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!

Man in Red by Ferrari

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There are numerous fragrances by Ferrari with the color Red in the title, which can be confusing when referencing one of these scents. In this post, I want to focus on Man in Red, which is one of the more recent additions from the brand. What does this cologne smell like? How long does it last? Is Ferrari Man in Red worth a purchase?

What does Man in Red Smell Like?

Notes include: pink pepper, lavender, apple, cedar, bergamot, plum, cardamom, tonka bean

Click here to try: Ferrari Ferrari Man In Red Eau De Toilette Spray 100ml/3.3oz

My Full Wear Review

Man in Red opens up with quite a familiar profile. It strikes me as very similar to Scuderia Black but with some slight differences. One of them, is the presence of a pink pepper note, that is quite comparable to Guess Seductive Homme.

The pink pepper adds an extra layer of warmth and spiciness to Man in Red and it never has quite the same sweetness as the Guess cologne.

It’s a pretty strong fruit note, mainly apple, but there is also some support from the citrus note, and a tart plum. The spicy notes aren’t very intense but really do remind me of Scuderia Black and that is what the cologne becomes for the first hour or so: Scuderia Black with pink pepper.

During the dry down, Man in Red fully takes on it’s fruit-laden aroma. It’s apple, plum, and pink pepper as the main attractions.

Other than that I get the clean smoothness of lavender and a somewhat creamy tonka bean on top of a cedar base. The dry down period is where it separates from Scuderia Black in terms of its smell, this doesn’t have the same spice.

So, you get a nice fruity fragrance that is clean and has a nice woody freshness coming from the base. Not super complex, but has a nice presentation.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s light to moderate in its sillage. People will be able to smell it from a few feet away, but not across the room.

Man in Red is not a bomb of a fragrance at all. Over the hours, it becomes more and more of a skin scent. So, moderate opening to pretty light middle act.

The longevity is in the 6 hour range, like seemingly most of the scents from this Ferrari line, it’s okay but not amazing. Solid deal for the price. After a few test runs, this is about all that this fragrance seems capable of. Not high end, like the cars.

I tried to apply more to see if it would go further. Nope, at least on me.

The warmth of the fragrance puts it more in the cold weather wear category, but I think it’d be fine in the spring, not the extremes of summer. Cold to warm days.

It’s a casual scent that can be worn to work or perhaps for drinks afterward. It’s nice and attractive but not a club scent or one that is particularly sexy.

Man in Red leans toward being more for a younger guy, but it doesn’t have a total teenager vibe. It’s put together well enough for older men to wear around. It doesn’t go overboard with a candy-like sweetness, so you get more versatility out of Red.

Overall Impressions of Man in Red

Overall, do I recommend Man in Red? It’s a nice cologne for the price, I like how it’s sort of a mix between elements of Scuderia Black and Guess Seductive Homme. I like the Guess better than either of the Ferrari colognes, but between those two it’s a toss up to which I’d prefer.

If you need something inexpensive for daily wear, this is a good low key choice, that is safe to wear and generic enough to enjoy a wide appeal. It’s not going to blow anyone away, but it doesn’t do anything poorly.

That apple, plum, and pink pepper mix is cool. I like the addition of the plum note. Not extremely powerful, though it provides a little something different from the colognes that I’ve compared Man in Red to.

Also, I like the bottle design, it’s got a nice style. It’d be better if the contents were elevated to a higher level, though. For $10-20? You could do a lot worse and probably not much better.

Uomo Noir Absolu by Valentino

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Taking a break from reviewing Tom Ford scents, I wanted to get around to posting a review of this fragrance, I got a sample of months back. Uomo Noir Absolu is a flanker of the Uomo line by Valentino. How does this entry stack up? What does it smell like? How does it perform? Is it worth a buy?

What does Uomo Noir Absolu Smell Like?

Notes include: cinnamon, sandalwood, iris, pepper, incense

Click here to try: Valentino Uomo Noir Absolu For Men Eau de Parfum 3.4 Oz

My Full Wear Review

Before we dive into my personal review, let’s see how Valentino describes this fragrance: Valentino Uomo Noir Absolu is a modern exploration of oriental intensity. The Italian elegance of iris, the original Valentino signature, is transformed through the intimate richness of high perfumery. Translated through sandalwood, cinnamon, pepper, and a precious veil of incense, it is a mysterious and eloquent interpretation.

Noir Absolu opens with a lot of cinnamon spice, the pepper note, iris, and a resinous sweetness. I have to hand it to Valentino, they have definitely been getting into some unique scents, with these Uomo flankers. After the originals, were pretty much just Dior Homme sort of colognes.

Noir Absolu goes towards the darker end of the spectrum, while Uomo Acqua, went for a fresher and naturalistic smell. While this one is darker, it does have a powdery scent from the iris, and the aforementioned sweetness.

The cinnamon and pepper notes are there, but don’t have the same level of sharpness as I’d suspect, subdued underneath the other ingredients. Well, after the first 10 minutes or so, the opening is rather spicy.

Once things have calmed down, this really does become an oriental sort of cologne. Incense really comes through in the next wave, along with sandalwood, which will grow into a larger role later on.

Iris can be hit or miss for some guys, as it isn’t always featured in men’s fragrances. However, I really enjoy it in most applications, such as Dior Homme (which I have a full bottle of) and this Uomo series.

It plays its role to perfection, in this scent. It sits underneath, giving Noir that powdery/lipstick/makeup bag sort of aroma,

Finally, the dry down is a nice healthy dose of sandalwood. Along side it, are light cinnamon/pepper, iris and incense smokiness. Warm, slightly spicy, creamy/powdery, and a sweet touch.

Noir Absolu has a good bit of development and actually gives you a few different experiences throughout the wear.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of Uomo Noir Absolu is pretty strong. At the start, it is quite heavy, but calms down later on in the wear. The initial spice, can be intense, and spraying too much can overwhelm. Not too much is needed here.

It’ll project off of the skin, somewhere in the 6-7 foot area after the initial spray, if you don’t go crazy with the application.

The longevity with this fragrance is great. These notes stick around in the 8-10 hour range, it’s probably the best of the Uomo line, with its longevity. But, it’s also the most dense out of them as well.

The performance will not disappoint at all.

This one is built for the colder parts of the year. Not a wear for tropical climates. It’d melt in the heat, not too pleasant. Autumn through early spring, is when this one will be at its best.

This has enough style and class to be worn formally. Will gather complements. Probably for guys mid-20s and up versus something built for the teens and college-age.

This can totally be worn for the nightlife. In fact, it’d be a unique choice for that scenario and allow you to stand out from the crowd. The performance here, is all around wonderful.

Overall Impressions of Uomo Noir Absolu?

Do I like this cologne? I do. I think other folks, like this more than I do, however. Don’t get me wrong, it is very good. It’s just that I prefer Uomo Acqua and the original, to this.

I think Noir, is better for guys who want a darker version, where sandalwood is played up instead of iris.

The performance is great, it smells nice, and gives you a unique vibe. I’ve seen it compared to Tom Ford’s Black Orchid and I completely get why. This is a more masculine version, of that scent.

Personally, this is a like, rather than a love. I enjoy aspects of this scent, but it kind of got on my nerves, with the sandalwood and spice. The iris is always good in the Valentino colognes and I liked the incense note that was kicking around.

Not my personal taste, but a lot of guys will completely dig this cologne. Valentino has been crushing these releases, as of late.

Seven Intense by James Bond 007

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I’ve reviewed most of the James Bond 007 line of men’s colognes up to this point, but found a sample vial of another one in a box, that I had lying around. So, today’s review entry will be of that one, entitled: Seven Intense. This is the flanker fragrance to the original Seven for Men. What’s inside? How does it actually smell? Does it perform well? Is it actually worth a purchase?

What does Seven Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: oud, leather, vanilla, cinnamon, amber, nutmeg, saffron, caramel, and more

Click here to try: 007 Fragrances Seven Intense Colognes, 1.6 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Seven Intense gives me a blend of cinnamon and leather. It’s got a smooth, warm, and masculine spice that is actually quite well done.

I didn’t know what to expect coming into this one, but I was pleasantly surprised by the start. After about 5 minutes, I start to detect the oud note and a bit of amber, but not all that much.

There is some general sweetness in this mix, but nothing that is distinct early on. Supposedly, there is notes of orange, apple, and bergamot up top. However, I don’t really get any of that. Cinnamon and leather with some sweet touches.

I want to talk about a dry down period with Seven Intense, it’s just that, there really isn’t one. If I really press my nose to my skin I can get a faint vanilla and possibly caramel sweetness, but it is so damn faint. This 007 cologne, like so many of the others, is really weak.

It’s called Seven Intense, you’d figure that they’d actually try to add some intensity, but alas. I’d like to add more detail to how it smells, but that’s about its entire lifespan.

Based on the notes, I would expect something with a lot more depth and nuance. It’s not there, though. I do like that opening.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

As I mentioned, the projection is extremely lacking. If you apply a lot of the fragrance, you’ll get a few minutes before it becomes a skin scent…the sillage/projection sucks.

The longevity here isn’t exactly great, either. You might be able to smell it for 3 hours or thereabouts and that’s it. Most of that time will be that vague vanilla and caramel, that I wrote about.

I think it’s a shame that the performance is so bad with this cologne because I actually think that Seven Intense smells really nice. Had they put forth the effort to give this scent some punch, it would be on the list as a great inexpensive fragrance.

The warmth, the leather/oud combo, the cinnamon spice, and the sweet undertones…I like it all. This is a scent that should be right up my alley, as it’s ingredients fit the profile of just about everything I really enjoy.

When it could be worn? Cold weather. Casually, semi-formal. It’d be a great little starter cologne for younger men. If it could be a better put together fragrance.

Overall Impressions of Seven Intense

Overall, do I recommend Seven Intense? Obviously not. It’s probably one of the best smelling colognes from the 007 line of fragrances, it just has terrible performance. I wish companies would stop labeling weak sauce scents as ‘intense’.

It’s like they just need a word to separate it from the original, whether or not it fits the bill as intense, is irrelevant. That’s my biggest complaint with these James Bond colognes, they all usually smell good to very good, they just cheap out on making them last.

They are usually inexpensive, but not super cheap. I also see bottles going for over $40, which is pretty ridiculous for something that should be under $10 with what you actually get.

The 007 line has plenty of colognes with potential, but rarely hit their mark.

Brit Rhythm for Men by Burberry

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I am a fan of Burberry fragrances for everyday wear, especially for the younger crowd, as this design firm makes affordable choices which smell very good and perform well for many different occasions. Today, I want to focus on Burberry Brit Rhythm for Men.

This is another addition to the great run of scents produced by Burberry, albeit one that might not enjoy very much esteem from niche fragrance collectors. In this post, I want to take a bit of a close look at Burberry Brit Rhythm and review its pros and cons.

Also check out: Best Smelling Burberry Fragrances for Men

What does Brit Rhythm for Men Smell Like?

burberry rhythm

Notes include: basil, verbena, cardamom, juniper berries, leather, tonka bean, incense

Click here to try: BURBERRY Brit Rhythm Men Eau De Toilette

My Full Wear Review

Brit Rhythm is a nice change of pace from many colognes that are geared more towards younger men. A lot of those types of scents are extremely sweet or fruity, which isn’t bad, but isn’t always what we want as guys to smell like.

This isn’t to say that Burberry Brit Rhythm is wholly unique, but it does deliver a beautiful scent best suited for autumn and the early spring months.

While I’m on the topic of its uniqueness, it does have similar qualities to fragrances such as Chanel Allure Homme Sport, Gucci Guilty, and Armani Code.

Again, those are all great scents but Rhythm is available for a much cheaper price in most cases. This is a cologne which screams value. Plus, it doesn’t completely mimic any one of them. Just shared characteristics.

It opens for me with the lead leather note, juniper berries, tonka, and verbena. It starts out sweet, but again, it never comes across as that sweet to my nose. The scent itself is masculine, with its leathery notes, but has an underlying energy which makes it both intriguing and attractive.

Its aroma is fresh with a touch of sweetness, though, rooted in a cedar woodsy base with patchouli thrown in. An energetic outdoorsy smell, thanks to a cedar note.

The dry down, is where it really transforms from that opening of tonka and juniper to more of a leather and patchouli blend with some tonka and herbal undertones. It’s all very fresh and quite wearable.

It has a drier aroma, coming from the base, but it maintains some level of creaminess or sweetness to it thanks to that tonka note. Which, at times has a powdered scent as well. But, that isn’t too prominent to my nose.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Rhythm projects itself well and doesn’t overwhelm your own senses or that of those around you. Not a bomb, but solid, and won’t go unnoticed. It’s above average, so no real complaints. It isn’t one to leave a huge scent trail behind, unless you went wild with the sprays.

It lasts fairly well also, I’d say 6-8 hours, which isn’t outstanding but works just fine for most guy’s purposes. With an inexpensive bottle, you’ll get your money’s worth.

It really depends on the day and the climate, as to what I get from Rhythm. Either way, those last few hours aren’t going to be strong.

It isn’t too heavy of a fragrance. So, you will be able to get use out of it beyond just late autumn and into winter. I wouldn’t be using it in the heat. Though, it the more moderate temperatures of spring, Rhythm works just fine.

This fragrance is also a versatile one which can be worn out, at work, school, or anywhere really which boosts it higher in my book.

Brit Rhythm is pleasant and attractive in a non-descript way. People really won’t know what it is, but it is a simple grab, that can get complements.

It doesn’t stray too immature or too serious. As far as age range goes, it casts a pretty wide net.

Overall Impressions of Brit Rhythm

If you are looking for an inexpensive scent that is fresh, masculine, and great for everyday wear then I would say Burberry Brit Rhythm is definitely a solid option.

Younger guys on a budget, could do a lot worse than this cologne, but this really is a good performer at this pricing point.

Though, I admittedly enjoy the original Brit more. If you’re a guy who wants something really unique or a bit more advanced, there is plenty else out there. However, this Burberry flanker is nothing to scoff at, and actually pretty darn good.

The leather, tonka, and woodiness are great together and give you plenty to enjoy. It’s not a cologne that screams for attention, but does a whole lot well. No major weaknesses, but not spectacular either.

Angel Muse EDP by Thierry Mugler

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Moving right along through these ladies perfume reviews, I have one today for another Thierry Mugler perfume: Angel Muse. Obviously, this is a flanker to the original Angel that was released back in the early 1990s, and has been a best seller ever since. Is this one worth it? How does it smell? Does it actually perform well?

What does Angel Muse Smell Like?

Notes include: patchouli, vetiver, hazelnut cream, pink pepper, wood

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Angel Muse Eau de Parfum spray, 1.0 oz

My Full Muse Review

Angel Muse is a very interesting scent for me, as patchouli usually represents a wildcard for my nose, as to whether or not I’ll enjoy a fragrance. The opening is a blast of patchouli with sugary sweetness of the hazelnut cream and a fruit note in there as well.

Grapefruit is the citrus fruit note and has that sparkling sharp brightness to it. Mixed with the patchouli and pink pepper note up top, this one can start out pretty earthy, with a level of dirtiness to it. The opening isn’t all that fantastic, but this gets way better to my nose.

It reminds me of  I Love NY for Holidays by Bond No. 9, as it has that same sweet baked goods feeling mixed with patchouli. Of course, it also shares so much DNA with the original Angel, too.

However, I will say that Angel Muse does it better and ultimately differentiates itself from the Bond No. 9 fragrance. I think the inclusion of the vetiver note was a great choice, as it adds an earthy/woodsy aroma, for depth.

Angel Muse is so smooth while maintaining that unique earthy smell and it’s quite fantastic.

During the dry down, I get more of the vetiver and hazelnut. There is of course a creamy quality to the fragrance from the hazelnut cream, but I also think there might be some tonka bean in there. I

t’s warm and enveloping with a bit of spice from pink pepper and the dominant patchouli.

The dry down is really where it’s at with Angel Muse. Once the grapefruit has faded away, the whole composition fits together better. The hazelnut cream note, is the absolute highlight of the fragrance for me.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Angel Muse never strikes me as too loud or heavy, and I’d call the sillage moderate. Maybe, upper end of that rang. You won’t have to spray a lot and you won’t choke out the room. Mugler did a great job of balancing both the notes and the performance.

The projection itself will at least be a few feet from the skin for a vast majority of the wear before it finally tapers off.

Longevity is also awesome, it will last all day no problem. I’d say at its max, it hung around for 10 hours. Usually, falling into that 8-10 hour range, closer to the lower numbers most of the time. Yet, it still delivers plenty.

Climate wise, this one is for the autumn/winter, and probably won’t be great in the high heat of summer. One could wear Angel Muse casually, romantically, or even out in a night club scenario. It’s a very versatile fragrance.

Though, it’s not really a formal kind of wear. But, with some lighter application, it would be just fine at work or something along those lines.

Muse is warm, inviting, and has a certain sexiness to it. It is kept from being too sweet and overwhelming by the vetiver and patchouli, which makes this much more appealing and mature.

Overall Impressions of Angel Muse

Overall, would I recommend Angel Muse by Thierry Mugler? Yes. I like it a whole lot. I actually just now figured out what I like about the dry down and that hazelnut/cocoa aroma. It’s because of its resemblance to the opening of Dior Homme Intense, due to the shared vetiver note.

Angel Muse is much more feminine and sweeter, but there is a similarity there and I dig it. Ultimately, Angel Muse is dry and warm and sweet and great.

Some may not care for the opening act (I don’t really either). Also, patchouli and vetiver can be a turn off for other folks. That woody/earthiness works well, in my view. Others, may find it to be too much.

The good news is, that this perfume gets better as the wear moves along. It’s got solid strength and staying power.

The creaminess is fantastic and this one gives you a crowd pleasing yet pretty unique experience. This is one of the better Angel perfumes and an awesome gourmand.

Update: This one has been discontinued.