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!

Coromandel Les Exclusifs de Chanel

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Coromandel is a fragrance from Chanel that I’ve admired for quite while now. I’ve gone through a few samples of this scent over the years and recently grabbed another to finally give this perfume a full review on the site. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a buy?

What does Coromandel Smell Like?

Notes include: frankincense, rose, white chocolate, benzoin, sandalwood, patchouli, neroli, bitter orange, and more

Click here to try: Coromandel at Chanel

My Full Review

Here’s how Chanel describes it: “I thought I fainted with happiness when, for the first time, I saw a Coromandel,” Gabrielle Chanel said. Mademoiselle had a gift for understanding a variety of styles and mixing them with her own. She filled her Paris apartment with precious, floral-adorned Coromandel screens, creating a mysterious aura. The COROMANDEL fragrance reflects this feeling of exquisite enchantment.

Note: This is a review of the Les Exclusifs eau de parfum version of Coromandel. There’s others, like an EDT, and an EDP that wasn’t in the “Les Exclusifs” bottle…though, I believe it’s exactly the same as that one.

Coromandel definitely has a lot going on from the very start. A very deep fragrance. The opening gives you bright citruses, bitter orange, and the floral spices of neroli. But, that is joined by a massive hit of patchouli, along with some other unlisted spices (cinnamon).

The initial blast of spice and some of that citrus will lose positioning. The lovely white chocolate note emerges, which really helps to set Coromandel apart, and make this a scent to remember.

After about 20 minutes, the orris root and the smoky/resinous/amber notes start to play a larger role. Benzoin gives Coromandel that sweetish, almost fuzzy smelling aroma.

The iris aroma is the only distinct floral aroma, I get while wearing. There is also a jasmine and rose here, but not something I pick up on.

There is a warm smoke from incense and the general sweetness from the white chocolate, that can sometimes come across as pure vanilla in this stage (vanilla is a note, also).

Further along, the smokiness/fuzziness smooths out and it becomes more of a traditional amber note. Amber soaked wood, the patchouli note is in control with a rich green aroma, and the white chocolate/vanilla combination.

The citrus is gone. Very little floral influence. Spices to a minimum. Has an earthiness to it that feels refined and not too much like an overbearing patchouli note.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is at the upper end of moderate, at its peak. Not super strong or something that’ll fill a room, but you know Coromandel is there.

7-8 feet from the skin, at it’s max. Then, it’ll move in closer for a consistent level of projection.

On me, this lasts around 8 hours give or take. Sometimes, it’ll hang around a bit longer than that, I just bank on getting 8.

Seasonally, I’d stick to autumn and winter. This one needs to be worn in cooler temperatures for the best results. I’d put it away for summertime and find something else to wear then.

Coromandel is a unisex option from Chanel. Though, one that leans more feminine. It’s elegant and classy, not girly. So, if you’re a man, you can probably wear this without much issue. It just does lean more one way.

Coromandel might not be a daily wear for everyone. It’s not a nightlife bomb or party goer fragrance. It’s really good for more formal occasions, just not exclusively. Wear this one dressed up, to match its high price tag.

Overall Impressions of Coromandel EDP

Do I like this scent? Absolutely, this is a favorite of mine from Chanel, especially from their unisex options.

It’s got spices, amber, wood, smoke, resin, white chocolate, and a patchouli that’s actually awesome. Lots of detail and something that is utterly great on the right cold evening.

Everything here is well done and Coromandel manages to feel modern and classy without being stuffy.

The performance is well above average. Not completely elite or anything, but I’m not disappointed by it at all.

Is this a safe blind buy? I’d say probably not. It is definitely pricey, may not appeal to everyone, or might not fit your personal style at all. This is a Chanel, I’d for sure test out, because it can become a favorite perfume for the right person.

Black Orchid Parfum by Tom Ford

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Black Orchid Parfum is a release that I’ve heard a lot about since its debut back in 2020. The original EDP was one that I liked, so I was intrigued to see what Tom Ford did with this particular version. I grabbed a decanted sample of this a few months back and have been testing it out. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is Black Orchid Parfum worth a try?

What does Black Orchid Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: black orchid, ylang-ylang, patchouli, rum, truffle, plum

Click here to try: Black Orchid Parfum

My Full Review

Here’s how Tom Ford describes it: THE MOST LUXE, POTENT VERSION OF BLACK ORCHID EVER MADE, BLACK ORCHID PARFUM AMPLIFIES THE ICONIC SENSUALITY OF THE ORIGINAL FRAGRANCE. THE PERFUME’S APHRODISIAC EFFECT ELEVATES THE RARE, ELUSIVE FLOWER TO SEDUCTIVE NEW HEIGHTS – REVEALING A MAGNIFIED SIGNATURE OF YLANG-YLANG DIPPED IN GOLDEN RUM.

Note: I’m not going to compare this to the original Black Orchid EDP, since I don’t have a sample on hand, and it’s been years since I smelled that one. That may change in future updates to this page. As of now, just focused on Parfum.

Spraying this perfume always gives me a very dark purple impression. That plum note, the truffle, orchid…it just triggers thoughts of that shade of purple.

The opening is actually quite earthy and spicy. Truffle and the patchouli notes are huge here. It’s not my favorite, but I think that this does get better in the dry down. The orchid is apparent with its own spiciness/chocolatey nuances.

Plum is also a prominent note. It’s paired with rum, which gives it a very interesting and further spiced quality. Plummy rum doesn’t sound like it’d taste that great, but the smell is nice.

That opening blast will calm down after 10 minutes or so. The plum feels more defined and the balance of the composition is a lot better to my nose. That truffle sticks around, but the patchouli and rum will back off in intensity.

So, it’s earthier rather than a blend of earthy and spicy. Still, you have that sweet boozy quality and the ylang-ylang really begins to come into play.

At this stage, the orchid is superseded by that ylang-ylang. There is a creaminess to the blend. It’s funny, because it does have a dark chocolate-like aroma, but also an earthy almost dusty touches to it. Parfum strikes me as a very dry perfume.

The end is a ylang-ylang and truffle/patchoui mix. The other notes just sort of blend together into a sweetish dark concoction, that’s really attractive.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Black Orchid Parfum isn’t the heaviest/thickest fragrance out there, but boy is it loud. This Tom Ford is an absolute monster with how it projects.

I can spray it on clothes and smell it in another room. It has a very far reach on my skin, also. Really, it gets a perfect score in terms of performance with just how it essentially takes over. Easy on the sprays, maybe even spray it under clothing.

The longevity is also top notch. I routinely get this one at over 12 hours. I’m not sure when it quits, as I shower and scrub before it dies down. I will say, I sprayed this on a shirt and my closet smelled like Black Orchid Parfum for two weeks.

Seasonally, I’d tend to wear this in autumn or winter. As I said though, it’s not a super ‘thick’ fragrance, so it’s not completely limited. Anytime it’s pretty moderate or cool outside or indoors, this could be used.

This is listed as a unisex. Like the original EDP, this one does skew more feminine with how it presents. Still safe for most guys to wear, but I think there are some who wouldn’t like this one for themselves.

Much more of a nighttime wear. That intensity, the boozy, the dirtiness gives Black Orchid Parfum a sexier vibe.  Nighttime or casual, mostly. You could venture to wearing this in some workplaces, if you go easy on the sprays.

Overall Impressions of Black Orchid Parfum

Overall, do I like this perfume? I do. The opening act almost steered me completely away from this, but it turns a corner and gets more likeable, the further into the wear that I go.

It’s not a complete love, personally. Though, I wouldn’t be opposed to wearing this out on certain evenings. It’s bold, sexy, and a fragrance that commands attention. Not one that everyone is going to enjoy or vibe with, but worth trying out, because you may love it.

Plum is a note that is hit or miss for me. Here, I like it. I think because the tart aspects of the fruit are toned down by the explosion of rum and truffle.

The orchid is around, but it’s not the main focus. Ylang-ylang is more of a floral factor and there is an earthiness here that really dirties up the composition.

Again, the performance is amazing on me. It only requires a few sprays and it indeed takes the crown in terms of ‘potency’, as the Tom Ford description suggests.

With any scent at this price point, I’d suggest getting a bit to try before putting down all that cash. I think this is a fragrance that’s worth the price of admission, but better be safe than sorry, if you don’t happen to click with it.

Woman in Gold by Kilian

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Kilian’s Woman in Gold is a sample that I’ve had for over a year at this point, sort of forgot about, and recently found it stashed away in a box. So, I’ve finally got around to giving this perfume a complete run through, and coming back to it with a new perspective. How does this smell? How long does Woman in Gold last? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Woman in Gold Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, vanilla, tonka bean, rose, Akigalawood, freesia, geranium, aldehydes

Click here to try: Woman in Gold at Saks

My Full Review

Here’s how Kilian describes it: The notes conjure, in scent, the delicate gold leafing and play between light and shadow, for which the painting is celebrated. Perfumer Calice Becker was inspired by the fascinating contrast between the painting’s facets, which she describes as “texturized and brilliant, rich and voluptuous. Its zesty luminosity is the fragrant expression of this brightness. 

Woman in Gold opens up with a seemingly perfect balance of notes. Sure, the bergamot and orange note have the lead at the start, but this isn’t a massive citrus explosion.

The floral and fresh notes underneath are there, right from the beginning. Aldehydes give this a bright and cold burst, while rose, and some hints of geranium further bolster the blend.

Both the aldehydes and geranium will move off, however. The aldehydes more so than the geranium. This is especially true on skin.

Nevertheless, the freshness and that beautiful citrus mix gives Woman in Gold an undeniable appeal.

The floral notes is mostly a rose note. With the tonka bean and vanilla notes it comes across as sweeter than usual with more of a powdery finish. The akigalawood note, is basically like patchouli, maybe a bit spicier and intense in the early stages.

As Woman in Gold dries down, the notes begin to separate. Bergamot becomes the dominant citrus. Any freesia is displaced by the rose note. Vanilla really takes over the tonka bean.

The middle act still has the citrus influence and geranium. But, the dry down is a vanilla and rose scent. It’s not actually heavy, more of sweet/powdery cloud with a nice dose of patchouli and general freshness at the bottom.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is never massive. Woman in Gold isn’t going to leave a huge scent trail or have any real massive projection, off of the skin.

But, it is really consistent. It stays in the 3-6 foot range from the skin for almost the entirety of the wear. It’s maybe a little better than average, in this respect. However, I absolutely catch whiffs of it until the end, it’s just not in your face about it.

The longevity is pretty good. I get somewhere around 7.5 hours, on my skin. Not the best out there, just no real complaints. With the lighter moderate sillage, it can be easy to forget that you have it on, until it wafts up again.

Seasonally, Woman in Gold is very versatile. It’s not out of place really any time, except for the hottest days of summer. It’s got enough substance for autumn and winter, while still being light and dynamic enough for the springtime.

The versatility continues with when you can wear this perfume. It’s office safe, it can be worn casually since it’s not too serious, but it has a refinement for more dressy occasions. Signature scent worthy and easy as a daily wear.

It’s pretty, but not a sexy nightlife sort of fragrance, though. Go with something else if you want a nightclub beast.

Overall Impressions of Woman in Gold

Overall, do I like Woman in Gold? Yes, I think this is a very underrated scent from Kilian. It’s not the greatest ever or anything, but it is an extremely enjoyable perfume to me.

I like the balance of the notes. The citrus isn’t to screechy. The rose is tame and just right. The vanilla, doesn’t overwhelm on me, even with the presence of a tonka bean note.

Fresh, light, and cleanish. It’s not a total soapy scent or like fabric softener, to my nose, but it does kind of stray in that direction. So, maybe skip out on this if it’s not your style.

But, I think that Woman in Gold has a mass appealing quality to it. I couldn’t see how this would be offensive to most people out there and is a fairly safe blind buy from the Kilian lineup.

Vanille Fatale by Tom Ford

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Vanille Fatale was released in 2017 by Tom Ford. It is listed as a unisex fragrance, whether that’s actually the case or not is debatable. In this post, I want to share my thoughts and experience while wearing this perfume. What are the notes? How does it smell? How does it perform? Is it worth a try?

What does Vanille Fatale Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, mahogany, barley, olibanum, myrrh, coffee, saffron, coriander, narcissus, plum, and more

Click here to try: Vanille Fatale Eau de Parfum, 1.7 oz

My Full Wear Review of Vanille Fatale

The opening minutes of Vanille Fatale makes it known that this isn’t going to be your usual vanilla perfume. It hits hard with a mix of very sweet, warm, and tart notes. Mainly, what I get at the start is vanilla and plum.

At first the sweet/tart blend is way too much for my nose, but it does settle itself down, the further you get into the wear. But man, that opening, is really in your face about it.

I always think that I’m going to like plum notes in perfumes, much more than I seem to do, as I really enjoy the actual fruits themselves.

Once you move past the initial stage, I think that Vanille Fatale really comes into its own, and becomes much more interesting.

There is a smoky Oriental vibe to it with saffron and myrrh notes. It is also quite creamy, the roasted coffee and barley give this one a unique presentation and depth that you don’t get with run of the mill vanilla perfumes.

When it all comes together Vanille Fatale is warm with a touch of smoke, while being sweet and tart. From there you add slightly spicy elements (coriander and saffron) and a rich mahogany aroma.

What’s cool is that underneath there is a boozy rum note, which later helps to reign in the sweet tartness, and make this one into a darker sort of perfume.

There’s just so many different aspects to the fragrance, that you catch just hints of this or that throughout, and it takes on a new mood.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts off fairly strong, and then moves into something that has a much more moderate sillage. To me, the opening can be overwhelming, but it does settle and isn’t too big of a deal.

Much of that opening strength has to do with how the tart notes can come across. Once those settle, it feels a lot more towards the middle of the road.

The longevity is great and Vanille lasted at least 9 hours on my skin. No performance issues here. I couldn’t imagine throwing these sorts of notes together and not getting something that lasts long.

Seasonally, this would be great in cold weather up to moderate temperatures. Once the humidity kicks in, I think that Vanille Fatale would fall apart. It is listed as a unisex, but it feels like a ladies’ scent to me.

They try to bring it back towards the masculine side with that warm spicy/boozy aroma, but it doesn’t fully succeed. When I compare it to men’s fragrances with those kinds of notes, it is much more feminine.

Funny enough, I’ve seen some women say that this is too masculine. So, I guess it depends on your own tastes.

This could fit in for almost any occasion during the season. It has a certain refinement and class, so it could be worn dressed up. Meanwhile, it is attractive enough to be worn for a night out. A nice darkly sweet daily wear.

I’d go easy with it, in the office. That initial bit of time can be too strong for that environment.

Overall Impressions of Vanille Fatale

Overall, do I like Vanille Fatale by Tom Ford? I think that it’s good, but it doesn’t really blow me away. There are times, when I find it enjoyable, and other times where I really don’t at all.

The dry down is the highlight. I enjoy the booze, coriander, and saffron notes. Vanille Fatale has plenty of depth and character, which is at the very least interesting.

The smokiness, the plum, coffee, mahogany…there’s a ton going on here. Different facets, not all of them feel that great.

It’s a mixed bag for me. Plus, it feels too feminine for me to wear, and can be cloying. However, it does have its moments and can perform extremely well, so I can’t hate it.

Some people will absolutely love this one, but it’s probably a fragrance you’d want to test out before committing to purchasing a full bottle.

Higher by Christian Dior

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I recently got a hold of a travel size sprayer of Higher by Christian Dior. It’s been one that I’ve wanted to try out for a long while, so, I jumped at the chance to get a bit for pretty cheap.

This fragrance was released 20 years ago. As such, it isn’t all that abundant anymore. The question is, is Higher actually worth getting a full bottle of? How does it smell? Does it last?

What does Higher Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, peach, pear, basil, cypress, cedar, rosemary, pepper, and more

Try on Amazon:  Higher By Christian Dior For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

My Full Review

From the first spray, I immediately get a big dose of the herbal and spiced notes. Basil mostly, along with, pepper and rosemary. 

The fruit notes here are present, just really quite weak. The most noticeable aspect is the wateriness of the pear. A light lemon and some peach, for good measure. Everything comes together to exude a cold aromatic freshness.

It’s almost a melon-like feeling. Not necessarily a smell, but that cold, watery, crispness of a cut piece of melon.

Since this fragrance came out in 2001, Higher is a nice change of pace versus what else is popular these days. No giant ambroxan note, ‘blue-ish’ aroma, or anything along those lines. 

10-15 minutes into the wear, the pepper and rosemary, start to get replaced by cypress and cardamom. The basil sticks around for the duration and is one of the main notes in Higher.

What’s interesting is that during this stage, I get much more peach than I had before. It’s layered underneath, but I can distinctly pick out that fruit. It’s less of that original ‘melon’ and just a much more defined peach. 

The final dry down gives me: cypress, basil, cedar, and all of the other notes seem to blend together. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this is a light sort of fragrance. The first few minutes made me think that this would be more of a middle of the road scent. However, it quickly loses much of that initial projecting ability. It’s not a complete skin scent, at least for a few hourse.

The longevity is where this one loses me. It only sticks around for 3-4 hours on my skin. It’s really note good at all. I’m pretty sure that I had the same problem with Higher Energy, when I tried it 7-8 years ago. 

 

There was a Higher Black version as well, which I think had more intensity. But, good luck finding bottles of that. It’s really a disappointment with this line and maybe a reason why nobody really talks about Higher, as a classic Dior fragrance.

This is a great spring and summertime wear. Gives you a different option from the usual aquatics or heavy citrus scents. This is cool, fresh, and herbal/woody. Green with watery highlights from the pear note (and some light fruity sweetness).

That being said, early autumn also works. I’d probably go with something more substantial for the winter months.

You could wear this casually, to the office, or out on a date. Higher is a very attractive scent, that is perfectly capable of drawing complements.

Overall Impressions of Higher

Do I like this Dior scent? Based on smell alone, I think that Higher is great. It gives me a fairly unique vibe, with some depth, and it’s just pleasant to wear across the board.

I do like the basil note. The use of cypress and when the peach has it’s coming out party. It all comes together well and is super versatile.

That being said, the performance is pretty bad. It just won’t last for more than 4 hours at best. I’d probably be willing to buy a vintage bottle of this scent online, but, not for $130-ish.

I think they might sell this still in certain regions, but it’s discontinued in the US. So, you might not have to pay a high price, unless you have to import it. 

The basil and cypress notes are great. Along with the spices, it makes me think of L’Homme Libre. Not the same smell, but the spices and woods, have a similar style. 

This is an underrated scent that seems to have flown under the radar. Really, an awesome smelling scent.

I can absolutely recommend this one on the aroma. Performance? Not so much. Whether that works for you or not, is your decision.