Dylan Blue Pour Homme by Versace

by

This is my third entry of my one time wear reviews while traveling in Europe. Today, I am going to give my impressions of Versace Pour Homme’s, Dylan Blue. This has become a very popular fragrance.

In this post, I’m going to discuss how it smells, performs, my impressions, and whether or not I think that it is worth a buy.

Note: I have updated this post a few years after my initial impressions, after spending more time wearing this scent, and having a better feel for it.

My Verdict

Versace Dylan Blue is a youthful citrus-aquatic fragrance that opens with grapefruit, bergamot, fig leaf, and a watery freshness. That opening is the strongest part of the scent, giving it a bright and appealing character that stands apart from its later stages.

As it dries down, ambroxan becomes much more prominent alongside black pepper, violet leaf, woods, and a subtle touch of smoky incense. The result is pleasant and crowd-pleasing, though it starts to feel more familiar and less interesting after the first hour.

Overall, Dylan Blue is a versatile and affordable choice for younger men who want a simple, compliment-friendly fragrance for warm weather, dates, or nights out. It smells good and offers solid value, but it does not bring much originality if you already own similar modern blue fragrances.

What Does Dylan Blue Smell Like?

Notes include: black pepper, violet leaf, grapefruit, bergamot, tonka bean, ambrox, fig leaf

Click here to try: VERSACE Pour Homme Sealed Dylan Blue Eau de Toilette, 3.4 Ounce

🌊 Versace Dylan Blue — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Citrus Aquatic Woody
Key Notes Grapefruit, Bergamot, Fig Leaf, Ambroxan, Black Pepper, Violet Leaf, Incense, Tonka Bean
Season Spring, Summer, Warm Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Daily Wear, Dates, Night Out, Clubs, Social Events
Longevity Consistently around 6–7 hours
Sillage Strong at first, then settles into average projection
Rating ★★★★☆ 7.4 / 10
Quick Verdict A youthful and versatile citrus-aquatic fragrance with grapefruit, bergamot, fig leaf, ambroxan, pepper, and light incense. The bright aquatic opening is the highlight, while the later ambroxan-heavy dry down becomes more familiar and basic. It offers strong initial projection, consistent 6–7-hour longevity, and plenty of warm-weather versatility. A solid affordable choice for someone seeking an easy, compliment-friendly scent, though it is not especially original.

My Full Review

Upon first sniff of this fragrance, I immediately want to place in the same realm as a fragrance such as Acqua Di Gio Profumo. It’s different mind you, but, it seems to belong to that same class of citrus/aquatics.

Between the two, Dylan Blue is a more youthful and lighter cologne, but as it dries down the similarities between Profumo fade and the ambroxan of Dior’s Sauvage begin to emerge.

Dylan Blue really is kind of an amalgamation scent of the aforementioned colognes, mixed with maybe one or two others, that I cannot think of at the moment.

Dylan Blue is aquatic at first, with the grapefruit and bergamot notes, sitting on top of that watery base. Plus, there is the ambroxan note, which is nice and warm but gets stronger as it moves along.

The fig note and citrus pairing at the top is actually quite good. I think it might be my favorite aspect of this Versace release. While the citrus and ambroxan, bring to mind Sauvage, this one isn’t nearly as spicy as the Dior. Plus, the fig and aquatic notes set it apart.

The initial burst is fairly short lived, less than an hour, and the Sauvage-esque spirit takes over. At that point, it seems much weaker than it had been, but the longevity isn’t terrible.

Not as bad as another grapefruit citrusy cologne I just reviewed, Lacoste Jaune. My biggest complaint with Versace scents is how chemical they can smell.

I liked the original Versace Pour Homme well enough but that has the same kind of faux-citrus smell.  There is also a woody-fig note that gives it another layer but it isn’t all that complex of a scent.

As it dries down, I start to pick up more of the ambroxan, some black pepper, and even a little bit of violet leaf. The citrus has settled somewhat and Dylan Blue becomes more wholeheartedly ambroxan based.

I should also mention the slight smokiness from the included incense note, during its latter stages. It’s a great little touch, that I picked up on the more I wore around the contents of my mini bottle of this cologne.

Sillage, How Long Blue Lasts, and Versatility

Projection is good at first and then dies out a bit. It’s pretty average overall. Though, the sillage can seem heavy at first.

The longevity of Dylan Blue has been consistently 6-7 hours on my skin. Seemingly no more, no less. It’s actually kind of weird, how quickly it goes from a nice amount of power to just completely gone.

At least, it consistently hits that mark, and I know what to expect from it beforehand. That’s not a short amount of time, but it’s not a monster, in that regard.

I think that where Dylan Blue shines is in its versatility. I think it’d be appropriate for almost any summer or warm weather occasion. It would also be more appropriate for young men, sub-25 years of age, and is sexy enough for date night/club wear.

This is one that will get positive attention out of it. It’s not an offensive scent and is generally crowd pleasing. Dylan Blue is popular and so it’s going to have plenty of fans, in public spaces.

It’s a really nice scent for younger guys, who want something stylish, and that can fit in a wide variety of situations. The performance isn’t top notch, but it is good enough for most purposes.

Overall Impressions of Dylan Blue

Overall, is Dylan Blue worth a buy? Not for me, BUT I could see how it could work for some guys. If you need a summer scent that is pretty basic and will draw complements, I don’t think you would go wrong here.

For me, it doesn’t really offer anything different from scents that I already own or have samples of…so it’s kind of pointless. I certainly don’t hate it, in fact, I have come to like it a good deal more than I had initially.

Mostly, I like the opening hour or so. Thereafter, Dylan Blue just seems kind of basic to me. Not particularly interesting or all that attractive. Decent.

I just with I got more time to enjoy the fig note and the initial citrus blend, that’s actually one great aspect of this cologne.

However, at it’s price point and with it’s versatility, it would be a solid pick up for someone who wants a simple no-brainer. I like the aroma for the most part, not my favorite, but it does smell good.

Chinatown by Bond No. 9

by

took about a week off from posting on the site, but during that time, I got to test out more fragrances for review. On of these, is among the Bond No. 9 samples that I recently got a hold of, and a scent that I’ve been meaning to review for a number of years now…Chinatown. Is this Bond No. 9 scent worth a purchase? What does it smell like? How does it perform?

 

My Verdict

Bond No. 9 Chinatown is a warm, creamy floral fragrance that opens with tuberose, gardenia, peach blossom, and a brief touch of bergamot. The fruity sweetness fades fairly quickly, allowing cardamom, honey, vanilla, and the white florals to create a smoother, lightly spiced middle.

As it dries down, a subtle woody and smoky quality gives the scent more depth without making it overly complex. The composition remains fairly straightforward, but it is exceptionally well balanced and offers a more distinctive take on the usual tuberose or gardenia perfume.

Overall, this is one of my favorite women’s fragrances from Bond No. 9. It is especially well suited to anyone who enjoys white florals but wants enough fruit, spice, and sweetness to keep the scent from feeling overly green or garden-like.

Bond No. 9 Chinatown Overview

Notes include: tuberose, peach blossom, bergamot, honey, cedar, cardamom, vanilla sandalwood, guiac wood, and gardenia.

Click here to try: Chinatown by Bond No. 9 for Women – 3.3 oz EDP Spray.

🌸 Chinatown by Bond No. 9 — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Warm Fruity White Floral
Key Notes Tuberose, Gardenia, Peach Blossom, Cardamom, Honey, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Guaiac Wood, Cedar, Bergamot
Season Fall, Winter, Spring, Cooler Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Daily Wear, Work, Social Events, Dressier Occasions
Longevity All-day wear with consistently strong staying power
Sillage Moderate — noticeable and persistent without overpowering the room
Rating ★★★★☆ 8.3 / 10
Quick Verdict A warm and creamy white floral built around tuberose, gardenia, peach blossom, cardamom, honey, and soft woods. It is sweet and lightly fruity without becoming overly sugary, while the spicy and smoky dry down adds depth. Moderate projection, all-day longevity, and excellent balance make Chinatown one of the stronger women’s releases from Bond No. 9.

My Full Review

The opening gives you a blast of white floral aroma provided by tuberose and the gardenia notes. This isn’t like some of the other Bond No. 9 floral offerings, which get heavily into the green plant life scent.

Instead, Chinatown has a wonderful fruity/floral mix with the peach blossom and a brief appearance by the bergamot top note. It gives Chinatown a sweetness and light juiciness, that really comes across as pleasant and well put together.

That fruity/sweet aspect, is really around for the opening bit, and then it fades into the background. The peach blossom, gives you a floral/fruity blend of aromas.

I think that the note that sets this one apart from many other floral perfumes, is the inclusion of cardamom. It does give Chinatown that hint of spice and a sweetness that pairs with the vague thickness of honey. I really love a good cardamom in a fragrance, and Chinatown is one which delivers exactly that.

The next main stage of this fragrance, is the creamy/warm floral period. Lots of tuberose, gardenia, and some light vanilla highlights. Mixed with peach blossom and cardamom. The middle of this perfume, is really quite nice, with an easygoing naturalism.

As it dries down, there is more of a noticeable woody/smoky quality that just gives this fragrance an added depth. Part of that, is definitely the cardamom at work.

I don’t want to make this out to be super complex, I don’t think that it really is. However, I believe this to be a very well balanced scent, in what ends up being a fairly straightforward life cycle.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I’d call it a moderate. A moderate that actually performs. It isn’t going to choke anyone out or really overpower a room but it does a good job of having staying power.

The longevity is great, which it should be at such a price point, but we all know that’s not always the case. It’s an all day wear and never really felt weak during testing.

Chinatown is a good casual or everyday wear. It certainly is a beautiful kind of perfume but doesn’t seem all that ‘sexy’, but it’s definitely attractive.

It was pretty cold outside during testing and it seemed to work well in that environment and I think it’d be safe through the springtime. Probably not the best bet for the height of summer, however.

Overall Impressions of Chinatown

Overall, would I recommend Chinatown? Yes, it a really lovely fragrance, and one of my favorite women’s scents from Bond No. 9. Sometimes, I have really mixed notions about this brand, and think they have some downright awful fragrances.

However, Chinatown isn’t one of those. This is a well balanced gem and a unique take on floral perfumes.

This is a scent for those who want a good tuberose or gardenia laden fragrance, but that also has enough sweetness to avoid going full ‘garden mode’. This is one of the best women’s releases from Bond and it shows from the popularity and number of sales it has generated since its release.

Hamptons by Bond No. 9

by

In today’s review, we have another entry from Bond No. 9. It is a unisex fragrance called Hamptons. I’ve been wearing this around for the past few days, out of the sample vial that I received. In this post, I’m going to cover what’s in it, what it smells like, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a buy.

My Verdict

Bond No. 9 Hamptons is a very clean citrus-floral fragrance with sharp lime and lemon notes layered over jasmine, sandalwood, and a slightly herbal touch of sage. The opening can feel somewhat harsh, but it becomes smoother, greener, and more balanced after roughly 30 minutes.

The dry down has a fresh-out-of-the-shower quality, blending jasmine, sage, soft woods, and understated florals. It is pleasant and easy to wear, though it is more clean and casual than seductive or attention-grabbing.

Overall, Hamptons does its job well and is a solid choice for someone seeking a low-key, long-lasting citrus-floral scent.

🌊 Hamptons by Bond No. 9 — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Citrus Floral Woody
Key Notes Bergamot, Lime Blossom, Jasmine, Sage, Sandalwood, Cedar, Musk, Rose, Magnolia
Season Spring, Summer, Warm Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Daily Wear, Work, Daytime, Relaxed Social Settings
Longevity Double-digit hours of wear, even with only two sprays
Sillage Strong at first, then settles into a consistent moderate projection
Rating ★★★★☆ 8.1 / 10
Quick Verdict A hyper-clean citrus-floral fragrance with sharp lime, jasmine, sage, sandalwood, and soft woods. The opening can be harsh, but it becomes smoother, greener, and more balanced during the dry down. Strong early projection, excellent longevity, and an easygoing unisex character make it a solid warm-weather option, although it is more fresh and casual than sexy or distinctive.

Hamptons by Bond No. 9 Overview

Notes include: bergamot, lime blossom, jasmine, rose, sandalwood, magnolia, musk, sage, and cedar

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Hamptons by Bond No. 9 For Men And Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3-Ounces

My Full Review

The opening citrus notes of Hamptons are quite sharp. I think it’s the fact that it is blending with the floral notes, which gives it this kind of odd feeling versus the usual citrus fare.

For me, 10-15 minutes into wear, I start to get whiffs of the jasmine and sage notes, that reminds me of walking through a green garden during springtime.

The jasmine remains the strongest floral note for me, throughout the wear. Not much rose or magnolia, at all. Very light and they sit underneath the main accord.

Hamptons is a hyper clean smelling scent, due to the power of the lime/lemon aroma that it generates that sits on top of what could be considered soapy/body wash ingredients including jasmine and sandalwood.

The slight herbal tinge provided by the sage, is one of the reasons that I think this gets compared with Creed’s Silver Mountain Water. I totally get the comparison but I feel that the Creed is the better fragrance, even if neither of these are really my style. As I recall, the Creed has a metallic quality that this one lacks.

It only becomes more green, fresh, and woody as it dries down. The sharp citrus opening fades at about 30 minutes for me and the scent feels much more well blended. Hamptons is so light and clean, in a very fresh out of the shower, kind of way.

The trail end is a woody mix of sage and floral notes. It’s a really nice mix, and develops into something quite a bit different from the opening act of the perfume.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts out on the strong end but then morphs into a much more moderate fragrance. The sillage doesn’t require that much, in terms of sprays, because it can

The longevity is absolutely great. We’re talking double digit hours of wear with only two sprays, which should be how all fragrances at this price point perform.

For seasonality, I’d say spring, as a definite. Also, would work in the summertime. It wouldn’t perform badly in the cold, but I’d much rather wear something else that is more suited to the colder months of the year.

Hamptons is a casual scent. It’s pleasant but not really sexy. It is kind of ambiguous, as it is in reality a unisex scent. It would absolutely work on male or female.

Overall Impressions of Hamptons

Overall, would I recommend Hamptons? I like it. It just isn’t my own personal style. If you’re looking for a really clean citrus/floral, that is low key and gives good performance, it’s a solid buy.

Just understand what you’re getting with this one and don’t expect some super sexy ‘club’ cologne. For what it does, Hamptons does it well.

Again, it’s similar to Silver Mountain Water by Creed, but not exactly. I wouldn’t try to substitute one for the other. Hamptons isn’t one of my favorite Bond scents, but it can definitely be worthwhile for the right person.

Bloom Nettare di Fiori by Gucci

by

The Bloom series from Gucci is still ongoing and doesn’t seem to be slowing down with its flanker releases. In 2018, the Italian brand released Nettare di Fiori, under the Bloom banner. I grabbed a sample of this along with the rest of the Bloom perfumes, in order to give them all full reviews. How does Nettare Smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

2026 Update: It looks like this version has been discontinued.

My Verdict

Gucci Bloom Nettare di Fiori is a tuberose-heavy white floral fragrance with a fresh opening of ginger, rose, and green-leaning tuberose.

It smells pleasant and works well for spring or summer daytime wear, but the familiar floral dry down does not feel especially distinctive.

Overall, it is a solid option for tuberose lovers, though the scent and performance may not justify paying a high price for it.

🌸 Gucci Bloom Nettare di Fiori — At a Glance
Fragrance Family White Floral Tuberose
Key Notes Tuberose, Ginger, Rose, Jasmine, Rangoon Creeper, Patchouli, Musk
Season Spring, Summer, Mild Weather
Occasion Daily Wear, Office, School, Casual Wear, Formal Events
Longevity Around 6.5–7 hours, with roughly three hours of stronger performance
Sillage Light to moderate — noticeable for the first few hours before becoming a skin scent
Rating ★★★☆☆ 6.9 / 10
Quick Verdict A fresh, tuberose-focused white floral that opens with ginger and rose before settling into jasmine, Rangoon creeper, patchouli, and light sweetness. It is pleasant, versatile, and easy to wear, but the dry down is familiar and the performance is only average. Best suited to tuberose lovers who can find it at a reasonable price.

What does Bloom Nettare di Fiori Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, tuberose, jasmine, ginger, musk, and more

Click here to try: Gucci Gucci Bloom Nettare Di Fiori for Women 1.7 Oz Eau De Parfum Intense Spray, 1.7 Oz

My Full Review

Tuberose and ginger. That is the main attraction here, upon my first spraying of Nettare di Fiori. A little bit of a pink rose, as well. If you’re in the market for a tuberose heavy Gucci Bloom flanker, this should immediately be in the running.

That’s what you’re going to experience for the opening. Then, as Nettare develops more, the jasmine and honeysuckle (Rangoon creeper) start to make an appearance. Unfortunately, that rose note seems to go away entirely on my skin.

The tuberose has a greenish aroma to it. While the supporting jasmine adds that white floral touch. There’s a cold freshness to the entire composition and a very slight creaminess, but nothing that becomes too extreme (though, that develops more over time).

You can definitely tell that this is a Bloom perfume, very similar to the original in a lot of ways, but enough distinction to stand out somewhat on its own.

That initial ginger fresh spice moves away and the tuberose and jasmine fully take over in their partnership. Beneath that is the nice sweetness of Rangoon creeper and patchouli. That’s pretty much it for the rest of the way. Very floral, particularly white floral, light sweetness and a patchouli note.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatilty

Sillage wise, this one is a lighter moderate perfume, on my skin. It never really came on too strong for me, but what fairly decent for the first few hours. After that, Nettare di Fiori is much more of a skin scent.

The longevity here is okay, just not that great. I get 6.5-7 hours of wear in total and probably just over three hours wear it’s got its strength going. Not a complete waste of time, by any means, but not a super performer either.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summer wear. What’s good about the light sillage, is that if you like white floral scents, this one is low key enough to be worn on a daily basis in an office or school. It can go casual to more formal.

Nettare di Fiori isn’t a nightlife or date night kind of perfume, so I wouldn’t expect an all-around scent to wear whenever. But, it is a versatile fragrance.

Overall Impressions of Nettare di Fiori

Overall, do I like Bloom Nettare di Fiori. It’s fine, but it doesn’t blow me away. It’s an above average fragrance, in terms of its smell, and a nice tuberose wear. Beyond that, it doesn’t truly stand out and isn’t the best Bloom release.

There isn’t a part of the wear that I dislike. I enjoy the ginger/rose/tuberose start, even if I wished that it lasted longer. The jasmine and tuberose is a familiar smell, not bad, just well tread territory with a million other perfumes.

The performance is pretty average and probably should be better based on what you’re going to pay for a bottle of this stuff.  All in all, it’s a nice Gucci perfume, that will have some appeal for tuberose lovers but maybe not much beyond that.

I don’t even see this listed on Gucci’s website anymore, so if you want it, you’d better grab a bottle.

YSL Libre vs. Mon Guerlain Comparison

by

Libre by YSL has become a pretty popular lavender based fragrance. Another such option, is the even more popular Mon Guerlain. Due to their similarities, they often can get compared and become the final two options that women are deciding on to purchase. In this post, I want to give my comparison of these two perfumes, and go through why I think one is better than the other.

Quick Overview

Mon Guerlain is the better overall fragrance in this comparison, offering a sweeter, smoother, and more balanced blend of lavender, vanilla, tonka bean, and jasmine.

Libre has stronger projection and a bolder floral character, but its orange blossom and lavender combination feels less deep and refined.

Libre is still a solid choice for someone who wants the louder, more youthful option, while Mon Guerlain wins for overall scent quality.

Category YSL Libre EDP Mon Guerlain EDP Winner
Opening Opens with citrus, orange blossom, and a strong lavender presence. Bold and heavily floral from the beginning, with the lavender becoming dominant. Starts with sweet vanilla and tonka bean, creating an almost caramel-like scent. It later shifts toward a smoother combination of lavender and vanilla. Mon Guerlain
Projection Strong and well above average. It projects clearly and has the louder presence of the two fragrances. Moderate projection that remains noticeable without becoming overpowering or filling an entire room. YSL Libre
Longevity Lasts just over 9 hours during testing, with dependable and consistent performance. Usually lasts at least 8 hours and can exceed 10 hours. It has a lower floor but a higher performance ceiling. Mon Guerlain
Versatility Works well for everyday and casual wear through much of the year, but has a somewhat younger and more playful character. Also suitable for daily and casual wear, but fits a wider age range and can transition more easily into dressier or formal occasions. Mon Guerlain
Overall Scent A bold lavender and orange blossom fragrance that becomes creamier as the vanilla develops. Pleasant, but not especially deep or balanced. A smoother and more balanced lavender-vanilla fragrance, with jasmine, tonka bean, and an appealing caramel-like opening adding extra richness. Mon Guerlain

Tale of the Tape: Mon Guerlain vs. YSL Libre

Mon Guerlain

Notes include: jasmine, vanilla, lavender, sandalwood, tonka bean

Click here to try: Guerlain Mon Guerlain Eau De Parfum Spray 100ml/3.3oz

Read my review: Mon Guerlain EDP

Libre EDP

Notes include: lavender, white musks, orange flower, vanilla, orchid

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum Spray for Women 90ml/3oz, clear

Read my review: Libre EDP

Opening

Mon Guerlain starts things off with a sweet aroma of vanilla and tonka bean. Though, the way that the fragrance mixes with other notes in its composition, it starts to develop a caramel-like scent.

Then, Mon Guerlain will shift and become more about the lavender and vanilla notes, striking a somewhat similar smell to Libre.

Libre begins with citrus, but is already heavily floral from the start. Orange blossom is paired with the lavender early on, but the lavender will take on the much stronger role between the two. 

Which is better? I prefer the start of Mon Guerlain. You still get the lavender note like YSL Libre, but you also get that sweeter and delicious opening. I think that it smells better and also more interesting.

Edge: Mon Guerlain

Projection

Mon Guerlain has a moderate sillage overall. It’ll be noticeable and project itself fairly well, but isn’t going to overtake a room with a normal amount of spraying.

Libre is firmly in the strong camp. Not the most powerful scent that I’ve come across, but it is well above average, especially among most popular designer scents. Both have nice performance, but Libre is a notch above.

Edge: Libre

Longevity

During testing, Libre would last on my skin for just over 9 hours. While it does have the stronger sillage, I actually get better performance most of the time from Mon Guerlain.

So, Mon Guerlain will do 8 hours at the low end, but it does go over 10 hours. It has a higher ceiling, but lower floor when compared to the Saint Laurent perfume.

Edge: Mon Guerlain

 

Versatility

Both of these scents can be worn for much of the year, outside of the summertime. So, seasonally they are about equals. 

They are both very versatile, being daily wears, that can also be worn casually. I’d say that Mon Guerlain has the edge, as it can venture closer to formal wear and doesn’t skew as much to the younger age range as Libre.

Edge: Mon Guerlain

Overall Scent

Libre is an interesting fragrance and has it merits, but I’m not in love with it. It’s a bold lavender fragrance, that dries down into a creamier scent, with its vanilla note. Not a very deep scent and has an emphasis on the floral notes, including that opening orange blossom.

Mon Guerlain is just better to my nose, overall. It also has the lavender and vanilla, but feels more balanced, especially when the jasmine comes into play. Beyond that, the opening sweetness is a great touch, and Mon Guerlain is smoother/creamier.

Mon Guerlain pretty easily wins this one. Libre isn’t a bad perfume, it just doesn’t reach the same level as its competitor.

Since I first wrote this post, YSL has launched a slew of different Libre variants. The best that I’ve come across is Le Parfum…which is actually better than Mon Guerlain.

Winner: Mon Guerlain