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!

Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler

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Another sample cologne that I picked up recently was Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler. Now, I was already somewhat familiar with this fragrance, but seeing as I hadn’t smelled it in a long time, I didn’t want to write up a review post for it. So, I grabbed a sample with my last order and wanted to put together my full thoughts on this Mugler scent from the A*Men line.

What does A*Men Pure Malt Smell Like?

angel men pure malt review

Notes include: bergamot, patchouli, vanilla, cedar, amber, fruits, coffee bean, musk

Click here to try: Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler Eau De Toilette Spray (Limited Edition) for Men, 3.40 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Pure Malt really sets the stage. Man, is this a rich and enticing fragrance. It kind of reminds me of B*Men also by Thierry Mugler but way better with less spice and an enjoyable fruitiness.

I’ve been really digging scents that feature a boozy type of aroma, and Pure Malt is beautiful, like a fine whiskey. There is a warm sweetness in the same vein as Pure Havane but with alcohol in lieu of tobacco.

The start features the blend of fruits, vanilla, whiskey, and a bit of the patchouli. The patchouli comes through to give it a warm bakery feeling, like it does in so many women’s perfumes. However here, it just helps to shape the alcoholic sweetness.

As the scent wears on, I feel that it becomes even better than the opening act. The berry-like fruits begin to fully emerge and give the cologne a distinctive feel. Nonetheless, they are only playing a supporting role at this stage.

However, Pure Malt never relinquishes its very masculine energy or fall into a trap of being too ambiguous. I found myself constantly trying to get a whiff of this lovely gourmand scent throughout the night that I was wearing it. It was just enjoyable and pleasant to wear.

Finally, the latter stages are smooth, creamy, warm, woody, with its underlying sweetness still kicking around. Vanilla, tonka bean, and vague hints of coffee are swirling around a base of cedar and malt.

The coffee bean adds a nice touch, as you can only pick up its familiar scent, at certain times during the wear. Pure Malt is just unique and plain delicious to the senses.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, Pure Malt is fairly strong, but not crazy so. You’ll notice that it’s there and so will other people around you but it shouldn’t choke anyone out unless you went overboard.

I actually got good longevity with this, it’s hard to remember the details of when I applied and when it faded last night but I’d say 6-8 hours or thereabouts. Update: After wearing this for a while, it seems like 7 hours is pretty standard, for Pure Malt’s longevity. Not a monster performer, but still quite enough.

Pure Malt is yet another cold weather gem. Seriously, the one thing that might hold me back from buying a larger bottle is that I already have so many ‘go-to’s’ during the cooler months of the year…it’s starting to get ridiculous. But yeah, during the summer months, this wouldn’t be a wise choice.

This is quite a masculine cologne and while I like it, it seems that women had mixed feelings about it while I had it on. Most liked it, but weren’t in love with it. It’s funny because I really liked wearing this stuff, so this is one, I probably won’t account for others’ opinions.

Another update: the more that I’ve worn this, the more the positive reactions, outweigh the negative or indifferent. There are times, where this gets an insane number of complements, while out on the town.

I don’t know that I’d wear this to an office. It’s more of a casual, date night, or evening out kind of scent. It does contain those strong alcoholic notes, which you might not want to smell like whiskey, while at work. Your call, though.

Overall Impression of Pure Malt

Overall, would I rate Pure Malt a buy? Yes, I think it’s great but I don’t think it’d be for everyone. It can be quite pricey, it is limited by the climate you live in, not for those who don’t like the smell of malt (obviously), etc.

On the other hand, this is a very well done entry from Thierry Mugler and is at least worth a try for a lot of guys.

The whole thing is warm, sweet, and gourmand. Angel Men Pure Malt is an experience all its own and probably one of the best colognes on the market. It’s application is niche, but it does things so utterly well, that I want to spray it on more and more.

There’s just so much going on here, and when it came out, there really wasn’t too much out there that was quite like it.

I doubt it’ll be what you’re looking for in a daily wear, but as a secondary option you break out on occasion, this is a definite yes.

2023 Update: Pure Malt has been discontinued for a while now. So, if you’re looking for this original formulation, you’re going to have to find an old bottle online or try finding a close approximation. The Dua Brand has one available, that I haven’t tried.

Brit Rhythm Intense for Him by Burberry

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Still working my way through doing reviews on the latest batch of samples, that I got. Today’s entry is from a mini bottle that I purchased, Brit Rhythm Intense by Burberry. I am a big fan of the original Burberry Brit, which spawned Rhythm, which spawned this. Even though, these don’t really have anything in common with the original. How does this smell? Is the performance any good? Is it worth a try?

What does Brit Rhythm Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, sage, raspberry, pepper, peppermint, wormwood, amber, tonka bean, cashmere, and more

Click here to try: Burberry Brít Rhythm Intense for Men 3.0 oz Eau de Toilette

My Full Wear Review

Brit Rhythm Intense lives up to its name with a bold and spicy opening. There’s a whole lot going on in there, but I can pick out: peppermint, pepper, sage, and basil; driving the opening minutes.

With that, is the ever-present but strengthening leather note, along with some fruity sweetness provided by raspberry and fig.

So, it’s a fresh spice blast, over top of leather with some sweetness added in. After, 10-15 minutes, much of the top layer spice has faded away and leather fully ascends.

When the leather comes in, it’s fresh and the spices feel like a dash of herbal flair.

Further along, the nature of Rhythm Intense changes quite a lot. It’s so much smoother and less spicy. Leather is the mainstay, but you also get: amber, tonka bean, vanilla, and wood. With that, comes more sweetness.

The dry down versus the opening is a stark difference. Yes, there are elements which weave their way through both, but this cologne develops almost a new identity.

Finally, the last stages are pretty much the leather and tonka bean, on my skin. Vanilla obviously blends closely with the tonka bean and there is some residual spice present, as well. This all sits on a mixed woody base.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Brit Rhythm Intense is very powerful during that initial phase. Man, do those spices hit hard, and will totally fill up a room if over-sprayed. Now, later on, it is much softer but for and 1 hour or so…it’s a beast.

That initial hour, really pulls up the sillage rating a lot. Thereafter, it’s probably more mid-range for 3-4 hours, before it truly gets soft.

Longevity is really great. This lasts all day on my skin. I don’t know the exact number of hours, but it’s over 10. This is absolutely a performer.

I was honestly shocked that Brit Rhythm Intense actually had such a long wear. After all, the ‘Intense’ moniker, doesn’t always translate to true projection and staying power with some fragrances.

Seasonally, mostly for the colder months, but it’s still good on a temperate day. I’d stay away in the summer, but otherwise, you should be okay with wearing it.

It does have some nice versatility. If you go light, you can wear it to the office. It can also, go for a night on the town, casually, or for romantic wear. It’s got that fresh and masculine aroma, that seems to attract folks.

Overall Impression of Brit Rhythm Intense

Do I like this cologne? Personally, it’s okay, but not really my thing. I do appreciate the performance that this Burberry displays, but I’m not too keen on that opening act.

There’s so much going on, in the first hour. It’s really intense and feels muddled to me. I know other people love this fragrance, but I probably won’t be wearing it any longer. The original Brit, is still better, in my opinion.

That being said, other guys could really enjoy something like this. It’s fairly affordable and you get great performance from Rhythm Intense. If you dig the smell, it’s a worthwhile buy. I don’t hate it, just not something that gets me excited to wear.

2023 Update: This one is discontinued now. You’ll pretty much have to buy it from discounters, if you want Intense. Bottles that I am seeing are somewhere in the $50-60 range. Not too much of a stretch to try out. Again, still not one that’s all that amazing, but a decent value proposition on these last bottles.

Light Blue for Women vs. Eau Intense Comparison

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Light Blue continues to be a top seller in the ladies’ fragrance space, well over a decade after its release. Obviously, it is going to spin off some flanker scents, most notably Light Blue Eau Intense. Is this ‘beefed up’ version, a better one? Does it actually outperform the original? Which one is a better buy?

Tale of the Tape

Light Blue

Notes include: rose, apple, musk, lemon, jasmine, and more

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue By Dolce & Gabbana For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz

Read my original review: D&G Light Blue Review

Light Blue Eau Intense

Notes include: lemon, granny smith apple, amberwood, marigold, and jasmine

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense For Women Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 oz

Read my review: Light Blue Eau Intense

Opening

The original Light Blue starts off with lemon, a nice apple note, and some rose. It’s sharp, somewhat aquatic, crisp, with a decent amount of rose aroma, to give it some depth.

The lemon and the apple create a slight lemonade aroma to it. Slightly sugary, but not ever overwhelming with it, more like an undercurrent. 

Later, it will shift more floral and musky with less of the in your face impact of the fruit notes. But, they do start with a bang.

Eau Intense also begins with lemon and apple. It’s a Granny Smith apple and is actually stronger than the lemon, at first, reversing the original. Also, the rose is replaced with marigold, here.

This gives it a different feeling, while still being fairly familiar. The absence of the rose helps, as does the toned down lemon note. The amberwood note does appear too, early on, in place of the cedar from the original. It’s not massive, but the freshness is already peaking through.

Which is better? I actually prefer the start to Eau Intense. I like the apple note more, it doesn’t feel as sharp, and the marigold is a nice change of pace from the usual rose.

Edge: Eau Intense

Projection

Obviously, with the name Eau Intense, the sillage should be stronger than the original. It is. The original is pretty light to moderate, anyway, but Eau Intense does indeed have a bolder character to it.

Edge: Eau Intense

Longevity

While Eau Intense is certainly stronger, I don’t know if it actually lasts any longer on the skin. For both of them, I get somewhere in the 9-10 hour range, which is great.

Though, I really don’t notice Eau Intense going on beyond what I get from Light Blue. The original EDT has always been one of the better performers, as far as mainstream perfumes go.

They really didn’t need to do much and it doesn’t seem like they did anything to improve the longevity with Eau Intense.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Being two versions of the same basic scent, they’re really not going to be different, in terms of usage. Both are best in the spring and summer months. Both are suited to being a fresh daily wear, casual fragrance, or other events along those lines. No real distinction.

Edge: Push

 

Overall Scent

I do like Light Blue. I think it has some really strong positives about it, which is why it has become a classic. The lemon and cedar combination can be sharp, but it is ultimately fresh, and clean.

I enjoy the floral notes like rose and jasmine, and it provides really good performance. It’s a simple reach for daily wear.

That being said, I prefer Light Blue Eau Intense. I will say, it won’t be for everyone. It can be a bit too bold, and amberwood is an ingredient which can bother folks. It’s got a synthetic freshness, that I think can give it a unique freshness versus cedar, but some may not like it. 

Personally, I like the boldness of Eau Intense. I also really like the apple note getting a boost in this version. Yes, the lemon is stronger later on in the wear, but I enjoy that opening apple. 

It’s a close battle, but I’d take Eau Intense. There’s obviously a lot of overlap, but the composition just smells nicer in this version, versus the original. Plus, there are a lot more perfumes that are similar to Light Blue versus the Intense version.

Winner: Eau Intense

Dylan Blue vs Versace Eros Cologne Comparison

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OK, so today, I’m going to do a head to head comparison between two Versace fragrances: Dylan Blue and Eros. These have been two extremely popular scents as of late and so there are a lot of guys wondering which one is the right one for them. Which of these two smells better? Gives the best performance? Please continue reading below for my full take and comparison.

Eros vs. Dylan Blue: Tale of the Tape

Versace Eros

Notes of Eros: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver, Italian lemon

Click here to try: Versace Eros Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.7 Fluid Ounce

My original Versace Eros Review

Dylan Blue

Notes include: black pepper, violet leaf, grapefruit, bergamot, tonka bean, ambrox, fig leaf

Click here to try: VERSACE Pour Homme Sealed Dylan Blue Eau de Toilette, 3.4 Ounce

Read my Full Review of Dylan Blue

Opening

Dylan Blue opens much like a less spicy/smoky version of Aqua Di Gio Profumo. It is a strong initial blast of grapefruit and bergamot, that gives it that citrus/acquatic vibe. After a bit of time it then transforms into something akin to Dior Sauvage, but not quite the same.

It has a similar citrus/ambroxan combo as does Sauvage, but not the spiciness. Plus, the aquatic notes set it apart. Beyond that, Dylan Blue features a really great fig note, in the opening stages.

I think that has become my favorite aspect of wearing this scent, the way the grapefruit and fig notes blend.

Eros, is an absolute monster from the start. The main players at the beginning are the mint, tonka bean, and vanilla. The green apple and lemon provide support and give Eros that juicy/gourmand quality.

Newer bottles of Eros, seem to be more about the lemon note in the opening, than the previous efforts. Maybe it’s just the batches that I got. It’s still nice, but it can come across fairly different. The vanilla, mint, and tonka bean are the best notes, to my mind.

Update: After coming back to even newer batches, Eros EDT really does favor that lemon note early on, nowadays. It’s a bit closer contest between it and Dylan Blue. I’d still give a decision towards Eros, but not by very much

I actually like the start from Dylan Blue and feel that it is one of the cologne’s strongest qualities. However, Versace Eros really makes an impression, and that’s what I’m giving the edge to.

Edge: Eros

Projection

This category isn’t even a contest. The clear edge goes to Eros, without question. Versace Eros is perhaps one of the loudest and most bold fragrances on the market (at least in the mainstream).

That’s one of the reasons, it enjoys such a popularity. However, it can also be a bit much for some folks.

Update: Again, the newer bottles of Eros don’t hit exactly the same way. Still bold and ahead of Dylan Blue, but they’ve taken a step back in terms of power.

Dylan Blue has a fairly strong opening and then fades after about an hour. After that, it’s pretty moderate for the most part, before it becomes a weak skin scent. It’s not terrible but not in the same realm as Eros.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

Again, complete domination. Eros lasts seemingly forever. When I would wear this regularly, a few years back, I could spray in the morning and still detect it towards the late night before showering. It’s a total beast.

Are the latest batches weaker? It’s tough to say, a recent mini of Eros that I purchased didn’t seem to hit the same strength as it used to. I put it up against Eros Flame, and that one lasted forever, while Eros was a notch below. Again, it might just be a bad batch.

Update: It’s around 8-ish hours now. Maybe more, depending on the day.

Dylan Blue is a pretty average performer. I get a solid 5-7 hours of wear from it. Coming back to this fragrance, after a year or so, it pretty consistently hits 6 hours. So, I expect 6-7, but sometimes it’ll quit at 5.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

Dylan Blue gets the nod here, I think. It can be worn year round with no problem, be perfectly fine in a casual environment, and still has the ability to perform in the nightlife.

Since Eros is so strong, it has it’s time and place. I would wear it to the office but limited it to one spray only. This is more of a nightlife powerhouse, than strictly a casual cologne. Add to that, I like it in the cold to moderate temperatures, as I think it gets messy in the heat.

Edge: Dylan Blue

Overall Scent

I like Dylan Blue, I’m just not that into it, though. It’s a pleasant but fairly generic kind of scent and is like an amalgamation of several other popular colognes. That’s not to say it’s bad and you wouldn’t enjoy it, but it’s not that incredible in my eyes.

Blue has a very nice opening act, but it turns into an ambroxan heavy fragrance, without much personality. The fig, light pepper, and citrus top are the peak of its creativity and the enjoyment I get from it.

Versace Eros is a special kind of animal. Yes, it’s insanely popular, but it still has a unique quality that Dylan Blue lacks. It’s not for everyone, but, it not only performs better…it also smells much better than Dylan Blue. That’s why it’s the winner here.

In fact, if you’re looking for Versace fragrances, I’d put the following ahead of Dylan Blue: Man Eau Fraiche, Eros, The Dreamer, and possibly even Pour Homme (depending on my mood).

Update: Yes, I still like Eros more than Dylan Blue. From Versace, I think Eros Parfum is the best of the Eros line now. I’m not really into the Eros formula as much as I was back when it came out in 2012 and the years after. That being said, it’s still a solid pick up. I’ve recently reviewed Greatness by Dua, which is based on the older formula of Eros EDT, and I think that’s a good bet for those who want the classic Eros EDT sort of smell.

Winner: Eros

7 Best David Beckham Colognes for Men

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David Beckham was one of the most popular athletes on the planet for many years. One of his side ventures is creating fragrances along with his wife Victoria, for both men and women. The men’s line offers some very inexpensive choice for guys on a budget and it contains some quite attractive colognes for often under $20. For this list, I have selected seven of what I feel to be the best scents of the lineup.

What are the Best Smelling David Beckham Colognes?

Most Popular Beckham Fragrance

David Beckham Instinct Cologne Spray for Men, 2.5 Fluid Ounce
A light and great blend of citrus and spice notes. Develops into a warm fragrance that is quite appealing for the price. Notes include bergamot, orange, amber, patchouli, pimento.

The opening is definitely a celebration of the citrus notes (bergamot and orange) which are accompanied by some great and somewhat spicy ‘earthy’ aromas. Instinct is a shower fresh sort of fragrance from the start and a while into the wear, amber and vetiver, which gives it a dry feeling.

This is warm woods, citrus, with spicy elements. Very nice and actually fairly unique versus so many other colognes in this price range. Full Review of Instinct

instinct

Smooth Option for Winter

Intimately Beckham By Beckham For Men, Eau De Toilette Spray, 2.5-Ounce Bottle
A bit sweet, smooth, with a hint of spice and a woodsy heart. It’s almost unisex in its presentation and its longevity can be an issue, though, its still a very nice scent.

Intimately Beckham features notes of sandalwood, amber, star anise, and bergamot among others. To me, feels best to be worn in the autumn or winter months.

It has a soft, somewhat powdery warmth, and fresh spice from the star anise and nutmeg notes. While a ‘cheapie’, this Beckham cologne can work well in a variety of situations, including dressed up for an evening. The sandalwood adds a layer of clean smoothness. Review

intimately-beckham-men-edt-50ml-30003492-0-1321522359000

Best Summer Scent by Beckham

The Essence– The Essence is a very clean and great use of grapefruit and pineapple notes, up top. Also, for the price, this is one of the Beckham fragrances which give me very solid performance while I was testing it out.

Essence is best worn in the spring/summer months, and features: lavender, tonka bean, and some greenish violet leaf. Not too complex of a fragrance, but one that smells good, and is easy to wear. The dry down is less of the citrus and starts to stray more towards an earthy woods scent.

I could get about six hour of wear from The Essence on my skin. I found this one to be quite enjoyable, and one that, you could thrown on any day. The Essence Review

Best Aquatic/Sport Fragrance

Beckham Signature By Beckham For Men Edt Spray 2.5 Oz
Another citrus blend, this one doesn’t have the same spiciness as instinct and has more of a casual/playful vibe to it. Signature is the Beckham line’s, sporty aquatic fragrance. Notes include: watermelon, amber, juniper berry, moss, and cypress.

It starts off with a light and juicy watermelon note that is paired with the familiar oceanic saltiness found in fragrances within the genre. It’s smooth and soapy fresh with some underlying woody notes.

A very light scent overall, sort of reminds me of one of the Ferrari colognes, with the watermelon note. Not going to be a powerhouse, but one you can spray on to freshen up and hang out with in casual situations.

signature

Top Spicy Cologne for Him

David Beckham Homme Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 2.5 Ounce
A fresh scent that has a spicy and woody profile with notes like ginger and sichuan pepper leading the way. Underlying that are citrus notes, like grapefruit, which brightens up the composition and is joined by a clean musk and patchouli accord.

David Beckham Homme is a wonderful smelling fragrance with the highlight in my mind being the wood notes and the whiffs of leather that come about during the wear. This one is more on the masculine end and is refreshing while having a moderate sillage. A very nice scent for the price point.

dbhomme

Under the Radar Fresh

David Beckham Inspired By Respect By David Beckham for Men – 3 Oz Edt Spray, 3 Oz– It seems like the newer releases are becoming pretty sparse and they can be difficult to find. Inspired by Respect flew under the radar for me, since its release a few years back.

The price for bottles seems a little high, but I wanted to put it on the list, because it is one of Beckham’s nicer colognes.

Inspired opens up with a clean citrus blend that has a nice dose of lavender. Pretty familiar, but the pineapple note helps to set it apart. The juiciness gives it a water/semi-aquatic profile.

The dry down is woody and a bit of light spice, with the fruit notes still lingering. Not super complex, but worth a shot, if you can get an inexpensive bottle.

Top Newer Release

Refined Woods by David Beckham– After a while of not putting out much, Beckham fragrances have introduced a line of four eau de parfums to the mix. So, while Refined Woods is the one that I’ve experienced, I haven’t gotten to the others…nonetheless, Refined Woods is a very nice cologne.

Basically, these are available in the UK and most of Europe. I want to try Amber Breeze, as that one sounds like it might be a good pick up, also.

The copy describes this colognes like this: “This warm and sensual scent is a celebration of travel and discovery, where the journey is the reward.”

Anyway, refined woods gives you a clean and fresh blend of powdery/creamy notes (tonka bean and orris root) with the usual lavender and a woody base. Up top the fresh spice will be a sage and light cardamom, so things have some energy early on.

The dry down will be woodier, slightly sweeter, a nice use of the vetiver and cedar.

Not a powerful fragrance, nothing super ‘unique’, but honestly…it smells very good for the price which is still quite affordable.