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!

Sauvage Elixir by Dior

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I didn’t know that Dior was coming out with another Sauvage flanker here in 2021, but I naturally bought samples of the fragrance immediately upon learning of it.

I was looking forward to trying it out to see what this concentrated version of the popular men’s fragrance would be like.

So, here are my thoughts after testing. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it really worth a try?

What does Sauvage Elixir Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, wood, lavender, nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, patchouli, vetiver

Click here to try: Sauvage Elixir at Macy’s

My Full Review

Before I get into my review of Elixir, let’s see how Dior describes it:  The quintessence of Sauvage. An extraordinarily concentrated fragrance, like a fine liqueur made of exceptional ingredients. The emblematic freshness of Sauvage with an intoxicating heart of spices and a lavender essence tailor-made for Dior. A blend of rich woods forms the signature of its powerful, lavish, and captivating trail.

Right off the bat, Sauvage Elixir is a different animal from the rest of the series. The overlap of actual notes is the ubiquitous lavender note, patchouli and vetiver from EDT, and the nutmeg from Sauvage EDP.

Outside of that, the structure is going to be the same, just with different notes. So, grapefruit for the citrus. A blend of other spices and wood.

What Elixir actually reminded me of, is a much better version of Alien Man by Mugler. The spices, lavender, and fresh woods is pretty similar at times. Alien Man just had that weird opening act with a dill note and never got close to being as good as this.

However, the two are in the same vein, in terms of style.

Elixir opens up with it’s spice blend shining, grapefruit, and the ever present lavender. The grapefruit is pretty light on my skin. Mostly, I pick up cinnamon and nutmeg, with just a bit of cardamom to round it out.

It is a bold and intense mix of spices. I’m so glad they dumped that Sichuan pepper note from the original and gave us this instead. The spices are so much better in Elixir. 

After the wave of spices calm down somewhat, you get into the middle act. This is where the lavender takes over. You also get a licorice note that adds some sweetness, amber, and more of an indication of the woods.

The nutmeg and cinnamon are still very present for the duration of the wear. They play off of the lavender and amber beautifully and really helped to sell this one for me.

Finally, the dry down is lavender, with some sweetness, and fresh woods. The spices are lingering, but no longer packing that same punch. Elixir at this stage, is much softer and aromatic. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Elixir is a powerhouse. Seriously, it’s up there with some of the strongest fragrances that I’ve come across, at its peak. Not the absolute biggest beast, just very close to it. Even a few sprays, really filled up the surrounding area from my skin.

Elixir does back off somewhat, but remains very strong for much of the wear. I absolutely adore how this one projects and hangs around throughout the day.

Add to that, spraying it on a t-shirt, I could detect it from like 10 feet away, while I wasn’t wearing any cologne. Dior wasn’t lying when they said that this one was super concentrated.

 

The longevity is perfection. Sauvage Elixir just keeps going. I’m not sure what the final tally ends up being but it’s easily above 12 hours, at a still very solid strength. Yes, this one is expensive in comparison to the other Sauvage offerings, but you get the performance to back it up.

Update: Testing it out a few more times, Elixir seems to hit the 13-15 hour range for me, at its max. Really depends on what I’m doing, while wearing it. 

Seasonally, I’d like this best in the autumn. Winter and spring will also work, just avoid the summertime heat. Which, yeah, I had to test this during the summer months. Indoors, it’s just great. Outdoors, that humidity kind of wrecks its charm.

I do think that Elixir has a more mature profile than the other Sauvage’s, especially the original EDT. That worked well for guys in their teens and twenties, but Elixir might not be for those in the high school age range.

Sure, for some it will be an option, but this one might not have the same appeal for those in that demographic.

Elixir isn’t completely a formal fragrance. It doesn’t feel out of place, wearing it while dressed up though. It may be too bold for certain functions, but it has plenty of versatility.

This Sauvage can be worn in the nightlife or while out on a date. It does have a sexiness and enough of a mass appeal to get complements from those around you.

Overall Impressions of Sauvage Elixir

Overall, do I like Sauvage Elixir? Yes, I do. Actually, as of now it is my favorite from the series. I give it a slight edge over the EDP, though, that may change as I spend more time with it.

Elixir brings some familiarity, while going in a different direction. The freshness and the spice blend are great here. It doesn’t have a sharp citrus and Sichuan pepper blend up top. The cinnamon and nutmeg are brilliant as replacements.

Lavender is allowed to shine and honestly comes across much better here than in the others. Just a touch of sweetness from licorice, really helps to round out Elixir. I was worried going in, as a too heavy licorice note gives me headaches, but it’s not an issue.

If you liked the Sauvage releases up to this point, you’ll want to give this a try at least. It’s definitely different, though, in an awesome way.

If you didn’t like the other Sauvage fragrances, this one could change your mind. I’m not much of a fan of the EDT original, but really enjoyed the others. This one gets rid of the weakest parts and comes up with something new.

The price may be a deciding factor. It’s currently $155 for a 2 ounce bottle. That is steep for a lot of folks. As such, it may not be one to blind buy.

Dans la Peau by Louis Vuitton

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Louis Vuitton has really ramped up their perfume releases in the past couple of years. I’m still working my way through the collection and posting up reviews. Today’s entry is one of their earliest scents from back in 2016, Dans La Peau. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Dans la Peau Smell Like?

Notes include: apricot, musk, leather, magnolia, narcissus, jasmine sambac

My Full Review

Let’s see how Louis Vuitton describes this perfume: An infusion of leather, an invitation to explore the senses. Traveling often has the power to embolden desire. Dans La Peau imprints on the skin like indelible ink. 

Apparently, Dans la Peau wasn’t a very popular offering from Louis Vuitton, as it’s already been discontinued by the brand.

It opens up with its apricot note, leather, and the narcissus/magnolia blend. The narcissus actually comes across as somewhat spicy in the mix. Initially, I get more of the magnolia and some narcissus. Later, the jasmine comes through a bit more.

However, the floral notes aren’t the lead here. They stick around for the initial stages and then it just becomes a non-descript floral impression.

The apricot and leather are the main stars early on. Then, it’s a musky leather with sweet apricot for the finale. The apricot is almost candy-like here and not a naturalistic aroma of the fruit itself.

I’m used to the usual raspberry and leather combo, but the apricot works very well with this scent.

It’s clean and smooth, with somewhat of a soapy quality. The musk adds to the clean sort of smell in that final dry down period. Sweet fruity/floral sitting on top of musk with the remaining leather still hanging around.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this is a lighter to moderate fragrance. Dans La Peau sits close to the skin without a huge radius of projection. Probably, 4-5 feet away from where you applied it, at its peak.

However, the longevity is pretty good, at just over 8 hours of wear. It’s not a powerhouse, but it sticks around and doesn’t quit early. It should be enough for most purposes.

Seasonally, it doesn’t strike me as being stuck in one season. I don’t know about the hottest days of the year, but Dans La Peau would be fine during the rest of the way. I’d say more of a spring or autumn wear than anything.

It does have really nice versatility because it is so inoffensive. You can wear it pretty much anywhere without issue. It’s attractive, not particularly sexy, but I enjoy the aroma. More of a daily wear to semi-formal kind of perfume.

Overall Impressions of Dans la Peau

Overall, do I like Dans la Peau? I do. I’m not super impressed with this one, but I did enjoy wearing it. The leather note has its moments, but it isn’t a pure leather fragrance. My favorite part is when it does shine and is paired with that synthetic apricot note.

The floral and musk notes are the usual ingredients that you’ve smelled a million times. The musk and apricot is nice, but the floral notes didn’t particularly stand out to my nose. It’s a nice perfume that isn’t elite in anyway.

Performance is decent, but it should be for this price point. It’s not a must have from the Louis Vuitton lineup. Just a nice fragrance with some unique qualities thanks to the fruity pairing with the leather note.

Since it’s been discontinued, if you still want it, you should probably get a decanted sample off of eBay before buying a bottle from the remaining stock. It’s too expensive for most folks, just to do a blind buy. Though, Dans la Peau is a solid scent all around.

L’eau Super Majeure D’Issey by Issey Miyake

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Issey Miyake has a long list of fragrances that the designer’s brand has put out over the years. Flankers upon flankers. Many times, of colognes that you probably haven’t heard of before. L’eau Super Majeure d’Issey is an EDT Intense release from the brand, from a few years back. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a shot?

L’eau Super Majeure d’Issey Overview

Notes include: citrus, sage, amber, sea notes, wood, black salt, cashmeran, tonka bean, vanilla, patchouli, rosemary

Click here to try: Issey Miyake L’eau Super Majeure D’issey Pour Homme Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

Let’s see how Issey Miyake describes this scent: A men’s fragrance inspired by the might of the sea, L’EAU MAJEURE D’ISSEY reinvented Issey Miyake’s pioneering aquatic note for the 21st century. This autumn, L’EAU SUPER MAJEURE D’ISSEY unleashes the power of water, with a new, exhilarating blend.

Super Majeure is not a fragrance that I sought out. It just happened to be in a lot of other samples that I purchased months ago, that I needed for review purposes. So, really I had zero expectations for this Issey Miyake scent.

While I do enjoy the original L’eau d’Issey, the rest of the brand’s fragrances can be hit or miss, and often just disappear from the market without much fanfare. Case in point, Super was released in 2018 and is no longer listed on their website. 

So, I’m probably writing this review for 10 people…

Anyway, this one opens up pretty strange. Looking at the notes, I would expect closer to an Acqua di Gio Profumo, but it really isn’t that at all.

Up top, is a burst of rosemary and sage. Very herbal with a nice intensity. However, this is paired with tonka bean, vanilla, amberwood, salty sea notes, and a touch of citrus. It’s pretty strange, in the early stages.

Honestly, the opening stages almost put me off of this one completely. But, I do think that it improves upon what it started out with. The rosemary is stronger to my nose, but the partnership with the sage is nice here.

I usually enjoy sweet aromas, but I prefer when the tonka and vanilla calm down within this composition. The rosemary, sage, sea notes, woods and amber are the highlights of the composition.

As it dries down, rosemary and wood are the two strongest components. The saltiness of the sea notes has mostly gone away and those two notes are sitting on top of that synthetic smelling amber (much the same as in Light Blue Eau Intense). 

Sitting on top of all that, is just a touch of remaining sweetness, which is just about the right strength for what this cologne is. This is a ‘blue’ scent, but a really dark blue hue, that’s nearly black.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this does have a bit of power to it. It opens pretty strong with a nice intensity, but settles down into something moderate. You’ll know it’s there and so will others, without much effort on your part.

The longevity is pretty good 7-7.5 hours of wear, on my skin. Not an absolute marathon runner, but it’ll provide you plenty of time to enjoy it.

Seasonally, spring and summer is when it’s best. But, if the temperature is at least moderate, Super Majeure wouldn’t feel out of place.

This is more of a casual to semi-formal (for summer) fragrance. This isn’t really a romantic wear or club beast. Maybe it could be a daily wear for the warmer months out of the year, for some guys. Not super versatile, but has its place.

Overall Impressions of L’eau Super Majeure D’Issey

Do I like this fragrance? It’s okay. I hated it the first time that I wore it.

Second and third tries, it seemed better. Though, I still don’t see myself wanting any more. I do also hate having to type this long name that they decided to go with for this cologne.

The herbal blend, with salty seas, wood and a slight sweetness. That’s what you should expect with Super. If that sounds like your type of fragrance, this is a pretty unique and well performing example. Bottles are still cheap, so for a percentage of guys, this will be a steal.

For most men? Probably not. It has a nice aroma, but nothing spectacular or very mass appealing. But, if you’re a fan of rosemary and sage, this is certainly an interesting one to try.

It at least didn’t just mimic Acqua di Gio, points for some originality.

Mr. Burberry Indigo by Burberry

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The Mr. Burberry line has been one that I’ve been much of a fan of. The aromas themselves have been pretty good, but the performances were definitely lacking. As such, when I got a sample of Mr. Burberry Indigo, I wasn’t too excited about this 2018 release. Did this change after testing? How does Indigo perform? Please continue below for my full review.

What does Mr. Burberry Indigo Smell Like?

Notes include: blackcurrant, violet leaf, spearmint, lemon, sage, rosemary, white musk, oak moss, amber, driftwood

Click here to try: Mr. Burberry Indigo at Burberry

My Full Review

Let’s see how Burberry describes this scent: Introducing Mr. Burberry Indigo. A man of contrasts, he is refreshed and invigorated by an impromptu escape from the city.

Indigo opens up with a fresh mint and rosemary blend, with the lemon and blackcurrant notes coming through. It also feels a bit aquatic, with the driftwood and violet leaf notes.

It’s quite reminiscent of the Acqua di Gio series, with the overlapping notes and how it’s structured. Though, it lacks the floral heart and the aquatic element is just a touch versus a pretty major component.

Actually, Burberry Indigo has more of a greenish profile than being a ‘blue’ sort of fragrance. Herbal and outdoorsy with an ever-present freshness from the spearmint to the rosemary to the oak moss notes. The spearmint, is going to be the strongest and most persistent of the bunch.

Each of the herbal notes, seems to get a go at a time to shine. However, it will ultimately be about the spearmint note, blended with amber, driftwood, and a general green aromatic aroma. Burberry Indigo isn’t a super complicated fragrance, but does have an appealing composition.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this is a lighter moderate fragrance. I will say, that it has a much better ability to project itself on my skin versus the other Mr. Burberry colognes that I have reviewed. This EDT will stick 3-5 feet from the skin, at it’s max, but doesn’t hit skin scent territory until later in the wear.

The longevity is also improved when compared to the others. It’s still not great at 6-7 hours of wear, but it’s serviceable and not completely weak. I do wish it had a bit more punch and ability to hang around, not completely terrible, however.

Seasonally, it will be best in moderate to warmer temperatures of spring. But, it could work for most of the year. In the winter, the aromatic freshness, might be a bit much in the cold air. So, that’s probably it’s greatest limitation.

Indigo is also very versatile otherwise. It isn’t an offensive fragrance and not one to shine in the nightlife. However, it can be worn casually, to work, and to many other places. It has no trouble fitting in and can be safely worn by younger or even older guys.

Overall Impressions of Mr. Burberry Indigo

Overall, do I like Mr. Burberry Indigo? As of now, it’s my favorite from the Mr. Burberry series. That’s not saying too much, since I’m not generally a fan of it. That being said, I do enjoy this one. Like a more herbal green take, on an Acqua di Gio style of scent.

This does have a very minty profile, so, if that’s not your thing…skip it. The herbal woodiness and overall clean outdoorsy feeling is pleasant and attractive. I don’t think that Indigo does anything too groundbreaking, but I don’t have too many complaints from wearing it.

The aroma itself is nice, not incredible. The performance is decent enough. To me, it’s an above average cologne that could find a spot in your rotation, for the right price. I’d wear it more as a change of pace from the rest of what I have.

Is it a must buy? No, but it also isn’t one that I would ever regret having. Indigo EDT is worth a try, to see if you want to make a full commitment. I like it.

Chance EDP by Chanel

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Chanel Chance has been an extremely popular release from the brand for well over a decade now. I’ve been circling back on Chanel perfumes, buying up a bunch of samples to give updated reviews of as many of them as possible (with so many more to go).

I snapped up a lot of Chance and its flankers a few months ago for testing, and today, we get to Chance Eau de Parfum. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Chanel Chance EDP Smell Like?

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

Click here to try: Chance EDP from Chanel

My Full Review

Here’s how Chanel, describes Chance: Unpredictable, in perpetual movement, the unexpected floral fragrance sweeps you into its whirlwind of happiness and fantasy.

The opening act of Chance EDP has less of the patchouli note, than the EDT version. It has a slightly fruity aroma, pink pepper, jasmine, vanilla and the musk.

Initially, the jasmine is going to be the strongest of the floral notes. Then, it kind of shares duties with the iris as things move along. Though, the role of the floral notes will diminish, as well.

The pink pepper and the jasmine come out strongest in the immediate opening. Once those two have settled down, the vanilla will start to emerge for its run at the top. For a while, it will feel quite powdery with the iris and somewhat creamy from the vanilla. I really like this stage of the fragrance.

One thing that I do quite like about Chance, is just how much it develops through the wear, on my skin. I get so many different facets out of this perfume. Like, after it’s vanilla/iris stage, it is time for the white musk and patchouli to have their go. Finally, it is mostly about the musk and jasmine coming through at the end.

As I mentioned, the patchouli isn’t as powerful here as in the EDT. But, it does have its moments within this composition. By the end of it, it’s more of a musky floral and the patchouli doesn’t have too much of a say. Though, about an hour in, it will be pretty noticeable.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, Chance EDP is fairly powerful and can project itself well, but it’s not elite. I’d place it at the lower end of the ‘strong’ spectrum. Chance doesn’t choke out a room, but it is noticeable in the immediate vicinity around the person wearing it.

In terms of the longevity, I get anywhere from 8-10 hours of wear with this perfume. I will say, that most of the time it falls closer to the 8 hour end of things, but is capable of a few more hours. Again, a very good performance with this Chanel, just not a marathon of scent.

Seasonally, this one has always felt right in any time of year, to my nose. I like it best during the springtime, but it doesn’t feel out of place elsewhere. More of a moderate to warm temperature wear, with some added versatility.

Chance has a somewhat formal vibe to it, versus some of the other popular perfumes that Chanel offers. Though, it is extremely versatile in other more casual situations. It’s a pretty fragrance, not really super sexy or anything, but attractive enough for a date and it has plenty of appeal.

Overall Impressions of Chance

Do I like this perfume? Yes, I do enjoy it. It’s my second favorite Chance that Chanel has released. It’s a bit better than the EDT version, as well.

Chance EDP has all of the hallmarks of a Chanel perfume, with the instantly recognizable jasmine, musk, and patchouli notes that they always seem to use. Seriously, you can detect the Gabrielle and Coco Mademoiselle within this one, while they are all distinct and separate perfumes.

I like the iris and vanilla stage, as well as the opening act. The final musk and jasmine dry down is nice, but not a complete knockout for me.

The performance is very good, just never absolute top tier. You do get your money’s worth with Chance eau de parfum, so, I wouldn’t worry about  the performance aspect.

Overall, I think Chance does everything well, from smell to just how versatile it is. Chance is an easy one to wear and you can’t go too wrong with it. Is it one of the best ever? Not really, just very good. It can be a good entry point for those who want to try a Chanel perfume, but are unsure of their more niche offerings.