you get to extreme exertion is reaching for the remote control. From avid gym goer to confirmed salad dodger this range ensures that even if you’re no athlete, you can still get fresh with a grooming hit from Molton Brown. Exercise has never smelt so good…

A. Blake

Verdict: ‘perfect range for pre and post exercise’

Price: 4-in-1 Sportswash £16 for 200ml, Ant-Perspirant Sportstick £16 for 75g, Body-Warming Sportbalm £18 for 200ml

Available: www.moltonbrown.co.uk

‘Intoxicating and seductive!’

Spring has finally returned which means Summer is on its way! So here at The Grooming Guide we would like to introduce you to a scent which is surely perfectly matched to those warm and sultry nights ahead. First impressions suggest that everything about this fragrance is luxurious inside a satin lined velvet box is tucked a reassuringly heavy falcon which is embellished with touches of gold and the brands riveted gold plaque.

But what of the fragrance itself? Well Dolce and Gabbana – Velvet Desert Oud opens on a heady wave of Incense and Oud and is in equal parts intoxicating and seductive! Further rich smoky tones of Dark Wood and Amber follow before this heady scent finally dissolves into a celebration of soft musky notes. Perfect for both confident guys and girls Desert Oud is a powerful concoction which will continue to weave its olfactory magic throughout the day and well into the night!

Verdict:‘A Seductive and Sultry piece of luxury’
Price: £170
Available: Available exclusively at Harrods

S.Gallimore

“Feeling blue has never smelt this good!”

One whiff of the top notes of D-Squared’s refreshing new fragrance, Blue Cadet, should have you feeling the motion of the ocean! Other Sport or Marine fragrances might be no more than a simple olfactory slap across the chops, but we rate this blue juice. We also appreciate its stylish ribbed flacon which reeks of old school apothecaries.

Sure Bergamot, Mandarin and Grapefruit alone may sound like a mighty fruit cocktail but not when these brighter and zestier notes are married with the more nuanced aromas of the great outdoors! Siberian Pine Leaves and White Cedar Wood, and Musk add sophistication and make for a fragrance which is just the ticket if you are looking for olfactory escapism.Next time you’re feeling blue, you know what to do… get a grip on D-Squared’s Blue Cadet and you’ll soon have the swash-buckling air of a man at sea. Uniform optional!

Verdict: ‘perfect for salty young sea dogs’
Price: £40.00 for 50ml and £54.00 for 100ml
Available: Harrods, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols

N.Cox

‘Smooth, chemical free shave!’

Have you heard about Triumph and Disaster? First of all, this Kiwi grooming brand must score points for being named after a line from a Kipling poem, but what we really rate is the fact that this range combines the best of science with the power of nature. The Result? A naturally derived but scientifically engineered range of products that really get the job done!

Our testers tried the Triumph & Disaster Shave Cream and loved its unique and nostalgic aroma, which they likened to a combination of old school Apothecary with sharper Citrus notes. We reckon it’s perfectly suited to the morning grooming routine. More than that our testers also anted the fact that it delivers a quality smooth shave, and without the worry of any chemical nasties! Containing Lanolin (a natural emollient) with Coconut Oil Extracts makes for the perfect lather.

The Triumph and Disaster range can be found online at www.mensphere.com alongside a carefully curated selection of brands to browse through and have delivered straight to your door. We particularly rate their tailor made gift boxes. Only one question remains…will you have the strength to give one away?

S.Gallimore

Price: £19.50 for 3.4 fl oz
Verdict: ‘quality shave from down under!’
Available: www.mensphere.com

‘Revives tired and lifeless skin’

Heading out this evening?  Then may we suggest a product that’s sure to revive even the most tired and lifeless looking of skins?  Sure GlamGlow’s Super-Mud Mask may sound like something you’d find in a supermodels handbag, but we’ve tested it and it’s powerful enough to sort out all manner of more manly skin concerns. Give it a try and  breakouts, razor bumps, and in-grown hair should soon be a thing of the past.

This tiny unassuming jar is a pocket sized power product which is perfectly PH balanced, to leave even the most sensitive skin glowing without irritation! It also cleverly harnesses the power of Eucalyptus Leaf  to detoxify the dermis, whilst its Pore-Matrix^TM with Activated-X Charcoal and K17-Clay effectively deep the pores. Our testers loved the fact that you can actually see the congestion pull-out from the skin as the mask dries. Want to join them, then only one question remains…are you confident enough to be a mud man?

A. Georgakopoulou

Verdict: ‘Pocket sized power product!’

Price: £45.00, 30ml

Available: At Space NK stores nationwide.

‘An icy blast of marine freshness!’

Do you love the great outdoors? Perhaps hiking, climbing or just diving into a clear blue ocean? Well…if nature really is your playground, then your free spirit has just found his match with Kenzo’s Homme Sport Extreme fragrance!

Here at The Grooming Guide we already fallen for the original Kenzo Homme Sport fragrance with its zesty freshness (think Grapefruit, Mint and Lemon) then along came the amped up version Kenzo Homme Sport Extreme. It has an even more tangible freshness delivered through Bergamot, Lemon, Rosemary, Petitgrain and mainly the originality of Hivernal.

Our testers particularly loved the icy fresh blast of Mint which is combined with a Tonic Marine Accord and makes for a scent which actually redefines what a sports fragrance should be! They also like the dynamic shape of its grey-blue bottle which is curved and covetable. Only one question remains…..are you ready to live the life aquatic?

Verdict: ‘perfect for salty young sea dogs’

Price: £28 for 50ml

Available: At leading travel retail markets worldwide.

Clockwise from top left:

Geo F Trumper Rose Soft Shaving Cream screw thread pot
Price: £15.50 for 200g
Available: www.trumpers.com

Czech and Speake Oxford & Cambridge Lavender Cologne
Price:  £75 for 100ml
Available: www.czechandspeake.com

Floris Elite Luxury Soap
Price:  £22.00 for 3 x 100g
Available: www.florislondon.com

Penhaligons Hammam Bouquet Eau de Toilette
Price: £80 for 100ml
Available: www.penhaligons.com

Floris Elite Eau de Toilette
Price: £69.00 for 100ml
Available: www.florislondon.com

Truefit & Hill 1805 Triple Soap
Price: £18.00 for 3 x 150g
Available: www.truefittandhill.co.uk

C.Yeo

‘The olfactory equivalent of Versace’s fashion’

Here at The Grooming Guide we love the latest offering from Versace. This aphrodisiacal scent combines the oriental spices of Cardamom and Saffron with the underlying tones of Oud Wood, Patchouli and Leatherwood. Throw in top notes of Bitter Orange and Neroli and clearly we have a fragrance for man with a strong personality!

Fragrant wallflowers shouldn’t be put of either as Versace Pour Homme – Oud Noir is a lot softer and more rounded than other current Oud based offerings. Whils’t the fragrance should not overpower its wearer, this bottle might! It’s dark, brooding and cut like a faceted gemstone which sit well with a fragrance which itself is sophisticated bling ‘in’ a bottle!

S.Gallimore

Verdict: ‘powerful, masculine and seductive’
Price: £110 for 100ml EDT
Available: Exclusively from Harrods

‘ The mighty bouche!’

Can we suggest an essential element to your daily ablutions? The Mouthwash. And the biggest contender for your attention has to be  Aesop’s Bain de Bouche! The brands first venture into oral hygiene combats the delicate issue of bad breath through the use of powerful botanical ingredients that have built Aesop into the brand it is today.

A quaffable combination of fresh Spearmint with subtle notes of Aniseed sets this rinse apart from other predictable peppermint offerings. Here at Grooming Towers we also appreciate its masculine heavyweight amber glass flacon which takes an old school apothecary form. In fact we love  this product so much that we’ve jettisoned our store of flimsy plastic bottles. Why not join us? Just be sure to recycle!

S. Gallimore

Verdict: ‘the daddy of all mouthwashes’

Price: £17 for 500ml

Available: www.aesop.com, Aesop signature stores globally and selected department stores.