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!

212 Men Aqua by Carolina Herrera

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I recently came across a small box of sample fragrances, that I purchased at this time last year, and simply forgot about. One of the scents in that box, was 212 Men Aqua, which apparently was a 2017 limited edition version of the 212 Men scent. Now, I’m going to do my review of this one, but I cannot really compare it to the original because its been a solid 4-5 years since I’ve actually worn it. How does 212 Aqua perform? Is it worth finding a bottle of?

What does 212 Men Aqua Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, ginger, bergamot, sea water, ambroxan, sandalwood, patchouli, cardamom, rosewood

Click here to try: CAROLINA HERRERA 212 Men Aqua Limited Edition, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

212 Aqua kicks off with a very fresh blend of citrus and ginger. The citrus is sharp and clean, with underlying light woody notes sitting at the base of the aroma. That’s mostly what I get for the first 5-10 minutes of the wear.

Next, the aquatic notes start to come into play. The sea water vibe, really gets a lot of its power from the ambroxan note. At this point, it does smell a bit like Light Blue Eau Intense, but without a heavy calone ingredient.

Grapefruit, sea water, woods, and an amber note are the overlap between these colognes. So, you could also say it has a resemblance to Light Blue Homme, as well. Rosewood, citrus, and spice.

As it dries down further, I do get more of an aquatic smell. It’s not a heavy salty sea water or seaweed ingredient, but more of that ubiquitous ‘aqua’ smell that gets put into so many fragrances. It’s still a citrus fragrance, but gardenia and woody notes come into their own.

The sandalwood and rosewood here, make for a dry fresh aroma, that sits underneath the main aquatic citrus accord. 212 Men Aqua is refreshing and has a sporty kind of personality. Not at all a heavy feeling fragrance, rather, one which hangs in the air.

Ultimately, it stays this course for the rest of the way. Aquatic/woody/citrus with a not too powerful ambroxan note. There isn’t all that much depth or development with this Carolina Herrera.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

212 Men Aqua actually starts off feeling pretty powerful. It think its that sharp freshness, which projects itself, and gives the impression of having a huge sillage. However, it will settle down with a few minutes, to something that is much more middle of the road.

The longevity was actually pretty darn good, on my skin. It could hit up to 8 hours, but I also only got 6, a few times. Not an amazingly long-lasting scent, just one that does a solid job of keeping on, during a standard workday.

I’d expect it to fall somewhere in the 6-7 hour range, on most occasions. Depending on the climate that day, you might get an extra hour or so out of Aqua.

Speaking of which, this isn’t one I’d wear to the office. This is more of a casual or outdoorsy wear, to spray on when it’s hot outside. But, outside of super formal events, it shouldn’t be too bad.

This would be a solid pickup for the spring and summer months, when you need something to smell good, and be able to stand up to the high humidity. Very dry and clean, in the latter stages, giving Aqua a tad more maturity.

Overall Impression of 212 Men Aqua

Do I like this scent? Yes, it does smell good. Is it great? Not really. It’s another entry into the citrus and woods aquatic cologne, which has been done thousands of times. However, this is a nice example of the genre.

I actually enjoy the dry down, when I get to experience the wood notes, entirely. That, along with the grapefruit, and light aquatic vibe are a very nice smell. Plus, you do get the performance to go with it.

The ambroxan note isn’t too annoying here either. Actually, it fits in quite well, never getting too heavy in the mix. Since it does favor the Light Blue fragrances from D&G, this could be a solid alternative. The ambroxan and calone in Intense, can be too much for some guys, and this is lighter on both counts.

Is this a buy? Not at full price. This was a limited edition run, so, there doesn’t seem to be any discounts as of writing. Maybe there won’t be any extra overstock. But, if I could grab this at $30 a bottle, it’d be something I use for summer.

Update: This one appears to be basically gone from the market in most places in 2023. I guess most bottles got bought up.

It seems other people liked this one a lot more than me. To me, it’s solid and kind of being borderline of something that I’d personally want to own.

Eau De Cartier Vetiver Bleu by Cartier

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Here is the second and final of my two recent Cartier fragrance sample review. Today’s entry is: Eau de Cartier Vetiver Bleu. Yes, it is a flanker perfume of the original unisex scent, Eau de Cartier. This one has the famous vetiver note along with mint and was released in 2015. Does it smell good? Perform well? Should one try it out?

What does Cartier Vetiver Bleu Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, vetiver, and liquorice

Click here to try: Cartier Vetiver Bleu Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Vetiver Bleu is of course a blast of vetiver. However, it is a cold and crisp aroma that is joined by a mint note. I like it at this point, as the fragrance feels earthy/woody yet completely refreshing.

It is an icy mint sensation like you would find in Ice Men, with a much less intense spearmint coming at you.

As it dries down, Vetiver Bleu becomes sweeter with the emergence of the licorice note, and takes on a smokier woody undertone. The licorice and mint feel like the merge during the dry down and you get this sharp sweetness in the perfume.

At this point, it is much warmer than the opening, and still retains a bright and upbeat vibe. I like the mint and vetiver combination, it’s found in many colognes, but just works amazingly well.

The licorice, isn’t too bothersome, and actually adds a nice element to Vetiver Bleu. It can be a tough note to deal with for me. There are plenty of perfumes which have utilized it, that start to get annoying after an hour or so. Vetiver Bleu seems to avoid that fate.

That’s about what you’re going to get from Eau de Cartier Vetiver Bleu in terms of the smell. It’s a simple and pretty linear fragrance. Although, the change that I mentioned is pretty noticeable and interesting.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection is moderate. It’s kind of a light fragrance, as it won’t be in your face all day, but it’s strong enough that you’ll catch whiffs during your wear.

The longevity is just ok. Not great, but I can squeeze 5-6 hours from it, which keeps it useful. After trying Vetiver Bleu a few times, I’ve come to the conclusion that this time frame, is about its limit. It’s not terrible, but fairly disappointing.

It’s a fragrance for casual times in the spring/summer or it can be worn at the office. Vetiver Bleu is safe enough to wear without catching any negative attention in the process.

This is a unisex fragrance, even if that focus note is much more widely used in men’s fragrances and this one does lean masculine. But, with the licorice and mint, it really doesn’t stray all that far into that direction.

I wouldn’t call it a sexy scent or one that will really gather too many complements, but it is solid and fresh.  Really just a pick for those who enjoy vetiver and want a slightly different take, on the note.

Overall Impressions of Vetiver Bleu

Do I like Eau de Cartier Vetiver Bleu? I do. I think it’s nice but I’m not in love with it. I do like the opening of vetiver and mint the best. Licorice, is not my favorite note, and as seen with Lolita Lempicka tends to give me a headache.

I think that it is an interesting take on vetiver scents, but it doesn’t strike me as one of the best of the lot. If you like vetiver and licorice, this is definitely a solid buy.

The only real weak spot is the performance. It’s completely average, in that regard. Not going to be an all day wear and isn’t going to absolutely leap off of the skin. Which can be a problem, when you’re paying Cartier prices.

I’m not sold on it, but like it well enough. If you enjoy this type of cologne and can get a good deal, it may be worth a try. For most guys, it’ll be a pass.

Update: Here in 2023, Vetiver Bleu is not widely available, even among the discount sites. I’m not sure when it was discontinued, but it has been. I’m only seeing bottles for basically above $100, at most places. Not a fragrance that one needs to track down at that price.

Wall Street by Bond No. 9

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I’ve got a ton of fragrance reviews that I need to finish writing up and a lot of samples that still need to be tested out. So, over the next month, there should be a whole slew of new reviews posted up on the site. Today, I’m going to delve into a unisex offering from Bond No. 9 New York, Wall Street. This scent has been a pretty popular one over the past decade plus, but is it actually worth a purchase?

What does Bond No. 9 Wall Street Smell Like?

Notes include: cucumber, seaweed, lavender, lemon, caraway, vetiver, leather, ambergris, orange, musk, and more

Click here to try: Wall Street By Bond No. 9 Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Wall Street is a heavily aquatic citrus scent that is reminiscent of one of the Bvlgari Avqa line of fragrances (I can’t remember which). It is a strong blast of cucumber and lemon mixed with that pungent and salty seaweed note that conjures up memories of the shore.

I’m not sure what any of this has to do with Wall Street, the actual location, or the investment banking style. I guess it is technically close to the water. Would’ve been much more appropriate for one of their NY beach fragrances.

This fragrance can be quite divisive. Some people really love these types of aquatics and the seaweed note is part of the appeal.  For me, while I like going to the beach, I don’t want to smell like sea life.

Apparently, other people get less of this type of aquatic smell and Wall Street comes across as fruiter and salty. I do get the saltiness, but seaweed is a massive note in this to my nose.

As it dries down, however, more of the vetiver and lavender emerge which gives Wall Street a nice undertone to it, that is somewhat enjoyable to my nose. However, that gets offset by the bitter orange note (my least favorite citrus scent).

I was expecting more leather out of this one, when I saw it in the notes list, but honestly, there’s not too much here.

Ultimately, the cucumber dominates and the seaweed note becomes less noticeable as it wears on. This mixes with the citrus notes and that is aroma that will sit on the skin for the rest of the wear.

Cucumber with citrus, lavender, vetiver, and a musky finish? That part is a lot better than the super oceanic opening act.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I found Wall Street to be strong. It wasn’t insane or anything but it’s one that you’ll definitely notice is there throughout the day. The opening few minutes can be fairly intense, but this Bond fragrance, does settle down a bit.

With the longevity, it does last all day. So, if this is one that you enjoy the smell of, you do get great performance at this rather high price point. It can hit double digit hours, quite easily.

Due to Wall Street’s aquatic nature, I would put this down as a warm weather scent. It’s not sexy or something that would appeal in the nightlife scene.

I’d call it a casual fragrance, maybe for business wear. It is a unisex scent and as such has a bit of a feminine air to it. The cucumber note is quite like a crisp body lotion. Wall Street has a very watery and fresh vibe

Overall Impressions of Wall Street

Overall, would I recommend Wall Street? I personally don’t enjoy it. That being said, there are a lot of people that do, and this is a best seller for Bond No. 9.

I like the latter stages, more so than the early and heavy punch it can pack. Lavender and vetiver, made it more tolerable to me, when I wore it. Cucumber is a note that I can take a liking too, not my favorite but not terrible. I do mostly hate seaweed, though.

The performance aspect is great, but it’s a fragrance that definitely needs to be tried out to see, how you react to wearing it. If you’re not a fan of cucumber or seaweed, I’d say stay far away from this. If you like oceanic scents, this might be one for you.

It’s really a niche perfume for the warmer months. If the idea of seaweed doesn’t sound appealing to you, I would for sure go with something else, from this designer. This is a very unique take on this style of fragrance, as I can’t think of another one that smells quite like Wall Street.

London for Women by Burberry

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Burberry is a fragrance line that I roll pretty heavy with during the fall and winter months. Their men’s colognes, namely: Brit, Burberry for Men, and London are pretty fantastic when the weather cools down.

The men’s version of London is a sweet tobacco and woodsy scent that even some women like to wear. As such, I was curious as to how the 2006 ladies perfume version of London would stack up and if there were any similarities.

Well, the two are wholly different in their contents and characters and this perfume is definitely a much more feminine type of scent. In this post, I want to overview how it smells, how London performs, when it should be worn, how it compares to other Burberry offerings, and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

London for Women by Burberry Overview

Notes include: rose, jasmine, peony, tangerine, honeysuckle, musk, sandalwood, Tahitian flower

Click here to try: BURBERRY London for Women Eau de Parfum, 3.3 fl. oz

My Full Wear Review

My first impression of London was how dominant of a floral perfume it was. I immediately get the rose and honeysuckle notes as the main force of the opening. Rose can be hit or miss for me, I like it in something such as Declaration d’un Soir for men but find it kind of overwhelming in Bond No 9’s perfume, Broadway Nite.

In London, I feel that the rose note is just right and actually kind of pleasant. Accompanying the floral notes is tangerine, which supplies a juicy citrus element to this fragrance that I think gives it an extra bit of mystique.

The citrus sweetness of the tangerine stays with the scent in a support role, but the main attraction, is the array of floral notes. This goes on to include jasmine and peony, as the perfume develops.

On my skin, the tiare flower isn’t very distinct at all. It’s kind of just stuck in the morass of all the other floral notes.

The jasmine note becomes particularly noticeable to me after 10-15 minutes or so. To me, it seems that the jasmine starts to overtake the rose and provides London with a very fresh type of aroma. It’s all slightly powdery and almost a green/herbal scent in the undertones.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a floral scent all the way but there is a warm musky spice and earthy sandalwood note giving London more body.

During the dry down, I do start to smell the honeysuckle stronger, than I previously had been. It pairs nicely with the jasmine, to create a white floral bouquet.

The tangerine is light and flanking it all, with a bit of musk, on top of a sandalwood base. It’s wonderful and clean, the rose and peony, begin to fall by the wayside to my nose.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this is a very well performing scent. It isn’t really ‘heavy’ but it can be loud. A few sprays should be enough for anybody.

I was really surprised at the sillage and the scent trail that London is capable of leaving behind. Especially, in that first hour or so. London projects itself pretty far for such a mainstream scent. Burberry giving some good value with this one.

Longevity on this perfume is absolutely fantastic, just not elite. It is a great casual, all-day type of wear, that doesn’t quit after a few hours. 8+ hours should be achieved with almost every wear and most likely more than that.

I’d say that it can maybe just squeak out 10, on the right day. More likely, 8 or 9-ish, with most normal wears.

I like this as an autumn/winter perfume. Spring, would also be fine in most places. It might work decently in the summer, but the heat could tear it apart pretty good. It surprising, based on the notes, but I’m not feeling it in the heat. The jasmine starts to really stick out, on the warmest of days, which can be somewhat annoying.

London is an excellent choice for a versatile daily wear perfume. This can be a casual fragrance, be worn at the office, and smells attractive enough for a date later in the evening. Though, it’s not what you’d typically classify as an nighttime scent.

Overall Impressions of London

Overall, is London worth a buy? I’d say yes, if florals are your type of fragrance. Particularly, jasmine heavy floral perfumes, as that is the headliner here. The citrus note balances it out greatly, in my opinion, though.

I like this somewhat better than Burberry Body (which was pretty good: see the comparison) and way better than the completely bland Brit Rhythm. The tangerine in London is nicer than the peach in Body.

That initial citrus is great. The floral notes mostly all have their own time to shine, in the mix, so you’ll get plenty of different notes to experience here. Burberry London doesn’t seem to have any weaknesses, which is why it’s stuck around for as long as it has.

London is a classy and delicious scent for ladies who like to dress the part. It performs well, smells great, and is suitable as an everyday wear.

Jimmy Choo Man Blue

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Continuing to work my way through the line of men’s fragrances by Jimmy Choo, today’s entry is, Man Blue, released back in 2018. This is another flanker cologne from the ‘Man’ series of scents. What’s this one like? How does it perform? When should it be worn? Is it even worth a purchase?

What does Jimmy Choo Man Blue Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, lavender, vanilla, sage, bergamot, pepper, amber, vetiver, cypress, and sandalwood

Click here to try: Jimmy Choo Man Blue Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Man Blue kicks off with a freshly clean aroma. The main things to notice up top is the sage, lavender, with some further spice and a slight bergamot.

The fruit notes aren’t too noticeable, when compared to the other Jimmy Choo Man lineup; but they are there to some extent. More of a general sweetness.

It’s not a heavy spice, but one that comes across as modern and inoffensive. After a few minutes of settling down, I do start to get a hint of apple, mixed in with the bergamot’s citrus scent. These notes are flanked by a peppery bite.

As it moves along, the fruit notes pretty much disappear, to my nose. The lavender quiets down, when vanilla and some amber pull through more noticeably. Jimmy Choo Man Blue becomes a bit warmer and sweeter, but the underlying woody base, helps to keep things smooth and masculine.

The only other difference for the rest of the wear, is how much the leather note makes itself be known, in the latter stages. It pairs very well, with the vanilla and amber.

Once you get to this stage, you pretty much know what you’re going to get. Amber, leather, sandalwood, and vanilla with the remaining sage and lavender notes rounding things out. All of this sits on a further, dry, woody base. It’s got sweet moments, with more of a spicy finish.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage for Man Blue isn’t all that heavy. I’d call it a lighter moderate fragrance. You’ll know it’s there, but you’re not going to dominate a room, with its projection power. 

I do like that it doesn’t just have an opening burst of good projection and is quite steady throughout. More of a slow burn versus a quick disappearance. Still, not a massive scent.

The longevity here is actually pretty good, however. Better than many of the other Jimmy Choo colognes. Man Blue can seemingly get somewhere in the 6-8 hour range, depending on the climate conditions. 

Seasonally, I’d say anything but the heat of summer. It’s not really a winter fragrance, but it is pretty nice in the cold. Blue, is more of an autumn wear in my mind, which can of course extend its wear through spring.

 

Blue Man is a casual sort of fragrance. You can wear it for a lot of situations, but it’s not something that is formal, a club beast, or business attire. Not to say that this fragrance is some teenager type of wear, it isn’t, just not super mature or anything like that.

This does have a pleasing smell. Women would like it, but it’s not the sexiest fragrance out there. As a casual to semi-formal kind of wear, it’ll essentially fit into any scenario in which you’d want to wear it.

Overall Impression of Jimmy Choo Man Blue

Do I like this cologne? I do. This is one that is very wearable and has a nice smell to it. It’s not insanely good, but for the right price, I’d totally add it to the collection. Blue is for sure one of the best of the Jimmy Choo lineup, which is full of decent fragrances. This dares to go up a level to ‘good’.

It does get compared with some of the Coach fragrances. I get that, to some extent, but it’s really not too overlapping with how it smells.

I enjoy the sage and lavender, most out of everything in here. Sort of surprising, as lavender isn’t my absolute favorite or anything. Nice generic fruity touches up top are also good. Leather, slight sweetness, with a creamy amber finish? All things that I enjoy.

The longevity is solid, but this isn’t a powerhouse scent. Nonetheless, Blue doesn’t seem to have any glaring weaknesses and is one of those colognes basically anyone can pick up and would probably like wearing.

I wills say, I think that I still prefer Jimmy Choo Man Intense versus this. That being said, this is a nice pickup, but I’d get it at a discount. This isn’t one that I’d pay full retail to own.