L’eau D’Issey Pour Homme by Issey Miyake

I first wrote this review, early on in this website’s history back in 2014, and it was one of the first that I ever did. I had purchased a full bottle of L’eau d’Issey on a whim, because I had heard good things about this popular Issey Miyake fragrance. I had no clue who this Japanese designer even was.

Now, I’m coming back around in 2023 to give a more in depth review, because the first time around wasn’t sufficient. What’s funny, is that even til this day, it is a consistent;y popular for guys around the word.


What does L’Eau D’Issey Smell Like?

For a cologne which has been on the market since 1994, still being in the top sellers is quite an accomplishment. Why all the fuss? Quite simply because it smells good. L’eau D’Issey is a cologne which I have had on my night stand throughout the years and one that I like to break out in the spring and summer months especially, but it works year round.

Notes include: lemon, yuzu, tarragon, bergamot, tobacco, vetiver, lotus, nutmeg, musk, cedar, sandalwood, lily

Click here to try: L’eau d’Issey


My Full Wear Review

The first thing one notices after spraying L’eau D’Issey on your skin is the way the citrus notes blend with the spice. That is my least favorite part of this fragrance, is its initial offering. Some people really enjoy it but it’s just meh to me. When seeing the notes listed with yuzu and lemon, you would expect it to open up with a juicy citrus aroma.

That’s not really the case here, L’eau d’Issey is pretty sharp at the start, but dry as it is paired with woods, vetiver, spices, and tobacco. As such, the whole thing takes on a different aroma from many other fragrances on the market.

However, once the cologne begins to settle and fully reveal itself, that’s when the true magic of Issey Miyake starts.

Issey Miyake Pour Homme is a very bright scent. Like, it radiates a feeling of sunshine on a spring or summer day. It feels utterly familiar, yet still so unique, as I haven’t come across another men’s cologne that smells the same as this one.

It isn’t utterly complex, it is dominated by citrus, then comes the spice, and then the musky and woody base. It is in the same category of scent as something like, Light Blue.

The yuzu and lemon, get paired with nutmeg and tarragon. It’s spicy but not insanely so. As it dries down, the spice begins to fade for me, and the citrus isn’t as sharp.

When the wood notes emerge (cedar and sandalwood), so do hints of floral notes, which is mainly the lotus. Not my favorite flower, but not bad here. The musk is noticeable, though, the composition remains clean and fresh and doesn’t get bogged down into a musky mess.

The citrus and the wood notes, are my favorite ingredients here. That dry down period, is the highlight of L’eau D’Issey, while the opening act is just okay.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it would always start out really strong for me, and then move into a more moderate phase.

I always seem to keep L’eau d’Issey to 2-3 sprays max, because of the strength, and not wanting to be outlandish with it on warmer days. Unless I’m outside or it’s going to be a while before I am in close quarters with other people.

The longevity was solid and clocked in around 6-8 hours, depending on the day. It never went to extreme lengths of time, on my skin, but it never quit on me early, either. I really have no complaints about the performance of L’eau D’Issey.

Update: Coming back to this one, it doesn’t seem to have any weakened performance over the years, at least on my skin. It still sticks around for 6 hours or more. 

What I really enjoy about this cologne is its versatility. To me, it works during any season, but I’ve said that I really dig it when it gets warm. Since I live in a humid region, I need a fragrance which will hold up in the spring and summer months, and Issey Miyake has proven itself capable.

This can be great to have on hand, because I have so many colognes that only work when it’s cold out, that I need something of a go-to for the heat.

Also, this is a fragrance that can be worn at work or at school or for a night on the town. It’s designed as a more casual every day kind of fragrance, but it definitely draws women closer.

I’ve gotten too many complements on this one, to keep track of, and it’s honestly not even my favorite cologne. But since it seems to work, I can’t complain. Not what I’d call a sexy cologne, but very masculine and appealing.

You get a clean freshness, that has a fairly familiar kind of profile, but enough differences to make it stand out from the pack.


Overall Impressions of L’eau D’Issey by Issey Miyake

Overall, L’eau D’Issey is a good buy because it’s not too expensive, it’s versatile, and seems to always draw complements. There are others which I think smell better, but there are few which have as many strengths.

As a casual, everyday wear, this Issey Miyake one is a great option to have around. I haven’t been too much into the flankers of this scent (like Blue Astral), but I can keep coming back to the original, and enjoy wearing it.

I like the citrus notes here. Not as big of a fan, of their initial pairing with the tarragon and nutmeg. It can be too sharp, too potent, but this cologne settles down nicely.

Update: L’eau D’Issey is no longer one that I keep a bottle of at all times. Though, it’s still one that I have fond memories of and enjoyed wearing again. At a decent price, it’s a fragrance that is worth picking up. Sub-$50 seems like a fine price still.

Top 20 Best Selling Men’s Colognes 2023

When shopping for a new cologne either for yourself or as a gift for someone else, a good place to start is by seeking out a list of the best selling colognes, in order to find something which already has a broad base of support. After all, if they’re are best sellers then they ought to smell at least somewhat good, right? Here is my updated page, keeping track of these fragrances.


How I assembled this List

I went through dozens of online retailers websites from around the globe, creating top 20 lists from their stock, sorting by top sellers.

Obviously, I don’t have sales data for each fragrance, so a lot of this is guess work and seeing repeating patterns. Plus, I do have lots of search information with this website in particular, that helps me have a deeper understanding of the market.

Also, there is the limitation based on what the criteria for each retailer’s sorting mechanism is. Is the top seller sorting based on sales from the past day or how many months back?

I also used dozens of websites in different regions, as some places like Sephora only carry certain brands. I chose sites from among discounters, mid-range retail shops, and high-end department stores. That way, there’s plenty of variety.

It’s not perfect, but this top 20 list is a pretty good representation of the top of the top sellers.

The only fragrance that I know for sure is the top seller in the world is Sauvage. LVMH has stated that to be a fact. That’s only because it is the first men’s fragrance to outsell all other women’s fragrances too.

There is a ton of overlap across sites, which is what gives me the top 20. But, I’ll share some fragrances here that were best sellers in their particular market space, that don’t make the main list.

At the discounter level, these colognes are still very popular:

In the UK and EU, there are some scents that hit the top 20 sellers in those regions, but not in the US…including:

Now, the main list is strictly men’s colognes. Here are some of the top-selling unisex perfumes:

  • Santal 33
  • Another 13
  • Myrrh and Tonka
  • Baccarat Rouge 540

20 Best Selling Men’s Fragrances

Again, outside of the top spot, this isn’t really going to be in complete order. The second through the fifth or sixth spot, is probably pretty correct, but not necessarily in order. After that, there isn’t a ranking really, just colognes that make the cut.

I’ve combined many of the EDP, EDT, Parfum flankers into one main entry for these fragrances. That way it’s not just a repeating list of variations of the same colognes. So, it’s actually going to be more than 20 options.


Sauvage– The number one spot and a scent that is pretty ubiquitous at this point. The original EDT still gathers a lot of sales. However, the Eau de Parfum and Elixir versions are also consistently topping retailer bestsellers. So much so, that they’re just getting combined into this one spot on the list.

Elixir takes the Sauvage name in its own direction, still tied to the formulation in some ways, but smelling quite unique. The EDP is the best of the original set of flankers, in my opinion. I would go with that one versus the EDT any day of the week.


Bleu de Chanel– Bleu de Chanel doesn’t appear like it will ever lose its spot on this list. It’s tough to tell which version is the best seller, at this point, but I think it might be the EDP.

All of them are great in their own ways. The citrus and amber and spicy mix has become a staple. Clean and still beautiful to wear after all of these years. Very much worth a spot in anyone’s collection.


Eros– The Eros line is still going strong. I used to really love the initial release, among my old favorites. However, to me the lemon note in the EDT has gotten way more pronounced and it doesn’t smell the same, in my opinion. Plus, it’s not as powerful and long-lasting.

The original batches had a great blend of mint, vanilla, lemon, etc. It was fantastic. I’ve tried multiple minis and samples and never recapture that original magic. Though, it’s still worth it among the popular designer colognes, not to make it sound as if I hate Eros…I don’t.

The EDP, Parfum, and Flame have become top sellers themselves in various regions.


Aventus– Through no fault of its own (other than being a great fragrance), Creed Aventus has just become annoying to talk about.

The massive popularity has spawned dozens of knock offs and other colognes trying to steal elements of its style. The industry sure knows how to beat a trend to death. Nonetheless, the original remains a best seller even with its lofty price.


Y EDP– Well, the Y line is represented mostly by the EDP version. It is pretty much a bestseller across every website that features it. Y Le Parfum, has also crept up and is routinely in that 10-20 range, so it’s getting combined into one entry.

I have a bottle of EDP, that I do still wear. I was higher on this fragrance when it came out, but don’t enjoy it quite as often in my rotation. Le Parfum is actually a lot of people’s favorite from the line. I like it, though, it never was really my thing.

y edp intense review


Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 6.7 Ounces
Chances are that you’ve smelled this wildly popular cologne before, even if you didn’t know about it. Acqua di Gio is a fantastic scent that is always among the top sellers.  

The citrus, the sea notes, the florals. It’s such a balanced and well done fragrance. It’s easy to forget about as it’s been a staple for over 25 years now.

I grabbed samples of this a year or two ago to see how it still performed. The scent is still the great aroma, that I remember. The longevity has taken a hit. Now, it’s around 5-6 hours. Not amazing, but AdG is usually available at a fairly affordable price. Acqua Di Gio Review

acqua


Paco Rabanne 1 Million By Paco Rabanne For Men Edt Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Another men’s fragrance that has been an extremely popular option for well over a decade. 1 Million still has a spot on the list, even if it’s not higher ranked, like it probably used to be.

The newer bottles don’t seem to be as powerful or as long lasting, as the original batches were. Nevertheless, it still is like 85% of what it once was.

The leather, rose, and citrus opening create a sweetish ‘grape bubble gum’ sort of aroma. This is mixed with spices and an enveloping warmth. The dry down is less of the sweet, more of the leathery amber and spice blend. I’m still a fan, even if it’s no longer a part of my rotation. 1 Million Review


1 Million Elixir– 1 Million Elixir was more of a surprise to me. I hadn’t realized how popular this flanker had become. But, it was consistently running near the top of websites from the USA and EU. We’ll see how long it lasts, but for 2023 it makes the cut.

It opens up with a crisp fruity kick of green apple. The blend underneath is a Damask rose, osmanthus, and davana. The rose is a lighter and sweeter variety. The dry down is mostly about the vanilla and tonka bean with everything else playing a bit role.

I enjoyed this one. It’s actually one of the better flankers from the 1 Million line, so maybe it will have some staying power. 1 Million Elixir review


Profondo– Another AdG fragrance and I’ll give this one it’s own spot on the list. This one is popular worldwide, but Profumo is up there in popularity in Europe.

This version is aquatic, fresh, and woody with a nice citrus opening act. Doesn’t have the smokiness of Profumo and is less of a salty sort of marine accord. Good balance and performer. Profondo Review


Dylan Blue– I get the popularity for this one. It’s not my favorite, by any stretch, but the opening has been something that I’ve enjoyed from time to time.

It is interesting that Dylan Blue Pour Homme is still the only men’s release from this line, even with immense and steady sales. The women’s line now stands at three fragrances.

Still, this is a nice option for younger guys who don’t want to overthink things.


The One by Dolce & Gabbana– This is one of my favorite colognes. Most people’s only gripe, is that it doesn’t last long enough. For me, if I spray enough, the longevity is fine (Eau de Parfum). But, you will have to spray more than you usually do with other fragrances.

The warmth, tobacco, sweetness, and spicy elements are all so fantastic. Get the EDP version, because the longevity of the EDT is actually terrible, and there’s no getting past it no matter how much you spray.

I’m glad I picked up another full bottle last year. Notes include: coriander, grapefruit, tobacco, cedar, orange blossom, and ginger among others. The One EDP Review

the one edp review


Versace Pour Homme (Signature)– This Versace scent is fairly unique in its composition of notes. It’s a blend of woodsy and floral scents such as jasmine and kashmir wood that make it a fragrance that stands out.

It’s still chugging along it seems. This was one of the colognes which was on the original 2014 era list. People stiil love it. Versace Review

versace pour homme


Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana– Another great choice in the casual cologne market. Light Blue is a highly popular choice for both men and women for good reason, it’s light, subtle, and smells fantastic.

Light Blue is such an easy first cologne, as it is super versatile, and checks a lot of boxes as to what you’d want in a fragrance.

Eau Intense has especially gained in popularity over the years, too. I saw it pop up as a top seller across multiple sites. However, the original is still the higher ranked of the two. Even if Eau Intense is actually better. Light Blue Review


Gucci Guilty– Guilty is another one that has spawned almost countless iterations over the past decade-plus. The original EDT is still a very nice wear and fairly unique while being mass appealing.

A balanced lemon, pink pepper, and lavender note start things off. It’s a lighter cologne, floral with further touches of neroli and orange blossom. A bit sweet, somewhat woody, and overall pretty linear with its presentation.

Guilty EDT is extremely versatile and an easy all-around fragrance to start a collection with.


Born in Roma– I don’t get why this one has become so popular, maybe its comparisons. The series as a whole is kind of meh, but apparently sells better than the previous Valentino Uomo line that it sort of replaced as the flagship. Even though, that had way more beautiful colognes.

To me, it’s mid. The whole series just doesn’t do much to get me interested. This one in particular isn’t anything special. It has a strong resemblance to Invictus, but I think I like the Paco Rabanne more.

It does have it’s own soapier personality in the dry down. Even then, the mineral accord and violet leaf aren’t my favorite notes. Born in Roma review


Phantom– Another Paco Rabanne, another scent that I don’t much care for. Phantom has a nice enough start, but isn’t really great overall. Maybe people really like the bottle?

The start is a lemon zest, with a juicy and somewhat tropical undertone. It smells like a pineapple or maybe even a touch of mango. That is a brief experience. Then, it becomes a lavender dominated scent with earthy, woody, and herbal notes. Phantom Review

phantom cologne review


Invictus by Paco Rabanne–  The sweet and youthful Invictus is perpetually among the top sellers in this past decade. It has spawned a ton of flanker fragrances to boot.

Invictus Victory is the most popular at the moment and is another cologne that I combined with its parent into one entry.

Victory smells more like the Pure XS line that Paco Rabanne came out with versus being another Invictus flanker. It’s sweet and boozy. The vanilla and amber notes really come through well in the dry down, almost producing a blend of chocolate and vanilla aromas.


Luna Rossa Ocean– A lot of the Prada Luna Rossa fragrances are in the mix. The newer Ocean appears to have secured a spot in the top 20, though.

This one is a mixed bag. I loved the opening act. I wish that they could have captured that and made it last for 8 hours. The problem is, it is short-lived and the back half of the fragrance while smelling nice, is very weak.

Suede, caramel, and tonka bean with a fresh bergamot citrus was a great idea. The rest of the execution, eh…Luna Rossa Ocean Review


Le Male Le Parfum– Following in the footsteps of the original Le Male and Ultra Male, Le Parfum is now the premier option from Gaultier.

Very nice with the appealing DNA of the original Le Male, especially coming from the lavender in the beginning. This is sort of an updated version of the classic.

It also gives you hints of Ultra Male, without the same powerful sillage (though, performance is still very good). Very warm with spicy punches throughout and wrapped up in that familiar JPG vanilla note.


The Most Wanted Parfum– From ‘The Wanted’ line The Most Wanted Parfum is now the best seller on most sites. I cannot really disagree with the demand for this cologne, as it is one of the two best from the series. The other is The Most Wanted EDP.

The opening ginger note is absolute fire. I love that spicy kick and the sweet toffee dry down is also great. Not very complicated scent, but a very good one all around.

most wanted parfum review

10 Best Smelling Creed Perfumes for Women

Creed is a boutique fragrance designer which dates back centuries and has designed fragrances for for royalty and celebrities around the world (at least according to their stories). Creed is known for using the finest ingredients and creating complex natural scents that stand out among a crowd of imitators.

Their line of women’s perfumes seem to be mostly floral based and while many share similar floral notes, each one has a unique twist on them to add fruity, spicy, or other undertones. As always, I have linked out to a page where is of these scents can be purchased at a great price.

You may also find great Creed fragrances that can be worn by women in my Best Creed Colognes for Men post!


What are the Best Creed Fragrances for Ladies?

Most Popular Creed Perfume 

Creed Spring Flower by Creed for Women Millesime Spray, 2.5 OunceNotes include jasmine, peach, apple, musk, melon, rose, ambergris.  Spring Flower is an uplifting fruity scent with bright, floral undertones.

Melon, peach and apple are paired for a crisp and juicy sweet start to the wear.  Then, the rose and jasmine note usher in its flowery namesake, which is quite pretty.

Along with the typical Creed ambergris note, Spring Flower has a musky dry down that is fairly potent. The flower aspect is more prominent further along in the life cycle, with jasmine and musk being the highlights at that point. Meanwhile, the fruit notes have become more subdued.

Spring Flower isn’t really a heavy fragrance, more light to moderate. However, it provides good longevity, and versatility. It can definitely become a signature every day wear.

spring-flower-75ml-creed


Elegant Creed Fragrance

CREED FLEURISSIMO by Creed for WOMEN: EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 2.5 OZA more mature floral than Spring Flower and not as bright as that fragrance. Classy and elegant. This actually lacks the fruits found in the first entry.

Instead one is left with a bouquet of florals with iris, violet, and tuberose. Fleurissimo has a vintage style and a garden rich profile.

As it dries down, this Creed scent has more warmth and a soapy/powdery clean quality. This is an all day wear, with excellent longevity. A springtime fragrance. Notes include: Bulgarian rose, violet, tuberose, Florentine iris.

creed fleurissimo


Classic Rose, Citrus, and Musk

Creed Fleurs De Bulgarie By Creed Millesime Spray For Women 2.5 ozA very old perfume, supposedly dating back to 1845. Fleurs De Bulgarie is another floral perfume but one with more of a kick of citrus and spice to it.

This floral, however, is straight rose. It’s sweet and clean with a musky profile.

Fleurs de Bulgarie is pretty linear, but the dry down elevates the ambergris to go along with that great rose essence.

Obviously, it has been updated along the way, by Fleurs is still a wonderful addition to one’s collection.  Notes include: Bulgarian Rose Essences, Musks, Ambergris, bergamot. 

Fleurs De Bulgarie


Amazing Vanilla

Sublime Vanille– Creed’s Sublime Vanilla, might have the best smelling vanilla note that I’ve ever come across, it’s absolutely delightful. That creamy goodness is joined up top by orange and lemon, that creates a dessert-like quality to this scent.

It’s warm, with some additional touches of musk and tonka bean. A softer fragrance, that isn’t too complicated, but shows the absolute quality of the Royal Exclusives line of perfumes by Creed.

The issue that can come up with this one, is the heavy price tag. It is even higher priced than the others on this list. The sillage and performance are pretty good, just not outstanding. What you do get is a nice creamy vanilla, with bright citrus, and a bit of musk. Sublime Vanille Review


Sweet Violet

Love in Black– I’m personally not a huge fan of wearing violet fragrances, but I have to say I do enjoy the way that Love in Black by Creed smells.

First, it opens up with a sweet and tart black currant note that can come across like a jam. This is joined by a fresh cedar, giving it an interesting, though not always immediately enjoyable smell.

The iris and violet notes come through, giving this one a powdery aroma, fairly similar to Broadway Nite (that’s probably more powdery, but smells a lot like Love in Black).

It will become an intense violet aroma, with a sweetness, mixed floral notes, and some slight woodiness. Love in Black isn’t for everyone, so, it’d probably be best to test before committing to a full bottle.

Yet, for those who enjoy violet, this is a great example and wonderful performer.


Princess Creed

Royal Princess Oud– Royal Princess Oud is an interesting one. Like, Love in Black it features violet and iris, but early on this is paired with citrus and is way less dense.

In fact, it’s kind of bright and a bit green/floral at the early stages. The title-sake agarwood will come on, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

The fragrance certainly has its stronger ingredients, but also feels very balanced for much of the wear.

Yet, this stuff is intricate. The powdery qualities of the florals have their time. Bright citrus. Woodiness. Spice. Then, a resin/creaminess of vanilla, sandalwood, and some benzoin. The opening can be rough, but the development is really great.


Tuberose-led White Floral

Tubereuse Indiana By Creed For Women. Millesime Spray 2.5 OzTuberose Indiana brings on a nice smelling bouquet of white floral notes highlighted by the tuberose, but not really dominated. In addition, one gets a hint of bergamot, and a creamy vanilla at the top.

Then, there is the ambergris and fairly heavy musk. With that, a slight earthiness in the middle act, and a spiced kick too. The mix is attractive for those who like an old school sort of floral perfume, but not completely stuck in the past.

Notes include vanilla, ambergris, tuberose, white flowers, and bergamot. Captivating smell.

Tubereuse Indiana


Best Woody Fragrance

Vanisia By Creed For Women. Millesime Spray 2.5 OzA nice, feminine scent that screams sophistication. Vanisia is a move away from the strictly floral scents featured before. This is a very well performing blend of mostly sandalwood and vanilla.

Naturally, the Creed ambergris is another heavy hitter within the composition but there is also a straight amber note, which makes for an interesting pairing.

Vanisia is like vintage confidence in a bottle, with jasmine playing a supporting role to the main ingredients. Notes include: Jasmine, vanilla, rose, sandalwood

vanisia


Best Summertime Pick

Acqua Fiorentina Perfume by Creed for women Millesime Spray 2.5 oz
A complex fragrance that is a light aromatic with layered notes of (some) floral and (mostly) citrus.

This is the go to, if you like fruitier compositions. Bergamot, lemon, and plum start off Acqua Fiorentina with a very bright and quite sharp citrus sensation.

However, there is also a crisp apple note in the mix, which adds to the overall juiciness.

As it dries down, there is a hint of rose and carnation, which balances out some of the fruit overload. Plus, the cedar/sandalwood which sits at the base, and holds this whole thing together.

Very much like, The Scent of Peace for Her by Bond No. 9.  Notes include: rose, Virginian cedar, lemon, sandalwood, carnation, bergamot. 

Acqua Fiorentina


Top Winter Creed Scent

Creed Jasmin Imperatrice Eugenie Millesime Spray for Women, 2.5 OunceThe supposed story behind this one, is that Jasmin Imperatrice was personally designed for Empress Eugenie of France, wife of Napoleon III. Ok, then.

If you enjoy jasmine and sandalwood, this might be your Holy Grail fragrance. It is an elegant woody fragrance with smooth vanilla undertones and that utterly delightful jasmine throughout.

Jasmin Imperatrice is luxurious and royal, whether or not it was actually made for an empress. This perfume has huge sillage and keeps going and going for hours.

Super strong but the sandalwood and jasmine combo might just be worth it to you. Notes include: bergamot, Bulgarian rose, amergris, Italian jasmine, vanilla

Jasmin Imperatrice Eugenie

8 Best Smelling Bvlgari Colognes

This is a list of the top six fragrances for men by the design house, Bvlgari. Each of these perfumes is unique and smells great in their own right. The key, is to find the one that pairs well with your own personal tastes, and sense of style. All types are represented here, from aquatic to the more spicy or woodsy scents.

They are mostly all among Bvlgari’s most popular, with some other, underrated gems. Some will be more versatile than a few of the niche entries on the list and I try to describe where each one falls on the spectrum.


What are the Best Bvlgari Colognes for Men?

Top Winter/Nightlife Bvlgari Fragrance

Bvlgari Man in Black Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce
Man in Black by Bvlgari is my favorite cologne from this brand. I love its dark, spicy, and boozy aroma. Its one that I’ve gotten plenty of complements on wearing, over the past two years, including one girl telling me repeatedly how, ‘incredibly sexy’ I smelled.

It wasn’t something that I was all that crazy about at first, but this cologne really grew on me in a big way. Wearing this on a cold evening, really let’s the fragrance shine. This one gets plenty dark and has a smoky undertone, that is simply great. Boozy and spicy, then, smooth and warm.

Man in Black is spice soaked in rum, with a smooth leather and creamy tonka bean to calm it down. Add to that, tobacco plus oud, and you have yourself a highly masculine scent that gets noticed. Man in Black Full Review

bvlgari man in black cologne


Top Spring/Summer Fragrance Overall

Bvlgari Man Extreme by Bvlgari 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray– Man Extreme has much better staying power, than the original Bvlgari Man (listed lower on the page). However, the two really aren’t similar in how they smell.

Man Extreme is led by citrus, with vetiver undertones. The woodiness and vetiver, is the major overlap between these colognes. Ultimately, the arrive at different places.

Most importantly, is the inclusion of a great and quite unique, cactus note. It is a freshly spiced citrus scent, for the warmer months, with a note which really helps to set it apart. Very nice, with good performance, and the sillage isn’t too loud.

The citrus and cactus blend, up top is really awesome. It’s a rather dry scent, much like the original, and you get the fresh and smoothness of vetiver in the latter stages. Along with, some light cardamom spice.


Best Oceanic Aqva

BVLGARI Aqva Atlantiqve Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3 Ounce– The Aqva line inhabits its own space in the male fragrance world. You have to be a fan of the marine/oceanic fragrances to truly appreciate them.

Atlantiqve is probably the top pick, in my mind. This is a very nice fragrance that comes across sort of like an oceanic version of Versace’s Dylan Blue.

The two are most alike at the start, when the citrus is strongest. The sea notes are there, but it isn’t overly salty, and there is of course the ambergris.

Atlantiqve does a great job at evoking the depths of the ocean, while still bringing the pleasant citrus notes. The latter stages really start to bring in the amber and drier notes. Salty with that amberwood note, that’s found in Light Blue Eau Intense.


Best Fresh Daily Wear

Bvlgari Blv By Bvlgari For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Oz.
Bvlgari Blv is a scent that sort of stands alone, in terms of its unique style. It has that familiar and subtle spice of ginger and cardamom. It has a super fresh quality and woody/outdoorsy notes, holding up its base.

Blv also brings in its greenish tobacco note, mainly the flower, which plays quite well off of that ginger top. I really dig this one, as ginger, never seems to get much play as a strong note. It’s usually just a role player, but here, it gets the chance to shine.

Blv is an every day wear for casual situations or an office environment. That low key spice is wrapped up in a powdered finish, which is quite nice.  My Blv Review

bvlgari blv


Top Woodsy/Unique

Bvlgari Man Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 5 Ounce

Bvlgari Man is a woody fragrance that is soft, smooth, and sweet with that bit of honey at its heart. Man is not at all an overpowering fragrance, it is more of one that demands others get closer for a better aroma.

It opens up with violet leaf, pear, lotus, and a bit of citrus. It is sweet, while being floral/woody, and especially dry. The floral notes will lighten, as it moves on, and you will be left with more vetiver and woods. Bvlgari man is clean, with a dry sweetness, and crisp aroma in the beginning.

That is not to say that Bvlgari Man is completely weak, it isn’t, it is more subtle, refined, and masculine but use more sprays. I do wish that it was bolder and had top notch sillage, because it is a pretty unique and fine smelling scent.  Full Bvlgari Man Review

bvlgari man


Neroli Clean

Bvlgari Man Wood Neroli– A very nice spring/summertime wear that is indeed in the same vein as Neroli Portofino  by Tom Ford, but not at all an exact match. Wood Neroli, is much woodier (as the name suggest), particularly in the dry down.

It opens with a fresh squeeze of bergamot and the signature neroli note. It’s got a nice balance of the citrus juice and neroli for the first bit of the wear. Then, the neroli will get the upper hand between them.

The dry down is where this one really takes on its own unique qualities. Cypriol, cedar, and other woody notes combine with musk and amber in the base.

The earlier stages feel more like a clean soap. Then, it shift to a fresher woodsier clean.


Classiest Bvlgari Cologne

Bvlgari Pour Homme Soir By Bvlgari For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 oz
Homme Soir is such a simplistic and straightforward kind of cologne, but I don’t think that I’ve encountered anything else like it. It is a classy and refine fragrance that is brilliant in its use of a limited amount of notes.

There’s the citrus top of bergamot and a green herbal aroma of tea. This is all surrounded by the warm understated amber note and the crisp dryness of papyrus.

bvlgari pour soir


Original Casual Aquatic

Bvlgari Aqua By Bvlgari For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces
Aqva is obviously an aquatic scent. From the start we get a strong blend of two types of orange, salty seaweed, and cedar driftwood. It has that really oceanic and water laden citrus fruit vibe, that strikes hard at first.

However, it doesn’t stay citrus laden throughout like most aquatics and ends up with quite a moderate sillage. The orange note, actually fades pretty fast, and you get that seaweed coming in to its full effect.

That is joined by lavender and the remaining cedar wood. Really good casual scent for the summer months and feels like being at the shore. Full Bvlgari Aqva Review

bvlgari aqua

5 Best Smelling Guess Colognes for Men

When looking for new colognes to wear, it can be a very good idea to include several inexpensive options within your collection, just to have some nice and casual everyday wears. It can get really pricey to put on the top designers day after day. One brand that has a solid albeit limited line of cheap men’s fragrances is Guess.

Guess was a really popular fashion line, especially in the early 1990s but still produces colognes that can fill the void for those who need something to wear without dropping some serious coin. In this post, I want to present five cologne options from Guess that I think are the best smelling scents that they have released thus far.


What are the Best Smelling Guess Colognes?

Best Guess Fragrance

Guess Seductive Men Edt Spray, 3.4 Ounce This is my favorite Guess cologne overall. I think that Seductive Blue smells a bit better, but it doesn’t perform nearly as well as the original. Seductive Homme has a warm amber sweetness with notes of pink pepper, musk, and orchid.

It kicks off with a nice mandarin orange note and the slight spice and warmth of cardamom. It is fairly cardamom heavy, in the initial phase of the wear. The sweet and spicy blend continues forward with the inclusion of the amber, musk, and light black pepper note.

As it dries down further, it becomes sweeter, with the additional orchid note coming through. Not super powerful, but strong enough to be noticed, and gets me 6-8 hours of wear. A great value buy. Read my full review

guess seductive homme review


Top Newer Release

Guess 1981 Los Angeles, 3.4 Oz Plum and bergamot are the fruity notes here, which add a bit of sweetness to the opening act of 1981 Los Angeles. Beyond that, it is a fresh aromatic with spicy notes of pepper and ginger coming on early in the wear.

It’s fresh and cold at first with a pretty big dose of mint outshining the spices and geranium note. As it dries down, it will feel herbal and warm with an amber base. It retains its fresh spices, gains woodiness (vetiver and sandalwood), loses much of the fruity sweetness, but develops a powdery aroma which is actually pretty good.

Similar to Eros? Similar style, but not an exact match or anything. But, that’s the sort of fragrance you should expect, just toning down the boldness. Not the best performer on skin, but you get an initial strong sillage, and a decent enough longevity for the price.


Fresh Spice, Citrus/Amber

Guess By Marciano by Guess for Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4-Ounce A more mature fragrance than the other Guess offerings. It’s got a mandarin orange note that isn’t summery like the one in Nautica Voyage, for example.

That note is pretty close to Seductive Homme. This is spicier and (smells) leathery and while it’s not my style, I’ll still have to call it one of their best.

Guess by Marciano is sort of like Seductive Homme, if it took the spicier route rather than the sweeter. You get the orange, amber, and pepper here. However, it also includes the freshness of ginger and sage.  The amber feels a bit more resinous, as well.

Nice performance and finishes things off with a somewhat woody base. I had a sample sprayer of this years back. While I wasn’t in love with it, I did finish using the cologne, and enjoyed aspects of it.


Fresh and Woodsy

Guess By Parlux Fragrances For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.5 Oz.– A woodsy and spicy scent that is a different fragrance from any of the others on this list. With notes like wormwood and fir, you know you’re getting something that is green and outdoorsy.

Yet, Guess Man is still quite fresh and feels very clean. This is another safe bet for everyday wear that won’t break the bank and gives decent performance. Guess is better for the cooler months of the year. It has a semi-aquatic feeling, at times, with an herbal finish and a nice sandalwood base.

Performance is just okay. Not a powerhouse, in terms of sillage or longevity. But, it can usually be had for super cheap, which can allow you to overlook its faults.


Clean, Powdery, and Attractive

Guess Seductive Homme Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, Blue, 3.4 Ounce– I loved this scent when I first smelled it and thought that I had another cheap daily wear to go to. It’s a powdery blend of spice and citrus highlighted by a cardamom note. Blue is fresh, aquatic, and pretty unique.

The aquatic elements sit in the background, but they are there, if your nose can discern them. It does have that powdery freshness, but it isn’t a heavy or overbearing kind of smell. It’s light and has a cold and warm push/pull, sort of sensation.

The performance of this one versus the original Guess Seductive, is quite stark. Aside from the fact, that they really don’t have much in common other than cardamom and some citrus. It just didn’t last on my skin, which is highly disappointing. Maybe, you’ll have better luck with it. Guess Seductive Homme Blue Review