Perfume Blog

Sniff Test: Burt’s Bees Natural Cologne

Sniff Test, wherein our experts hit the perfume counter to spritz, sniff and take a deep whiff, appears Thursdays on The Ampersand. The experts: Dave Lackie is the editor of Cosmetics magazine and FP Weekend’s men style columnist. Nathalie Atkinson is a perfume enthusiast and the National Post’s resident stylephile. Today’s scent? Burt’s Bees new Natural Skin Care for Men line of face scrubs, soap, shave cream, aftershave and accompanying Natural Cologne ($29.99 for 59 ml at drug, grocery, health and natural stores across Canada).

He Says:
Who would have imagined Burt’s Bees would introduce the finest men’s scent this year? This crisp, woodsy cologne opens with lemon and orange notes before quickly drying down to bergamot, cypress and fir. Imagine a cross between Polo Ralph Lauren and Aveda’s signature scent. It’s fresh and modern. What’s more, all ingredients are 100% natural –and the bottle is made of recycled glass. Brilliant! 4 / 4 noses

She Says:
The cologne is initially bracing, tart with essential oils of tangerine, rosemary and bergamot (that small Italian fruit that makes Earl Grey smell so inviting). The bonus? Bergamot is also an effective natural insect repellent (Burt really thinks of everything). Beneath the brand’s signature honey sweetness there are faint notes of guy-in-the-woods stuff like pine needles. It’s a good, honest smell. All men should smell this good and at this price, there’s no excuse not to. 4 / 4 noses