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!

The One EDT vs. EDP Comparison

by

The One for Men by Dolce & Gabbana is one of the most successful fragrance lines of the past two decades. With that success, comes a whole host of different flanker versions of the original formulation.

They are seemingly endless and have little or a lot to do with the original EDT depending on the edition. But, one that has a ton of overlap with the eau de toilette is The One eau de parfum.

On this page, is my comparison of the original The One EDT launch and the 2015 eau de parfum follow up. Which smells better? Lasts longer? Should you buy?

Tale of the Tape: The One vs. The One Eau de Parfum

The One by D&G

Notes include: grapefruit, basil, coriander, amber, tobacco, ginger, cardamom, orange blossom, and cedar

Click here to try: The One EDT

My Full Review: The One EDT

the one for men review

The One EDP

Notes include: grapefruit, basil, coriander, amber, tobacco, ginger, cardamom, orange blossom, and cedar

Click here to try: The One EDP

My Full Review The One EDP

the one edp review

Opening

The One EDT opens up with its grapefruit and spices being the main focus. The citrus note is pretty short-lived, but with that amber pool, the coriander and basil notes really come on beautifully.

But, ginger and cardamom are also present. Providing further warmth and spice to the opening act of EDT. It’s not a heavy spiciness, rather, a freshness tempered by the citrus, amber, and emerging tobacco note.

Now, EDP is mostly the same as the original.

But, to my nose, there are differences. The grapefruit has a larger role to play early on in the EDP version. Not entirely citrusy or anything, but it is more pronounced.

I’d say most of the spice profile is the same, but I do think that the cardamom has been amped up some, furthering the citrus impression that I get, while still providing some spiced warmth.

Beyond that, the amber and tobacco are just stronger and more potent.

Which opening to I prefer? Again, it’s like 95% the same. But, I do like the added depth of the EDP a bit more, so it takes this category.

Edge: EDP

Projection

The lack of power and staying power is a hallmark of the original The One. If I spray a good amount of EDT, I get 30-45 minutes of a solid scent trail and projection.

5-6 feet from the skin, is about it’s max distance. Thereafter, it’ll be within 2 feet of where you sprayed it.

With EDP, things improve. A little more of a radius at its peak, that’ll give you a nice scent trail and bubble for 2-3.5 hours. After that, it’ll be close to the skin, much like the original.

But, that improved performance is indeed worth it and simply better.

Edge: EDP

Longevity

The other problem with the original The One for Men was with its longevity. When I first tried it back in the day, I was lucky to get to 2 hours on the skin.

If you go heavy with the sprays (which you should with this cologne), you can stretch that time period to 3-4 hours of wear. Still, pretty darn poor versus what you’re paying.

With EDP, normal sprays nets me about 4-5 hours of wear. With heavy sprays, I can go 6+ hours and up to about 8.

Way better and much more acceptable as a fragrance.

It’s still not amazing, but it works out just fine with the eau de parfum. Plenty of time to enjoy the cologne.

Edge: EDP

Versatility

As far as when and how each should be worn, they’re exactly the same.

Seasonally, autumn and winter, mainly. But, I will still wear them in spring and summer, if it isn’t too hot and humid. Though, it is mostly an indoor only option with air conditioning going.

A nightlife machine, that is sexy and confident.  You can wear them in a variety of situations, appropriate for a wide array of ages, but may not want to go completely formal with it.

Romantic wear, nightlife, casual, and semi-formal.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which fragrance is better? The clear choice is the eau de parfum. The scent itself is overwhelmingly the same, as the original. Plus, the performance is better across the board.

I love the way the original EDT smells, I can pick up those slight differences early on, but it doesn’t change the outcome of this comparison.

Frankly, the performance of The One for Men EDT is too terrible. The price nowadays is fine, but even with heavy sprays, you’d have to apply and re-apply constantly.

Sure, EDP isn’t a powerhouse, but it does give you hours of solid wear before becoming a lighter fragrance. I wear it fairly often and don’t have much in the way of complaints about its performance.

The One Eau de Parfum gives you a deeper and richer fragrance. That amber and tobacco is still awesome and this is a sent that I have come back to recently and will continue to wear into the future.

If you want a The One fragrance, the EDP is the best. There are some other good ones like, Luminous Night, but EDP still reigns supreme.

Winner: The One EDP

1 Million Intense by Paco Rabanne

by

1 Million Intense is a fragrance that has been discontinued for a long time now, having a production run after its 2013 release. It’s one that I knew I hadn’t reviewed on the site, didn’t think I’d ever tried out (I really cannot remember), and I had the opportunity to by an old sample as part of a lot.

Better late than never, I’ve been testing out Intense to see what this one is all about. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is this Paco Rabanne, worth tracking down an older bottle?

What does 1 Million Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: saffron, orange, cardamom, rose, black pepper, cinnamon, patchouli, orris, leather, neroli, sandalwood

My Full Review

Here’s how Paco Rabanne describes it: 1 Million takes on a sensual and warm intensity through its new interpretation: a flamboyant burst of ruby mandarin orange laced with spices on a vibrantly masculine base of iris and sandalwood.

Immediately, you can tell that this is a follow up to the original 1 Million. That mandarin orange comes through plenty juicy and sweet, like in that one. The main difference is going to be the initial spicy punch.

Black pepper, cardamom, and saffron all come through. Cinnamon is there too, and it will become the dominant spice out of the bunch.

It’s rougher than the original, much less sweet, and with a bigger rose note. That, however, will reveal itself more later on.

The black pepper and saffron are pretty huge in that opening. The pepper is short lived, but that fresh saffron note sticks around, just in a declining role.

I actually compared aspects of The One Mysterious Night, to another Paco Rabanne flanker, 1 Million Cologne. However, it also applies to Intense with its spice and rose combo. Not to mention, saffron and citrus.

Once we get past that initial intensity, this one settles down into a smoother floral sort of aroma. Neroli and rose begin to take center stage, alongside them are cinnamon and saffron.

As we dry down, it gets closer to the original 1 Million. Leather which becomes apparent in the first hour, will be one of the last notes standing.

With that, will be the rose, a bit of patchouli, and cinnamon sitting on a woody base. It still has that 1 Million ‘bubble gum’ sweetness to it. Just with more depth.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Yes, 1 Million Intense lives up to it’s name. This one has a very strong sillage, can cloud up a room, leave a trail, and projects very well…in the early stages.

After that, it is still going to be strong, just not oppressively so. 4-6 feet from the skin, is about what I get out of this one.

On my skin, it seems to be in that 9.5-11+ hour range. About what I got with the old original bottles of 1 Million. It’s probably not going past 12 hours, but it’s capable of getting up there.

Seasonally, this one is also and autumn and winter wear. This might get ridiculous in the heat and I’d avoid that. But, on a moderate evening, it’s actually still nice. But, I’d stick to a chilly night.

I’ve never considered the original 1 Million to be a versatile scent. It’s always been a casual or nightlife wear for me. Something fun to wear, every so often.

Intense is along those same line, but I think it’s more mature. It’s depth, spiciness, and toned down sweetness will have a greater appeal across age ranges. Still not a formal fragrance, however.

Overall Impressions of 1 Million Intense

Overall, do I like this version of 1 Million? I do. It takes that 1 Million DNA that I like, amps up aspects, and adds others.

The opening is a spicy and intense punch, but I think that they pulled it off well. Maybe not my favorite part, but I like the transition to the next phase once things have calmed down.

The performance is fantastic. Just like how older bottles of the original were, but a touch above that. Loud (at first) and long-lasting. No complaints in that department.

I think that it’s very good, if you’re a 1 Million fan already. Those who aren’t, probably wouldn’t have their minds changed by Intense.

Then, we come to the fact that bottles are very pricey, since it’s been discontinued. I’m not so sure that it’s worth tracking down for probably 99% of people. If you’re a collector or just someone who loves these Paco Rabanne releases, then, you might be an exception.

For everyone else, I wouldn’t bother, unless you see one out in the wild for a reasonable price. It’s a good fragrance, but not an absolute must have.

Goddess EDP by Burberry

by

Goddess is one of the newer releases from Burberry, that came out in 2023. It wasn’t a perfume that I had heard much about going into testing, but I bought a sample anyway to check it out. How does this one smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Goddess EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: lavender, vanilla, cacao, ginger, vanilla absolute, vanilla caviar

Click here to try: Goddess by Burberry

My Full Review

Here’s how Burberry describes it: Burberry Goddess is a unique gourmand fragrance led by a confident and powerful multi-faceted trio of vanillas. Enriched with a luminous lavender top note, the scent exudes a rich, layered personality that’s instantly memorable.

So, upon spraying this one I’m immediately hit with a wonderful gourmand aroma. Fresh and not overbearingly heavy, however. The ginger does a nice job at breaking up the vanilla dominance.

Ginger and a cacao note add a great mix to the aroma early. Goddess feels cold with a lightness that I enjoy. I’ve seen this get compared to Mon Guerlain, but they’re are not the same, while having a similar style.

I mean, in the dry down, both are all about that lavender and vanilla. Still, smell differently. But, this one  also doesn’t have jasmine, tonka bean, or patchouli. Cacao and tonka bean, play a similar role…but aren’t exactly the same and don’t have the same aroma.

The lavender also begins to show itself early on. It’s really tamed by all of the vanilla. I was worried that this might take a Libre path, with the lavender, but the note is balanced quite well in Goddess.

It’s interesting that there are three types of vanilla in this perfume. Can I tell them apart? I mean, not really. The ginger burns off and the middle is more about the lavender and vanilla pairing.

The very tail end of the perfume is a vanilla-centric scent. Though, it feels like a standard creamy vanilla note. So, I’m not getting any real distinction between the types.

Burberry Goddess isn’t very complicated and there isn’t really any development here, after this point.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Goddess is not a massive projector or one that is super heavy. You’ll get an intimate scent bubble for most of the wear a decent radius of reach in the early goings.

It’s not weak, solidly moderate, until the last few hours of wear when it becomes a skin scent.

The longevity is somewhere in the range of average. For me, it was 6-6.5 hours of total wear from this Burberry. It’s okay, not great.

On clothing, you will get 3+ more hours, but it doesn’t seem to want to stick to skin. My skin, isn’t the type that ‘eats up’ fragrances either. I routinely get 10+ hours from other scents.

Seasonally, I do think that this fragrance isn’t too heavy or cloying, that it gets stuck solely in the autumn or winter. On a moderately warm spring day, I think that Goddess would hold up just fine.

I would skip out on wearing this in the heat, though.

It’s strength is with its versatility. It isn’t hyper sweet or too bold, so, it’s safe for most occasions. It’s attractive enough for the nightlife, even if you might want to go with something more dynamic.

It’s attractive and somewhat sexy, so, you could spray it before a date as well. Goddess isn’t the most formal fragrance, maybe have something else for really ‘dressy’ situations.

It also works for a wide age range. Not too mature for the younger set, but not too juvenile for older women either.

Overall Impressions of Goddess EDP

Overall, do I like Goddess by Burberry? I do like it. It’s not anything that’s crazy unique or complicated, but it is a mainstream perfume that is going to do well and have plenty of fans.

The name doesn’t really fit, what the actual scent is. You might expect something bolder, sexier, etc. Not to say this is a bad perfume, it certainly isn’t.

I like the opening and how it keeps things fresh and light. Not a heavy or overbearing use of the vanilla and lavender, just quite pleasant to spray on.

It’s not a great performer, though. For me, it’s okay, pretty standard issue. On skin, it’s probably not going to go past six hours for most people.

But, if that’s not too much of a problem for you, Goddess is worth trying out. Maybe test it in store or wait for the price to hit discount levels, over the next year or so.

If you’re not a vanilla and/or lavender fan, I don’t think there’s anything here that would change your mind. As such, you can also probably skip this initial Goddess release.

Prada Paradoxe vs YSL Libre

by

Libre and Paradoxe are two perfume series which have gained popularity over the past handful of years or so. Paradoxe is the newer of the two, having only spawned one other flanker, as of writing. Libre is a bit deeper in the game, with a few more scents released under its belt.

Since these two are so popular, I wanted to do a direct comparison posts of the original releases of each. Which smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy, Libre or Paradoxe?

Tale of the Tape: Paradoxe vs. Libre

Paradoxe

Notes include: neroli, pear, tangerine, bergamot, orange blossom, white musk, jasmine, vanilla, amber, benzoin

Click here to try: Paradoxe by Prada

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

Libre kicks of with a strong burst of the orange blossom (maybe some additional citrus fruit spritzed in) and the lavender, which will only grown more powerful. It’s soapy, somewhat musky, and has a definite creaminess throughout.

The main change that I get during the rest of the wear is the lavender becoming dominant and the musk coming out more. Very little orchid when compared to Intense and the vanilla isn’t a front and center.

Paradoxe opens up sweet, fruity, and luminous. The neroli is going to be a major factor in that first half of the hour, as the floral note.

But, on me, that quickly shifts more into the orange blossom’s direction, as we enter the middle act.

The fruitiness comes across more like an artificial candy versus a pure natural fruit. Some sparkling pear is in the mix, but lots of citrus influence (tangerine is the most powerful fruit, early) for the start of Paradoxe.

This will become more floral after the opening burst. Again, for me I get more orange blossom, even versus the jasmine. Neroli still has a presence, but the orange blossom is stronger at this point.

Which do I prefer? To me, I’ll go with Paradoxe. Both have strong uses of orange blossom, but I like the pairing of that floral note with the fruits of the Prada. It’s more pleasant than what I get with the YSL.

Not a massive preference for Paradoxe, but it does have the edge here.

Edge: Paradoxe

Projection

Libre has a strong opening, for a mainstream designer perfume. Not super heavy, but plenty of substance and a wide radius, in which it will be smelled. The rest of the wear, is on the stronger side of what can be considered moderate.

Paradoxe opens up a notch below Libre and stays firmly in the moderate camp the rest of the way.

Still, Libre has the higher highs and is stronger for much of the duration. Until those last few hours, where these two are about equal.

Edge: Libre

Longevity

With Libre EDP, I’ve always gotten 8-9 hours during testing, pretty much without fail. That version of the perfume doesn’t seem to go beyond that, but also not below it either.

Paradoxe is close to the same, but has a slightly higher ceiling than the YSL. I get 8.5-10 hours with Paradoxe, on skin.

It’s not by a massive margin, but the Prada takes the win here. Yes, Libre is stronger with its projection, but Paradoxe keeps on just a bit longer.

Edge: Paradoxe

Versatility

Both of these are very versatile daily wear sorts of fragrances. I don’t either of them would be the top choice for nightlife or date night use.

Seasonally, Libre fits in better for cooler autumn and winter. It can venture into the spring as well. Paradoxe isn’t built for the heat, but it performs deeper into the warmer season.

Maybe the advantage comes with Libre, the lack of sweeter notes, and it’s ability to fit into more semi-formal/office wear situations. Other than that, they’re about equal.

Edge: Libre (slightly)

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these two fragrances do I prefer?

I’m not a massive fan of either of these fragrances. Each of them is fine. I prefer Libre Intense, to the original, and Paradoxe never struck me as amazing.

However, between these two, I’m going with Paradoxe.

Libre is nice enough. It’s much more of a floral focused scent. The dry down is going to be about the lavender note, with orange blossom at its side. Some vanilla, musk, etc. If you’re a lavender fan, you should consider it.

Paradoxe’s opening I’ve already explained, but the balance in the dry down makes me want to choose it versus the YSL. It pairs the orange blossom with jasmine. Clean and somewhat soapy. But, you still get some of the sweetness from earlier, and the vanilla/amber base.

The performances are close enough, to be somewhat equal, and sort of cancels out any other advantage.

Winner: Paradoxe

Tobacco Oud by Tom Ford

by

In this edition of the never-ending fragrance reviews on this site, we have yet another entry from Tom Ford. This one is entitled, Tobacco Oud, which should be a giveaway as to what type of scent you can expect. It was released in 2013. In this post, I will cover my experiences with Tobacco Oud, and determine whether or not it is worth a try.

What does Tobacco Oud Smell Like?

Notes include: tobacco, oud, amber, whiskey, vanilla, cinnamon, benzoin, patchouli, sandalwood, coriander, cedar, incense

Click here to try: Tom Ford Private Blend Tobacco Oud Eau De Parfum Spray 100ml/3.4oz

My Full Review

Tobacco Oud opens up with very prominent oud that is soaked in whiskey and quite resinous. The tobacco strikes my nose as being pipe tobacco, already cured with some spicy coriander and cinnamon peaking through.

The opening isn’t the best part of this Tom Ford, as it is more about the whiskey and oud over the tobacco notes. It’s smoky and a bit dirty with patchouli. I do like a good whiskey note, and this gets better, but I’m really not all that enthralled with this opening act.

As it dries down, the incense and warm resinous qualities (including benzoin) begin to be more prominent, and the oud less so. Also, the tobacco rises to the top of the heap, this is when I start to enjoy Tobacco Oud much more.

It’s a spicy oriental flavor surrounding the tobacco and the still present boozy quality of the whiskey note. Benzoin is one of my favorite resinous or balsamic notes, with the added incense smoke, you do get a whiskey cigar sort of aroma here.

Finally, the fragrance finally dries down into something that is ultimately woody and with more sweetness. The smoky quality subsides a lot and the tobacco fades, but it smells sweet and warm on the skin.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I would say that Tobacco Oud projects itself very well for the first hour or so of wear. After that, I find that the sillage is toward the moderate end of things, not too intense but certainly not weak.

With the longevity, Tobacco Oud is a great performer, and will go over 10 hours without issue. It’s essentially like other Tom Ford fragrances of this ilk. It’s going to stick around and give you a completely developed run on your skin.

Seasonally, Tobacco Oud is an autumn/winter wear. The warmth, spices, etc. aren’t going to be too great in the heat, but do perform quite well in the cold. It’s not a casual sort of fragrance at all.

While, this is technically a unisex scent, it is actually heavily masculine to my nose. I wouldn’t want to smell this on a girlfriend ever. It’s more refined and niche, but I wouldn’t call it a sexy fragrance, somewhat attractive but that’s it.

Yet, it’s one that you can wear dressed up on a night out and with the crisp and colder air of the winter, it can absolutely stand out.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Tobacco Oud

Overall, do I like Tobacco Oud? I like aspects of it. The opening is my least favorite part, but I like the dry down more. Still, it’s never been a fragrance that is a personal favorite of mine. Whiskey, tobacco, and benzoin are highlights but not enough to truly sell me on Tobacco Oud.

Personally, I like Tobacco Oud Intense more. Even if, neither are really my style. 

This scent has strong Middle Eastern/Oriental aroma to it, I think that every high-end designer has their version of this vibe. Other people seem to like this more than I do, at least that seems to be the take online.

The performance is also very good, so, you at least get bang for your buck. It just is a niche sort of scent, it will appeal to a certain type of fragrance lover, but probably not something that the masses will adopt.

You’re going to have to be a fan of resinous, incense smoke, tobacco, oud, and herbal spices. If that’s your thing, than this is your fragrance. For me, it’s above average, but I’ve never clamored to want to wear this particular Tom Ford.