Burberry Brit By Burberry

Launched by the house of Burberry in 2003, Brit has acquired the status of a timeless classic in the ensuing decade. And not without good reason. A charming representation of dynamism and sexiness, Brit by Burberry exudes the softness of femininity, blended soulfully with the fun and friskiness of the bold, self-assured modern woman. Ideal for everyday wear, it opens with crisp, tangy scents that dry down to soft floral fragrances.

National identity is a lot to pack into one bottle, but Brit Cologne mostly earns its name through an unusually spiced opening. Cardamom, bergamot, ginger and green mandarin open this Eau de Toilette warm and citrus-spiced, more complex than a typical fresh men's opener. Nutmeg, cedarwood and wild rose fill the middle, woody and faintly floral. Gray musk, patchouli, tonka bean and oriental wood notes close out a rich, spiced base. Burberry classifies this Brit Eau de Toilette as spicy woody aromatic, versatile enough for daytime and evening depending on how much is applied. Wild rose, rather than a cultivated garden rose, gives the middle a thornier, more rustic floral character that fits the fragrance's understated British sensibility better than a more polished rose accord would have managed. The wild rose sitting in the middle is the detail most men's fragrances at this price point would have skipped entirely, and it's what gives Brit its slightly unexpected character among a sea of similarly structured colognes, holding up as one of the more textured, considered entries in Burberry's men's fragrance catalogue, worth a second look for anyone who dismissed it as just another fresh, citrus-led men's cologne.