Failsafe Father’s Day fragrances
Writing about Father’s Day is always a bittersweet experience for me because, sadly, my own dad passed away more than 20 years ago – at pretty much the same age as I am now. But although he’s no longer here, whenever I get a whiff of Old Spice – the only scent he wore religiously and one I bought him numerous times – he’s right there beside me, momentarily made flesh through fragrance.
Which is why I’ve always believed eau de toilettes make ideal Father’s Day gifts: they have a life and an emotional resonance that lasts way beyond the actual bottle of scent itself.
Choosing the right one is never easy, of course. But there are a few things you can do to minimise the risk of buying your dad a dud.
For starters, you could opt for a tried-and-trusted contemporary classic (only a man suffering from anosmia would turn his nose up at Terre d’Hermès) or for something that’s garnered industry approbation like Creed’s fiery Viking.
Alternatively, personalise the experience by gifting him something from Le Labo: its bestselling Santal 33 (a delightful mix of smoky wood, leather and spices) is bulletproof and if you ask they’ll add his name to the label.
For the ultimate Father’s Day treat, though, how about commissioning legendary British perfumer Floris to create a fragrance just for him? Starting at £450, its bespoke perfume-design service allows your dad to work with an in-house ‘nose’ to create a scent as unique as he is.
As a bonus, the formula stays in its records for ever, meaning that grandkids and great-grandkids can discover it – and him – for themselves in years to come. Now, if that’s not the gift that keeps on giving, I don’t know what is.
