Embracing the Scent of a Gentleman

Kentaro Matsuo, editor-in-chief of MEN'S EX, and Kaori Nakano, a fashion historian, have already detailed the illustrious history and wet shaving experiences favored by gentlemen. Therefore, I would like to write about my own way of wearing fragrance.

I do something before applying fragrance. That is to eliminate odor. In other words, a shower. I naturally have very little body odor, but before applying any scent, I always take a shower to bring my entire body to a state of being odorless. First, my hair. I wash it twice. The first time, I use Helsinki Formula B Shampoo with a scalp brush, massaging to remove dirt from the scalp. Scalp sebum is a cause of odor. I get regular head spas at the salon to remove pore impurities, but even when I think I'm washing thoroughly, sebum can be surprisingly stubborn.
This led me to develop the habit of washing twice. For the second shampoo, I use this Truefitt & Hill shampoo. Removing odor, then applying fragrance. This is my fundamental approach to wearing scent.

After shampooing, I lightly towel-dry my hair, then apply the Truefitt & Hill conditioner for a few minutes. Towel-drying makes it easier for the conditioner to penetrate the hair... When properly cared for, hair naturally shines. When I visit Europe, I notice that elegant gentlemen and madames often have a natural sheen to their hair. It's not quite a halo, but that natural luster conveys a sense of good breeding and refinement.

For my body, I rinse off with a shower, then use the Helsinki "Formula B Soap" on a body towel to wash. This soap is also remarkable! It contains ingredients that dissolve "oxidized sebum," one of the causes of body odor, underarm odor, foot odor, and aging odor. So, after use,
I feel refreshed and clean. It's wonderfully invigorating.

Then, after everything is done and I've dried myself, I finally apply fragrance. I apply it to the inner parts of the body, known as pulse points. By applying it to the inner lower half of the body, the scent rises upwards, so I usually apply it to the inner ankles. Occasionally, if I've applied too much perfume, I'll take another hot shower to lightly wash off the excess scent.
This way, the fragrance doesn't become too overpowering and emanates subtly. If you've applied too much perfume, or if you're unsure of the right amount and tend to overdo it, I recommend taking a quick hot shower again to lightly remove the excess.

So, this is generally my morning routine. The remarkable thing about Truefitt & Hill is that this entire sequence can be accomplished with products from the same brand. From shampoo, conditioner, and fragrance, to aftershave lotion, aftershave balm, shaving cream, and even soap and hair tonic... Everything is available from Truefitt & Hill, so the scents don't clash.

Just as a classic and elegant style is important, ultimately, overall unity and harmony are key. Wearing a custom-tailored classic suit would be ruined by a cheap scent, or grooming products bought at a convenience store, and vice versa. Wearing a gentleman's fragrance while dressed in flimsy, trendy clothing simply doesn't match.
In that sense, enveloping oneself in a gentleman's fragrance is the ultimate destination for a gentleman who understands complete harmony. Whether it was Fred Astaire or Cary Grant, the gentlemen indispensable to the history of men's fashion may have all realized this.

Harmony of Fragrance and Attire

So, for the finale, I've styled outfits inspired by such summer gentlemen, with the theme "Harmony of Fragrance and Attire."

The first photo (top row) features Truefitt & Hill's shampoo and conditioner. After washing away odors in the shower, gentlemen would surely wrap themselves in towels of exquisite texture. And wouldn't they take their regularly used shampoo and conditioner with them when going on vacation? With that thought in mind, I photographed them alongside towels from the Palace Hotel in Capri.