Romance Men

Romance Men by Ralph Lauren is a masculine-leaning eau de toilette from 1999 in the designer price tier. It opens with sweet orange, ginger, blackcurrant, lavender and mandarin, moves into basil, saffron, rose, geranium and cardamom and dries down to pine, patchouli, musk, oakmoss and vetiver. Expect around 6 hours of wear, and it projects at a moderate level.

Notes, explained

Opening

Sweet Orange Juicy and cheerful. The friendliest citrus there is.
Ginger Warm, zesty and slightly soapy. Bridges citrus and spice.
Blackcurrant Tart, dark and slightly catty. Adds bite to florals.
Lavender Herbal, clean, slightly medicinal. Barbershop in one note.
Mandarin Soft, sweet, almost powdery citrus. Gentler than orange.

Heart

Basil Peppery herb with an aniseed lift. Culinary but wearable.
Saffron Leathery, medicinal and slightly metallic. The signature of modern niche.
Rose Can be jammy, green, peppery or soapy depending on the type. Not one smell.
Geranium Rosy and minty at once. Reads masculine more often than not.
Cardamom Cool, aromatic spice with a eucalyptus lift. Smells expensive.

Dry-down

Pine Sappy and bracing. Straightforwardly outdoorsy.
Patchouli Damp earth and dark chocolate. Either you love it or it's your least favourite note.
Musk Warm, skin-like and slightly sweet. Makes a fragrance feel like you.
Oakmoss Damp forest floor. Bitter, green and the backbone of every chypre.
Vetiver Dry, earthy, smoky grass root. Smells like soil and citrus peel.

Smells like this

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