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!

10 Best Smelling Dolce and Gabbana Perfumes

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Here is our list of the top eight perfumes from the Italian design house Dolce & Gabbana. It is kind of tough to narrow down this brand’s fragrances to just a handful because they not only have a ton of options, but also a ton of decent to very good scents.

D&G doesn’t make too many ladies’ perfumes that miss the mark entirely. So, I’ve selected ten of them, which I feel stand out from the pack.

What are the Best D&G Perfumes for Her?

Best New D&G Perfume

The Only One Intense by Dolce & Gabbana Eau De Parfum Spray for Women 3.4 Ounce– Dolce & Gabbana have had a lot of forgettable releases in the recent years. Not necessarily bad, just nothing to write home about.

However, The Only One series has been very nice, especially the 2020 Intense version. Actually, it’s pretty similar in some respects to The One Desire, listed below (that one is more of a sweet gourmand, this is more floral creamy).

Sweet, creamy, white floral notes, with a light citrus/apple start. It’s got plenty of jasmine in there as the main flower. Vanilla, cashmere wood, and coconut give it that milky warm embrace.

Not too heavy and can actually venture into warmer weather. Maybe not the height of summer, but it’s not a bad reach in the spring. Fantastic performer.

Dark & Sweet

Dolce & Gabbana Eau de Parfum Spray, The One Desire, 2.5 Ounce
Sexy and sultry, for the woman who commands attention anywhere she goes. It’s not a heavy and obnoxious scent, rather, one that is light and invigorating but memorable.

The One Desire opens with a sweet caramel note to go along with vanilla, white floral notes, and an undercurrent of citrus fruit. The result is a creamy and feminine scent that takes a different direction than does the original The One perfume, which it is based on.

It has a gourmand quality that is delicious and appropriate for colder weather due to its sheer coziness. Notes include: bergamot, mandarin, lychee, lily of the valley, tuberose.

the one desire

Best Selling

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue By Dolce & Gabbana For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz
One of the most popular fragrances for women. Light blue is airy, light, and subtle. Great for casual wear.

From the start, Light Blue is a bright and shimmering perfume with a crisp apple note and tart lemon, providing the top. It’s a very clean scent that loses some of its fruitiness and moves into more of an earthy floral scent as it dries down, the rose note is particularly noticeable.

Notes include: rose, apple, musk and jasmine. Light Blue while not a heavy perfume by any means, has great longevity, and can go all day on one’s skin.  My Review of Light Blue for Women

light blue

Lovely Flanker

Light Blue Italian Love– Light Blue gets a new issuance every year, sometimes with slight alterations, some with major. This is one of the former, but a really great addition to the Light Blue lineup.

Italian Love has a zesty lemon note, with sweeter hints coming through, and less of the apple note than the original above. The musk mallow and sandalwood here give Italian Love a creaminess, especially once that initial citrus burst has faded a bit.

It’s fresh, but not as sharp as the original can be. The woods are there and really come through in the dry down of the scent. Still, it has a light summery feel that simply works well.

Gorgeous Amber Perfume

Velvet Amber Sun– This one is a part of D&G’s more expensive Velvet series of fragrances. I like Amber Sun the best, as it gives me something different and really shows off one of my favorite notes, amber.

This one has a very light ylang-ylang floral note in the opening act, that is subdued by labdanum and vanilla. Fairly sweet early on, with a smoky and light Oriental spice to it. Cinnamon and a bit of coriander.

The incense-like smoke doesn’t dominate the composition. Instead, it gets woodier, warmer, somewhat creamy, with a balsamic resinous touch to wrap things up. The performance is long-lasting, but Velvet Amber Sun can be a tough bottle to track down. For sure, one of Dolce’s best.

Incenso

Velvet Incenso– This one is another of the Velvet lineup and more of a niche interest than something for everyone. Nevertheless, Velvet Incenso is a great perfume.

It’s a blend of resinous notes: amber, labdanum, elemi, benzoin with smoky incense, vanilla, and some cashmere wood. It’s not overly smoky, but has a great sweetness and balsamic embrace that makes Incenso a cozy wear during autumn and winter.

It’s also not completely flat, as it has a slight peppery kick up top and some further spice from a few other notes. Yet, it’s tame and utterly wearable. The incense note is the star, but the balance here is too good, for it to be solely about that. Incenso Review

Fresh Fruity Floral

D&g 3 L’imperatrice Ladies – Edt Spray 3.3 oz– Fresh and sweet from the fruity and floral notes. This is a great everyday casual alternative to a scent like Light Blue.

L’Imperatrice 3 has almost an aquatic feel to it due to the abundance of watermelon and kiwi notes, particularly in the opening hour or so.

These two are also joined by rhubarb, which gives this D&G fragrance, a distinct quality. It’s youthful, bright, and has some underlying floral/musk to give L’Imperatrice some needed depth. Notes include: kiwi, watermelon, musk, pink cyclamen.

3 l'imperatrice

Balanced Daily Wear

Dolce & Gabbana The One By Dolce & Gabbana For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 2.5 Oz /75 Ml.
Classy, feminine, and all around a great smelling perfume for women. The One is much more fruity than is The One Desire. Peach, litchi, plum, and bergamot play support staff to the prominent vanilla note.

This is all wrapped up in a warm amber note, which gives The One a sumptuous baked goods quality.

As it dries down, this perfume has a woody powdery aroma that smells delightful. Notes include: plum, vetiver bergamot, fruity floral, Madonna lily, muguet, lychee, jasmine, vanilla.

dolce_gabbana_the_one_for_women

Best Winter D&G Perfume

Dolce & Gabbana Pour Femme Intense Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 oz
Warm and complex scent that was released in 2012.  It’s a dynamic blend of exotic notes that give confident women the chance to stand out.

It’s another sweet gourmand type of fragrance with marshmallow being the main attraction this time. However, it’s not just about the sugary sweetness as Pour Femme Intense has a bouquet of floral notes from tuberose to neroli to orange blossom.

All of this sits on top of a sandalwood base which gives it a smooth woody aroma in the background. Notes include: green mandarin, neroli, tuberose, orange blossom, sweet marshmallow.

dolce pour femme intense

Best Light Blue?

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense For Women Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 oz– Yes, the flanker for the original Light Blue, needs to be on the list. It is at least the equal to its predecessor, and for many, it is the superior of the two.

The citrus top of lemon is really great and it is joined by the usual crisp apple note. Intense is fresh, clean, and sparkles with its bright personality. The musk is light and it features the same amberwood in the base, as the men’s version does.

Light Blue Eau Intense feels more ‘aquatic’ than the original, even without over marine notes, similar but with a bit more bite. Not really for those who don’t like citrus, that can feel ‘sharp’, at times.

It doesn’t have that rose note of the original, which is the main difference, but does include more jasmine. Light Blue Eau Intense Review

Alright, that’s going to do it for the current version of this list. I will come back and update it, every so often, when a new release from D&G is worthy of being included. As for now, these options should get you started, toward finding a great Dolce perfume to wear.

13 Best Chanel Perfumes for Her

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Chanel is a luxury brand that has been around for over 100 years now and it’s still going strong. It is not only famous for its designer fashions on the runway but also in the fragrance department.

This French luxury brand has seemingly countless classic and super famous scents that have defined entire decades. For this post, I have selected thirteen Chanel perfumes, which I consider to be the best smelling of the bunch.

Of course, with such a limitation (yes, it still is ‘limited’ in scope), there’s always going to be scents that I’ve missed. There are too many Chanel fragrance variations, discontinued perfumes, and such that it is almost impossible to give a complete account.

However, this is certainly a good place to start, with the modern versions at least. Here is my men’s list of the best Chanel for Him.

What are the Best Smelling Chanel Perfumes for Women?

Musky Floral

Chance By Chanel 3.4 oz Eau De Parfum Spray For Women– Chance comes in both an EDT and EDP version created by perfumer Jacques Polge. The EDP is the one that is linked, however, both of these options are obviously very similar. The EDP is very floral with notes of vanilla, iris, and jasmine leading the way.

It also is more subdued and cleaner than the EDT version, as the patchouli isn’t as much of a pure standout.

Chance gives you some floral sweetness and warm spice with the pink pepper, patchouli, and musk notes giving it some greater depth. Musk, vanilla, and the jasmine come to be the main players of Chance and together form something that is refined and moderate in its sillage.

However, during the dry down the patchouli does become more of a factor, and pairs surprisingly well with that soft jasmine. Chance has very nice performance and the ability to last for a standard workday or most other normal occasions. Chance EDP Review

Top Winter Fragrance

Chanel COCO Eau De Parfum Vaporisateur Spray 3.4 OZ / 100 ml– Coco is another fragrance with a lot of warmth and spice to its scent. This perfume is best served in the crisp and cold months of fall and winter.

Notes include coriander, rose, sandalwood, tonka bean, peach, amber, and cloves. Coco is bold, enveloping, and lasts forever and ever (especially the vintage bottles).

The floral (jasmine, rose, ylang ylang) and orange notes give it a subtle sweetness that isn’t the usual perfume blast of ‘loud’ smelling fruits or sugary candy. Rose and cloves are wrapped in the warm embrace of amber, which radiates beauty.

Coco is a rich and complex fragrance that defines class and has done so since the 1980s. May not be the best choice for younger ladies, though, some could still pull it off.

Coco eau de parfum is one of this brand’s offerings, that exudes the term luxury, and is probably something that most folks associate with Chanel. Yes, this stuff is powerful, spicy, and can be too much for some people.

However, it is an absolute classic with fantastic sandalwood, and an all day and into the night longevity. Grab a bottle and wear it dressed up.

Les Eaux de Chanel Pick

Paris-Venise by Chanel– This is going to be my pick from the Les Eaux de Chanel line of scents, at least for women. Paris-Venise gives you that familiar Chanel feeling, while being completely unique in its presentation. Other options like Paris-Biarritz, are a bit too close to smelling like Chance.

Venise is headed up by notes of neroli, vanilla, and tonka bean. With that is a nice citrus accord, added to powdery iris and violet, giving Paris-Venise a great freshness that can safely be worn into the summertime.

The citrus, iris, and ylang-ylang (plus other floral notes) are most prominent in the opening act. Then, the dry down features the softer powdery/creamy base notes that really help to set this one apart.

Plus, nice hints of white musk. Complex, while being totally light and easy to wear. Great! Venise Review

Other Les Eaux de Chanel Option

Paris-Deauville by Chanel– I’ve been spending a lot of time with samples of the Les Eaux de Chanel line lately, and Paris-Deauville, has quickly become a favorite.

It’s a summery citrus with lime and the mandarin orange note from Coco Mademoiselle. But, it changes things up with a wonderful basil freshness, light patchouli, and some green notes.

The lime and mandarin are fairly equal early on. That will shift more towards the lime which gets paired with the basil. Mandarin orange and lemon sit underneath that. It’s very uplifting and reminiscent of a summer’s day.

I get about 7 hours of solid wear out of it with a nice bit of projection. Paris-Deauville is a unisex scent, that gives you a lovely and pretty unique, albeit simple profile. Deauville Review

The Classic Chanel Scent

Chanel No.5 for Women – A standard classic within ladies fragrances. I mean, is this ever not going to be a best seller? Elegant, feminine, iconic and all stored within that famous bottle.

Floral and woodsy upon the drydown and it can be a bit repulsive to some at first (or not work at all for their body chemistry). However, when it works and has had some time to develop on the skin, it is beautiful. Personally, I’ve never experienced that, an old school vibe for sure but an outstanding floral scent.

There are a few different versions of No.5 and it of course has undergone slight reformulations over the many decades since its release, so this all can have an impact as to exactly what perfume you get. The Parfum is the original release created by Ernest Beaux 100 years ago.

The Other Classic Coco Option

No.22 EDP Les Exclusifs de Chanel– The formula for this one dates back to 1922 with Coco Chanel and Ernest Beaux. You could also go with No.19, which is probably more popular, but No.22 is the better perfume.

This is the EDP ‘Les Exclusifs’ version. A bit less expensive, but still has great performance.

This one is focused on tuberose but is blended with an array of floral notes and a cooling and refreshing addition of aldehydes up top. At first, 22 has a greenish sort of feeling. Then, the usual cohort of jasmine/ylang-ylang/rose that Chanel is famous for comes in.

22 does have powdery qualities like No. 5, but much less so, with some sweetness also coming from the base. Not too heavy or ‘old lady-ish’, despite its older formulation. No. 22 still comes across as a stylish and modern luxury perfume.

A Lion of Chanel

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.

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. Not for everyone, but a nice change of pace from pure floral perfumes. Le Lion de Chanel Review

Most Popular Chanel Perfume

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau De Parfum spray For Women 3.4 OZ.– The current popular star of the Chanel lineup and one that enjoys more of a universal appeal and can be more broadly worn than some of the other options on the list.

Coco Mademoiselle is sweeter blend of citrus and floral notes that has enjoyed immense popularity since its release. It has an aura of femininity with a strong heart of patchouli and musk.

Mademoiselle features some bright and clean citrus top notes and floral notes led by rose and jasmine. The patchouli is the main attraction in this one, however, it is tempered by the sweeter notes including vanilla.

It has extremely good sillage (a few sprays will do) and also provides all day longevity. Coco Mademoiselle has spawned a bunch of its own flanker fragrances, which are also great, but the original still takes the cake. Read my Full Review

Best Light Summer Scent

Chanel Chance Tendre Eau de Toilette Spray For Women 1.7 OZ./ 50 ml.– Bright, fresh, and girly. Chanel Chance Eau Tendre has a citrus base of grapefruit and quince to go along with sweet floral notes. This is probably the most popular of the Chance flanker fragrances by Chanel.

It’s mostly a floral fragrance that is highlighted by citrus notes to give it more balance. Iris, jasmine, and hyancith are a part of the floral bouquet.

Chance Eau Tendre is a much lighter fragrance than anything else on the list, but that light airy aroma, doesn’t mean that it lacks staying power. It’s just not a heavy bomb, but one that is a great option for everyday wear.

It is still very crisp, due to the citrus top notes, but it doesn’t have that usual sharpness that grapefruit can cause. Eau Tendre is very smooth with a dry down period that can be somewhat powdery (iris) and with a healthy dose of musk. Again, it’s not a heavy fragrance, so the musk isn’t going to be an unbearable mess.

Most Underrated Chanel

Chanel – Allure Eau De Parfum Spray for Women 3.4 FL OZ– Chanel’s Allure has a slightly exotic and oriental vibe to it. Smooth vanilla pairs with peach, orange, and bergamot. A very clean and sexy fragrance that lasts a long time and draws complements.

This is another case, where the EDP and EDT versions are similar but different. The Allure EDP has more vanilla and a warmer vibe (plenty of amber) than the EDT, which gives off more of the bergamot and orange notes with May rose in the florals (it’s also lighter). Either version one selects, you will received a beautiful and sensuous fragrance, under the Allure banner.

Allure EDP opens up with a nectar aroma of peach and then a lighter touch of the citrus notes. The fragrance is warm and sweet from the start, with the vanilla coming in early for a supporting role.

Then, as it dries down, you get more of the floral heart notes like jasmine, peony, and magnolia with touches of base notes like vetiver. Still, the peach and citrus, are the dominant factors in this scent. The whole thing comes together as creamy, smooth, and wonderfully enveloping.

The Best Gabrielle

Gabrielle Essence by Chanel Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 oz / 100 ml (Women)– The original Chanel Gabrielle was pretty good, but it didn’t really reach the top of the list. Essence is a much better fragrance, which blends classic elements with enough modern touches to be enjoyable.

Tuberose, ylang-ylang, orange blossom and other white floral notes eventually combine to be the main focus of this fragrance. However, it opens up with citrus and some juicy/tart berry notes, that are truly delicious. There is a peach note and overall sparkling quality up top.

The performance is decent, but not an elite scent by any means, in that regard. It does smell very nice and has a great deal of versatility. Gabrielle Essence Review

Unisex Floral Woods

Bois des Iles by Chanel– Bois des Iles is definitely less ‘girly’ than many of the other entries on the list, but is still an utterly fantastic fragrance. It features a spicy top (coriander) and awesome sandalwood accord with milky, powdery, and creamy highlights.

The floral notes here are secondary, but present. Aldehydes are the other star of the show, along with the sandalwood. Orris lends the powdery touch and is joined by ylang-ylang.

It settles down into a woodsy and amber-laden perfume, with a warmth that is great on an autumn or winter’s day. This one is something different, but well worth a try, if you’re into woody parfums.

Spice, Sweet, Beauty

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

Le Male Elixir vs Ultra Male Comparison

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Le Male is a series from Jean Paul Gaultier that has been going on strong for nearly 30 years, at this point. Every year or so, we get ourselves a new take on the name. In 2023, that new edition is Le Male Elixir. But, how does it compare to another classic from the series, Ultra Male. Both are two of the bolder, warmer, and sweeter colognes…but which is actually better?

Tale of the Tape: Ultra Male vs Le Male Elixir

Ultra Male

Notes include: vanilla, pear, amber, woods, cinnamon, cumin, sage, lavender, mint

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male for Men Intense Spray, Eau de Toilette, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original review: Ultra Male Review

Le Male Elixir

Notes include: mint, honey, lavender, tonka bean, benzoin, tobacco, vanilla

Click here to try: Le Male Elixir at Macy’s

Read my review: Elixir

Opening

Elixir actually kicks things off with its mint note out in full force, giving it a cooling fresh spiciness. This is joined by the usual Le Male lavender note.

The other major factor early is going to be from the tonka bean. Elixir also has a vanilla note, it just gets stronger as the wear moves forward. Tonka is sweet and syrupy when paired with the honey note and the fuzziness of the benzoin.

Ultra Male is noticeably absent of the same powdery quality of the original Le Male and has a sugary sweetness like Elixir. But, with an added pear note.

What it does have is a burst of initial spice, mainly from the cinnamon note.  Pear, vanilla, and light citrus round it out and give it an aroma akin to bubble gum.

Which is better? I do like Ultra Male’s start a lot, I feel that it’s been overtaken by what I get with Le Male Elixir. Elixir has an initial coolness, that gets warmer, has great sweetness while being fresh, and you get the early hints of that honey.

Edge: Elixir

Projection

Elixir is definitely a powerfully projecting cologne that will leave a scent trail behind you and a warm sweet embrace around you.

It has that bold start, that will moderate as it dries down. Though, it is a steady decline rather than a sharp drop off.

Ultra Male also comes out with more of a bang before settling down into that upper moderate range. Ultra Male actually has a rather large projection radius at first, but quiets into a moderate.

Between the two, Ultra Male still has an edge. It has been the boldest release from Le Male for years now and that remains the case. I will say, I do have a bottle of Ultra Male from its initial release, so that what I am basing it off of. I haven’t heard anything about it being weakened, however.

Edge: Ultra Male

Longevity

Ultra Male always has gotten me at least 8 hours of wear. That’s baseline and it routinely goes over 10 hours, with 12 not being unheard of.  But, more likely in that 9-10 hour range.

Elixir is pretty close, but a notch below. 8-10.5 hours seems to be its range, thus far, while often falling right at 9 hours in total.

Both are long lasting designers scents. Though, Ultra Male still holds the crown as the boldest and best performing of this JPG line.

Edge: Ultra Male

Versatility

The versatility isn’t the strength of either scent. Being bold, sweet, and built for colder weather doesn’t lend itself particularly well for daily wear. At least for most guys.

Both of these skew towards the younger crowd. Playful and attention grabbing nightlife fragrances, without much subtlety or formality.

They’re about equal in terms of climate. Colder to moderate temperatures. In the heat, they melt.

I think that Elixir could be used better in casual daily situations and has a sweet/warm cozy vibe, that can lend itself to a couple of sprays, and not stick out like crazy. So, not a bad option for school, if you go light.

Not much difference, but Elixir has some more usability in more situations.

Edge: Elixir

Overall Scent

Overall, which fragrance do I prefer? It’s a close call either way. Ultra Male has the edge performance wise, but Elixir has depth and a bit more versatility.

Ultra Male gives you a nice sweet and spicy mix. The pear and cinnamon pairing together, with some of the familiar Le Male DNA, was something that really grabbed my attention back when it was released.

What really grabbed my attention, was how powerful it was. I can often spray it in one room of my house and smell the cologne hours later, in another. Not faintly, either, mind you.

For years, I considered Ultra Male to be the best smelling from the series. Though, as the years moved on, I started liking the original and even Le Parfum, slightly more.

Now, Elixir has taken a higher spot on the list. Based on the aroma alone, it might be my favorite, but I still think the original is the most wearable on a regular basis.

Elixir just has a great sweetness. I like the honey and light tobacco notes that come through. The vanilla and tonka bean only add to the sweet, sometimes syrupy glaze. Yes, it can be cloying at times, but so can Ultra Male.

To me, Elixir has the edge versus Ultra Male nowadays. Not by a wide margin, but it wins.

Winner: Le Male Elixir

4 Best Smelling Gucci Bloom Perfumes

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Gucci Bloom has become a tremendously popular product for Gucci over the past few years. As a result, the brand has released several flankers, based on the best selling formula. One critique of the releases has been that they do have lots of overlap between one another.

Which is true. So, how does one select a Bloom perfume and which fragrances are among the top picks that have been brought to market thus far? Here is my list of the top options, after testing them out.

What are the Top Gucci Bloom Perfumes?

A Bolder Option

Ambrosia di Fiori– Very similar to the original Bloom, but definitely a bit different, and with more power behind it. Ambrosia di Fiori has a great opening honeysuckle note, with a less green-ish smell than Bloom, and a big use of tuberose later on in the wear.

Ambrosia also has a rose note, which makes it distinct from the original, and does add something to an already familiar blend. The rose doesn’t completely overpower everything else, though. It has a nice balance.

If you want a bigger, bolder, and heavier version of Bloom with some slight differences, this is the one to get. Very solid performance to go along with everything else. Ambrosia di Fiori Review

top gucci bloom

Best Seller

Gucci Bloom for Women Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Bloom is obviously the original and the most popular option, from the brand. However, it is still absolutely among the best of the entire line, and very worth trying out.

It is a tuberose led fragrance, that maintains a balance, and becomes a gorgeous floral perfume.

It’s a clean floral with a solid dose of jasmine, with a hint of honeysuckle. Fresh, green, with some spice at the top.

Bloom gives a good performance, with a not too powerful sillage, and a creamy sandalwood ending. All of which have become hallmarks of the other flanker scents, that have subsequently been released.

best gucci perfume for women

Pure White Floral

Gocce di Fiori– Bloom Gocce di Fiori, is like the stripped down version of Bloom EDP. It does away with much of the ancillary notes and goes for the trio of floral notes at the heart of this line. Honeysuckle, tuberose, and jasmine.

Gocce di Fiori is one for those who want the pure bouquet effect and something that is lighter than the rest of the line of perfumes.

It has an airy type of feel, with more jasmine in the mix, than the original. It’s still got some of the sweeter elements in there, but they are very faint and short-lived.

Still very much like the original, but if you want a sheer option, with a heavier weighting to jasmine, than Bloom EDP; this can be a great bet. Gocce di Fiori Review

Best Newer Bloom Release

Profumo di Fiori– Alright, so this is the newest of the Gucci Bloom scents. Like, brand new. I had a chance to smell this a few days ago, but based on first impressions, I’m putting Profumo di Fiori on the list of best. I was impressed. Update: I’ve now tried again and reviewed it.

Jasmine and ylang-ylang are already very familiar to me, but Rangoon creeper is more of a factor in this one.

Wow, I really enjoyed that note, when paired with the the other two main floral ingredients. It is also in Ambrosia di Fiori, but really was not much of a factor comparatively.

The opening really goes strong with the usual white floral notes. One change is the ‘sun-drenched wood’ accord. This gives a sunny a energetic feel to Profumo di Fiori.

You will get a period where ylang-ylang and sandalwood are strong within the composition, along with the Rangoon Creeper. But, that will shift more towards the jasmine and tuberose during the dry down phase.

It feels bright and has a creamy warmth to it, with enough woodiness to make things interesting. I don’t think that it’s ‘mind-blowing’, but this is a fantastic release from Gucci. Profumo di Fiori Review

Green Naturalistic Floral

Gucci Bloom Acqua di Fiori for Women 3.3 oz Eau de Toilette Spray– Yes, the Gucci Bloom DNA is built around the white floral notes. But, what if you want something along those lines, just less reliant on tuberose?

Bloom Acqua di Fiori is one that I’ve come around on, since giving it a go. This one has a more citrus/green/grassy/aquatic profile than the others in the Bloom line.

Early on, it features a light lemon note and heavier galbanum. The effect is an aquatic aroma, that I likened to sitting by a pond, in the middle of a flower garden.

That lemon and galbanum up top give it a cold and bright freshness, with a slightly grassy finish. Then, the cassis and honeysuckle also come into the picture.

The one main distinction is the much lighter use of tuberose versus other editions. That gives Acqua di Fiori more of a green floral aroma than the usual white. Freesia and lily of the valley provide the watery qualities of this perfume.

Those two floral notes will really come to dominate the composition. Moderate in its sillage and longevity. I got between 6-7 hours of wear from Acqua. Very nice. Acqua di Fiori review

9 Best Smelling Ralph Lauren Polo Colognes

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Ralph Lauren is a designer which caters to classic American sensibilities and tastes. One of his major accomplishments in the fashion world has been his line of fragrances for men and women.

There are the classics, the flankers, and some newer entries that are also great. However, with so many to choose from it can be difficult for guys to make a decision on which one to go with.

For this list, I have narrowed it down to what I feel are the nine best Ralph Lauren colognes for men. Each one brings something different to the table and should be adaptable to many different lifestyles. Also see: The Best Smelling Ralph Lauren Perfumes for Ladies

What are the Best Scents for Men by Ralph Lauren?

Best Winter Scent for Men

Ralph Lauren Polo Red Extreme Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce–  So, in this updated list I am replacing the old Polo Red with the newer flanker release, Polo Red Extreme. Further update: This has now been discontinued.

Why? Because it’s better than both Polo Red and the Intense version. Plus, it has better performance than either.

This version is darker and doesn’t have the same level of fruitiness created by the cranberry note. This is joined by a certain level of smokiness and a familiar smelling coffee note to go along with blood orange. Sweet, rich, and masculine.

You get the opening citrus note of blood orange mixed with coffee. Later, coffee becomes dominate and there is an almost chocolate-like aroma hanging in the air, when blended with the wood notes. Pretty straightforward scent, but great.

I actually do like the other two Polo Red colognes, a whole lot. I just feel that the folks at Ralph Lauren, kept tweaking the scents, until it became much improved.

Although, this isn’t really the same as the original Polo Red, which would still be on the list if it had better longevity. The coffee note here is great and sort of takes elements of Rochas Man and pairs those with elements of the Polo Red lineup. Polo Red Extreme Full Review

The Next Red in Line

Polo Red Parfum– Red Extreme is still my favorite of the line so far. I do like the original, as well. However, the newer Red Parfum release might be my second favorite. It is more unique, while still having some of that same sort of presentation as the original Polo Red.

This one also doesn’t have that original cranberry note and utilizes the blood orange of Extreme up top. The initial citrus isn’t too overpowering and it has a shorter run at the head, since you get the spice of pink pepper and the slightly bitter absinthe note.

It interestingly shifts into a floral accord, which isn’t a staple of the Polo Red colognes. Lavender is strong here, with a touch of orris softness.

Overall, it is less tart than Red. With a good use of sweetness, a fresh spice, and an easy to wear formulation. Polo Blue Parfum is also pretty good, but I prefer this and the others on the list. Full Review

Top Overall Daily Wear Scent

Polo Black by Ralph Lauren for Men – 4.2 Ounce EDT Spray– Moderate and masculine scent that works well for the day or nighttime. Wonderful fragrance that is pleasing yet subtle. Possibly the best Polo cologne for a wide audience.

An interesting mango note is joined by a blend of sage and patchouli, which gives Polo Black a woody and spicy undertone.

The top of the order include some more citrus notes like lemon and tangerine. Highly popular scent. Notes include: tonka bean, iced mango, patchouli noir, spanish sage, and silver armoise.

Polo Double Black is also a good choice. That one is obviously a flanker fragrance, but the composition is arranged differently, and I think Black does it better. Even though, this is termed ‘Black’, there really isn’t anything dark about it. It’s a masculine fruit-laden scent, that does a great job of drawing complements. Polo Black Full Review

Best Newer Ralph Lauren Cologne

Ralph’s Club– The Polo Intense release was a nice update to the classic formula, but I think Ralph’s Club EDP is the better fragrance.

It’s not overly complicated but has a fresh and clean profile, with a distinct clary sage note at the top. Has a soapy clean quality with an underlying woodiness from the cedar note. I get the comparisons to YSL’s Y, but it’s not exactly the case, as the apple note is missing.

What you do get with Ralph’s Club is an easy to wear and mass appealing fragrance that can be worn pretty much anywhere by any guy. It’s a very safe pick.

Has a level of sweetness to the aroma and the dry down is mostly a clean lavender smell. Good longevity, also. Ralph’s Club Review

Top Blue Release

Polo Deep Blue Parfum– Usually, when you get this deep into flanker fragrances, the quality seems to drop off. However, the 2020 release of Polo Deep Blue Parfum, has become a great addition to the Blue line.

Deep Blue takes a similar formula to the other offerings, but adds a mango note, and Deep Ocean accord. The opening act is great, as the mango (much like found in Polo Black) really creates an awesome aroma.

At first, the ocean accord is fresh and stimulating. Later, is does become more of a pure ambroxan scent.

The performance here is good, with solid sillage for the first few hours, before it settles. Yes, it is quite a bit like Polo Blue EDT and EDP, in the latter stage. But, I like the opening act enough to give it a spot on this list. Polo Deep Blue Review

Best Fresh Sporty Ralph Lauren Scent

Ralph Lauren Polo Sport Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce– Polo Sport has become a classic cologne it its own right. Sometimes simple and clean is the best course of action when choosing a cologne and that’s what Polo Sport excels at.

I remember using this cologne when I was younger and how absolute fresh and invigorating a fragrance that it is.

Smelling this scent takes me back, and to me, really defines what a sporty fragrance should be. This was probably the best Polo fragrance in the 1990s.

Note: Dua has their own inspired by version of this, based on the 1990s formulation called, Endorphin.

It’s not too citrusy or too much of a light aquatic, rather, it blends all of these elements together to make something wonderful and upbeat.

Polo Sport takes so many different elements a does a wonderful job at blending them all together. The sharp and cool mint, the lovely lavender, the sunny citrus notes…all of which sit atop a layer of marine notes.

This has always been a very versatile fragrance and works well for teenagers to adults. My Polo Sport Review

Top Polo Fragrance for Summer

Ralph Lauren Polo Blue Eau de Parfum for Men, 4.2 Ounce– I replaced one of the Big Pony flanker fragrances on this list with Polo Blue because the former got discontinued.  Polo Blue itself has two options, the EDT and the eau de parfum.

I think the EDP version (linked above) is the more interesting and better performing of the choices, but either is a solid choice for guys.

To me, the EDP version is like the original EDT, but blended with elements of Acqua di Gio Profumo. It features a citrus note of bergamot to go along with herbal spices including basil and cardamom. Add to that a smooth suede and aquatic sea notes.

The other option, the EDT version is more of an aquatic, its lighter and has notes of juicy melon and cucumber leading the way. Again, I like either option. The EDT is the better seller, but the EDP is the better performer, in my opinion.

Top Classic Ralph Lauren Fragrance

Polo by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau de Toilette Natural Spray, 4-Fluid Ounce– The original, the classic. Polo is a fantastic and woodsy aromatic for the gentleman who is bold and like to stand out.

It starts out quite dry with leather and pine notes and then transitions into a rich tobacco and patchouli blend that is smoky and intriguing.

An absolute monster in terms of sillage and performance. There’s a reason it has been so loved for over 40 years.

It such a great blend and starts to check off boxes throughout. Herbal. Woodsy. Spicy. A very thorough scent and one which completely goes against the grain of most of the most popular colognes of today’s era.

Again, not for everyone, but Polo is an absolute signature scent for the right man.  My Full Review

polo

Pros

  • Classic and masculine scent
  • Still has great performance

Cons

  • Better Suited for Older Guys

Most Underrated Cologne by Ralph Lauren

Safari by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau De Toilette Natural Spray, 4.2 Ounce– Safari is a scent that one must use caution with, as it can be very strong.

However, it is also a delightfully masculine smell with a sweetness that many other fragrances lack. The main thrust of it is an outdoorsy, green herbal plant and woods mixture.

However, that’s only the beginning as Safari is a complex, and unique aroma. It’s masculine but tempered by citrus and floral notes.

Try to find an older bottle, as from what I understand it has been reformulated…and not for the better. Still, the original Safari is a legend.

Pros

  • Unique
  • Beautiful Complex Composition

Cons

  • Another one for a more mature man

gold blend review