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!

Sutton Place by Bond No. 9

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Sutton Place is a fragrance released by Bond No. 9 back in 2016. I was given a sample of this as a bonus, when I ordered a lot of perfume samples months ago. Since I hadn’t yet tried it, I wanted to see what this one was all about. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Sutton Place Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, pineapple, cassis, jasmine, lily, patchouli, amber, musk, and leather

Click here to try: Sutton Place by Bond

My Full Review

Here’s how Bond No. 9 describes it: Sutton Place, Bond No. 9’s classically masculine newest scent, celebrates that quiet, serene, understated enclave that serves as home to the traditionally male cadre of U.N. diplomats

Sutton Place opens up fresh, juicy, and a bit green. Early, the bergamot and pineapple really supply that juiciness, but the dominant note here is going to be the cassis. It adds to the fruitiness, but with that patchouli note, really gives this a greenish aroma early on.

What Sutton Place also has, is nice dose of spicy pink pepper. Once the citrus and pineapple level off, the pink pepper comes in to join that cassis note.

30 minutes or so into the wear, the patchouli has also taken a step back and this one really starts to bring out the leather. Cassis and leather, with pink pepper, and a touch of jasmine.

The latter stages for me are really a musky leather, the remaining cassis,  and some general spiciness from what’s left of the rest of the notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sutton Place actually projects nicely. The opening hour is quite strong, not a massive cloud, but the fragrance can indeed create a trail. After that, it is above average and never felt like it was a weak or more intimate sort of scent.

The longevity is good, which it should be at this price point. On my skin, it goes just over 8 hours and can sometimes hit that 9 hour mark. During testing, it was more consistently at the eight side of that range.

Seasonally, this can basically work in all seasons, save the absolute coldest days of winter where the freshness might be too much. It’s versatility is a bright spot. Spring seems like the ideal time for Sutton Place.

It’s not formal or a super sexy fragrance. But, outside of the opening which can be bold, it’s not one that really going to be offensive to anyone and so can fit into a pretty wide variety of situations.

Overall Impressions of Sutton Place

Overall, do I like Sutton Place? Eh, it’s fine. It’s not one of the better Bond fragrances in their lineup, but I didn’t hate it completely.

The early stages can be somewhat messy and sharp with the citrus, pineapple, and pink pepper. Fresh, but I think it gets better once everything settles down. The cassis and leather combination is the highlight of this one.

Yet, it’s still nothing that feels too impressive or attractive. It’s middle tier at a high price.

Performance is good. No problems there.

This is definitely not a blind buy and most likely not something that many folks are going to be clamoring for. If it sounds interesting to you, try it out, and see if your one of the people that this can potentially fit with. Otherwise, just skip this entirely.

Vanilla | 28 by Kayali

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Vanilla 28 is one of the more sought after of the Kayali fragrances from Huda Beauty. People love a good vanilla scent, but does this one actually fit the bill? How does 28 smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Vanilla 28 Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla orchid, tonka bean, brown sugar, amber woods, musk

Click here to try: Vanilla 28 by Kayali

My Full Review

Vanilla 28 starts off fully in its sweetness. The tonka bean and brown sugar really jump out to me during this stage of the wear. Obviously, the vanilla orchid is going to be in play throughout, but this one favors those other two notes, early on.

Yet, this perfume doesn’t ever get too sickening or child-like with its sweetness. The tonka bean will subside some, the vanilla comes on more, and this does develop a bit of muskiness to it.

It’s mostly vanilla and brown sugar for a good portion of its life. The brown sugar will fade, musk joins that vanilla and the remaining tonka bean in the spotlight.

What is interesting is the synthetic amberwood note, that many perfume have nowadays. It helps this, along with that musk, from becoming a heavy or cloying mess. It has a certain cleanliness and freshness, not getting bogged down by the sweet trio.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here, isn’t too massive. You get a good 30 minutes or so of some nice power and the perfume creating a cloud around you. After that, it’s pretty light to middle of the road. Not completely weak, just not something to blow out a room.

On my skin, it’ll go for somewhere in the 5-6 hour range. Again, not all that amazing, but still okay. Performance isn’t this scent’s strength.

Seasonally, this is sugary and warm, and best in the autumn or winter months. If you live in an area with a colder springtime, you’ll get plenty of use. Skip the warmer temperatures and heat, though.

Within that timeframe, this one works in a variety of situations. It is sweet, while still enjoying a wide appeal among different ages.

Now, it’s not a formal type of perfume or anything, but Vanilla 28 works in a variety of situations on its own. And probably many more, when used as a layered fragrance.

Overall Impressions of Vanilla 28

Overall, do I like this perfume? Yes, I think it is one of the best of the Kayali lineup thus far. As a vanilla, I prefer it to what you get with the less focused Utopia from this brand.

Personally, I like the brown sugar note. Yes, it can be too sweet or not sophisticated enough for some, but I think it works well in here. It plays a rather large role, so if that’s not your thing, you might want to pass.

The performance is middle of the road. If you’re using this as a standalone fragrance and not really blending it with others, just be advised. It wasn’t completely terrible, but Vanilla 28 isn’t a long-lasting powerhouse.

While I do like the way this one smells, the price point is a bit of a reach for what you’re getting. You’re paying a bit of a premium versus what you’re getting on its own.

It’s simple and doesn’t have great performance, which can be a deciding factor if you’re in the market for something like a signature daily wear.

But, if you know all of that in advance and still want to give this one a try, I’d say it’s worth it.

Mod Vanilla EDP by Ariana Grande

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Mod Vanilla is one of the two ‘Mod’ offerings (along with Blush), that was released at the tail end of 2022. I got a hold of each of them in a travel sprayer size in order to test each out and see how they rate versus other perfumes in the catalog. How does Mod Vanilla smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

Mod Vanilla Overview

Notes include: pink freesia, dark plum, vanilla, musk, praline, cocoa butter, orris butter, jasmine

Click here to try: Mod Vanilla

mod vanilla review

My Full Review

Mod Vanilla opens up with a plethora of lighter notes, that will eventually fade to the very back of the line, but aren’t too overpowering even upon first spraying.

The pink freesia is already noticeable along with some fresh musks. Now, the musk will be noticeable throughout, but I don’t find Mod to be too dependent on that note but it is the strongest of the three top notes.

Along with those two, is a very light plum. Adding an additional tart quality, to the already quite sweet aroma.

Also from the very beginning, you are going to already be picking up on some of the main attractions. Vanilla, obviously. There is also praline and cocoa butter. The praline is going to become a big facet of how this one smells.

That initial phase wears off, as the freesia and plum go extremely light in the composition. That praline at this point, reminds me of the one in Angels’ Share, but it is joined by a general sweet creamy and somewhat powdery blend.

The orris will start to become more involved, I don’t personally get any jasmine on my skin. Still a light powdery aspect, even when the orris butter is at its peak.

The sweetness, musk, and whatnot does cause Mod Vanilla to have a similar smell to Cloud. It’s not exactly the same or anything, but the overlap is hard to ignore.

The final dry down has less of the praline and more of the vanilla note. It’s a musky vanilla, with some sugary sweetness, and some warm powdery highlights.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this actually does have a good amount of power in those first two hours of wear. I was kind of surprised with how well this projects and leaves a scent trail in your wake. Not super strong, but well above average.

After those two hours, it sits closer to the skin, but it didn’t turn into a skin scent until 4-5 hours in for me. Mod Vanilla didn’t just disappear after a bold start.

The longevity was actually really good in comparison to other Ariana fragrances. This goes for over 8 hours on my skin. Maybe between 8.5-9, is when it finally becomes undetectable. Better than how Cloud worked for me.

Seasonally, I’d lean towards wearing this in the cold of winter. However, it’d be fine anytime it’s moderate outside. Just stay away from high heat and humidity and this one will have no problem.

It is a sugary sweet perfume, so don’t expect something formal or to wear to the office. It skews younger, but some older women would still enjoy this. It has a delicious gourmand sort of aroma, fun, but not sexy or seductive. Casual and cozy.

Overall Impressions of Mod Vanilla

Overall, do I like Mod Vanilla? It’s a pretty good release, but still not my favorite Ariana Grande perfume or coming close to the top of the list. I wasn’t a big fan of Cloud, as of now, I think Mod Vanilla is a bit better than that…just not far and away superior.

Mod Vanilla is better than Mod Blush, as part of this series, though.

If you already like and have Cloud, you probably won’t need to get this one. Different scents, ultimately, but they cover much of the same ground.

I like how this one starts off and I like when the vanilla gets going in full. It does have a lot of that Cloud like DNA, but that vanilla goes a lot harder in this perfume. It’s not super original versus other scents that Ariana Grande has put out. God is a Woman was better in this regard.

The performance was probably the greatest part of this fragrance for me. It lasts and projects quite well.

If you’re a fan of the other Ariana perfumes, you’ll almost certainly enjoy this one. But, if the others haven’t been your style, it’s pretty safe to skip Mod Vanilla.

No.5 EDP by Chanel

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No. 5 is probably the most famous fragrance on the planet. The original parfum dates back to 1922, but today I am going to review the eau de parfum which was released in 1986. This is the more affordable of the two and probably the best selling, at this point. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it actually worth a try?

Chanel No. 5 EDP Overview

Notes include: aldehydes, iris, ylang-ylang, peach, neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, rose, jasmine, lily of the valley, vanilla, oakmoss, patchouli

Click here to try: No. 5 EDP from Chanel

My Full Review

The opening of the EDP version blasts you with the cold aldehydes found in Ernest Beaux’s original formulation. That synthetic smell was designed to capture his memories of the frozen sea air of his youth. Cold air/ozone, that’s the only way I can describe it.

With that you get a bright use of a bergamot and peach note, along with a spiced neroli, giving the aroma a general fuzziness early on. Cold, dry, fresh, spicy, and floral. The sandalwood is already coming through.

1986 EDP Ad with Original Bottle

So, the original is infused with a lot of jasmine from Grasse, and I do get plenty of jasmine early on in the wear. But, it doesn’t seem to the same strength. I mean, I am going off memory of what the Parfum smells like, but this doesn’t have the same degree of iris and jasmine as I remember it…could be wrong.

Anyway, the jasmine that is there is joined by the ylang-ylang which presents itself powerfully in this mix. Sort of reminds me of Gabrielle, at times, since they have so much floral overlap. But, the rest of the blend is distinct.

That original blast of the bergamot, neroli, and peach are greatly reduced moving into the next phase. The aldehydic floral really comes out. Soapy, sort of powdery at this point, and dry.

Really, the oakmoss is there, but man there’s a period where this fragrance is a super sandalwood on my skin.

From there, it’s basically a soapy floral I can get some of the rose, jasmine, and remaining ylang-ylang. But, the iris does pick up and adds to the powdery smell. Sandalwood floral with some of the same aldehydes. Overall, it feels like a warmer perfume at this point.

chanel parfum ad

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, EDP is strong early and can leave a nice scent trail for about 2 hours or so. It’s not overwhelming, unless you go crazy with the sprays. For most of the wear, it’ll be above average and detectable while sitting much closer to the skin.

On me, I get about 8 hours of wear with No. 5 Eau de Parfum. Not a crazy long-lasting perfume from Chanel, but it serves most purposes well enough.

1978

Seasonally, this is probably best in autumn or springtime. The mild climate and being away from the extremes on either end of the temperature spectrum, is where No.5 fits in. That being said, I’d rather wear this in winter versus the height of summer, if I had to.

This is more of a mature fragrance. Though, for me it’s less of an age issue versus fitting in with your own style. It is a classic scent, it’s different from much of what is offered nowadays, and that makes it feel anachronistic to some.

It can still be worn by younger women or older. It can be a daily signature or something that you put on for special occasions. It’s attractive, but I’ve personally never particularly found it to be sexy.

It’s nice and comfortable and can fit in while dressed up or even in a more casual situation.

Overall Impressions of Chanel No.5 EDP

Overall, do I like this version? I do. I’ve got to try the Parfum again, but I think that one is just better than this, in totality. Greater concentration and sort of different in the formulation. Though, I’m kind of still more of a fan of Shalimar, myself.

However, I really appreciate the timeless qualities of the essential No. 5 structure. Some people say it smells old or ‘old lady-ish’. I mean, it’s the quintessential modern perfume, and over 100 years old at this point. Like, of course, it’s not going to be cutting edge…but it can still be an absolute killer scent.

Funny enough, it was at the time thought and created to be a very sexy and liberating perfume.

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The floral aspects here are great, when paired with the aldehydes. Fresh and more intense up top, with a clean soapiness in the finish. Drier with a cold coziness. Then, warmer into the finish.  Very well put together with layers, that can take time to fully get into.

I really like the sandalwood phase, when the iris and jasmine are in balance. That’s really a quality aroma.

Is this a fragrance for everyone? Probably not. It is one that should be tried out by everyone. Not just once, either. Come back to it, let it develop, and see if it draws you in.

Boss Bottled EDP by Hugo Boss

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Boss Bottled EDP is a more recent edition to the brand’s long-running Bottled line of fragrances. I’ve had a sample of this for a long while, tested it out, but always forgot to post the review. So here’s to correcting that. How does EDP smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Boss Bottled EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: apple, bergamot, black pepper, cardamom, sage, olive wood, vetiver, cinnamon

Click here to try: Boss Bottled Eau de Parfum

My Full Review

Here’s how Boss describes it: Created for driven, ambitious men ready to take on every challenge that comes their way, this noble composition brings a new intensity to the warmth and vibrancy of the timeless BOSS BOTTLED signature.

The opening of Bottled EDP is a sweet-tart, blue-ish blend of notes, laced with spice. It reminds me a bit of Y EDP and Wanted by Azzaro, in different ways.  The apple and cardamom notes are pretty massive, with how they hit up top.

The bergamot citrus adds a further brightness and sharpness to the mix, along with that sage note, which gives me reminders of the YSL cologne.

Now, on my card for this sample it says there is sage as a note, but other stores online say it’s cinnamon, and don’t mention sage. The actual ingredients do mention the chemicals they use for cinnamon, but this comes off like sage and not a cinnamon spice.

Perhaps both are a part of the composition, but where this cinnamon is, I’m not exactly sure. I know the original had that apple cinnamon vibe going for it, but this is pretty different.

The bergamot will wear off and I start to get more of the sage and cardamom mix. A nice, fresh spiciness, with some further citrus-like hints from the cardamom.

As we move along to the dry down, it’s an apple note with vetiver freshness, woodiness (olive wood, I’m presuming?),  perhaps some musk, and the remainder of the spices. It’s clean and pretty intense, for this stage in the game, but not a huge projection off of the skin.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This one does start off with some power and ability to jump off of the skin. That will change fairly quickly and Boss Bottled EDP will be more moderate and close to where you sprayed. Anywhere from 1-4 feet for much of the duration.

The performance here isn’t terrible, but it is by no means amazing. On my skin, I get 7 hours max, but more along the lines of six many time. It’s fine, just nothing crazy.

Seasonally, it’s probably at it’s best in the more moderate temperatures of autumn and springtime. It can venture a bit outside of that in either direction. Yet, I’d avoid using this one in the extreme heat or cold. For an average day, it’s good.

This is an easy to wear scent, that skews more towards a younger crowd. It’s a daily wear that can go casual to semi-formal, depending on the situation. Very pleasant and probably not going to offend anyone, unless you go crazy with the sprays (particularly the opening act).

Overall Impressions of Boss Bottled EDP

Overall, do I like Boss Bottled EDP? It’s pretty good, but not something that I feel like I have to run out and get a bottle of. It’s a clean and blue-ish scent with a tart and sweet aroma, lots of apple, wood, and a general fresh feeling.

The performance is a bit above average, but not by much. However, it’s one that can get plenty of use as a day to day scent. As such, if it sounds like something you’d like, it’s worth a try. I don’t think it’ll be hated by most anyone, just not completely outstanding.

It seems like Hugo Boss is going to keep right on releasing variations of this in the upcoming years. It’s a more modern take on that 90s formula, but nothing that does anything all that interesting.