Q: What’s a ‘Sport’ fragrance and why would I need one?
Our expert Ahmed Zambarakji answers your questions below:
A: Sports fragrances are a prime example of marketing savvy at its very worst / best. They are slight (usually lighter) variations on an existing fragrance, designed to capitalise on their predecessors’ commercial success. Think of them as the Coke Zero of the fragrance world; nice, but not calorific or sickly sweet enough to give you the full Coca-Cola experience.
They are, for all intents and purposes, a euphemism for ‘dull’ or ‘uninventive’ and, as you may have guessed, have absolutely nothing to do with sporting activities. Perhaps it’s the covert implication that the wearer will magically morph into some kind of sporting hero that makes them so popular. Alas, they don’t make you kick harder, run faster or sweat any more / less.
Don’t tar all sports scents with the same brush, mind. There are a couple of good ones out there: Chanel Allure Homme Sport and Dior Homme (pictured) are two good examples of sports fragrances with style. Generally speaking, however, sports versions are only ever worth considering if you can’t handle the impact of the original, full-fat versions.
Find Ahmed on theexfoliator.com
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