Gravitas Pour Homme

Gravitas Pour Homme is the first release from Naughton and Wilson, a London house started by a fragrance reviewer and an entrepreneur who wanted the ultimate fougere. English perfumer John Stephen composed it as a classic aromatic fougere with a twist of modern niche sensibility, and it launched through a crowd-funding campaign in 2020. It opens with bright lavender, mandarin and bergamot, a fresh and slightly bitter start that wearers connect to old-school barbershops. Cardamom, coriander and pepper warm the heart, and the dry-down settles into patchouli, oakmoss and ambergris, sweetened by a generous vanilla. That vanilla is the point of difference: it makes the fougere smoother and a little sweeter than the classics it nods to, though a few wearers find it too much. Performance is moderate. Most wearers report good wear and projection that sits at arm's length, although a few find it fades quickly on their skin. It works through spring and autumn best, holds up in winter, and is easy to wear in the office, at leisure and for an evening out. Wearers call it classy, warm and gentlemanly. It is a masculine scent in the votes, though the founder says women can wear it too. Sold only in a 100 ml bottle at 125 pounds, it suits anyone who likes the classic fougere idea with a softer, vanilla-lit finish.