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!

Gentleman EDT by Givenchy

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Today, we have a review of a newer Givenchy cologne release, that uses the name of an old one: Gentleman Givenchy. This 2017 fragrance is a woody floral fougere, but does it smell any good? In this post, I’m going to give my thoughts on it’s aroma and performance after wearing it around, and figure out whether it’s worth a buy.

What does Gentleman by Givenchy Smell Like?

Notes include: orris, pear, lavender, leather, and patchouli

Click here to try: Givenchy Gentleman by Givenchy for Men – 3.3 Ounce EDT Spray

My Full Wear Review

Alrighty, so, apparently this is supposed to be a new take on the old Gentleman name that was used with the fragrance back in the 1970s. This is Gentleman Givenchy. Not to be confused with the lineup of Gentlemen fragrances from the brand…can these companies ever come up with a new name for anything?

The opening of Gentleman Givenchy gives me a juicy pear and mostly an iris note. This is going to be another woody floral fragrance for men, mostly floral. In the same vein as something like Dior Homme, which has some similar notes, but ultimately is different. I’d say that the Givenchy is more floral and doesn’t have the same solid woody base as the Dior.

There is also a distinct leather richness and the calming lavender note, which grows in power as the fragrance dries down. Gentleman Givenchy is soft and airy, plus has that familiar pear aroma, as its main attraction.

I also just sprayed my bottle of Ultra Male and although they take different paths, that pear note rings throughout both.

Floral pear? Yep, it’s not too bad, though. It can actually be fairly enjoyable to have on.

What prevents this fruit and flower fragrance from becoming too feminine and actually quite masculine is the patchouli note. This note dirties up the composition a bit and lends to the earthy/woods quality.

That along with the leather note are the highlights for me. Pear can become a bit grating on certain days and isn’t a note that I really crave wearing, all that often.

I can’t think of the exact Gentlemen Only scent that this reminds me of, but there is another in that Givenchy line, that has a very similar quality to this one.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this is quite the moderate. That one spray of Ultra Male that I applied to my t-shirt, overpowered the three sprays of this Givenchy fragrance. Don’t expect beast sillage, this one is much more everyday and low key.

That said, don’t overspray it either, because it can be a bit much, with the pear and floral notes. On skin, it is moderate for hours after application. Then, it becomes pretty soft, but still pretty noticeable. It just won’t dominate a room.

It’s longevity is ok, not great, but a respectable 5-7 hours. When I’m in an air conditioned environment for the majority of the day, it will hit much closer to that 7 hour mark. If I’m out and about, it seemed to kill of a few hours.

Seasonally, I think this one would work in every season except during the height of summer. Not exclusively cold weather, as it does perform nicely in the springtime

It’s a moderate fragrance that can work casually or at the office. It has good versatility, with a laid back style that can also be dressed up. It’s pleasant and inoffensive, if treated lightly.

Overall Impressions of Gentleman Givenchy

Overall, do I recommend Gentleman Givenchy? I like it. I’m not wowed by it, but it’s nice for what it is. I find it to be too much floral for my tastes, but I think a lot of other guys will enjoy it. It is at least a change of pace from many other popular scents.

Sparkling pear, iris, and lavender isn’t something that I really think about reaching for on a daily basis. So, I don’t have a need to own a bottle.

I’ll still rock with any of the Dior Homme line, over this one, so it really has no place in my rotation. If you can get a cheap bottle, it would make a fine everyday wear. With a nice discount, it wouldn’t be a bad fragrance to have.

Though, I’m not exactly sure where it would fit, as it can be quite a bit different from the most popular men’s colognes. That being said, it does certainly have fans and I’ve seen it being offered at decent prices, so give it a try if you’re interested.

L’Homme EDT by YSL

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I am a longtime fan of YSL fragrances. In fact, two of the first three bottles of cologne that I ever bought were Opium and Kouros Body.  Needless to say, there is something about this design house’s scents that really speak to me.

Today, my review is going to focus on another entry from Yves Saint Laurent, L’Homme. Introduced in 2006, this has been a fairly big hit in terms of its popularity. Is it worth buying? Read on to find out.

What does L’Homme by YSL Smell Like?

l'homme

Notes include: Virginia Cedar, Ginger, Violet, Citron, White Pepper, Basil Flower, Ozone, Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, Vetiver

Click here to try: L’homme By Yves Saint Laurent Eau De Toilette Spray For Men 3.3 oz

My Take on L’Homme by YSL

The first batch of L’Homme that I reviewed years ago had really poor longevity. I loved the smell, but I couldn’t get it to last on my skin, it was a similar situation with The One by D&G.

Having essentially forgotten about that experience, I picked up a small sprayer of this cologne to test it out, and see if things would be different this time. Thankfully, it was a much better batch of fragrance this time or my skin is finally adept at taking this.

Note: This has been a continuing review since around 2014, documenting changes as I come back to newer bottles of L’Homme.

YSL L’Homme is super clean and has a soft yet utterly fantastic aroma. I completely dig the way this one opens up. The bergamot and citron is light yet retains their juiciness, but never feel like they ever stand out on their own within the composition.

As such, you don’t get the usual sharpness that you would from these notes in higher concentration.

This citrus aroma is light and joined by a warm and slightly spiced accord of ginger and basil. All of this comes together with the inclusion of a creamy tonka bean, for a very-well blended and balanced fragrance.

Ginger is the standout of the spices. Basil played a greater role in the flanker, L’Homme Libre, but isn’t too much of a factor here.

One further addition at the top is the violet which brings a simple floral touch to L’Homme. The spice on this one is not heavy in the slightest, very herbal/green with enough pepper to make it interesting.

Violet is one of my least favorite notes and I don’t particularly like it here, but it isn’t all that bothersome. To me, that’s the weakness in the mix. In the very brief dry down period, expect some cedar wood and vetiver, with most of the top notes having faded away entirely.

This cologne is a blend of sweet and spicy but under the umbrella of being completely fresh. It is all tied together with a cedar wood base, as the last element to a fairly simple presentation.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this stuff is still very light, quite airy. I really wish they beefed up the sillage. Yes, there is an Intense version, but it really doesn’t smell the same at all.

It’s not going to project much. Potentially, if you spray the hell out of it, you may get some good sillage. It’s a skin scent, in reality. The performance really is my biggest problem with this scent, very frustrating.

Update: 2021 bottles have roughly the same sillage. That actually hasn’t diminished.

The longevity is maybe 4-5 hours on my skin, from this use. Again, I absolutely hate the performance, but love this aroma. I’ve never been able to get more time than this.

Update: I bought a new bottle here in 2021 since it was buy one, get one free with La Nuit. The performance is now 2-3.5 hours with massive amounts of spraying (for both fragrances). For $50 I can afford to overspray this, but just be ready to have extra ready, if you decide to buy.

Also, my skin isn’t the type to ‘eat’ up a fragrance, as I get great performance from many other colognes.

Seasonally, it makes me think of warm weather, not necessarily the heat of summer. However, I do think it can be worn year round without much issue. I’d like it best in early spring or late autumn.

That being said, it works well in the colder months too. Personally, I’d use something else for the winter, but L’Homme is fine there.

It is a casual or dressed up office wear scent. Very pleasant but not really sexy, when people can actually smell it on you, they find it enjoyable. It’s the type of fragrance that you can wear, pretty much whenever, without it feeling out of place. That’s one of its main strengths.

Overall Impressions of L’Homme by YSL

Overall, do I like L’Homme by YSL? I really really like the way that it smells, but still cannot for the life of me, get it to perform up to par. I hate that aspect. Just make it a beast and I would have a bottle pretty much at all times.

Unfortunately, it’s probably a wrap after I finish this newer bottle. At least there are a lot of decent flankers that have stemmed from this name, many of which have been discontinued though.

The original is a great cologne with extremely mediocre performance. L’Homme Eau de Parfum was something that I liked, but the performance wasn’t great with that either.

Performance doesn’t tend to get better, as fragrances have been on the market for longer periods of time. Some batches, may be better than others, but none are super powerful. This has been especially true of this one.

I still enjoy the scent, not as keen on it as when I first started getting into fragrances, but L’Homme does smell very nice. Though, there really isn’t much of a point in owning this cologne anymore.

Maybe the only case is getting a bottle for insanely cheap and not minding re-applying it every 3 hours.

I’ll use my remaining bottle for the gym or just as a quick freshie. As for anyone else, it might be a better idea to look elsewhere, either with YSL or another brand.

Baccarat Rouge 540 vs. Burberry Her

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Baccarat Rouge is a super popular fragrance that seems to keep growing in status. The catch is, it is also wildly expensive for most people. Thus, there have been many cheaper scents or similar smelling perfumes that have been released, that people want to try out.

One of them, Burberry Her, just happens to have been created by Francis Kurkdjian and has a somewhat similar profile to his best seller. How does it stack up to BR 540? Which lasts longer? Can it actually compete?

Tale of the Tape: BR 540 vs. Burberry Her

Baccarat Rouge 540

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

Click here to try: Buy from Saks

Burberry Her

Notes include: strawberry, citrus, raspberry, cherry, blueberry, wood, musk, amber, jasmine

Click here to try: Burberry Her Eau De Parfum Spray

Read my review: Burberry Her EDP

Opening

Burberry Her EDP starts off with a strong use of its citrus and berry notes. The fruitiness is powerful in the early stages. Strawberry is the strongest note of the lot, with some additional raspberry and brightness of the citrus notes.

It can be sharp and sour versus being sugary sweet or anything. The floral notes aren’t all that strong, but there is a decent amount of jasmine at times.

Baccarat Rouge 540 kicks things off with the saffron and jasmine note sharing the stage. 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.

Which is better? While I do like the fruitiness of Burberry Her, is does begin to wear on me. It’s a good start, but I prefer that of 540.

Edge: BR 540

Projection

In terms of how far they project at their peak, it’s actually pretty even. They both start out strong, but not insanely overwhelming, and then settle into something much more moderate.

I’d say that Baccarat Rouge has a longer run at the top of its strength. Then, it is also projects itself to a greater degree in the dry down. By no means, is it way more powerful than Her, but it does have a slight edge.

Edge: BR 540

Longevity

BR 540 has a wide range of hours for how long it lasts. Sometimes, it’s 8 hours, and other times it’s 12. Split the difference and it can last a consistent 10 hours, on my skin. It’s got a great long lasting wear.

Burberry Her will go up to 8 hours. So, at its peak, it can hit the baseline of what I get with Baccarat Rouge. The Burberry isn’t a bad performer at all, it will hit that 7-8 hour mark regularly.

But, between the two, the Maison Kurkdjian perfume easily takes this category.

Edge: BR 540

Versatility

Seasonally, Burberry Her can work better in the heat than BR 540. So, that’s one area that it can have an advantage. Though, Baccarat Rouge is also great during the rest of the year, so not too big of a deal.

I will say that Her is a much more youthful fragrance, that can have a teenager perfume vibe. Not completely childish or anything, but it does skew younger.

BR 540 does have better versatility, since it can pretty much be worn anywhere and fit in just fine. While the sweet-tart fruitiness of the Burberry might not always be appropriate.

Edge: BR 540

Overall Scent

Overall, this isn’t really much of a contest, and it will be a clean sweep for Baccarat Rouge. Really, it should absolutely be the outcome based on the price of this perfume.

I like Burberry Her for its differences, but it also becomes grating. The opening strawberry and citrus is fun and uplifting, but it gets old after a while. Very sweet/sharp with musky woods in the base.

Her gets a lot of play due to its similarities to BR 540. It’s nice, not a must have. A teenager or younger woman can absolutely get use out of the Burberry and find it plenty enjoyable. If affordability is a major factor, you may very well want to go with Burberry Her.

But, I’d probably just get something else in that price range, instead of just trying have a sort of smell alike of Baccarat Rouge. Burberry Her isn’t even the best Br 540 clone, anyway.

For BR Rouge, it’s an easy win. The fragrance is well ahead of the Burberry by every metric. If you can afford a full bottle, go with that. Actually, Extrait is the best BR 540 version.

If you aren’t familiar with how this fragrance smells, get a hold of a sample, and test it out. There are plenty of people who won’t enjoy Baccarat Rouge, despite its popularity.

Winner: BR 540

Chanel Gabrielle vs. Chance EDP

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Chanel has a ton of best selling fragrances under its banner from the more mass market to the high end and niche. Two particular perfumes in the more well-known side of their lineup are Chance and the more recent Gabrielle release.

These scents often get compared to one another, as they can be the final two choices for those looking to get into Chanel perfumes. In this post, I want to compare and contrast Chance and Gabrielle eau de parfums, and declare an ultimate winner for the better buy between them.

Tale of the Tape: Chanel Chance vs. Gabrielle EDP

Gabrielle

Notes include: jasmine, ylang-ylang, orange blossom, tuberose, musk, citrus, pear

Click here to try: Chanel Gabrielle For Women Eau De Parfume Spray 3.4 Ounces

Read my review: Gabrielle EDP

Chanel Chance Eau de Parfum

Notes include: jasmine, iris, pink pepper, white musk, vanilla, patchouli

Click here to try: Chance EDP from Chanel

Read my review: Chance EDP

Opening

Chance EDP opens up with a blended mix of its notes. It’s slightly fruity but has added pink pepper, musk, vanilla, and jasmine. Pink pepper and jasmine are the strongest two notes, initially. Eventually, iris will join the jasmine note, but the floral notes do tend to fade as we progress.

When the iris comes in, that’s when the vanilla will be at its peak, giving this a slightly powdery and creamy scent.

With Gabrielle, it features a sparkling pear and citrus mix with floral notes of ylang-ylang and orange flower. The first time I tested this out, it was a confusing mess. After that, it became more favorable to my nose.

I think the fruity top and the initial floral notes are the worst part of Gabrielle. I like when the jasmine and tuberose come in later on.

Just based on the opening acts of each, I prefer that of Chance over Gabrielle. Gabrielle improves as it dries down, but that opening is just okay to me.

Edge: Chance

Projection

Chance EDP has a strong sillage and a nice ability to project off of the skin. It’s not a complete bomb, but I think that it makes it safely into the strong camp. from 4-7 feet it’s going to be noticeable for a majority of the wear.

Gabrielle EDP has a much more moderate sillage, in comparison. By no means a weak perfume, it just can’t hit the same level as its counterpart.

Edge: Chance

Longevity

Neither of these fragrances gives a bad performance. Chance eau de parfum will last for 8-10 hours, on my skin. Very good and not that far off from being an elite long lasting scent.

Gabrielle, on the other hand, will last for 7-7.5 hours. Solid and it will be useful for plenty of occasions. Though, it doesn’t hit the same level of performance as the other Chanel.

This is a clear win for Chance.

Edge: Chance

Versatility

Seasonally, these are fairly equal. Springtime is best for Gabrielle, but Chance also works well then also. I’d say Chance is the better of the two in the wintertime, giving it a bit of an edge.

Both are great daily wear options. Mostly for casual and semi-formal occasions. That being said, Chance EDP can venture into more formal situations, when compared to Gabrielle EDP.

Neither is particularly sexy or a nightlife wear. Just attractive fragrance which can cover a lot of bases. Though, Chance has a very marginal edge.

Edge: Chance

Overall Scent

I do like both of these fragrances and each has plenty of features that recommend wearing them. For Gabrielle, once its opening phase has past and the floral notes emerge, you get quite a captivating experience.

The jasmine and tuberose coming in and joining the ylang-ylang and orange blossom is the highlight of the scent. I have mixed feelings about the opening pear, citrus, and pink pepper. To me, that’s the weakest aspect.

It’s got a clean floral/musky profile and solid performance all around. Gabrielle eau de parfum is not a bad perfume at all.

However, it gets compared to the rest of the Chanel line, and its weaknesses are more apparent. Heck, Gabrielle Essence is better than the original. Chance EDP is also the greater perfume.

Jasmine and pink pepper overlap between these scents, but Chance really sets itself apart with the vanilla note. Then, iris comes in. Then, patchouli and musk. There’s way more development and depth with this Chanel than Gabrielle.

Add to that, the performance is better overall, and it feels a bit more versatile, and it becomes a decided win for Chance Eau de Parfum. I don’t think it’s miles better than Gabrielle, but the difference is noticeable.

Winner: Chanel Chance

Allure Homme Edition Blanche by Chanel

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Allure Homme has spawned a number of flankers, including the Sport series. Edition Blanche is another flanker of this popular Chanel name and has had a few variations of its formula over the years. In this post, I want to take a closer look at the current eau de parfum version, and share my thoughts on this scent.

What does Allure Homme Edition Blanche EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: Sicilian lemon, bergamot, vanilla, vetiver, sandalwood

Click here to try: Allure Homme Edition Blanche by Chanel

My Full Review

Let’s see how Chanel describes it: A composition with a new, modern character. A true creative statement. A fresh, Oriental fragrance that strikes a perfect balance between elegance and uniqueness.

I’ve already reviewed the older and no longer produced EDT version of Blanche. Obviously, the two are going to be very similar to one another, but there are indeed differences.

In this one, the lemon is stronger early on. It doesn’t have the same harshness or spiciness, since the pink pepper note isn’t present. It’s got that dry quality coming up from the base notes, but you get more of the lemon and vanilla combo early.

Lemon and bergamot lead the way with their bright and sharp citrus smell. The vanilla starts to add it sweet creaminess and Edition Blanche does start to have its lemon cake phase. Maybe some kind of cream-sicle. Either way it’s an awesome gourmand.

There’s really only two phases with this Chanel cologne. First, that citrus and vanilla start. Then, the sandalwood and vetiver. The citrus will fade away and it becomes more of a fresh, dry, and creamy fragrance.

The dry down is quite light. The woods show up earlier in this newer version and play a more dominant role. It’s vanilla, sandalwood, and some vetiver for the rest of the way.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is light to moderate. At it’s peak, it is noticeable, but not going to fill the room. It projects in the 3-5 foot range from the skin. Most of the wear it is going to be much closer to the skin, as Blanche is not a beast with its performance.

The longevity is around 5 hours with normal sprays and I can get it to around 6 hours if I double up. Performance is the real weakness of Allure Edition Blanche. Even though it is an eau de parfum, the extra concentration doesn’t do much to give this one more power.

That’s something you need to be aware of before getting this fragrance, so you aren’t completely shocked.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summer wear all the way. The lightness, the citrus, and that vanilla finish are great when it’s warm out.

Edition Blanche is pretty versatile within that time of the year. It’s low key enough for work, can be worn semi-formally, or even casually. It’s more of an attractive or delicious smelling fragrance versus being something sexy for the nightlife.

Overall Impressions of Allure Homme Edition Blanche

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, I do. Based on the aroma alone, Allure Homme Edition Blanche is among my favorite Chanel colognes. That lemon and vanilla sweet creaminess is fantastic and I really enjoy the dessert-like quality to it. Especially, in a summer scent.

At the price point, I do wish that it had better performance. That would go a long way toward recommending it more. 4-6 hours is okay. It would be good enough if the sillage were stronger, but with a lighter projection, it’s meh.

Also, I prefer the similar smelling perfume, Uden by Xerjoff to this Chanel. It is even pricier, but surpasses Blanche in scent and performance.

All in all, I recommend trying this fragrance out. It won’t be for everybody, and for those that enjoy it, this EDP may not be one you want to spend the cash on. Sharp, sweet, creamy, and dry woody. Simple and lovely.