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!

Voce Viva Intensa by Valentino

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Voce Viva is a fairly popular release from Valentino, even if it was one which seems to get mixed reviews from those who have tried it. Either way, it was successful enough for the designer to follow it up with 2021’s, Voce Viva Intensa. I got a sample sprayer of the perfume with one of my orders a few months back and have tested it out for a full review. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Voce Viva Intensa Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, mandarin orange, jasmine, Bourbon vanilla, orange blossom, Crystal moss

Click here to try: Voce Viva Intensa

voce viva intense review

My Full Review

Before I get into my own thoughts about this fragrance, let’s see how Valentino describes it: A feminine, opulent bouquet of Orange Blossom amplified by Jasmin Absolute, twisted with addictive Crystal Moss and intensified with Bourbon Vanilla. VOCE VIVA INTENSA Eau de Parfum celebrates the sound of your voice in the scent of your fragrance.

Immediately upon spraying, I can tell that this is going to be a flanker of Voce Viva that sticks close to the original, and doesn’t completely change everything like some designers do.

It opens up with the same citrus accord as the original. But, I think the opening here comes across as smoother and more refined. The original had a ginger kick, that Intensa does not.

Also, the orange blossom is dominant from the get go. On my skin, the original Voce Viva started strong with the orange blossom and then shifted to gardenia. With Intensa, the orange blossom will reign supreme for most of the duration (until vanilla takes it over).

Yes, there is a jasmine here, just its role isn’t to the same degree as the gardenia in the previous version.

Once the citrus tones down, you will get a very vanilla soaked orange blossom aroma. It’s clean and enjoyable, with a sweetish finish. This stage is actually when I get the most jasmine from this Valentino scent.

The final dry down is vanilla, with less of a distinct orange blossom (more of a generic white floral smell), with some moss in the base.

Voce Viva Intensa doesn’t have the same level of moss or muskiness for that matter. The vanilla and orange blossom get amped up. Close to the original, but retains a distinction from that fragrance.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one starts off pretty strong and has a higher peak than the original Voce Viva. On the whole, it’s certainly above average with how it projects off of the skin and leaves a scent trail in your wake.

However, it’s not super heavy or powerful. Solid, better than its predecessor, and on the upper end of what could be considered moderate. Capable of being over-sprayed, but fine with normal application.

The longevity is also a bit better. I get 8-9.5 hours with this on my skin. Usually, more towards the 8 hour end of things, but I did get a full 9.5 during one testing run. For a mass appealing designer wear, Voce Viva Intensa is pretty darn good.

This one is also best in the autumn or winter months, while being able to venture into the springtime. In that respect, it’s exactly like the original. I’d still avoid the heat and humidity of late spring and summer with this.

I still don’t consider this one to be particularly sexy. However, I think that it is more attractive and has a slightly better use case for evening wear versus the original. Both of them lean more toward being daily wears, but this has somewhat more appeal.

Overall Impressions of Voce Viva Intensa

Overall, do I like Voce Viva Intensa? I do. I think that I enjoyed the original more than a lot of others seemed to. I also think that Intensa is a slightly better version of this formula.

It’s not far and away better, but I like its smoothness, and taking out of the gardenia in exchange for a lighter jasmine playing a supporting role.

The vanilla and orange blossom are great together. No, it’s not really all that unique, but it is an effective and attractive pairing. The spice is pretty much absent and I don’t get the same muskiness in the latter stages.

The performance is also better than the original. Not by much, but you will get another 1-2 hours of wear and a more powerful scent trail developing. Both versions are quite good with how they perform, anyhow.

This is a really good release from Valentino. Expect a white floral fragrance, with heavy orange blossom influence, and a lot of vanilla. If that doesn’t sound appealing, I’d go elsewhere. If it does, this is a perfume to check out.

Invictus Victory by Paco Rabanne

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Invictus Victory was the 2021 flanker release from this popular line. I don’t know if it has caught on quite to the same extent as some of the others, as of yet, but seems to have a generally positive rating among people. I grabbed a sample a while back of this Paco Rabanne cologne and have been testing it out. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Invictus Victory Smell Like?

Notes include: pink pepper, lemon, vanilla, amber, tonka bean, olibanum, and lavender

Click here to try: Invictus Victory

invictus victory review

My Full Review

Here’s how Paco Rabanne describes this cologne: The new Invictus Victory extreme eau de parfum seizes with its power and seduces with its freshness. Instantly, citric lemon notes flow. The woody fragrance of incense strengthens the composition whilst the sensual vanilla wraps itself around a fiery Tonka bean. An eau de parfum that subtly celebrates modern masculinity.

So, this Paco Rabanne is actually not anything like the other entries in the Invictus line of fragrances, and instead, shares a whole lot of overlap with the less popular (but nice) Pure XS line.

It’s almost like they decided to not make a third Pure XS flanker and just rebranded it under the Invictus label. Nonetheless, Victory is a likeable cologne, no matter the nametag it is presenting under.

Pure XS is boozy and sweet. Pure XS Night is spicy and sweet. This is more of a warm gourmand with hints of spice, but with a heavier use of vanilla, tonka bean, and amber.

The opening act gives me a nice dose of lemon, a general warmth, and a peppery kick to round things off. The pink pepper gives it that extra bit of a warm vibe, but isn’t super overwhelming in the mix.

The marketing definitely overplays the lemon note, as it is the weakest of the bunch, and is gone pretty quickly.

It’s also got a smokiness in the very early part of the wear. That’s from the olibanum note, which replaces the myrrh that’s found in the Pure XS scents. Basically, incense. Later, it smells more like a generic wood, just smooth.

As it dries down, that’s when it becomes more of a vanilla and amber based cologne. But, with everything coming together, Invictus Victory actually gets a chocolate smell, also. Sort of a mix between vanilla and chocolate.

Not sugary milk chocolate, mind you, more of a raw cacao. Lavender comes into play, at this point in time.

Clean and smooth for the middle act. Then, a thicker finish with less of the lavender. Really, vanilla is going to dominate. Tonka bean and amber fight out for most of the rest of the space.

Lavender and the general woodiness stick around in a pretty sparing amount.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, Victory doesn’t come across as a powerhouse to me. Strong initially, but fairly middle of the road for much of the duration. You’ll get a nice scent trail going, but it’s projection wasn’t huge off the skin.

Still, it is a solid wear and never felt weak to my nose.

With the longevity, it can go just over eight hours. Maybe nine, depending on the day. That is great for the price range of this. You’ll get your money’s worth from the performance with Victory.

On clothing itself, it will go for days.

Seasonally, this one is an autumn and winter wear for the most part. You could probably sneak it into the early springtime, but I’d pass on spraying it for the summer.

Victory is more of a younger man’s fragrance, like most of the rest of the Invictus scents. It has a nice appeal for the nightlife and should catch attention with its gourmand style. Is it really sexy? Not really, but that delicious attractiveness should do just fine.

Overall Impressions of Invictus Victory

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, I think that it is nice. Victory gives you a youthful gourmand sweetness that is attractive and easy to wear.

The opening is interesting. The brief lemon is a nice touch, that I wish lasted a bit longer. Good smokiness from the incense note.

The dry down isn’t super complex or anything. It’s still good, just doesn’t catch my attention in the same way.

It’s like the long lost brother of the Pure XS line and has some similarities to something like Code Profumo. This one goes heavy on the vanilla and tonka bean, sweet, amber-laden, and  can be a bit too cloying for some.

If you’re not into that sort of fragrance, you might want to skip on Victory. Also considering that it doesn’t have much to do with the other Invictus colognes that have been release. As such, if you’re a fan of those, you might not enjoy this one.

Mandarino di Amalfi by Tom Ford

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Continuing my reviews of the Tom Ford fragrance lineup, we have another entry led by citrus notes: Mandarino di Amalfi. This one was released in 2014 as a unisex scent and has enjoyed some popularity ever since. In this post, I will cover: how it smells, what the notes are, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is even worth a try.

What does Mandarino di Amalfi Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, lemon, wildflowers, mint, tarragon, orange blossom, sage, amber, vetiver, basil, black pepper, black currant

Click here to try: Tom Ford Mandarino Di Amalfi Eau de Parfum, 1.7oz./50ml

My Full Wear Review

Mandarino di Amalfi opens up of course with the great citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit. These two notes are so juicy and great within this composition. There also seems to be a black currant in there too, but it isn’t that powerful, and doesn’t have that same sharpness as in other scents.

Yet, it is still sweet and provides that familiar bright zesty aroma, which is also found in Neroli Portofino.

The other element that is present at the start of Mandarino di Amalfi is the herbal/spice notes that are sitting underneath the citrus top. Cool mint, tarragon, basil, and some black pepper is what my nose mostly picks up.

It gives the fragrance a refreshing and soapy kind of smell while it is still of course, juicy and lemony. Yes, this is found in plenty of different scents, but I really like how this Tom Ford brings it all together and the herbal notes don’t override the citrus.

As you move along in the wear, there is more of a floral influence, to the aroma. We have a very nice orange blossom, which is one of my favorite floral ingredients, and then a generic wildflower listing.

I get lots of ‘greeness’ from the sage, basil, and tarragon; but also, plenty of spice from those same notes and the mint and dash of black pepper. In addition, there is a bitter quality at times. Mandarino is pretty linear and straightforward from there.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise,  the sillage isn’t huge, but it honestly is pretty darn good for a citrus. People nearby will be able to pick it up, for the first few hours of wear, but then it will sit closer to the skin. Not weak or a total skin scent, but not a monster by any stretch.

The longevity for me has been somewhere around six hours, give or take. Not an elite performer, but it is okay, in that regard. Most of these style of fragrances aren’t that great with their performance, this is a pretty good one.

But, that’s also at the low end of what I would personally consider acceptable for this price point.

Seasonally, spring and summertime. Mandarino has that perfect summer’s day sensation of warmth, citrus, and floral notes. This is more of a casual to dressed up wear than anything that is particularly exciting or sexy.

Not a night club wear. It is something to wear during the daytime, when the weather and climate, are particularly right. It is also a unisex scent, that actually leans feminine more than masculine.

Overall Impressions of Mandarino de Amalfi

Overall, do I like Mandarino di Amalfi? Sure, it’s a very pleasant experience overall. Is it insanely good or a must have? No. Just a nice example of a solid citrus/floral/herbal blend, with decent performance.

I think that the use of lemon and grapefruit here is really great, though, and that’s probably my favorite aspect of it. Would I pay for a full bottle? No. Would I want to wear it? Yes, sometimes, it’d be nice to break out.

Smooth, refreshing, and great for the summer months of the year. The greenish notes and the floral aspect do give this one a bit more depth, while note making it messy at all.

Again, it is Tom Ford, so the pleasure of ownership comes with quite a cost upfront. Personally, I like it more so than Neroli Portofino. The citrus and spice mix here is more interesting and while the floral notes aren’t as prominent, I think that is to Mandarino’s credit.

Amber Essence by Ferrari

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I’m almost done going through and writing up all of the samples of Ferrari fragrance that I have laying around. It’s pretty interesting for a car manufacturer to have its own cologne line, but whatever. Today, I am going to do a review of Amber Essence by Ferrari from its Essence line of fragrances. What does it smell like? Does it perform well? Is it worth a purchase?

What does Amber Essence Smell Like?

Notes include: amber, patchouli, nutmeg, cashmere wood, musk, coriander, bergamot

Click here to try: Ferrari Amber Essence By Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 Oz

My Full Wear Review

With a name like Amber Essence, it’s pretty clear what Ferrari intends to give you from the start. Obviously, if you’re going to enjoy this one, you must like amber on some level. It is the main attraction and from the opening it makes its presence known.

That’s not to say that it’s an absolute bomb, it isn’t. Instead, Amber Essence starts off softly with a woody amber topped with a hint of citrus and some nutmeg spice.

It’s a warm and highly fresh aroma, that is masculine while being completely understated. It comes across as very dry, with the wood and patchouli notes being the main supporters to the amber.

Still, it’s light and I enjoy the fact that they didn’t try to drown out the amber by amping up the coriander or bergamot notes. Those are of course, present, but the serve the background and give Amber Essence a bit more depth.

Like many of the other Ferrari fragrances, this one is pretty linear. What you smell after about 5-10 minutes is what you’re going to get from it. That’s not a bad thing in this case, as the cologne is pleasant and something that I enjoy getting whiffs of throughout the day.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

As I’ve written, Amber Essence is a lighter fragrance, so don’t expect a sillage bomb. You’ll be able to get away with spraying more than usual and since it’s inexpensive, it doesn’t really matter too much.

It’s noticeable from 4-6 feet at first. Then, it’ll settle down much closer to the skin. Although, it doesn’t become a complete ‘skin scent’ until much later in the wear.

However, even though it isn’t a loud or heavy scent, it does last a long time. It might be the longest lasting cologne from Ferrari and I can easily get 8-10 hours of it. Is it powerful? No, but it’s there for much longer than I would have expected.

This fragrance is versatile because it is so safe and inoffensive. You could wear it casually or out on a date or at the office. It’s attractive and has a bit of sexiness to it.

It’s easy to wear, best worn in mild to colder weather. Frankly, the colder weather of late autumn and winter is ideal for Amber Essence.

If you want something for the night club scene, you might want to go with something that stands out a bit more than this…but for everything else, Amber Essence is fine. It is limited to wear during the colder months of the year.

Overall Impressions of Amber Essence

Overall, do I recommend Amber Essence by Ferrari? Yes, I think it is one of their best scents. As an inexpensive amber fragrance, this is a really nice option. Is it amazing? No, but it is solid. I really like the simplicity and the combination of notes that they used for this.

I like the mix of the amber, dry wood, citrus, and spice early on. Nutmeg is a note that I usually enjoy, and while it isn’t huge within this mix, it does add a little something.

The namesake amber is actually pretty quality for a fragrance in this price range. Maybe not as completely dominant as you’d expect, but still nice.

Cashmere wood and patchouli have a greater role to play once past that initial phase. This is an amber/wood cologne, rather than being a pure amber scent.

For a really low price you get something that is smooth, versatile, and can actually last a long time. Not perfect by any means, but enjoyed wearing it. Amber Essence is another example of Ferrari providing good value.

Not all of their fragrances are worthwhile, but they do have a surprisingly decent collection. Amber Essence sits near the top.

Dolce & Gabbana DG6150 60 Sunglasses

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Dolce & Gabbana goes well beyond the fragrances that I usually review on this site. Among their fashion interests, is also their accessories lineup, which includes sunglasses. I picked up a pair recently and thought that I would share some photos of what the DG6150 model looks like for those who are in the market.

D&G sunglasses

The box which the sunglasses come in is just a basic black cardboard, nothing fancy.

Within that you get a carry back and leather sunglass case. It’s a soft leather with a hard shell where the nose area would be. You might want to invest in a hard case, if you’re going to be travelling with these.

dolce 6150

The gradient is more of the tobacco color, rather than the orange. But, while you’re wearing them, the view turns more into an amber color. Not super dark and quite easy to still see. You can purchase this pair from Macy’s: DG6150 60

A view on the darker background of a wood floor. So far, I have enjoyed wearing these. The sunglasses are comfortable on my face and haven’t had any weird rubbing on the sides of the nose or anything.

The namesake on the side.

Finally, there is a little DG on the ends.