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!

Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande

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I’m making my way through reviewing most of the perfume releases from Ariana Grande, over the next few weeks or so. I’ve tried them out already, but wanted to give each a proper individual review on the site instead of just a blurb here or there. Thank U, Next is a scent that I have enjoyed before and was looking forward to putting it through a bit more rigorous testing. How does it smell? Does it perform? Is this Ariana fragrance, actually worth a try?

What does Thank U, Next Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, coconut water, macarons, pink rose, raspberry, musk

Click here to try: Ariana Grande Thank U, Next Perfume 3.4 oz

My Full Review

What I’ve always liked about this fragrance, is that it moved away from the use of the marshmallow note, that is found in many other Ariana Grande releases.

I really enjoy the opening here with the sparkling pear and raspberry, light sweetness of the coconut water, and sugary gourmand warmth of macarons. It has that warm sweetness/creaminess, but it leans more towards being fresh and juicy early on.

The rose is noticeable at the very start, actually comes across just the slightest bit sour when mixed in. Not too bad, though, not very rosy…on me at least.

The pear and raspberry notes split duties up top, but the star early on to me, is that coconut. That watery lightness allows this one to have a cleanliness that is uplifting and energetic.

Thank U, Next comes out of the gate strong with the fruit notes. However, it will settle down into a milky sugary musk with just a hint of rose coming through. To my nose, that pink rose is the weakest note in the composition and kind of gets overrun by the others.

One complaint that people have had with Thank U, Next is the sourness or so-called pickle smell. On the skin, I get barely any sourness. Mostly, the start. Beyond that, no pickle juice at all.

Spraying it on a t-shirt, the perfume does come across more sheer and sour. Actually, it’s pretty different from my experience wearing it on my body. As such, it might be more of a problem based on you as an individual. It’s not for me, though.

Thank U, Next dries down into a slightly creamy musky fragrance, with a generalized sweetness that isn’t really distinguishable as individual notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this is a strong fragrance. A few sprays will go a long way here. It’s not a complete monster, but in terms of projection, definitely one of the boldest from the Ariana lineup.

I’d put it at the lower end of the strong spectrum, settling down into the upper range of moderate. So, most of the wear you’re going to get your money’s worth.

As far as the longevity goes, it seems to hit the 7-8.5 range for me. Pretty darn solid for the $30-55 price tag. Not a marathon runner by any means, but good for most purposes.

Seasonally, while this does feel warm, it isn’t really a heavy winter wear. This should be fine in almost any temperature, accept maybe the high heat. It wouldn’t completely melt, but definitely not at its peak.

A nice springtime day, where everything is pretty moderate, would be ideal.

Thank U, Next does still skew more towards younger women. However, it isn’t exactly a teenybopper perfume either. It seems like most sugary sweet scents get classified as such, but this has some more depth and isn’t a complete sugar overload, in my mind.

Mostly going to be a casual wear, that feels cozy. It’s attractive enough to wear out at night, but isn’t one for formal occasions. Plenty of opportunity to wear Thank U, Next. But, it does have its limits.

This one is attractive in a delicious sort of way versus a carnal sexiness. Very pretty and yummy as a perfume. As a guy, I dig it.

Overall Impressions of Thank U, Next

Overall, do I like this scent? Yes, I do. The opening hour or so is my favorite part of Thank U, Next. The pear, coconut, and raspberry are really a highlight in this mix. The dry down period is still good, but doesn’t hit that same level as the early stage.

The light juiciness, sparkling fruits, coconut, and boldness are simply great on my skin. I usually have success with coconut or raspberry and this is no exception. The later stages are sweet and musky, which is fine. It’s something you’ve come across a thousand times probably.

The opening gives it plenty to stand apart, however.

If you’re wondering between this and Thank U 2.0, I still prefer this one slightly more. The opening act of 2.0 is even better to me than this one, but it has worse performance.

Not the top ranked Ariana Grande perfume, but this is one of the better ones.

Also, the dry down of 2.0 is quite a bit like Moonlight by Ariana, also. The original is a tad better overall with how it smells and gives you about 3 more hours of wear. As such, this is the one I’d go with.

All in all, it is a sweet coconut highlighted blend, that has a youthful vibe without being strictly something for teenagers. The performance isn’t lacking in the slightest, unless you absolutely need something that will go forever and ever after spraying.

Is it a blind buy? If you like this style of sugary sweet gourmand, this is a good example. Not a heavy scent and is aided greatly by that fresh watery aroma. That being said, some do experience this one as sour, which might make you want to try it before you commit to a full bottle.

For the price? It wouldn’t be the end of the world. This was a nice little release from Ariana Grande

Versace Pour Homme by Versace

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Versace is a brand that I can have mixed feelings about. On the one hand, they have fragrances such as Eros and Eau Fraiche, which I enjoy and then also have one’s such as Oud Noir, which I find repulsive. Recently, I received a sample of Versace Pour Homme, as it’s been a while since I’ve last smelled it and as such, I thought that I would go ahead and review it.

How does it smell? What’s the sillage like? Does it last a long time? Is Pour Homme actually worth a buy? Note: I am updating this review, years after the original, to add further thoughts on this scent.

What does Versace Pour Homme Smell Like?

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Notes include: bergamot, bitter orange leaves, geranium, sage, oud wood, mineral amber, tonka bean, musk, neroli

Click here to try: Versace Pour Homme Eau De Toilette Natural Spray 3.4 fl. oz.

My Full Wear Review of Versace

Versace opens up with, a clean and citric quality, that really captures one’s attention. The bergamot and bitter orange leaf notes are very prominent upon that initial smell and it stays that way on my skin for around 30 minutes.

Pair these two notes with neroli and you get an idea of how much citrus cleanliness, you should expect. Also, the initial opening is much stronger than a short time later in its life cycle, so just be prepared for that.

The sillage of Versace Pour Homme was really strong on my skin for about an hour.

That initial freshness can be intense, but it doesn’t really strike me as being super tart or anything. Actually, leans a bit more towards the sweeter end of the spectrum, but not completely that either.

After the initial hour, the tonka and green/floral notes started to emerge more and balance out this fragrance. It’s ultimately a citrus based, semi-aquatic cologne, which based on your preferences may or may not be your thing.

It’s still got that bright citrus demeanor, but you do get stronger undertones of floral notes and a musky herbal spice. At times, it can feel fairly soapy. I do get the comparisons to Allure Homme Sport by Chanel, but I like that scent better than this one. Not by a wide margin, just slightly.

Early on in the wear, it is less of a direct comparison between the two colognes. This is when Versace Pour Homme feels at its most distinct.

I pick up more tonka bean in the Chanel versus this Versace. That is probably why, I enjoy wearing that scent more. But, if you want one that leans into the citrus more so, and lacks the Chanel aldehydes this Versace could be a better bet.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

As I wrote above, Pour Homme really starts off strong for me. The sillage is pretty darn loud upon application. When the cologne settles down, it becomes more of a moderate fragrance overall.

You could definitely over-spray, within that first few hours time frame, but it should be tolerable to others thereafter.

On the whole, I’m not disappointed in what I get with its strength. The ability to sustain itself is a bigger issue than the sillage.

It isn’t super long lasting, 5-6 hours for me, but that is usually adequate enough for most daily purposes. Also, considering that this is a summery citrus fragrance, that time frame isn’t too bad at all.

It is sort of strange, after it started off so strong, that I can never get more time from this fragrance. Maybe some other people can get it to go longer, but for me that’s never been the case.

Seasonally, this one strikes me as a summer scent. I suppose that you could wear it anytime during the year, but it’s always felt out of place to me, in the cold temperatures of winter.

However, if you live in a hot and humid climate, Pour Homme is a fragrance option which excels in those conditions. It can be difficult to find a good daily wear in those areas, but this will absolutely do the job.

Another strength is just how versatile of a fragrance it can be. This is well put together, but not overly formal or buttoned up. You can of course wear it to work or formally and it works very well.

One could also wear this casually or for a night out no problems. It does draw complements, when I’ve worn it in the past, folks have seemed to appreciate its aroma.

Coming back to this one in 2023, I really do appreciate the versatility. It could very easily be (and has) a signature daily wear for a lot of guys. It’s just very wearable, not going to overwhelm a room, but it easily fits in for a wide variety of situations.

Overall Impressions of Versace Pour Homme

I like Versace Pour Homme, it’s just not the cologne for me. It doesn’t blow my socks off, but it does smell good. Women seem to like it, and for the right guy, it could be a very good option.

It’s enjoyable and is usually a solid performer in the right weather, so it might be one you have to be willing to give it a shot.

Allure Homme Sport is better to me than this one. It’s performance is also not great nowadays, so, it comes down to which smell you prefer. If you want a really tonka heavy version of this style, Eau Extreme, is another choice.

Pour Homme gives you a pretty straightforward clean citrus smell and is almost universally pleasing. For me, I’m not too wild about a scent such as, Versace Pour Homme. It doesn’t smell bad, but it really just isn’t my style.

There are aspects of it that I enjoy. Particularly, the opening act, where it is a brighter and semi-aquatic citrus. I’m not too huge of a fan of neroli and the later herbal/soapy elements. That’s pleasant, just not as good. Performance is just okay, on my skin.

Thank U, Next 2.0 by Ariana Grande

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Thank U, Next was another successful perfume release from Ariana Grande. As such, the limited edition 2.0 version was brought out in 2021, just like the update to the ever-popular Cloud. Some had a negative experience wearing the original, but I found Thank U, Next to be one of the pop star’s best. How does 2.0 stack up? How long does it last? Is it worth a buy?

What does Thank U, Next 2.0 Smell Like?

Notes include: pomegranate, strawberry, apple, marshmallow, musk, sandalwood, orchid, jasmine

Click here to try: Thank U, 2.0

My Full Review

I really enjoy how 2.0 opens up after the initial spray. It’s very juicy, energetic, and bold. I love pomegranate as a note and it gets plenty of play here early on. It, along with apple juice, and strawberry give this a very fruity profile at the start.

Underneath that, I definitely pick up on the near ubiquitous note of marshmallow from the Ariana Grande line.

The fruity notes do begin to fall away, pretty early on. The strawberry especially. Apple juicy and pomegranate hang on, but will no longer play such a substantial role.

Yes, the early stages of this are a lot like Eden Juicy Apple from Kayali. This Ariana perfume is better than that one, however. I like the mix of notes more so here and the floral marshmallow second act.

One thing that I get with 2.0 versus the original, is a greater amount of jasmine. Marshmallow, jasmine, and some orchid is what the core of this perfume is about. The musk will start to play a larger role as we move further into the wear.

At some point, the floral notes become indistinguishable to me. It’s a general sweetness, floral impressions, marshmallow, and musk. A bit powdery and a touch of wood. Not all that much development here.

In fact, it all sort of comes undone, ending with a vague marshmallow muskiness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this is kind of an odd duck. It starts off strong, even more so than the original Thank U. But, it quickly loses steam and continues falling all the way into skin scent territory after 2-3 hours.

Initially, I thought it was going to be an absolute beast, because it does project itself very well after applying. I can spray 2.0 on clothes and pick it up from across the room…for a little while.

The longevity isn’t great. A weaker sillage wouldn’t be the end of the world, if it stuck around for a full workday. It doesn’t. With Thank U, Next 2.0 I get about 5 hours. That’s a pretty far step back from the original, which could hit 8 hours.

That’s one of the worst performers from the Ariana line (I’ve tested them all). The others usually will hit 6-7 hours, at least, and this one just doesn’t seem very capable.

Seasonally, this one is good for the warmer weather. The fruitiness, juiciness, and general sweetness will lend itself well to spring and summer.

This is one of Ariana’s perfumes that will probably have more appeal to the younger set. For a younger girl, this could probably be a signature type of scent. For a woman, this will be something you’d want to wear casually.

Not a complete ‘teeny bopper’ perfume, but that fruity sweetness leans that way.

Overall Impressions of Thank U, Next 2.0

Overall, do I like this scent? I do, but that also carries a disclaimer. The opening is fantastic and among the best that Ariana’s list of perfumes has produced. The latter part is fine (not nearly as good as the start) and pretty similar to others.

I get a Moonlight vibe after the initial wave wears off. More so that, than the original Thank U. But, that might be a good thing in certain cases. If you’re one of those who gets the ‘pickle juice’ smell with Thank U, Next, this one might be able to replace it. Even though, they are fairly different fragrances.

It’s just the performance here, that really holds it back.

It’s like watching a movie that starts off amazing (for this sort of hyper sweet tart scent) and then just starts to fall apart. Testing this multiple times, I get the 5 hours of wear routinely, and the last few hours are just a skin scent. It’s pretty bad when compared with the original Thank U, Next.

This had the potential to be a really great scent. As it is, it’s above average. It can be tough for people to track down, but at a decent price point, it can still be worthwhile to pick up. I wouldn’t pay anymore than retail to secure a bottle and would actively want a discount.

The smell itself is worth the entry fee, but whether or not the performance is, I leave up to you.

Voyage Heritage by Nautica

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Nautica Voyage is a super famous name, in the fragrance world, and a best-seller for years now. It has become pretty renown, as a cheap cologne option for men. Now, the brand has released a new addition to the lineup in 2019, Voyage Heritage. What does this one smell like? Is it worth a try? Does it last a long time? I picked up a bottle and have been testing it out. As usual, I’ve written my thoughts in a review, where I break it all down.

What Does Voyage Heritage Smell Like?

Notes include: rosemary, peppermint, sandalwood, lavender, ginger, bergamot, vetiver

Click here to try: Nautica Voyage Heritage by Nautica

My Full Wear Review

With the massive success of the original Nautica Voyage, the brand was obviously going to release some flanker fragrances, under the same banner. Voyage Sport was one such effort, that was ultimately disappointing.

So, when Nautica Voyage Heritage was released, it was going to get the comparisons to its popular predecessor.

Up front, Heritage is a distinct cologne from Voyage. It doesn’t share any commonalities with the original. It’s kind of weird to share a name, but not have any of the same ‘DNA’, that a particular fragrance is famous for.

Heritage opens up with a blend of warm and cool spices. The spice isn’t heavy, just a fresh sort of aroma. Rosemary, is the strongest note at the top, and is paired with peppermint.

There is a nice herbal quality to it, with a bit of citrus underneath, from the bergamot. Honestly, the bergamot is pretty weak, here. I actually wish they would have boosted that note, to give it more of a citrus aroma, but it instead leans toward an herbal spice.

A few minutes in, the rosemary relents somewhat, and ginger becomes stronger. That’s a positive, in my mind, as ginger brings that light cool spice that pairs well with mint.

At this point, I can see where Nautica is going with this one, creating a light non-citrus freshie that works well in the warm weather.

The notes are blended quite a lot, on the skin. During the wear, it can be hard to differentiate between the light spicy notes, as none seems to want to take the dominant role. It becomes calmer, a fresh smell, with an emerging woody base.

What’s dominant at the base? Lavender and sandalwood. To my nose, sandalwood is the stronger of the two, but that familiar lavender aroma is definitely there. I don’t really pick up on the vetiver, which I doubt would be all that strong in a Nautica cologne, anyway.

Finally, I am left with: peppermint, ginger, sandalwood, and lavender. Again, it’s a cool freshness, and not a heavy warm spice. Smooth and woody, underneath that.

Sillage and Longevity

The projection of Voyage Heritage isn’t all that powerful. I can spray the same spot three times and it will be moderate. This one isn’t going to fill up a room and quiets down to something which hangs closer to the skin.

The longevity isn’t amazing, about what I expect from the brand and price point, around 4-6 hours. This depends on the day and the climate. It could’ve had more depth, something to give Heritage a larger sillage, or a few more hours of wear.

Update: Having had this a little while longer after this initial review, the longevity did seem to skew closer to that four hour range versus the full six.

The performance isn’t going to be extreme, but it is passable. I’ll do 2-3 sprays to each side of the neck, that seems to work well, for me.

When Should it Be Worn?

Seasonally, this is a good choice for spring/summer. The cool freshness, works well in the heat. However, it can definitely be worn year round, without issue. Voyage Heritage is something that you’d wear casually, during the daytime, or at work. So long as you want to be low key, this isn’t a beast fragrance. It can work well for any age range.

Overall 

Voyage Heritage is a fairly nice fragrance, but not amazing. From the perspective of price, I’d say that it’s worth giving a try. It’s hard to go wrong with this one for $20.

However, if I could afford better, I would do so. At this pricing point, it delivers a pleasantly fresh, spicy, and woodsy aroma. It’s not going to stand out, but it does a ok enough job.

I wish the performance was a bit better. An extra bit of power, would be nice. It can also feel kind of bland, like there needed to be one more ingredient, to make it special. I’d say a stronger citrus top, would have been pretty great here. Then, it could settle into the other notes.

Update: I got rid of my full bottle pretty quickly. I just never had any interest in wearing this one. Voyage Midnight ended up being a better flanker release, a year or two after this came out. There are still bottles around of Heritage, but it’s sort of a why bother, at this point?

I’m not super impressed, but you could do a lot worse. Heck, I got a full bottle for $12, which is a fair deal for Heritage. It has no real connection to the original, which isn’t a bad thing, I just wish this brand would step up and make something new that’s great. Heritage ain’t that, but it’s not bad.

6 Best Issey Miyake Perfumes for Her

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Issey Miyake has been a popular yet often underappreciated designer brand for decades now. Mr. Miyake passed away in 2022, leaving behind a brand legacy that continues to persist.  It’s L’eau d’Issey series of fragrances struck a chord with its releases for both men and women.

However, I think the popularity of perfumes was more evenly distributed on the ladies’ side of things. In this post, I want to present five options that are currently still available from Miyake, which can be considered the best of the lot. 

What are the Top Issey Miyake Perfumes for Her?

Fresh and Aquatic D’Issey

Issey Miyake L’Eau D’Issey Pure Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.0 Ounce– Pure is a more sheer and aquatic version of the original L’eau D’Issey listed below. It keeps the rose and lily notes, along with adding actual marine notes to the top end.

Pure kicks off with a somewhat salty mix of ambergris and the oceanic notes. At first, you may get a blend of the floral ingredients (added jasmine and orange blossom), but the lily will ultimately win out here. Rose, sits just underneath it in terms of strength.

The opening is more fresh and crisp, while the latter stages soften up with muskier and woody base. Not too complex, but can be a very nice light option for spring/summer. 

A Newer Entry

Issey Miyake A Drop d’Issey for Women Eau de Parfum Spray, 3 Ounce– A Drop d’Issey is one of the more recent releases from the brand which has really taken off. Released in 2021, this perfume is well balanced in what it offers from aroma to longevity to use case.

Lilac and Damask rose open things up on the floral front. These notes are joined by ‘solar’ notes, which have been a pretty widespread staple in designer perfumery the past five years or so. Things are light, musky, and rose dominant for me at this very early stage.

That will shift and lilac will come to be the heavier weighting of the two floral notes. Almond and vanilla add a creamy and lotion-like quality for a time, before it all settles into more of a powdery lilac and musk perfume.

The performance for me was good and this is an easy to wear scent, that should get plenty of use in one’s collection. Not the most incredible scent ever, but if you need an all-around scent and enjoy lilac, this is a fantastic option. A Drop d’Issey review

The Popular Original

L’eau De Issey By Issey Miyake For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.3 Oz– The original L’eau d’Issey is a much more complex and aquatic perfume than is Pure. It still has an aquatic-like aroma thanks to: lily, lotus, calone, and melon. 

Less oceanic, more of a flower garden aroma. The melon provides some underlying sweetness to counter the bit of spice and green-ish qualities at the start. As things move along, L’eau d’Issey does begin to inhabit its white floral and aquatic nature.

Freesia, lotus, rose, and the lily seem to be the main focus here. This one is an easy to wear perfume that gives off a classic clean smell. 

Honey and Floral

Issey Miyake Eau de Parfum Spray, L’eau D’issey Absolue, 3 Ounce– Another flanker of the original, with less of the same structure, but still some overlap in its DNA.

Absolue introduces honey into the mix, along with some light vanilla touches. It comes across very well and not as a thick and enveloping aroma. Most of the rest of the wear is all about the floral notes, mainly jasmine and freesia, with some lotus tossed in to boot. 

A good option for those who want a toned down aquatic element. There is still some, but it isn’t nearly to the same level as before.

The Neroli Entry

Issey Miyake A Scent Soleil De Neroli, 3.3 Ounce– A change of pace from the L’eau d’Issey lineup of fragrances. As the name suggests, there is a strong presence of neroli in this one. Very clean and a opening sharp punch.

It settles. Tiare is floating around during the opening hour of the wear, but hyacinth really comes on as the scent develops. Soleil de Neroli isn’t a very complicated fragrance. You will get neroli, jasmine, and hyacinth mostly.

It comes across as fairly soapy at times, but eventually becomes a powdery and soft fragrance.

Rosy Pear and Honey

Issey Miyake – Women’s Perfume L’eau D’issey Pure Nectar De Parfum Issey Miyake EDP– Pure Nectar gives it another go with the honey note, as found in Absolue. It’s probably a bit louder here, but the note is presented in a slightly different way with pear (and citrus) and a more present rose note. 

The next phase becomes more of a pure floral with slight aquatic undertones. A bit of peony joins the rose, with a nice steady ambergris and woody base. The honey does hang around for the entirety, but the pear seems to fade out.