Harper Blog

A Guide to Smelling Fresh – For The Groom

Smell is the most sensitive of the senses and research has shown that it’s the sense most linked to our emotional recollection.

Studies show that 75% of emotions are triggered by smell which is linked to pleasure, well-being, emotion and memory – so the chances are, your partners will remember the way you smell on your wedding day forever!

Therefore, the wedding day is probably not the best time to test out a scent you’ve never worn before. If you’ve got a signature scent that the bride loves then the safest bet is to stick to that – however, in the run up to the wedding why not experiment with a few different fragrances? Here are our pick of the best wedding fragrances to suit any groom in any season.

Wedding Fragrance Ideas for the Groom

Best Fragrance for Romantics

Le Labo, Santal 33
This heady, gorgeous, romantic scent was inspired by the imagery of the lone cowboy in a vintage Marlboro advertisement. It’s a scent evoking leather, open fires and smoking wood with notes of cardamom, iris and violet that combine with deep undertones of sandalwood and cedar to evocative effect. A fragrance you will want to smell forever!

Best Fragrance for Old School Glamour

Christian Dior Eau Sauvage
This could be the best men’s fragrance ever created. The quintessentially French classic since its creation, Dior’s first men’s perfume remains revolutionary for its simple audacity. Its world-class composition offers a perfect blend of crisp citrus notes and distinctly masculine woody undertones; an eternal favorite that is wholly inoffensive.

Best Fragance Classic Fragrance

Acqua di Parma Colonia
In the same vein as Eau Sauvage, the elegant and classic Acqua di Parma Colonia was created in 1916 and still seduces the senses of both men and women. A unique and naturally fresh sensual scent that will linger for hours with notes of grapefruit, cinnamon, wood and patchouli – this is also a great one for the father of the bride too.

Top Tip:

Don’t forget to pack your fragrance in your overnight bag if you plan on staying at the wedding venue. Chances are, you’ll want to freshen up throughout the day.

Best Fragrance for a Summer Wedding

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino
This scent was inspired by the luxury Italian riviera resort town of Portofino, recognised for its opulent old-world glamour, dramatic landscape and tradition. The scent has a crisp effervescent quality and is a reinvention of a classic eau de cologne featuring Tunisian neroli, Italian bergamot, Sicilian lemon, winter yellow mandarin, lavender, orange flower, rosemary and amber. A sparkling and uplifting citrus scent perfect for an outdoor summer ceremony or a wedding abroad.

Best Fragrance on a Budget

Molton Brown Black Pepper Eau de Toilette
Featuring fiery black peppercorn oil with bergamot and oakmoss, this is a warm, oudy scent will smell great on any groom. It’s also reasonably priced and yet still smells extremely classy and expensive.

Best Fragrance for a Winter Wedding

Shay and Blue Blacks Club Leather
Blacks Club Leather by Shay & Blue is a fragrance that evokes English leather, fire wood and mahogany making it the perfect scent for a winter wedding. With top notes that include a waft of English leather and comforting warming cognac and base notes of fire wood and mahogany rubbed with beeswax it’s a sophisticated blend handcrafted in England and made with real flowers, fruit and spices.

Best Fragrance for Freshness

Jo Malone Earl Grey and Cucumber Cologne
In the British tradition of afternoon tea this is a fragrance bursting with Bergamot and the cool succulence of crunchy cucumber. Counterpoised with a sweet base of beeswax, vanilla and musk it’s reviving and refined and perfect for a fresh spring day and a man who isn’t partial to a heavy musky scent.

Most Long Lasting Fragrance

Escentric Molecules Molecule 01
The Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 consists of one single ingredient, which is known as Iso E Super in the fragrance industry. On its own it is less of an aroma than an effect. This perfume lends an indefinable radiance to the wearer – its effect is almost pheromonic. Developed by genius perfumer Geza Shoen, Molecule 01 has earned cult credentials with those in the know because it works with your natural pheromones to create an individual scent – it doesn’t smell exactly the same on anyone! It features a pleasant, subtle velvety-woody note which will vanish, then re-surface after some time, subtly lingering for the whole day.

Best Fragrance for the Modern Man

Malin + Goetz Dark Rum Eau de Toilette
An eccentric dark rum fragrance with natural warm notes that evoke a sense of general well-being and comfort. Modern and dynamic, this is a formidable and long-lasting fragrance that’s immediately recognisable – perfect for an extrovert. Top notes include bergamot, plum, rum, leather and patchouli.

Hints and Tips for Staying Fresh on Your Wedding Day

Wedding nerves may make you feel hot on your big day. You will also be speaking to lots of friends and family, not forgetting saying your vows, so its important that you feel confident about staying fresh throughout the day. Take note of our top 6 ways to stay fresh on your big day.

Deodorant

Experiment with long-lasting deodorants ahead of your big day – use one you trust.

Mints

You won’t want to worry about disposing of gum just before your vows, but you might want to suck on a mint ahead of your ceremony

Toothpaste

A good toothpaste and mouthwash should keep your mouth feeling fresh all day. Consider booking a hygienist appointment about a week before your wedding as your teeth will be on show a lot.

Indigestion

If you suffer from indigestion, it may not be the best idea to have a huge breakfast – but if you insist on a fry up, have some Rennie or Tums close by, just in case you need it.

Hair Care

Don’t experiment with new hair colours or products the day before your wedding. Book your wedding hair cut in for the weekend before.

Manicure

There’s no harm in getting a manicure ahead of your wedding. Your wedding photographer will most likely take pictures of you exchanging rings – so make sure your hands and nails look nice.

Smell is the most sensitive of the senses and research has shown that it’s the sense most linked to our emotional recollection.

Studies show that 75% of emotions are triggered by smell which is linked to pleasure, well-being, emotion and memory – so the chances are, your partners will remember the way you smell on your wedding day forever!

Therefore, the wedding day is probably not the best time to test out a scent you’ve never worn before. If you’ve got a signature scent that the bride loves then the safest bet is to stick to that – however, in the run up to the wedding why not experiment with a few different fragrances? Here are our pick of the best wedding fragrances to suit any groom in any season.

Wedding Fragrance Ideas for the Groom

Best Fragrance for Romantics

Le Labo, Santal 33
This heady, gorgeous, romantic scent was inspired by the imagery of the lone cowboy in a vintage Marlboro advertisement. It’s a scent evoking leather, open fires and smoking wood with notes of cardamom, iris and violet that combine with deep undertones of sandalwood and cedar to evocative effect. A fragrance you will want to smell forever!

Best Fragrance for Old School Glamour

Christian Dior Eau Sauvage
This could be the best men’s fragrance ever created. The quintessentially French classic since its creation, Dior’s first men’s perfume remains revolutionary for its simple audacity. Its world-class composition offers a perfect blend of crisp citrus notes and distinctly masculine woody undertones; an eternal favorite that is wholly inoffensive.

Best Fragance Classic Fragrance

Acqua di Parma Colonia
In the same vein as Eau Sauvage, the elegant and classic Acqua di Parma Colonia was created in 1916 and still seduces the senses of both men and women. A unique and naturally fresh sensual scent that will linger for hours with notes of grapefruit, cinnamon, wood and patchouli – this is also a great one for the father of the bride too.

Top Tip:

Don’t forget to pack your fragrance in your overnight bag if you plan on staying at the wedding venue. Chances are, you’ll want to freshen up throughout the day.

Best Fragrance for a Summer Wedding

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino
This scent was inspired by the luxury Italian riviera resort town of Portofino, recognised for its opulent old-world glamour, dramatic landscape and tradition. The scent has a crisp effervescent quality and is a reinvention of a classic eau de cologne featuring Tunisian neroli, Italian bergamot, Sicilian lemon, winter yellow mandarin, lavender, orange flower, rosemary and amber. A sparkling and uplifting citrus scent perfect for an outdoor summer ceremony or a wedding abroad.

Best Fragrance on a Budget

Molton Brown Black Pepper Eau de Toilette
Featuring fiery black peppercorn oil with bergamot and oakmoss, this is a warm, oudy scent will smell great on any groom. It’s also reasonably priced and yet still smells extremely classy and expensive.

Best Fragrance for a Winter Wedding

Shay and Blue Blacks Club Leather
Blacks Club Leather by Shay & Blue is a fragrance that evokes English leather, fire wood and mahogany making it the perfect scent for a winter wedding. With top notes that include a waft of English leather and comforting warming cognac and base notes of fire wood and mahogany rubbed with beeswax it’s a sophisticated blend handcrafted in England and made with real flowers, fruit and spices.

Best Fragrance for Freshness

Jo Malone Earl Grey and Cucumber Cologne
In the British tradition of afternoon tea this is a fragrance bursting with Bergamot and the cool succulence of crunchy cucumber. Counterpoised with a sweet base of beeswax, vanilla and musk it’s reviving and refined and perfect for a fresh spring day and a man who isn’t partial to a heavy musky scent.

Most Long Lasting Fragrance

Escentric Molecules Molecule 01
The Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 consists of one single ingredient, which is known as Iso E Super in the fragrance industry. On its own it is less of an aroma than an effect. This perfume lends an indefinable radiance to the wearer – its effect is almost pheromonic. Developed by genius perfumer Geza Shoen, Molecule 01 has earned cult credentials with those in the know because it works with your natural pheromones to create an individual scent – it doesn’t smell exactly the same on anyone! It features a pleasant, subtle velvety-woody note which will vanish, then re-surface after some time, subtly lingering for the whole day.

Best Fragrance for the Modern Man

Malin + Goetz Dark Rum Eau de Toilette
An eccentric dark rum fragrance with natural warm notes that evoke a sense of general well-being and comfort. Modern and dynamic, this is a formidable and long-lasting fragrance that’s immediately recognisable – perfect for an extrovert. Top notes include bergamot, plum, rum, leather and patchouli.

Hints and Tips for Staying Fresh on Your Wedding Day

Wedding nerves may make you feel hot on your big day. You will also be speaking to lots of friends and family, not forgetting saying your vows, so its important that you feel confident about staying fresh throughout the day. Take note of our top 6 ways to stay fresh on your big day.

Deodorant

Experiment with long-lasting deodorants ahead of your big day – use one you trust.

Mints

You won’t want to worry about disposing of gum just before your vows, but you might want to suck on a mint ahead of your ceremony

Toothpaste

A good toothpaste and mouthwash should keep your mouth feeling fresh all day. Consider booking a hygienist appointment about a week before your wedding as your teeth will be on show a lot.

Indigestion

If you suffer from indigestion, it may not be the best idea to have a huge breakfast – but if you insist on a fry up, have some Rennie or Tums close by, just in case you need it.

Hair Care

Don’t experiment with new hair colours or products the day before your wedding. Book your wedding hair cut in for the weekend before.

Manicure

There’s no harm in getting a manicure ahead of your wedding. Your wedding photographer will most likely take pictures of you exchanging rings – so make sure your hands and nails look nice.

Book a Visit Brochure Request