The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
An Urban Original 2 for Him arrived in September 2013 as part of a coordinated men's and women's release, the men's edition coming housed in deep blue glass. That color choice signals something about what's inside: a bolder, more aromatic profile than the cleaner, brighter aesthetics you typically see in translucent or pastel bottles. The glass carries weight, the kind that feels deliberate, suggesting Bench wanted the presentation to match the richness of the juice. Launched alongside the women's edition, the men's version reads as the more assertive sibling in the lineup. The composition was crafted to suit the everyday demands of a working week, something wearable from morning meetings through evening plans without demanding attention or heavy application.
What makes this composition interesting is the collision between its fresh-aromatic opening and its warmer, sweeter base. Melon, anise, and violet lead with a brightness that reads almost sporty, a sharp, clean accord with enough lift to cut through a crowded room or a warm afternoon. The melon carries a watery, slightly candied sweetness, while anise introduces that cool licorice snap, a distinctly aromatic bite that grounds the fruit rather than letting it float away.
The evolution
On skin, the first ten minutes are dominated by that fruit-and-anise opening: cold melon sweetness sharpened by anise's licorice bite, with bergamot and lemon pulling the whole thing bright. Violet adds a soft, powdery undercurrent that's easy to miss under the brighter top notes, a quiet floral whisper threading beneath the sharper aromatic elements. The melon reads clean and slightly aqueous, almost like the scent of chilled fruit in still air, while anise provides that distinctive cool snap, a sharpness that keeps the opening from feeling too simple or too sweet. Bergamot adds a citrus lift with a faintly bitter edge, and lemon contributes its own crisp, tart brightness, creating a top accord that feels layered rather than linear. Within thirty minutes, the heart takes over.
Cultural impact
An Urban Original 2 for Him sits firmly in the affordable daily-wear category, designed for accessibility rather than collector appeal. Its position is straightforward: a reliable, broadly appealing scent for someone who wants something presentable without overthinking it. The fragrance doesn't try to be niche or avant-garde, and that absence of pretense is precisely where its appeal lives. It wears best in warm weather and casual settings, holding its own in everyday contexts where you want to smell good without broadcasting that you've spent an hour selecting your scent.
