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!

Guilty EDP Pour Femme by Gucci

by

Closing out my reviews of the Guilty Pour Femme fragrances from Gucci, we have today’s entry, Guilty Eau de Parfum. This is an updated 2019 release, of what I’m pretty sure is a previous edition from the lineup. Anyway, I put this one through testing and wearing it around for a while. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Guilty Eau de Parfum Pour Femme Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, bergamot, pink pepper, lilac, violet, geranium, rose, amber, and patchouli

My Full Review

Guilty EDP opens up with a fresh spice, citrus touches, and a greenish aroma with violet. The pink pepper and violet are very noticeable to me, up top. The lilac will have more of a role later, but it is somewhat present early.

The mandarin orange is the strongest of the citrus notes, but even upon first spraying, they never get top billing.

Guilty EDP starts to feel pretty cold early, with the powdery dose coming from the lilac. The cold freshness is part of the geranium, which seems pretty steady throughout the wear.

The pink pepper will subside, as will whatever citrus there may have been. The violet will lose its top spot, in favor of the lilac, that dominates the rest of the way. This becomes a soapier, less spicy aroma. Touches of rose and patchouli, but the violet and lilac are the main focus.

Less green, as it moves along. Still clean, blend of soapy/powdery, with a soft and pretty sweetness lying underneath.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is a bit better than that of the EDT. Though, it isn’t a great deal stronger. Both are slightly above average with how they project and how long they’ll leave a scent trail. Just neither is a massive perfume.

The EDT is about a 3-5 foot scent bubble for much of its wear. This one, is probably 4-6 or 7 feet at its peak. Nothing crazy, but it’s fine.

The longevity is also improved with the eau de parfum version of Guilty Femme. This Gucci can go up to 8 hours on my skin. Though, it’s more in the 6-7 hour range, most of the time. I did get a wear that seemed to stick around longer for whatever reason.

Seasonally, this one really shows its versatility. Like EDT, Guilty EDP is probably best in the springtime or in the autumn. It can, however, easily venture into summer and can even be a cold weather wear. Just not the bitter cold ones.

This is safe for the office, can go casual, or even more formal. Not the most refined scent, but it doesn’t feel out of place almost anywhere. Daytime, mostly.

But, there is something that is inherently attractive with this one. As such it can be worn on some evenings. Not necessarily the sexiest, but it’s got some beautiful facets.

Overall Impressions of Guilty EDP

Overall, do I like Guilty EDP? I do. It’s probably the fourth best in this line. I do prefer EDT slightly more than this in terms of how each smells. But, you get better performance with this higher concentration.

Absolute and Intense are my favorites on the women’s side of Guilty.

I’m not a huge fan of the greenish qualities early on. Violet is not a floral note, that I personally enjoy very much. I do, however, like the geranium and lilac in this one a whole lot. Sure, it’s what you get elsewhere in this line of scents, but it still manages to get my attention.

Even if it’s not my favorite from this line, EDP is still well worth checking out. If you happen to vibe more with this mix, you get the added performance bonus versus the EDT.

It’s pretty safe to blind buy, as I don’t think most people would hate this. But, I’d probably insist on getting a nice discount for a full bottle purchase.

XX Indigo by John Varvatos

by

John Varvatos XX Indigo wasn’t a fragrance release that I had heard of. I just happen to get a sample of it, alongside a batch of others, some months back. It was released in 2021, apparently not to much fanfare. But, I wanted to give it a try, to see if it was perhaps a hidden gem. How long does it last? Does it smell nice? Is XX Indigo worth a try?

What does XX Indigo by John Varvatos Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, pink pepper, lemon, geranium, cardamom, Himalayan Poppy, vetiver, patchouli, musk

Click here to try: XX Indigo by John Varvatos

xx indigo review

My Full Review

Here’s how John Varvatos describes it:  This men’s cologne sets a fresh, confident tone for day and a sensuous signature after dark. Striking & intriguing, the royal blue packaging reflects independent, sleek style and luxury. This woody, masculine scent is uniquely captivating, just like the iconic fashion of the John Varvatos brand.

The opening of Indigo really hits you with its cold freshness. Mint and geranium together are going to do that, especially when they’re two of the main notes within a composition.

Lemon is there, but sitting underneath the aromatic notes, which includes another big shot in pink pepper and some light cardamom. Spicy, fresh, and somewhat green but not too woody or fruity with this scent. Though, some nice sweetness.

As it dries down, the spiciness will subside. Mint is still the lead throughout. But, geranium and cardamom really taper off.

In their place, patchouli and vetiver really step up. To me, the vetiver comes across more, than the patchouli. Feels like a blue-ish woodsy aroma. I know it’s Indigo, but this is a greenish-blue cologne.

So, in the end: mint, pink pepper, vetiver, musk, and patchouli.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it’s a lighter moderate. At first, this does have a nice amount of projection and ability to leave a scent trail. It reaches probably around 6-7 feet from where you sprayed it.

But, that’s short lived and it quickly descends into being a near skin scent to full on press your nose to the skin, for the rest of the way.

The longevity isn’t much better. I get just over 5 hours, maybe getting to six, if you were to spray heavy with a full bottle. Not atrocious, but certainly nothing to write home about.

Seasonally, you do get plenty of versatility here. I don’t know if I’d like the cool sensation on a winter’s day, but Indigo seems to work well from temperate to even hotter climates.

It’s also pretty non-offensive, giving you lots of opportunity to wear it. It’s office safe, not overly heavy, and can work just as well in a casual situation.

I’d skip out on the nightlife, as it doesn’t have that bold or sexy vibe. Outside of that, you can get good use out of this Varvatos scent.

Overall Impressions of XX Indigo

Overall, do I like XX Indigo? It’s not terrible, but not something that I particularly enjoyed. Varvatos has come out with better fragrances than this. Sure, a lot of them don’t last very long, but they are unique and attractive.

Indigo? Less so. I do like the colder aroma here. It’s very fresh, but not completely unique or interesting. I like the use of geranium and mint early, it’s dynamic and fairly enjoyable. After that, meh.

This actually reminds me of Nautica Voyage Heritage, in some ways. A better version for sure, different towards the end (more of that ‘blue’ aroma), but they each have a style that should have been more interesting than it actually is.

The performance is about the usual, with this line. Basic. It might stick around for just over 5 hours, but the projection just really isn’t there beyond the first hour or so. Initially, it does have a nice pop to it.

Frankly, I don’t see a reason to own this. With a heavy discount, maybe. Assuming this is your style…even then, it’s a pretty boring cologne.

Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian

by

Baccarat Rouge 540 is a fragrance that has catapulted to insane levels of fame, probably thanks to social media. Some think it’s the best thing they’ve encountered, others think it is entirely overrated and terrible. Me, I don’t entirely fall into either camp. But, I have tested out samples of this perfume to see what it is really all about. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Baccarat Rouge 540 EDP?

Notes include: saffron, hedione, cedar, ambroxan, fir resin

Click Here to try: BR 540 at Saks

baccarat 540 review

My Full Review

Here’s how Maison Kurkdjian describes it: The woody scent releases a poetic alchemy, a highly condensed and graphic olfactory signature. Breezy jasmine facets, radiant saffron boost the ambergris mineral notes and the woody tones of freshly-cut cedar. Bright and sleek, Baccarat Rouge 540 eau de parfum caresses the skin like an amber and woody floral whisper.

BR 540 starts off with its saffron and jasmine notes up top. The hedione (jasmine) actually has a bit of a lemony tinge to it. Clean, sweetish (maybe more bittersweet with the saffron?), with a very unique smelling mix of resin and woods.

There is a little spice here in the opening stage, nothing extreme, just a bit of a bite.

The ambroxan note, plays a pretty big role here. Amberwood, ambroxan, etc. Different names for basically the same chemical molecule.

This one does seem to have more of a mineral/metallic kind of smell than some of the others that I’ve come across, which again, is probably heightened by the saffron.

Once the hedione has settled down, this one starts to get more resinous and woody. It’s a very dry fragrance with a potent freshness to it, through the back half of the wear.

Yet, it does come across to me as being a ‘fluffy’ smelling perfume, rather than the usual woody fare. That’s one reason Baccarat Rouge so often gets compared to Cloud by Ariana Grande.

This is better, but that overlap is indeed present.

Towards the end, this mainly becomes a cedar and ambroxan mix on my skin. That cedar note, can feel pretty sharp, it’s probably my least favorite in this composition. The resinous quality is still there, probably a blend of the fir and a few amber-like ingredients in the mix.

The jasmine is basically gone and there isn’t much saffron left, for me at least.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

So, Baccarat Rouge isn’t a terribly heavy scent. As I said, it does have a cloud-like fluffiness to it.

But, the projection is actually well above average. It can be a difficult one to gauge really. Sometimes, I can spray it on clothing and pick it up across the room. Other times, I can go nose blind to it, on my own skin.

I’ve read others say that they literally cannot smell a thing, with Baccarat Rouge.

Honestly, I think that all of the varying reactions to what it smells like and just how powerful it is, probably explains a good deal of why this perfume is talked about so much…it’s hard to get an understanding of it.

I’d say err on the side of caution, if you’re going to be in a situation where spraying too much might cause a problem for those around you.

The longevity with this Kurkdjian scent, is really good. Though, I must say, it does fluctuate quite a bit. It’s never bad, the minimum is 8 hours. It can, however, go for up to 12 hours on my skin.

It does usually split the difference and leans more towards double digit hours of wear.

Seasonally, I like this mostly in the colder weather of autumn and winter. Not a super heavy scent, just not one that I’d reach for in late spring or the summer. If it’s not too hot where you live, you might be able to get more use out of it.

It does have great versatility. It can be worn by all ages, is unisex, and can be worn on a variety of occasions. It leans more feminine, so, I wouldn’t advise all guys to choose BR 540…but it isn’t super girly or anything either.

I don’t really think of it as a nightlife perfume or one that is all that ‘sexy’. Outside of that, it can generally fit in and does have an attractive quality.

Overall Impressions of Baccarat Rouge 540

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, I think that it’s very good. However, it has somehow become insanely popular and overhyped to a crazy level. The Extrait version is better, in my mind.

It can be a strange scent. As some people apparently get a band aid or even a ‘dentist’s office’ sort of aroma from this. I understand the comparisons, it just doesn’t fully come across that way on my skin.

Funny, others get cotton candy from this…I guess, maybe a little.

I enjoy the saffron in the opening, the jasmine, and the resinous qualities of the dry down. That amberwood note is something that I think turns a lot of people off with this, especially with the cedar freshness.

However, I actually think the amber facets work here, even with that synthetic style amberwood that they put in so many perfumes nowadays. Most of the time, it’s not great, but I don’t dislike the Baccarat 540 use of it.

It is a major factor in this perfume, so, you’re going to have to like it.

The performance here is good. To me, it’s not a super loud scent, but it can have a bit more projection than you actually think it does. The longevity is fantastic, so no issues there.

Is Baccarat Rouge 540, worth a blind buy? I’d lean towards no, due to the price. I’d highly recommend getting a hold of a sample or trying it out in a store before committing.

It is a popular fragrance, but there are plenty of people who are let down by their experience.

That’s an expensive mistake that you don’t need to make. There are now many alternatives which have come out for cheaper and perfumes similar to Baccarat Rouge 540.

Guilty Pour Femme EDT by Gucci

by

Guilty is a name from Gucci which has spawned a ton of flankers in both the men’s and women’s line. The original Guilty Pour Femme was released in 2010, the subject of this review is the updated version of that, Guilty EDT.  How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Guilty EDT Pour Femme Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, lilac, pink pepper, peach, raspberry, jasmine, geranium, blackcurrant, musk, amber, patchouli, vanilla

Click here to try: Guilty EDT

guilty femme review

My Full Review

Here’s how Gucci describes it: Freedom and unconventional love inspire the new Gucci Guilty Eau de Toilette pour Femme bottle design and packaging, revealing the notion of women who are truly liberated.

Note: This is a newer version of the old Guilty. As far as I can recall, it’s about the same. But, the older version did have more of a spiced influence. Mostly, it’s just a new bottle.

Guilty EDT starts off with some light fruits and the soft spiciness of pink pepper and some patchouli. The patchouli is a bit more prominent in the dry down, but cedes the stage to the pink pepper early on.

The fruits here are a mix of mandarin orange, peach, and some raspberry. Supposedly, there is also blackcurrant in this one. Though, I don’t really pick up on it at all. Peach is probably the strongest of the lot.

Yet, this isn’t completely juicy aroma. It’s got a nice sweetness and sparkling quality. But, lilac is going to be the star. That floral note is flanked by a bit of jasmine, which blends well with the musk to create a classic soapy undertone.

The was this presents though, is a fresh powder. It’s more of dynamic and warmer powdery aroma than something like baby powder. Closer to a make up smell, but still not exactly that either.

The amber and patchouli notes gives Guilty some greater depth, in the dry down, when the lilac really starts to take hold. Still some of the peach note hanging around and small injection of vanilla.

I feel like the older bottles of this stuff, had more vanilla…but I could be confusing it with something else. A clean musky/powdery floral fragrance with some light warmth and richness is about what you get here.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is pretty moderate. Actually, the initial hour or so is pretty good with how it projects and it does leave a nice scent trail. Thereafter, it is going to be more of a scent bubble that reaches 3-5 feet away from where you sprayed it.

This one doesn’t have the best longevity. It’s somewhere in the range of average. On my skin, it lasts for 5-6 hours. The Guilty line isn’t known for being super long lasting. For an EDT, it’s decent, and some of the others in the series are a bit better than this one.

Seasonally, this one really shows its versatility. Guilty EDT is probably best in the springtime or in the autumn. However, it easily ventures into summer and can even be a winter wear, outside maybe the coldest days. I’d just have another perfume as the winter go to.

This is safe for the office, can go casual, or even more formal. Not the most refined scent, but it doesn’t feel out of place almost anywhere. Daytime, mostly.

But, there is something that is inherently attractive with this one. As such it can be worn on some evenings. Not necessarily the sexiest, but it’s got some beautiful facets.

Overall Impressions of Guilty EDT Pour Femme

Overall, do I like this scent? I do. It’s probably my third favorite of the women’s Guilty line, after Absolute and Intense. But, it’s not that far behind and still a very worthwhile fragrance.

I like the early mix of the fruits and the use of the lilac note. Powdery with a nice peach influence and some amber and musk. Not super complicated, but one that I enjoy having around me.

Granted, the performance is pretty middle of the road, but not terrible to the point that it becomes unusable. Just know that you may have to reapply this fragrance, if you’re going to be using it as a daily wear.

Outside of that, Guilty EDT doesn’t have too many weaknesses. I don’t think it’s the most beautiful perfume ever created, just very nice and one with plenty of appeal.

Irresistible EDT by Givenchy

by

Irresistible eau de toilette is another fragrance from this Givenchy series. This edition was launched in 2021. I bought samples of each of the Irresistible perfumes brought to market thus far and have been testing them out. Today’s review entry is the EDT. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Irresistible EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: blackcurrant, white tea, rose, iris, cedar, musk

irresistible edt review

My Full Review

Here’s how Givenchy describes it: Introducing sparkling rose to tender musky wood, the new Irrésistible Givenchy Eau de Toilette is a bright and airy expression of femininity. It invites you to connect to others and savor the delicious lightness of life.

Like the EDP version, Irresistible EDT starts off quite fruity and with a sparkling quality. In that one, the pear had a great deal of influence, in this it’s blackcurrant.  Joined by a light white tea note that gives it moments of an herbal-like smell.

This, and the greater weighting of the Turkish rose note early on, provides this a sharper/sour and much less juicy/fresh/sweet aroma than the EDP.

It lacks the ambrette and amps up the musk note instead. The rose note here starts off very green, seemingly heightened by the blackcurrant. Plus, the white tea and its scent. However, this will calm down after the first wave.

After that point, it becomes a pinkish rose with musk, a sweeter fruitiness, and the powdery finish of the iris. I get some more iris in this one versus EDP, but still less than the Fraiche version of Irresistible.

The dry down is a fresh musky rose scent with some cedar and iris still hanging around. The iris really does fall off after that middle act and isn’t much of a factor on my skin, thereafter.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This one has a lighter moderate sillage. Not as good as EDP as far as its projection and how long it leave a scent trail behind. Though, it isn’t all that much weaker than that version with a higher concentration.

With this, I get about 5-6 hours of wear total. The fragrance during that time frame is consistent with its strength and doesn’t just turn into a skin scent an hour in. It will eventually, but you do get a decent period of time to experience the scent of Irresistible EDT.

Seasonally, it has the same versatile use case. Spring and summer, is when this fragrance is at its best. If it’s not too cold otherwise, wearing it will be perfectly fine. Maybe not as sharp in the cold, as EDP. Just not when it is in peak form.

Irresistible is a pretty sort of perfume, that will get complements, and less of something that might be called sexy. But, it’s one that is a crowd pleaser and nothing that should offend.

It’s fairly wearable. Light and upbeat. More of a daily wear, casual, and semi-formal. I’d probably skip using this as a nightlife sort of scent.

Overall Impressions of Irresistible EDT

Overall, do I like this fragrance? It’s fine. In terms of how it smells, it’s actually my least favorite of the series. Though, for some people, you may prefer this to the sweeter EDP. Fraiche also smells better than this one, but doesn’t have the performance.

I do like the iris and the blackcurrant influence here. It does have the rose and a muskier profile, which is fine, just not all that exciting.

The performance is pretty middle of the road, also. None of the Irresistible scents are super long lasting nor do they have heavy sillage.

You get a pretty forgettable aroma, albeit pleasant, with middling performance and not too much about it that stands out. On sale, you could do a lot worse than picking up a bottle of Irresistible EDT. Full price? Probably wouldn’t go for it.

In either case, I wouldn’t go out of my way to obtain a bottle.