Herrera for Men Carolina Herrera

Herrera for Men arrives as a defiantly herbaceous counterpoint to the sweeter masculines of early-90s fragrance. It's a cologne for someone who reads the financial pages with reading glasses, not someone seeking a second skin. Rosendo Mateu constructs something genuinely green-leaning rather than merely fresh—the rosemary and citrus leaf emerge with an almost medicinal clarity, as though you've crushed herb stems between your palms. Neroli provides luminosity without sweetness, whilst lavender lends a contemplative, almost faintly soapy quality that prevents any drift towards floral territory.

What distinguishes this composition is its refusal to soften. The heart's clove and pepper leaf create a peppery bite that sits atop the geranium's slight mineral earthiness, creating a spiced-herbal accord that feels intellectually rather than sensuously constructed. There's restraint here—this isn't a fragrance clamouring for attention. The sandalwood and tobacco base provide necessary ballast, introducing a subtle leather-tobacco dryness that prevents the composition from feeling too bright or collegiate. Amber appears merely as a supporting player, softening edges rather than sweetening the narrative.