Grey Flannel, Geoffrey Beene

Sloane Wilson’s The Man In The Grey Flannel Suit was one of the first publicly voiced criticisms of American post-war life. Adapted to film in 1956, Gregory Peck portrayed Tom Rath, a WWII veteran struggling to deal with his memories of the war and settle himself into a hard bearing corporate world and a tumultuous domestic life.

If there is one product left in the Geoffrey Beene range that remotely represents the designer’s vision it is ironically their men’s fragrance Grey Flannel. Released in 1976 in conjunction with Elizabeth Arden, the scent was overseen by Beene himself, achieving what has become an incredibly classic and intelligent fragrance for men. It is centered on a violet note, and when paired with the sage, citrus, and sandalwood the effect is incredibly masculine and sensual. Once, when wearing the fragrance out it was mistaken for Donna Karan’s Cashmere Mist, indeed the comforting smell of a woolen fabric is there, but GF is notably richer and deeper. Defying the current trends of antiseptic (bathroom cleaner smelling, really) synthetic based men’s scents; it is alarming and familiar at the same time.

The best bit is that you can find the original formula almost anywhere for a steal, check out the dreary (but treasure filled) perfume section at Walgreens.