Pour Homme Eau de Parfum Gift Set

Jordi Fernández composed the fragrance inside the Michael Kors Pour Homme Eau de Parfum Gift Set, and the discipline of it shows in how few materials are doing the work.

There are eight of them in all, and they pull in a single direction. Lavender is the spine, treated dry rather than sweet, bergamot lights the opening and pink pepper gives it a brief dry sparkle. Geranium brings green, leafy sharpness to the middle and sage lays a dusty bitterness over it, so the whole top half of the fragrance stays herbal and clean. Then ambergris arrives underneath with its mineral, faintly salty smoothness, patchouli adds earth and depth, and vetiver closes the whole thing out dry.

What it amounts to is a smart, unfussy men's fragrance that does not demand attention and does not disappear either. Projection is good early and moderate later on, longevity runs to a full working day, and the eau de parfum concentration means a light hand will go a very long way. Bought as a set, it is the version that needs no further wrapping, which is the practical reason most people choose it over the bottle on its own. It suits men who want one fragrance covering work, dinner and everything in between, and it is forgiving in almost any weather short of real heat. For a first bottle from the label it is the obvious place to begin.

Michael Kors is an American luxury label, launched by the designer in 1981 around accessories and ready to wear, and now held by Capri Holdings. Fragrance has always been a licensed part of the business rather than an in house one, starting in 2000 and passing between licence holders in the years since.