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 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!

Mon Guerlain vs La Vie est Belle Perfume Comparison

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Over the past few years, Mon Guerlain has become a very popular choice for women’s daily wear perfumes. La Vie Est Belle, has been a big shot, for a lot longer. Nonetheless, there a many ladies, who are trying to decide which one is the best option. In this post, I am going to compare the two in various categories, before declaring a winner as the better buy. 

Tale of the Tape: Mon Guerlain vs. La Vie Est Belle

La Vie Est Belle

Notes include: patchouli, vanilla, blackberry, iris, pear, tonka bean, praline, and more

Click here to try: Lancome La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7 Ounce

Read my Review: La Vie Est Belle

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

Opening

Mon Guerlain opens up with a sweet, candy-like aroma of vanilla and tonka bean. When paired with its other notes, it actually takes on a bit of a caramel sort of aroma.

With that is a light powder from iris and the brightness of a bergamot citrus note. Neither of them are too impactful, but they are present. 

Somewhat similar to Black Opium with how Mon Guerlain starts off Not the same, however. This is for about 15-20 minutes, before Mon Guerlain becomes a lavender and vanilla, based perfume. 

La Vie Est Belle kicks things off with a blueberry/pear combination. It is tart and somewhat sour, at the start. Then, the patchouli and iris, starts to take more control of the aroma. More of a fruity gourmand than a  sweet candy. It’ll be less fruity, in the dry down. 

Which is better? I really enjoy both. I think that the Mon Guerlain opening act, is probably more tolerable to most women. The tartness of the La Vie start, bothers some folks. I think I lean towards, Mon Guerlain, also.

Edge: Mon Guerlain

Projection

Mon Guerlain’s sillage is pretty moderate. Not weak, but definitely not a bomb. Very well balanced, overall. Meanwhile, La Vie can really come with the power, and take over a room. Not the strongest scent ever, but packs a punch, and wins this round easily.

Edge: La Vie Est Belle

Longevity

Both Mon Guerlain and La Vie Est Belle are all day wears. 8 hours seems to be the minimum, on my skin, and each are known to go for 10+ hours.

La Vie is stronger, but they are pretty equal in longevity. 

I tested both of these out, when they were newer to the market, so, I don’t know if either has been weakened since then. But, in my testing, they’re about the same.

Update: Changing this one to favor Mon Guerlain, after more testing. It consistently goes longer than La Vie Est Belle.

Edge: Mon Guerlain

 

Versatility

While both are seemingly better in the colder months, Mon Guerlain, can go later into the springtime than can La Vie Est Belle, in my opinion. Neither is a summertime wear.

They are both known for being versatile, in their uses. From casual to office to formal. Extremely popular daily wears. Neither is a club or nightlife scent. I think they’re both really pretty and attractive on a woman, though, not necessarily ‘sexy’. Not sure there’s much of an edge here.

Edge: Push

 

Overall Scent

This really is a tough call. It essentially is going to come down to which type of smell you prefer, as the performance is really close.

Mon Guerlain, after its initial candy-like smell, becomes more of a sweet floral fragrance. Vanilla, lavender, and jasmine are the main players here. It’s simple, yet elegant, and beautiful.

La Vie Est Belle, gives you a powerful sillage, with a fruity opening act. Then, vanilla/praline/patchouli, come along to create a gourmand scent, that is surrounded by iris. 

I like the overall experience of the Lancome fragrance and it is a scent that I enjoy quite a lot.

When, I think of which is better, my mind tends to say Mon Guerlain. I really love the way this perfume smells. I sprayed some before this post, and now, my room smells excellent. When compared to the La Vie, I think the lavender paired with vanilla, is just a bit better. You get more floral notes and the Guerlain is blended amazingly well.

Winner: Mon Gueralin

Oud Fleur by Tom Ford

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I’m just about done with my batch of Tom Ford fragrances to review, finally. Now, I obviously still have some more from the collection to get a hold of, but I’ve made plenty of headway. For today’s entry, I am going to give my take on Oud Fleur, one of the oud based scents from this brand. How does it smell? Perform? Is it worth a try? 

What does Oud Fleur Smell Like?

Notes include: oud, sandalwood, resin, patchouli, rose

Click here to try: Oud Fleur by Tom Ford for unisex – 3.4 Ounce edp spray 

My Full Wear Review

Before we get into my thoughts on Oud Fleur, let’s see how Tom Ford describes it: Oud Fleur unfolds like a brocaded silk damask of two deeply iconic Arabian ingredients: Rose and Oud Wood. The gloriously rich and aged complexity that makes oud the most prized and noble wood in perfumery, is contrasted with a symphony of rose effects orchestrated to capture every dimension of the flower. 

The opening of Oud Fleur is much about the oud, at least to my nose. What I do get is a pretty strong use of sandalwood, but mainly rose, with a very resinous amber. That’s a positive for me, as I enjoy sandalwood and amber, more so than oud. 

There is an underlying spice which peaks through the composition, during the entire wear, but really feels at its strongest in the opening act. Most of that, is the patchouli note, though some of it is due to the wood notes interacting and the amber.

This first half feels very rosy to me. I’m not sure how many times, that I’ve had to test out a oud and rose combo fragrance, but it’s getting repetitive. This one, however, is actually one of the better examples I must say. 

As it moves further along, the oud does make a stronger appearance, sort of replacing the sandalwood. The scent really doesn’t develop all that much beyond that. It’s a rose dominant oud scent, with a dark resinous, and somewhat spicy vibe. Not really any smokiness, as you’d usually find in this sort of scent.

 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage of Oud Fleur is pretty strong, but not insanely so. For a few hours, it will project itself very well, and is moderate thereafter. Definitely, wasn’t a weak perfume, on my skin. 

The longevity was also good, I got somewhere in the 8-9 hour range, during testing. Was it amazing, in that regard? No. Though, it does its job for almost any event or standard work day. 

Oud Fleur is of course, another unisex scent from Tom Ford. This one does lean much more feminine, in my opinion. Wearing it was closer to a standard female perfume experience, than any male cologne of the market.

That being said, it could still be worn, by anybody. Just be aware beforehand, what you’re getting. 

Seasonally, this is a colder weather scent. Though, in a temperate climate, it wouldn’t be too out of place. I would avoid the heat. It does have good versatility, as it can go formal, or serve as a romantic wear. It has more of an elegant profile, but I wore it casually, without it feeling too out of place.

Overall Impression of Oud Fleur

Do I like Oud Fleur? As much as I can, personally. Again, I’m not a big fan of rose or oud, and not at all the target demographic for this fragrance. I definitely don’t hate it and wasn’t at all put off by it.

It’s one of the better examples of this sort of perfume, but still not an amazing one. Most of these rose and oud based fragrances, are around this same Tom Ford level price point.

I like its darker and spicier aspects. I find it intriguing and the somewhat damp woodiness and rose note, was much better than I would normally find it to be. The resin and spice is a nice touch in Oud Fleur to create a more distinct aroma versus all of the others on the market.

This is still going to be a niche sort of wear. It is well worth checking out, if you’re a oud fan, as even I have to admit that this is quite a fine use of the note. I got solid performance and it smells good for what it is.

Is it a perfume for the masses? Absolutely not. Though, it’s not so niche, as to be completely polarizing. For those are into this style, I’d probably still give it a try before committing to a full bottle.

Guilty Cologne by Gucci

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Oh, Gucci, you never do stop with the Guilty flankers do you? For 2019, the subject of today’s review was released, Guilty Cologne. Not a very original name, nor does it have any real connection to the rest of the Guilty line of fragrances. But, how does it smell? Does this scent have good performance? Is it worth a buy?

What does Guilty Cologne by Gucci Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, juniper berries, rosemary, violet, cypress, cedar, patchouli, heliotrope, musk

Click here to try: Gucci Guilty Cologne by Gucci, 1.6 oz EDT Spray for Men

My Full Review

I first tried out Guilty Cologne back in August, while I was out shopping. My first overall thought upon smelling it was, why do they keep using the Guilty name for fragrances, that don’t smell at all like the original Guilty?

Secondly, I was actually kind of taken aback, as to what I was smelling. It felt unique and different, while having familiar elements. I wasn’t sure if I enjoyed this fragrance or not.

As such, I’ve put off doing any sort of review for months, until I could spend much more time with it.

Guilty Cologne opens up with a fresh and rather sharp burst. Bergamot comes out really strong, to my nose, along with a fresh juniper. The juniper brings to mind Luna Rossa Sport, without the layer of lavender on top. 

The second layer in the opening, I get a lot of rosemary, but it seems to be wed to the cypress note. The tree note, will definitely come more into play later on. However, the rosemary and bergamot dominate the opening 20-30 minutes for me.

After that, they relinquish much of their initial power. A lightly powdery heliotrope comes in, the herbal spice/citrus sharpness gets toned down, and the woody freshness is amped up. Cedar, juniper berries, and cypress will do that. It becomes quite a green and clean aroma.

Finally, I get a very woodsy fragrance in the dry down. On my skin, the cypress comes through as the strongest note, with violet working in conjunction. Juniper, rosemary, and heliotrope follow. It’s dry, somewhat herbal and powdery, with a light sweetness around the edges. 

Not a super complex fragrance, but it is an interesting one.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatilty

I find that Guilty Cologne starts off strong and the sillage, can cover a large area around you. This is the case for the first hour. Second hour, is still moderately strong. After that, it’s pretty average. You’ll notice it, but it isn’t going to be a cloud of fragrance.

That opening act will definitely leave a solid scent trail in your wake. 7+ foot radius at its peak, before settling more into that 3 foot range later.

Longevity, sits in the 6-8 hour range. It’s good, but not amazing. A lot of the other Guilty scents, don’t seem to have a long life either, but this is such a distinct scent from those. It’s sort of in the middle of the pack, out of the Guilty lineup.

Seasonally, I wouldn’t be opposed to wearing this year round. However, on mild to slightly warm days, this Gucci cologne seems to be in top form. I like the idea of this in spring and early autumn, the air isn’t too thick with humidity and it will be the right temperature for Cologne to do its thing.

I like it as a casual to semi-formal fragrance. If you don’t spray too much, it would be fine for office wear. Has a fresh and masculine disposition, but not really a club beast, nor romantic wear. It could work in a variety of situations, but not really built specifically for such a purpose.

Overall Impression of Guilty Cologne

Do I like this scent? The more time with it, the more I lean toward it being enjoyable. Yeah, that sounds weird, but this is a unique smell and not the usual style that I personally go for. 

The opening act is pretty sharp and if you don’t like rosemary, this one will almost certainly be a pass. I have grown fond of the cypress, I enjoy juniper, and the violet doesn’t bother me in this composition.

The performance is above average, also. The whole thing comes across as interesting, just not excellent. Guilty Cologne will for sure have its dedicated fans.

It’s overall a good fragrance. Not the best, but certainly one, which can be a solid wear for the right guy. I would check for this one, when it’s getting discounted way down and price. Then, I’d say it’s a buy, but probably not for full retail.

Obsession for Men by Calvin Klein

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For this installment of my reviews of Calvin Klein colognes for men, we are going to hit the way back machine and take a look at Obsession, the classic CK scent from the 1980s. This is one of the scents which helped to put the designer’s fragrance line on the map and has been a very good seller ever since its release. Let’s take an opportunity to give this now classic fragrance an overview of what makes it so.

Update: I’ve update and edited this review, to expand upon, and give additional thoughts on this cologne. List of the best Calvin Klein fragrances for men!

What Does CK Obsession for Men Smell Like?

rp_obsession-300x300.jpg

Notes include: mandarin and spice, with low tones of musk, sandalwood and amber

Shop on Amazon: Calvin Klein OBSESSION for Men Eau de Toilette, 4 fl. oz.

My Full Wear Review

One of the first things that I have always noticed, about Obsession, is its warmth and notes of spice. It is a rather complex and rich fragrance and unlike a scent such as Opium Pour Homme, its spice is less Oriental and more of a fragrant cinnamon bouquet.

This scent is really interesting because it also has some fruity top notes like tangerine along with some more subdued floral notes which lend it an earthy or woodsy quality.

However, it opens up with mostly the cinnamon coming through as the main spice, as it will for the rest of the wear. In the beginning stages, it is joined by a variety of citrus notes from lime, mandarin, and the aforementioned tangerine.

To my nose, the citrus really doesn’t come across as juicy, more of an impression of dried fruit with lavender and the spice.

The fruity opening transitions away and a more floral heart begins to peak through. This is when obsession begins to feel warmer. This is when I really start to notice the woody notes, as well. It a blend of spice and sweetness, with a woodsy base.

Rosewood, nutmeg, jasmine, and sandalwood join the cinnamon and lavender (which will weaken, a bit later).

Finally, we get to what I mostly experience for the rest of the wear. It’s a cinnamon amber blend with vanilla highlights. That is the main attraction and it sits on a bed of sandalwood, random flowers, and spices. Very attractive and cozy, while still having a stylish feeling, after these ensuing decades.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

The warmth and the blend of herbal spice and florals lend credence to the fact that Obsession is a very nice cologne for the winter months. I think that anyone who says it doesn’t project well, might be wearing it in the wrong climate, as I think that it hangs beautifully in the crisp and cold air.

The sillage itself, probably isn’t going to take over a room, but you do get solid projection within the first few hours. After that, it is definitely respectable, and not weak at all. In my experience, it is much better in this regard, than many of the other CK fragrances.

Its longevity is average in my opinion, though, it can become overpowering when over-sprayed and have a tendency to permeate from clothing or skin. It is a moderate cologne to the extent that it is used in moderation.

It will seem to go on my skin, for anywhere between 5-7 hours, and this is the latest batch that I’ve gotten a hold of.

Most of the CK fragrances will fall into this range. Some less than that, but this is what the majority seem to be capable of nowadays.

Seasonally, save this one for the colder months, as I’ve written. It’s not too joyous of a wear in the heat and humidity. In the crisp air of autumn or winter, Obsession really comes to life between the warm comforting amber and the spiciness of cinnamon.

It actually is a versatile scent, in that, it can still be worn by any age group.

Obsession for Men can fit in a wide variety of situations, during the day, while pull double duty at night. Women like it, men like it…there’s a reason this was a best-seller and still moves units.

If you’re younger, you can wear this. It does have a different style than what you might be used to, but it’s worth a try. If you like Obsession, it’s one that you can get a lot of use out of in high school or college.

Overall Impressions of Obsession

Overall, I still think that this is one of the top fragrances by Calvin Klein and is simply a classic. There have of course been reformulations, over the years, but the newer batches seem to be on the right track.

Is it exactly the same as 1986? I doubt it. I wasn’t around for the original, but the newer editions, certainly hold up well. Plus, you can find bottles of this stuff at discounters for a good amount below retail. It can be a nice value play.

It is a mature fragrance for everyday wear, and is also inexpensive, so those are some definite pluses that Obsession has going for it. The complexity is still there and it has an interesting life cycle.

Yes, it is different from most of the more modern releases, but that doesn’t detract at all for me. In fact, I tend to dig this one, even more. It’s really delicious and a pleasant experience to wear. Pick up a bottle, Obsession is still, a damn good fragrance.

My Fifth Avenue by Elizabeth Arden

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Moving right along with my complete backlog of perfume reviews that I need to post, we have an entry today from Elizabeth Arden. This is a newer addition to the brand’s lineup of fragrances and was released back in 2018, with Reese Witherspoon, as the face of the campaign. My Fifth Avenue takes on the name of the classic Arden scent, but goes in a completely different direction from its predecessor. How does it perform? Is it worth a try?

What does My Fifth Avenue Perfume Smell Like?

arden my fifth avenue

Notes include: lotus, jasmine, pear, musk, cedar, lemon, mandarin, orris root, amber wood, violet leaf

Click here to try: Elizabeth Arden My Fifth Avenue Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 oz. 

My Full Review

Before we get into my personal review of this scent, let’s see how Elizabeth Arden describes it, “This fragrant celebration of a woman’s rightful ambition and limitless possibilities embodies the energy, culture and sights that are quintessentially Fifth Avenue. An invigorating floral, it blends citrus notes, musks, and wood notes for a fragrant reminder of the sparkling scent of success.”

My Fifth Avenue opens up with an initial blend of bright citrus notes and a floral bouquet. I can pick up lotus, violet, a bit of jasmine, and an array of flowers that I can’t quite grasp.

The citrus notes are clean and don’t come across as sharp, on my skin. I wouldn’t even call those fruit notes ‘juicy’, because they are held in check by the abundance of floral notes. Nonetheless, My Fifth Avenue, doesn’t have a super green or watery vase type of aroma just the petals.

As it develops further, this perfume takes on more of its floral character, think white flowers (overall aroma). The lotus note is the strongest, of the lot, and light muskiness creeps up from the base of the fragrance.

At this point, the citrus has weakened quite significantly. However, there is still the pear note, which I can’t really pick up in the opening.

Yet, it will come to play a fairly major role in the totality of this perfume. It adds a crispness to the composition and a sweetness to play off of the floral ingredients.

Midway through the wear, the pear and lotus notes are fully developed as a tandem, and this is when the scent has an aquatic air about it. It’s not completely watery, but that sensation is there, for at least a portion of its life cycle.

Ultimately, what I end up with from My Fifth Avenue is: a lotus and pear top, with a floral blend and musk underneath that, with a very very light woody base. It’s a pretty simple scent, for the most part. Nice and definitely not a mess of ingredients.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

I don’t find this Arden scent to be incredibly powerful, but it definitely has a solid projecting ability. The sillage won’t clear out a room, but you don’t need to spray the heck out of it, to make this scent work.

The longevity here is good, but not elite. It’ll seem to do about 6-8 hours, for me. Nothing beyond that, but quite acceptable for a daily wear.

Is this a versatile scent? It is to an extent. It’ll work in most any climate, but doesn’t come across as a winter wear. My Fifth Avenue is better suited toward mild to warmer climates.

Still, you could wear it indoors for any seasons. Casually or in an office, since it isn’t a massive or overpowering fragrance.

This is a casual, daily wear, or office sort of scent. It’s attractive and fairly chic, but not what I’d call sexy. Also, isn’t a nightlife or romantic wear. This perfume is an easy to wear and simple fragrance, that will smell nice, and won’t offend those around you.

Overall Impression of My Fifth Avenue by Elizabeth Arden

Do I like this perfume? Yes, I find it to be quite pleasant. It’s nothing that special or mind-blowing, but as a daily wear, it does it’s job perfectly. You get a nice and attractive smell, good performance, and something that is easy to spray on without much thought.

It is a pretty simple perfume, nothing ground breaking, but one which is well blended and has its strengths.

The citrus accord gives this one a nice start, bright, with that sparkling pear aroma. I like the duo of the lotus with the pear, neither gets a big edge over the other, and the notes underneath just work well.

I’m not a particularly big fan of violet, but it isn’t too much of a factor, especially in the latter stages.

My Fifth Avenue is a solid pickup, if you have the right expectations about what it is. It does everything above average, just not much more than that. Never spectacular, so, I might try to get it for a discount if I really wanted a bottle.