Cologne

I recently sampled Tom Ford's unisex Azure Lime Eau de Parfum ($190-$465), and while I couldn't quite put my finger on why, it skewed a bit more dude-like than anything else. This got me to thinking: what makes a fragrance masculine or feminine anyway?

Packaging and marketing aside, generally speaking, women's scents tend to be lighter, sweeter, and are frequently found in the floral or oriental families. Men's scents tend to be strong, rich, woody, earthy, leatherish, herbaceous, and aromatic. Of course, other factors come into play in the universe of eau de what-have-you, like personal preference and the way a scent develops on the skin.

Speaking of the way a scent develops on the skin, it does make sense then that gendered fragrances tend to mimic the natural body odor or chemistry of a man or a woman. And as far as unisex scents go, fresh, citrusy scents tend to reign supreme in that category. Of course, there are all sorts of clichés and stereotypes in regards to male and female scents, but for you, what makes a fragrance masculine or feminine?

Still looking for a good gift for your dearest papa, grandfather, or any other dad you may know? Well, look no further, because we've got lots of suggestions for ways to celebrate the man (men) in your life. To get started, just check out some of our ideas below:

6 Spa Gift Ideas That Dad Will Love	Dad Loves Fine Spirits? There's a Cologne Just For Him	An Award-Winning Scent Is Sure to Impress
Now Your Dad Can Smell Like Iron Man	You Can't Go Wrong With a Just-For-Men Soap	Make Some Peppermint Aftershave

We've seen fragrances based on fictional characters before and now we're seeing it again. In anticipation of the May 7 release of Iron Man 2, Diesel plans to launch a limited-edition version ($67.50) of its Only the Brave fragrance next month. Inspired by the movie, the scent will remain the same: a oriental-woody blend of lemon blossom, coriander leaves, mandarin, black rose, lavender, labdanum, tolu wood, amber, and ebony wood. However, in place of its traditional icy blue and silver packaging, you'll find red and gold hues reminiscent of Tony Stark's powered exoskeleton. In keeping with the testosterone theme, the outer box will be adorned with comic strips featuring the superhero. Wonder if Pepper Potts would approve of this bolder interpretation?

You'd expect nothing less than inspired décor from an artist, designer, and art director, and that's exactly what you see in Mike Meiré's early 20th-century Cologne apartment. On top of beautiful architectural bones, Meiré has used his German home as a canvas to showcase his contemporary art collection, including work by Rita Ackermann, Lutz Fezer, and Damien Hirst. Pop art brings in color throughout, and iconic designs by famous names (Jasper Morrison, Eero Saarinen, Piero Lissoni) give the place a sense of idolism. But the place isn't a museum either, this coveted crib has an eclectic spirit and a heart, with exotic pieces collected on worldly trips, family photos, and everyday items (like ladder) used in peculiar, artistic ways. Take the full tour when you read more

It's not too often that we see female celebrities creating male colognes, but Kylie Minogue is about to play a little role reversal with the launch of her latest fragrance, Inverse for Men ($42). The cologne, inspired by the "complex, colorful" men in Kylie's life, launches in September in Australia, the Netherlands, the UK, and Germany.

The amber-oriental scent will feature top notes of frozen lavender, blood mandarin, and warm spices; middle notes of benzoin, heliotrope, nutmeg, and tonka beans; and base notes of labdanum resin, skin musk, patchouli leaves, condensed milk, and atlas cedarwood. I must admit: while the scent skews a bit masculine, I wouldn't mind dabbing a bit of this hearty scent on my skin.

In fact, Sarah Jessica Parker once told The New York Times that her special blend of fragrances includes Bonne Bell Skin Musk ($14), an Egyptian oil, and "a fairly costly male scent." That scent? It's Comme des Garçons Incense Avignon ($78), an intense, heavy blend. What about you? Are you a fan of wearing men's cologne, or do you tend to stay away from male-inspired scents?