Question:
Originally Posted by MysteryFemme Yes I agree that the classifications are useless, however I still have to get him something decidedly "masculine" or at least marketed towards the male market even if it's flowery or fruity. "masculine" - ignoring the "classics" and the pricey L'Artisan and Lutens frags which I consider masculine (and the reason I mentioned them in the first place was to show that there are some from those line which are quite masculine), and keeping in mind your bf's personality, the following might work:

Bulgari Black (smoke and rubber)
Chanel Allure homme (great office frag)
Versace The Dreamer (smooth tobacco)
Gucci pour homme (lots of dry cedar)

Answer:
Thank you ZZtopp. Yes many Serge and L'Artisan are "masculine"... however they are out of my current budget and unfamiliar to him as "masculine" fragrances. I have tried my Serge samples and L'Artisan travel size frags on him but he wasn't too keen simply because I also wear them. I will take your advice and try Pour Homme or The Dreamer.
I'm particularly interested in the notes listed for The Dreamer in the basenotes reviews. I think I'll try it (and maybe sneak some for myself from time to time.)
Head Notes: Juniper, Wild Flowers. Linden
Heart Notes: Lily, Iris,Tarragon, Artemesia,
Amber, Tobacco, Spices, Vanilla, Rare Woods
As you can see it's quite difficult to shop for this guy - no classic, no niche, not too expensive, etc... - that is why I had to ask the advice of the knowledgeable people on the male frag board.

Answer:
If you were in my area I'd happily give you The Dreamer, as I find it
very unpleasant. Others on this board love it. To each their own.
I'd suggest trying every Chanel men's scent you have access to.
They are still my favorite designer house, and they have a good breadth
to their offerings. The earlier suggestion of Allure Homme is a very good
one to start with. I'd also suggest Pour Monsieur Concentree.

Answer:
And how about well known designer brands like
Dolce Gabbana PH and By
Gucci PH
YSL Rive Gauche, Jazz, Live Jazz
Guerlain L'Instant and others
Bvlgari anything
Nina Ricci Memoires D'Homme
Lancome Miracle
Armani anything
Givenchy anything
Rochas anything, especially Lui
Dior anything
Chanel anything
I mean if you don't care about scent notes as such and are more concerned about the brand being known and marketed to men, these are very well marketed to men, represent wide range of smell spectrum, can be found online or in discount stores and thus are not that expensive. when you say "not classic" - do you mean it should not smell "old" or do you mean that the brand should be relatively new in production? Then again, try major designer houses, try colognes that were produced in last ten years.

Answer:
dior homme, not too classic not too niche
says "homme" right on the bottle but...

Answer:
Originally Posted by MysteryFemme Thank you ZZtopp. Yes many Serge and L'Artisan are "masculine"... however they are out of my current budget and unfamiliar to him as "masculine" fragrances. I have tried my Serge samples and L'Artisan travel size frags on him but he wasn't too keen simply because I also wear them. I will take your advice and try Pour Homme or The Dreamer.
I'm particularly interested in the notes listed for The Dreamer in the basenotes reviews. I think I'll try it (and maybe sneak some for myself from time to time.)
Head Notes: Juniper, Wild Flowers. Linden
Heart Notes: Lily, Iris,Tarragon, Artemesia,
Amber, Tobacco, Spices, Vanilla, Rare Woods
As you can see it's quite difficult to shop for this guy - no classic, no niche, not too expensive, etc... - that is why I had to ask the advice of the knowledgeable people on the male frag board.
Well, if The Dreamer doesn't work out have you considered something very classy and mainstream: Safari. If you want to give something to your bf that says, in effect, `I think you are manly', this could be the one. And it's interesting: despite its reputation of being Uber masculine there is a lot of sweet cinnamon that alters the tonal effect of the bergamot/lavender combination.
Hope this works out — you have all our best wishes going with you on your dream quest in drizzly melbourne!

Answer:
Dunhill Edition (cheap on internet but VERY classy, good for work)
RL Safari
YSL Rive Gauche (and Body Kouros for something stronger and sexier)
Terre d'Hermes
Bvlgari PH
All widely available in Australia, and whilst easy to access and not too expensive (most quite cheap on net), none of these is too common.
ged
ps not sure why you said not keen on the classics - i thought dunhill 1934 would be perfect given he's a bond fan, also didn't recommend any guerlains (heritage, vetiver, etc) coz you said no classics

Answer:
Originally Posted by supermarky dior homme, not too classic not too niche
says "homme" right on the bottle but...
Personally, I have found the Annual Basenotes Awards winners and nominees a great starting point for discovering fragrances:
http://www.basenotes.net/awards/

Answer:
Wow what terrific ideas.
I said "no classics" because he's not keen on the classics. I'm VERY keen on the classics! I'm a classic fragrance wearer myself. I'd rather classics or niche or unisex (these are just marketing terms, I know), fragrances any day over something popular like Flowerbomb (although FB is good on occasion.) I'm afraid I've been unclear so I'll say it again: I LOVE CLASSICS! I suggested some classics and he said "I smell like an old man." Don't get me started on the negative political connotations of "old man smell". I believe there was a thread recently about "old lady smell" and some people were quite upset. In case anyone is wondering I smell like an "old lady" and he has never complained mostly because I have never told him the names of the perfumes I wear.
I digress.
Okay. Here is what I have done:
I have put some of my favourites into vials and I'm going to present them to him in a nice little ring box with a card. The list includes Ambre Sultan, Egoiste, Passage D'Enfer, Antaeus, Jicky, Habit Rouge. To hell with "no classics" and "no niche"! (Serge and L'Artisan are considered niche here, I think.) Unfortunately I'm not a fan of Sean Connery as James Bond and if I have to watch James Bond then he will be testing everything on my list whether he likes it or not... and maybe he will eventually come to like one of them.
By the way I had no idea Dunhill had any affiliation with James Bond. I guess I don't know much about the films?
Anyway, these suggestions are terrific. I'll spend some time looking for samples of the ones mentioned in this thread and by the time we've agreed on a common love then he might have a collection of samples.

Answer:
In this situation maybe a good mainstream release which he will have seen/ heard of marketed to men. One which has stood the test of time; Polo Green (or crest if you can get it) Dior Jules or Farenheit, The nectar of the gods R de Capucci, Chevignon, Drakkar Noir, um...lots more. Maybe look up the well known houses and read some reviews. I think the guerlains are classic and may not work for that reason.