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!

9 Best Smelling Serge Lutens Perfumes

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There are a ton of fragrances that have been released by Serge Lutens. Also, they are mostly all listed as unisex, even when the perfumes lean more feminine or masculine depending on the individual fragrance.

So, for this list I have selected nine scents which I feel are the best of the bunch. Naturally, I had to leave off some very good contenders but there is a good mix here.

Favorite Smelling Serge Lutens Fragrances

orange blossom perfume

Great Sandalwood Scent 

Serge Lutens Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, Santal Majuscule, 1.7 Ounce– Simple and rather straightforward affair. Santal Majuscule has a certain darkness to it underneath the rich sandalwood with the bitter sweetness of unprocessed cacao.

Not for everyone, but a very interesting scent, indeed. Santal Majuscule is a Serge Lutens scent which gives you a very dry element, that gets paired expertly with creamy and sweeter notes. You get a mix of bitter, then sweet, then creamy, and always warmly delicious.

Best for Winter

Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 50 Ml– If warm amber-y fragrance are your thing, then, Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens is an affordable choice versus some of the higher end specialty scents out there.

It has enough spice to make it stand out, mostly of the herbal variety, with a smooth resinous amber note. Great.

Ambre Sultan kicks off things with that beautiful amber note, with its resinous qualities in full effect, and the opening spicy kick. It’s quite exotic, yet familiar, with smoky hints of incense and myrrh.

This is a great options for colder weather, for those who like a solid performing, Oriental perfume. An awesome niche fragrance for those who love amber and spice. Ambre Sultan Review

Best Selling Serge Lutens Scent

Serge Lutens Chergui Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 1.7 Ounce– Probably the most popular Serge Lutens fragrance and somewhat reminds me of Pure Havane.

Though, this one is more feminine and sweet than is that Thierry Mugler scent, Chergui is an ultra smooth and well blended perfume that lightens up one’s mood.

It does differ from other tobacco scents and the like with its use of both iris and hay. Yes, hay, in all of its dry glory. The iris gives Chergui a powdery finish, which can be a good or bad thing, depending on your feelings towards the rest of the composition.

Sure, it’s popular, but Chergui is still kind of an odd duck. Sort of like some perfumes, but all its own, and way more niche than it would initially seem.

Add some Cacao

Ecrin de Fumee– This is an interesting blend and has some definite appeal as a smoky blend. That’s how it opens up with its smoky notes taking center stage, before being pushed to the edges by rum and spices.

It’s also quite woody early on and solidifies into that as it dries down. In between? Rum, sweet tobacco, and a semi-sweet cacao note. It’s warm and pleasant in the mid, the tobacco and smokiness isn’t too overbearing, and the rum is awesome while it sticks around.

Now, the effect these notes have is like that of a humidor, as the translated name of Encrin de Fumee might suggest. 

This one does have a certain mass appeal in its notes, while being unique and having a slightly more challenging wear than the average designer tobacco fragrance.

 

Smoky Semi-Sweet Vanilla

Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 1.7 Ounce– As the French name suggests, this is a woody vanilla scent. Not candy-like sweetness, rather, it is smoky woods with an addition of a coconut note.

Un Bois Vanille is another very popular fragrance from the brand. It has honey touches with other notes like licorice.

Still, the sweetness is ultimately tame, and it is another one with plenty of smokiness. Smoky seems to be an element important to many Serge Lutens fragrances.

Top Woody Perfume by Lutens

Serge Lutens Fille En Aiguilles Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 1.6 Ounce– Wow. What a unique scent it’s full bodied and woodsy with pine note being the main player.

It has a dry sort of aroma to it but don’t think, ‘pine car freshener’, as the sweetness of the non-juicy fruits, brings an added layer of depth and intrigue.

I really don’t know what to compare this to, but it’s awesome. Fille en Aiguilles kicks off with a mix of the pine (which will get stronger), fruits, and a spiciness from among other things, bay leaf. Strange brew, right?

Later, the pine takes over fully and you get an underlying smokiness from the incense and other woods. Unique and niche fragrance, but can be a fun one during the colder months.

Unique Spicy Woods for Her

Serge Lutens Feminite du Bois Unisex, 1.7 Ounce– Woods with cinnamon and plum is mostly what I detect. The spice adds warmth but it isn’t overly heavy in the composition.

It’s another one that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there are plenty out there who will think it is divine. The cinnamon and clove, can put folks off, but I think it’s one worth sticking to.

Later, it has a light touch of the plum and other fruit, blended with the very present cedar note. Smooth and wood, at times feeling quite a bit herbal. Feminite du Bois is much more of a ladies’ perfume, not really keeping up with the unisex offerings.

A Strange Yet Compelling Scent

Jeux de Peau– Wheat, coconut, milk, licorice, and apricot. These are some of the notes found in Jeux de Peau. So, it’s obviously not going to be to everyone’s liking.

Yet, this Serge Lutens perfume is actually rather well done. Very unique, maybe not something that you’d want to reach for everyday, but surprisingly solid perfume.

The fruitiness from the coconut and apricot isn’t too heavy. Instead early on, you’re going to get more of a wheat note with some milky tones and just a touch of sweetness from those top notes.

Eventually, it will dry down into a warmer toasted wheat note with an amber base and a milky coconut playing a supporting role. I actually started to like this one, after thinking there’s no way that I’d enjoy Jeux de Peau. My review

 

Lovely, Intense Amber

SERGE LUTENS LA COUCHE DU DIABLE by Serge Lutens, EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 3.4 OZ– Diable does have somewhat of a similar profile to Fille en Aiguilles, but you don’t get the pine for the wood notes, and the amber is much stronger in La Couche du Diable. 

This one is very rich and warm, with a distinct amber thickness. The other notes in the composition sort of act like dots in a sea of amber, but you do get fresh wood, a bit of juicy tangerine, and cinnamon spice. 

The opening is where you’ll get the most of the citrus note, which is great with the labdanum. As it moves forward, you get periods of spice and then much more of a rich woody freshness. Really interesting fragrance, though, probably not for everyone. 

7 Best Smelling Kate Spade Perfumes

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Obviously, Kate Spade is no longer with us, but she left behind quite a legacy in the world of fashion. Her brand, extended itself into fragrances for women, many of which were truly attractive. The brand has continued on, after her passing and newer perfumes have been brought to market.

For this post, I want to take a closer look, and select seven from the bunch which could be considered the best smelling. Each brings something a bit different to the table, so, there should be something for anyone to enjoy.

What are the Best Smelling Kate Spade Fragrances?

Most Popular Spade Perfume

Kate Spade Live Colorfully Eau de Parfum Spray Womens Perfume, 3.4 oz.– Live Colorfully is a floral fruit blend, with gardenia and tiare leading the way. The fruit notes consist of citrus and coconut, with an added vanilla creaminess underneath.

Up top the fruit and spice have much more of a prominent role. Then, it will be about those white floral notes and that light coconut and vanilla touch.

This one is very clean, bright, and has a summertime feel to it. The performance of Live Colorfully is also, great, as it has both the longevity and projection to be a great all-day wear.

Easy and Energetic

Kate Spade New York– This newer namesake fragrance released by the brand is a great one for those who want a clean and fairly light perfume for daily wear.

Kate Spade New York opens up with a blend of strawberry and citrus notes, leaning more towards the former. It’s cheery and upbeat without being overwhelming with its sillage. Somewhat tart early on, but it does get a pretty creamy finish with the cashmere note coming from the base.

It does lean more towards a sugary sort of sweetness, but I don’t think it strays too far into the candy-like camp. The floral notes are light and it’s actually more woody than it ever is floral. Rose essence and freesia are the flower aromas, but not the main attraction.

It’s kind of a youthful and energetic scent, so if you want something ‘serious’ or formal, this won’t be the one. The longevity is good, even in its lighter state, around a full work day.

top new spade perfume

Lovely Springtime Wear

Kate Spade In Full Bloom Eau de Parfum Spray Womens Perfume, 3.4 oz.– In Full Bloom, has a green, somewhat aquatic aroma underneath, floral notes of lotus and rose. The rose is the main attraction here. This one is a bouquet and naturalistic type of floral perfume.

It opens quite strong but settles down, with a great tea note, and some softer peony. This is one for those who want a bouquet of flowers, with an herbal almost dewy, background.

In Full Bloom is a lighter scent, but with a nice lasting performance. The rose note works very nicely against the dewy/green aromas and gives it a somewhat unique scent.

Fresh and Sweet

Cherie by Kate Spade– Orange, red currant, and raspberry. Those are the opening notes to Cherie from Kate Spade, so you know that this one is going to be a rather sharp, juicy, and sweet fragrance to start off with.

But, the sharpness will calm down and the sweetness will have a nice freshness to it, that keeps this option light and very wearable. It’s mainly going to be a spring and summer pick, that dries down with more of a floral finish. 

Jasmine, sweet pea, and musk round out the wear and tone down the sweetness as we move along. Nothing completely groundbreaking here, but a perfume that easily slot into one’s rotation as a pleasant and attractive daily wear for the warmer months of the year.

 

Unique Option

Kate Spade Trulygracious By Kate Spade for Women – 2.5 Oz Edt Spray, 2.5 Oz– This is a simple outdoorsy blend of sap, musk, and bamboo leaves. It’s plant based aroma, with sort of a grassy scent, that also has the same dewy feel as the previous entry on the list.

Trulygracious is a bit sweet, but with a super outdoorsy freshness, which is a nice change of pace from the usual mass market fragrances. A nice grab on spring and early summer days, a choice for those who want a bare bones yet, fantastic smelling perfume.

I haven’t seen too many bottles of this still available, so, I’m not sure how long you’ll be able to grab one.

Light and Refreshing

Kate Spade Walk On Air Eau de Parfum Rollerball Womens Perfume, 0.34 oz.– Walk on Air is of course going to have a lighter silage, just based on the name alone. It opens with a gentle citrus, white floral notes, and a fern note which hangs around throughout the wear.

Another pretty and upbeat fragrance, with a refreshing aroma, that can fit in on any occasion. The performance is solid enough, for daily wear status, as well. A nice crisp freshness up top, with an array of flowers coming in more so later on.

Walk On Air is an easy go to perfume for the spring and summer months. The performance isn’t amazing, but it wasn’t terrible either.

 

Best Fruity Fragrance

Twirl by Kate Spade for Women Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 oz– Twirl moves away from the pure floral or outdoorsy smells of the other entries. This one is sweet and more focused on the fruit notes, which includes watermelon.

You do still get floral notes, like orange blossom and magnolia, but they are surrounded by the watermelon and berry notes.

Twirl is a fun and carefree sort of scent, with a bit of musky spice, that comes through in the dry down. It’s not super candy-like sweetness, more of a balancing act, that tips toward the  fruity side of the spectrum.

7 Best Smelling Cartier Colognes for Men

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Cartier is a world famous jeweler. However, it is also a very good fragrance designer for both men and women. For this list, I have selected seven of those colognes for guys, and what I consider to be the best of the bunch.

The brand doesn’t seem to have too many new releases in comparison to most of the other major designers out there. Jewelry is their main focus still.

They do have a wide variety of choices, though, some of which have gotten discontinued and more difficult to find over the years.  As always, each scent is linked to its page on Amazon for both ease of purchase and further information.

What Are the Top Cartier Perfumes for Him?

Citrus Clean 

Eau De Cartier By Cartier For Men and Women, Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.75-Ounce Bottle
This is a unisex fragrance, so it won’t be a good choice for guys who want something wholly masculine. However, this is a good and light choice for those who like a citrus based fragrance that settles down into something more earthy.

Eau de Cartier opens up with it lemon and bergamot, that is joined by the fresh spiciness of coriander.  From there, you get lavender and violet, giving it the floral edge. Cedar sits at the base for a touch of woody freshness. Clean and one that is extremely easy to wear.

eaucartier

Honey Woods 

L’Envol de Cartier Eau de Toilette Spray, 2.7 oz.– I’m adding this one to the list because it is great. Pretty unique and simple in its presentation, L’Envol, features top notes of ambrosia and citrus.

Beyond that, the thick warmth of honey comes through to balance out the initial citrus aroma. It’s a sweet fragrance with a powdery finish and base notes of Gaiac wood and musk. Actually isn’t as heavy of a scent as you might think and can indeed venture outside of the winter months.

Not too complex, but one that might have a limited audience, as it is a floral and sweet cologne…while still being entirely masculine.

Most Popular Cartier Fragrance

Declaration By Cartier For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 100 ml
This is one is much more manly. It has a spicy scent to it yet also woodsy notes and some bitter orange.

That note is similar to Terre D’Hermes (which I dislike) but this one is done much better in my opinion, as the orange and presentation isn’t overwhelming and off putting.

Declaration is deep and spicy, right from the jump, and there is dry smokiness provided by birch. Cardamom, caraway, and pepper are all here, which can be off-putting for some.

However, there is still the softer side with floral notes, including neroli. An interesting fragrance and definitely an original from decades past.

declaration

Warm, Woody, and Spicy

Cartier Pasha De Cartier Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Fluid Ounce
Masculine, fresh, a bit sweet, and a crispy spice. Pasha De Cartier is a great fragrance that projects well and lasts long, especially in the colder months.

Oakmoss and mint, give it a dry freshness, and then the same caraway note is here as it was in Declaration.

The scent warms up, while retaining its green outdoorsy depth, and the coolness of the mint. When you hit the base notes, Pasha becomes quite woody, and laden with lavender. Nice development.  Notes include: mint, citrus, amber, caraway.

pasha

A New Declaration

Declaration EDP– It’s definitely a flanker of the original, with plenty of overlap, but this one ramps up the spice, particularly early on.

Cinnamon is massive in the opening act, which is nice for me, as I love that note. You also still get ginger and a cardamom note. Cardamom will become more heavy in the mix, once the other two have burned off.

So, yes, this is a warm and spicy sort of cologne. Yet, you will still get enough freshness in the blend to keep it light. The black tea note here is nice, the aroma feels somewhat smoky, but it’s a clean spicy blend that enhances aspects of the original Declaration.

Less woodsy and floral in comparison, while still retaining its similarities.

Top Springtime Pick

Roadster by Cartier for Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3-Ounces
A fragrance which features notes of vetiver, mint, bergamot, vanilla, and patchouli. Roadster is a very ‘green’ type of fragrance, with mint as its main note.

It’s got a smooth lightness from the vanilla note and the vetiver gives it a masculine quality. Rather unique overall, but simple.

The opening is the mint with a spritz of the bergamot citrus and vanilla sweetness hanging in the background. As it develops further, the patchouli breaks through, giving Roadster more of an outdoorsy quality.

Finally, you get the vetiver note, which brings things all together and Roadster has an almost gourmand edible quality.

Patchouli is often used to give fragrances a candy-like or baked goods smell. Here when paired with the vanilla, vetiver, and mint; you do get a somewhat chocolatey vibe during some of the wear. The performance on Roadster is solid, but it isn’t a projection beast, by any means.

roadster

Best Cartier for Winter

Cartier Santos De Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce
Throwback to the 1980s. On the opposite end of the spectrum from Eau De Cartier, Santos, won’t be mistaken for a unisex fragrance at all. Spicy and woodsy with notes of amber, pepper, and sandalwood.

Santos starts off with a bit of a different tone, than what it’ll eventually settle down into. There is citrus at the top paired with juniper, along with prominent basil, and lavender. It’s got a upbeat and bright freshness to it, that invigorates.

As it dries down, there is a smoky woody aroma, led by sandalwood and the pepper/basil combo. The spice here is prevalent, but not annoyingly in your face, because it gets subdued by the trio of sandalwood/lavender/amber.

Since this is an older cologne, all of the bottles out there won’t smell the same. Reformulations happen, so the exact composition, may be slightly different depending on what bottle you get.

santos

This is my current list of the top Cartier scents for guys. I will periodically come back and update the page, as newer fragrances are released, that I feel are deserving of a spot. As of now, this should get you started, since there are colognes which will suit almost anyone’s personal style.

10 Best Mugler Perfumes for Women

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French fashion designer Thierry Mugler has had long success producing a haute couture line of clothing and lifestyle items. Perhaps his most successful and most popular contribution to the world of fashion is his fragrance line. Two of his perfumes, Alien and Angel, are seemingly always among the top sellers for women.

Why? They are well-made with unique notes and they of course also smell great. For this list, I want to present to you the best smelling fragrances from the Thierry Mugler line and the top variants of the Alien and Angel names.

Note: This brand goes through a lot of flankers, some perfumes may be discontinued between updates. But, you can usually find them at discounters.

What are the Best Mugler Perfumes?

Best Seller

Thierry Mugler Alien Refillable Eau de Parfum Spray, 3 Ounce– Alien is an interesting fragrance for women, as the name itself suggests, there is something exotic. foreign, or even other worldly about this scent. Floral and woody notes blend together and top it off with a kick of spice.

It’s sweet and loud and a perfume that really shines in the wintertime. Alien is led by jasmine as the floral, surrounded by warm amber, and with a woody base. This fragrance lets itself be known, can overwhelm some, but others swear by its power and cannot do without this Mugler creation.

This is the most popular Mugler fragrance, along with Angel, so it’s likely the one that you already know. While it has become widely used, Alien is still a very good fragrance, and has its place on this list without question.

If Alien is too much for you, you could also try the much more tolerable Alien Fusion. It’s too similar for me to give it, it’s own entry on the list, but Fusion is excellent.

alien

Classic Powerhouse

Thierry Mugler Angel Eau De Parfum Spray, 1.7 Ounce– A strong, daytime fragrance that has been one of the best selling perfumes for quite a long while. Angel is fresh and intriguing.

However, it does bring the power, and the longevity is incredible. The opening is sweet with coconut, a dark chocolate, and fruit notes (mainly melon).

It dries down with a lot of patchouli. Very gourmand in the beginning, a highly famous scent. Not really one for those who want something light or need a perfume for a warmer climate.

The aroma has become very familiar, but it’s still a great wear in the right situation. Notes include: vanilla, sandalwood, and patchouli,  fresh citrus, melons, peaches, and plums. 

angel

Top Newer Release

Aura EDT– This is another interesting fragrance from Mugler, that won’t have universal appeal, but is still a really good scent. There is an EDT and EDP version. I actually liked the EDT version better for a long while, but testing out the EDP again for the site…I’ve come to prefer it.

Aura is not only unique but it performs very well, also. The EDP opens with orange blossom, a dewy forest aroma, and plenty of rhubarb. Yes, this one is different and surprisingly awesome.

It comes across as a bit minty, green fresh, with orange blossom and vanilla. It can fit in during a variety of seasons, and is one that is weird enough to stand apart. Aura EDP Review

A Top Goddess

Alien Goddess Intense– Ok, the Alien Goddess series has been a focus for Mugler over the past few years. To me, Goddess Intense still has the top spot out of the bunch.

I should say that it isn’t far and away better than the original or Supra Florale, in terms of how much I like each. So, preference is really going to play a role when choosing from these perfumes.

This one is heavier, with a bigger dose of vanilla to pair up top with a coconut note and a light spritzing of bergamot. The first two notes will be the main attractions with Goddess Intense, alongside, jasmine.

Vanilla, jasmine, and benzoin will be more of the tail end of the wear, as the coconut fades. Really good performance and a deeper version of the original. Alien Goddess Intense review

Pina ColAngel

Angel Phantasm– This is a warm and beachy version of the familiar Angel DNA. What did Mugler add? A helping of coconut, that is especially prevalent early on in the mix.

The effect is that Phantasm puts out the energy of tanning on the shore while sipping a pina colada. Yet, it still does have the patchouli note which becomes more prominent in the dry down.

Also, joining is a light pineapple note in the early stages and a tiare flower in the mid, to help further sell the tropical kind of vibe. Still, it’s actually kind of dark with how it presents at times. Maybe that’s representing the black bottle? Nice performance.

 

Summertime Wear

Angel Sunessence by Thierry Mugler Light Eau-de-toilette Spray for Women, 1.70-Ounce– A bright and sweet smelling fruity patchouli perfume, which settles down beautifully, with a bit of time. Bergamot and red berries give, this Angel a different and less intense feel than the original.

It can start out somewhat tart, but it doesn’t ever have a super heavy sillage to it. There is a great honey note and blackberry, which begins to emerge later in the dry down. Still, a great performance, just not as loud as Angel.

angel sunessence

Most Unique Mugler

Womanity by Thierry Mugler for Women, Eau de Parfum Refillable Spray, 2.7 Ounce– A wholly feminine and utterly unique fragrance from Thierry Mugler. Womanity has its sweet and woodsy moments which creates something almost unforgettable. 

You probably gotta love fig, to truly appreciate this one, because it is full of the stuff from wood to fruit.

Beyond that, is a salty caviar note…which yeah, I said this one was unique. It is another strong scent from Mugler, however, this one, is going to be much more niche in terms of how many folks will enjoy it. 

Fresh with a woody, marine dry down. Very hit or miss with people, but I appreciate the brand taking chances and putting this on the market.

womanity

 

 

Light and Sweet

Thierry Mugler Angel Innocent Eau de Parfum Spray, 2.6 Ounce– Subtle, light, and airy. This perfume lives up to the Innocent moniker with notes of pure mandarin, honey,  almond, exotic fruits,  rich musk, and amber.

It’s citrus notes lead the top, but is flanked by berries, and a semi-tart black currant. It’s sweet and nutty and an overall beautiful wear. 

Kind of a departure for Mugler, when they are known for bold scents. Innocent takes the opposite tact and does it well. I think that this has been discontinued, but bottles are still around online.

angel innocent

The Explosive Angel

Angel Nova– I’m adding Nova to the list after trying it in 2021. Now, from the jump, it’s probably not a fragrance that everyone will enjoy. 

The raspberry and litchi notes are juicy and bold. To my nose, it also seemed like there was mango in the mix as well. Up top, it is all about these juicy fruit notes. However, it will get drier, floral, and a bit spicy.

The Damask rose is the leader in the final stages. The tropical aroma is nearly gone and Nova has an earthy quality to it. Rose, benzoin, and a earthy/dirtiness. I really dug it. Angel Nova Review

Fun, Tropical Option

Angel Iced Star– Angel Iced Star isn’t a super complicated fragrance, but it is one that is enjoyable, with a somewhat pina colada-like aroma. The pineapple note is the lead here, but there is also a good deal of coconut in the mix.

Then, there is the patchouli and vanilla notes, giving this one a full sweet and tropical gourmand profile. It’s delicious and a really nice option for standing out in the warmer months.

The pineapple kicks things off with a great juiciness, before it is more evenly split with the vanilla and coconut. This is just a fun and youthful sort of perfume, not serious or anything at all formal.

Ranking the Best Spicebomb Fragrances

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Spicebomb is the signature men’s line from Viktor & Rolf, the counterpart to the vast array of Flowerbomb releases on the women’s side of things. Since the release of Spicebomb EDT, the designer has steadily released different flankers to capitalize on that initial popularity.

But, now that we have so many options to choose from by V&R, which are the best? I am  going to use this page to keep a running tab on my favorites by ranking and to link my full reviews, as I release them.

Ranking My Favorite Spicebomb Colognes

Note: I’ll update the list once I’ve gotten to try out the new Metallic Musk flanker release.

The Top Spot

Spicebomb Extreme– This one is still the best Spicebomb in terms of how it smells. However, it might not be the best pick for everyone.

Extreme is very much a colder weather sort of fragrance and it can really be a massive tobacco and vanilla scent at times. So, if that’s not your thing you might want to go for something like Night Vision instead.

Extreme opens with that heavy tobacco, sweet vanilla, some lavender, and a touch of spice. Again, it’s not overly spicy, in comparison. Instead it’s smooth, warm, and sweet.

This fragrance is mainly about the tobacco note, more than any spices, which seem to just play backup. Tobacco, vanilla, spices, and saffron/lavender. Has this sweetish, somewhat gourmand quality.

Spicebomb Extreme has great performance and is well worth checking out. Spicebomb Extreme review

Original Appeal

Spicebomb EDT– Currently, the original is basically neck and neck to me with Night Vision EDP. I could easily swap these two on the list.

Spicebomb opens with that spice going strong already and a pretty noticeable mix of grapefruit and bergamot.

Beyond that, pink pepper comes through with the cinnamon blend in a pretty even split at first. Feels like a 60/40 split to me, but cinnamon will increasingly take over.

As it develops, that sharp spice blast settles down and gets smoothed out by the heart notes emerging. I get plenty of saffron and vetiver, which gives Spicebomb more maturity compared to that youthfully energetic opening.

Leather slips in very lightly during the middle, adding to the smoothness and character of this cologne.

The performance isn’t quite as good as it used to be, but still a useful scent to have in the rotation. Spicebomb review

Cool Vision

Spicebomb Night Vision EDP– Night Vision EDP is one that I liked wearing a lot, but it was never a complete love. Far and away better than the EDT version, though. Just a better balance and mix.

Nightvision EDP kicks off woodier and with cooler spiciness than the original or others in this line. I get some lemon essence and red pepper up top that gives it familiarity to the EDT, though this one isn’t as sweet to my nose.

The spices here seem to be a black and red pepper blend. But the clary sage note is what really jumps out to me after the opening starts to fade. It’s fresh and cool but also gets smoothed out by the woody base notes.

The wood is fir, but this is fir balsam, giving it that benzoin-like smell.

From here, it’s pretty straightforward. The spiciness fades and it becomes more about aromatic freshness, which lets some of the sweetness peek back through. Night Vision EDP review

The performance is pretty good, not great. The scent is good, not great. But, it gives you a cooler sort of fresh spice versus the more in your face spiciness of the original. Night Vision eau de parfum review

A Sweeter Spice

Spicebomb Infrared EDT– I bought a bottle of Infrared when it came out. I wear it on occasion, but not that often anymore. The red berry and tobacco mix with cinnamon is really bold and can be quite sweet.

I don’t think the eau de parfum really improved anything over this initial Infrared release. They’re about the same in terms of how much I enjoy them or if I want a leather note (the EDP).

Apparently this one has been discontinued. So, if you want to try Infrared EDT, you’ll probably have to find it online before the remaining stocks gets too expensive. Infrared EDT review

Second Infrared

Spicebomb Infrared EDP– Again, not really any better than the EDT, in my opinion. Some may prefer this, but to me they’re about the same in terms of my enjoyment wearing each of these.

This is a bit fresher and feels smoother in the dry down with its leather note. The leather is blended well and isn’t completely taking over the composition. It’s good, but I don’t need a bottle, since I already have EDT.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s near the bottom of the list for me, while still being a pretty good cologne overall.

More Leather

Spicebomb Dark Leather– Well, if you like leather but don’t want to go with the Infrared option, Viktor & Rolf came out with Spicebomb Dark Leather.

I’ve only tried this once, so, I don’t have a complete review on it. But, for now, this is where I’m putting this Spicebomb on the list. I like it, but wasn’t something that really grabbed my attention.

I remember it having a peppery start, with more of a softer cinnamon accompanying the leather and tobacco notes. Still, this one is more leather heavy than Infrared EDP, some nice spice mixture.  Yet, it didn’t seem all that powerful in terms of performance.

Another Night

Spicebomb Night Vision EDT– Night Vision EDT is my least favorite. The eau de parfum is much better, if you want this same sort of style, and every other cologne on the list is better if you don’t.

With this one, I tend to really notice the sage and geranium notes. For whatever reason, those two are really heightened on my skin.

The opening is some light grapefruit, spice, and tonka bean along with the aforementioned notes. The scent has some high points, but is fairly forgettable overall. Also, the performance isn’t great, I only get around 5 hours of wear from Night Vision EDT.