Cologne Reviews

Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler

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Another sample cologne that I picked up recently was Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler. Now, I was already somewhat familiar with this fragrance, but seeing as I hadn’t smelled it in a long time, I didn’t want to write up a review post for it. So, I grabbed a sample with my last order and wanted to put together my full thoughts on this Mugler scent from the A*Men line.

What does A*Men Pure Malt Smell Like?

angel men pure malt review

Notes include: bergamot, patchouli, vanilla, cedar, amber, fruits, coffee bean, musk

Click here to try: Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler Eau De Toilette Spray (Limited Edition) for Men, 3.40 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Pure Malt really sets the stage. Man, is this a rich and enticing fragrance. It kind of reminds me of B*Men also by Thierry Mugler but way better with less spice and an enjoyable fruitiness.

I’ve been really digging scents that feature a boozy type of aroma, and Pure Malt is beautiful, like a fine whiskey. There is a warm sweetness in the same vein as Pure Havane but with alcohol in lieu of tobacco.

The start features the blend of fruits, vanilla, whiskey, and a bit of the patchouli. The patchouli comes through to give it a warm bakery feeling, like it does in so many women’s perfumes. However here, it just helps to shape the alcoholic sweetness.

As the scent wears on, I feel that it becomes even better than the opening act. The berry-like fruits begin to fully emerge and give the cologne a distinctive feel. Nonetheless, they are only playing a supporting role at this stage.

However, Pure Malt never relinquishes its very masculine energy or fall into a trap of being too ambiguous. I found myself constantly trying to get a whiff of this lovely gourmand scent throughout the night that I was wearing it. It was just enjoyable and pleasant to wear.

Finally, the latter stages are smooth, creamy, warm, woody, with its underlying sweetness still kicking around. Vanilla, tonka bean, and vague hints of coffee are swirling around a base of cedar and malt.

The coffee bean adds a nice touch, as you can only pick up its familiar scent, at certain times during the wear. Pure Malt is just unique and plain delicious to the senses.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, Pure Malt is fairly strong, but not crazy so. You’ll notice that it’s there and so will other people around you but it shouldn’t choke anyone out unless you went overboard.

I actually got good longevity with this, it’s hard to remember the details of when I applied and when it faded last night but I’d say 6-8 hours or thereabouts. Update: After wearing this for a while, it seems like 7 hours is pretty standard, for Pure Malt’s longevity. Not a monster performer, but still quite enough.

Pure Malt is yet another cold weather gem. Seriously, the one thing that might hold me back from buying a larger bottle is that I already have so many ‘go-to’s’ during the cooler months of the year…it’s starting to get ridiculous. But yeah, during the summer months, this wouldn’t be a wise choice.

This is quite a masculine cologne and while I like it, it seems that women had mixed feelings about it while I had it on. Most liked it, but weren’t in love with it. It’s funny because I really liked wearing this stuff, so this is one, I probably won’t account for others’ opinions.

Another update: the more that I’ve worn this, the more the positive reactions, outweigh the negative or indifferent. There are times, where this gets an insane number of complements, while out on the town.

I don’t know that I’d wear this to an office. It’s more of a casual, date night, or evening out kind of scent. It does contain those strong alcoholic notes, which you might not want to smell like whiskey, while at work. Your call, though.

Overall Impression of Pure Malt

Overall, would I rate Pure Malt a buy? Yes, I think it’s great but I don’t think it’d be for everyone. It can be quite pricey, it is limited by the climate you live in, not for those who don’t like the smell of malt (obviously), etc.

On the other hand, this is a very well done entry from Thierry Mugler and is at least worth a try for a lot of guys.

The whole thing is warm, sweet, and gourmand. Angel Men Pure Malt is an experience all its own and probably one of the best colognes on the market. It’s application is niche, but it does things so utterly well, that I want to spray it on more and more.

There’s just so much going on here, and when it came out, there really wasn’t too much out there that was quite like it.

I doubt it’ll be what you’re looking for in a daily wear, but as a secondary option you break out on occasion, this is a definite yes.

2023 Update: Pure Malt has been discontinued for a while now. So, if you’re looking for this original formulation, you’re going to have to find an old bottle online or try finding a close approximation. The Dua Brand has one available, that I haven’t tried.

Brit Rhythm Intense for Him by Burberry

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Still working my way through doing reviews on the latest batch of samples, that I got. Today’s entry is from a mini bottle that I purchased, Brit Rhythm Intense by Burberry. I am a big fan of the original Burberry Brit, which spawned Rhythm, which spawned this. Even though, these don’t really have anything in common with the original. How does this smell? Is the performance any good? Is it worth a try?

What does Brit Rhythm Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, sage, raspberry, pepper, peppermint, wormwood, amber, tonka bean, cashmere, and more

Click here to try: Burberry Brít Rhythm Intense for Men 3.0 oz Eau de Toilette

My Full Wear Review

Brit Rhythm Intense lives up to its name with a bold and spicy opening. There’s a whole lot going on in there, but I can pick out: peppermint, pepper, sage, and basil; driving the opening minutes.

With that, is the ever-present but strengthening leather note, along with some fruity sweetness provided by raspberry and fig.

So, it’s a fresh spice blast, over top of leather with some sweetness added in. After, 10-15 minutes, much of the top layer spice has faded away and leather fully ascends.

When the leather comes in, it’s fresh and the spices feel like a dash of herbal flair.

Further along, the nature of Rhythm Intense changes quite a lot. It’s so much smoother and less spicy. Leather is the mainstay, but you also get: amber, tonka bean, vanilla, and wood. With that, comes more sweetness.

The dry down versus the opening is a stark difference. Yes, there are elements which weave their way through both, but this cologne develops almost a new identity.

Finally, the last stages are pretty much the leather and tonka bean, on my skin. Vanilla obviously blends closely with the tonka bean and there is some residual spice present, as well. This all sits on a mixed woody base.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Brit Rhythm Intense is very powerful during that initial phase. Man, do those spices hit hard, and will totally fill up a room if over-sprayed. Now, later on, it is much softer but for and 1 hour or so…it’s a beast.

That initial hour, really pulls up the sillage rating a lot. Thereafter, it’s probably more mid-range for 3-4 hours, before it truly gets soft.

Longevity is really great. This lasts all day on my skin. I don’t know the exact number of hours, but it’s over 10. This is absolutely a performer.

I was honestly shocked that Brit Rhythm Intense actually had such a long wear. After all, the ‘Intense’ moniker, doesn’t always translate to true projection and staying power with some fragrances.

Seasonally, mostly for the colder months, but it’s still good on a temperate day. I’d stay away in the summer, but otherwise, you should be okay with wearing it.

It does have some nice versatility. If you go light, you can wear it to the office. It can also, go for a night on the town, casually, or for romantic wear. It’s got that fresh and masculine aroma, that seems to attract folks.

Overall Impression of Brit Rhythm Intense

Do I like this cologne? Personally, it’s okay, but not really my thing. I do appreciate the performance that this Burberry displays, but I’m not too keen on that opening act.

There’s so much going on, in the first hour. It’s really intense and feels muddled to me. I know other people love this fragrance, but I probably won’t be wearing it any longer. The original Brit, is still better, in my opinion.

That being said, other guys could really enjoy something like this. It’s fairly affordable and you get great performance from Rhythm Intense. If you dig the smell, it’s a worthwhile buy. I don’t hate it, just not something that gets me excited to wear.

2023 Update: This one is discontinued now. You’ll pretty much have to buy it from discounters, if you want Intense. Bottles that I am seeing are somewhere in the $50-60 range. Not too much of a stretch to try out. Again, still not one that’s all that amazing, but a decent value proposition on these last bottles.

Kenzo Homme Intense EDT by Kenzo

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Kenzo isn’t a brand that I talk about much on the site. I’m going to try and change that, as they do have some worthwhile fragrances in their lineup. I recently bought a sample of their 2021 release, Kenzo Homme Intense EDT. How does this cologne smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Kenzo Homme Intense smell like?

Notes include: calypsone, pink pepper, Hatian vetiver, fig wood accord, Australian sandalwood

Click here to try: Kenzo Homme Intense

My Full Review

Here’s how Kenzo describes it: Inspired by the intensity of bamboo and the serenity of sea breeze. A marine, woody and warm signature.

Kenzo Intense opens up with its aquatic notes out in full force. It’s a calypsone note with some more generic sea breeze/water aroma blended in. Not super oceanic or anything, more like a watery aroma mixed with some melon juiciness.

At the start, you will also get a pink pepper fresh spiciness. It’s fine, but I’m kind of tired of pink pepper mixed in aquatics right now, as I’ve worn Light Blue Living Stromboli quite a bit.

Here, it’s going to be subdued eventually by the calypsone and the fig accord. So, Kenzo Intense actually feels like a colder freshness initially, that will warm up later.

The fruitiness here is that melon-like effect from the calypsone, but also the fig fruit itself in the fig wood accord. This gives Kenzo Intense a unique vibe, especially once that pink peppercorn has burned off.

It comes across as sweet, aquatic, with an almost menthol sort of coolness.

The next phase, will have Intense turn woodier. Here, the fig wood and vetiver really come into play. Much less fruitiness and this one starts to warm up and have a creamier profile. Fig and the later sandalwood note, lean into this a lot.

It’s a bit strange at times, with a wet woods smell. But, that is always blended with a creaminess and light sweetness. Not completely amazing, but it has its moments. Much less spicy and aquatic, in the dry down.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Intense is a breezy aquatic, so, it’s not going to be a heavy scent. However, the sillage is actually deceivingly good. You might not think that you’re leaving a scent trail or that it’s projecting off of the skin much, but it is.

Not a huge heavy cloud, but people will notice it. Sprayed on clothes, I could catch whiffs of this from 5-8 feet out during the first hour to hour and a half. Not massive, but above average, and kind of surprising.

I bet with a full bottle sprayer, this one wouldn’t require too many sprays to be effective.

On my skin, I also got good longevity. Intense maxed out somewhere in the 8.5 hour range for me. Much better than most aquatics on the market and eau de toilette concentrations. Kenzo didn’t skimp on this one.

Seasonally, Kenzo Homme Intense is all about the spring and summertime. It does have that interesting shift from being a colder scent to a warmer and creamier one. Still, that shift doesn’t particularly hurt it in the heat.

Kenzo Homme Intense is going to be a casual daytime wear for the most part. If you’re not blasting the sprays, it should be fine for most office environments during the hotter days. But, it’s not really a formal kind of cologne.

Overall Impressions of Kenzo Intense

Overall, do I like Intense? I like it well enough. It’s not the most amazing thing out there, but it does have periods during the wear, in which I really enjoyed it.

I don’t really care for the opening act. It comes across as annoying and kind of synthetic. Though, once I get less of the pink pepper, Kenzo Intense gets much better.

I like calypsone, even if it isn’t a naturalistic aquatic aroma. It’s fresh and does a good job in the mix. The fig accord and sandalwood, are the standouts to me. I like the middle act a lot, where it is a true woody aquatic. The later forest and creamy smell, is okay, sort of strange to my nose.

Performance here is great, especially for an EDT. Not elite, but it holds up for a long lasting experience.

Is it worth a buy? Maybe. I don’t think everyone is going to enjoy this cologne. Even I don’t like all of it. Overall, it is unique and does everything pretty well. For a casual spring and summer wear, it has its merits.

Kenzo Homme Intense is worth trying out. If you can get a discount on a bottle and it sounds like something you’d like, I’d probably go for it. Full price blind buy? Ehh, not so much.

A Midnight Stroll by Gucci

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Gucci, like other luxury brands in this space, has their regular popular fragrance line and a higher end niche options. For Gucci, The Alchemist’s Garden, is where they stash their most unique offerings. I recently received a sample of A Midnight Stroll, from this line, in order to test it out and see what this perfume is all about. How did it do? Is it worth a buy?

What does A Midnight Stroll Smell Like?

Notes include: incense, cade wood, cypress

Click here to try: A Midnight Stroll by Gucci

My Full Review

Here’s how Gucci describes it: An Incense-scented fragrance celebrating the allure of the night.

A Midnight Stroll opens up with a really unique aroma. The key here, I think, is the cade oil. Essentially, juniper and its resin distilled into an oil form. What does this smell like? Mostly, it’s a tar-like aroma with hints of leather and even some rubber.

Weird. Not bad, though.

The incense note itself, is actually toned down early on. To me, the smokiness doesn’t really come through all that much in the opening act. That will change, later.

The other aspect of this is the fresh woodiness of the cypress note. It definitely sits behind the cade oil, but there is a good amount of cypress kicking things off. Sort of smells like a cypress tree that’s been covered in this tar substance. Very resinous and balsamic.

As it dries down, the cypress is the note that fades the most on my skin. The overwhelming dominance of the tar and rubber aroma will also lose its grip. At this point, it becomes more of a straightforward incense and cade oil blend.

The only really difference in the dry down, is the continuing shift towards the incense note, in terms of strength.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

A Midnight Stroll is not a powerhouse. Even early on, it’s pretty moderate with its projection and any scent trail that it’s going to leave behind. Now, I’m sure with a full bottle, you can spray enough to boost its profile.

However, it’s still pretty middle of the road for much of the wear. In the back half, it’s actually a pretty light fragrance.

The longevity was right about six hours. At that point, I pretty much had to press my nose up against my skin in order to smell it. But, it was still there. Pretty standard issue and not going to go above and beyond.

Seasonally, I’d only want to wear this in autumn or winter. A Midnight Stroll is best left for the cold. It is July here, currently. I stepped outside with this on, in the summer’s heat and it was just kind of strange and out of place. This Gucci didn’t adapt well.

While this is listed as unisex, it is a perfume that leans very much into the masculine end of the spectrum.

I guess you could wear this in the evening, as the name suggests. Not very formal, but not a complete party scent either. I’m not sure where or when to try it, exactly.

Overall Impressions of A Midnight Stroll

Overall, do I like A Midnight Stroll? It’s decent. This is very much a niche scent and is going to have a limited audience who will actually appreciate it. Still, even among incense-based fragrances, this isn’t all that amazing.

I’d much rather wear something like Encens Satin. Though, this one does come across as being much more unique with its tarry leather aroma. For me, that’s not enough to want a full bottle of this Alchemist’s Garden release. Especially, at the near $400 price point.

That opening act is interesting. It’s such a weird blend of leather, wood, amber, tar, rubber, and smoke. There’s nothing that I can think of that smells just like A Midnight Stroll. Even so, the aroma itself, isn’t anything that’s a must have for probably 99% of people.

If you’re really interested in this one, I’d track down a sample first. Then decide if it’s worth spending all of that money for it. You might be in that niche group who will be in love with A Midnight Stroll or be like me and just think that it’s okay.

Drakkar Essence by Guy Laroche

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Keeping up with my recent burst of fragrance reviews, it is time to turn my attention to an offering from Guy Laroche. I saw a bottle of this while shopping in Target and noticed Cam Newton on the cardboard display (update: this original review was back when Target still sold fragrances). I’m not that big a fan of Drakkar Noir (just a personal taste…many people love it), although I appreciate its impact in the fragrance world and how big it was in the 1980s.

It just never excited me all that much. However, I figured that I’d give Drakkar Essence a try and see if I liked it. How does Essence stack up? Is it worth a purchase?

What does Drakkar Essence Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, musk, lavender, grapefruit, tonka bean, woods

Click here to try: Guy Laroche Drakkar Essence Eau de Toilette Splash, 3.4 Ounce 

My Full Review

It’s kind of funny that I tried out Drakkar Essence at about the same time that I tested out The Essence by David Beckham. Not only did these two scents share the same name but also lavender and grapefruit are ingredients in both.

So, even before I knew the contents of Drakkar, I was struck by how much both of these colognes resemble one another. The difference comes in where the Beckham scent is more citrus/aquatic, Drakkar Essence is kept warm and mildly spicy by the musk and mint, though still retaining an aquatic feel.

I actually don’t detect that much of a mint influence, it’s definitely there, but I get mostly the grapefruit and musk notes. I do like this cologne, even if it isn’t terribly unique or anything.

The opening does seem to stray more toward the grapefruit end of things, with that mint and sage freshness, sitting underneath that.

Another fragrance, I’ll have to talk about in regards to Essence, is Drakkar Noir. This new release has very little do to with the 1980s classic from Guy Laroche. Lavender, mint, and wood is about it. They don’t smell alike in the slightest, though.

Essence is completely enjoyable after a few minutes when it has had some time to settle on the skin.  It becomes a smooth and fresh scent highlighted by the emergence of the lavender note to go along the other aforementioned notes.

In the end, the mint begins to peak out a bit more, lavender and musk flank it, and there is the remnants of the citrus. Not very complex. Smooth and spicier in the dry down.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts off rather strong before settling into a moderate fragrance. I got pretty good longevity out of Drakkar Essence also. I took a shower and scrubbed with body wash and could still pick some up on my skin. So yeah, no problems there.

Coming back to this scent for a second time, I found that it lasted on my skin for about 7 hours. That’s good enough, for most wears. Not a total workhorse, but very serviceable.

Seasonally, this will absolutely work anytime. I will give it lots of points for its versatility. It holds up well in the warmer weather and doesn’t feel out of place in the wintertime.

Drakkar Essence can be used as a daily wear or even a subtle nighttime fragrance. It’s simplicity and low key vibe, make it an ideal choice for an all-around type of cologne. It’s by no means amazing, but its usefulness and performance are indeed, its strengths.

Overall Impression of Drakkar Essence

Overall, is Essence worth a purchase? I like it. It’s pleasant. However, it doesn’t really stand out to me. I guess it’s a buy because it is a nice fragrance and not very expensive. Drakkar Essence isn’t a scent which will blow you away but it is quite serviceable and sometimes that’s all you need.

The grapefruit, musk, and minty opening is solid. I actually like the latter stages with the lavender, mint, and musk coming through more.

This isn’t a bad buy if you want something simple and straightforward. I’ve seen bottles for super cheap, as of late, so it may well be worth trying out for some guys.

Update: Everything about it is decent. Coming back to this one years later, I did get a bit more sage in the opening, this time around. Not around very long, but nice. Really, grapefruit and mint really kick early. It’s a bit better than I remember, just not anything that draws me in entirely.

Fresh, musky, lavender in the dry down. Bright and energetic in that opening, more of a clean and almost soapy finish to it. If under $30, it’s a fair option. Assuming, you have a strict budget and cannot go higher.