Question:
If I had to pick one mainstream, exciting, men's scent it would be Caron's L' Anarchiste. While it's not my favorite by any means, it is exciting because it is bold, bizzare and un-commercial. No doubt it will be discontinued soon enough. I think that anyone interested in modern fragrances should experience it at least once. Blood in an ashtray.

Answer:
I would agree, but I do not know where you guys draw the line. Almost every cologne mentioned on this page 1 is far beyond mainstream in my books due to uniqueness, quality of ingredients, or both.

Answer:
D&G Pour Homme and By Man
Chanel Egoiste
Aramis Havana and Tuscany
Boucheron Pour Homme and Jaipur
YSL Opium, Kouros, M7 and Rive Gauche
Gucci Pour Homme and Envy
Happy hunting!

Answer:
Chanel Egoiste
Issey Miyake
Terre d´Hermés
Armani Code
YSL M7
YSL Rive R.

Answer:
you have got to try Chanel Pour Homme not the concentrate a great fragrance classic

Answer:
Quote: Originally Posted by my mascara you have got to try Chanel Pour Homme not the concentrate a great fragrance classic Do you mean "Pour Monsieur"?

Answer:
I think "Pour Monsieur (1955)" is being referred to here. Both it and the more
commonly available "Concentree" version are must-tries. Both are in my Top 10.
I think you should not miss trying Gucci Pour Homme. I'll suggest Gucci Envy
also, though some here think the very similar Floris Eau de Santal is actually better.
I have the Santal, not the Envy, Floris is not a department store line.
You might also find the YSL line worth exploring. I think Chanel's men's line is
generally superior, but YSL has many scents worth sampling. Rive Gauche Pour
Homme, Opium Pour Homme, M7, are some.
The scents marketed by Aramis are commonly available and worth checking out too.

Answer:
I don't know about "exciting," but these are simply excellent:
Acqua di Parma
Agua de Sandalo, Vetiver hombre (Dominguez, common in Spain)
Dunhill for Men (1934) (freshly discontinued)
Cacharel pour homme
anything by d'Orsay (I know, not necessarily, department store)
Aigner No. 2 (a drugstore frag in Germany now)
Envy for Men
L'Eau Bleue d'Issey
L'Occitane Vetyver
Identité pour homme (René Lezard, Germany - nothing special here)
Royall Spice

Answer:
Burberry -
Brit
Chanel -
Antaeus
PMC
Davidoff -
Cool Water
Relax
Dior -
Dior Homme
Eau Sauvage
Fahrenheit
Gucci -
Envy
John Varvatos -
John Varvatos
Marc Jacobs -
Marc Jacobs for Men
I think that these are all colognes that deserve at least a wearing.
- Rich

Answer:
Personally I usually find designer trumps niche, and mass market trumps niche on occasion too.
The designer/mass markets which seem to break the mold for me are:
English Leather
M7
Agua Brava
Cuiron
Yang
Aramis
The Dreamer (with my usual disclaimer: "Even though I think it is disgusting")
Fahrenheit
Horizon
The Baron
K