Best Men's Colognes

Best Men's Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with the different fragrances that I've owned, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, that new hobby grew into a consistent passion, helping millions of readers along the way. I have personally test out and written reviews for well over 800 perfumes and colognes for both men and women. This is along with writing hundreds of other in-depth fragrance guides. You can also follow me on: YouTube, Instagram, and Tiktok!

Hugo Element by Hugo Boss

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I recently got a hold of a sample of Hugo Element cologne by Hugo Boss. I’ve already done plenty of Hugo Boss reviews on this site and I’ve been wearing Hugo Red seemingly a lot over the summer, so I was looking forward to getting to try out another scent from this house’s line.

In this post, I want to explore how this fragrance smells, how it performs, when it could be worn, and whether or not it is worth a buy.

 

My Verdict

Hugo Element is a crisp, refreshing aquatic fragrance built around juicy citrus, ginger, and a light watery quality. The scent itself is enjoyable and easy to wear, although it becomes fairly linear after the opening and does not offer much complexity.

Its biggest weakness is performance, with soft projection and only around four hours of longevity before it fades away.

Overall, Element smells good, but its weak performance and discontinued status make it difficult to recommend over stronger alternatives.

💧 Hugo Element by Hugo Boss — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Aquatic Citrus
Key Notes Ginger, Citrus, Coriander, Calone, Cedar, Coumarin
Season Spring, Summer, Warm Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Work, Daytime, Errands, Outdoor Activities
Longevity Around 4 hours before fading into a skin scent
Sillage Soft to moderate — stays fairly close to the skin
Rating ★★★☆☆ 6.6 / 10
Quick Verdict A crisp and refreshing aquatic fragrance with juicy citrus, ginger, and a light watery character. It smells pleasant and is easy to wear during warm weather, but the experience is fairly linear. Weak projection and roughly four hours of longevity keep it from being an easy recommendation, especially now that it has been discontinued.

Hugo Element Overview

hugo element

Notes include: ginger, coriander, cedar, courmarin, calone

Click here to try: Hugo Boss Cologne for Men, Element, 3.0 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

Note: I’m updating this page after 6 years to meet the new formatting of the website. Boss Element has been discontinued for a long while at the point.

The opening of Hugo Element is kind of an aquatic blast of ginger for the first 5 minutes before transitioning into a citrus laced fragrance. I have to say, the citrus notes in this are fantastic, they are really fresh and juicy.

Element is quite crisp and aquatic, which I found to be very attractive, and I was beginning to enjoy this cologne a whole lot. The calone note isn’t too heavy here, just adding a light impression of being aquatic.

That said, it is a very linear experience, after 10 minutes you know exactly what you’re getting. There isn’t any real complexity, just clean/aquatic/citrus with ginger undertones.

Usually, I would write about its development, but there doesn’t seem to be any here with this Boss scent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Element isn’t great. It is on the softer side of moderate, which may be better than expected for a cologne like this. It’s not a heavy scent that’s going to leave a long scent trail in your wake.

It’ll stay 3-5 feet from your skin and then move back closer in fairly rapid succession. Not absolutely terrible, but a boost in power would’ve made Element a better option for most guys.

Longevity is also another issue. It not only quickly becomes a skin scent, it also only lasts around 4 hours, which is disappointing. Just when you’re getting to really enjoy what the fragrance is bringing to the table, it’s already fading away.

I know not to expect too much from this sort of light, watery, and warm weather scent…but something more would’ve been fantastic.

I feel like this could’ve been a really nice spring/summer casual wear, had it been designed with better performance. It would be safe to wear to work, but it’s not a formal sort of fragrance at all. Though, outdoors or out around town during the day and it’d be cool.

A good all around balance is here, just the execution doesn’t have a payoff.

Overall Impressions of Hugo Element

Overall, is Hugo Element a buy? I can’t say yes. I actually like the fragrance itself, it works, and has great citrus notes. With a little added intensity, this would’ve been a nice scent to wear around during the summer.

The citrus is really nice, I love ginger, and it is a refreshing wear. It had some positive aspects in place, it just needed a way to bring it all together better.

I’m sure you could double the application and get a longer lasting use out of it; but why bother with better performing scents out there.

Again, this one has been discontinued for a long time. Not too big of a deal that it’s gone, as it’s not too difficult to find something else in this style. Hugo Element is mostly forgettable.

1 Million Parfum by Paco Rabanne

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1 Million has once again spun off another flanker in that gold ingot bottle, this time it’s a Parfum version. I hadn’t done any research on 1 Million Parfum before I got a hold of the sample, so I didn’t know what to expect.

Would it just be an amped up 1 Million or closer to Intense? Well, I was actually quite surprised by the direction Paco Rabanne went with this one. So, please continue below as I share my complete thoughts on this scent.

My Verdict

1 Million Parfum takes the familiar sweetness of the original in a more unusual tropical-floral direction, opening with juicy grapefruit, tiare flower, solar leather, and a slightly salty resinous warmth.

The opening is easily the strongest part, creating an attractive beachy character while still retaining the recognizable 1 Million DNA.

Overall, it is an enjoyable and distinctive release, but I would still choose 1 Million Privé, Elixir, or the original ahead of it.

☀️ 1 Million Parfum by Paco Rabanne — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Sweet Floral Leathery Amber
Key Notes Grapefruit, Tiare Flower, Tuberose, Solar Leather, Pine, Ambergris, Resin
Season Fall, Winter, Spring, Mild Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Dates, Night Out, Social Events, Daytime Around Town
Longevity Around 8–10 hours, providing dependable full-day performance
Sillage Strong early projection that gradually settles without becoming weak
Rating ★★★★☆ 8.1 / 10
Quick Verdict A sweet tropical-floral take on the familiar 1 Million style, combining grapefruit, tiare flower, solar leather, resin, and salty ambergris. The distinctive beachy opening is the highlight, while the later tuberose, leather, and pine dry down is simpler and may become tiring. Strong performance and an attractive youthful character make it a solid release, though it is not the best fragrance in the 1 Million line.

1 Million Parfum Overview

Notes include: grapefruit, solar leather, tuberose, pine, resin, amber

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne One 1 Million Pure Parfum Natural Spray For Men 100ml / 3.4oz

My Full Review

The opening act of 1 Million Parfum does bring to mind for me, the original 1 Million, but with alterations. If you replaced the blood orange with a juicy grapefruit note and added a warm semi-tropical twist to the leather, you’d have a good chunk of Parfum’s start.

I actually like it. It’s sweet, but has a unique flair that I wasn’t entirely expecting. This is a fragrance that does pull off a unique take, while maintaining that clear 1 Million DNA.

The white floral accord here, is really what helps to separate it from the pack. Initially, there seems like there is a good amount of tiare flower in this. That with the ‘solar notes’ and leather, gives this one a sort of island/beachy vibe. 

Yet, later on it will turn into mostly a tuberose fragrance. Anyway, the opening act is that grapefruit, tiare, solar leather blend. Underneath that, is a slightly salty ambergris and resin, which gives this one some more thickness.

It sticks to that track for a while, before the pine notes freshness peaks in. Leather and pine together do have that super fresh aroma, but it sort of stays underneath some of the other ingredients. It’s just a perpetual presence.

The final dry down is pretty simple. To me, it’s a blend of tuberose, leather, ambergris, and the remnants of the pine note. Honestly, it’s my least favorite part of 1 Million Parfum. Which sucks, as that’s what it is for most of the wear, after the first few hours.

It’s kind of a letdown after that opening act. I liked the kind of tropical aroma version of the original 1 Million, it was a nice change of pace from the norm.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here doesn’t feel extreme to me, but it is pretty powerful at first. It does project itself well, but sometimes it seems like it sneaks up on you, especially once that pronounced grapefruit note has fade. But, it’s not disappointing.

Longevity seems to fall in the 8 to 10 hour range. Very good, but not elite, at least on my skin. It does hang around for at least a full workday, so, no real complaints. I don’t know, I was expecting it to be more of a beast, but it’s really solid.

Seasonally, I’d say, autumn through spring. It’s not a super heavy fragrance and it does have some tropical elements, but I’m not sure that it’ll do well in the heat of summer. It’s already a warm scent, with resin, and plenty of ambergris. As such, it might melt.

Like the other entries in the 1 Million line, this does have a more youthful vibe. Not like the teenager quality of Lucky, rather, closer to Prive. Once it settles, it does have a mature and stylish character.

 

I’d wear this casually, out a night, or walking around town during the day. Wouldn’t really classify it as an office wear. Attractive and it does have a certain sexiness to it. 1 Million Parfum isn’t going to be one you reach for on formal occasions. 

Overall Impressions of 1 Million Parfum

Do I like this fragrance? I do. However, I’m also not blown away by it. I like the opening act way more than I do the draw down. Way too much of a fresh floral between the pine, leather, and tuberose…which, admittedly isn’t one of my favorite flowers.

I don’t think it’s a bad option, though. I do like that they at least went in a unique direction with Parfum, while giving nods to the original. For me, I’d still rather wear Prive (if they still made it) and probably the original 1 Million ahead of this. 

Update: Also, 1 Million Elixir. Since that has come out since this original review was posted.

It wears on me, as it moves along, and I almost get fatigued from that dry down. Though, I can see why there will be people who will be completely into Parfum. I won’t be getting a full bottle, but it’s not a terrible fragrance, and it definitely has enjoyable aspects.

It could’ve been something really different and interesting, but didn’t make it to anything approaching classic status. 

Le Beau Le Parfum by JPG

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Le Beau Le Parfum is a new release for 2022 from Jean Paul Gaultier. I bought a sample of it in a batch with others a while back, in order to give it a test and full review for the site. How does this one smell? Is it long last? When should it be worn? Is it actually worth trying?

My Verdict

Le Beau Le Parfum is a sweet, tropical, and creamy fragrance that opens with a fun burst of pineapple, coconut, and ginger before becoming much drier and woodier.

I really enjoy the opening, though the later sandalwood, tonka, and coconut-heavy dry down isn’t quite as interesting to me.

Performance is a definite strength, with around 9 hours of longevity and solid projection that starts strong before settling down. It has a youthful, playful feel that works especially well for casual wear and nights out.

Overall, it’s a solid and somewhat distinctive JPG release that’s absolutely worth trying if the tropical-meets-woody profile sounds appealing

Le Beau Le Parfum Overview

Notes include: ginger, pineapple, sandalwood, ambergris, iris, cypress, coconut, tonka bean, woods

le beau parfum review

🍹 Le Beau Le Parfum by Jean Paul Gaultier — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Sweet Tropical Woody
Key Notes Pineapple, Coconut, Ginger, Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, Ambergris, Cypress, Woods, Iris
Season Spring, Summer, Fall, Mild Winter Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Night Out, Dates, Social Events
Longevity Around 9 hours, with some wearings reaching about 10 hours
Sillage Strong early projection, settling into above-average sillage
Rating ★★★★☆ 8.0 / 10
Quick Verdict A sweet, tropical JPG fragrance that starts with juicy pineapple, coconut, and ginger before drying into creamy tonka, sandalwood, and woods. Youthful, playful, and long-lasting with solid projection. The opening is the highlight, while the drier woody finish may be more divisive. A solid choice for casual wear and nights out.

My Full Review

Here’s how JPG describes it: It’s impossible to resist temptation in the Gaultier garden, with Le Beau Le Parfum and his intense Eau de Parfum. The forbidden fruit of a fresh and extremely addictive oriental-woody scent, blending ginger and pineapple with the animal sensuality of ambergris and the powerful virility of sandalwood.

Upon first spraying, I get a really tropical vibe with the pineapple coming out of the gate strong and the coconut note sitting underneath. It’s juicy, creamy, and sweet with an added light spicy kick from the ginger note.

The ginger will fall away and the pineapple will lose its prominence at the top. Coconut, tonka bean, amber, and a general set of woods will dry this one up and take away the juiciness of that tropical vibe, at least.

It’s crazy how quickly that aspect fades from the picture. Sure, that sweetness stays around for the duration, just not in the same way.

Sandalwood and the tonka bean really do assist a lot at adding the creamy finish to this one. There is some powdery iris, but honestly, it gets lost in the shuffle and vanishes. Maybe it has more of a role on other people’s skin, definitely not with mine.

This one starts to turn much woodier in the dry down. Not like a green forest or anything, but more sandalwood dominant. With the cypress and other woods, the woodiness really stands out.

A light amber, tonka bean, and coconut take up the rest of the composition. It’s sweet, fresh, warm, and has an appealing aroma that’s surprisingly clean in the latter stages.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The JPG scent starts out with a great deal of power. It’s not massive, but it will project itself off the skin and can fill a room early on with enough sprays.

But, that’ll temper down and it will be basically above average in sillage for the rest of the way. Lighter for sure, just never weak until the very end.

The longevity here is really good here.  With Le Beau Le Parfum, I get somewhere in the 9 hour range. Once, it lasted about 10, but that probably is its maximum…on my skin, at least.

Those last few hours are definitely softer with how it comes across, however.

Seasonally, this one starts out as being best for spring and summer, but with the woodiness it’d work just fine in the rest of the year too. Maybe skip the depths of winter, but Le Beau works well with a variety of climates.

That’s probably a main strength of this fragrance.

It is more of a casual to nightlife sort of cologne. Not something that is going to come across as being a formal scent. Not really an office wear or anything. More suited for younger guys, but does offer a nice amount of versatility at times when you don’t need to be serious.

Overall Impressions of Le Beau Le Parfum

Overall, do I like Le Beau Le Parfum? Sure. That opening with the pineapple note, is really interesting and one of the aspects I like about Le Parfum. It is short-lived, enjoyable, but I can also see how it might get annoying after a period of time.

The rest of the way is nice. The latter stages are fine, just not my favorite. Dry and woody with tonka bean and that remaining coconut. Some might love it, but it’s not something that I’m completely into.

However, on the whole, this is a solid release from Jean Paul Gaultier. It brings something different to the table versus a lot of other fragrances in the market. Which is one of the things, JPG colognes are known for.

They’ve also released options like Paradise Garden and Flower Edition, if you want to check out a different style.

It does have a youthful and playful vibe. So, it’ll probably best serve a younger guy. A burst of tropical sweetness with a dry and creamy finish.

As one to try? Absolutely, if it sounds interesting to you, give this one a go. It can be a great pick up for the right guy.

Emblem by Mont Blanc

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Been posting quite a few Mont Blanc cologne reviews as of late and am going to finish up here today with one of the more popular scents, Emblem.

I’ve already had experience with this one in the past, but got a hold of a sample vial, in order to refresh my memory, and get my thoughts down after wearing it around.

This fragrance was released in 2014. As usual, I’ll explore what’s inside, how it smells, performs, and whether or not it is actually worth a purchase.

My Verdict

Emblem by Mont Blanc is a fresh, spicy, aromatic scent built around grapefruit, cardamom, cinnamon, violet leaf, sage, and tonka bean.

It has a nice contrast between cool and warm notes, giving it a clean but cozy feel that works best in cooler weather.

The performance is middle of the road, with lighter to moderate projection and around 6 hours before it turns into a skin scent. Overall, it’s pleasant, slightly unique, and easy to wear, but not something I’d pay full retail for.

🖋️ Emblem by Mont Blanc — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Spicy Aromatic Woody
Key Notes Grapefruit, Cardamom, Pepper, Violet Leaf, Cinnamon, Sage, Tonka Bean, Wood, Ambroxan
Season Fall, Winter, Temperate Weather
Occasion Business Casual, Formal Wear, Night Out, Cold Weather, Low-Key Daily Wear
Longevity About 6 hours before becoming a skin scent
Sillage Light to moderate — noticeable early, but not overpowering
Rating ★★★☆☆ 7.2 / 10
Quick Verdict A fresh, spicy, aromatic Mont Blanc scent with grapefruit, cardamom, cinnamon, violet leaf, sage, and tonka bean. Pleasant, cozy, and slightly unique, but the performance is only average and it’s better as a good-deal pickup than a full-retail buy.

Montblanc Emblem Fragrance Overview

Notes include: cinnamon, violet, tonka bean, sage, cardamom, grapefruit, wood, pepper, ambroxan

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Emblem Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3 fl. oz.

My Full Review

The opening of Emblem gives me a blast of grapefruit that is joined by a cool rush of cardamom, pepper, and violet leaf. After a few minutes, I start to pick up more cinnamon in the composition. It is interesting that I experience a warm and enveloping sensation at times.

Meanwhile, there is sort of a chill, that runs through this Mont Blanc cologne. I think the grapefruit and violet leaf, provide that cooling sensation. While cinnamon and cardamom, bring the warm feeling.

Within 20 minutes of applying, Emblem shifts away from the citrus top note opening, and I get an herbal and lightly spiced aroma. The violet leaf is familiar, as is the clary sage, which gives it that earthy sort of quality.

The cardamom stays pretty consistent throughout, to my nose. Meanwhile, there is a delicate hint of creamy tonka bean, that sits in the background during the dry down.

The sage note that comes in, stays fairly moderate during its peak, before retreating to the outer edges of the aroma. Emblem has a nice blend between being cozy and aromatic, slightly sweet and spicy. It’s fresh and not one, which screams for attention.

Further down the line, Emblem has a warm sweetness that feels like an equal part, when compared to the earlier spice.

It’s violet leaf, cinnamon, tonka bean, and cardamom at this point in the wear. The changes throughout are pretty subtle, but there is some jockeying between the ingredients, as time moves on.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Mont Blanc Emblem has a lighter to moderate sillage. It’s not a beast, but you’ll know that you have it on.

It sort of just becomes a part of your day and not something that intrudes and permeates while wearing. At the opening, it will form a solid perimeter around the wearer.

The longevity isn’t outstanding but not terrible either. At around 6 hours, it becomes a complete skin scent, and begins that slow evaporation process. It’s in the middle of the pack, in this regard.

Seasonally, I would slot this as a fall/winter wear, since this is built for the cold weather mainly. Temperate climate, would also be fine.

I couldn’t see myself ever reaching for Emblem during the summer months. The warm spice and later smoothness, just don’t fit really warm weather. Even with it’s lighter, ozonic aspects, I don’t think it’d fit well. At least where I live.

It’s more of a business casual to formal wear sort of cologne. You can wear it out at night, but it’s low key, so don’t expect some kind of club monster. Though, it is attractive enough to be appreciated, when someone else moves close enough.

Overall Impressions of Emblem

Overall, do I recommend Emblem? I like it. I think the aroma is overall very pleasant to wear. The longevity kind of leaves more to be desire, but it isn’t terrible.

It’s a seemingly simple scent, but it has some sneaky depth. Plus, it has some more unique aspects versus a lot of the other mainstream fare.

I like the cinnamon note, along with the cardamom. The contrast between the warm and cooling sensation is attractive.

The violet leaf doesn’t actually bother me in the mix. It’s for sure one of my least favorite notes, personally. Here, I think it works and doesn’t get on my nerves.

I don’t know that this would be my personal go to, as it occupies that cold weather space, that contains some of my favorite fragrances.

Also, in terms of Mont Blanc scents, I’ve actually been loving Legend Night, as of late. If you can get a good deal on Emblem, it’s a solid choice, not earth shattering but good all around. I wouldn’t pay full retail for it, though.

Cool Water vs. Polo Blue EDT Cologne Comparison

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In this post, I want to do a head to head comparison between two popular men’s aquatics: Polo Blue EDT vs. Cool Water by Davidoff. Now, I’m not a huge fan of either, but I do think they are both solid colognes. The question is, which one smells better? Is there a difference in how long they last? Which is more versatile?

Quick Overview

Cool Water and Polo Blue EDT are both easygoing fresh aquatics made for casual wear and warmer weather. Cool Water is the cheaper classic with a sharper, minty-green feel, while Polo Blue is smoother, cleaner, and a little more polished. In the end, Polo Blue wins overall, but Cool Water still makes sense if value is the main priority.

Category Cool Water Polo Blue EDT Winner
Opening Opens with mint, tobacco, spice, and a green aquatic freshness. More distinctive, but sharper and less immediately smooth. Opens with cucumber, melon, tangerine, and amber. Simple and familiar, but smoother and more enjoyable overall. Polo Blue EDT
Projection Moderate projection. Noticeable enough for daily wear, but not loud or overpowering. Also moderate. It performs at about the same level and stays safe around others. Push
Longevity Newer bottles usually last around 6-7 hours, which is solid but not quite as strong as Polo Blue. Usually lasts around 7-8 hours, giving it a slight advantage in wear time. Polo Blue EDT
Versatility Works well for casual wear, school, work, spring, summer, and easy everyday use. Also fits casual wear, school, work, spring, summer, and safe everyday situations. Push
Overall Scent More affordable and has a nice minty aquatic opening, but the soapy middle can be a drawback. Cleaner, smoother, and more enjoyable overall, even if it is somewhat simple and linear. Polo Blue EDT
Value Usually much cheaper, making it the better buy if you mainly want an affordable aquatic cologne. Smells better overall, but the higher price may not be worth it for everyone. Cool Water

Tale of the Tape: Cool Water vs. Polo Blue

Polo Blue

Notes include: amber, melon, patchouli, geranium, cucumber, tangerine, moss, musk

Click here to try: Polo Blue by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau De Toilette Natural Spray, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original review: Polo Blue Review

Cool Water

Notes include: lavender, mint, tobacco, amber, musk, jasmine, sandalwood, neroli, coriander, rosemary, and more

Click here to try: Davidoff Cool Water Edt Spray for Men, 6.7 oz

Read my Review: Cool Water

Opening

Cool Water opens up with mint, tobacco, and of course these notes are surrounded by an aquatic aroma. It’s got a green and fresh smell, that later picks up white floral notes, and a fairly soapy scent. I really do like the uncured tobacco note and the crisp spice of the mint. It is at times sharp and then smooth.

Polo Blue goes in a different direction with the crisp aquatic style, as it starts off with cucumber and melon. These notes are flanked by a light tangerine and amber. It is pretty straightforward, pleasant, if unremarkable.

Which is better? While I like the mint tobacco combo in Cool Water, I actually like the smell of Polo Blue better. Yes, it can be boring, but it works well.

Edge: Polo Blue

Projection

The sillage of each of these fragrances is consistently moderate. Neither goes into extreme projection mode, nor are they weak. Solid, but won’t overpower a room.

For me, I don’t notice a real difference between how much either projects on my skin. Call it a tie.

Edge: Push

Longevity

With newer bottles of Cool Water, I get 6-7 hours of wear from it. Older formulations were about 8. That’s the way that it goes, usually. However, Cool Water still holds up rather well.

Polo Blue hits 7-8 hours pretty consistently, not a huge margin, but better than the Davidoff. Maybe the 1980s version of Cool Water was even better, but it’s still decent these days.

Edge: Polo Blue

Versatility

Both of these fragrances are solid choices for everyday wear. They can go casual or to school or to work, depending on your circumstances. Cool Water and Polo Blue are safe and inoffensive, to those around you, and can gather complements without choking out a room.

Neither is a club scent or really a date night cologne. They shine in spring/summer, but can go year round, as well. There’s no real distinction, in this category.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Cool Water has a really nice opening act, with the mint and tobacco, that sit in the watery mix. I’m not a huge fan of when it turns soapy, towards the middle, but it does come around again with a woody/aquatic base to round things out.

There’s a reason that it’s been popular for so long and it has an advantage of being very reasonably priced.

I like Polo Blue, I’m not a huge fan of the scent (it’s pretty linear and simple), but I would rather wear it over Cool Water. For me, the EDP version, is better than this EDT that I’m comparing to Cool Water. But, I’d take both of the Polo options over the Davidoff.

Why? It just smells better overall. These are fairly evenly matched scents, with similar uses and performance. The melon/tangerine combination with crisp cucumber and the amber notes are quite enjoyable in Polo Blue.

It also doesn’t have the sort of soapy aroma, that Cool Water gives off at times. It’s not way better, but it does have a slight edge in this comparison.

Cool Water is the more inexpensive option, often by quite a lot, so take that into consideration. I like Polo Blue more, but not sure if I’d pay $30 more for a bottle, if I could get Cool Water and another scent for the same price. But that’s up to you and your situation.

Winner: Polo Blue EDT