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!

Burberry Sport for Women

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In today’s review, we have an entry for the ladies from the Burberry lineup: Burberry Sport for Women. It was released in 2010, so it has been around for a while at this point, but is it any good? What are the notes? What does it smell like? Does it perform well? Please continue below for my full take on this perfume.

What does Burberry Sport for Women Smell Like?

Notes include: sea salt, honeysuckle, mandarin, magnolia, cedar, ginger, musk

Click here to try: Burberry Sport Perfume for Women Eau de Toilette 1.7 fl. Oz

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Burberry Sport is heavy on the mandarin orange note and this is paired with sea salt. It does have quite a beachy feel to it, like a sea breeze coming on shore.

This is paired with ginger, which gives it a bit of a fizzy drink quality. After 5-10 minutes, the orange note settles down, and the white florals emerge. That opening is nice, feels familiar to me, but I cannot think of the perfume it resembles.

I get a lot of honeysuckle and some magnolia, but mostly the former. Burberry Sport is fresh and clean with some slightly spicy musk undertones.

I must say that the honeysuckle is very nice here. Even within a rather simplistic composition, that note stood out to me.

The composition is bright, sunny, and upbeat. To me, the fragrance is pretty darn linear, and there isn’t really any changes to my nose beyond this point.

In the end, I get a salty mandarin, ginger, honeysuckle, and a dash of musk. Together, it is pretty soapy and fresh.

I do enjoy the sea salt and ginger notes, especially. When paired with mandarin, it puts out a really great vibe.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage is toward the lighter end of things, but I’d call it moderate. It’s not going to blow the doors off of anything, but it isn’t completely weak either. Not quite sheer, but not an insane cloud of fragrance.

Longevity is around 4-5 hours, on my skin. That’s not great, but a few extra sprays could bump that number up somewhat. Honestly, the performance is lacking with normal application, so I wouldn’t pay a high price for a bottle of Sport.

Seasonally, Burberry Sport is a warm weather fragrance. So, spring or summer is when this would be at its best. It does sit nicely in the air while walking outside, even without a huge sillage.

However, it is light and attractive enough, to be of use in a variety of situations. It’d be a nice choice for an everyday wear for office work or at school. It can also be used casually or for a sporty refresher.

Overall Impressions of Burberry Sport for Her

Overall, do I like Burberry Sport for Her? I think that it’s a nice fragrance, but it isn’t amazing by any stretch of the imagination. It is a clean and pleasant sort of fragrance, when you want something that is simple and low key.

You get a lot of the mandarin note, so if that’s not your thing, you’d be well served to skip this. It has florals but they aren’t too powerful in this one. Even the honeysuckle, isn’t overwhelming. It has its moments, but shares power for a lot of the wear.

It’s linear, well blended, and a nice little scent. The performance isn’t the best, but  Burberry Sport could certainly serve its purpose.

The highlights are the sea salt and ginger, which go well with the mandarin orange. It loses some of its charm, when it gets a bit more soapy and musky later on.

Again, though, not really all that much development. I don’t think this is made any longer, but, it might be worth a shot at a heavy discount from the online retailers.

Light Blue for Women by Dolce & Gabbana

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Here in my latest batch of reviews on this site, I wanted to tackle another ladies’ fragrance, Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana. This has been one of the most popular perfumes for women for over a decade now, and I wanted to see, just what it is about this scent that keeps demand so high.

I mean, I’ve come across the fragrance seemingly countless times with women, over the years. It’s really piqued my interest. In this post, I give my impressions on its opening, its dry down, how it smells, its longevity, and my overall feelings about this fragrance.

What does D&G Light Blue for Her Smell Like?

Light Blue by D&G Perfume for women

Notes include: rose, apple, musk, lemon, jasmine, and more

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue By Dolce & Gabbana For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz

My Full Review

The opening of Light Blue is a bright citrus affair, which is held together by the lemon and apple notes.  I also distinctly noticed the rose note, that gave it a slight floral take on the predominantly citrus open.

It is a very crisp and refreshing scent at first, and I can see why, this is such a popular choice in the summertime. Light Blue doesn’t come on too strong or pungent in my opinion, however, it isn’t completely weak either.

The lemon is the main player here and while the apple is strong it is sort of the backup. It provides that watery juiciness and lighter feel to the composition. I really like the opening, even if it can be sharp, as I find the lemon to be nice with its sort of sugary lemonade aroma.

When it dries down, I feel that Light Blue loses some of its charm. It seems to become a more earthy/floral/woodsy scent, although the lemon doesn’t fade away.

It is still light and clean but just doesn’t feel as beautiful as it does during the opening and the apple note is almost completely gone. That said, it is still a perfume which smells quite good, just not as much as it does at first.

The dry down picks up some muskiness, which is all to common with these sorts of citrus scents. I also get some woody base notes, jasmine, and that rose note from the opening.

Cedar provides that smooth freshness at the base of the perfume and is really quite nice, when paired with the floral notes. Finally, the musk and the lemon dominate things, until it fades away completely.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s not a beast, as the name ‘Light Blue’ suggests. However, it is still quite noticeable and it for sure, didn’t become just a skin scent when I tested it out.

At first, it does have a decent amount of ability to create a scent trail. It’s not heavy or a ‘thick’ kind of fragrance. Instead, that initial sharpness is just noticeable. Plus, the perfume can project itself a good ways away.

Yes, that distance will come in closer, but it will have a nice scent bubble for much of the wear.

In terms of longevity, this fragrance just keeps going, which you sometimes don’t expect from something that isn’t a heavy perfume.

It’s one of those can be sprayed on in the morning and be there until you shower in the evening. This is part of the reason that Light Blue has been so popular for so long. On my skin, it is in the 10+ hour range. Don’t know when it ends exactly.

I would say that this is best for the spring/summer months, which is what it was designed for. However, it pretty much is a year round scent, that you can spray on and forget about.

It’s got good versatility, for work, school, or just casually hanging out. Not really a night club fragrance or date night perfume, but it’s nice enough to garner complements, even if it’s not really ‘sexy’.

This is a ‘can do’ daily wear fragrance, that can easily cover your bases, in terms of usefulness. It’s definitely not a niche perfume and has obviously struck a chord with its mass appeal.

It may not be the most original scent to go with anymore, but a great deal of that is precisely because it can be worn in so many scenarios.

Overall Impressions of Light Blue for Women

Overall, Light Blue is a safe casual wear perfume that is clean and inoffensive. It doesn’t require more than a few sprays to do its job.

I wouldn’t really call this an evening wear or romantic fragrance (though not out of place either), but this Dolce & Gabbana is one that can be worn to school or the office by ladies of any age group.

Another solid option and perhaps even more versatile is Bright Crystal by Versace. Light Blue really is a great starter perfume for women, as it does everything well enough, and isn’t some extreme scent that folks will either love or hate.

The lemon and the apple in the opening act are the highlights for me. Crisp, bright, and sharp…but it has a charm to it and I dig the smell.

It has sort of become the no-brainer go to scent for a lot of people over the years. That’s why there’s been so many cheaper alternative perfumes like Light Blue released over the years.

Is it going to stand out as something new? Nope. It will provide you with something easy to wear and versatile at a good price. Sometimes, that’s all you need.

Versace Eros vs Eau Fraiche Cologne Comparison

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Versace has a whole line of wonderful smelling men’s colognes and two of the best selling fragrances in the world belong to the franchise, Eros and Versace Man Eau Fraiche. As such, many guys narrow their choice of what cologne to purchase to between these Versace gems.

How do they compare? Which one smells better? Which lasts longer? In this post, I want to compare these two scents and try to determine a clear winner or at least point to some deciding factors, that should help make a decision.

Tale of the Tape: Eau Fraiche vs. Eros

Versace Eros

Notes of Eros: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver

Read my Eros review

Shop Amazon for: Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

Versace Man Eau Fraiche 

Notes include: Lemon, Rosewood, Carambola, Cedar leaves, Tarragon, Sage, Musk, Amber, Sycamore

My original review

Click here to try: Versace Man Eau Fraiche By Gianni Versace For Men Edt Spray 3.4 Oz

Opening

The opening of Eros is rich and complex. It’s a gourmand type of scent that blends the crispness of mint and apple with the smooth flavors of tonka bean and vanilla.

Update: Newer bottles seem to have more lemon, then they used to. As such, the opening act has a more noticeable citrus kick.

Eau Fraiche is a very cool fragrance that opens with the scent of frozen citrus, you literally get a chilled scent. It’s quite sharp with lemon and starfruit. Add to that, some rosemary spice and the freshness of the woody base.

I think Eros has more character and is more interesting from the beginning, though I have no complaints about either. I do really like the starfruit aspect of Eau Fraiche, but I’d still give Eros the edge.

Update: Ehhh, coming back to these two. I am going to change it to Fraiche. Maybe it’s just me, but the balance of the newer Eros bottles seems off. The opening of Fraiche is sharp and fresh, but strikes me as a bit better now.

Edge: Fraiche

Projection

Neither of these bad boys is weak by any means. Eros is loud and heavy. Seriously, I wouldn’t ever overdo this scent. Eau Fraiche is no slouch and while not as strong as Eros it can still be a projection beast, at first.

Update: Eros has weakened somewhat, but is still ahead in this matchup. Eau Fraiche becomes more of a moderate, the further along you get into it. It’s sharpness up top, does project very well, though.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

Again, both are good performers. All day wear from both. Eros just doesn’t seem to quit sometimes, while Man Eau Fraiche, usually gets me 6-7 hours of solid wear before tapering off.

Update: Nowadays, I get in the 8-9 hour range with Eros. Not double digits anymore.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

To me, this is where the true decision lies between these two colognes. Eros is a cold weather fragrance and can be too much for casual situations (at least use it lightly).

Meanwhile, Eau Fraiche is a classic summetime scent, it can hold up during the rest of the year but it has that warm weather vibe to it. Plus, Eau Fraiche, is better for casual situations since it is not as heavy.

Eau Fraiche just has an easier time fitting in during a greater number of scenarios. Neither is a formal fragrance, however.

Edge: Eau Fraiche

Overall Scent

I like Eros better. I just find the warmth and complexity inherently appealing. However, Versace Man Eau Fraiche is probably more serviceable as an everyday wear. One is built for the winter while another shines in the summer.

They really are on two ends of the spectrum, so the best buy is up to your personal needs from the fragrance. I’d rather wear Eros out of these two. Even, with the slight changes I pick up from newer bottles of Eros, I still would gravitate toward that more often.

That being said, it’s much closer than it used to be and I’m very close to give Fraiche the win straight up. If I’m going to get a lemony opening from both, I like the pairing with starfruit from Fraiche.

The mint, vanilla, lemon blend used to be better. But, on the whole, Eros still has plenty going for it.

Winner: Eros (very slightly)

Carat by Cartier

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Carat by the famed jewelry designer, Cartier, sort of flew under the radar after its release in 2018. I’ve had a sample of this perfume for a while and really only recently decided to try it out. What does it smell like? Is Carat worth a try? How does this fragrance perform?

What does Cartier Carat Smell Like?

Notes include: hyacinth, tulip, bergamot, violet, mimosa, lily, and more

Click here to try: Carat by Cartier

My Full Wear Review

How Cartier describes Carat: The radiance of a diamond on the skin, the luminous fragrance of a flowering rainbow. 

Cold. Fresh. Green…this is how Carat by Cartier starts off. It’s like a mix of mint, vetiver, and stems. Not that any of these notes are actually in this composition, but that’s the impression that it gives off. 

Carat feels sharp, in its opening moments and icy, is the way I would describe it. You have to understand from the description, that the goal was to create a floral fragrance based on the colors of a rainbow. As such, it all blends together into something which can be difficult to pick apart.

The brightness early on comes from a combo of the pear and the bergamot notes. Again though, neither really stands out as distinct, but if you’ve experienced the scents before you get the impression that they’re in the mix.

At times, I get lots of tulip. Then, mimosa. Then, hyacinth. These are the main floral notes that I can distinguish. The rest of the blend? Super clean with soapy/powdery elements depending on how long it has been on your skin. 

I like the energy in this scent. Easy to wear, somewhat familiar, but has a distinct quality due to how it all comes together. 

The end is more floral, green, and a tad watery. Sort of like a bouquet sitting inside a vase. Hyacinth and some violet is mostly what I pick up in the latter stages.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sharpness and power it displays in the beginning, is pretty misleading. It actually is a lighter moderate perfume. More than a skin scent, but not an absolute powerhouse.

Longevity is pretty good. On first try about 5 hours. Second try, almost 7. Not spectacular, but it has the potential to be a solidly performing scent. I’d say, I would probably get closer to 7 more often than not.

 

Seasonally, this would be best in warmer weather. Not necessarily the hottest days of summer, but definitely a springtime wear. It is more of a ladies perfume, however, it is pretty unisex. Not really girly, in its overall flower arrangement. 

Casual, daytime, work, semi-formal. Carat really isn’t a nightlife or romantic wear perfume. Versatile, but not for every occasion.

These sorts of greenish floral perfumes, aren’t particularly sexy. But, they can be fun to change things up with, by going for something that is more naturalistically fresh in how it comes across.

Overall Impressions of Cartier Carat

Do I like this scent? I do. It’s a pretty unique experience and a different take on the usual floral perfumes. I really like that opening blast of cold freshness. Also, the way that it is so well blended at times, that it becomes a completely distinct scent.

The performance is pretty good, but not great. The aroma itself is better than average. I did like this Cartier, but I’m not in love with it. This probably isn’t going to appeal to a mass audience, but plenty of people will like it, and it is worth a shot.

The opening is really bright and does live up to that carat name. As it moves along, it’s got a bouquet like feel to it. The watery greenish aroma with bursts of tulips, hyacinth, and the other floral notes.

Crisp, fresh, soapy, and floral. All in a big step by step process. I don’t know if it’s one to pay full price for, but at a discount, Carat could be a nice play…if it sounds like your type of perfume.

Joy by Christian Dior

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Another sample that I found stashed away in a box recently, is this fragrance by Dior and the subject of today’s review, Joy. Joy has become a very popular scent since its release a few years back now. The ad campaign featured Jennifer Lawrence and was seemingly all over the place for a while. How does it smell, perform, when should it be worn, and is it worth a buy? Please continue below for my full take and review on this perfume.  

What does Joy by Dior Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, jasmine, peach, musk, orange, sandalwood, patchouli

Click here to try: Joy by Dior

Full Wear Review

Before we get into my thoughts about this scent, let’s see how Dior describes it: A fragrance like a whisper wrapped in the milky softness of sandalwood and the comforting brightness of white musks, blended with a sensual floral heart shining with rose and jasmine. Joy, finally captured in a scent faceted with a thousand enveloping nuances.

Joy opens with a blend of citrus fruits and peach, that seem as if they are dipped in powdered sugar and vanilla. Yes, there is a definite powdery quality to this Dior, but the early fruit notes keep it sweet and away from a baby powder sort of scent.

I enjoy that initial spray, as the perfume feels like it lives up to its name, being quite bright, upbeat, and joyous. However, the opening act is short-lived and this one begins to quickly move into its more floral stage. 

Once it transitions, my nose picks up a lot more jasmine than I do rose. I mean, the rose is there, but I get jasmine, musk, and powder more so…with a hint of patchouli. It’s very clean and pretty linear thereafter.

The only real notable change the rest of the way, is the light creaminess stemming from the sandalwood, blending with the jasmine and rose. This goes from that sweet powdered citrus opening to being mostly a floral scent.

Outside of that brief opening act, Joy seems to very much be a fragrance where you’re essentially going to get most of what to expect, and be able to tell if you like it or not.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Joy has a pretty moderate sillage, during that opening act, and then it is very light. Not undetectable, but not at all a fragrance that projects itself. That’s not a terrible thing, especially for a daily wear, but don’t expect something super bold.

This Dior will give you a small personal scent bubble, but isn’t going to ever blow out a room, unless you spill it all over.

The longevity also isn’t great. It will hang around for somewhere between 5-6.5 hours, before it’s gone from the skin. The performance is definitely one of the weak points for Joy. I do wish that it could at least hit the 8 hour mark, but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards.

 

 

One of its strengths is its versatility. Joy can work well year round and isn’t super niche. This could absolutely be a daily wear for someone either at work, school, or casually. It is put together well enough for semi-formal to formal occasions, as well.

Not really sexy or a nightlife perfume, though. It’s just one that isn’t going to be bothersome to most people and won’t feel like it really stands out like a sore thumb, for the wrong occasion.

Overall Impressions of Dior Joy

Do I like Joy? I like it well enough. It’s not amazing, but not a bad fragrance by any means. I was kind of disappointed that the opening, didn’t stick around for a long time, as that is my favorite part.

The jasmine led dry down is attractive, balanced, but not incredible. I like the happy kind of emotions that this Dior provides and I never felt that it ever smelled bad or was subpar in any way. 

It’s not super original or anything that’s going be all that distinct, but it is a fairly solid perfume overall. The main drawback really is the performance.

Not much sillage, but doesn’t have an elite longevity, either. You might get a few more hours than I did, but it’s just not a powerful scent.

You’ve probably smelled a fragrance similar to Joy before. However, it is a safe bet that provides an above average aroma with daily wear versatility. Whether that is enough to bet on, depends solely on what kind of perfume you’re after. 

Joy is one that can be a daily wear or certainly find a way in one’s rotation. But, not an absolute must have.