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!

Bad Boy by Carolina Herrera

by

Bad Boy was released by Carolina Herrera in 2019 and has become a rather popular fragrance. I’ve pretty much ignored it, up to this point in time. I have smelled it before, but really wasn’t that intrigued. But, with the release of Le Parfum, I figured I should get a hold of this one as well and do a full review. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is Bad Boy EDT worth a try?

What does Bad Boy by Carolina Herrera Smell Like?

Notes include: white pepper, cocoa, sage, tonka bean, vetiver, pink pepper, grapefruit, and amber

Click here to try: Carolina Herrera Bad Boy EDT Eau de Toilette 3.4oz / 100ml For Men, Black

My Full Review

This fragrance opens up sort of weird for me. On my skin, it resembles a honeycomb (like an actual honeycomb) dipped in amber and then sprinkled with pepper. Early on, I get very little citrus and almost no real sweetness to this scent.

Another thing that has stood out to me with Bad Boy EDT, is how different it can smell up close versus what I pick up in the air. Throughout the wear, if I smell it on my skin up close, I get amber, pepper, and sage mostly.

However, at a distance from my skin, it becomes much more about the tonka bean, cocoa, and other assorted notes. That aroma, I absolutely have started to really enjoy.

Now, the Carolina Herrera website lists black and white pepper as notes. Then, it lists the notes as white and pink pepper. I’m leaning towards it being pink pepper with more of a generic white pepper, not being involved. In either case, it wasn’t super prevalent.

What’s interesting to me, is how much citrus I pick up after 30 minutes or so. It’s a part of the top notes, but get almost zero on my skin at first. Then, it comes on and blends in that sweet tonka bean and cocoa mix.

I don’t think that Bad Boy is a really nuanced fragrance, but it is a strange one with how it develops and interacts with my skin. It can smell very different based on distance alone.

That’s what I get for most of the rest of the wear. A warm amber-soaked cocoa and tonka bean, sitting on top of a fairly woodsy base. Not super sweet, but with enough fresh spice hanging around to keep things balanced.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Bad Boy isn’t a heavy fragrance, more of a moderate, but it has a consistency through the wear. It’s not one that opens up huge and then falls apart quickly. With a good amount of application it is going to hang around and be noticed by others.

I’d call it above average, but I think it sticks more in the 3-5 foot range for most of the wear, before becoming more intimate as you close in on the finish line.

The longevity is pretty decent, but not elite, by any means. For me, it’ll go for 7 hours and maybe a little bit more…but not quite 8 it seems. If it were pumped up a bit in performance, this would be a darn near classic, in the realm of youthful colognes with popular mass appeal.

Is it a super unique fragrance? Not really, as you’ve probably smelled other scents that have a similar vibe and style. However, this specific construction of notes is a bit different. It’s similar to many things, but not a straight match of anything that I can think of.

Seasonally, this would be best in autumn and winter. You could also wear it out at night, when the temperatures aren’t too high, just avoid the heat with this.

Bad Boy definitely skews younger, but since its more of a casual or nightlife wear, an older guy could absolutely wear this. I doubt most people would be trying to spray on Bad Boy when going to a business meeting.

This is more of a fun, somewhat sexy, and borderline party fragrance. Not to the same degree as something like 212 VIP, but this isn’t a stuffy formal wear.

Overall Impressions of Bad Boy

Overall, do I like Bad Boy? I do. Wearing it a few times, made me really appreciate this fragrance for what it is. It’s not some niche masterpiece, but it is something that plenty of guys are going to enjoy (they already do).

Up close, it does smell a lot messier and synthetic than when you come across it floating in the air. That sweeter, amber/woody aroma is actually very attractive and something that I enjoyed catching off my skin during the day.

The performance is good, even if I’d like it amped up some more. Neither this nor Bad Boy Le Parfum are powerhouses.

Even still, I think that it has enough going for it to be a worthwhile fragrance to try. I don’t think it’s amazing, but it has its merits, and probably gets hated on way too much.

This is one of those colognes that will draw complements especially from those who dig a sweeter scent. This one is a good mix of the sweet and spicy. Not something that I’m personally going to run out and buy, but I like it.

YSL Pour Homme Haute Concentration

by

YSL Pour Homme was the famed 1971 release from the French designer. 1981 saw the introduction of Kouros, followed in 1983 by the subject of today’s review, Yves Saint Laurent Pour Homme Haute Concentration. This higher concentration version of the original, is an under the radar 80s powerhouse. But, how does it smell? Is it still worth tracking down a bottle of nowadays?

What does YSL Pour Homme Haute Concentration Smell Like?

Notes include: Amalfi lemon, carnation, oakmoss, nutmeg, rosemary, petitgrain, wood, tonka bean, patchouli

My Full Review

I’ve been thinking about this one for a while, after purchasing another bottle of Opium Pour Homme and considering getting Kouros Body, for some further nostalgia. I’d never tried it, barely remember what the original YSL Pour Homme smelled like, and bottles of Haute Concentration were pretty insane on eBay (and unknown quality).

As fate would have it, I was scrolling through Jomashop’s website, and a tester bottle of Haute Concentration was for sale. $120. Very quickly purchased it, as even the limited batches YSL had been doing during the past decade are now discontinued.

But, that ordered got cancelled, since they didn’t actually have it in stock. Went back to eBay and found a old gift set (with soap) of the original Haute Concentration in the black bottle for $100. Quality be damned this time, I wanted it.

Now, I have no idea how old this particular bottle is. I do know that it’s in the original black bottle, which became clear glass later. This was also, I believe, re-released as a part of a special collection, featured in yet another bottle.

Update: I looked up the batch code, it’s a bottle from 1986 apparently. 

Anyway, this opens up with the Amalfi lemon note being very prominent. With my bottle, it feels sort of sour for a minute (may just be due to age), but that quickly fades and becomes a dusty lemon surrounded by plenty of old school oakmoss, rosemary, and petitgrain.

I actually think that this might be true oakmoss, pre-regulations, it smells great in comparison to many of the newer synthetic varieties.

The real stand out with the lemon early on though, is the rosemary note. The start of this scent reminds me of D&G Pour Homme, not exactly (and better), with the use of the lemon and herbal notes.

It’s dry, a bit green in the early stages, with some spicy hints from that carnation ,nutmeg, and rosemary note. The carnation and nutmeg come in more to my nose, once that initial lemon and rosemary fade off somewhat.

The next phase will be more about lemon and moss, with tonka bean adding a touch of sweetness and powder to this aroma. YSL Haute Concentration drifts more into the aromatic soap category of perfume.

It’s not a lather and thankfully doesn’t go into the usual lavender/jasmine realm of things. It’s a classic and stylized clean, like you stepped out of the shower after washing with a high end soap bar (which my gift set that I purchased actually came with).

Finally, the dry down comes along. This one has a musk/oil ingredient in there somewhere. It’s not massive, but you can smell it. The lemon has been subdued into a mix of wood, patchouli, and moss. A fresher woody soap, at this point, but still balanced.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Based on reviews that I had read prior to buying this, I was expecting Haute Concentration to be an absolute bomb. For my bottle, that’s not the case. I did buy this one pre-opened, with 95%+ left in the bottle, so it’s possible that it’s lost some steam over the years.

Yet, it’s not weak. Solidly above average, allowing me to catch whiffs of the fragrance on my wrists, when I went outside for a walk.

During my initial tests, it seems to want to hit the 8-9 hour range, on my skin. Maybe it once got more than that. After at least 25 years or so, I have no problems with how this one sticks around. Still better than some modern designers, even as an EDT formulation.

Seasonally, this is a year round fragrance. It’s been both cold and warm during the tail end of this winter, and YSL Pour Homme is magnificent in either case. Maybe not a hottest days of summer play, if you’re going to be outside. However, it’s not super thick or cloying either.

This is one that can be worn casually, but I prefer it dressed up more. It functions well as a daily wear, office scent, and can even venture into the nightlife. Again, it’s clean and fresh, and might not be the ‘sexiest’ cologne out there.

Personally, I think it’s still attractive, and presents something different versus just about any mainstream fragrance out there now. Not a scream for attention night club or party scent, but you will smell great.

Overall Impressions of Haute Concentration

Overall do I like this fragrance? Yes, it’s a fantastic wear. It completely captures that 70-80s vibe, in a trimmed down but concentrated version of the original YSL Pour Homme. Again, I only have vague memories of that one, but it all seems familiar.

I like this better than both Kouros and Jazz, which are two other 1980s releases from YSL. I know Kouros gets all the headlines, but this is simply more appealing to me.

Very refined and doesn’t have any of the usual trappings of the modern men’s fragrance. It’s a fresh aromatic, with a balanced use of woodsy notes, spicy herbal notes, and a great lemon note. Even with that, somewhat sour start.

It’s a classic style, though, not particularly challenging to wear. There’s no insane or particularly heavy notes in here that might scare someone off. Maybe some bottles will still have more potency and you might not need to use much, lest you choke out a room.

It’s plenty versatile, balanced, and could probably be worn by any age group if they really wanted to. It exudes a classiness, however. Not necessarily straight formal, but I’d like to wear this outside of just the usual t-shirt and jeans.

It can be worthwhile to track down a bottle. I know most people searching for this and reading this review will be collector types, since the general public doesn’t know this even exists. The $108 price tag is about what you’d expect with some high end designers. Sure, it’s only a 2 oz bottle, but not a bad deal.

I’m going to be wearing YSL Pour Homme Haute Concentration, for years to come it seems.

6 Fragrances that Smell Similar to Tobacco Vanille

by

Tobacco Vanille is one of the most popular perfumes from the Tom Ford line. It’s unisex appeal has become a staple scent for many in the autumn and winter months. But, sometimes you want something along the same lines, but a little different. Or you want a cheaper option that can come close to the same experience. This is the page where I keep track of these options.

What Fragrances Smell Close to Tobacco Vanille?

A Close Designer Scent

Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme Eau De Parfum Spray 50ml/1.7oz– Spicebomb Extreme is one mainstream designer fragrance that has pretty close profile to what you get with our Tom Ford target scent.

This one is actually less spicy than the other Spicebomb fragrances. Tobacco and vanilla are the main notes here, but this one also has a warmth and sweetness to it. Cinnamon and cumin are the spice notes, that are blended well in the rest of the composition.

Personally, I like the way Extreme smells more than I do Tobacco Vanille. They’re not exactly the same either, just have a similar style. Plus, at a lower price point, I think that it is more of a value play. Bold and lasts more than 10 hours on my skin. Spicebomb Extreme Review

Sweet Powder

Powdery Tobacco by Dossier– This one from Dossier is the first of our fragrances that are inspired by Tobacco Vanille. This one is pretty darn close. Yet, it’s lighter, sweeter, and perhaps less spicy in that opening. Here, the formula uses ginger.

Still, this one isn’t a ‘thin’ attempt at what we’re looking for. You still get plenty of warmth and the cozy attractiveness that people love with the Tom Ford. Definitely seems to lean more in the tobacco side of things, even in those early stages, but the spice is still there.

Very affordable and Dossier does a great job at getting the right vibe with Powdery Tobacco.

Inspired Tabac

Sweet Tabacum by Dua– Sweet Tabacum is the Dua inspired version of what we’re looking for. Fairly inexpensive and well performing. Plus, a very close rendition of the Tom Ford aroma.

Sweet Tabacum kicks off with the bold spice mix out in full force. It may have a little more of those notes versus Tobacco Vanille. The tobacco note is obviously also present, with a dry down that is sweet and getting to a powdery finish.

Cacao, tonka bean, and vanilla round things out. Dua usually does a really good job with their inspired scents and this one is no exception.

Zara Warmth

Warm Black by Zara- Warm Black gives you a closely related style to Vanille, but doesn’t hit the mark exactly. It’s got plenty of vanilla and a spicy kick from the ginger note. Though, it is much more streamlined and has much less of a tobacco influence, as well.

The ginger here isn’t great, in my opinion. It’s fine, but I feel it’s less like the Tom Ford in its spices. Not a bad thing, since that’s not a favorite aspect of mine from Tobacco Vanille. It settles, but that opening can be rough.

After that, it’s a warm embracing vanilla with hints of tobacco and maybe some amber? Closer to our target in the back half, but less of a high quality tobacco (and in the amount too).

Not sure if this is still around or has been re-labeled or issued by Zara. I can’t seem to find it on their site, at the moment. But, if you can this is a solid cheapie.

Amber and More

Amber Oud Tobacco Edition by Al Haramain– I haven’t actually gotten to try this one out personally. However, this seems to be one perfume similar to Tobacco Vanille, which gets plenty of hype in the fragrance world…and is a decent price.

Tobacco, vanilla, dried fruit, cinnamon, and further spices. It’s all there it seems, plenty of overlap between them. My guess is the main difference is going to be a different weighting with the note concentration when compared to the Tom Ford.

So, not exact, but probably close enough for most people to give it a go.

MAC

Velvet Teddy–  Velvet Teddy is a sweeter, less dense, and less tobacco heavy perfume than our target. It just otherwise, smells an awfully a lot like it.

The tobacco here is the more actual floral tobacco blossom, less of a refined pipe tobacco. You don’t get much spiciness with this one either and the vanilla, is replaced by a similar vibe from the tonka bean. The spice is there, just the Tom Ford always is more of a punch in the face.

What more do you get? Honey. Warm, delicious, and a cozy wear. In some ways, it feels like a version of Tobacco Vanille, that is simply approachable. Great performance, while not feeling cloying or stuffy.

The problem nowadays, is finding a bottle in stock anywhere. If you can, it might be preferable for many to the Tom Ford.

Perry Ellis Aqua EDT

by

With my last purchase, I picked up a mini bottle of a Perry Ellis fragrance, that I wasn’t too familiar with: Perry Ellis Aqua. So, I decided to try it out, and see if it was worthwhile to wear. In this post, I am going to give my thoughts on its performance, how it smells, and whether or not I think it is worth a purchase or should be avoided completely.

What does Perry Ellis Aqua Smell Like?

Notes include: sea water, lime, bergamot, musk, coriander, lavender, wood, ambergris

Click here to try: Perry Ellis Aqua Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Perry Ellis Aqua opens up with a blend of the citrus notes and a salty sea water ingredient. It has a similar start to Set Sail St. Barts, but that Tommy Bahama cologne, has a stronger lime opening and more of a creamy aroma.

I like the start, it is fresh, and has a nice summertime vibe. Underneath that initial layer, there is a bit of spicy from the musk and coriander combination. It’s a light and non-offensive spice, but has a real nice quality to it.

Neither of these notes takes over the composition, but I can distinctly pick them out from the rest. At this point, you have a blue aquatic with lime, and some underlying spices.

Further along in the fragrance’s dry down period, Aqua’s lavender and wood notes emerge. The wood is extremely light, but the lavender, is a calming influence on the scent and tempers the coriander quite a bit.

From here, it’s a pretty linear scent, with the aquatic sea note leading the charge. I get that, a layer of citrus, lavender, and musk.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Perry Ellis Aqua starts off with a moderate and very noticeable sillage. Later, it gets much lighter, but the performance is actually not bad.

The cologne lasts for somewhere in the 6-8 hour range on my skin. I have found that this is one to spray more than usual, as you will get some better sillage, and it’s cheap enough not to break the bank.

This is a spring summer wear all the way. I like it for casual days or nights out. It does fit younger guys much better, say college age and mid-20s, but it doesn’t have a overtly teenager fragrance kind of aroma.

It’s a relaxed vibe, not completely complex, or something that stands out as a must have.

While Aqua, is a pretty straightforward fragrance, it is a pretty attractive one. While it’s still in the projection stage of its wear, it could definitely get some complements. It isn’t a sexy fragrance, but clean and pleasantly fresh, all the way.

Overall Impressions of Aqua

Overall, do I like Perry Ellis Aqua? For what it is, yes, it’s fine. It isn’t an amazing fragrance, by any means, but it is a cheapie that performs well enough and has a good smell.

It’s not one which will stand out, but just quietly go about its job, and is a good example of a very inexpensive aquatic scent.

It’s probably not something that I’m going to wear personally, very often, but I also already have countless other options. For guys, who want something simple and cheap for the summer months, this could fill that role well enough.

The salty aquatic air, the lime and other citrus, with musk and coriander highlighting the top. That is probably the best part of the wear, in my mind. The lavender does calm down the coriander aspect, but I think that initial rougher aroma is the most interesting.

I wouldn’t run out and buy this, but if it fits your needs and you can get it for around $20, I’d say it’s fairly worthwhile.

Best Colognes for the Office: Fragrances for Professional Men

by

Colognes come in many different scents, however, not all of these scents are appropriate or desirable for all occasions. There are fragrances that do smell wonderful but are best served when applied during a night out and not while working at the office. Professional men require a eau de toilette that is understated yet still fresh and compelling.

There are yet still other men who simply don’t want their fragrance to be that ‘loud’ and more on the subtle side and wish to find the perfect cologne for daily use. In this post, I want to lay out some options that you could consider for an everyday cologne as well as present a few that I think are the top colognes for daytime.

 What are the Best Daytime Office Fragrances for Men?

Days in Bleu

Bleu de Chanel– It’s a best-seller, has been for a long time, and that’s because it’s great. Bleu de Chanel is a fantastic option for a basic, no non-sense fragrance, that can easily become a daily wear.

Most of the decision will be to select which version you prefer. Bleu de Chanel EDT is the original, the most understated. The woodier Parfum version is one that many people enjoy discovering. Personally, I like EDP a bit more than the other two.

bleu de chanel review

Cracking the Code

Code Parfum by Armani– This is another one with multiple options. The original Armani Code is a classic for daily wear, but I like the newer Code Parfum nowadays. Others in the series go too heavy with notes like suede and other sweetish features.

Code Parfum finds the balance while respecting the original DNA. It has a fresh and clean start with a juicy bergamot note, bright aldehydes, and the floral focus of the iris note. It feels cold, with a slight powdery aroma, but the iris goes more into the buttery creamy end of things.

7-8 hours of wear, very simple, and crowd pleasing. I really like Code Parfum as an effortless daily wear for the office and beyond.

Ego Unleashed

Egoiste Platinum by Chanel– One could also go with the original Egoiste, which is sweeter, drier, and richer with notes of tobacco and sandalwood. However, as a clean daytime wear, I like Platinum better for the job.

Platinum has a classic soapy clean, but it’s a modernist interpretation of this style. Herbal, fresh spicy, green, and with a healthy dose of lavender. You’ll get phases of petitgrain, sage, and neroli during the wear.

Finally, it will dry down with some great woody notes including vetiver, sandalwood, cedar, and geranium. The scent could be stronger, though, it’s not particularly much of an issue. Platinum Egoiste review

Prada Style

Prada L’homme Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– Honestly, you could choose any of the L’Homme line from Prada and it would work. I like Intense and L’eau ( an awesome  powder aroma) more than the original, but it’s also very nice.

Mainly, I like the darker aroma of this one, and the fact that I can get 9 hours of wear on my skin. It has the powdery iris note of the original, amber, and a great leather accord, in the opening.

Later on, there is a subtle base of patchouli and sandalwood, which add to the overall enjoyment and aren’t a distraction. The dry down is mainly iris and tonka bean, with the leather and amber, playing support roles.

It’s super rich and fits beautifully in the colder weather of autumn and winter.  L’Homme Intense Review

The Dior Namesake

Dior Homme– Dior Homme gets reformulated every so often and the name is simply re-used with the newer formula. In 2020, Dior changed it again. While I don’t like this one as much as the last, it’s still a very good fragrance, especially for daily wear.

It starts off bright, fresh, and woody. Bergamot citrus leads the way with cedar and vetiver flanking it during the opening act. Underneath that, is a light spiciness headed up by pink pepper.

This one is not too heavy, has solid performance, and smells great even in its toned down simplicity. Dior Homme Review

Green Clean

Green Irish Tweed– Green Irish Tweed is an higher end option by Creed that is worth checking out.

I’m not much of a fan of the mossy, violet leaf, and pine sort of aroma up top. But, I think that this one gets better as it settles after 15 or so minutes.

The lemon verbena and citrus notes come out and give this one a bright and green blend, which will become a soapy/powdery scent as it dries down further.

GIT is another fragrance with good performance and an older school vibe. It isn’t stale or boring, however, and has a dynamic energy to its composition. GIT Review

Gentleman Daily

Gentleman EDP by Givenchy– Gentleman EDP is a great option for daily wear at the office or anywhere really.

This one has an iris note along with a spicy accord, benzoin, woody notes in the dry down, and the creaminess of vanilla (with a nice heaping of tonka bean). Not super heavy, with its light citrus top note, but one that’s going to be an autumn and winter wear.

This is refined and has a mass pleasing aroma that is versatile enough to wear in the evenings too.

Classic Chanel

Pour Monsieur by Chanel– Pour Monsieur is an absolute classic from Chanel and it has the style to match. This might not be a pick for everybody, as the fragrance dates back to the 1950s, which gives it a different sensibility versus the newer entries on the list.

The lemon note leads the way, but it has a dry blend of moss and vetiver underneath providing that woodsy aroma. Plus, notes like basil and cardamom giving it a spicy lift. Earthy, dry, woodsy in the base with a citrus not dominating the top.

Lots of greenish and spicy touches throughout. Not a very ‘juicy’ citrus, but this one has a simple elegance that can work very well in an office environment. Timeless.

24

H24 EDT by Hermes– This one gets mixed reviews, while being fairly popular, and it’s one that I personally enjoy. It’s a really useful scent for our purposes in this post.

H24 features notes like sage and narcissus to produce something that is clean while being rather unique. There’s a metallic edge to the aroma, it’s also sweet, and dries down with a woody smell. The sage is strong up top, but this Hermes gradually becomes more balanced.

It’s a moderate cologne with it’s sillage and lasted on my skin for up to 7.5 hours, when I was testing H24 out. H24 Review

h24 review

Guilty Goodness

Gucci Guilty– An easy to wear and very versatile floral fragrance for men. Guilty EDT isn’t my absolute favorite, but it is one that I do think is a great entry level cologne, for those who don’t want to overthink their scent.

It opens up with a lemon and pink pepper combination, with neroli and orange blossoms sitting in the background. It will shift more towards those notes, while having a woodsy base of patchouli and cedar.

Again, this is very likeable and easy going. Not an insane amount of longevity, but you can pretty liberally apply it without blowing out a room. Guilty Review

Fancy French

Tuxedo by YSL– The name and reputation suggests that this is only for pure formal wear. To me, that’s not the case. Sure, it’s classy and luxurious, but it’s also amazing for the office and daytime use.

Tuxedo gives you a slight spice in the opening from black pepper and cardamom, it’s just not overwhelming. This one is absolutely smooth and the real highlights are: amber, patchouli, and vanilla.

Fresh, sweet, and a lighter fragrance. Tuxedo Review