Tried & Tested: Timeless, rugged allure

With its distinctive, subtle scent, Tommy Hilfiger’s Eau De Toilette is one that will surely appeal to all men.

COOL, composed and confident. A man who knows what he wants in life. One with the courage to create new paths to reach his goal. His physique reflects an exciting life. James Bond? Close. Think Sean Connery and Daniel Craig, two icons who inspire the new Hilfiger fragrance collection.

Tommy Hilfiger is a premium lifestyle brand and one of the largest designer apparel brands globally. It markets a broad array of related products including accessories, fragrance and home furnishing.

The new fragrance collection comprises the Eau de Toilette, After Shave Pour, deodorant spray and body wash. The bottle that is the Eau De Toilette in my hand is both modern and vintage in feel, with strong simple lines. The name Hilfiger is boldly engraved on a metal plaque with riveted corners. Cool!

More importantly, it’s easy to like the scent. It’s subtle, always a vital factor in my book. Think first impressions, whether on a date, at an interview or elsewhere.
An accompanying press release says it has a “captivating allure of rugged sensuality”.

I take a few whiffs of its scent and nod in agreement. Hmmm... this I like.

A quick online check reveals that it has “intense notes of suede, sandalwood and citrus infused with papaya, tonka and cashmere wood”, all adding up to a “warm, sexy sensuality”.

So macho and charmingly understated. It should appeal to young men and the young-at-heart. I’m thinking James Dean right now but this seems too retro.

Unsurprisingly, the image long associated with the Hilfiger man is that of classic American style. I almost would want to nostalgically call him the Marlboro Man, but there’s my aversion to cigarettes.

The right focus — and to stay relevant — should of course be on contemporary big-screen action heroes. No matter. It just goes to show that the cool ruggedness of the Hilfiger image is timeless and works, no matter what generation or which era.

The scent is definitely clean, distinctive and masculine. But be forewarned that this is one instance where too much of a good thing will not work.

I find that four squirts may not seem like much initially but the scent turns out to be quite overpowering when I get into the car. I can just imagine what my fellow passengers would think (or are subjected to)!

But the true Hilfiger lover will not mind or worry too much. After all, this is one fragrance that is created for the man who is confident, successful and completely comfortable in his own skin. Think inner strength. I can relate to that!

Meanwhile, my two able lieutenants (my teenage children, no less) have only complimentary adjectives when I subjected them to it. If you know how discerning children are, then you know it has its attractions.