Cruz del Sur II by Xerjoff

Cruz del Sur II is a tropical based fragrance by the high end designer, Xerjoff. This is a scent I was wanting to try for a while now, so I tested it out and have collected my thoughts on it. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is this perfume actually worth a try?


What does Cruz del Sur II Smell Like?

Notes include: mango, pineapple, apple blossom, musk, vetiver, cedar, floral notes, milk, violet leaf, and more

Click here to try: Cruz del Sur II


My Full Review

Here’s how Xerjoff describes this scent: a luxuriant journey into the tropical rainforests of South America. Characterised by the fresh and fruity top notes of mango, pineapple and apple blossom, this exotic scent opens into a blossoming heart of green leaves and floral bouquet.

Cruz del Sur II is a fragrance that I have wanted to test out for quite a while. I was hoping to find another good tropical and unisex perfume to use during the summer months and Xerjoff seemed like a brand to have a good one.

I will say, this wasn’t as unisex as I’d hoped. Definitely more of a traditionally women’s fragrance. Leans way more towards that end.

I also purchased a 10mL sprayer of Desire II by Dua, which is their inspired by scent of Cruz del Sur. Yes, it’s like 95% the same, so get that one for a cheaper price.

Anyway, on to how it smells. Cruz del Sur II opens with it’s tropical fruits on full display. Mango is going to be the strongest here, so, know that before you decide to buy.

But, the other fruits sort of combine into more of a amalgamation of aromas. What this smells like to me is a glass of orange juice infused with mango juice. Kind of sharp, but nice enough.

However, that fruit juice cocktail is then spiked with milk. Coming into testing, I was thinking that this would just be a creamy finish, much like Sunset Fantasy by Britney Spears. Just a unisex and more tropical fruit version. That Britney note is ‘frothed milk’.

Nope, it’s actually the smell of milk. Not terrible, put kind of weird, and I’m not too enthralled by Cruz II in its early stages.

But, this does begin to shift into something that is less milky and almost a vanilla/powdery undertone to it. Maybe more like a milkshake and less like a glass of milk, is a way to put it.

The orange juice like smell kind of fades. The mango comes into its own. You have some musk and non-distinct floral notes that probably give this that slight bit of powder, that I am picking up on.

Outside of that, there is really only a little bit of wood popping through. Mango, the fruits toned down, the milky/vanilla/powder, and some musk.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, you do get a bold start here, nice scent trail, and a projection that emanates from the skin. This will diminish over the span of between 1-2 hours. Yet, for most of the wear this is solidly above average and not just an intimate scent bubble. 

The longevity is pretty good here. It goes over 8 hours on my skin, maybe up to 9 hours at its best. It’s solid and it doesn’t just fall off quickly. 

Seasonally, this is mostly a summer scent, and the tail end of springtime. A mango infused milky aroma, doesn’t really do much for you in the dead of winter.

This is more of a fun and casual wear. It’s not formal, not really sexy, just playful and can be pleasant to be around. A well put together fruity aroma, that has energy and a delicious kind of quality to it.

Not the most versatile perfume out there, but still has its uses.

 

 


Overall Impressions of Cruz del Sur II

Overall, do I like Cruz del Sur II? I like the dry down aspect of it. The opening isn’t terrible, it just feels kind of off. The mango is nice, the mix of the guava and other notes, less so. That milk? Not for me.

The performance is good and this is a scent that has plenty of fans who love that tropical vibe. I myself, enjoy tropical scents quite a lot. I’m disappointed that this wasn’t really all that unisex and am not enthralled with the fragrance itself. It still has its charms, though.

Is it blind buy worthy? No. Actually, as I said the comparable ‘Desire II’ by Dua smells nearly identical to Cruz del Sur II. As such, it makes way more sense to save your money and get that instead, if you really want to try out this type of mango mix. Performance on that, is actually better too.

14 Sexiest Colognes for Men

So, you’re looking for the right seductive cologne to wear out to bars or on dates? Well, there’s an almost endless line of men’s fragrances, which could potentially fit the bill.

It would just take a bunch of time and testing to figure out which parfum or eau de toilette, actually seem to attract the ladies, or at least make them take notice.

Fear not, I’ve done the leg work for you. On this site, I’ve reviewed and field-tested hundreds of scents for guys (and ladies). This list isn’t guess work, these are scents that not only I find to be incredibly attractive, but have gotten called sexy by women time and time again.

Plus, there’s a fragrance to fit pretty much any style or taste out there. So, if you’re looking for a gift for your boyfriend or husband, you should be good to go.


What are the Sexiest Smelling Fragrances for Men?

The Refined Classic

Christian Dior Dior Homme Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce– The opening minutes of Dior Homme Intense, are probably my favorite ever from any cologne (for sure top 3). While I do, very slightly prefer wearing the original Dior Homme, I think this one has a bit more sex appeal.

Cedar and vetiver notes lead the way to be paired with a powdery iris floral. Then, a cacao note comes along to give Dior Intense, a gourmand sensibility.

It’s almost like powdered chocolate, in my mind, at one point during the wear. The name suggests it will be loud but it’s not overly so and the longevity of this fragrance is absolutely great.

Dior Homme Intense both on its own and when used with the original has gotten me a lot of female interest and just basic complements, even from Uber drivers taking me to the bar. This one has become a classic already, it smells great, and is quite refined. My Full Dior Intense Review


Valentino Leather Floral

Valentino Uomo FOR MEN by Valentino – 3.4 oz EDT Spray– The Uomo line from Valentino has a lot of overlap with the Dior fragrances listed above.

It starts off with a juicy and slightly sour bergamot that is paired with gianduja cream (smells like hazelnut), along with some myrtle. Cedar, floral, with leather highlights.

This one was kind of more toward Dior Homme, but also has aspects of Intense, while doing its own thing. It’s attractive and will get attention, even if it doesn’t have a super strong sillage. Gorgeous stuff. Valentino Uomo Review


Delicious Extreme

Tom Ford Noir Extreme Men Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 OunceNoir Extreme is one that I’ve always enjoyed and never got a full bottle of. However, I recently grabbed another sample to retry this Tom Ford cologne, and immediately ordered a gift set.

Noir Extreme is warm, sexy, and delicious. It is led by an accord of kulfi, a type of Indian dessert similar to ice cream. Cardamom, saffron, nutmeg, and pistachio give this one an initial spiciness of the warmth of amber.

Then, it dries down into something with a lovely creamy/milky aroma to it that is an absolute joy to wear and be around. Performance is actually better than I remember it, but I still like to give it an extra spray or two. Noir Extreme Review

noir extreme ford


Still Draws Attention

Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3-Ounce– La Nuit de L’homme is a long time staple in the fragrance game. The reason? It smells awesome and people always seem to react well toward it.

Sexy? Yes, it’s been a date night cologne for me off and on, over the years. The performance isn’t as good as it used to be. But, you can just spray more, since the cost usually isn’t bad.

Now, the secret here really comes with the cardamom note. That with the citrus bergamot early on sets the stage. Then, you get a great powdery and woodsy finish, which just smells classy.

It’s a permanent best seller. La Nuit Review


Rum-Soaked Spice

Bvlgari Man in Black Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– So, Blvgari’s Man in Black, isn’t always thought of when it comes to seductive sort of fragrances; but it most certainly is one from my experience.

It’s not a super intense bomb or one that lasts all night (roughly 4-6 hours), but that’s more than enough for when I use it.

Man in Black has become for me, a nightlife wear on cooler evenings. Why? Because there is a certain percentage of women, who go nuts for this scent. Not kidding. I’ve had multiple random women stop me at a bar and just flat out tell me how sexy I smell.

I’ve also worn it on a few dates and pretty much been mauled by my companion, while repeating how much they love my cologne. At times, this has been that mythical ‘panty dropper’, scent that often gets talked about on fragrance forums and YouTube videos.

So, while it’s not universally as popular as some of the other scents on this list, Bvlgari’s dark and boozy fragrance can do work when out in the field. It starts off with rum and cinnamon spices that is tempered by a smooth leather note. Man in Black Full Review


Sweet Apple, Tobacco, Spice

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Prive Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– When I wrote my initial review of Prive, I theorized that this would be one that would get noticed while wearing it out. Many wears later, I can confirm my suspicions.

1 Million Prive opens with cinnamon spice and the familiar fruity appeal of crisp apple. It’s always kind of reminded me of cinnamon applesauce, in that regard.

Then, notes of myrrh of tobacco are added, and I think that this is what separates this one from it’s Paco Rabanne brethren. The dry down period I get the cinnamon note and the sweet tobacco, as the main attractions.

Not a brash or loud as the original. However, Prive isn’t weak, and I consistently get it to last for 10 or so hours with no problem. I wore this a lot last winter and will probably do so again, this time around.


Sweet Vanilla Apple Luxury

Parfums de Marly Parfums de Marly Layton by parfums de marly for men – 4.2 Ounce edp spray, 4.2 Ounce– Apple and vanilla are some common notes found in the sweeter sexy fragrances. They always seem to work pretty well in almost anything.

I really enjoy the crisp apple note that is found in Layton. It has a more naturalistic aroma to it versus the more candy-like type.

Layton is delicious and works well on the skin. It is long-lasting, but again, this one is really sweet. A bit spicy, with creaminess from sandalwood and vanilla. Been a complement machine for me, though. My Layton Review


Luxury Tobacco 

PARFUMS de MARLY Herod, 4.2 fl. oz.– Herod is one of the best fragrances from the luxury Parfums de Marly brand, and I’d say, probably the sexiest of the lot (although there are plenty of contenders…Oajan, also comes to mind).

I’ve said in my initial review of this one, that it has similarities to the aforementioned Man in Black, and colognes like Pure Havane or Burberry London.

The tobacco note found in Herod, is utterly amazing. Playing off of that are spices and a sweet vanilla note. So, like Man in Black, we have cinnamon spice but also a dark pepper note.

It’s spicy but smooth and there is a smoky aroma provided by incense, which permeates that composition. It dries down into a rich and resinous cologne, that is captivating and sexy.


Unisex Cognac Love

Angels’ Share at Sephora– Kilian’s Angels’ Share has become one of my personal favorite fragrances ever. Wearing it over the winter, has gotten me a ton of complements, especially in the first two hours after spraying.

Cognac, tonka bean, and oak are the stars early on. The cognac has a fruity/apple aroma that is divine, blended with a baked good scent of cinnamon and praline.

Yes, this is a unisex perfume and might not appeal to everyone’s tastes. Though, it is super popular. But, women especially seem drawn to this one. In the cold confines of a skating rink, for example, I probably got 4 complements about Angels’ Share.

Long lasting and gourmand type of sexy. Angels’ Share Review


Dark Aquatic

Giorgio Armani Aqua di Gio Profumo, 4.2 Fluid Ounce– Acqua di Gio Profumo is a cologne that performs very well in the warmer weather. To me, this one is a summer scent through and through.

Although, it’s not entirely out of place during the rest of the year. Profumo is a salty aquatic, who’s marine profile, has a citrus lead from the bergamot note.

What I really liked about ADG Profumo is how it is a darker oceanic cologne, like a deep dive into the sea. Profumo is refreshing and spicy. What sets is apart from other scents in its category, is the incense note which provides smoky elements that blends very well with the citrus notes.

This one is both a highly attractive complement getter, while also having the versatility of being fine for everyday wear, or in casual situations. ADG Profumo Review


Become the Most Wanted

Azzaro The Most Wanted Eau de Parfum Intense | Cologne for Men 1.7 fl oz– I wasn’t too high on the Wanted line, based on the first release. But, they’ve only gotten better, and The Most Wanted is a great release.

Yes, this is going to be more for younger guys (Try The Most Wanted Parfum, for something a bit more mature). But, it is certainly a sexy fragrance to break out for the nighttime.

Cardamom leads the way, this one is a bit lemony. It is joined by caramel and bourbon vanilla to sweeten things up.  Warm, sweet, and a bit spicy. Very nice performance and one that can absolutely attract those around you. The Most Wanted Review


The Sauvage Entry

Sauvage by Dior Eau de Parfum Spray 100ml– Yes, you can go with the original EDT, as it is the best seller. Everyone has it and it does get complements.

However, when Dior released the EDP version of Sauvage and changed up the composition, everything I disliked about the EDT went away. This one is sexier, better performing, and better all around. (Sauvage Elixir is pricier and spicier, but also a great choice).

The ambroxan led opening is smoother and the citric harshness is gone. It feels more refined, clean, and more pleasant to wear.

It is joined by a dark and somewhat smoky vanilla note and a much quieter lavender, which add to the clean creaminess of Sauvage EDP. The Sichuan pepper is also toned down and joined by lighter spices like anise and nutmeg.

It also lasts for over 10 hours and can be worn in a variety of climates in situations. This one is sort of an all-purpose fragrance. Really great job from Dior on this variant of a popular scent. Dior Sauvage EDP Review


The Other Kilian Option

Straight To Heaven Extreme by Kilian/1.6 oz.– You could also go with the original Straight to Heaven, which is awesome. But, Extreme is the better of the two.

Rum, is a star here. Vanilla, dried fruits, and patchouli. Sweet, but mainly boozy with a masculine woody finish. Throw in some earthiness with the patchouli and you’ve got a nightlife winner.

Expensive, but it lives up to the extreme title, as the projection is awesome. It gets smoother as it settles, less of a rummy punch to it. Sexy. Always got me complements when I bought and wore samples of it.


The One

The One EDP by D&G– I revisited or tried the entirety of Dolce & Gabbana’s ‘The One’ line, this year. The eau de parfum version is far and away the best of the bunch and a fragrance that I had forgotten how much I loved.

Naturally, I ordered a full bottle for myself. Man, does this stuff work. Best-seller? Sure. Crowd pleaser? Absolutely. Still, it is a nighttime gem and an easy one to spray on and feel sexy.

The One is highlighted by it’s warm blend of amber and tobacco. It’s dark and rich, with ginger and cardamom spice. Plus, a nice grapefruit opening which gives it an addition dose of zest.

One you’ve got to spray pretty heavy, but it is totally worth it. The One EDP Review

the one edp review

Stronger With You Leather by Emporio Armani

Stronger With You Leather is the last of the decants I bought of this series. Now, there still currently are two more that I need to review, but this is the fifth full review that I’ve gotten to. Leather was released back in 2020 by Emporio Armani. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it actually worth a try?


What does Stronger with You Leather Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, elemi, spices, chestnut, vanilla, sage, lavender, oud, guaiac wood


My Full Review

SWY Leather opens up with an interesting take on the Stronger with You line. I mean, from the jump you can tell that it is apart of the series, but it lacks a lot of the hallmarks of entries like, Intensely.

The sweetness is taken way down, to where it’s basically only the vanilla note. Yes, it still has sweetness, just not from multiple sources. This one does feel nuttier to me in the opening act, with that signature chestnut out in full. But, one thing I do notice is that the spice mix is weaker here too.

Sure, some generic spice and a bit of sage wafting up from the heart. However, it doesn’t really bring that strong kick.

Now, the leather here is potent and you get plenty of it. Though, from the elemi to the guaiac wood, there is a real resinous aroma that surrounds the leather note from the start.

So, at the opening this one comes across as more of a blend of chestnut, leather, and vanilla. With the other notes providing a basic level of support.

Out of the entire series of fragrances, Leather is the closest to Absolutely, in terms of smell. Again though, even the lavender note is weaker here versus the others.

The dry down here is basically a takeover of vanilla and leather. On my skin, the chestnut sticks around, but is less prominent and the third strongest note.

The resinous smell has faded, oud is a bit stronger than the remaining guaiac wood. But, really neither is massive. It’s not really all that spicy or sweet. Just warm, vanilla, with a very nice leathery finish.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, I think this one has some sneaky power. The others do have pretty huge projections and leave scent trails in your wake. But, the sweetness and spice of the Stronger With You lineup, really makes them seem bigger.

Here, I think you get a lot of ability to project. Though, it doesn’t punch you in the face in the same way as a bold spice or sweeter scent can. Nonetheless, I can spray this on clothing in my house and pick up the scent from far off.

The longevity here is fantastic. Double digit hours and it goes beyond, most of the others too. 12-ish hours, maybe a bit more depending on the day.

Now, this does become softer than its initial strong stillage, but this Emporio Armani cologne really sticks around for a long time. Awesome.

The original Stronger EDT felt way too youthful to me, at times. Frankly, I wouldn’t want to wear it at my age. That being said, Leather feels much more appropriate for guys in their 30s and up.

Not to say that is the only group that can wear it, but it does have a nice refinement that some of the others like EDT and Freeze do not.

Seasonally, this is an autumn and winter scent entirely. I wouldn’t be wearing this out in the heat. Not that it’s too heavy, just the notes are conducive to that environment.

If you don’t go too heavy with it, Leather is a fairly safe fragrance during daytime activities. Personally, I’d want to reserve it for the nightlife. It is warm and does have a sexiness to its scent that simply works.


Overall Impressions of SWY Leather

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, it is probably my second favorite of the Stronger with You lineup. The top three go back and forth, but as of now it’s: 1. Intensely  2. Leather  3. Absolutely.

This one offers something a bit different. You get the basic DNA, but without the same level of sweetness and spice. More of the spice remains, but even that is pretty weak in comparison. Instead, that title note, takes a bigger slice of the aroma.

I like the mix of chestnut and the leather note. The underlying vanilla and oud/guaiac wood are also nice. I’m not super thrilled with the resinous aspect, but it doesn’t distract me all that much.

The performance here is still great, like most of the rest of the Stronger With You scents.

This is probably pretty safe for a blind buy. You’re going to have to like leather (but it is well-blended and not just a leather bomb), obviously, and this does have more of a mature vibe than some of the others that have been put out. Nonetheless, this is a worthwhile fragrance to try out.

This does seem to be in pretty limited supply, as of posting. At least in the US. So, the price is probably going to be elevated versus others in the SWY series.

Narciso Rodriguez for Her EDT

Narciso Rodriguez is a designer that seems to gather more and more fans, as time marches on. I recently grabbed a sample of the eau de toilette version of the brand’s namesake fragrance, in order to revisit and finally post a full review for the site. I always mix this one and the EDP up, since they are similar, but I’ve worked it out. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it actually worth a buy?


What does Narciso Rodriguez EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: orange flower, bergamot, honey, musk, osmanthus, patchouli, vanilla, vetiver, amber

Click here to try: Narciso Rodriguez For Her by 1.7oz EDT Spray, 


My Full Review

Narciso Rodriguez for Her starts off with a fresh top led by a bit of citrus bergamot. This brief foray into the fruity realm is offset by floral notes of osmanthus and orange flower.

It’s a very nice beginning to the fragrance, that obviously shifts to a greater use of that musk note. But, the osmanthus is very nice here, reminds me of Flowerbomb to an extent.

That shift comes fairly quickly after the opening. The middle act will unveil the musk note, along with vanilla. It’s still got some sweetness from the vanilla and a honeyed aroma. However, the musk allows this warmth to have a clean and fresh quality.

Orange blossom is the strongest floral note here. It is interesting, that the further you get into the middle to more of a powdery finish becomes apparent with this Narciso perfume.

The musk will be dominant from this point on. There is an amber note providing some extra smoothness and the warmth. The dry down is a clean musk and orange blossom with touches of the vanilla that is leftover.

The EDT version doesn’t seem to have very much patchouli, as you would get with the EDP, but I do get a tad here.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is light, but above average with how it projects early on. It will settle closer to the skin, while providing the wearer a nice intimate scent bubble. You’re just not going to blow out the room with Narciso EDT.

The longevity is solid. I routinely got 7 hours out of it and this perfume is capable of getting just over 8 hours from time to time. That high end, isn’t consistent, but the 7 hours was pretty much clockwork.

The versatility here is pretty great. You can basically wear Narciso EDT, anytime and anyplace. I’d certainly have others to go for, during nights out and maybe some more formal scents. But this, just kind of fits in and never feels too out of place.

I don’t find it to be particularly sexy and it does have a more mature feeling. So, some can feel that a fragrance like this strays more ‘old lady’, but I don’t think that it does at all. It’s just one you might want to skip if you’re younger.

It might not be the biggest attention grabber, though it works well. The spring and more moderate days of the summer are a good time to wear this. Autumn and winter too, if it isn’t all that cold outside.


Overall Impressions of Narciso for Her

Overall, do I like Narciso for Her EDT? I do. It’s a very feminine, versatile, and clean-ish sort of perfume. I’m not completely amazed by it, but I do think that it is a very good example of this type of scent.

However, do keep in mind, not everyone enjoys musky fragrances, that present as clean soap or even detergent-like  aromas. To me, this isn’t too harsh or synthetic, especially once you settle into the middle of the wear.

It’s not a super heavy perfume, but it does have pretty great staying power, especially considering that it is an EDT.

This is a super safe scent to buy. Again, if it doesn’t sound like your type of thing, I’d go in another direction. It’s fairly straightforward with what you should expect from this fragrance. No major surprises, just an all around good perfume that does what it was designed to.

Sur La Route by Louis Vuitton

Sur La Route is one of the better Louis Vuitton fragrances for men that the brand has released thus far. I got another sample of this scent, a few months back, in order to give it a full and proper review on the site. How does it smell? Does it last a long time? Is it actually worth a try?


What does Sur La Route Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, grass, cedar, Peruvian balsam, bergamot, musk, pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, and more


My Full Review

Here’s how LV describes it: A metaphor for each individual’s personal path: the journey is as important as the destination. One projects onto it dreams for the future; the past flashes before one’s eyes; energy is drawn from it with which to accomplish the wildest of dreams.

Sur La Route starts out with its citrus notes on full display, along side a potent grassy note, and some light spices.

This aspect of the scent actually reminds me of a higher quality Hilfiger Athletics, a scent that’s been discontinued for 20 years, but had the same bergamot, other citrus, grass, with some herbal spices.

This Louis Vuitton is super fresh from the start, early it is a green freshness, and then it will move into a citrus and cedar based freshness. The citrus is less pure juiciness and seems like some water that’s had added drops of bergamot/lemon into water.

Pepper and a light touch of nutmeg provide the spice here. It isn’t too heavy in the mix and will pretty quickly fade from being prominent or detectable.

The leather note here is going to become the strongest of the bunch, when the citrus lose some of their potency. However, it isn’t completely overwhelming or ever really veering towards being more of pure leather scent.

But, I will say, the middle act here presents as being quite unique. Leather, citrus, grass, cedar, and some Peruvian balsam. It has a super clean aroma, but exactly smelling like any other scent that I can think of.

The tail end of Sur La Route is about that leather and cedar combination. Less spice, but some patchouli with the remaining grass, let this keep some of its greenish smell. The citrus is still there, but doesn’t have the same strength.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

That opening sillage is a pretty bold punch. Not a ‘heavy’ sort of aroma, but it’s got plenty of projection and will leave a trail in your wake.

It might not be one which you can smell from across the room for a long time, but it has that presence for a little while. After that, it’s above average and slowly descending into skin scent territory towards the back half of the wear.

The longevity here is slightly above average, but nothing extraordinary. On my skin, Sur La Route will last between 6-7 hours. It’s fine for most days, when I’d want to use it. Though, it is by no means a workhorse.

Seasonally, late spring and through the summer. Sur la Route is a warm weather fragrance to wear during the daytime.

It’s clean and well rounded. Not one for the nightlife or what would be considered ‘sexy’. It can go casual or more dressed up. Though, it isn’t super serious or stuffy. Clean and bright.


Overall Impressions of Sur La Route

Overall, do I like Sur La Route? I do. Again, it’s one of the best 6 or 7 men’s scents from the French designer thus far. It’s not at the top of that list, for me personally, but there is plenty to like here…and you get a unique fragrance.

The citrus and green grass opening can be quite sharp and intense. The freshness never truly goes away, but you do get some settling and Sur La Route moves into different phases.

The leather is a note which helps this LV have a bit more uniqueness, and coming from a leather goods company, that ingredient is really top notch.

Performance isn’t elite, but it gives you enough to where it isn’t a total disappointment. Sure, it could be better, it’s just also not terrible.

Is this worth buying? Sure, it may not be for everyone, however. I’d probably want to try it out first, to see if you like the grassiness or the leather notes, surrounded by all that freshness.