‘My boyfriend’s £30 aftershave smells designer – I’m obsessed’

As a beauty writer, Lauren Codling loves recommending products to friends, family and, increasingly, my boyfriend. So when she recently picked up two aftershaves that have been quietly gaining a cult following online, her curiosity was immediately piqued.

By Lauren’s own admission, she wasn’t prepared for just how much she would fall for them herself. Talking about her partner’s latest find, she explained: “He’s recently incorporated two fragrances from Cremo into his collection: the newly launched Italian Bergamot (£34.95), 100ml, and the cult-favourite Spice and Black Vanilla (£30.95), 100ml.

“Both have garnered considerable praise from fans for their distinctive scent combinations, impressive quality and surprisingly wallet-friendly price points – and having sampled them for myself, I completely understand what all the fuss is about.”

Lauren added: “I was there when he first spritzed them on, and I instantly knew he (and I) were in for something rather special. Italian Bergamot, inspired by the sophistication of the Italian Riviera, is fresh, crisp and refined, with notes of neroli and vetiver layered over a sparkling citrus base that feels clean, luxurious and effortlessly summery.“

Going in greater detail, Lauren continued: “On first application, it’s bright and uplifting, yet once it settles into his skin, it becomes warmer and undeniably more alluring. That’s the curious thing about fragrance – it can genuinely heighten your attraction to someone. And this scent absolutely had that effect on me.

“My sole complaint, which he shared, concerned the lasting power. While the fragrance smelled wonderful, it diminished after a period, requiring a top-up. I’d be delighted to see Cremo introduce travel-sized variants so individuals could conveniently keep them in a pocket, gym bag or work tote for on-the-go reapplication.”

The following day, her partner sampled Spice and Black Vanilla, amongst the brand’s most discussed fragrances, and this one satisfied every requirement for the fashion writer. With luxurious notes of black vanilla, tobacco and cardamom, it’s sweet, warming and subtly smoky without becoming overwhelming, reports the Mirror.

Both Lauren and her partner typically favour deeper, spicier fragrances. They said the Cremo version instantly brought to mind Maison Margiela’s Jazz Club (£62 for 30ml), a comforting, captivating fragrance that conjures dimly lit cocktail bars and winter evenings. It’s also drawn comparisons to designer Yves Saint Laurent’s Le Vestiaire des Parfums Saharienne Eau de Parfum 75ml, which carries a £220 price tag.

Lauren added: “The lasting power proved slightly superior with this one, too, though it still didn’t deliver quite as impressively as some of the other fragrances he’s previously worn. Lush’s Lord of Misrule (£30 for 30ml), for example, is amongst his regular choices, and it tends to linger on skin and garments for most of the day. Nevertheless, both Cremo fragrances are 100ml, offering more value for money without concerns about reapplication.

“Alongside the fragrances, we also sampled the complementary body washes, which proved to be a surprisingly indulgent addition. I found myself unable to resist sneaking into his shower and appropriating the Spice and Black Vanilla Body Wash (£12.95 for 475ml) for my own use.”

Lauren was delighted to discover that the body wash produced a beautiful lather, smelled absolutely wonderful and left her skin feeling refreshed and thoroughly cleansed. Even the packaging appears considerably more upmarket than the modest price would indicate, sitting smartly on his bathroom shelf like something costing substantially more.

In summary, Lauren said: “All in all, these fragrances helped me grasp why Cremo has cultivated such a devoted following online. They smell considerably more luxurious than their price point would suggest, deliver genuinely distinctive scent profiles, and, in my instance, even made me fancy my boyfriend a touch more.”

The Notes: Cremo Spice and Black Vanilla