Fila Cologne

There's no wasted movement anywhere in Fila Cologne, stage after stage, pepper, cardamom and bergamot lending the top a dry, spiced character warmer than the sportswear name would lead anyone to expect. Lavender, sage and geranium shape a clean aromatic centre, herbal and green, following classical fougere logic rather than anything athletic. Tonka bean, vetiver and cedar settle it dry, woody and softly sweet. There is nothing sporty about it beyond the name on the bottle. The structure is textbook, and the interest lies in how conventional it is, since a brand best known for tennis shoes has produced something considerably more traditional than the branding suggests. Best kept for grounded, everyday occasions, Fila Cologne from Fila earns its place there as a woody spicy Eau de Toilette. That balance is exactly what makes Fila Cologne work.