Enter the other side of David Guison, where each fragrance is a scented paragraph enriching his sartorial story
This is an excerpt from MEGA April 2024 MEGA MAN story.
As the pages turn in the storybook of David Guison’s life, one discovers a chapter that often escapes the limelight. Amidst the whirlwind of fashion-forward choices and jet-setting escapades, there lies a fragrant retreat—a carefully cultivated perfume collection—revealing yet another aspect of this multifaceted content creator.
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“It actually began noong pandemic. Gusto ko kasi ma-test ‘yung sense of smell ko.” Guison shares with a laugh, unveiling a fragrance journey that kicked off three years ago. He mentions that the surge in online shopping at the time led him and his friends down a perfumed rabbit hole. Their gatherings then became a ritual, a weekly rendezvous where they’d show off their latest scent conquests. Guison, having a glint in his eye, proudly showcased the first fragrance he ever snagged, which is the Black Saffron by Byredo. And from there, he conveys that the aroma adventure refused to be contained.
Bottled stories
Beyond just keeping him smelling fresh, our fun chat with Guison took a sweet turn as he revealed the deeper significance perfumes now hold for him. “Kapag nagta-travel kasi ako, I usually buy mga generic items like keychains and magnets; eh gusto ko na nga i-push ‘yung lifestyle na minimalist,” he humorously confesses. Then, it hit him one day: “Why not get perfumes sa mga travel ko?” This idea, sparked with his girlfriend, Angelique Manto, goes beyond just smelling good; for them, it’s about crafting enduring memories. He explains that these fragrances now serve as tangible reminders of their journeys together whenever they spray them on.
Guison discloses their routine: selecting individual scents for themselves and throwing in a couple more they both enjoy, transforming it into an instant shared treasure. He also mentions that this travel practice makes him delighted by the unexpected discovery of local brands during their scent-seeking escapades, admitting they simply ditch the research aspect and just let the moment’s aroma guide them to the perfect fragrance.
A gentleman’s playbook
As a man, Guison stands firm in his belief that owning a perfume should be considered an essential tool for everyone now. “I think as someone in this industry, it is really important, or actually any industry, especially if you attend a lot of events. I am really happy and get validation whenever I go to an event and they tell me, ‘David, ano ‘yang perfume mo?’ or parang ‘David, naaamoy kita from afar.’ Happy ako kasi it is also an ice-breaker. It’s also a nice conversation starter. As a guy, it really gives you so much confidence,” he explains.
The style influencer continued, expressing that even though this is his standpoint now, he empathizes with why many men might feel reserved or uneasy about delving into the world of perfumes. He disclosed that, like anyone else, he once hesitated to explore perfumes due to feeling daunted by the technical terms and such. However, he enthusiastically states, “At the end of the day, just choose a perfume that you actually like. Buying perfume should be a hobby; it should be fun, so it’s something that should reflect your personal style.”
Read more about how David Guison started his fragrance collection in MEGA’s April 2024 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Photographed by JHARWIN CASTANEDA. Creative Direction BRIE VENTURA and JONES PALTENG. Grooming MYCKE ARCANO.
