If you’re like most people you probably associate Victorinox with pocket knives and multi-tools. For over one hundred years the iconic brand has supplied the world with the tools any adventurer needs. From boy scouts to soldiers, and soccer moms to soldiers, these products are used by millions of people each year. In fact, I use my own pocket knives and swisscards for various tasks throughout the day. Because of this constant association between the brand and the tools that made it famous, many remain unaware of the fact that the Victorinox brand has expanded into other industries.

One of these industries is, obviously, the perfume and cologne industry. One of the colognes produced under the Victorinox name is named (rather uncreatively) Swiss Army, and it is quickly becoming one of the most popular fragrances for men. You might ask why so many people would choose to buy their cologne from a brand not typically associated with luxury, but you would be answering your question with those very words. Men like to be men whenever they can, and many colognes simply aren’t geared for those barstool brawlers and wildlife warriors. Wearing a fragrance issued by the supplier of knives, however, isn’t sacrificing too much masculinity. If anything, it’s adding to it.

What man doesn’t want to buy mens cologne with the famous cross and shield stamped across it? It’s almost like spraying on pure testosterone. Got a hatchet? No. Got some beer? No. Got a twenty inch bicep? No. Got some Swiss Army Cologne? Yes. Okay we’re all set. Of course, the addition of the previous items would only boost your man rating even higher. And, while BO and dirt is the official scent of the wilderness, any movie will tell you that the real heroes don’t have this problem (and, as a result, probably have a bottle of Swiss Army stashed away in their rucksacks).

Speaking of heroes, Swiss Army will get you noticed. While you may not have the looks of Stallone, you can definitely amp up your attractiveness with this scent. Many reviewers have found Swiss Army for men to be one of their most complimented fragrances, and this is without the oversaturation that more popular colognes tend to reach, where their popularity is no longer attractive but merely tired and conformational. No; this scent will isolate you from the pack, and the ladies will be sure to notice.

Enough with the hyperbole though. I’m sure you’re really just interested in how the damn thing smells. You’re a man after all. Why should you have to read all this nonsense? Well, the general concensus is that this is a Green/Acquatic scent that smells fresh and minty. From the notes listed it seems as though the cologne is trying to replicate the smell of a brisk romp through the forest (Top Notes: Bergamot, Mint, Yuzu; Middle Notes: Edelweiss, Rosemary, Swiss Blue Genetian Flower, and Violet; Base Notes: Appenzell Fir, Cedarwood, Chestnut Firewood, Musk). You might obviously draw your own conclusions, however, and all of this depends on your own olfactory experiences and memories.

The most basic reviews of this cologne all state that this cologne smells clean and is cheap to buy. More negative reviews focus on the fragrance’s more synthetic qualities: something that only more experienced noses would be able to distinguish. In regards to longevity, some people say it lasts forever while others say it hardly lasts at all, which implies that this fragrance is just as susceptible to body chemistry as the next.

If I were to recommend a cheap cologne for a young man, this would probably be at the top of my list. It’s definitely a wonderful fragrance, but more worldly men who have been around for more than a few decades might find Swiss Army for men to be at odds with their personality. Indeed, this is for the young explorer who wants to impress a young gal or two; beyond that, its effectiveness is probably diminished. Of course, if you can pull it off as a signature scent then you should go for it. Just be sure to measure how other people react. Definitely best for day-wear, and probably not something to wear to work unless work is outdoors.

When Jean Cocteau wrote of Christian Dior, he took care to mention that the fashion’s icon name “combines God (Dieu) and Gold (Or),” in a most beautifully serendipitous way. Cocteau, however, was obviously not familiar with this history of the Dior name, as its magical quality would have swiftly been replaced with irony. Before the name became synonymous with high fashion and luxury, it was actually associated with a relatively profitable fertilizer company (before it went bankrupt, anyway).

It would take many years for the Dior name to become synonymous with high fashion and quality perfume and cologne. The man made his way to the top by starting off as a sketch artist for women’s magazines, then as a pattern designer. While World War II would interrupt his ascension, it also served to be a blessing in disguise. When he finally opened a fashion house in 1946, he rose to prominence across the world for designing dresses that sharply contrasted the wartime styles everyone was used to; fabric was no longer something to be rationed in the eyes of Christian Dior.

The man was not simply interested in dresses, however. He was well aware of the importance of a fragrance for any complete outfit, calling it a “finishing touch.” With the launch of Dior’s first line came “Miss Dior,” a revolutionary fragrance mixing chypre and green floral accords. Following the tradition of less-is-not-an-option, Christian bottled his perfume in the best of materials (following an ancient tradition at the same time) that included crystal, gold, and quilted packaging. The war was over and it was time for the world to live in luxury once more, in a way that only French perfume could.

Adding to the feeling of elegance associated with his womens perfume (now including Diorama, Eau Fraîche and Diorissimo along with Miss Dior), the fashion legend made sure that people would have to go to the finest of locations to buy Dior perfumes: elegant hotels, luxury stores, etc. The man’s strategy was sound, because he instantly became a success, so much so that he considered himself “as much a perfumer as a fashion designer.”

The Dior brand would later include fragrance’s built for men with the introduction of Eau Sauvage in 1960, a fragrance that would be considered a perfume cologne for men or perfume for women, equally. Since then, Dior perfume and cologne has been a favorite amongst sophisticated socialites everywhere. Today, Dior J’adore, Dior Hypnotic Poison, Dior Miss Dior Cherie, Dior Midnight Poison. Dior Pure Poison, Dior Addict, and Dior Fahrenheit are some of its most popular brands in a long line of popular perfume and cologne.