Alien Eau Sublime is one that I missed, when it came out back in 2017. So, when I saw a sample of it available, I purchased it in order to do a review for the site. I really didn’t have much knowledge about what this one was all about beforehand. How does Eau Sublime smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?
Here’s how Mugler describes it: A luminous and refreshing fragrance, an energizing cocktail which stimulates the senses.
While they’re not the same, this Alien perfume actually reminds me of Libre L’Absolu Platine, in its opening act.
Citrus, solar notes (instead of the YSL aldehydes…similar), orange blossom. Here, though, we get the usual Alien jasmine note versus the lavender of Libre. Not the same, but a reminiscent style. This Mugler, came first.
Once that part is out of the way, Eau Sublime feels like a less dense and more summer acceptable version of the original Alien.
Tiare flower, vanilla, jasmine, and that orange blossom really come through. This becomes a white floral mix, with some remaining light citrus sweetness, and a bit of amber coming through.
On my skin, I don’t get much of a powdery aroma. The heliotrope seems muted. But, spraying this one on a shirt, does make that aspect pop some more. For me, I get a creamier blend of tiare and vanilla, on skin.
Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility
The original Alien can be an absolute bomb and also has some really heavy qualities about it. Sometimes, it’s pretty cloying in the heat.
Alien Eau Sublime is lighter and doesn’t get bogged down. However, it still produces a nice scent trail and can project itself well. Definitely above average with its strength, just not massive.
The longevity is good, not amazing. On my skin, Eau Sublime can hit around the 8 hour mark without trouble. It doesn’t seem to go much beyond that, if at all.
Seasonally, this Mugler is built more for the spring and summer months. It’s got that light citrus and white floral blend, without all of the heaviness, that will work well once it gets somewhat warm outside.
It’s fine for any age, but I’m not sure that Eau Sublime will appeal too much to younger women. It may be better to go with something like Alien Goddess, for some people.
Eau Sublime is fine as a daytime wear. It can fit in fine in most places, it’s not too formal of a scent. But, it also won’t stand out as being anything offensive. This isn’t really a nightlife wear and I don’t find it to be ‘sexy’ at all.
Overall Impressions of Alien Eau Sublime
Overall, do I like Eau Sublime? It’s fine. I’m not too enthralled this one. It’s not nearly as enjoyable as the original Alien or some of the more unique flanker releases from over the years.
It’s pretty basic, as a white floral scent. That opening is kind of like Libre Platine, but I’m not a huge fan of that either. Everything here is ‘just fine’. Eau Sublime is somewhat likeable, has decent performance, etc.
I like the dry down better. The jasmine, tiare flower, and orange blossom work rather well together with the vanilla and surrounding notes.
This one came out back in 2017, so, it’s discontinued anyway. Unless you’re a major fan of Alien, there’s no real reason to chase this one down. Now, if it sounds like your style and you can get a good discount on a bottle, go for it. Otherwise, it’s not a must have.
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
Dylan Purple is the latest release from the Pour Femme side of the series. It came out in 2022, without too much hype, but quickly became another successful entry from Versace. I’d been waiting to get a hold of this one for a review and finally bought a sample to test it out. How does Purple smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?
Purple opens up with a juicy blend of fruits. Mainly, it’s the pear and the bright bergamot. Bitter orange is present, but doesn’t ever seem to pop like the other two.
Underneath that, you’re going to get some of its floral notes from the start too. First thing that I notice, is the purple freesia. It adds a further aquatic kind of aroma to the top fruity notes.
Purple is another fresh and clean perfume. The muskiness here isn’t all that great, however, and it doesn’t veer completely into a straight body wash sort of wear. Though, it can straddle that line.
Purple is sweeter than I thought it’d be. Kind of balanced with a cedar freshness and the various types of ‘amber’ notes that emerge from the base. Never feel too heavy, but they are there.
Pear, bergamot, and ambroxan with the impression of floral notes. The middle notes never seem to become all that distinct in the mix. Yes, that freesia, but even that falls back into a floral blend.
Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility
The reach of this one isn’t a ‘smell you in the next room type’ of perfume. Though, this does have a decent amount of projection, safe to call it a bit above average.
It’s not a heavy fragrance. Lighter to moderate without ever bogging you down with its scent.
On my skin, I get just above 6 hours. Like around 6.5, it just doesn’t go beyond that for me during the times that I tested this Versace out.
Dylan Purple does have a more youthful vibe. The clean, fruity, and simplistic scent tends to do that. As such, this could be a great option for the younger set. Probably a bit more towards that side of the spectrum than say Dylan Turquoise.
But, it’s not so immature that someone older couldn’t wear it. If you want this kind of clean-ish and borderline shampoo type of perfume, this is a good mainstream bet that isn’t super expensive.
Purple is a daily wear fragrance or one that you can put on casually. It’s not a super sexy nightlife wear or a serious formal affair.
Overall Impressions of Dylan Purple
Overall, do I like Dylan Purple? Yes, I do. I’m not too high on any of the Dylan Pour Femme scents. However, I do like them all to some extent. This, might be my favorite (this or Blue).
None really stand out as being great to me, though.
Yes, it’s not all that complicated and the fruitiness comes doesn’t come across as naturalistic. But, I really do enjoy the way that it smells, way more than my first impressions. I kept right on wanting to smell Purple throughout the day.
I think the sweetness is what keeps me into it. That and the overall balance of the notes. It doesn’t feel hyper-fresh on me or ever like it’s too much to stand any longer.
The performance is pretty mid. Not going to be anything to write home about. It’s good enough for most purposes, so, if you like the smell of Purple it shouldn’t be too much of a disappointment.
If you liked the rest of this series, you’ll probably enjoy Purple. If you didn’t, I don’t think this will change your mind, since it doesn’t do anything radically different.
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
Alien Goddess is the latest flanker series from Mugler utilizing the Alien name and style. Even if, it is a fairly different wear from the original classic Alien. But, the first Alien Goddess has now gotten a flanker of its own, Alien Goddess Intense. I’ve tested both of them and am going to compare the two in this post to see, which is the better buy?
Tale of the Tape: Alien Goddess vs. Alien Goddess Intense
Alien Goddess opens up with coconut and bergamot. But, the bergamot is quite light, and the coconut is more of a watery one. The jasmine and vanilla also begin to come through early.
It is a bright, sweet, and creamy perfume. The heliotrope will come on soon after to split some of the duties with the jasmine note.
Alien Goddess Intense is more substantial and ‘thicker’ than the original. Here, the coconut isn’t watery, but more of the fruit itself. It is also joined by vanilla and benzoin early, which further add to it.
But, early it’s the coconut, jasmine, and vanilla notes mainly. It does also have that bergamot, but it doesn’t play much of a role in Intense either.
Which is better?
They do have a similar aroma, but I think I prefer that of Goddess Intense more so. The earlier vanilla emergence and the fuzzy amber-like qualities of the benzoin are nice additions. I do like the original too, so, it’s not a complete blow out victory here.
Edge: Intense
Projection
Intense does come across as being a heavier scent and one that has more projection than the original. A bit more of a scent trail too.
I don’t think Intense massively outperforms the original, in this regard. However, it does have the edge for sure.
Edge: Intense
Longevity
The original Alien Goddess went 8-9 hours for me, on skin. It’s actually got some really nice performance and wasn’t a disappointment.
However, Intense will go 9-10+ hours of wear. It’s not a massive difference, but I can detect it for an hour or two past, what I got with the original EDP.
For a mainstream designer fragrance, Alien Goddess Intense is borderline elite, with how long it lasts.
Edge: Intense
Versatility
The only real difference here is the the climate each is worn in. Sure, there is overlap. Though, the original is a better bet for the warmer spring and summer weather. It’s lighter and not as cloying in the hotter temperatures.
That being said, Intense is the better bet in colder weather. Both can fit in on moderate days. Outside of that there really isn’t much distinction.
Edge: Push
Overall Scent
Overall, which of these perfumes do I prefer? It’s a closer call than it may seem. I consider them both to be good smelling fragrances, though, neither blows me away. But, each is bolstered by its general likeability and performance.
With the original, I like the lighter coconut, the sweetness and the heliotrope which comes through in the middle act. It’s a very nice and wearable perfume.
But, Intense is slightly better to me, across the board. The vanilla, amber, benzoin combination isn’t wholly different from the original. It’s just more of an enjoyable mix overall.
Plus, the performance is better. Not a huge win, but I’ll take Intense.
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
Tom Ford fragrances fall into the more very expensive designer category of perfumes. They tend to be less synthetic and contain more ‘rare’ notes than other mainstream scents. However, Tom Ford also produces some really great scents for women. These perfumes tend to stand out and make a statement, which can be a good or bad thing depending on the person wearing it.
The scents on this list will be more along the lines of a signature perfume for the right lady and not all of them will have universal appeal.
What are the Best Smelling Ladies Fragrances by Tom Ford?
Not quite feminine nor is it over to the masculine side of fragrance either. This one can be loved or hated, but it is bold and sexy, nevertheless.
Black Orchid is not only a top level fragrance with its sillage, but it seemingly lasts forever. Yes, Tom Ford fragrances are priced on the higher end, but you get every penny’s worth with this perfume’s performance.
It’s sweet, it’s dark and dry, it’s smokey, and then powdered. Black Orchid has a lot of personality and the composition has a very well done complexity. Marvelous.
Best Overall
Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme Eau De Parfum, 3.4 Ounce– A more moderate gourmand than Black Orchid. Noir has an alluring vibe created by the smooth vanilla notes, the floral notes like rose, and the sweetness of orange.
A beautiful fragrance that is soaked in amber, has a creamy tone, on top of smooth sandalwood. Noir Pour Femme is much more of a cold weather fragrance and hangs in the air wonderfully without being too in your face about it.
Noir Pour Femme has a lot of overlap with Noir Extreme for Men. Less intense at the start, but that beautfiul dry down is pretty close to one another. Noir Extreme is one of my favorite men’s offerings from this brand, so, it makes sense that I would enjoy this too.
This is probably my personal favorite and what I’d say is the best smelling. That being said, it is a fragrance for the colder months, which isn’t going to work well in heat. So, if that really applies to your living situation, I’d go with something else.
Cherry Delicious
Tom Ford Lost Cherry Unisex EDP Spray 1.7 oz– Lost Cherry has become recently very popular and it’s pretty easy to understand, once you smell it. Well, assuming you like sweet cherry.
The newer releases like Cherry Smoke and Electric Cherry, weren’t nearly as good as this one which kicked off the use of this note.
It starts off with that sweetness, but warm and with a thicker aroma. The cherry at the start, is very much like a liqueur or the syrup from Dr. Pepper’s Cherry flavor. Amaretto and cherry syrup, yep, really reminds me of that Dr. Pepper.
Then, that will subside and the almond note will move in. The cherry liqueur seemingly gets replaced by a more naturalistic cherry aroma. Less thick, more fresh with some added spices.
The sillage however, is pretty light to moderate. Some folks have had a problem with performance, but it lasts 7-7.5 hours, on my skin. Again, not with a massive projection throughout.
Nonetheless, this one smells delicious, and for sure one to test if it sounds like something you’d like. Lost Cherry Full Review
Soleil opens with that coconut note, and a very juicy bergamot, with an underlying tuberose floral note.
These ingredients pair well and add the sweet creaminess of the perfume, but this is made spicier by the cardamom and just a hint of warm pink pepper.
As it moves along, the floral notes really begin to emerge and blend with a creamier and less sweetened coconut note. A very light warmth and spice is there from the cardamom. It has really good performance and delivers that day at the beach vibe to perfection.
The sillage isn’t super strong, but Soleil Blanc will last for 10+ hours. Eau de Soleil Blanc is the flanker to this. It has more of a citrus opening and sun tan lotion dry down. I only tried that one, once. So, I’m not positive which I prefer, as of this update. Soleil Blanc Full Review
Similar to Black Orchid? Yes. However, it is less intense, and has a sweeter and boozier profile. Warm rum with thick honey, creamy vanilla, and the floral bouquet led by the orchid note. Quite rich with a dark depth.
It’s very clean and fresh with powdered elements and the aforementioned spices sitting underneath. Mostly though, Santal Blush is a woody fragrance, first and foremost. At times, it is creamy. Other times, it’s musky. Overall, it is simply great.
Easy to Love Citrus and Floral
Tom Ford Sole di Positano Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 oz–Â The Acqua version is the more recent release. It’s much lighter and slightly different to this one. However, I think the original Sole di Positano is the better of the two.
Zesty citrus blend up top that is dominated by a mix of orange notes. Slight greenish and herbal spice sitting underneath that, but not to the same extent as other Tom Ford citrus offerings.
Jasmine and ylang-ylang really emerge later on. But, with the orange blossom and neroli, this one still retains a balance with its citrus beginnings.
A great spring and summer option with decent, but not amazing performance. Sole di Positano Review
I was also tempted to put Soleil Neigeon, but that while enjoyable, never reaches a higher level.
You get a lot of the peach as expected, early on. However, it is flanked by orange and patchouli notes, as well.
It is a ripe peach, with that bitterness, and a great gourmand package of vanilla and patchouli. The former gives the juicy fruit a creaminess and is joined by floral notes including heliotrope. The peach is the main star and the scent is quite bold and provides a very long lasting wear.
The jasmine is mostly paired with ylang-ylang and this is wrapped up in a nice amber on top of smooth wood.
Jasmin Rouge has a moderate and refined sillage, which won’t overpower, but does have a terrific modern floral aroma. This Tom Ford is very well blended and at times the supporting notes won’t really stand out from one another.
Though, this is one of the top fragrances for those who love jasmine. Jasmin Rouge Review
Sweet Wintertime Scent
TOM FORD Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum 50 ML(1.7 OZ)– One of the absolute classic presentations of a fully developed tobacco note blended with sweet elements, like the namesake, vanilla. It’s warm and bold and extremely pleasant to wear.
Tonka bean, dried fruits, and cacao join some spices to help round out the main tobacco/vanilla combination.
Tobacco Vanille is another beast performer by Tom Ford. It will last all day and doesn’t take much to have it be noticed.
I used to enjoy this one more, in the past. It’s still good, but doesn’t capture my attention in the same way it once did. Very worth checking out, though. Tobacco Vanille Review
This fragrance is very dry and warm, with leather being the main star.
However, it is joined by amber and moss, that play the background. Jasmine is quite noticeable and plays amazingly off of the leather note.
I do personally like this Ombre Leather more than the Parfum version. That edition utilizes a violet leaf note, giving things a slightly different vibe. It is still very good, though.
Super smooth and rich leather, like an enveloping jacket. A moderate wear with an overall clean aroma, but with an earthy dirtiness underneath. Awesome. Ombre Leather Review
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
This is going to serve as my inaugural review of a Bond No. 9 fragrance and I hope to cover them all in the future. However, since I’ve gotten a new vial of Riverside Drive wrapped in the bon-bon style this house’s samples are famous for, and it is fresh on my mind after wearing around…it’s time to write this out.
Riverside Drive is classified as unisex but it is slightly more towards the masculine side of things, though not overly so. In this post, I want to give my impressions of this scent, what it smells like, how it performs, and whether or not it is worth a buy.
Update:This is an older review from many years back. I’ve come back and made changes to it since. Also, Riverside Drive is now back in stock, after being gone from Bond’s lineup for a time.
What does Riverside Drive Smell Like?
Notes include: oakmoss, basil, pineapple, sandalwood, and violet
On the Creed side of things, it’s the violet note and pineapple (GIT has lemon), which gives it a similar vibe…it also sort of seems like an Aventus style fragrance. Not the same, just a comparison.
So, off the bat, if you like any of those scents, you’ll probably like Riverside Drive. The basil note is quite prevalent as well, which is why Libre comes to mind.
I’d say it’s most similar to those fragrances in the initial phase of wear, the basil/woodsy/floral notes hit pretty hard at first, and then this Bond cologne mellows out into something fruitier. It does have a slight vegetal aroma, in the early stages before it dries out completely.
The oakmoss is more at play from the start and then becomes more of a background player. Riverside Drive just comes off as a very dry smelling fragrance (ala Azzaro Homme, which shares the oakmoss note), as the pineapple isn’t a ‘juicy’ scent when combined with the other notes.
A fresh and still somewhat mossy sandalwood with a light patchouli and violet earthiness underneath. The basil isn’t too prevalent, towards the end, but the pineapple’s effect does seem to stick around.
Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility
Projection wise, it strikes me as a moderate. It isn’t a heavy fragrance, more than intimate though, and definitely noticeable. Maybe a 3-4 foot radius around you, after it has settled down.
It also has very good longevity and sticks with me as the day wears on. Maybe 8-9 hours of wear, in total. Not completely amazing, but I wasn’t disappointed with how Riverside performs, as you’ll get plenty of time with it.
Riverside Drive is a good scent for the warmer months, it really doesn’t have that nightlife appeal, however. I like it as a daily wear option for spring, mainly. Maybe the early part of the autumn too.
It is an attractive scent and girls seem to enjoy it. Again, I’d wear it during the daytime in more casual situations or for work, versus it being something to wear out on a date.
Overall Impressions of Riverside Drive
Overall, is Riverside Drive, worth a buy? That depends. I enjoy the scent but much like GIT, it isn’t really my style. As such, I don’t want to pay for a full bottle.
However, plenty of people would really like this stuff. It is a fine fragrance in my opinion and if any of the aforementioned colognes are one’s you really enjoy, I’d say go for it.
The smell itself is nice and if this is your style, you should at least like it a lot, if not love. The performance is good and this can easily become a signature fragrance for the right guy.
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
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