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!

Cloud 2.0 Intense by Ariana Grande

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Cloud Intense (aka Cloud 2.0) was released in 2021 as a follow up to the super popular Ariana Grande perfume of the same name. Bottles were kind of scarce to come by for a while, with the limited release, but I grabbed a decant from eBay in order to test it out. How does Cloud 2.0 smell? Does it last longer? Is it actually worth the buy?

What does Cloud Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: lavender, bergamot, musk, ambroxan, praline, whipped cream, vanilla orchid, coconut, cashmeran, wood

Click here to try: Ariana Grande Cloud 2.0 Intense Eau De Parfum Ulta Exclusive 3.4 Ounce 

My Full Review

Cloud 2.0 opens up very similar to the original. Though, less of the sparkling pear note is present in this new formulation. It is bright, sweet, and quite clean with its aroma.

The ambroxan is present, after a few minutes. That is a noticeable difference with 2.0, how much play the ambroxan gets here. The lavender also feels smoother and stronger here, on my skin. The lavender in the first Cloud could come across as pretty rough/harsh, but it’s quite nice in this one.

When we get to the second act, I do notice more of a difference. Cloud Intense is creamier and less of a fluffy ‘cotton candy’ scent. While the lavender starts off stronger, it settles more into the background versus its predecessor.

The whipped cream, praline, vanilla, and coconut play a stronger role during this period. I do like this slight change in the structure. Smooth and pleasant.

Finally, we get to the dry down stage. The Cloud 2.0 dry down is basically the original with more wood and musk. Much of those sweeter and creamier notes have begun to evaporate and that is what you’re left with.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Cloud Intense does indeed open up with a powerful sillage, not too much more than the original, but it’s noticeable. It packs a punch early on, though, it will quickly quiet down and reside most of the wear rather close to the skin. It’ll project 3-4 feet, it seems like.

On my skin, I get 7-7.5 hours of wear from Cloud 2.0. It goes for longer than the original formula, maybe an hour more versus what I get with that.

An improvement? Yes, but definitely didn’t come across as a powerhouse in comparison or even versus the Kurkdjian fragrances.

Seasonally, the autumn through the springtime is when Cloud 2.0 will shine. I like it better in a bit cooler temperatures, but it is fine so long as it isn’t crazy hot outside.

This is more of a daily wear that can venture into the nighttime. It isn’t a formal fragrance and has more of a playful character without being too girly. Cloud Intense isn’t strictly a teenager’s perfume, but is probably going to be worn in much more casual situations.

Overall Impressions of Cloud Intense

Overall, do I like Cloud Intense? I do. Though, I’m not a huge fan of the original Cloud, I did like this 2.0 a bit better. It has a deeper profile and an overall smoothness in comparison.

Update: Cloud Pink is a bit better than both, in my opinion. But, this still has the best performance.

The lavender note is preferable in the 2.0 version. It gets a boost, isn’t as harsh, and then plays more of a background role. I do like the creamier and more voluminous style that Cloud Intense has, much to the credit of the ambroxan and vanilla.

That being said, it isn’t miles better. If you already have Cloud, there’s no real reason to get this, unless you are a collector. Especially, considering the prices for this newer version. Maybe they will come down in the future, but just get the original and save yourself some money.

Sure, they’re not exactly the same perfume, just close enough, and not a significant enough difference to justify paying that much more for a bottle. If the performance was way better, it might be a different story. It’s really not a wide gap in that category, in my experience.

I do like Cloud Intense, however. It is the better of the two Cloud fragrances, but still not among my favorite of the Ariana Grande lineup.

Apogée by Louis Vuitton

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The Louis Vuitton review train keeps chugging along. Today, I am going to cover a 2016 entry from the women’s line, Apogée. This has been a best seller among the LV perfumes, but is it actually worth it? Does it smell good? How long does it last? When should it be worn?

What does Apogée by Louis Vuitton smell like?

notes include: lily-of-the-valley, guaiac wood, sandalwood, jasmine, magnolia, rose, citrus

My Full review

How Louis Vuitton describes this perfume: The lily-of-the-valley ascends to blissful heights
Some getaways let us reconnect with ourselves by placing us before the immensity of nature. The chance to commune with the planet feels like a renaissance.

Apogée opens up with a nice dose of lily-of-the-valley and a bright citrus accord that is highlighted by tangerine. The opening has a very zesty quality and I completely dig how this LV perfume starts things off.

The layer right underneath that is inhabited mostly by the jasmine, at this stage. I get some magnolia, just a hint, and no rose during the opening.

Apogée will be a white floral for much of the wear, with a strong citrus accord, and sitting on guaiac wood. Again, this is the highlight of the entire experience for me.

Then, the citrus goes away. The rose also emerges and the other non-lily floral notes fade into the background. It’s a lily-lead musky floral sitting on top of a base of sandalwood. So, the final dry down sees the citrus, guaiac, and jasmine all weaken significantly.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Apogée does have a strong sillage at first. That citrus accord hits pretty darn hard up top. I applied some to a shirt and could pick it up from across the room.

However, after that initial burst, it’s pretty middle of the road. You’ll know that the fragrance is there, but it’s not going to venture too far from the skin thereafter. It comes out of the gate swinging, but doesn’t sustain that high level of power.

During testing, I got somewhere around 7.5 hours of wear. This isn’t a scent that’s going to break any records, but it does provide a solid performance. I never felt that Apogée was a weak scent or something that was going to disappoint.

Apogée does have the strength of being extremely versatile. It’s not a complete bomb or something that will be really offensive to those around you. No, it does have an easygoing presentation and can certainly be crowd pleasing.

Seasonally, this is going to be mostly the spring and summer months. From temperate weather to much warmer temperatures, Apogée can find a place in your lineup, if you so choose.

More of a daily wear. It’s more pleasant than sexy. More of a clean, no-brainer grab than something that’s going to be a nightlife powerhouse. This Vuitton scent has enough class to be worn dressed up, while not being stuffy.

Overall Impressions of Apogée

I really like the citrus and lily opening act. Very pleasant and uplifting. While the citrus can obviously be pretty sharp, I think it adds a dynamic energy to this fragrance. It pairs very well with the lily note and the early floral balance is near perfection.

The rest of the way? Just didn’t hold up for me.

The musky floral and woods dry down is nice, not crazy good. Overall, it’s an above average fragrance with some real enjoyable moments for the first hour or two. That back half really drags things down.

Is it worth the price of admission? Probably not for most folks. It is a very popular entry from this line, but you’d probably want to try before committing to a full bottle.

Not because it’s a bad fragrance or anything weird. Rather, to see if you’d want to spend that kind of cash on something this simple and not super unique. Or, just see if you’re one who still enjoys the dry down.

6 Best Smelling Elizabeth Taylor Perfumes

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Elizabeth Taylor was a famous actress of the silver screen for decades before she moved into the world of fragrances. While celebrity scents come and go, Elizabeth’s perfumes have stood the test of time and continue to be best sellers many years later.

For this list, I have selected six scents from the collection which could be considered the best of the bunch. As always, I have linked each out to its page on Amazon for more information and ease of purchase.

What are the Best Elizabeth Taylor Perfumes?

Best Winter Fragrance

Passion By Elizabeth Taylor For Women, Eau De Toilette Spray, 2.5-Ounce
Passion is warm, slightly spicy, leathery, and musky. It is a fairly intense oriental/woodsy type of perfume that has been popular for decades now. I’m referring to modern bottles, the original releases, had much more intensity.

It opens up softer, with some floral highlights. Then, Passion moves forward into a woodsy, dry, and somewhat smoky phase. The spicier notes, come through an hour or so, into the wear.

Leathery and dry woods, with spice, and a lingering sweetness from the opening act. Passion is one for the colder months, all the way. Sure, it’s lost a step over the years, but it still has plenty of power and depth.

Most Popular Liz Taylor Scent

White Diamonds By Elizabeth Taylor For Women, Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.3-Ounce
The most famous of all of the scents by Elizabeth Taylor, White Diamonds has become an absolutely classic fragrance. Notes include: sandalwood, tuberose, lily, jasmine, oakmoss, amber, patchouli.

This is the best seller, but is White Diamonds, the best overall fragrance? No, I don’t think so. However, it is a classic composition of great floral notes and aldehydes, with a more complex character than many other perfumes in this price range.

Sometimes, people seem to bash this one based on its popularity alone. I think the powerful opening, can put people off also. Though, I will say as it develops, you get a full bouquet effect with a really nice lily note and the tuberose being the highlights.

Again, this is an old school sort of scent. So, it might not have the full appeal for some modern wearers. Think of it as being in the same vein as Chanel No. 5, not necessarily smelling exactly the same, but having a very similar style.

Top Newer Liz Taylor Perfume

White Diamonds Legacy– Obviously, there haven’t been a ton of new releases from this line. However, there has been some activity as a brand in the past few years.

One of the two using the White Diamonds moniker, is Legacy. Which is actually a great little perfume that has flown somewhat under the radar.

Legacy is a more modern white floral than its namesake White Diamonds. This one has gardenia, orange blossom, and jasmine leading the floral heart. Gardenia is the most noticeable of them.

But, you do get a musky and jasmine play in the dry down. Early on, the citrus notes are joined by a slight spice. Then, we get a great creaminess and a light sweetness throughout.

Not the same as the original, but quite a similar structure, just updated to today’s tastes.

Best Summer Scent

Diamonds and Sapphires by Elizabeth Taylor for Women, Eau De Toilette Spray, 1.7-Ounce
This one is a blend of fruit and floral notes. It is a scent which smells rather green/floral/melon that is both versatile and moderate.

The melon note with the lily and peach, gives Diamonds and Sapphires a watery-almost aquatic juiciness to the composition. The next phase brings on the floral array, consisting of: jasmine, ylang-ylang, and heliotrope.

Diamonds and Sapphires is a clean and fresh (near soapy) perfume. It isn’t as bold or in your face as Passion or White Diamonds. If you want, something lighter and versatile, this is a good pick.

Balanced Fruity Floral

Forever Elizabeth by Elizabeth Taylor for Women, Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3-Ounce
Forever Elizabeth is a floral perfume with fruity notes that initially take center stage before the rest of the scent develops.

Notes include: jasmine, apple, musk, amber, dewberry, and blackberry.

This one switches away from the pure floral ingredients or boldness of the others, to deliver a delicious, and easy to wear perfume. The opening act gives you plenty of that crisp and water apple and the berry notes, which are really highlights.

That opening then shifts into a light musky floral fragrance, with the fruitier notes playing more of a supporting role. This is a great all around scent, that isn’t super heavy, and can be worn casually or to the office.

Best Fresh Fragrance

Violet Eyes by Elizabeth Taylor, Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3-Ounce
Violet Eyes is a bit deceptive in its name, as the main floral notes are rose, peony, and jasmine. Not violet.

However, it is a good choice for cooler weather with its note of cedar taking center stage, later in the wear.

This is a sweet blend of peach and the floral notes up top. The cedar really powers through and you have a fresh semi-aquatic kind of aroma. The floral notes, then make a comeback to take over towards the end.

This one is a great performer, with a clean and pleasant profile. At the price point, Violet Eyes is a steal.

Burberry Brit for Men

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Despite the overwhelming popularity of my post on the top smelling Burberry fragrances for men, I had yet to do a review of Burberry Brit and thought that I would remedy that oversight today.

In this post, I want to give a general overview of Brit, my impressions of it, how well it wears, and whether or not it should merit consideration of a purchase.

Note: I have updated this review, a few years after posting the original, to give new thoughts and expand more upon Burberry Brit for Men.

What Does Burberry Brit Smell Like?

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Notes include: wild roses, tonka bean, green mandarin, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, cedar

Click here to try Burberry Brit:BURBERRY Brit for Men Eau de Toilette, 1.0 fl. oz

My Full Wear Review

My immediate impulse when smelling Burberry Brit is to compare it with other Burberry fragrances, such as London. Whereas London is more of a rugged, woodsy, tobacco type of scent, Brit strikes me as something much smoother.

The opening is fresh and delightful and one is immediately drawn into the subtle spice of the nutmeg/ginger/tonka notes; and the quite powdery aroma, which balances it out.

The mandarin and bergamot citrus notes are present at the top and provide their usual brightness. This is a nice contrast from the fresh spiciness of the rest of the composition.

The opening is really dominated by this subdued citrus and fresh spice combination. There is an air of sweetness within Brit during this stage of the wear, the citrus and tonka bean, seem to be creating that effect.

Yet, the cologne overall still has this green outdoorsy cleanliness during this time, as well.

What is interesting about Brit is that it contains wild roses but that it doesn’t give off the extreme rosiness of a cologne such as Dunhill Desire.

Brit isn’t in any way a loud cologne, I think it really does a fantastic job of taking different elements and working them together in harmony instead of having one dominate feature.

With Brit, you get a warm spice, fresh green/woodsy notes, with a hint of citrus provided by the green mandarin note, and a baby powder type of finish.

The dry down is the make or break period for most guys with this fragrance, I’d say. The dark powdery rose, isn’t going to be enjoyable for some folks, but it is very well done.

Again, it isn’t a super feminine or in your face rose. It’s smoothed out by tonka bean, a cedar base, with the same spices with the ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg notes.

Longevity, Sillage, and Versatility

Longevity wise, this is a really good performer and will typically last around 8 hours give or take. It isn’t a projection beast by any means but it does a great job at presenting itself as a moderate scent.

It’s always had solid sillage on my skin, consistent, but not a scent bomb. It’s more of a strong starter, then, lighter after a few hours. For much of the wear it’s going to be an intimate kind of cologne.

Nevertheless, in all my years of having various bottles of this scent, I’ve never been disappointed by its performance. It holds up well.

 

Burberry Brit is another safe option for the autumn or winter months, just like Burberry for Men (Also see: Brit vs Burberry for Men Comparison).

However, I think Brit would be a better wintertime wear. I’ll usually wear it on colder days, but occasionally I will put some on in the evening, as something casual.

Brit for Men isn’t a summertime fragrance, though, it can be worn in the more moderate temperatures of spring. Still, much better as a colder climate scent.

Brit is an option that can be worn safely at work or even for class. It’s not going to overpower and it smells quite clean and pleasant. Teen guys can wear it, but it doesn’t have that really youthful vibe, and has enough maturity to be worn by someone much older.

Overall Impressions of Burberry Brit for Men

Overall, I really enjoy this stuff. Brit is a great choice for everyday wear in the fall or winter months of the year.

It is a solid performer for school or work and safe to use in either environment. It isn’t necessarily a ‘sexy’ type of cologne but it smells damn good and is attractive enough with the ladies. I’d definitely rate it as a buy.

This has become my third most worn Burberry cologne at this point, as I usually go with Burberry for Men or London depending on the occasion, and which bottle I have.

(Edit: I have purchased a full bottle, in the autumn, and have been wearing it more than the others. I’ve been loving Brit for Men, as of late. I think it’s become my second favorite behind London now).

Still, Brit for Men is a fairly unique guy’s cologne, and does everything quite well.

Really, there haven’t been too many great releases from this brand in a long while. The Mr. Burberry series was decent, but nothing must have. Still, well over a decade later Brit just works, and is among this designers top scents.

Baccarat Rouge 540 vs Extrait

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Baccarat Rouge has become a ridiculously popular perfume since its release back in 2015. That hype level has gone into the stratosphere, since BR 540 Extrait was brought to market. Now, there is an even greater concentrate and at a much higher price point. But, the question is, which is actually better? Is Extrait worth the high cost? Which smells better? What’s the difference? Which lasts longer?

Tale of the Tape: BR 540 vs. Extrait 

Baccarat Rouge 540

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

Click here to try: Buy from Saks

Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait

Notes include: almond, saffron, cedar, jasmine, musk, ambergris

Click here to try: Buy from Saks Fifth Avenue

Read my review: BR 540 Extrait

Opening

Baccarat Rouge 540 kicks things off with the saffron and jasmine note splitting duties. It’s clean, sweet, and has that lemony tinge to it from the hedione (jasmine).

Underneath that, is the amber, fir and cedar notes giving this a fresh and resinous quality early on…which will become greater as it develops.

BR 540 EDP has a lighter airy fluffiness to it, that I don’t really get with Extrait.

BR 540 Extrait opens up with a bittersweet mix of the almond and saffron note. It’s smooth with a slight metallic aroma from the saffron, but the almond is the stronger of the two.

It’s going to dominate early on and is what really helps to set Extrait apart from the original EDP.

The jasmine is weaker early on, but you’ll get more of the watery sweetness later in the wear. To me, this one has less of the sort of ‘cotton candy’ aroma, it’s more of an impression that hangs in the air. Also, it smells spicier underneath.

Which is better?

It’s a pretty close contest, but I think that Extrait gets the edge for me. I don’t believe that it is leaps and bounds better. However, I enjoy the almond and heavier saffron up top versus the original. That one is great too, just Extrait is a bit better.

Edge: Extrait

Projection

I don’t find either of these to be absolute monsters in terms of their sillage. I think that they both open up strong, but quickly settle, closer to the skin.

In the case of BR 540 EDP, it goes from powerful, to sitting in the 2-3 foot range with its projection within an hour. But, it does stick around, just as a softer scent bubble.

Extrait, starts even stronger, but it will end up being a lighter moderate scent. Of course, you could just go crazy with the sprays and really make it pop for much longer.

Extrait wins this category, since it has the higher peak and keeps a higher level for the duration.

Edge: Extrait

Longevity

I will say, that both of these perfumes have fantastic longevity. With EDP, it’s usually a wider range of outcomes, on my skin. Usually, around 10 hours.

Though, that could be 8 and other times it hangs around for 12. It’s never been bad, Baccarat Rouge can sometimes just fall off a bit earlier for some reason.

With Extrait, the longevity is amazing. I’m not sure exactly when it finally fades away, but I’ve routinely detected on my skin 12-14 hours later.

At some point, you’ve got to shower, but this version of BR 540 will probably still be there when you do. The performance is extreme.

Edge: Extrait

Versatility

There’s not really a difference to me between them. They are both very versatile, but best used outside of the summer heat. They can work for folks young or old. Can venture into the nightlife and will get complements in the daytime, as well.

While each is unisex, they both do lean feminine. Though, plenty of men can and will be fine wearing a Baccarat Rouge perfume.

This one is a tie.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I’m not someone who is a massive fan of either of these fragrances. The hype really got insane for the past few years.

I like them both a lot, but you don’t absolutely need to have either of them. So, I can be fairly unbiased between these perfumes, because I don’t have a desire to own a full bottle of either.

I like Baccarat Rouge EDP. It’s sweet, has a lovely airy aroma that catches your nose, with a smooth and candy-like aroma without being a hyper-sugary mess. The amber and resin from the fir is great, I love saffron, and the cedar freshness helps tie it all together.

Performance wise, you can’t go wrong with the standard EDP.

That being said, Extrait catches my attention more. I enjoy the almond and the greater weighting of the saffron early on. It being my favorite note in the blend, it’s something that I really appreciated.

Extrait de Parfum is more substantial, has a better use of woods, and is somehow thicker without the same level of resinous qualities. The dry down between the two is pretty close in terms of how they smell.

It’s just that Extrait does a better job with its performance and the mix is slightly different at that stage.

If I had to buy one, I’d pony up the money for Extrait. If you’ve never smelled either, I would acquire samples of each before committing to a full bottle, as it is a substantial investment. Or even consider, finding a cheaper smell-a-like version.

Winner: Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait de Parfum