For Men Power

For Men Power announces itself. Black pepper and bay leaf hit first, dry and slightly medicinal, with bergamot doing little more than stopping the opening from turning harsh. The heart is the interesting part: a rum note gives a boozy, sugary warmth that plays against cinnamon's dusty heat, while clary sage and geranium add a green, faintly bitter edge that keeps the spice from going syrupy. Underneath, the base is heavy and resinous. Incense supplies a dry smoke, benzoin adds a balsamic sweetness, and leather, patchouli and cedar between them give the whole thing weight and staying power. The brand labels it floral woody earthy, which undersells it considerably; on skin this reads as a spicy amber, and a fairly assertive one. That makes it the most situational fragrance in the range. In summer heat the rum and cinnamon become cloying, but from October onwards it does exactly what it is designed to do, projecting warmth in cold air. Wear it in the evening, at winter parties and on nights out rather than at a desk, and go lightly at first: this is not a composition that rewards over-application. Its lane is the inexpensive cold-weather statement scent.