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!

L’Homme Ideal Cologne by Guerlain

by

Okay, so, I have already reviewed L’Homme Ideal by Guerlain on this site. Since this initial publication, they came out with Cologne and a host of other fragrances under the Ideal banner. The subject of this review, L’Homme Ideal Cologne, always got me confused with the original EDT release because of the name and very similar original bottles. Anyway, I’ve updated the page for my review, for this fragrance I don’t even think they make anymore.

What does L’Homme Ideal EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, bergamot, orange, almond, musk, pink pepper, musk, neroli

Click here to try: Guerlain L’Homme Ideal Cologne EDT Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Ideal Cologne is an excellent blast of the citrus notes that makes up the composition. Mostly, it’s grapefruit and orange but I can also detect of bergamot. Really, I find it to be very attractive at the start, I love the citrus notes in this fragrance.

Now, the almond note is also there, and is the main attraction in the original L’Homme Ideal but this is an entirely different scent from that one (which is also a great fragrance).

This is more of a summery citrus based fragrance while the original is more of a sweet masculine scent for the colder months of the year.

About 15-20 minutes after spraying on my skin, the almond and vetiver notes become much more prominent. Man, it becomes such a smooth and pleasant scent to wear.

The citrus notes feel quite ‘cool’ and light, almost like a frozen drink, and then the almond and vetiver give it a bit more substance as it wears on.

Thankfully, the musk note in here isn’t overpowering and provides a nice touch. It screams freshness with that sort of zesty energy found with citrus.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Ideal Cologne isn’t a big hitter, and really doesn’t need to be. This is a light fragrance that doesn’t hit you over the head, rather, it lingers throughout the day.

None of the Ideal scents are complete beast mode, at least for long stretches of time. However, this is lighter than flankers like EDP, and is going to sit closer to the skin for much of the wear.

It’s longevity is better than the original fragrance. With this, I can hit 8 hours or more of good performance. Again, it’s not a powerful scent but it will stick around for a while. For a summer scent, it’s actually got great performance.

For me, this is spring/summer all the way. While I completely dig L’Homme Ideal, I felt that it’s performance wasn’t totally up to snuff, and I have too many other options in the colder months.

However, with Ideal Cologne, I get a very reasonable option for when it’s warm outside, nice performance, and a scent that is versatile. Update: Yeah, wearing this outdoors is a great experience during the early parts of the summer.

I could wear this casually or out on a date and feel like it would work well. It’s attractive in the sense that you want to smell it, but not necessarily a ‘sexy’ fragrance…it kind of skirts that line.

This is a good option for those who want something to wear during summer evenings. It’s clean and has a crowd pleasing aroma.

Overall Impressions of L’Homme Ideal

Overall, would I recommend L’Homme Ideal Cologne? Yes. I think it’s a really good cologne all around. Not the best thing ever, granted, but still a great wear that is still affordable.

Update: This has been discontinued for a while now. Though, it’s among my favorite from the Ideal series. Maybe, even number one, depending on the day. I doesn’t appear that you can still chase down cheap bottles. So, I don’t know if I’d pay the higher asking price. Over $100 is a bit much, unless you’re already sure that you love this one. 

This fragrance did grow on me, more and more, as I got more experience with it after initial testing. The Ideal fragrances are a bit overhyped, in my opinion, but they’re all enjoyable. 

Update 2: Guerlain basically re-released this as Ideal Platine Prive. So, try to find that if you can. That is a limited edition too, but still more bottles available versus the Cologne version.

The citrus and almond combination is awesome here. Taking these notes found in the rest of the line and giving them precedence versus the heavier leathers and smoke that can be found in other Ideal scents.

From what I’ve seen you can pick up a nice sized bottle for under $40, at most places online. I’m quite impressed by this and will probably pick up a full bottle for myself at some point. For the summer, it’s a nice pick up and it isn’t too well known.

Obsessed for Men By Calvin Klein

by

Walking through a department store, I made my usual pass around the fragrance counters, and saw a Calvin Klein display with a men’s fragrance I have yet to try. Apparently, it’s a new release and called Obsessed for Men. There was a tester spray bottle, so, I hit my arms up with three sprays in order to experience it and do a one-time wear review for the site.

In this post, I’m going to cover all of the usual aspects of this cologne, and give my take on how it wears and performed during my limited interaction with it.

What does Obsessed by Calvin Klein Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, cardamom, pepper, ambroxan, leather, grapefruit, cedar

Click here to try: Calvin Klein Obsessed for Men Eau De Toilette, 1 fl. oz.

My Full Wear Review

Obsessed for Men seems like a very familiar scent even though I cannot pinpoint what specific cologne it reminds me of. I’m leaning towards it being a mix of several fragrances and just triggering my memory all at once.

The opening gives me a really fresh start with the grapefruit, pepper, and cedar stepping out in front. The vanilla note is always present and really ties the whole thing together.

Obsessed is a very clean fragrance, it is on the lighter side, and almost unisex but man, I like the super fresh energy that I get from it.

I think Obsessed is supposed to be a flanker fragrance to the original Obsession or at least a nod to it.  There does seem to be some overlap but since it’s been a few years since last wearing Obsession, I can’t really give a detailed head to head.

However, it does share the grapefruit, vanilla, and amber/ambroxan notes, so there is some similarity…but I don’t really recall the original smelling like this.

As Obsessed wears on, it becomes more vanilla/spicy/ambroxan than it’s initial grapefruit, though it doesn’t ever really become masculine. Still quite fresh and clean and upbeat.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Obsessed is okay. It’s not really a powerful scent but it isn’t as bad as some other CK releases. Not a powerhouse, but it can give you a few feet of radius off of your skin.

The longevity for my test run was about 4-5 solid hours and then maybe another hour wear it was still noticeable but weak. Again, not great but not the worst either. Maybe it’d be better in different weather or with more wear from me but that’s what I got with the one time deal.

Even if I had spent more time with this fragrance, I wouldn’t expect more than a few more hours on the high end of things. This, like a lot of other CK scents, isn’t a big time performer.

Seasonally,  you do get a lot of use from a cologne like this. It’s probably not great at the extremes of temperatures, but for spring and early summer it’s fine. Also, in the autumn months, Obsessed would be quite nice.

I’d call this a casual cologne, though, I could see myself wearing this on a date. Again, it’s not the most masculine scent but it does have a certain attractiveness/sexiness to it. The vanilla note is sweet, fairly warm, and darkened by the spice. It’s quite intriguing.

Overall Impressions of Obsessed

Overall, would I say Obsessed for men is a buy? Maybe. I actually do really like the way it smells, but I’d want some more time wearing it before making a call. It’s not a hyper unique scent but it is quite pleasant.

It’s clean, with some spice, and sweetness. The ambroxan isn’t too overpowering in the mix. Yes, it’s a leader in the composition, just nothing crazy. I liked the vanilla note here, along with that cardamom.

I have some concerns about the longevity but maybe it’d be better with more testing. This is a solid offering from Calvin Klein, it could be better, but I like it well enough. Perhaps, it is a buy at the right price.

Full price? Nah. At a discounter? You could do a lot worse than this one.

Ed Hardy Love & Luck for Men

by

Another sample that I recently got a hold of is another one from Christian Audiger’s Ed Hardy lineup of men’s colognes, Love & Luck. It’s usually a cologne that you can pick up for dirt cheap. So, it’s good to see if it has any real value. In this post, I’m going to cover what it smells like, how it performs, when it should be worn, and it is worth a purchase or not.

What does Love & Luck Smell Like?

Notes include: orange, violet, cardamom, bergamot, musk, cedar, absinth, vetiver, agarwood

Click here to try: Ed Hardy Love & Luck for Men 3.4 oz 100 ml EDT Spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Love & Luck is a blast of the citrus notes, that power through the entire wear. Some folks have compared this to Creed Millesime Imperial; and nope, the two aren’t even close unless this has been reformulated completely.

Imperial has much more of a melon and sea salt aroma versus Love & Luck which is an orange/bergamot blend with woody undertones.

Also, the quality of the notes is very noticeable. The Creed is much more naturalistic while this isn’t really at all. It is what it is, just don’t expect photorealistic fruit notes with Love & Luck.

In the background from the opening, I do detect some floral notes which I assume are the violet and the absinth, that is giving this fragrance a rather unique scent. There is a greenish quality here, not total floral dominance, but that is a substantial part.

It allows Love & Luck to have a balanced heart and not just being a full-on juicy citrus fruit, although, that is the most dominant part of this scent.

Also, some sage and other herbal notes poke through for a little more added freshness.

Honestly, Love & Luck is pretty linear. It does have a dry down, but the citrus notes are still the biggest part of it, that the cologne isn’t really changing all that much. I’d say that it does become slightly more musky and earthy than it is in the beginning.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Love & Luck isn’t super strong but it does have some nice sillage to it. A few sprays and you will notice it for the first hour and then catch whiffs of it thereafter. It’s actually above average, on my skin.

After that first hour, it will be softer. Again, noticeable. Though, within a pretty defined bubble around where you sprayed Love & Luck.

It’s longevity isn’t bad either, I can get around 5-6 hours from this juice. Now, is that great? Nope, but for a fragrance that sells for under $20, that’s pretty darn good. Plus, it’s better than the performance of another Christian Audiger parfum, Skulls & Roses. 

I will also add that its versatility is one of its strengths. This is a solid option for a casual cologne or something that can be worn low key on nights out. If you’re looking for a high-end, formal, or fragrance to cover all your bases this won’t be it.

It doesn’t strike me as sexy or super sophisticated but as a cheapie scent, it holds up well. This is one for the warmer months of the year and it performs well in the heat.

This does skew younger with its targeted demographic. If you’re an older man, you’ll probably want to go with something else. Love & Luck is okay for college age guys and a few years on either side of that range.

Overall Impressions of Love & Luck

Overall do I like this Ed Hardy fragrance? It’s good for what it is. It’s not something that I want to wear all that often. However, if you’re someone who needs something that is extremely inexpensive for the summertime, this will get the job done.

The fragrance has some decent citrus notes and a pretty nice use of cardamom. It’s not a Imperial Millesime clone, in my opinion.

But, I do rather like it at times during the wear. It’s pleasant and not totally offensive with its inexpensive formulation. It’s fairly solid, all around.

So, I wouldn’t buy based on hoping for that. For a cheapie, you could do a lot worse, but this is one that should mainly be worn by teens or guys in their early 20s.

There’s nothing really here that is done extremely well. After all, it’s a cheapie, an above average cheapie…still not amazing.

Dahlia Noir by Givenchy

by

Among the sample vials of fragrance that I received were several Givenchy scents, including a few perfumes for women. Dahlia Noir, is one of these perfumes, and a grown-up floral with a bit more sophistication than that of many other fragrances.

In this review, I’m going to cover how Dahlia Noir eau de parfum smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a buy.

What does Dahlia Noir Smell Like?

Notes include: tonka bean, iris, mimosa, rose, pink pepper, patchouli

Click here to try: Givenchy Dahlia Noir Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 2.5 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening blast of Dahlia Noir is an aroma of a creamy/powdery iris with just a hint of rose, at least at first. The rose note does become more prominent after a few minutes of wear but it never takes over the composition.

It really does have a scent similar to iris-laden baby powder. That will become more of a pinkish rose weighting for the back half of the wear.

On me, there really isn’t much of a citrus presence. Sure, a sense of brightness but nothing too distinct. Though, a sweetness that sits under the floral notes and emergent spice.

As it wears on, Dahlia Noir presents its pink pepper note, which adds a very slight spice to the scent and then a soft vanilla seems to emerge. There is also a light cinnamon, but on me the pink pepper is the more pronounced of the two. The aroma is quite clean and fresh.

Once a lot of the spiciness has died down, Dahlia does get a bit of an freshness/earthy aroma to it, thanks to a pretty substantial patchouli note with mossy highlights.

It’s basically there for the middle act of this scent and then sort of fades into the close.

Mostly, though, this is a floral affair and the iris, rose, and mimosa notes dominate a present a feminine perfume. Dahlia isn’t too complicated of a fragrance. Powdery iris, rose, with some spice and a woody base.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Dahlia Noir is pretty good. It isn’t overpowering or super strong; but you’ll know it’s there. This is a subtle fragrance but not weak, by any means. I would expect anywhere from 2-5 feet from the skin.

Longevity is decent, but again not superb. 4-6 hours seems to be its time frame to operate within. A bit below average sometimes, but can run right around the middle of the pack.

Beyond that, it doesn’t appear to really be present. If you’re paying a lot for a bottle, it’s not going to really give you any value, in terms of performance.

I think that Dahlia Noir would be good for casual or office settings. It is a pretty fragrance but it doesn’t strike me as sexy. I wouldn’t mind smelling it on a woman but I wouldn’t be all of that crazy for it either.

More refined and mature, with an old-school vibe versus being sultry or really captivating.

It does have some good versatility and could work well in almost any season besides the height of summer. The perfume would fall apart in higher temperatures. It strikes me more as an autumn wear, as that’s when I think these notes would be at their best.

Overall Impressions of Dahlia Noir

Overall, how does the Givenchy perfume rate? In my opinion, it’s just okay. There’s nothing amazing here unless you really love iris and rose. Which I am an iris fan, rose can be hit or miss, but Dahlia Noir EDP never jumped out at me.

The iris note is good here, but wasn’t enough to get me too interested.

I like the initial liveliness here. That pink pepper and touch of cinnamon gives this a solid start. There’s some balance with periods of sweetness or earthiness from the patchouli note. So, it’s not just all floral, all the time. A floral chypre fragrance.

The performance is passable and it does smell good but I don’t find anything about Dahlia Noir to be spectacular.

I’m not saying that it’s a complete no, it could serve a purpose in a perfume collection, though, it does nothing to make it ‘great’. It would be one that is worth a try, at a significant enough discount.

I do believe this has been discontinued, as of this latest page update. Discounts may no longer be possible for those who never acted on purchasing.

Alien Fusion by Mugler

by

Alien Fusion is yet another flanker version from the best selling Alien series by Thierry Mugler. This perfume was released in 2019 and has enjoyed some success since then. In this post, I am going to share my experience with Fusion. How does it smell, how long does it lasts, and is it actually worth a try.

What does Alien Fusion Smell Like?

Notes include: ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, orange blossom, tuberose, and amber

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Alien Fusion Women 2 oz EDP Spray

Full Wear Review

Here’s what Mugler says about Alien Fusion: At the heart of the desert an eclipse is revealed. Alien Fusion, a flamboyant Eau de Parfum that unveils a sensual trail with a vibrant depth.

Fusion opens up with a fresh spice combination and the citrus hints of the orange blossom. It’s warm with the early stages of amber and vanilla. 

After a few minutes, it begins to shift and the tuberose takes hold as the main note within the composition. Tuberose, cinnamon, and orange blossom. I’d say it becomes a 70/30 split between the tuberose and orange blossom. 

It’s got that nice bubblegum type smell from that tuberose note, similar to what you find in L’Interdit by Givenchy. Different fragrances, but that strikes me as a close comparison. Funny enough, this has ginger too, like L’Interdit Rouge. Except it’s pretty weak in Alien Fusion.

It stays pretty much the same until the final dry down, where there is more amber and vanilla. So, it’s a white floral with amber, vanilla, and some remaining light spices. The cinnamon hangs around longer than does the ginger note, which is usually short-lived in many perfumes.

Fusion has plenty of overlap with the original Alien, just more spice and a lighter aroma overall.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Alien Fusion is very strong, not elite but it’s got plenty of power behind it. You don’t need to go crazy with the sprays to make it noticeable. If you’re familiar with the original Alien, this isn’t as powerful nor is it as heavy. 

Still, it does rise above most of the mainstream offerings out there, and will leave a distinct scent trail behind. 

The longevity is also good. Enough for a full workday, though, not really a double digit wear. 7-9 hours is about what it would last during testing. 

It has that strong start, is moderate by the third or forth hour, and then slowly fades away until you get to that eighth or ninth. 

Seasonally, this would be a good bet for the spring and summer months. While it has plenty of notes that work well in the colder weather, also. Honestly, could be fine almost year round.

I’d probably avoid the hottest days of summer. But, I have to say that I didn’t hate it when it was warm. It wasn’t too cloying or overwhelming. Ideally, a more moderate day in spring or even autumn would be a nice time to apply Fusion. 

 

 

Fusion has plenty of versatility for wear. Casual, semi-formal, work, and has enough attractiveness for dates or nightlife. It’s not the most formal or completely ‘serious’ scent, but it doesn’t strike me as being too immature. 

Overall Impressions of Alien Fusion

Overall, do I like Alien Fusion? I do. This is a great flanker scent. It smells great, you get plenty of overlap with the original, and it has solid performance.

I like the opening act especially. The freshness and orange blossom smells wonderful. It’s not that complex of a perfume, it just does everything very well.

The cinnamon, amber, and tuberose middle act is still quite attractive and I was never bored with this Mugler perfume. It’s got a good mix of spiciness, sweetness, warmth, and floral notes.

It’s pretty and gives you plenty of opportunity to wear it in a variety of climates or outings. If you didn’t like Alien, this one might be more tolerable for you, so it’s worth a try. It’s not as in your face or harsh as the original can be sometimes. 

If you liked Alien and want something slightly different and not as heavy, this is a great option, that you’ll probably enjoy.