It’s been a long time since Coach last released a fragrance geared specifically for men – 2013, to be exact. That was the year Coach released three iterations of its Leatherware collection and aptly dubbed them No.1, No. 2 and No. 3. Now, the American brand has finally released Coach For Men and tapped on the multi-faceted talents of James Franco to front the campaign.
The new Coach For Men fragrance is targeted at the dreamer and risk taker, and the campaign image certainly reflects that. Franco stares intensely at the camera in his leather jacket, as though he had just finished a long drive across the country in his vintage Plymouth Valiant automobile. The New York city skyline is visible in the background and you can just imagine the strains of Jay-Z’s ‘Empire State of Mind’ playing on Franco’s car radio.
The fragrance itself is a refreshing blend of sweet and woody notes. The initial burst can be admittedly overpowering and we did raise a few eyebrows at the intensity of the top Nashi pear note. But it settles into a safe and accessible note, an earthy sort of sweetness that will get a few compliments from the ladies.
The bottle, a moody, midnight blue degradé glass creation, pays homage to Coach’s iconic codes. The gunmetal spray cap is shaped like a turnlock, referencing the signature clasp on Coach bags while the beautiful leather hangtag is a nod to the brand’s heritage. The bottle does make for a nice conversation piece when placed on your chest of drawers.
Would we recommend Coach For Men? Ironically, for a fragrance meant for the risk-takers, it doesn’t take that many risks. Having said that, it’s not a bad fragrance. It’s quite solid, dependable and one that you’ll probably go for when you have a nice date in the evening.
Coach For Men is priced at $120 for 100ml, $90 for 60ml and $60 for 40ml and is available at Sephora and all major departmental stores.