These days perfume advertising will mention the “notes” that a fragrance has. There are different kinds of notes, classified according to how long their scent lasts on the skin or in the air, and how heavy the molecules are. They are base notes (heaviest and longest-lasting, like woods and resins), middle notes (fruity and green, grassy notes), and top notes (lighter, like delicate florals). These notes characterize the natural sources of scents found in essential oils, absolutes and concretes, all derived from plant material (like bark, leaves, blossoms or sap resin).

Certain notes and types of scents smell great on men, emphasizing their manly natural body odor and also enhancing the way they express their personal style. We associate feminine perfumes with floral or delicate scents, or exotic formulas. Men tend to like simpler fragrances. The history and folklore of perfumery offers lots of interesting information on different sorts of associations we have with these ingredients, some derived from ancient mythology and archeology.

If your man does not like cologne, a more subtle way for him to wear fragrance is in soap, shower gel, powder or cream. This also usually means the product contains real essential oils, unlike many perfumes and colognes these days which might contain synthetic derivatives. Natural ingredients always smell better! You can ask him what he prefers or get him a sample to see if he likes it. Don’t forget essential oils for use n diffusers or the bath, or candles or incense scented with real essential oils (available from L’Occitane or Diptyque). Check the labels to see if the following essential oils are found, because these are the scents associated with male sensuality and will make him smell incredibly sexy in a natural way, without seeming perfumey or artificial.

One of the best scents for men is SANDALWOOD. This comes from tall, mature trees that are supposed to reach 30 years of age before being felled for essential oil harvesting. The sweet, warm scent blends well with other scents and is also delightful on its own. It is common in Indian products, so look for it in incense and candles as well as skin care products. Crabtree & Evelyn’s sandalwood soap has been a best-seller for many years. It’s a subtle aphrodisiac so use it to set the mood!

PATCHOULI is also a great fragrance for men. Some find it cloying or too strong on its own in the bottle, but once applied to the skin it becomes very mellow, earthy, manly and haunting. It blends very well with other essential oils so look for it as one of the ingredients in scented products. Lush makes a fragrance line called Karma which is scented with real patchouli, pine and citrus. It comes in soap, powder, shampoo bar and lotion.

You’re probably familiar with CEDARWOOOD, the unforgettable scent of keepsake chests, is a manly and memorable fragrance. A little goes a long way so it can become the dominant scent in blends. It has a clean, fresh, woodsy quality that many men enjoy. Try a bottle of Aura Cacia’s Cedarwood essential oil and put a few drops in a diffuser or in a bowl of steaming water to give a sensual aroma to the room.

VETIVER is a strong, smoky, warm and sexy fragrance derived from a thick absolute that comes from a tree native to Africa. Its scent lingers a long time and smells absolutely delicious on a man’s skin (a woman’s too, for those who like earthy scents!) and is a bit like a forest and woodsmoke in character. It’s known to have aphrodisiac qualities, too. Lush adds vetiver to a number of its products to impart this earthy, sexy scent; you r man might like Coolaulin conditioner for his hair, or Tramp shower gel , which also contains lots of PATCHOULI! L’Occitane also makes a wonderful line of “vetyver” products to scent the home.

CITRUS scents are fresh, light, crisp and invigorating. They have a “unisex” appeal but men often find them a welcome change from sweeter fruit scents. Lemon, orange, bergamot (bitter orange), grapefruit, neroli (orange blossom) and petitgrain (twigs and leaves of the orange tree) and lemon verbena are all wonderfully refreshing scents. Citrus is known to be uplifting to the emotions, too. Try Lush’s Sandstone soap, or Happy for SAD shower gel (good for the winter blues), or Ecco Bella’s Lemon Verbena or Grapefruit product lines, to let your man small of crisp citrusy goodness all day.

FRANKINCENSE is associated with church and the gifts of the Magi. But it has a long history and is one of the most well-loved incenses in the world. It comes from the sap of trees in Somalia. It can also be found as an essential oil and its crisp, lemony, resiny scent is uplifting and sensual. The essential oil added to a diffuser or your bath water soothes and slows the breathing (maybe that is why it is used in churches and temples, to help people meditate) and has a calming influence.

Try out these scents and see if your man doesn’t develop a newfound appreciation for the subtle powers of aromatherapy!