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 test out and 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!

A Midnight Stroll by Gucci

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Gucci, like other luxury brands in this space, has their regular popular fragrance line and a higher end niche options. For Gucci, The Alchemist’s Garden, is where they stash their most unique offerings. I recently received a sample of A Midnight Stroll, from this line, in order to test it out and see what this perfume is all about. How did it do? Is it worth a buy?

What does A Midnight Stroll Smell Like?

Notes include: incense, cade wood, cypress

Click here to try: A Midnight Stroll by Gucci

My Full Review

Here’s how Gucci describes it: An Incense-scented fragrance celebrating the allure of the night.

A Midnight Stroll opens up with a really unique aroma. The key here, I think, is the cade oil. Essentially, juniper and its resin distilled into an oil form. What does this smell like? Mostly, it’s a tar-like aroma with hints of leather and even some rubber.

Weird. Not bad, though.

The incense note itself, is actually toned down early on. To me, the smokiness doesn’t really come through all that much in the opening act. That will change, later.

The other aspect of this is the fresh woodiness of the cypress note. It definitely sits behind the cade oil, but there is a good amount of cypress kicking things off. Sort of smells like a cypress tree that’s been covered in this tar substance. Very resinous and balsamic.

As it dries down, the cypress is the note that fades the most on my skin. The overwhelming dominance of the tar and rubber aroma will also lose its grip. At this point, it becomes more of a straightforward incense and cade oil blend.

The only really difference in the dry down, is the continuing shift towards the incense note, in terms of strength.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

A Midnight Stroll is not a powerhouse. Even early on, it’s pretty moderate with its projection and any scent trail that it’s going to leave behind. Now, I’m sure with a full bottle, you can spray enough to boost its profile.

However, it’s still pretty middle of the road for much of the wear. In the back half, it’s actually a pretty light fragrance.

The longevity was right about six hours. At that point, I pretty much had to press my nose up against my skin in order to smell it. But, it was still there. Pretty standard issue and not going to go above and beyond.

Seasonally, I’d only want to wear this in autumn or winter. A Midnight Stroll is best left for the cold. It is July here, currently. I stepped outside with this on, in the summer’s heat and it was just kind of strange and out of place. This Gucci didn’t adapt well.

While this is listed as unisex, it is a perfume that leans very much into the masculine end of the spectrum.

I guess you could wear this in the evening, as the name suggests. Not very formal, but not a complete party scent either. I’m not sure where or when to try it, exactly.

Overall Impressions of A Midnight Stroll

Overall, do I like A Midnight Stroll? It’s decent. This is very much a niche scent and is going to have a limited audience who will actually appreciate it. Still, even among incense-based fragrances, this isn’t all that amazing.

I’d much rather wear something like Encens Satin. Though, this one does come across as being much more unique with its tarry leather aroma. For me, that’s not enough to want a full bottle of this Alchemist’s Garden release. Especially, at the near $400 price point.

That opening act is interesting. It’s such a weird blend of leather, wood, amber, tar, rubber, and smoke. There’s nothing that I can think of that smells just like A Midnight Stroll. Even so, the aroma itself, isn’t anything that’s a must have for probably 99% of people.

If you’re really interested in this one, I’d track down a sample first. Then decide if it’s worth spending all of that money for it. You might be in that niche group who will be in love with A Midnight Stroll or be like me and just think that it’s okay.

Drakkar Essence by Guy Laroche

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Keeping up with my recent burst of fragrance reviews, it is time to turn my attention to an offering from Guy Laroche. I saw a bottle of this while shopping in Target and noticed Cam Newton on the cardboard display (update: this original review was back when Target still sold fragrances).

I’m not that big a fan of Drakkar Noir (just a personal taste…many people love it), although I appreciate its impact in the fragrance world and how big it was in the 1980s.

It just never excited me all that much. However, I figured that I’d give Drakkar Essence a try and see if I liked it. How does Essence stack up? Is it worth a purchase?

What does Drakkar Essence Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, musk, lavender, grapefruit, tonka bean, woods

Click here to try: Guy Laroche Drakkar Essence Eau de Toilette Splash, 3.4 Ounce 

My Full Review

It’s kind of funny that I tried out Drakkar Essence at about the same time that I tested out The Essence by David Beckham. Not only did these two scents share the same name but also lavender and grapefruit are ingredients in both.

So, even before I knew the contents of Drakkar, I was struck by how much both of these colognes resemble one another. The difference comes in where the Beckham scent is more citrus/aquatic, Drakkar Essence is kept warm and mildly spicy by the musk and mint, though still retaining an aquatic feel.

I actually don’t detect that much of a mint influence, it’s definitely there, but I get mostly the grapefruit and musk notes. I do like this cologne, even if it isn’t terribly unique or anything.

The opening does seem to stray more toward the grapefruit end of things, with that mint and sage freshness, sitting underneath that.

Another fragrance, I’ll have to talk about in regards to Essence, is Drakkar Noir. This new release has very little do to with the 1980s classic from Guy Laroche. Lavender, mint, and wood is about it. They don’t smell alike in the slightest, though.

Essence is completely enjoyable after a few minutes when it has had some time to settle on the skin.  It becomes a smooth and fresh scent highlighted by the emergence of the lavender note to go along the other aforementioned notes.

In the end, the mint begins to peak out a bit more, lavender and musk flank it, and there is the remnants of the citrus. Not very complex. Smooth and spicier in the dry down.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts off rather strong before settling into a moderate fragrance. I got pretty good longevity out of Drakkar Essence also. I took a shower and scrubbed with body wash and could still pick some up on my skin. So yeah, no problems there.

Coming back to this scent for a second time, I found that it lasted on my skin for about 7 hours. That’s good enough, for most wears. Not a total workhorse, but very serviceable.

Seasonally, this will absolutely work anytime. I will give it lots of points for its versatility. It holds up well in the warmer weather and doesn’t feel out of place in the wintertime.

Drakkar Essence can be used as a daily wear or even a subtle nighttime fragrance. It’s simplicity and low key vibe, make it an ideal choice for an all-around type of cologne. It’s by no means amazing, but its usefulness and performance are indeed, its strengths.

Overall Impression of Drakkar Essence

Overall, is Essence worth a purchase? I like it. It’s pleasant. However, it doesn’t really stand out to me. I guess it’s a buy because it is a nice fragrance and not very expensive. Drakkar Essence isn’t a scent which will blow you away but it is quite serviceable and sometimes that’s all you need.

The grapefruit, musk, and minty opening is solid. I actually like the latter stages with the lavender, mint, and musk coming through more.

This isn’t a bad buy if you want something simple and straightforward. I’ve seen bottles for super cheap, as of late, so it may well be worth trying out for some guys.

Update: Everything about it is decent. Coming back to this one years later, I did get a bit more sage in the opening, this time around. Not around very long, but nice. Really, grapefruit and mint really kick early. It’s a bit better than I remember, just not anything that draws me in entirely.

Fresh, musky, lavender in the dry down. Bright and energetic in that opening, more of a clean and almost soapy finish to it. If under $30, it’s a fair option. Assuming, you have a strict budget and cannot go higher.

Le Male Terrible by Jean Paul Gaultier

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Today, we have review of another Jean Paul Gautier flanker fragrance: Le Male Terrible. This take on the 1990s classic cologne, Le Male, was released in 2010. I have tested it out and will present, how it smells, what are the notes, how it performs, when it can be worn, and if it is actually worth a buy.

What does Le Male Terrible Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, grapefruit, amber, lavender, pink pepper, vetiver

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Terrible Eau De Toilette Extreme Spray, 2.5 Ounce

My Full Review

So, the opening of Le Male Terrible is very similar to the original Le Male. Immediately, you get the vanilla and lavender notes, and it conjures up thoughts of the first release in this series. However, the mint note is noticeably missing and instead you get a mix of grapefruit and pink pepper, in Terrible.

The pink pepper and grapefruit provide a warm and bright aroma in contrast to the cold/fresh/spicy element that the mint note would provide (I actually think that there is an unlisted bit of mint in here, just not as much).

It seems more subdued and smoother than the original. It also lacks cardamom and cinnamon, which makes it even less spicy. It does have a bit of a fresh kick from the pink pepper and later vetiver, but it’s not a particularly spicy scent.

As it dries down, the vetiver comes out some more and adds a certain dry freshness to the composition of this Gaultier (best colognes). Mostly, though, I get amber, lavender, pink pepper, and the vanilla note for the rest of the way.

The amber is the base and the rest of the notes play within its confines. The strongest notes for the dry down are going to be the lavender and vanilla.

This one leans much more toward vanilla than lavender, which is a reversal of the original Le Male.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Le Male Terrible, isn’t too heavy. The sillage is more moderate, probably not as strong as the original, and definitely not as intense as Ultra Male. Overall, it will be noticed, but won’t overpower.

It can seem much lighter than it actually is, as I will catch whiffs of it randomly throughout the day, which I cannot say the same for with a lot of actually ‘weak’ colognes.

 

I’d put the longevity to about 6-7 hours, on my skin. It’s pretty much in line with the current bottles of the original. Not bad, but not elite in the slightest.

Seasonally, yes, it fits in with the cold weather predecessor of the Le Male lineup. However, it also has an ability to fit in during most of the rest of the year. Perhaps, Terrible wouldn’t be the best choice for the hottest and most humid days of summer, but it’s fine any other time.

It’s a versatile fragrance, that can be worn casually, at school/work, or for a night out. It’s not overwhelming, so it’s a safe bet pretty much anywhere you’d like to wear Le Male Terrible to.

Overall Impressions of Le Male Terrible

Overall, do I like Le Male Terrible? Yes, it’s a nice fragrance, that I’d put on par or close to it with the original Le Male. It’s not as good as Ultra Male, but it’s a really solid choice.

I do believe it has been discontinued, but you can still pick up bottles online. It is a fresh and straightforward take on the familiar original cologne, it performs well enough, and has good versatility.

The best scent on the market? No, but a nice option for everyday wear. It doesn’t do anything spectacularly well, but it is an enjoyable cologne to wear.

Update: Coming back to this one, Terrible really was one of the better releases from the Le Male series thus far. That’s not too surprising since it took so many cues from the original, but changed enough to give it a personality of its own. 

It’s possibly top 5 in the series. I’d include Airlines in that mix, Le Parfum, and I have yet to get a hold of Elixir (but it’s getting great reviews thus far. If not fifth, then, at worst a few places back. 

As of this update, it’s still around. But, it is getting scarce more than a decade after its release. Still don’t consider it a must have, so, I wouldn’t reach too high on the price.

6 Perfumes that Smell Similar to Eilish

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Eilish EDP is a celebrity fragrance that has really taken off in popularity since its release. Testing it out myself, I have to say, it is one of the better examples of musicians launching a perfume brand. That being the case, there are now those who want something that smells similar or very close to what you get with Eilish EDP (or No. 2) for cheaper. This is my ongoing list of scents that meet the qualifications.

What fragrances smell similar to Eilish EDP?

eilish perfume review

A Good Impression

Nebras by Lattafa– Lattafa is a brand that has been putting out a lot of pretty close impressions of some famous scents. Nebras is one that smells an awfully lot like Eilish EDP, though, with some slight differences.

The cacao in Eilish seems more prominent to my nose and that minty/menthol sort of coolness, smells better in the Eilish version.

But, the vanilla and overall experience is a bit smoother with Nebras. It’s like a slightly altered and more refined version, with a few more hours of wear. Personally, I get over 8 hours with Eilish EDP, and think the performance is really solid.

This one might not save any money in comparison, but it might be preferable or easy to find than Eilish is at times.

Bill-ish Inspired

Bill-ish by Dua Brand– It’s interesting to see that brands like Dua are now doing their own ‘inspired version’ of Eilish. Well, Bill-ish, is their take on the sweet perfume blend.

I haven’t tried this one out. But, I’m putting it on the list anyway, since I’ve tried a ton of Dua’s scents and they usually get very close to the fragrance that they’re aiming at. It has all of the same notes, but the weighting may just be slightly off.

I’d say expect 85-95% similarities, based on my past experience with this brand. So, if you want another cheaper option that closely tracks what Eilish EDP does, this is probably a safe bet.

A Slight Mod

Mod Vanilla by Ariana Grande– This is another scent with a similar style, that’s not going to be a one to one match. Personally, I prefer Billie’s perfume versus this Ariana fragrance.

Vanilla, cocoa butter, praline, musk, and plum. The latter note adds a light tartness, to a sweet and musky vanilla mix. This one is somewhat sugary, just not to the same extent. It feels a bit messy in the opening, but I like this more when the vanilla note gets going.

It’s almost like a different version of Cloud, where the vanilla note is ramped up, and some sugar/powdery elements are infused into the mix. Sort of a mid-point between Cloud and Eilish.

The performance here is good, lasting on my skin for about 8.5 hours during testing. Not amazing, but another likeable perfume option. Mod Vanilla Review

mod vanilla review

Sugary Vanilla

Vanilla 28 by Kayali- Vanilla 28 isn’t an exact one to one match, but with its use of brown sugar, vanilla, musk, and woods…it certainly inhabits a similar space to our target. But, I actually do like this one, it’s one of Kayali’s better fragrances.

Early on, it’s about the tonka bean and brown sugar notes. This one doesn’t have the red berries or cocoa, that are found in Eilish. Later, it’ll be more of a mix of vanilla, sugar, and musk notes.

Not a super complicated perfume, but the scents from this brand are also built to be layered. Doesn’t have the same level of depth as Eilish, just an easy to wear mix of sweet sugary vanilla, that’s a lot of fun. Vanilla 28 Review

Nutty Chocolate with a Spice

Yes I Am Delicious– Another similar style entry to the list. But, be advised that this one doesn’t come with the major vanilla note like Eilish. That’s a pretty big difference, but it is still there, just not nearly in the same amount. Creamy and sweet, blended with the other ingredients.

Yes I Am Delicious  really goes heavy with the chocolate, more so the hazelnut. You get both a refined sort of dark chocolate, raw cacao, and the nuttiness. Super rich and delectable.

Up top you will get mandarin orange with a spicy cardamom before the sweets-fest begins. The floral notes are more present in the back end. Jasmine and orange blossom. Warm and cozy for the colder months.

It’s a nice and easy to wear perfume from Cacharel, that gives you more spice and an added hazel nut.

Eilish No. 2 Similarities

6 Place Saint Sulpice by YSL– 6 Place Saint Sulpice is deep and rich, more niche than the rest on this list. Leather, saffron, lavender, labdanum, and tonka bean.

It doesn’t favor the original Eilish, rather, it is a more well put together version of Eilish No. 2. The less heralded and very different perfume from Billie.

At times it’s creamy. Then, it’ll be smoky and very woody while sitting on top of the ever-present leather note. I’ve only come across this scent once, the leather almost felt more of a suede to me.

One aspect, that Eilish 2.0 definitely doesn’t have. Eilish isn’t as smoky with its woods either and has a definite sweeter aroma, in comparison to the YSL.

It’s warm, spice, nutty, woody, smoky. and has a lot of depth. But, for the right person, this is gold.

Now, this is going to run you in the $250 per bottle range. So, Saint Sulpice probably won’t be for most folks, but it’s a very good perfume for some.

11 Best Cherry Scented Perfumes

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Cherry is a smell that everyone is familiar with, but doesn’t get utilized too often as the main note in many perfumes. Usually, it will be complement to the greater whole, rather than the star of the show. Outside of cheap body sprays, it’s just not that prevalent. However, there are some nice options for those wanting a cherry scented fragrance. In this post, I will present nine perfumes that can get the job done.

What is the Best Smelling Cherry Fragrances?

My Favorite Cherry Perfume

Delices de Cartier for Women 1.0 oz Parfum Classic Spray– Delices de Cartier is one of my favorite cherry scented perfumes and one of my favorite Cartier’s in general. 

It opens up with an iced cherry note and bergamot, which gives it a sweet/tart cherry limeade sort of smell. Very cool, but features a pink pepper note sitting just underneath that. After that initial opening, Delices becomes smoother and a bit powdery from jasmine and iris notes.

It becomes creamy, powdery, with that sweet cherry presence all the way through. Amber and tonka bean really help tie it all together. Not super heavy, but gave me over 7 hours of wear during testing. Delices de Cartier Review

Cherry Liqueur and Sweet Warmth

Tom Ford LOST CHERRY 3.4OZ / 100ML– Lost Cherry is indeed one of the best cherry fragrances out there. However, it is also very expensive and the performance is just decent. So, for many it might not be the best option. Here’s some closely scented alternatives of it: Lost Cherry Similar Perfumes

Lost Cherry is absolutely warm and sweet with a cherry liqueur opening that reminds me somewhat of Cherry Dr. Pepper. Then, there is the natural cherry note, almond, tonka bean, and some light spices that comes through in the latter stages.

The sillage is lighter to moderate and it lasts just over 7 hours, on my skin. I wish it was a little more affordable or just had elite performance to justify the price. But, the actual fragrance itself is pretty awesome. Lost Cherry Review

Syrupy Cherry Candy

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.3 Ounce– La Petite Robe Noire isn’t an amazing fragrance, but it is a very good scent for those looking for a specific type of cherry fragrance. You might also want to go with the Black Perfecto version, which adds leather to the mix.

Cherry and berry are the sweet fruit notes, with the former in the lead. Also, it’s pretty syrupy in its presentation and quite candy-like in its smell. This does have overlap with Lost Cherry, with its additional almond and vanilla notes.

However, I will say that this one is sweeter towards the sugary end of the spectrum. Yet, it also has a darker quality due to the licorice and tea notes, that further separate it from the Tom Ford.

Woody/Incense Cherry

Lovefest Burning Cherry– This has plenty of resemblance to Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry, but gives you a thicker and more syrupy aroma than that. You get praline and raspberry, which help to develop this beyond just the cherry note.

Yet, it will shift into something that is more influenced by amber, an incense smokiness, and a big dose of woods. This really separates Lovefest Burning Cherry from the other options of the list.

Palo santo and guaiac wood play a large role in this one, with the lightly resinous amber note. The cherry will stick around, while the other notes fall by the wayside. It’s got a more balsamic finish than some of the others, with floral notes that are present, but not at all overwhelming.

This has a very light sillage, the longevity itself is good, but this isn’t going to be a massive fragrance that takes over a room.

A Softer Interpretation

 
Rouge Smoking by BDK– Rouge Smoking does open up with the usual sweet cherry aroma, but it is contained within a soft drink like fizziness. But, the cherry does settle down into something softer, more naturalistic than being a heavy syrup soaked version.
 
Though, that beginning does have that syrup feeling. It is softened up with the heliotrope and vanilla combination. That gives it more of a powdery/creamy vibe, with some light amber and incense smokiness coming up from the base of the fragrance. 
 
The end is a smoky cherry with almond, tonka bean, and a mix of woodiness (or the other sweetish notes coming through). 
 
 

 

Baked Goods Cherry

Live Irresistible Delicieuse– This Givenchy flanker fragrance didn’t get too much attention when it released, but it is a fine example of a cherry perfume. This gives you more of a cherry pastry aroma in the dry down versus just the straight fruit. 

It’s cherry, some light rose, almond, and caramel in the earlier stages. Then, the vanilla note comes through and takes over that creamy sweet role, alongside our cherry target note. 

I really like the opening act of Live Irresistible Delicieuse when the almond is blended with the cherry, it’s fantastic. The latter stages are more basic and not as exciting, but it’s worth a try overall. 

 

Unique Option from Estee Lauder

Modern Muse La Rouge Gloss– Cherry is the main star in this Modern Muse flanker, but it kind of goes its own way with the addition of notes like vinyl. The cherry smell is pretty similar to the Petite Robe option above, but again, Le Rouge Gloss sets itself apart.

Sweet cherry blends with a vinyl/leather aroma and a rose note. Interesting, but it does turn somewhat powdery while retaining its candy-like sweetness during the wear. Quite a casual perfume, though, it is a fragrance that performs well. 

Leathery Oud & Cherry

Cherry Oud by Guerlain– Cherry isn’t the main note that gets focused on here. Also, this Guerlain isn’t going to be the most mass appealing. However, for those who enjoy a good oud or leather fragrance, the additional cherry may make this the option for you.

This opens up with a fairly big burst of oud and then a sour cherry note. Again, cherry isn’t going to be the main focus. As it transitions, the oud will fade some, and you get a period of leathery cherry.

But, the dry down does lose a lot of the cherry influence that was there, which is somewhat disappointing (doesn’t totally go away). Chery Oud wouldn’t be my first pick, but it will be for some folks. Smoky, sweet, leathery.

Glam it Up

Very Good Girl Glam– This flanker from the Good Girl line is a nice blend that utilizes cherry quite effectively. With that, you also get a prominent rose note, with appearances by almond and vanilla.

The rose here isn’t overly red, at times, it feels like there’s a greenish stem influence in the mix. Kind of a juicy cherry and rose early on, kind of sour and tart. Then, the dry down is more of a vanilla cherry and that rose kind of tones down to give Glam better balance.

Performance is really great. Long lasting and this one can project like crazy for a few hours, before it mellows.  A cherry option for the colder to moderate days of the year.

Inexpensive Cherry Perfume

Seductive Red by Guess– This is an interesting one for around $15-20. The opening is pretty synthetic and the cherry is more syrupy and candy-like. But, after that initial wave, Seductive Red gets better and you have a cherry scented blend that has some nice powdery touches. Feels juicier, also.

Vanilla and almond also feature prominently, but this isn’t a heavy or thick fragrance. It’s light and a bit airy, and yes, I do get the comparisons with Cloud by Ariana Grande. Not the same, however, but you can pick up on a relation.

The cherry top is also paired with the cherry blossom middle. The violet is the second most noticeable of that part. 

The performance isn’t amazing, but for the price this is a nice deal, if you’re into this sort of perfume.

One from Dior

Fève Délicieuse– Feve is one that I’ve enjoyed coming across. It gives you a blend of sweet and edible notes, without taking on that bakery gourmand like smell. Tonka bean and cherry (probably heavier on the former) with additions of caramel, vanilla, praline, chocolate, and coffee. 

There are powdery qualities, lavender and rose touches, and a rather distinct herbal spiciness in the dry down. This one is kind of different, but feels familiar. This can be pricier beyond the usual Dior perfumes, so it may be one that you want to try before you buy.

I never tried the older version of Fève Délicieuse, so I’m not entirely sure if it changed a great deal or what. But, this is a great little perfume.