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!

Very Good Girl by Carolina Herrera

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Good Girl has been a big hit for Carolina Herrera, and so, of course a ton of flanker editions have been spun off from the original. In 2021, the brand released, Very Good Girl. Which, has been one of the most popular of the lot.

I got a sample of this perfume with a Macy’s fragrance order and have been testing it out. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is Very Good Girl worth a try?

What does Very Good Girl Smell Like?

Notes include: litchi, rose, red currant, vetiver, vanilla

Click here to try: Very Good Girl 30 ml Eau de Parfum, 1 fl oz

My Full Review

Here’s how Herrera describe it: Fun, fabulous and fearless, Very Good Girl is a bold new interpretation of the iconic Good Girl scent. Evolving Carolina Herrera’s vision of the duality of the modern woman, this irresistible fragrance will walk straight into your heart with its seductive rose scent and red-hot design.

Very Good Girl opens up with litchi, as the main attraction. Quite sweet and loud, with red currant, giving an added tartness to the aroma.  The red currant is much weaker than the litchi from the get go and will soon be replaced by the strengthening rose note.

After the initial blast, this one does get a more powdery aroma. Not overwhelming so on me, but the litchi and rose do have that effect. That’s a good thing, as much of the tartness up top will subside and it will be more of a fruity sweetness.

As it moves along, you will get more of the vanilla note and a general freshness to the scent. It’s not a thick or heavy feeling, rather, lighter and pleasant, which gives Very Good Girl some great versatility in its uses.

This is a pretty straightforward blend. The changes over time, are more towards the rose and the fresh feeling. Nonetheless, the rose and litchi are in control the entire time. Vanilla comes and goes and you will pick up the additional vetiver note.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Very Good Girl starts off with a nice bit of power, but it isn’t too extreme. Call it the upper edge of what could be considered moderate. From there, the sillage will become lighter and fairly average after the first hour or so. Solid, but not monstrous.

On my skin, Very Good Girl lasted in the 7-plus hour range during testing. It did manage to hit 8 hours, but most of the time, it will be around 7. Pretty good, but you shouldn’t expect a marathon length of performance.

Seasonally, is where you do get plenty of performance, as Very Good Girl can fit in pretty much year round. Probably best around the average temperatures, but cold and warmer weather, can do just fine.

I like it more when it’s somewhat chilly outside, more so than in warmer weather. I’d just stay away from the extremes with this fragrance.

This is more of casual, daily wear, or nightlife scent. It can fit the role of pretty much anything except for super dressy or formal affairs.

It is subtle enough for most daytime applications, but also has enough personality for the night. It’s likeable, attractive, somewhat sexy. Very Good Girl gets the job done, it’s just not the most seductive thing out there.

 

Overall Impressions of Very Good Girl

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I like it. However, I don’t like Very Good Girl as much as other similar scents (hello, Angel Nova) and the original Good Girl is a bit better too. It’s nice enough, has good performance, and is versatile.

But, it’s not an amazing perfume.

The tart sweetness of the litchi and red currant is a pretty big punch early on. The litchi might be the note which makes or breaks your own interest in this scent, as it is rather prominent.

The rose is fine, I like it better during the dry down than when it is paired with the heavier fruitiness.

The dry down is a nice pinkish rose, fruit, some vanilla creaminess, and a light fresh feeling. Honestly, it’s a good perfume, but it never screams that it is a must have.

It is worth giving a try, if it sounds like your style. It’s still somewhat a perfume like Good Girl. Very Good Girl has its strengths, but as a whole, is a slightly above average scent.

Gucci Guilty EDT vs. Parfum

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Gucci keeps coming out with new versions of their Guilty line. Some, are wildly different from the originals. While others, share a pretty similar overall vibe. Guilty Pour Homme Parfum, falls in that latter category. So, with that being the case, how does Parfum compare to the original EDT? Which lasts longer? Smells better?

Tale of the Tape: Guilty EDT vs Parfum?

Gucci Guilty

Notes include: lemon, orange blossom, lavender, patchouli, cedar, pink pepper, neroli

Click here to try: Guilty By Gucci EDT spray for Men, 3 Ounce

Read my original review: Gucci Guilty

Guilty Parfum

Notes include: juniper, orange flower, cistus, lavender, nutmeg, lemon, patchouli, musk

Click here to try: Guilty Pour Homme Parfum by Gucci (Macy’s)

Opening

Gucci Guilty opens up with a blend of lemon, pink pepper, and lavender. It’s a light, warm, and calming fragrance with added base notes of cedar and patchouli.

While it feels basic, it’s actually fairly unique in how it comes across when compared to other scents. At least when compared with non-Guilty fragrances.

With Guilty Parfum, you get a fresh and aromatic fragrance early on. The lemon is more peel than juicy fruit. It has a colder and woodsier feeling versus EDT. The juniper and nutmeg, really are pretty dominant at the opening stages, on my skin.

Which is better? I like EDT. It’s quite nice to smell. Straightforward and attractive.

But, I prefer the opening of Parfum more so. It’s a better mix, with some more depth, and a different profile. Plus, I like that juniper and nutmeg blend.

Edge: Parfum

Projection

Comparing an EDT to a Parfum, it’s pretty clear that the latter should have the greater sillage, just based on the perfume concentration. Parfum, for sure does. But, it isn’t a total beast, however.

Guilty EDT is moderate for the first few hours of the wear. Then, it will be pretty light and airy for the rest of the way. Not a huge performer, but it generally stays above skin scent level right up until the end.

With Guilty Parfum, it hits the upper end of the moderate range. Not massive, but it will project itself 4-6 feet for a while. Then, it too will begin to lighten up after a few hours. Still, it maintains more than Guilty and reaches a higher high.

Edge: Parfum

Longevity

Guilty EDT isn’t a workhorse. Anytime that I’ve used it, I’ve only gotten 5-6 hours of wear from it. It’s pretty average and doesn’t simply disappear. But, it’s not something that keeps going.

Is Parfum better? Yes, but it’s longevity is in the 7-8 hour range. Solid, but it also isn’t a complete performer. 7-8 hours is good and about what I would expect with something like this.

Parfum has the clear edge here. 

Edge: Parfum

Versatility

Both of these are extremely versatile. They can be worn nearly year round…accepting the hottest and coldest days. Both are great daytime wears, with the ability to handle the nightlife. 

These two Guilty fragrances are kind of no-brainers. Not the most formal occasions, but fit in fairly well most other places.

But, I think that Parfum has more maturity in comparison. Older guys can enjoy it, as well as younger ones, who are more the target audience for EDT. Very easy to wear, either way, but Parfum gets the nod.

Edge: Parfum

 

Overall Scent

Gucci Guilty EDT has always been something that I liked, but never really had much attraction to wear. I’ve always preferred its flankers.

It is a simple and clean fragrance, that is a good go to for a wide variety of situations. The main focus is simple and are the lemon, lavender, and pink pepper note.

It has a slight woody/earthiness to the aroma, but also some nice floral sweetness. By no means a bad one, just nothing that jumps out.

Guilty Pour Homme Parfum? It’s a very good scent. Not a complete classic, but one that I’ve enjoyed wearing in this short time since its release. It’s just an across the board better cologne than the original EDT.

It has similarities to Guilty Intense, but even feels like an improvement upon that. You get balance between citrus, freshness, floral notes, and woodsiness in the dry down. I just like wearing it more so than the original. Plus, better performance.

It’s a clean sweep for Parfum.

Winner: Parfum

Baccarat Rouge 540 vs. Grand Soir

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Maison Francis Kurkdjian has some major hits in its lineup. Notably, Baccarat Rouge 540 and the subsequent Extrait version. But, it also has a very popular amber based perfume, Grand Soir, that has plenty of fans. For many, these two will be the last two under consideration before purchase. What’s the difference? Which lasts longer? Which perfume is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: BR 540 vs. Grand Soir

Baccarat Rouge 540

Notes include: saffron, ambergris, cedar, fir resin, jasmine

Click here to try: Buy from Saks

Grand Soir

Notes include: amber, vanilla, tonka bean, benzoin, labdanum

Click here to try: Grand Soir from Saks

Read my full review: Grand Soir

Opening

Baccarat rouge goes with the saffron and jasmine, front and center in the beginning. It’s clean, sweet, and presents a lemony tinge to it from the hedione (jasmine).

Sitting under that, is the amber and wood notes giving this a invigorating and resinous quality early on…which will become greater as it develops.

Grand Soir, on the other hand, reveals its main amber note immediately. You do get the softness of vanilla, and a bit of that medicinal quality from the benzoin note. The amber is smooth, with a nice spicy kick in there, very warm.

Which is better at the start? I do like the way that BR 540 kicks off. Both of them have a resinous quality to them, with Grand Soir being more so. BR also has a lighter and fluffier aroma, after its initially super clean freshness.

But, in the opening, I think I lean more towards Grand Soir. But, I don’t think the opening is either perfume’s strong suit.

Edge: Grand Soir

Projection

Rouge kicks off strong, goes moderate, and then has a stage wear it is pretty airy and light. It does hang around, but doesn’t have a heavy or overwhelming presence.

The same is true for Grand Soir. I get a fairly strong opening and then it’ll hang 2-3 feet from the skin, for most of the way.

To me, there isn’t really a noticeable difference here.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Meanwhile, BR 540 will land anywhere from 8-12 hours. It will land usually around 10 hours total, but it can vary somewhat depending on the day.

Grand Soir will also last over 10 hours. It can go just as long as Baccarat and sometimes longer. It also, hasn’t gone away on my skin, prior to that double digit hour mark. So, it takes this category.

Edge: Grand Soir

Versatility

While both of these fragrances are technically unisex, Grand Soir does lean much more masculine than does BR 540. Baccarat is more feminine. So, for some out there, that may be a distinction that can effect which you choose.

Seasonally, Grand Soir’s amber and vanilla richness is suited for the autumn and winter months. But, Baccarat Rouge 540 can be worn pretty much anytime outside of the height of summer.

Neither is a super sexy or night club beast kind of perfume. Both are attractive, daily wears for casual or semi-formal situations. Maybe Grand Soir is a bit dressier.

However, I think the seasonality of BR 540 gives it a bit more versatility and it will have a greater appeal than to those who love amber-laden fragrances.

Edge: BR 540

Overall Scent

Between these two, which do I prefer? It is a close call for me. Neither is an absolute love, but I like them each well enough.

Grand Soir is a very nice amber fragrance. You get soft spicy highlights and vanilla and tonka bean sweetness. Warm, enveloping, and resinous. The dry down is more powdery with lovely creamy highlights and the spiciness has subsided.

I like the way it dries down. But, I also get kind of bored with Grand Soir. It’s nice, but it feels pretty linear at times. Yes, you can wear it by itself, but I almost feel like you should find an appropriate scent to layer along with it.

Baccarat Rouge gets better and feels more dynamic. I like the smooth and candy-like sweetness, that can overcome the cold cleanliness of fir and cedar. Also, I am a big fan of saffron getting used in perfumes and it complements this Francis Kurkdjian fragrance well.

Yes, BR 540 has been mimicked to death and is everywhere nowadays. So many fragrances are trying to be a Baccarat Rouge 540 copy.

The performance isn’t too far apart either. I think many people will probably prefer to go with BR 540, even if Grand Soir is also damn good. Not a huge margin of victory, but I’ve just enjoyed Baccarat Rouge more in testing than its competitor.

Winner: BR 540

Good Girl vs Very Good Girl Perfume Comparison

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Good Girl’s success has allowed Carolina Herrera to come up with more newer and newer versions of this popular perfume. One of the more recent one’s released in 2021, is Very Good Girl. As such, these two often get compared or can be the final decision as to which a woman wants to purchase. How do they smell? Which lasts longer? Which actually is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Good Girl vs. Very Good Girl

Good Girl

Notes include: jasmine, coffee, bergamot, tuberose, almond, rose, tonka bean, cocoa

Click here to try: CAROLINA HERRERA Good Girl Eau de Perfume Spray, 2.7 Fl Oz

Read my Review: Good Girl by Carolina Herrera

Very Good Girl

Notes include: litchi, rose, red currant, vetiver, vanilla

Click here to try: Very Good Girl 30 ml Eau de Parfum, 1 fl oz

Read my review: Very Good Girl

Opening

Good Girl is about the white floral notes and citrus up top. Lemon, jasmine, and almond are the main attention grabbers, but some tuberose will come through.

That opening is short-lived, the citrus fades, and you get coffee to pair with the almond. At first, it’s more of a nutty gourmand, but cocoa and tonka bean will play a greater role.

With Very Good Girl, the litchi is a powerhouse up top. Yes, I do get the comparisons to Angel Nova, but that was even fruitier and sweeter with the raspberry. The red currant doesn’t pack the same punch.

Quite sweet and tart with the rose becoming more prominent, as things move along. Litchi and rose are going to be your main stars.

Which is better at the start? While I like the fruity sweetness that Very Good Girl provides, I actually think I prefer the citrus and jasmine of the original up top. 

That litchi and rose of Very Good Girl is fine, but probably isn’t as good as Angel Nova at that point, if you want the real fruitiness. The calmer blend of jasmine and almond with that sparkling citrus is better in the original.

Edge: Good Girl

Projection

Neither of these fragrances are super strong. They each project themselves above average for the first hour or so and then gradually become softer.

The sillage overall is moderate. Neither feels heavy and each has enough fresh aspects to keep from getting bogged down.

I will say, neither is weak. They actually do a nice job at hanging around without feeling completely obtrusive with normal amounts of spraying. 

But, I really don’t notice a distinct difference in this category.

Edge: Push

Longevity

With the longevity, Good Girl lasted on my skin for around 8 hours during testing. It was pretty much like clockwork, in this regard. No more and really no less, either. It’s a solid performer among the more mass appealing options.

With Very Good Girl, it’s close to that. But, I’d say it leans more towards the 7 hour mark than 8 hours. 

Good Girl is just a tad bit better than its flanker, but not a major difference. It’s strange, as I would’ve thought going in to testing each of them, that Very Good Girl would’ve had the edge based on the notes and structure. Nope.

Edge: Good Girl

Versatility

Seasonally, Good Girl is best served in the autumn and winter months. Much more of a pure cold weather perfume, that can sort of venture into moderate temperatures. Meanwhile, Very Good Girl is good pretty much year round. It doesn’t have the same limitations.

Good Girl isn’t strictly a nighttime fragrance but leans that way or for more casual situations. It’s built more like an attractive or sexy sort of perfume.

Very Good Girl isn’t formal either, but it is soft and doesn’t scream to be worn on a night out. It’s a versatile day or night wear.

So, Very Good Girl takes this category, as the more versatile of the two Herrera perfumes.

Edge: Very Good Girl

 

Overall Scent

This is kind of a close race for me. I’m not a super fan of either of these fragrances, but I do enjoy aspects of each, and think that they can be good selections for the right person.

With Very Good Girl, the litchi really lets itself be known early on. So, if you’re not a fan of that sort of tart sweetness (along with the red currant), then you might want to skip it.

However, it does soften up as it goes along. You will get more of the rose note, some vanilla, and a light powdery touch. It’s more pretty and low key than a sexy night club beast. Delina and Mugler’s Angel Nova are quite similar in many regards to Very Good Girl.

But, I actually like Nova better than this Herrera perfume. The raspberry is a nice offsetting note from the litchi, which can be intense here up front.

Back to this comparison, I think I like the original Good Girl more here. Again, not a major victory, but a pretty clear favorite. I like the balance of the gourmand ingredients and the jasmine/tuberose. 

It’s a warmer, more limited choice, but I think the fragrance itself smells a tad better. They’re not the same fragrance, which is a good thing, as it should be pretty obvious as to which you should try based on your personal preferences.

Me, I’ll pick Good Girl. Or, maybe you try one of the Good Girl ‘dupe’ perfumes and a bottle of Very Good Girl for not much more.

Winner: Good Girl

Paris-Edimbourg by Chanel

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Paris-Edimbourg is a part of Les Eaux de Chanel, a newer series from the French luxury brand. I got a hold of sample of each of these fragrances to give a try, over the past six months or so, in order to post my review of them. How does Edimbourg smell? How long does it last? Is it even worth a try?

What does Paris-Edimbourg Smell Like?

Notes include: lavender, musk, juniper, cypress, vanilla, vetiver, and cedar

Click here to try: Paris-Edimbourg at Chanel

My Full Review

Before we get into my own review, let’s see how Chanel describes this one: An aromatic, woody fragrance that conjures the wild and majestic landscape of the Scottish Highlands, where Gabrielle Chanel found solace in nature.

Paris-Edimbourg opens up with a very bright and fresh greenish profile. There does seem to be a bit of citrus up top, that may just be unlisted. However, the fragrance does have that sort of quality to it.

Along with that, juniper and cypress are very present early on. It has a gin-like quality, effervescence, but much woodier than the drink itself. This gives off strong forest vibes, a bit rainy, but the air is clean and crisp.

The lavender note softens and lends to the fairly masculine sort of soapiness that Edimbourg has. Still, this is a unisex scent that leans masculine, unlike the others in the Les Eaux de Chanel series.

As it moves along, the cypress tones down to my nose, and I get more of the vetiver and some cedar. The whole perfume feels cold and attractive with a classical style. Also, the greenish aroma diminishes as it dries down.

Lavender will become more dominant, with the remaining woodsiness, and a touch of vanilla sweetness/creaminess. Not too much vanilla, but it does make an appearance. Towards the end, it is a musky lavender and woods scent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, its pretty moderate, even early on. It doesn’t project huge on my skin or even a t-shirt. Maybe 4-6 feet, at its maximum. Then, it is a lighter scent that will hang around the skin, but it’s noticeable.

It sticks on me for 6-7 hours, depending on the day. The longevity isn’t amazing, but this Chanel is quite serviceable. But, you might want a little more for the price tag.

Seasonally, it’s a spring through autumn wear. I would like this as a change of pace on the hotter days. Since you get a cold and refreshing green aroma, early on. It’s not too heavy and won’t get bogged down. But, could be equally as nice in the more moderate temperatures.

Again, it is unisex, but leans traditionally masculine. If you like forest and woody fragrance, this could be a nice pick for a woman.

I would wear it casually or semi-formally. It’s more of a clean fragrance than anything all that ‘sexy’. Not a club beast. Something that is relaxed while still being well put together, as a whole.

Overall Impressions of Paris-Edimbourg

Overall, do I like Paris-Edimbourg? I do. It’s my third favorite in the Les Eaux des Chanel line. For me, it’s a like, not a love. But, I’m also not a massive fan of greenish/woody scents.

The opening is interesting with the juniper and cypress out in full force. It does have a pretty sharp cleanliness about it. The lavender will soften it up from there, but expect a bright and really fresh aromatic sort of perfume.

The performance is just okay. Nothing special, but it never felt entirely weak on me, either. It’s acceptable and pretty good in the longevity department.

Paris-Edimbourg probably isn’t ever going to be a super mass appealing fragrance. Though, it is one that will for sure have its dedicated fans. If this is your style, the perfume is one that I would get a hold of to try out.

Solid and enjoyable.