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!

7 Fragrances Similar to Narciso Rodriguez for Her

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Narciso Rodriguez for Her has been an insanely popular perfume since its release. It’s not too complex but provides its wearers with a nice blend of floral notes, musk, and patchouli. It has a good amount of versatility without trying to do anything extreme or out of the ordinary.

However, it can be too pricey for some or not exactly what others are looking for. So, in this post, I want to present 7 alternative scent options to Narciso for Her that closely resemble this perfume.

Perfumes that smell like Narciso Rodriguez for Her

narciso edp review

Inexpensive Inspiration

Musky Rose by Dossier– As far as ‘inspired by’ options of Narciso Rodriguez for Her go, Dossier’s Musky Rose comes out at the top for its price savings and ability to near match what we’re looking for. 

The notes are going to be the same as the designer perfume, but you might find that the weightings of each might not be exact, just extremely close. Which is a great deal for under $30 per bottle (as of this update).

It kicks off with the blend of the floral and fruitier notes. Osmanthus, kind of gives you the impression of both, while peach and bergamot come down firmly in the fruity camp. Early orange blossom, before you get more rose and finally the musky main event.

Lovely (listed below) will get you something similar yet different to NR for Her for cheap, but Musky Rose is what you’d want to go with if you’re in the market for an attempt at recreating its magic.

Best Cheaper Alternative

Lovely– If you’re looking for a cheapie fragrance that mimics most of what you get with Narciso Rodriquez for Her, Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker is probably the best option on the market. It’s been a best seller in its own right for well over a decade now.

It is a mature and moderate scent with notes of musk and apple martini as its main attraction. A great all-around fragrance for everyday wear that is elegant and refined.

It kicks off with a nice dose of musk and lavender. This is paired with the apple, mandarin orange, and an orchid note for good measure. 

Obviously, with what we’re trying to find we will want not only the musk, but also a solid patchouli. Lovely has that as well, mostly during the drydown period of the perfume. The fragrance is affordable and has good performance, I found it to stick around for 6-7 hours during my testing of it.  Lovely Full Review

Noir Rose Alt

Her Midnight Rose Musc by Dua– Aside from the original Narciso for Her, there are also a ton of popular flanker fragrances which have followed, including Musc Noir Rose.

This is the Dua Brand’s inspired by version of that release.

With that one, you get a sweeter, fruitier, musky clean, and creamy/powdery blend. Yes, vanilla creaminess and suede smoothness together.

It starts off with bergamot citrus and some light pink peppercorn. The vanilla will be there from early on and this is when the perfume will be at its absolute sweetest (not overwhelmingly so). 

The tuberose and musk really come into their own during the back half of the wear and are great together.

The Narciso version is not a super thick or heavy perfume, and hold up well in the spring or even summer months. The latter stages are more of a smooth soapy sort of rose aroma and less of that initial sweetness.

I haven’t tried this Dua take on this perfume, but I’ve owned over a dozen of their other scents and have been quite pleased.

A Peachy Take

Narissa Peach by Maison Alhambra– This brand has a ton of their own inspired by perfumes which take on the designer scents. Basically, every flanker has an inspiration available and this is their take on Narciso Poudree.

Now, Poudree isn’t one of my personal favorites from the Narciso Rodriguez lineup, but I’m sure somebody is looking for a release like this.

It’s the usual clean and musky formula, but with a more powdery finish and a generally sweeter profile than others in the series. Soft jasmine and tonka bean are some highlights in the mix.

Similar with Peach and Jasmine

Tocca Beauty Cleopatra Collection 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray– Cleopatra features some sweet fruit notes such as, peach, and flowers including jasmine and tuberose.

It has plenty of overlap with the Narciso perfume, but enough unique elements to help Cleopatra stand out.

The tuberose and the jasmine lead things, it’s more of a floral/fruity fragrance, with the peach and others popping up throughout the duration of the wear. This is all held together with musk and some light patchouli, which are a great tandem within this composition.

Despite it’s floral/fruity nature, this Tocca perfume does still feel fruitier than either Lovely or Narciso for Her. Again, it still leans floral, but there is a decent amount of fruity sweetness.

Another Inexpensive Choice

Beckham Signature Story by David Beckham, 2.50 Ounce– Signature Story by David Beckham does have a lot of similarities with the Sarah Jessica Parker offering. That option, is somewhat better when looking for a smell close to Narciso Rodriguez for Her.

However, Signature story also provides a cheap option to give you a similar scent experience. It opens with both orange and peach and the ever present musk.

A very clean and feminine scent with a hearty helping of rose. Also, a citrus top provided by orange and peach, to go along with a warm/spicy musk note. The main difference between this and all of the others, is the use of rose and peony as the floral ingredients. It does let this one stand on its own a bit, rather than just being another one trying to be just like Narciso. 

Signature Story was a flanker fragrance to the original Beckham Signature. Though, the two really don’t have anything in common other than the name, and patchouli. Very musky floral, during the dry down, heavier on the peony and rose. 

 

Similar Designer Perfume

Idylle by Guerlain, 3.4 Ounce– Guerlain’s Idylle isn’t an exact copy of Narciso Rodriguez, but it is in the same general fragrance family. This one opens up with litchi and raspberry, giving it more of a juicy sweetness than you’d find in our target.

Nonetheless, Idylle is much more about the floral notes. Mainly, I pick up on the lily of the valley and a light rose. Though, there is more of a bouquet effect. The blend becomes muskier, as it wears on. 

Less patchouli in this mix, then what an exact replica would provide. Again, not going to be a clone, but on that has a bunch of overlap while being distinct. Idylle Full Review

Bright Crystal EDT by Versace

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In an effort to satisfy a larger percentage of this site’s demographics, I thought that I’d begin to do more reviews of women’s perfumes. As a man, it can feel a bit out of place wearing something that is so overtly feminine, but some of these fragrances are just so pleasant that it works out in the end.

In this post, I want to take a closer look at a scent from the house of Versace, Bright Crystal. This one was released back in 2006 and has been a massive seller ever since. I want to explore what makes up this perfumes, how it performs, how it smells, and whether or not it is worth getting a bottle. Please continue reading below for my full impressions.

What does Versace Bright Crystal Smell Like?

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Notes include: yuzo, peony, pomegranate, musk, magnolia, iced accord, lotus, amber

Click Here to try Bright Crystal: Versace Bright Crystal Eau de Toilette Spray for Women, 3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The initial opening of Bright Crystal is a blast of juicy pomegranate, a citrus scent provided by the yuzo, and a heart of floral notes which provides it with balance. I totally get why the word ‘bright’ was added to the name because this perfume does have a very pleasant and upbeat kind of feel to it.

Yuzo has a similar, albeit distinct aroma from other citrus fruits, and pomegranate is almost always a pleasure to smell in perfumes.

Versace did a great job at not letting it become too floral or too fruity and instead let the juicy/aquatic elements gradually fade a bit into the background to provide Bright Crystal with that extra bit of something that makes it so attractive.

The top of the composition is tart while being juicy, while there is a watery-like smell that sits underneath it all. Then, the floral notes begin to emerge, and take away some of that tartness.

Out of the floral notes, I can detect the peony, most distinctly. The lotus note is also present but doesn’t come through as strong for me and the magnolia, I don’t really pick up at all. Maybe that’s just me?

As Bright Crystal wore on my skin, I became more and more attracted to this scent. Frankly, I think its beautiful and never gets bogged down by being too complex.

The latter stages of this Versace EDT, consist mostly of peony and yuzo, to my nose. Outside of that, it is the watery lotus flower, and a light bit of wood in the base. The wood doesn’t draw much attention, but I can pick it up, if I focus in.

Sillage and Longevity. How Does it Perform? When Can it Be Worn?

Projection wise, it is a soft to moderate scent. It isn’t weak but it isn’t going to choke people out either, with its sillage. Initially, it will project somewhere around 6 feet from the skin or thereabouts. After that, it’ll be 3-4.

However, while it isn’t a heavy scent, it does last all day. In my testing of Bright Crystal, I got over 8 hours out of it and close to 10. The performance for an EDT, is very good, especially one with citrus as a main draw.

This perfume could honestly be used on just about any occasion, I wouldn’t say it’s a ‘sexy’ fragrance, but it is very attractive and I wouldn’t mind smelling this on a woman at all.

Update: Yeah, this is one that I’ve really come to enjoy over the years. However, it is better suited for daily wear, and isn’t a bold nightlife type of scent.

It’s brightness and fruity/floral scent, make Bright Crystal an ideal fragrance for the warmer days of the year. Yes, it’s fine in the cold of winter, but feels right at home in spring/summer.

Overall Scent. Does Versace Bright Crystal Smell Good?

Overall, Bright Crystal is a fantastic option for women who want something that is light, elegant, and pretty. I enjoy this Versace offering much more than Versus, which I actually liked and I think that it has a much more ‘universal’ appeal than some of the other fragrances on the market.

I would rate Bright Crystal as a buy and its straightforward simplicity is one of its best attributes.

While the opening act, can be pretty tart, I do love the yuzo and pomegranate combination. It’s juicy and delicious. The performance here is really good and I like how it doesn’t just become a bouquet of flowers.

The peony and yuzo form a solid dynamic duo, which sticks around for the rest of the wear. It’s still a best seller, and for good reason, Bright Crystal is a wonderful perfume.

Update: Coming back to this one years later, Bright Crystal is probably among my favorite mainstream designer women’s perfumes to smell. It has always done everything well, from that opening act to the use of peony to the performance.

It’s just a perfume that fits in so many places and is extremely easy to like. Nowadays, it feels like more of a capture of that late 2000s era with so many other perfumes that fell by the wayside like Dior Addict 2. Bright Crystal is still going, still super clean, and a great daily wear pick up.

10 Best Smelling Chanel Colognes for Men

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Chanel is a French luxury brand that has a long and rich history in women’s fashion dating back to the 1920s. However, their men’s fragrance line is also a force to be reckoned with as just about all of their releases are utterly fantastic and enjoy a broad appeal among cologne enthusiasts.

For this post, I want to put forth 10 of these Chanel fragrances, which I consider to be the best bets of the line. I will update this page, as needed, when new fragrances show up or older ones get discontinued. If you want to see the best Chanel ladies fragrances, click there.

What Are the Best Smelling Chanel Fragrances for Men?

Best Bleu de Chanel

Bleu De Chanel Eau De Parfum Pour Homme Spray 3.4 OZ.– I could have also placed, the Parfum version here, as well. However, the two have plenty of similarities and overlaps, and I go back and forth on the better one.

Bleu de Chanel EDP is warm, rich, and a bit smoky. It is led, though, by the citrus top notes of lemon and grapefruit. It opens up with the citrus and some fresh spicy notes like: pink pepper, mint, and ginger.

I really love the opening act, when the both the citrus notes and spices, are on full blast. Ginger, is the main one, giving Bleu EDP a gentle fresh spiciness. Lemon and grapefruit together, has sort of an orange/lime-like aroma, to it.

Then, BdC EDP, moves into its more smoky amber phase. It’s warm and sweet, with an emerging base consisting of cedar and sandalwood. It’s a very versatile and lovely fragrance to wear.

It’s not super powerful, but it will last for a long time, and get complements from those around you. This is my favorite of the Bleu lineup and won’t be easily topped. Bleu de Chanel EDP Review

Top Unisex Option

Coromandel by Chanel– Coromandel is a scent that I’ve been getting into more lately. There are different variations of this scent: Parfum, EDP, and les Exclusifs. Each is going to give you a slightly different formulation and intensity.

Though, I’m pretty sure les Exclusifs and the older bottles of EDP are the same, at least they smell that way.

Each of them, features an awesome patchouli note, with a warm mix of amber/balsamic/oriental notes (benzoin, frankincense), and a gourmand finish…usually the white chocolate will come through the most. Spicy and warm, especially early on.

The Exclusifs or EDP (whichever is available) tend to be a sweeter formulation with more of an emphasis on the vanilla and white chocolate touches. Meanwhile, the Parfum version feels woodier and denser than the others. Coromandel Review

Ego Boost

Chanel Egoiste– Egoiste got its start in 1987, under a different name. In 1990, it was rebranded under its current title, and has been a classic ever since.

I’ve always gone back and forth as to whether this or Platinum (below) was my favorite Egoiste. However, in the past few years, the original has firmly taken the lead.

It starts off with a bold cinnamon punch. Coriander adds its own additional kick and these two are paired with a light and bright mandarin orange note. Yet, this one is super dry and warm.

Then, you get to the floral middle with a Damask rose and a touch of carnation. The dry down is almost entirely about the sandalwood, cinnamon, and tobacco. Other woods and some vanilla also make an appearance. Absolutely lovely.

For some people, they seem to need to get past that opening before enjoying it. Sure, it’s intense, but it’s one that I’ve grown to love. Egoiste Review

Old School Clean

PLATINUM EGOISTE POUR HOMME BY Chanel  – Classy and masculine. I actually remember hearing about this fragrance for the first time in a Biggie song. Egoiste Platinum is fresh with greenish and floral notes. Very luxurious and versatile for almost any event.

It’s a modern take on a classic men’s fragrance, has an old school barbershop quality to it. In that category, this is one of my favorites. Lavender, sage, geranium, sandalwood, cedar, and amber notes highlight this one.

This is a great example of a floral based fragrance, for men. Sage and rosemary, give it a masculine dose of spice, to counterbalance the soft cleanliness.

Platinum, is at times: green, dry, woody, floral, herbal, and overall fresh. This probably won’t have the mass appeal, of others, but can absolutely be a signature scent for the right guy. Egoiste Platinum Review

egoiste

Best Woodsy Green

Paris – Édimbourg– This is probably my third favorite Les Eaux des Chanel fragrance, but probably the one that will appeal most to men. However, that doesn’t mean that Paris – Édimbourg isn’t a great scent,.

Cypress and juniper are massive here. You are going to get a gin sort of smell from this one. But, it’s so fresh and green, being inspired by the Scottish highlands. The dry down will have more of the vetiver peaking through. It’s all like bright sunlight shining through the trees in a dense forest.

There is also a vanilla note in the base, which adds just a touch of something sweeter. The performance here is decent, but it’s not a projection monster. Edimbourg is a unique one and something that plenty of guys should enjoy.

Citrus, Vanilla, Woods

Allure Homme Edition Blanche by Chanel– Sure, it’s mostly limited to a fragrance for the spring and summer months, and the performance isn’t great. However, Edition Blanche is still one of the best smelling fragrances from Chanel.

It opens up with a sharp lemon note, which will dominate the early stages. You’ve got to be a fan of the citrus, to really enjoy Blanche. Then, you get the vanilla creaminess, to give this one a light dessert feel.

Finally, vetiver and sandalwood give it a dry and fresh scent coming up from the base. Not too complicated of a fragrance, but I really enjoy Allure Edition Blanche, for the summer months.

Most Popular Chanel

Bleu De Chanel for Men Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4oz – Clean blend of citrus notes, such as grapefruit and lemon, along with a woodsy base. Extremely pleasing scent that gets showered with complements from all walks of life.

It’s not as good as the EDP, in my opinion, but does offer a different experience. I do enjoy that minty aroma in the early stages.

The citrus and fresh spicy notes in the EDP are here and have more presence. It’s not as warm or dark, this EDT, is a lighter and less intense wear. That can be a good thing, depending on either your tastes, or the situation you find yourself in. Very fresh, refined, and upbeat. Well worth a try, if you find the EDP to be too ‘thick’.

I think that BdC EDT, is one of those ‘do everything’ type of fragrances. It’s classy enough for a more formal setting, yet has enough attractive appeal, for evening wear. Very well balanced, good performance, and an aroma folks just love.

bleu

Sporty Cool Freshness

ChaneI Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme Eau de Parfum Spray 1.7 Fl. OZ. / 50ML.– I’ve gone back and forth for years between the original Allure Sport and Eau Extreme, but I’m going to give the nod to Eau Extreme here.

Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme opens up with its fresh herbal and woodsy notes, out in full force. Mint and sage, with the same orange note as the original edition, just toned way down.

Throw in cypress and pepper and you’ve got a fresh kick on top of the already sweet aldehydic Allure Sport body.

The dry down is pretty much the original, with the tonka bean and musk coming up from the base. But, Eau Extreme has the better performance for sure, which Allure Home Sport seems to be lacking in newer bottles. Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme Review

Chanel’s Lion

Le Lion de Chanel– The more that I tested this one out, the more that I liked Le Lion de Chanel. It’s not my favorite, nor one that I’d want to wear all of the time. But, I do think that this perfume is worthy of a spot on the list.

This is a unisex scent, that can actually be worn by anyone, so long as you’re into this type of scent. Since it is unique and more niche, that may not be the case.

It opens up with labdanum, amber, and a nice burst of citrus. The first two give this one a warmth and smokiness, that contrasts well with the bergamot and lemon.

It will go from juicy to drier and earthy. It’s got a solid dose of patchouli and almost a leathery quality with how all of the notes come together. Musk, amber, patchouli, smoke. It’s an interesting fragrance to wear.  Le Lion de Chanel Review

Iris Woods

Sycomore by Chanel- This is another one of Chanel’s less mainstream fragrances. However, for the right person, this can absolutely be the best of the bunch.

The iris here is quite powdery, it’s joined early on with an earthiness, spice, and some additional wafts of smokiness. That iris is going to continue to be a factor, along with the vetiver note giving it that smoky finish. Those two are the main event with Sycomore.

There is also a cedar base and some slight sweetness with vanilla peaking in. Drier, leathery, smooth, and a warm woodsy scent.

Keep in mind, this one has different concentrations which become available from time to time, including a parfum. Right now, it’s an EDP, as a part of the Les Exclusifs collection. It’s one that I have a limited experience with, so, I can’t give details on all of the versions.

Also, this is one of their very expensive scents, going for a multiple of what the more mainstream colognes sell for.

Gabrielle Essence EDP by Chanel

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Gabrielle Essence is the follow up release to the popular Gabrielle by Chanel. It came out in 2019 and has enjoyed a good deal of attention itself. I purchased a sample of this scent, with my latest batch, in order to test it out and review it for the site. How does it smell? What’s different? Is it even worth a try?

What does Gabrielle Essence Smell Like?

Notes include: tuberose, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, jasmine, coconut, peach, citrus

Click here to try: Gabrielle Essence by Chanel Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 oz / 100 ml (Women) 

My Full Review

Gabrielle Essence opens up much better to my nose versus the original EDP. With that one, it seems harder to distinguish between notes, at first.

Essence doesn’t have the same sparkling brightness as the original, but the fruity notes are better and juicier overall. Not sharp, but smoothed out by the white floral notes, that make up the Gabrielle DNA.

This is a blend of peach and citrus, with a bit of coconut that becomes more noticeable deeper into the wear.

While the fruity opening is better here, it also is shorter lived to my nose. This one gets down to the floral notes rather quickly, but I actually like that phase of Essence.

The main difference with the floral notes for me is, Essence has a stronger emphasis on orange blossom and jasmine, at first. With the EDP, it was jasmine and tuberose. The tuberose in Gabrielle Essence doesn’t play that big of a role.

Eventually, the jasmine, orange blossom, and ylang-ylang are sharing most of the duties. That’s what I get for most of the rest of the wear. It’s a bit sweet and has a nice, but not thick creaminess about it.

Light musk and woodiness, at the base, but this is mostly all about those floral notes. Nothing overly complicated, just a variation of what you’d expect.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage with Gabrielle Essence is pretty moderate. It does project itself better than the original, but it isn’t a massive difference. Not super powerful and dries down fairly softly.

There will be a scent trail left behind you for that first hour or so. After that, it’s going to be more noticeable in a 3-4 foot radius from where you’ve sprayed Gabrielle Essence on.

I also get just over 8 hours of wear on my skin with Essence. Yes, it stays as a skin scent for a good chunk of that time, but it is still there…just not in full force. That’s about what it consistently seems to be. Maybe it’ll get to 9 hours, at times.

Seasonally, it’s at its peak in the spring. Summer and autumn are great, but the spring is where the Gabrielle perfumes shine. In the warmer air, this Chanel really hangs beautifully and you catch whiffs of the full floral array.

Gabrielle Essence is a versatile daily wear, just like the original. It isn’t super formal and can actually serve better as a casual or semi-formal scent. It’s a lovely and attractive scent, just not a super sexy club beast.

Overall Impressions of Gabrielle Essence

Overall, do I like Gabrielle Essence? I really do. It’s a beautiful perfume and better than the original (which I liked). Essence is a very well balanced and well put together floral. The fruity opening is great, without being over the top.

Also, I like how the floral notes are weighted in this one when compared to the original. It’s performance is a bit better, but that could’ve been bumped up somewhat. It’s not bad, by any means, just not outstanding. Both longevity and power are above average, however.

This is more than just a solid entry from Chanel. One that does everything well and has the versatility to become a daily wear for many women. More modern than some of their past releases, even if it’s not entirely unique.

It’s not their absolute best, but I enjoy what they’ve done with this Gabrielle series so far, and Essence in particular.

10 Best Giorgio Armani Colognes for Men

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Armani has a fantastic line of fragrances for both men and women, that have their own unique style and impression. Two of the colognes for men, Armani Code and Acqua Di Gio, have been best-sellers and very popular with both men and their women for years now.

However, there are other Armani colognes that are really great that don’t get the same amount of attention as those two. For this list, I wanted to explore ten of the best Armani scents, of both new and old. Also see: The Top Armani Perfumes for Women

Favorite Armani Fragrances for Him

Enveloping Winter Warmth

Giorgio Armani Code Profumo EDP Spray for Men, 3.7 Ounce– Code Profumo was the best flanker fragrance, that has stemmed from the original Code moniker.

That’s changed, in my opinion, but I do still love this one. It is sweet, warm, and a magnificent wear for the colder months of the year.

Profumo opens up with tonka bean and amber. Then is quickly followed up by the inclusion of mandarin orange, herbal notes, and rich leather. Smooth and creamy on the dry down. If you want a spicier and boozier version, go with Absolu.

Code Profumo has a strong sillage and lasts on my skin for over 10 hours, most of the time. A very good and highly intriguing winter wear for guys. Code Profumo Review

Deeper, Darker Aquatic

Giorgio Armani Aqua di Gio Profumo, 4.2 Fluid Ounce– A flanker from the original and best-selling Acqua di Gio, AdG Profumo, exceeds the original in my opinion. It is a dark aquatic fragrance with an attractive spice and smoky undertones provided by the incense note.

Update: They’ve basically discontinued Profumo under this name. Now, Acqua di Gio Parfum is essentially just this rebranded.

To me, it can be a toss up between this and Profondo. Profumo is a darker scent, while Profondo is a lighter and has a zesty sort of personality.

Profumo starts out with bergamot and deep sea aquatic notes. The composition screams out summertime spent on the coast and is more refined and masculine than its predecessor. Great salty marine elements with sage and rosemary, giving it all extra heft. Awesome. Acqua di Gio Profumo Review

Unisex Floral Leather

Cuir Zerzura– Zerzura is a part of the expensive Privee line from Armani. This one is great, as it leans masculine and delivers a great and deep floral scent.

Iris is the main floral note, with some rose and light violet leaf early on. The main attractions though are the iris, leather, and vanilla notes.

Early on, you will get a brightness of mandarin and elemi. Though, that is short-lived and this becomes rich and has an enveloping smoothness and warmth. The contrast between the leather, the creaminess, and the powdery aroma of the iris note.

Not too sweet or overpowering. I think that Armani struck a very good balance between that iris and the leather without falling too much into make-up bag territory. Lovely stuff.

Newer Code

Code Parfum by Giorgio Armani– This will be one of three Code entries onto the list. It was released in 2022 and I was surprised at how good it was.

Code Parfum kicks off with the usually bergamot note, paired with sage and iris. The bergamot is sparkling and this one has a great opening freshness to it. It’s sort of bright and aldehydic with the way the iris is worked into things.

There is some powderiness, not too much, and not as much as you’d think with both iris and tonka bean coming through. Those two notes are heavily featured in the dry down along with the remaining citrus and a crisp cedar.

It’s a clean daily wear that can fit in a wide variety of situations. Code Parfum is going to be one of those workhorse fragrances, that you can spray on pretty much whenever, but it has plenty of style. Code Parfum review

Sweet, Woody, Unique

Giorgio Armani Cologne for Men, Armani Diamonds, 2.5 Fluid Ounce
At its base, Emporio Armani Diamonds is woody and spicy. At the top, you have cocoa bean and bergamot leading the way, with a heart of amber.

The citrus and cacao combination is beautifully done and feels wrapped up in that warm and familiar amber note. I really like the bergamot that comes out of the early stages, along with the initial spiciness that will be such a factor in the middle.

The bergamot is most noticeable at the start and gradually it all dries down into a woody cologne with sweet cocoa and hints of sichuan pepper (just not much). Coming back to this one recently, the amber note really developed well, in a way I hadn’t remembered.

At that point, the aroma is quite dry, but overall it remains light and none too heavy. Fresh, sweet, with good longevity.  Notes include: Citrus, Bergamot, Cedar, Szechwan Pepper, Gaiac Wood, Ambroxan, Vetiver, Cocoa Bean. Diamonds Review

emporio diamonds

Bluer Citrus Aquatic

Acqua di Gio Profondo– This newer release is replacing the original AdG, which really feels unnecessary to have at this time. It has been surpassed by flankers like this and there are cheaper options, that smell pretty much the same.

Profondo has plenty of overlap with Profumo, but as I said, there are slight differences. This is the lighter and has a zestier/blue vibe, versus the deep water aroma of Profumo.

Anyway, Profondo kicks off with a blend of citrus notes, with a solid freshness and spice provided by the rosemary. This doesn’t smell as smoky to me, either.

Much more of a fruity and blue aquatic, on the lines of maybe a Polo Blue, versus the other colognes in this series. Profondo Full Review

Classic Armani Release

Mania By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces
A sophisticated blend of woodsy aromatics and mandarin oranges. The opening is bright and upbeat with that mandarin note and saffron poking through.

There still aren’t too many men’s fragrances utilizing saffron, but it can be utterly brilliant, as it is here.

Mania is pretty simple, with dry elements, wood, amber, and a nice citrus shining through. You have to get this one online, nowadays, as Armani no longer produces it. Highly masculine and a full bodied scent that will drive ladies wild, when close.

Update: It’s been discontinued for a long while. Probably difficult to find a cheap bottle. So, pass on it if the price is in the triple digits.

Note: Dua brand has their fragrance: Arena, which is based on this formula.

mania

A Stronger With You Option

Emporio Armani Stronger With You Intensely EDP For Men 3.4oz– The original Stronger with You was pretty nice, but not something that I’d consider one of Armani’s best. However, I think that Intensely is a better option than that, and worthy of a spot for this update.

Stronger with You Intensely does indeed ramp up the power of the original, within a sweeter frame, and delicious gourmand aroma.

Sage, cinnamon, and pink pepper add the layer of spice but it really isn’t a completely thick cloud of fragrance…but very much a colder weather wear.

I like this and as of now, it takes the spot as my favorite cologne from this line. Yes, Absolutely is up there as well. For me, this has the slight edge between them. Here’s my review of Intensely and my comparison with SWY Absolutely

I also think that SWY Leather is right up there at the top between these two. That’s more of a limited edition, so, it can be more difficult to find than these two.

Stylish Stand Out

Armani Attitude By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 1.7 Oz– Attitude is a fitting name, because this one is bold, and can pack a punch.

Not that it is overly heavy, but this was one that could grab attention (it has been discontinued, as well, still bottles available online ). Note: Dua has their inspired by version: #Attitude available for cheap, if you can’t find this.

You had coffee and lemon, with notes like lavender and patchouli. All in all, it could be hard to distinguish between them, as it is so well blended. That’s perfectly fine, because the result was awesome, quite sexy, and could be a complement magnet.

attitude

The Best Armani Code

Armani Code Absolu– I am replacing the original Code on the list, as it has been surpassed by too many other offerings. Initially, Code Profumo was my favorite of the line. However, that all changed with the release of Absolu, which is the best of the bunch.

It kicks off with rum, suede, nutmeg, and tonka bean. There are the light fruit notes of mandarin and apple, floating in the background, as they do in all of the Code scents.

I really enjoy the kick and booziness provided by the nutmeg and rum, with the leather-like smoothness of suede.

It’s dark and warm, with a great sweetness during the dry down. A lighter option versus Profumo, not as cloying, but still delivers over 10 hours of wear. Code Absolu Review