Come Behind the Scenes and Help Us Pick Our Next Scent
At Live Bearded, seasonal scents don’t just happen.
What you see when a new fragrance drops is the final result of months and months of testing, debating, refining, and trying to figure out what deserves a spot in the lineup. And the longer we do this, the harder it gets.
Because it’s not enough for a fragrance to smell good.
It has to fit the season. It has to feel distinct. It has to bring something new to the table without feeling too close to something we’ve already made. And most importantly, it has to be something you guys will actually want to wear.
The Process Starts Way Earlier Than You Think
One thing a lot of people don’t realize is how far ahead we work on these seasonals.
By the time you see us talking about a Q3 fragrance, we’ve already been in the trenches for months. In some cases, we’ve had fragrance samples sitting in the library for a year or more while we build out future releases and keep adding to the pipeline.
That means we’re constantly smelling new options, comparing note profiles, cutting down the list, and trying to find the right fit for where that fragrance is supposed to land in the calendar.
For Q3, that means we’re thinking about that transition out of summer and into fall.
You’re not looking for something bright and citrus-heavy like peak summer. But you also don’t want to go too dark and heavy too early, because there’s still a full winter release ahead. So the sweet spot is something with warmth, depth, and masculinity that can carry through cooler weather without feeling like it belongs in the dead of winter.
Why Choosing a Fragrance Is Harder Than It Sounds
Fragrance is wildly subjective.
You can hand the same scent to ten different people and get ten completely different reactions. One guy will love it. Another guy will hate it. Someone else will swear it smells like something totally different than what’s actually in it.
That’s part of what makes this process fun, but it also makes it a pain in the ass sometimes.
We want feedback. We want opinions. But the more opinions you get, the more scattered it can become. At some point, too many cooks in the kitchen can make it even harder to get clarity.
That’s why the process is less about finding a scent that every single person agrees on, and more about finding one that feels right for the season, fits the brand, and stands strong enough to earn its spot.
The Contenders
When we filmed this behind-the-scenes video, we’d already sorted through a big pile of fragrance options and narrowed things way down. What you see on camera is just the short list, not the full mountain of samples that came before it.
A few of the scents that came up in the conversation included:
Tricky Vicky
This one definitely made an impression.
Not necessarily because everyone agreed it should win, but because it had a very specific personality and somehow refused to be ignored. It became one of those fragrances that kept sparking debate because the more some guys smelled it, the more it started to grow on them. Others wanted it gone immediately.
That’s fragrance for you.
Iron Heart
A fresh contender with a clean cologne feel and some real potential. It was one of those scents that made people pause and take a second look, even if it didn’t end up becoming the final focus.
Northern Valor
This one had some strong qualities and definitely smelled good, but one of the biggest issues it ran into was familiarity. The team felt like it landed a little too close to Claus, which made it tough to justify as a fresh seasonal release.
That’s one of the hardest parts of this process. A scent can be great and still not make the cut if it feels too similar to something that already exists.
Bold Frontier
This one brought an interesting mix to the table. Smooth, rich, and layered, with a profile that sparked a lot of conversation. It had sweetness, depth, and a different kind of character than some of the others in the mix.
It felt like one of the stronger contenders as the conversation kept going.
Fortitude
Fortitude came in strong.
Fresh, clean, masculine, and unique without getting too dark, this one felt like it lived right in that zone we’re always chasing for a Q3 release. It had complexity, balance, and enough distinction to stand on its own without feeling like a repeat of something we’ve done before.
Narrowing It Down
By the end of the discussion, the real choice had come down to two:
Fortitude
Bold Frontier
That’s where you come in.
One of the best parts of building products for this brotherhood is getting to hear directly from you. We read the comments. We read the emails. We take note of what you guys like, what you want more of, and what kinds of fragrances you want to see from us in the future.
So when we invite you into the process, we mean it.
Your feedback matters.
Help Us Pick the Next Seasonal Scent
If you haven’t watched the video yet, check it out and get the full behind-the-scenes look at how this process actually works.
Then let us know what you think.
Would you go with Fortitude or Bold Frontier?
And if neither one sounds like your perfect scent, tell us what you’d want us to create next. We’re always building the pipeline, always testing new ideas, and always looking for the next great seasonal release.
At the end of the day, that’s what makes this fun.
It’s not just about making beard products. It’s about building something with you, not just for you.
Live Brave. Live Bold. Live Bearded.
