Floris makes more than twenty fragrances, but five of them carry most of the house’s reputation, and most first-time buyers start with one of these. Four are eaux de toilette from the Signature Series; the fifth, Honey Oud, is an eau de parfum from the Private Series. Here is how they differ, and how to choose between them.
No. 89
Created in 1950 and named for the shop’s address, No. 89 is the archetypal English gentleman’s cologne. It opens with bergamot, orange and lavender, warms with a touch of nutmeg, and settles into a dominant woody base of sandalwood, cedarwood and vetiver. It is the fragrance Ian Fleming wore, and the one to choose if you want a single, classic scent that works in the office and in the evening. Family: citrus woody. For him.
Santal
Santal is No. 89’s warmer cousin: a woody fougère built around sandalwood, with lavender, spices and a soft amber finish. It is rounder and lasts longer on the skin, and it has the fullest grooming range of the house — shaving soap, shaving cream, after shave balm, soap and shower gel — so it suits someone who wants the whole ritual in one scent. For the deeper version, Santal Intense is the eau de parfum. Family: woody fougère. For him.
Cefiro
Cefiro is the brightest of the five: citrus — lime, lemon, mandarin, bergamot — over a light floral heart and a clean musky base. It is the Floris that women buy as often as men, and the right choice for summer, for travel and for anyone who finds colognes too heavy. It also comes in a full bath and body line. Family: citrus floral. Unisex.
Elite
Elite is crisp and discreet: green and woody, with bergamot, lime and a sharp galbanum note over cedar and moss. It is the fragrance for someone who does not want to announce himself, and it pairs with the Elite shaving soap, cream and balm. Family: woody green. For him.
Honey Oud
Honey Oud is the house’s best-known modern fragrance and the one Canadians search for most. It is an eau de parfum, so it is more concentrated than the four above: golden English honey and a hint of vanilla open it, oud emerges as it settles, and a rose sits at the heart. It is rich, warm and long-lasting, made for evening and for winter, and it is worn by men and women alike. Family: amber gourmand. Unisex.
Eau de Toilette or Eau de Parfum
The Signature Series is eau de toilette: lighter, fresher, meant to be worn generously and reapplied. The Private Series is eau de parfum: a higher concentration of fragrance oil, so it projects less sharply but lasts far longer. If you are new to Floris, start with an eau de toilette; move to the Private Series when you want depth.
Which Size
The 100 ml bottle is the everyday choice and the best value per millilitre. The 50 ml suits a fragrance you will wear for occasions or a second scent for the season. The 10 ml is a travel bottle and a sensible way to try a signature before committing. Floris also makes 2 ml sample vials of every fragrance; ask us and we will include them with an order so you can choose the next bottle on your skin, not from a description.
