Question:
A conflict of like and need: I am drawn to spicy, heady fragrances that only seem to really work as evening comfort scents - think Serge Lutens Arabie. Mt last purchase, Equipage is not as extreme as Arabie but it is still best suited to relaxed circumstances - days off and evenings. Under stress at work and during physical activity, its richness is ill-fitting and uncomfortable - like wearing a tux while playing tennis.
So I would like a lighter fragrance for the pressures of the office and for physical activity in the desert heat. Thr challenge is that I'm not a newbie and that I've sampled fairly extensively. I was at Sephora and Nordstroms a couple days ago looking at the selection and felt stuck. Thinking about it now I haven't bothered sampling a lot of the sport type fragrances and Eau Fraische type things, having not had much luck with the more esteemed fresh frags like Live Jazz, Mugler cologne (turned ugly on me after awhile), OV, Eau Sauvage (dries down too sweet) Vetiver, or citrus like Happy, Orange Verte, or Cartier Cologne. You'll probably see why I feel stumped.
The only one that worked for me in the past was Issey, but that was like 10 years ago. Recent sampling made me ill with a full wear.
I've been thinking about maybe trying incense frags but this is probably grasping at straws. I've even tried lighter applications of spicy fragrances but the notes just don't seem to fit the daytime context.
So perhaps something sporty?

Answer:
Allure Homme Sport
Polo Sport
I'd actually recommend a light application of something citrus-dominant.
Eau d'Hadrien
Cartier Declaration

Answer:
Quote: Originally Posted by trumpet_guy Allure Homme Sport I don't find this one really sporty, but give a try to Allure Homme Sport Cologne. Quite a different scent, the name is misleading.

Answer:
The 1st thing that came to my mind was Polo Sport......Fantastic Scent....Gary

Answer:
The 1st thing that came to my mind was Polo Sport......Fantastic Scent....Gary

Answer:
Good office frags:

Gendarme by Gendarme
Grabazzi by Gendarme
Grafton by Truefitt & Hill
Chanel Allure homme

Answer:
A while back I tried Jil Sander Sport and really liked it. I remember thinking how it contained everything that one expects with a "sporty" fragrance, but without being run of the mill. I did not have the chance to wear it for a full day though, becuase it was gone from the store in no time. Check it out. (The review on Basenotes might not be the most inspiring, but I liked the fragrance.)

Answer:
Man I got goosebumps! lmao
Without a doubt Polo Sport is timeless and Allure Sport is a 2004 version of the "New" sport frgrance I really like. Weird...these 2 I want to get as well!
You get these 2 and your done as far as Sport colognes go...lol There awesome IMHO.

Answer:
Penhaligon's English Fern
D.R. Harris Arlington
Creed Millesime Imperiale
Truefitt & Hill 1805 (M.I.'s little brother to my nose)
Maybe one of the Floris scents.
those might be a bit outside your comfort zone, but would probably work better for the situations you're describing.

Answer:
Oi this is tough!

May I suggest:
Habit Rouge EDC
Lacoste Original
Adidas Classic/Blue (not Blue Challenge)
Miracle Homme (I should pull it out of the box myself...)
up the $ scale... Lorenzo Villoresi Spezie (it is spicy of course but wear subtly)