Best Fall Fragrances

As fall quickly approaches the colors and scents around us begin to change as the temperatures begin to decline. We all have a favorite scent that we always go-to but as the seasons change it's great to mix up your personal fragrance with some scents that match the seasons change. With fall in mind, it's the perfect time to pick out a cologne with notes based off of masculine and muskier scents. The following three scents balance well the masculinity of woodsy fragrances with the spicy and floral notes of some exotic flowers creating a perfect fall inspired scent.

Bottega Veneta

Bottega VenetaPour Homme

This is Bottega Veneta's first foray into men's fragrances. Mixing fir balsam, pimento and leather, the Pour Homme fragrance is a sturdy choice for those who seek a refined and masculine cologne. With a slight touch of whiskey as one of it's notes, this fragrance reminds you of a brisk fall morning out in the woods.

Tom Ford

Tom FordPlum Japonaise

Tom Ford presents Atelier d'Orient, a collection inspired by exotic  fragrances from Asia for his Fall 2013 Private Blend series of fragrances. Mixing saffron and cinnamon bark along with the floral scent of Japonica flowers create a luxurious scent that truly transports your sense of smell to the Far East. This is for the man who enjoys a more floral based scent that still retains a masculine smell to the fragrance.

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ArquisteAnima Dulcis

Anima Dulcis transports you to 17th century Mexico City with the smells of exotic spices, Mexican Vanilla and chili infused cocoa. Arquiste fragrances each have been thoroughly researched for each time period that they are inspired from, drawing the notes used in each bottle from historical writing and using the rarest of ingredients. Anima Dulcis is a perfect scent thats wearable everyday.

Tommy John: Premium Undergarments

When the thought of undershirts comes to mind we usually envision baggy, grandfather type of shirts that add bulk and rarely stay tucked in. Traditional undershirts typically create an added layer of EFG™ (excess fabric gut) which never flatters any body type. Undergarment brandTommy John's founder Tom Patterson sought to fix this problem and revolutionize undergarments for men. Using an innovative design, Tommy John's line of undergarments have fixed the problem that other undershirts caused. The technology implemented on the undershirts is called Tailored Stretch Technology™ that uses a unique stretch fabric that is cut tailored to the body in a slightly longer design that hugs your torso in a breathable and non-restrictive way.

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After receiving one of Tommy John's Second Skin  Stay Tucked V-Neck shirts, I've found myself wondering why no one had ever thought of this design before. The comfort of the quality of the undershirts lives up to a premium brand which Tommy John embodies. After a long work day not once did I feel like I had an excess shirt underneath my button down. The cool cotton made the shirt breathe and prevent any excess overheating (which in Texas is a problem) and I never had to excuse myself to the restroom to re-tuck my shirt. Another great feature is that their V-Necks are kept hidden even when you have two or three buttons of your shirt open, making it almost impossible to tell you're wearing any undershirt at all. Tommy John also has a line of underwear which also has an unmatched level of comfort and fit. Their line of 360 Sport underwear moves naturally with the body and is perfect for the athletic guys out there, it even includes a pocket to store your keys or anything else you might need on a run. Upgrade your undergarments now to Tommy John and never look back to EFG™ again.

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Beach Getaway Essentials

While you may have graduated from college and Spring Break has become a long-lost memory, it doesn't mean you can't book a getaway to a warm and sunny beach during the spring. Getting away from the temperamental weather that comes with the spring season is the perfect excuse to book that beach trip. The following picks are perfect for a quick trip to the beach. Throw them in a bag and enjoy that mojito as you very well will be the best dressed in this beach attire.

GantRibbed Collar Oxford

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This half button-down, half popover Oxford is great for looking casual yet sharp at the same time. The sporty look of it makes it the perfect vacation shirt. Wear it to the beach or to a laid back dinner.

RivierasCotton Slip-On Shoe

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There is no excuse to wear flip-flops over the age of ten. Not only do they make you look lazy, but no one really is a fan of seeing other people's feet. Rivieras are the perfect beach shoe that can transition into everyday wear. The 1950's style make them ideal to wear poolside. The cotton mesh, which the shoes are made out of, make them lightweight and perfect to wash off if sand gets in them.

Warby ParkerJasper Sunglasses

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Finding the perfect pair of sunglasses is always a hassle, you never know which will fit. Warby Parker has made the hunt for the perfect sunnies into a problem of the last. You can pick out five pairs, try them out at home and send back the ones you don't want, or upload a picture of your face and try on their sunglasses virtually. Whichever method you choose, you're bound to find the perfect fit.

Saturdays NYCThomas Board Shorts

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This surf wear styled NYC store gets it right every time in nailing beach ready apparel. These shorts in a solid monochromatic tone flatter any body type. There's a reason why so many brands copy the 1960s style board shorts, they work perfectly on anyone.

Portland General StoreVictory Moisturizer With SPF 15

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Made specifically for a mans face, the Victory Moisturizer is light and perfect size to keep in your bag . What's best of all is that it also protects your face from the harmful rays that can age your skin with DMAE that tones and firms your skin. This product is completely natural and devoid of harmful chemicals.

Men's Grooming Product Picks

Unpredictable weather can wreak havoc on our skin in the transitional weeks between fall and spring. It's almost as if the moisture is being sucked out of our skin and hair, making any guy look a little more rough than normal. 002 Magazine has picked out some great men's products in their March 2013 issue. Ranging from skin care to hair styling products, 002's picks are sure to make your Dopp kit well stocked at all times. Throw these products in your gym bag or on your bathroom counter and soon enough everyone will be complementing you on how great you're looking.

Arquiste, An Olfactory Experience

“A scent is like a beautiful memory; it transports us to another place in time” said by architect/historic preservationist and now perfumer, Carlos Huber.  Huber founded Arquiste in 2011 with six initial fragrances, Aleksandr, Anima Dulcis, Fleur de Louis, Flor y Canto, Infanta en Flor and L’Etrog, which are each inspired from different time periods, with the most recent Boutonniere No. 7 arriving to the lineup soon. Each fragrance time period was thoroughly researched, with Huber using his Historical Preservation degree from Columbia to document every scent, food and taste from books and antiques unique to the time period to create a matchless and amazing olfactory experience for each scent. My personal favorite of the line is Aleksandr, with Neroli, Violet leaf, Fir Balsam and Russian leather as the notes of the fragrance, this scent has a strong gentleman air, perfect for the fall. Each scent truly transports you to their inspired time frame; take for example the imagery that is used to describe Aleksandr;

January 1837, St. Petersburg, Russia

"On a frosty winter afternoon, a fiery gentleman finishes his toilette by dabbing on a preparation of Neroli and Violet. He draws down his cuffs, dons a heavy fur and strides out in polished leather boots. As he rides off on his sleigh, the woody scent of Fir fills the air. Beyond the snow-laden trees, on a clearing bathed in amber light, the fateful duel awaits."

Arquiste recently had their debut appearance at the three-day event, Pitti Franganze, in Florence this past September among 213 international brands. Arquiste was recognized and featured as one of Pitti’s best discoveries, cementing Huber’s success as not just an entrepreneur but master at olfactory preservation.

You can find Arquiste online, as well as several retail shops across the country listed here.

Birchbox Men, It's Like Christmas Once A Month

The feeling of opening up a Christmas present is the exact same excitement that Birchbox Men provides to its customers every time they receive a package. Birchbox is a company that provides a subscription like service in which for $20 a month you subscribe to a delivery service of a box full of trial sized versions of men's grooming products. Every month the box is filled with different items to test out.

The range of products that Birchbox provides encompasses the whole grooming and lifestyle that they promote, which is a well-groomed man always on the go. It is easily the best way to find new products that you may have never tried, or finally trying out that one moisturizer you just couldn't convince yourself to buy. Their website also provides The Guide, which is a part of their website which takes products that they offer and give expert advice on them. It's through their stylish website that you can find the full-sized versions of the products included in the box.

The packaging of the box is well done, simple and aesthetically pleasing. In the trial box which I received there was a variety of products; Kiel's Ultimate Man Body Scrub soap, Billy Jealousy Liquidsand Facial Scrub, Zirh Shave Gel and also a pair of Richer Poorer Socks. I had heard of some of the products in the box but had never tried them out personally, like the Zirh Shave Gel. I found myself ordering the full size bottle after just a couple of days of using it and keeping the pint size one for my gym bag. It was a great introduction to the brand. It was great to have things delivered to my door that I would have never tried out before. The fact that it was simple, just signing up through their website, made it even better. The box includes a description of the items included and a couple of promo codes as an incentive to try them out once your samples are gone.

If you're a guy wanting to try different products but not willing to go and buy that $54 cleanser that might not work for your skin, this really is the greatest thing around. Birchbox is like your own personal grooming shopper, selecting only the best and personally delivering it to your door. Sign up now on their website and check out the amazing products they have to offer.