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!

Ombre Leather Parfum by Tom Ford

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Ombre Leather Eau de Parfum is one of my favorite entries from the Tom Ford line. When the brand released a 2021 Parfum version, I was really intrigued at giving it a try. Well, I’ve been testing it out and am now ready to post my review to the site. How does it smell? Is it as good?

What does Ombre Leather Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, violet leaf, jasmine, orris, cedar, tobacco

Click here to try: Ombre Leather Parfum

My Full Review

Here’s how Tom Ford describes it: OMBRÉ LEATHER PARFUM INTENSIFIES THE ORIGINAL SCENT, FUSING HEATED LEATHER FLORALS WITH WOODS–CAPTURING THE UNBRIDLED SENSUALITY OF THE AMERICAN WEST.

Well, I don’t think there’s anything any more intense about Parfum versus the EDP. Actually, that one starts and finishes with a heavier boldness.

Parfum isn’t as warm and doesn’t have that cardamom spice up top. Instead, we get a lighter and cooler aroma at first versus EDP.

The violet leaf note really sets the tone. Watery to an extent, with its greenish floral aroma, giving the leather a cleaner feeling than the somewhat earthy example of the EDP.

Cedar, jasmine, and the orris note also come into the picture. The jasmine note won’t be as prominent as in the original, but it still does a lot next to the more dominant violet leaf.

Yes, the orris note is present. It gives Parfum whiffs of a light powdery smell, but really not too heavy.

This is fresher and never has that same dryness. Cedar bolsters the base and a general woodiness just sits underneath the leather and violet leaf.

Tobacco is a newer addition to this. Again, another light note that adds some sweetness and an overall smoother experience.

In the end, it does become dominated by the leather. If EDP was an older, beat up type of leather, this is a brand new jacket.

Leather, the violet leaf/jasmine combo, and woods. That’s the dry down, on me.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

With the longevity here, I still get the same 9-11 hours total on skin, like the EDP. But, whereas that gives me 6-8 hours of strong wear before become a skin scent. Parfum will go 5-6 and then be much softer.

The performance is by no means bad, but on my skin it is actually a slight step back from the original.

Seasonally, Ombre Leather Parfum is still mostly in the autumn and winter camp. Though, it has much more of an ability to be a late springtime wear versus the original. It’s lighter style is beneficial in that environment, holding up better in the heat.

Also, while both are unisex fragrances. Parfum is much more universal in its wear-ability. The original can be earthier and more animalic. With the violet leaf here, plus the lack of intensity from the cardamom and patchouli notes of the original.

This is an attractive scent. Good for nightlife. But, just know that not everyone appreciates the smell of leather, so it isn’t going to be universally beloved.

Overall Impressions of Ombre Leather Parfum

Overall, do I like Ombre Leather Parfum? I do. It shares plenty of overlap with the original, but takes things in a bit of a different direction.

I was worried about the leather and violet leaf before trying this. It could’ve veered more into the Fahrenheit by Dior direction, which isn’t a bad scent, but not one of my favorites.

This is a cleaner representation of the leather, actually can be a bit suede like. There is some tobacco and orris which gives it a smoother finish. Not all that powdery, but there is just a hint at times.

The jasmine that I loved in the EDP is also still here. Now, it splits weight with the violet leaf, which is just isn’t as good as the original.

Ombre Leather Parfum is a lighter version of this fragrance and probably will have a greater appeal in that regard.

Personally, I don’t like the smell of this one as much as the EDP. It’s still up there, just a notch below the eau de parfum.

Performance is also very good. So, which Ombre Leather you should go with is going to boil down to your personal taste, and not anything glaringly wrong with either. Softer, semi-aquatic suede? Or heavier earthier leather?

The One Royal Night by D&G

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Royal Night is part of The One ‘Night’ series from Dolce & Gabbana. It was released in 2015. I was interested in trying this one out, seeing how it compared to the originals and Luminous Night. The wood notes sounded intriguing and like this could have some more power behind it. How does it actually smell? When should it be worn? Is it actually worth a try?

What does The One Royal Night Smell Like?

Notes include: basil, cardamom, pear wood, nutmeg, amber, cedar, sandalwood, labdanum

Click here to try: The One Royal Night

royal night review

My Full Review

Here’s how D&G describes it: Steeped in mystery, sophistication and masculinity, The One Royal Night takes us on an olfactory journey to the Middle East, echoing its scents and sensations. Part of the Oriental Woody scent family, it explores the multi-faceted world of spices and brings the richness of Amber to life in a refined novel way.

The opening of The One Royal Night is really strong with the cardamom note. Basil and nutmeg also provide a spicy blast from the outset. You can tell that this shares plenty of the overlap with The One EDP or EDT, with how it starts.

But, noticeably absent is the grapefruit and the tobacco. This doesn’t have that same sweet warm and instead goes for something that is fresher and strong with woods.

Dolce describes the pear wood note as having a leathery facet. I do pick up something like that underneath the main accord along with some resinous and a bit scratchy base note.

The opening spice is short-lived. Basil gets out of the way quickly and nutmeg isn’t far behind. But, that sticks around for more than an hour. Royal Night really is the cardamom show for most of its existence, before the amber and woods start to take their share.

At this stage, it’s more about cardamom and cedar with what I guess is that pear wood note, taking a back seat. Less of a punchy spice and more of a clean and somewhat sharp wood.

Finally, the dry down is well, really dry. But, it has a certain sweetness to it that is kind of thick. The cardamom, amber, and sandalwood are the standouts. The rest of the composition is just the other woods.

So, it goes from major cardamom fragrance to a really woody cologne with amber and cardamom.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, the opening has some pop to it. But, it’s never all that loud with the scent trail or projecting that far off of the skin.

Sure, that initial basil and nutmeg punch does give it a strong start. However, I don’t think this has that much more power than the EDP version of The One. Maybe slightly stronger, just not much.

The latter stage is particularly soft. Woods and amber. Pretty light. Present, but not overwhelming.

The longevity seems to be right around that 5.5-7 hour range. Maybe I could squeeze a few more hours with more sprays, if I had a full bottle. But, with the sample sprayer this is about what I got.

Those last few hours are basically skin scent level projection.

Seasonally, break this one out in the autumn and winter months. Better as a nighttime wear, in more formal than casual situations. Not really one to wear to work during the day.

Better for older guys than teenagers. Royal Night does have a level of attractiveness to it, being a The One scent, but not the same type of date night vibe as the EDP. Still, wouldn’t be out of place in that context, however.

Overall Impressions of Royal Night

Overall, do I like Royal Night? I like it, don’t love it. I don’t think that it smells as good as The One EDP and doesn’t even surpass Luminous Night…but that’s a closer contest.

I think other people like this one for its woody depth and that amber/labdanum combination during the latter stages.

For me, I like that spicy opening. Amped up cardamom and basil from the original, that’s not held back by grapefruit or tobacco? I like it. Again, not to the same extent I like that original formulation, but it’s got an interesting aroma.

The dry down is just another amber and woods combination. That’s nice, smells fine, just kind of boring to me. The sandalwood is a good one, but nothing that I get too excited about.

The performance is decent, pretty standard fare for The One line, especially with the eau de parfums.

If the cardamom and woody aspects of the EDP edition appealed to you. Then, Royal Night might be the scent for you. Outside of that, it’s worth giving a try, but probably not one that a lot of people will want to blind buy.

Un Jardin Apres la Mousson by Hermes

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Hermes’ Jardin line is one that I’m currently doing my write-ups on, after having tested them out. Today’s perfume is the release, Un Jardin Apres la Mousson (A Garden After the Monsoon). How does this one smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Un Jardin Apres la Mousson Smell Like?

Notes include: ginger, ginger flower, cardamom, coriander, vetiver, pepper, citrus, water

Click here to try: Un Jardin Apres la Mousson

jardin mousson review

My Full Review

Here’s how Hermes describes it: Un Jardin après la Mousson explores unexpected aspects of India, when the monsoon gives back what the sun has taken from the earth, and drives away the scorching breath of drought.

The opening of Mousson is an interesting blend of warmth and aquatic coolness. It does really capture that rainy aftermath, where the sun is out, but you have somewhat of a break from the heat…but not necessarily to humidity.

The citrus top is light, much like a flavored water than a distinct solo lemon or orange note. This is joined by the suite of spicy notes: pepper, cardamom, coriander, and the headlining ginger.

The pepper and coriander do give it an initial sharp spiciness, that will become more subtle and really a fresh aromatic.

Once this stage has cleared, the heart is where you get much of the garden aspect of this scent. Ginger, floral notes, and a greenish quality with that rainy aquatic base.

The only real change is that it becomes less watery and get a drier aroma, with some added vetiver strength. This Hermes scent is pretty simple in its development.

Spices, watery notes, earthiness/floral, with an underlying sweetness throughout.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, Mousson definitely leans more towards the lighter side of things. With a decent amount of sprays, you’ll get an airy scent trail for about 2 hours or so.

The projection is like 4-6 feet, at its peak. Don’t go into this thinking that you’re going to get a powerhouse, that’s not this scent.

The longevity is about 5-6.5 hours, also. The back half of that is going to be a skin scent, that you’ll catch whiffs of throughout that 3 hour or so span. Then, it’ll fade away.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summer fragrance. I would want moderate temperatures at least to wear Mousson, but more of a warm weather fragrance for me.

This is indeed unisex. I don’t think that it strays too feminine, but it’d lean more that way than something traditionally masculine, in my opinion. But, it’s a safe one for anybody to use.

Casual to semi-formal wear during the daytime. It’s a fresh and invigorating sort of aroma. Not sexy. Not something built for the nightlife or romantic occasions. Just something that can be pleasant to put on for the right person.

Overall Impressions of Un Jardin Apres la Mousson

Overall, do I like Apres la Mousson? It’s fairly enjoyable, but not something I really want to wear often, nor is it my favorite from this series. I’m partial to the Monsieur Li fragrance, myself.

While I like ginger a lot as a note, it’s usually in more of a support role versus the main attraction.

I like the concept and like the other Jardin perfumes, I think that it nails a fairly naturalistic smelling impression of an Indian garden after a monsoon has ripped through. Not that I’ve encountered that personally, but on the level of imagination…this gives that impression.

The mix of water, spices, and vegetal aromas is intriguing. I think that it is worth a try. Personally, I like the opening act where the spices and watery aspect are most pronounced.

The performance is okay, in terms of longevity. However, this is more of a lighter and airy fragrance, so don’t expect much of a long lasting sillage.

If you like these Hermes scent, check Apres La Mousson out. It’s a good perfume, that may speak to you more than it did for me.

The One for Men EDP by D&G

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The One from Dolce & Gabbana is a scent that I’ve loved the smell of for the longest time, but hated the performance. The eau de parfum version is one that I’ve encountered too, but never grabbed a full bottle of.

Well, I’ve been revisiting the entire series this year, and finally got my full bottle of The One EDP. How does it smell? Does it last any longer? Is it actually worth a try?

What does The One for Men Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, basil, coriander, amber, tobacco, ginger, cardamom, orange blossom, and cedar

Click here to try: The One EDP

the one edp review

My Full Review

Here’s how D&G describes it: The One for Men Eau de Parfum is part of the iconic world of The One, offering a deeper fragrance experience for the perfume connoisseur. Masculine and magnetic, this highly intense scent is a statement of charisma and sophistication.

Ah, so a lot of this is going to be a rehash of my EDT review, as these two smell extremely similar to one another as expected.

But. there are some slight differences in the early stages, as terms of how it smells.

The grapefruit note here has more of a role to play. It starts out with a stronger burst to my nose than it does in the EDT.

The spices are about the same, with the coriander being stronger than that basil. But, I think a larger part of that grapefruit-like smell comes from a bit more of the cardamom, which can have a citrusy smell.

But, beyond just that grapefruit, the amber and the tobacco come across as more powerful in this blend. It’s deeper and richer.

Again, this is mostly the same, but I do favor the slight EDP alterations a bit more.

As far as the spices, the ginger and basil are still short-lived. With the coriander and cardamom, being bigger players on my skin.

The initial fresh spiciness will begin to pass. The One becomes smoother, warmer, and smokier.

The spices also become more of a combination versus anything distinct in how they present. At this point, it’s a amber and tobacco show with a noticeable cedar, and hints of: spices, smokiness, orange blossom, and a very light citrus.

The final dry down is basically a faint amber and tobacco. Those are the last two standing and part of the reason that this can come across as not being a super powerful cologne.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it’s still a lighter moderate cologne at its peak. Then, it will stick close to the skin and create a 1-2 foot scent bubble.

However, when you beef up the sprays this one can absolutely create a trail for a few hours and project very well off of the skin or clothing. Somewhere in the 5-8 foot range. With the way that I spray it, described below.

The longevity with The One EDP is much better than EDT. This is a fragrance that you’ll have to spray more of versus most others, to get performance. The EDT wasn’t capable of that, but the EDP is.

So, with normal sprays, it lasts on my skin for about 4-5 hours. Not as terrible. Not great.

If I go with heavy spraying, it can go to 6+ hours, with 2-3.5 hours of good sillage. Not much beyond six hours, but some. The rest will stay closer to the skin, but it doesn’t just drop off in the same way the EDT does. Skin scent for the last 2-3 hours.

What’s heavy spraying? Like, 3-4 sprays to each side of the neck. With some more sprays elsewhere, depending on what I’m wearing. Generally, hitting that 10-15 spray range in total.

It might not be something that you can do in every situation that you want to wear a fragrance, but it can be done. Plus, this scent has gotten affordable enough that you can use more without breaking the bank.

Seasonally, still the same with the autumn and winter being the main use case. But, I will still break it out in spring and summer, if it isn’t too hot and humid. Or, if I know that I’m going to be indoors for the night.

A nightlife machine, that is sexy and confident.  You can wear it in a variety of situations, appropriate for a wide array of ages, but may not want to go completely formal with it.

Romantic wear, nightlife, casual, and semi-formal.

Overall Impressions of The One EDP

Overall, do I like The One Eau de Parfum? Yes, I love it. It’s nearly identical to the original EDT, just with better performance. Some slight changes and depth to it.

But, I loved The One EDT and the way that it smelled, so this one is a must have in my collection. Coming back to it in 2022, really recaptured my admiration for this fragrance.

It is the best of The One collection, on the whole. I also like Luminous Night, but EDP is superior to that, as well.

This is one of the mass appealing designer scents that simply knocks it out of the park. Very easy to wear, versatile, and something that consistently grabs attention…even if it is extremely popular.

The performance is improved to where 6-8+ hours is possible to achieve with more sprays. Really, I got mine 100ml (3.3 ounce) bottle for around $70 and you could probably get a 5 oz for around the same price on sale. Maybe, $80-90.

So, that’s affordable enough to use this one with more sprays than it otherwise might take with other colognes. But, the smell is worth it. The EDT no longer is, but Eau de Parfum absolutely is.

The One EDP can be a bedrock fragrance for a lot of guys who don’t want or need a huge collection. Maybe grab another cologne for the summer or one for daytime use, and you’d be set.

Bvlgari Man Wood Essence

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Bvlgari Man has had some great entries over the years. More recently, the brand has released its Essence series of fragrances. I’ve gotten samples of each of them, have been testing them out, and am ready to share my impressions of them in review. Today, I am going to cover Wood Essence. How it smells. When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Bvlgari Man Wood Essence Smell Like?

Notes include: coriander, Italian citrus zests, cypress, vetiver, benzoin, cedar, ambergris

Click here to try: Bvlgari Man Wood Essence

wood essence review

My Full Review

Here’s how Bvlgari describes it: With Bvlgari Man Wood Essence, Bvlgari honors the universal nature of wood. The fragrance is composed of vital materials and ingredients that reconnect the urban man to nature, pulsating with the energizing power of its wood elements. Formulated with revitalizing Italian citrus accords and woody resins of Cypress and Vetiver gathered from the Mediterranean landscape it represents.

Wood Essence starts out being quite interesting to my nose. The citrus is there, yes, more of a zest than anything super heavy and juicy. But, it smells sweeter than the usual lemon fare. More like a cool summer drink.

But, that citrus doesn’t have its own moment to shine. The coriander, cypress, and resinous benzoin are present quite a lot early on.

The coriander has an initial spicy period for about 15 minutes or so (with benzoin). This is balanced out by the freshness of the wood notes. Cypress and cedar, with the former having a much heavier weighting. And indeed, the cypress is the star of the show.

The coriander leaves pretty much after its initial run. The citrus has a bit of a longer stay, but not much influence thereafter. Just a sweet impression keeping things from being ‘too woody’.

Wood Essence is very much about those wood notes. Wood with warm and resinous amber, dry and fresh vetiver playing a minor support role.

Greenish, fresh, with sweet and resinous highlights. That’s about what I get from Wood Essence.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this is a moderate wear, towards the lighter side of things. For the first hour or two, you should get a nice trail going with a normal amount of sprays.

It projects in the 5-7 foot range, at its peak. Thereafter, it will be more intimate, but not a complete skin scent. More of a two foot or so scent bubble.

The longevity is fine. It usually sticks around for 6-7 hours, on my skin. Nothing beyond that for me. Blvgari Man Wood Essence isn’t going to blow the doors off with its performance. Just be good enough for most occasions.

Seasonally, I like this more in the moderate temperatures of spring and autumn. It wouldn’t be bad in a bit hotter temperatures or even when it’s chilly out. I’d just stay away from the extreme heat and cold.

This is a very versatile cologne. Not just in terms of seasons. The sweetness here, makes it one that’s an easy wear for pretty much all age groups. It also gives it an attractiveness and pleasant aroma that should gather complements.

The balance allows it to be worn day or night. Casually or in more formal situations. Wood Essence is a scent that should get plenty of use, if the way it smells is something you find yourself craving.

Overall Impressions of Wood Essence

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I like it somewhat. It’s solid overall, just not amazing. I enjoy that opening act, because it does have a fairly unique aroma versus many other colognes on the market today.

It’s a smooth and calming cologne. Wearing it outside, when it isn’t too hot, is where I got the best experience with Bvlgari Man Wood Essence. Catching whiffs of it with a light breeze going, was very pleasant.

It’s a balanced woody cologne. The cypress is the leader, but there is plenty of cedar and vetiver coming through in the mix,, as well.

The performance is decent. There’s a good amount of projection, but not overwhelming. Attractive and versatile.

Wood Essence does everything well, but nothing exceedingly great. I like that brightness and resinous support to the wood notes. It’s all very wearable.

Wood Essence is worth a try, especially if you can get a cheaper bottle. But, not something that is a must have for most guys.