Complementary aftershaves and fragrances

Today's aftershave and fragrance share citrus top notes, similar floral heart notes, and musk in their base notes. They blend quite well, although the jasmine in the fragrance's middle is a bit overpowering for the light citruses of the aftershave.

The Penhaligon's Castile aftershave top notes are orange blossom and petitgrain; middle notes are orange blossom, bergamot and rose; and base notes are musk and woodsy notes.


Floris Cefero's top notes are bergamot, Amalfi lemon, orange, Mandarin Orange, and lime; middle notes are jasmine, nutmeg and cardamom; and base notes are sandalwood, Virginia cedar and musk.

My aftershave today was Floris Santal. Its top notes are cardamom, pepper, bergamot, grass, and lemon; middle notes are lavender, nutmeg, and clove; and base notes are sandalwood, vanilla, cedar, olibanum, amber, musk, and vetiver. It was followed and complemented perfectly by custom Mandarin-Mysore Santal from Frank at Ethos Grooming. The citrus top notes blended, the lavender and spice of the aftershave balanced the Mandarin nicely, and their sandalwoods were very harmonious.

After today's Soap Commander True Rose shaving soap, I used Ginger's Garden Rose Petals aftershave and then Issey Miyake Nuit d'Issey Noir Argent. Although described as woody and spicy, the fragrance to me is very sweet, and it blended well with the aftershave, another example of how nicely rose fits with other scents.

This morning's aftershave was Chanel Égoïste Platinum aftershave. Its top notes are lavender, rosemary, neroli, and petitgrain; middle notes are geranium, clary sage, galbanum, and jasmine; and base notes are oakmoss, vetiver, cedar, sandalwood, and amber.


This was followed by Art of Shaving Sandalwood & Cypress. Its top notes are bergamot and chamomile; middle notes are cardamom, black pepper, bay leaf, pink pepper, and cumin; and base notes are sandalwood, cypress, cedar, guaiac wood, olibanum, and styrax.


The only notes they have in common are sandalwood and cedar, but both are very dry and woody, with the fragrance being a bit more aromatic spicy. They worked well together.

Today I used Woods of Windsor aftershave, followed by Trumper Portugal. Their citrus notes blended beautifully, and the other notes were harmonious.

The aftershave top note is citruses; middle notes are clove and nutmeg; base notes are oakmoss and patchouli.


The fragrance's top notes are orange, lemon, bergamot; middle notes are orange blossom and rose; and base note is musk.

I wear eau sauvage and like to keep my soaps etc. in the citrus family, so it varies but I can rely on the different fragrances either mellowing each other or constructing something unique, but rarely if ever clashing.