The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Of a Man arrived from The Body Shop during the 1990s, the exact launch year is uncertain in public records, but the fragrance sits firmly within that decade of men's grooming expansion. It was part of the brand's move into a more structured fragrance offering, a quieter expansion that traded celebrity-nose marketing for straightforward composition. The brand didn't lean on media fanfare; its reputation carried the launch in other ways. What Of a Man offered was a green, aromatic composition aimed at men who wanted something present without being loud. It fit a mold of daily-wear fragrances that didn't rely on status signaling, instead focusing on something you could actually wear, day after day, without it becoming a statement.
The tarragon in the heart is what makes Of a Man worth noticing. Tarragon is an unusual choice for a men's fragrance, it reads herbal and slightly sweet, closer to a kitchen garden than a barbershop. The bright, almost candied lift of mandarin on top sets up a clean entry point, while the grounded warmth of amber and sandalwood underneath gives the composition a solid, lasting foundation. Tree moss in the base keeps it rooted in something older, lending the drydown a slightly chypre backbone without committing fully to that category.
The evolution
The opening lands bright. Mandarin carries a clean, almost green zest across the first stretch of wear, with just enough sweetness to keep it from feeling sterile. There's a fresh, slightly waxy edge, the kind you expect from a men's scent of this era, but it doesn't read dated so much as intentional. From there the tarragon takes over. It's anise-leaning, soft, aromatic, and it lingers through the heart in a way that feels unhurried. The composition doesn't announce itself with sharp sillage, it keeps things close, a personal bubble rather than a cloud. As the hours pass, the base settles in: amber warms the edges, sandalwood gives it a creamy depth, and tree moss lends a quiet earthiness that keeps the whole thing grounded. The wear is moderate, fading gradually toward a skin-close presence rather than vanishing abruptly.
Cultural impact
Of a Man is a quiet, accessible men's fragrance that fits comfortably into everyday wear, herbal, clean, modest. It's not the scent that turns heads in a crowded room, but it's the one someone might lean closer to notice. The composition rewards attention: the unusual tarragon in the heart gives it a character that most men's fragrances from this category don't offer, and the chypre-leaning base gives it a depth that lasts beyond the first hour. Wearers tend to describe it as the kind of scent that just fits, without needing to prove anything. It's approachable, unpretentious, and built to be worn rather than admired from a distance.
