Bvlgari Man Wood Essence

Bvlgari Man has had some great entries over the years. More recently, the brand has released its Essence series of fragrances. I’ve gotten samples of each of them, have been testing them out, and am ready to share my impressions of them in review. Today, I am going to cover Wood Essence. How it smells. When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?


What does Bvlgari Man Wood Essence Smell Like?

Notes include: coriander, Italian citrus zests, cypress, vetiver, benzoin, cedar, ambergris

Click here to try: Bvlgari Man Wood Essence

wood essence review


My Full Review

Here’s how Bvlgari describes it: With Bvlgari Man Wood Essence, Bvlgari honors the universal nature of wood. The fragrance is composed of vital materials and ingredients that reconnect the urban man to nature, pulsating with the energizing power of its wood elements. Formulated with revitalizing Italian citrus accords and woody resins of Cypress and Vetiver gathered from the Mediterranean landscape it represents.

Wood Essence starts out being quite interesting to my nose. The citrus is there, yes, more of a zest than anything super heavy and juicy. But, it smells sweeter than the usual lemon fare. More like a cool summer drink.

But, that citrus doesn’t have its own moment to shine. The coriander, cypress, and resinous benzoin are present quite a lot early on.

The coriander has an initial spicy period for about 15 minutes or so (with benzoin). This is balanced out by the freshness of the wood notes. Cypress and cedar, with the former having a much heavier weighting. And indeed, the cypress is the star of the show.

The coriander leaves pretty much after its initial run. The citrus has a bit of a longer stay, but not much influence thereafter. Just a sweet impression keeping things from being ‘too woody’.

Wood Essence is very much about those wood notes. Wood with warm and resinous amber, dry and fresh vetiver playing a minor support role.

Greenish, fresh, with sweet and resinous highlights. That’s about what I get from Wood Essence.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this is a moderate wear, towards the lighter side of things. For the first hour or two, you should get a nice trail going with a normal amount of sprays.

It projects in the 5-7 foot range, at its peak. Thereafter, it will be more intimate, but not a complete skin scent. More of a two foot or so scent bubble.

The longevity is fine. It usually sticks around for 6-7 hours, on my skin. Nothing beyond that for me. Blvgari Man Wood Essence isn’t going to blow the doors off with its performance. Just be good enough for most occasions.

Seasonally, I like this more in the moderate temperatures of spring and autumn. It wouldn’t be bad in a bit hotter temperatures or even when it’s chilly out. I’d just stay away from the extreme heat and cold.

This is a very versatile cologne. Not just in terms of seasons. The sweetness here, makes it one that’s an easy wear for pretty much all age groups. It also gives it an attractiveness and pleasant aroma that should gather complements.

The balance allows it to be worn day or night. Casually or in more formal situations. Wood Essence is a scent that should get plenty of use, if the way it smells is something you find yourself craving.


Overall Impressions of Wood Essence

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I like it somewhat. It’s solid overall, just not amazing. I enjoy that opening act, because it does have a fairly unique aroma versus many other colognes on the market today.

It’s a smooth and calming cologne. Wearing it outside, when it isn’t too hot, is where I got the best experience with Bvlgari Man Wood Essence. Catching whiffs of it with a light breeze going, was very pleasant.

It’s a balanced woody cologne. The cypress is the leader, but there is plenty of cedar and vetiver coming through in the mix,, as well.

The performance is decent. There’s a good amount of projection, but not overwhelming. Attractive and versatile.

Wood Essence does everything well, but nothing exceedingly great. I like that brightness and resinous support to the wood notes. It’s all very wearable.

Wood Essence is worth a try, especially if you can get a cheaper bottle. But, not something that is a must have for most guys.

Man in Black by Bvlgari

I’ve recently received 20+ fragrance samples for the new year, so expect a ton of reviews coming your way over the next few weeks or so. One such scent is a cologne from Bvlgari, Man in Black. I take it that this is a flanker scent to Bvlgari Man, which I enjoyed, but was far too weak in terms of longevity.

I got a hold of Man in Black hoping that it would be better than Man in that aspect but also actually live up to its name and be a darker kind of fragrance. So many colognes take on the ‘Black’ moniker and don’t really match up to the imagery…cough cough Black XS.

In this post, I want to give my full impressions of this Bvlgari offering and determine whether or not it is worth a buy.


What Does Man in Black Smell Like?

bvlgari man in black cologne

Notes include: rum, spices, leather, iris, tuberose, guaiac wood, tonka bean, tobacco

Click here to try: Bvlgari Man in Black Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce


My Full Review

The opening of Man in Black is a blend of spice and rum that carries a certain masculine intensity to it. I am also reminded a bit of Halston’s Man Amber cologne and Spicebomb, as both have a very similar profile of ingredients.

I’m not a big fan of either of those scents, but Man in Black has both of them beat, in my opinion. The spiciness doesn’t go too overboard and seems to be tempered by the leather and tobacco notes which is a smooth complement to the main notes.

During the opening, I can also detect the guaiac wood, which gives it that relation to Man Amber, and even though it is one of my least favorite notes, I actually think it works in this Bvlgari offering. It’s just enough and not totally in your face.

Mostly, Man in Black opens with a heavy hit of spices and rum, smoothed out by a sweet pipe tobacco. The sweetness that comes through, is one of my favorite aspects of this cologne, as it gives you just a little hint of something different.

Later on during the dry down, the spices subside somewhat and you get more of the leather and rum. Beyond that, tonka bean comes in, to give it an underlying creaminess and sweet addition to the light tobacco. Rum, leather, and the oud note are quite an amazing trio.

I like that Man in Black is actually a darker type of fragrance, it doesn’t cop out and add fruity notes to the profile. It’s boozy, spicy, and slightly smoky with a nice degree of warmth for the cooler weather.

The floral notes are present (iris, pretty much) but it isn’t dominant, just a slight reminder of a scent like, Dior Homme.


Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, Man in Black, isn’t all that powerful. It’s a decently heavy cologne but it doesn’t project like a beast. That’s kind of disappointing, but it does a good job at staying close to the skin.

It has good longevity, much better than Bvlgari Man, but again it hangs around as a skin kind of scent, so don’t expect to blow off the doors with this one. I tend to get in the six hour range, during the winter months.

When to wear it? Fall and winter is perfect for Man in Black. It would be completely out of place in the warmer parts of the year. It is also a more mature kind of scent, so, I’d recommend it for guys in their mid-twenties and up. It is masculine and sexy, but it could work more as a casual type of cologne.

I personally, have been wearing it as a nightlife fragrance with good results. I’ve gotten lots of positive comments from women, over the few years that I have been putting this on during the colder nights.

Man in Black works insanely well with my skin chemistry and just is perfect when it’s crisp outside.


Overall Impressions of Man in Black

Overall, is Man in Black worth it? Yes, this is a really well put together fragrance for guys who like darker/spicier kinds of scents. I really enjoy how it smells and it does have good longevity. I do wish that it was a bit bolder.

However, if you need something that is understated, Man in Black will do the job. I think Bvlgari did a great job on this one, when compared to some of their other offerings. Plus, it definitely lands in the range of affordable colognes for guys.

The more that I have worn this fragrance, the more I have come to love it. It can be limited to the times of the year, that I can actually throw it on.

However, those times are great, and I’m convinced this is one of the sexiest fragrances for men. Not every woman loves it, but the one’s who do, seem to go nuts for it. That’s always a plus, in addition to me, really liking to wear it.

Bvlgari Aqva vs Aqva Marine Cologne Comparison

Alright, when dealing with flanker fragrances, there can often be a lot of overlap (by design) between two scents. Sometimes, a designer will go completely in another direction, and a new iteration of a scent will smell completely different than its predecessor. Bvlgari’s Aqva line, takes the former route. This is especially true with Aqva Pour Homme and Aqva Marine, these two are very close relatives of one another. However, which one smells better? In this post, I am going to compare these Bvlgari fragrances and try to separate a winner.


Tale of the Tape: Aqva vs. Marine

Aqva

Notes include: mandarin, seaweed, cedar, orange, lavender, petitgrain

Click here to try Aqva: Aqua By Bvlgari Eau De Toilette Spray For Men 3.4 oz

Read my Full Review of Aqva Pour Homme


Aqva Marine

Notes include: grapefruit, seaweed, neroli, cedar, rosemary, mandarin

Click here to try Aqva Marine: Bvlgari Aqva Marine Pour Homme by Bvlgari 3.4oz 100ml EDT Spray


Opening

The opening of the original Aqva Pour Homme, is a mix of the orange, cedar, and seaweed notes. This is when you’re going to get the most citrus-y aroma of the bottle before it moves on into a more salty aquatic.

This period lasts for 10-15 minutes on my skin.  Aqva Marine, on the other hand, starts off with a citrus blend of orange and grapefruit. The seaweed note is ever present but the cedar doesn’t seem to be as strong in Aqva Marine.

It really comes down to which you prefer, more or less citrus, but neither opening aroma lasts long at all.

Edge: (Slight) Aqva


Projection

Both are about the same, in my opinion. These aren’t super strong colognes but do have strong starts and stay noticeable for a good amount of time. For much of the wear, they’re essentially lighter moderate fragrances.

Edge: Push


Longevity

Again, we are dealing with extremely similar creatures here. Five or maybe six hours is about all you should expect from either Aqva scent. Both are just okay, in this regard.

Edge: Push


Versatility

To me, they are both casual summertime fragrances, that I would prefer to wear out and about versus the office. These aquatics are good to wear when the heat and humidity is up during the summer or when you live in a year-round tropical climate. Not any distinction here.

Edge: Push


Overall Scent

There is really so much similarity between these two but there is just enough distinction to set them apart. Aqva will deliver a salty marine blend of lavender and cedar, with the orange notes eventually fading into the background.

You will get a strong orange opening which transitions into a much softer smooth marine/woody aroma.

Aqva Marine has a different citrus edge to it. It is much more oceanic in my opinion, with a watery saltiness to go along with the seaweed. The cedar is scaled back and there is a slight floral scent provided by the neroli.

If you want more of the oceanic scent, go with Aqva Marine.

I personally like the blend of the original Aqva Pour Homme a bit more than its flanker fragrance. The difference isn’t dramatic, but I do have a preference, and I go with that as the top dog.

Winner: Aqva Pour Homme

Bvlgari Aqua Pour Homme

I’ve had this review idea sitting in my drafts folder for a couple of years now. I entirely forgot to review Bvlgari Aqva, way back then, and have overlooked it ever since. So, here I am to remedy that oversight, armed with another mini bottle of this Bvlgari aquatic fragrance.

This one was released in 2005.

How does it stack up? What does it smell like? Does it last long? Please continue reading below for my full take of Aqva. Note: I have updated this post, a few years later, to add some further depth and experience with it.


What does Bvlgari Aqua Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, seaweed, cedar, orange, lavender, petitgrain

Click here to try Aqva: Aqua By Bvlgari Eau De Toilette Spray For Men 3.4 oz


My Full Wear Review

It doesn’t get much more ‘aquatic’ than a scent whose main note is seaweed. Yes, that green stuff at the bottom of the ocean, gives Bvlgari Aqua a very interesting aroma which helps sets it apart from the crowd.

The opening blends this seaweed note with cedar and both types of orange to create something that is familiar with its citrus content while still remaining fresh and unique.

I like the citrus notes in the opening, but their strength is short-lived. They do still stick around, just not with the same intensity. 

This opening lasts about 10 minutes or so and then Aqva changes course. It becomes more oceanic and salty, with a bit of smoothness from the lavender note. This is when this fragrance really shines as an aquatic, as you will pick up on that watery sea vibe.

Also, Aqva begins to hang much closer to the skin, and you won’t detect it for a few minutes and then it’ll hit your nose again. It’s kind of a weird experience.

It is interesting, how Aqva goes from being a clean and upbeat citrus blend, to something darker and deeper. Closely emulating the sea itself. Is it a naturalistic sea blend of notes? Not really, you can tell that it’s manufactured. However, it is a very good simulation. 

 

What I’m finally left with is seaweed, soaking in the ocean, with hints of lavender and cedar that has become driftwood. Salty and a bit of fresh spice from the latent sage note. 


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts off pretty strong and as I wrote, it turns more into a skin scent that can be sneaky strong. I guess I could say that it’s fairly moderate, when you don’t notice it but other’s in your general vicinity will.

Longevity wise, it’s okay, and not something that lasts more than 5 hours or so.

I’ve had a mini bottle of this for ages, now. On my skin, that 4-5 hour range, is a hard limit. It does have that light watery sillage, but this one isn’t ever going to be an all day wear. More like, something you throw on during a warm day, knowing it will fade into the evening.

When to wear? Summertime, of course. This is a casual scent that is built for the summer months. I wouldn’t be wearing it to the office or while dressed up but at the beach or at a laid back bar at night, this would be good stuff to have on.

This is straight coastal and island life in a bottle.

Keep it casual. Aqva isn’t going to be a date night scent and the sea notes, really don’t put out a formal vibe, in the slightest. For a fairly popular fragrance, it uses are pretty limited.

This shouldn’t be the only cologne on your list of potential buys, if you don’t have anything else to use, for the rest of the time. 


Overall Impression of Bvlgari Aqva Pour Homme

Overall, do I like Aqua? Yes, it’s kind of a niche fragrance in terms of its use, but has a wide appeal in terms of its smell.

This is a unique scent by Bvlgari (before they released all of the flanker versions), the seaweed and oceanic aroma give it a defined spot to wear on the calendar, and it is a great wear from the aquatic category.

It doesn’t have amazing longevity but it is decent for what it is. If aquatics/oceanic scents aren’t your thing, skip this one. Otherwise, you might do well to check Bvlgari Aqva out. I’m still not a huge fan of the sea weed note, but it’s not horribly offensive, in this version.

Some of the other Aqva scents, go seriously heavy into the oceanic side of things, but this is more moderate.

Bvlgari Aqva gives you a nice citrus fruitiness with the refreshing notes of the sea, along with woody undertones. It’s not the most outstanding thing on the market, but it can have it uses for the right kind of guy. 


Bvlgari Blv Men’s Cologne Review

In my long list of men’s fragrance reviews on this site, I have already tackled one Bvlgari cologne, and today I’d like to turn my attention to another, Blv. Blv is a casual scent for men released back in 2001 and like other scents from the brand, it is both affordable and has a really specific aroma that separates it from many other offerings. Is that enough to make Blv a buy? How does it perform? What’s it smell like? Please continue reading below for my take on Blv.

 

 

Notes include: sandalwood, juniper berries, cedar, ginger, cardamom

Click here to try: Bvlgari Blv By Bvlgari For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Oz.

 

Blv upon its opening strikes me as a rather unique scent for something that is a mainstream daily wear fragrance. It’s slightly sweet/citrus with an overtone of spice provided by the ginger note. Behind all that, sits a woodsy and fresh aroma that is down right pleasant. Blv in many regards is almost a perfect casual scent.

With Blv I get the same ‘dry’ type of scent that I do with Bvlgari Man, except more of a clean/powdery smell than that one. In fact, Blv leans more towards the unisex side of fragrances, not that it’s really all that feminine but women could definitely pull this one off if they wanted to. It’s quite a subtle scent, that isn’t too complex in that it doesn’t change all that much from the first 15 minutes of wear.

In terms of longevity, it’ll get a solid 6 hours and maybe more depending on the conditions its being worn in. It’s not a projection beast, as I said, it’s subtle. That isn’t a bad thing in this case, as it begs to be worn during the daytime as an office/school wear.

Is Blvgari Blv worth a purchase? Fragrance wise, yes, it smells really nice. However, it will completely depend on your style and what your needs are. Not too much of a date night fragrance or one that will command attention (although it will draw complements). It’s a pretty unique scent that isn’t offensive and does its job well.