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!

Fan di Fendi Acqua Pour Homme by Fendi

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The summer is quickly winding down. However, since I received a whole lot of new samples, some of these scents are going to be made for the warmer months of the year. One of these colognes is Fan di Fendi Acqua by Fendi.

It is a fragrance that sets out to capture the spirit of the Mediterranean Sea, much like Acqua di Gio Profumo, while being quite different.

The Fendi scent is a different type of fragrance from that Armani entry, even if they share the citrus aroma provided by bergamot.  In this post, I want to give my impression on how this cologne smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Fan di Fendi Acqua Smell Like?

fan di fendi acqua homme

Notes include: bergamot, peppercorn, cedar, lavender, sea notes, pink pepper, musk, leather

Click here to try: FENDI Fan Di Fendi Acqua Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Update: I originally wrote this review in 2016, after trying the sample. Later, I found a full bottle for around $20 and purchased it. I am updating this page, to reflect the fact that I have spent more time wearing it and have a deeper understanding of its performance, etc. 

The opening of Acqua is a blend of cedar and the marine notes that give the cologne its aquatic vibe. It’s a departure from other citrus laced colognes that open with an initial blast of lemon. While you can definitely smell that bergamot and Italian lemon here, they aren’t overwhelming.

The opening act gives me more of the bergamot than lemon, peppercorn, pink pepper, lavender, and the blend of marine notes. Up top, the spiciness is most prominent and really sets this one apart when compared to other aquatic colognes on the market.

I’d say that Fan di Fendi Acqua is very clean and fresh, especially once it settles in. There is a leather note that reminds me a lot of the one found in 1 Million. Now, they aren’t even remotely the same kind of scent but that smoothness is present.

There is also the faint spiciness  and warmth provided later on by the peppercorn, pink pepper, and musk notes. I think that this gives the scent a bit more depth and really anchors the cologne.

So, what you’re going to get with this fragrance is a very fresh, smooth, and warm woodsy/aquatic with supporting citrus notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and When to Wear

Projection wise, Fan di Fendi Acqua is moderate. It is a softer type of cologne that won’t choke you out or envelope the room, it’s quite a safe bet. Up front, that spice can be powerful and makes it seem like this scent is going to be loud. Once settled, it is typically moderate.

I do, however, get very good longevity out of this fragrance. A few sprays and it comes through for the rest of the day, this is one of the bigger selling points. I can get anywhere from 7 to 10 hours of wear with this scent, on my skin.

This is a fragrance built for warmer weather, so, spring and summertime. It is mostly for casual to semi-formal wear. More of an outdoorsy daytime scent, that can venture into the night. It’s clean enough, but not really a dressed up sort of cologne.

Overall Impressions of Fan di Fendi Acqua

Overall, is this a buy? Yes, if you get it at a good price. It isn’t an unbelievable scent by any means but it is a very good one that performs well. It at times smells familiar, but overall, I cannot think of another one that has this same sort of profile.

It is a unique blend within this aquatic space…but doesn’t always feel like an aquatic.

The aquatic blend, that opening citrus, and the leather notes are some of the highlights. That aquatic and pink pepper aspect feels similar to Light Blue Living Stromboli, which came out around the same time as this Fendi.

The pink pepper is fine. Not usually my favorite spice note, but it works within the overall composition. Though, I’d consider it a less enjoyable feature of Acqua.

You get a very clean and good smelling fragrance that lasts for a long time and works in the heat. I like it a lot as a casual summer scent. Plus, the price can be great. If you’re not paying full retail, the Fan di Fendi lineup can be a steal.

Update: This has been discontinued for a long while now, as it came out back in 2013. I enjoyed my full bottle for a few summers, but no longer have Fan di Fend Acqua. You can still track down bottles, but it probably won’t be nearly as cheap as I got it for.

Polo Blue EDT by Ralph Lauren

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I have sort of a soft spot for the line of Polo fragrances, Polo Sport was one of the first colognes that I tried when I was younger, and honestly still enjoy to this day. I also really enjoy the fashion line Ralph Lauren has created, as even if I don’t want to have my whole wardrobe look like the preppy or sailing type, I still like to mix and match some of the brand’s iconic menswear into my own personal style.

So, after trying a fragrance like Polo Red, I decided that I should try out Polo Blue as well and give my opinion on it. Also check out: The Top Fragrances by Polo Ralph Lauren

Polo Blue EDT Overview

Notes include: amber, melon, patchouli, geranium, cucumber, tangerine, moss, musk

Click here to try: Polo Blue for Men By Ralph Lauren Eau-de-toilette Spray, 6.7-Ounce

My Full Review

My initial impression of this scent was immediately how fresh it was. I could really detect, the cool aquatic notes, and it did conjure up ideas of the color blue in my mind. It was really great to wear on a warm summer day.

However, I also think that it would work very well during the colder months because of the second wave of warm and slightly spicy notes.

Blue opens up with a cucumber, melon, and some tangerine/orange blend. It immediately strikes my nose, as being very similar to Eternity Aqua by Calvin Klein, which I have been wearing some as of late.

It is a water crisp aroma, with a bit of herbal basil in the background, adding some spice. At first, the cucumber is more dominant and later, the melon becomes more noticeable. Though, they can be difficult to distinguish between, in the same blend.

As it dries down some, the herbal quality sticks around, but there is an additional musk note which becomes more powerful. It never takes over the scent, but it is much more noticeable in the following hours. I like the dry down period, as you get a bit more character, in a fairly linear fragrance.

The notes do sort of transform from very clean and crisp into something that is warmer and more sensual. While it does have plenty of fruit notes, this never becomes anything girly, and I would say it’s wholly masculine. The woodsy notes anchor Polo Blue and don’t allow it to become a light and airy fragrance.

It is smoother and less spicy than Blue EDP or even some of the other options on the market, which have a close approximation to its aroma. It does indeed give you an uplifting freshness, that can be pleasing to wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

I would say that its projection is moderate. It’s not the type of cologne which will overwhelm with just a few sprays but it is by no means a weak one either.

Polo Blue EDT sticks around quite well for an eau de toilette and the sillage is noticeable for most of the wear. Towards the latter stages, it does become more of a skin scent.

It has good to very good longevity, as I get through an entire work day and can still detect it before I shower at night (unless I went to the gym beforehand).

That’s my experience with older bottles of Polo Blue, I’m not sure if the longevity has suffered from reformulations, but I always found it to last quite well.

Update: Coming back to Polo Blue, a few years after this initial review, I would put its longevity in the 6-9 hour range. Actually, much of the time it does last closer to the higher end of that range. It’s actually quite good, not elite, but you definitely get good value from this cologne.

Seasonally, its a spring/summer wear that can venture year round, as I said. It is a fresh and casual scent, that is inoffensive enough to venture into work. Is it sexy? Ehh, it’s attractive and pleasant. People appreciate it, but it’s never made women go crazy or anything like that.

This is a fragrance that you can technically wear almost anywhere. It’s not really a formal scent, but for many office type of environments, it would be perfectly fine.

I still would prefer to wear this on a summer’s day, while just going about my life, but it can serve as a the main cologne for someone.

Overall Impressions of Polo Blue

Overall, I do recommend Polo Blue. It’s by no means my favorite but I recognize that it is a really good daily wear choice for guys. It’s fresh, performs well, is versatile, and draws complements.

Is it some super amazing scent, that is completely unique and could become a signature wear?

Probably not, but it does what it does well, and I think that is more than enough for the general population of fragrance shoppers. I prefer Polo Blue EDP to this original release. Also, if you can find Eternity Aqua for cheaper, it’s a great alternative.

I like the top notes a lot, along with the overall aquatic aroma of the fragrance, without venturing into the oceanic zone.

Polo Blue does however, remain a very popular option. It’s really not difficult to understand why, as it does provide an attractive and versatile wear, that can be pulled off by anyone.

Code Colonia by Giorgio Armani

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I’ve had a sample of Code Colonia, since around the end of last year, and haven’t gotten around to reviewing it. Heck, I kind of forgot about it, until a few days ago. That happens, when you have boxes of fragrances sitting around. Anyway, I’ve tried it out once again, and have gathered my thoughts for a review of this Armani flanker. How does it smell? When should it be worn? How’s the performance? Is it even worth a purchase?

What does Armani Code Colonia Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin orange, bergamot, sage, tonka bean, orange blossom, pink pepper, amber, heliotrope

Click here to try: Giorgio Armani Code Colonia Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Upon first smelling Code Colonia, I immediately pick up on the similarities that it shares with the rest of the Code family. In this one, the strength of the notes are inverted, however. So, while in Code and Profumo you get a touch of citrus, Colonia makes it the main focus.

It starts off with plenty of bergamot with a lesser amount of mandarin and orange blossom. I really like it, it’s familiar, but has a summery kind of vibe. It’s fairly sharp, with a refreshing zest.

A few minutes in, the pink pepper comes along, but it really doesn’t stand out to my nose. I mean, when compared to Guess Seductive which also features orange and pink pepper, Colonia has a fairly weak pepper note.

To me, the pink pepper and sage, sort of occupy the same space here. Just adding a touch of fresh spice. While you do get citrus throughout, the amber and tonka bean, really start to kick up. During this period, I really notice the similarities between this and Code Profumo.

This one is much lighter, has way more citrus, and isn’t as sweet. It’s as if you took the amberwood from AdG Absolu or Invictus Aqua and spliced it together with Code DNA.

Ultimately what I get here is: creamy tonka bean, citrus, bit of spice, amberwood, and a light floral scent. Not super complex, but quite attractive, in what it is.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage on this one is a stronger moderate. It doesn’t have that same sillage as Code Profumo or Code Absolu, but it really doesn’t need to. I don’t think that I’d want this to be any louder or heavier, it’s very nice, as is.

The longevity is solid, but not amazing. It’ll go in the 7-8 hour range, without any problem, which is great for most any occasion. For other scents in this vein, 7-8 hours is pretty great, but it isn’t an elite performer.

Seasonally, this is a spring/summer version of the Code line. While I love the others in the colder weather, they don’t hold up well in the heat. This one gives you that versatility, which is a nice change of pace from the rest.

With the tonka bean and amberwood, it doesn’t sound like much of a warmer weather cologne but it absolutely works. Colonia gets compared to Eros or YSL Electrique with its smell, but this is much fresher and lighter than either.

Colonia is also a scent, which you can wear, for pretty much any event. It’s not too bold for daytime or office wear. However, it smells good enough and has an attractive quality, for dates or just evenings out on the town.

Overall Impressions of Code Colonia

Overall, do I like Armani Code Colonia? Yes, I do. I think I’d put it third behind Absolu and Profumo, in the Code hierarchy. However, you don’t need both of those fragrances, and this one is a great option for warmer weather.

As such, you could do a lot worse than having one of those for the colder months, and wearing this in spring/summer. It is fresh, with a nice citrus top, enough of that Code DNA, and a nice use of tonka bean and amber.

I also like that start with the various citrus notes. Great zest way to kick off the composition.

Code Colonia is attractive, will get complements, and performs well. A very good cologne all around. It’s worthwhile picking up a cheaper or smaller bottle, because it can be a nice addition to a fragrance lineup.

Update: Colonia was released back in 2017 and is now discontinued. Bottles are still online somewhat, but very expensive versus what they used to be. I don’t think it’s worth the grab at well over $100 a bottle, unless you’re really sure this is the cologne for you. Everyone else? Maybe, pick up a newer Code flanker like, Parfum.

Gentleman EDP Boisee by Givenchy

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Gentleman EDP Boisee is one from Givenchy that I hadn’t tried yet. It came out back in 2020, but I never got around to checking it out since I’m not the biggest fan of this series. Though, as I head more about this fragrance, I was wanting to try it. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a buy?

What does Gentleman Boisee Smell Like?

Notes include: black pepper, cocoa bean, iris, geranium, coriander, cedar, sandalwood, patchouli

Click here to try: Gentleman EDP Boisee

My Full Review

Here’s how Givenchy describes it: The elegance of iris mingled with the strength of burning wood. A sensual woody floral warmed by addictive cocoa bean.

Boisee opens up with a warmth, fresh spice, and woods already peaking through. Black pepper with some touches of coriander are there at the start giving this a more dynamic feel than what the iris note would give you alone.

Though, that iris note is also there. It’s going to be the highlight, as it is in the rest of this Givenchy series, but shares the stage early on.

Cocoa bean is also noticeable. With its influence and the surrounding notes, the iris takes on less of a powdery aroma at first, and smells more buttery to my nose.

The other aspect of the opening act is the slight freshness/earthiness not coming from the two spice notes. Patchouli is light but there. Geranium is heavier in the mix, just not a long-lived role to play, kind of a sweet smelling geranium too.

As we move along, the iris and woods really come out in full force. The spices will fade, as will the cocoa bean. Both are still around for a while, but neither has the same impact moving forward.

The patchouli actually does manage to make it to the latter stages of Boisee. This one doesn’t get too heavy with the iris, it does have the powdery quality but isn’t super slanted towards that.

Mostly, the dry down is a balance of the iris, sandalwood, and the other woods. Under that? Some patchouli and a blend of the final hints of the other notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is lighter to moderate. Though, that is kind of deceiving as Boisee is the type of scent that you can go nose blind to, while others will still give you a complement on the fragrance.

Gentleman Boisee isn’t a ‘heavy’ feeling fragrance. It hangs around as a lighter cloud around the wearer, just one with significant reach. At it’s peak, this one is in the 5-7 foot range in terms of projection. It will move in much closer to the skin, but I still catch whiffs of this cologne pretty deep into the wear.

The longevity here isn’t all that amazing. On my skin, it’ll go for 6-7 hours. Yes, much of that time is with the sneaky ability to project. Even still, those last few hours are very light and basically a skin scent.

Seasonally, this is mostly an autumn and winter wear. However, I wore it here in late spring when its very warm outside and I didn’t hate the results. Sure, it’s better in the colder to moderate temperatures, but as long as it isn’t insanely hot you should be okay.

This one can be worn for pretty much whatever occasion. It’s attractive and dynamic enough for the nightlife or for a date. Yet, Boisee is well put together enough for office wear or some other formal occasion.

It doesn’t scream for attention, is balanced and well-behaved. Boissee is great at fitting in to many scenarios.

Overall Impressions of Gentleman Boisee

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, it is one of the better releases so far from the Gentleman lineup. It’s very good, but not great in terms of its scent. It’s performance is pretty mid.

I like the spicy opening. It doesn’t stray too far into that territory and maintains its balance. However, Boisee’s black pepper and coriander pair very well with the iris and the cocoa coming up from the heart.

The iris and woods finish is less enthralling, but I like it better than the finish of Reserve Privee, which was disappointing after its awesome opening act.

I do wish that this one had a longer life span and a slightly better projection. It’s not terrible, just had room for improvement.

Personally, I don’t need another iris centered colognes since I already own: Dior Homme 2011, Valentino Uomo, and Prada L’eau. All three of which are better than this Givenchy release. So, I’ll be skipping this as an acquisition.

If you’ve enjoyed the rest of the Gentleman line of fragrances, you’ll almost certainly like this one too. Nothing super different, but the woods and the cocoa bean give it enough of a distinct quality to help Boisee stand on its own.

Poison Girl EDP by Christian Dior

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Moving right along with my review of the recent sample fragrances that I’ve received, I wanted to do another women’s perfume that was included in the lot, Poison Girl by Christian Dior. This scent was released in 2016.

Now, I received about 4-5 Dior samples for women, so there will be more of them upcoming. However, today I am going to focus solely on this Poison flanker fragrance. How does it smell? What are the ingredients? Is it worth a buy?

What does Poison Girl by Dior Smell Like?

Notes include: Damascus rose, tonka bean, bitter orange, vanilla, almond, sandalwood

Click here to try: Christian Dior Poison Girl Women’s Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Full Wear Review

The opening bit of time after spraying on Poison Girl feels quite familiar. To me, it is reminiscent of La Petite Robe Noire Couture, and even Black Opium to an extent. Now, this Christian Dior perfume is not a clone of either one of those scents, but there is a similar feeling and some overlap in the notes.

From the start, I get a rush of the Damascus rose, a blend of tonka bean/vanilla, and the citrus of the bitter orange hanging around.  It is a sweet gourmand aroma that has a definite creaminess to it (particularly in the latter stages).

It is a citrusy vanilla, rose, and tonka bean perfume; with some other floral undertones, but is quite sweet and creamy at the beginning. With that sweetness, you do get a slight powdery aroma from the rose, but it is nothing too intense. Poison Girl doesn’t go full-on baby powder mode.

After a few minutes, I begin to really notice the distinctive almond note, which I feel gives the perfume an enveloping nutty warmth. This is the note, which begins to set it apart from the aforementioned fragrances, and one which I always seem to be drawn to.

As it moves along, Poison Girl retains its sweet vibe with a much softer touch. It is a very smooth and enjoyable fragrance during the dry down period. There is also just a hint of floral notes within the composition of this Dior, which adds a nice layer of depth.

There is much less of the zesty citrus fruit scent and things feel much drier, with some sandalwood, and overall warmth to the composition.

The whole thing feels enveloping, but not heavy, just a smooth and comforting aroma. I ultimately get creamy vanilla/tonka bean combo and almond, with what’s left of the bitter orange, and a fairly light rose hanging around.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection is good. Poison Girl starts out with some strength but morphs into something softer, yet still quite noticeable while wearing. Fairly strong sillage at the front end, light to moderate, back end.

In terms of its longevity, this perfume really shines. It’s an all day wear, so you won’t have to worry about it quitting on you. It will go for 8-11 hours, depending on the day and climate. For the designer price, it actually does deliver a quality wear.

Poison Girl is also versatile. It is suitable for office or casual wear but does have a very pleasant and indeed sexy kind of scent to it. I continually found myself wanting another sniff and would love smelling this on a woman, that I was dating.

It has that appeal, but is also light enough to be used as a daily wear, during the autumn and winter months. This is a cold weather scent all the way to me, but it wouldn’t be bad in moderate temperatures.

In the heat? Poison Girl EDP is a pass. It will melt and start to take on a less than appealing aroma. So, if you live in a warmer climate, you won’t want to wear this…at least outside.

Overall Impressions of Poison Girl

Overall, do I think Poison Girl is worth a try? Yes. If you like sweet gourmand fragrances, this is another excellent choice. While there is a lot of similarities with the scent and some others out on the market, it does have just enough of its own style to set it apart.

If you’re not that into sweeter fragrances, this is one that could potentially get annoying. I never found it to be irritating, but it has that potential for some.

The highlights for me are the tonka bean and almond notes. I like the citrus and how that blends with those two, sort of a creamsicle-like experience. This is a very lovely fragrance, that is easy to wear and attractive, without being overwhelming.

Furthermore, it smells great and performs really well. Plenty of power and staying time on skin. Really no weaknesses with this Dior perfume. Mainstream and not completely unique? Sure. Poison Girl just works, however.

This is one that could be a signature scent for the right woman. Since writing this, I have also tried Poison Girl Unexpected, and like that one a bit more. Nonetheless, this is still a great option.