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!

The Scent of Peace for Him by Bond No. 9

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Today’s review is of another Bond No. 9 fragrance and this time, it’s one from the men’s line, The Scent of Peace for Him. Now, there are a few different Scent of Peace fragrances out there. One for women, one unisex, and this one intended for the male audience.

In this post, I’m going to cover all of the specifics about this scent and how it performs, so read below for my complete impressions.

What does the Scent of Peace for Him Smell Like?

Notes include: cedar, bergamot, pineapple, vetiver, currant, juniper berries

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 The Scent Of Peace Eau De Parfum Spray for Him, 3.3 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of The Scent of Peace for him packs quite a punch. It draws a lot of comparisons with Creed Aventus and while they do have some overlap, they really aren’t that similar in my opinion.

The juniper berry note gives The Scent of Peace a juicy fresh fruit scent to go along with the bergamot and pineapple. Whereas, Creed Aventus opens up more like Pine-Sol, and then gets better as it goes along. It’s cold and bright, right off of the bat. It has that similar clean dryness to Aventus.

This Bond No.9 fragrance has a strong use of cedar, which allows for the woody aroma to sit underneath the initial fruits and then take over mores as the top fruit notes settle a bit. It’s honestly, a pretty linear fragrance after the first half hour or so.

What does it ultimately smell like? Well, if you get a close sniff, you can detect separation between the ingredients and the cedar and pineapple do have a certain nice appeal. However, it becomes more muddled as you get further away from where you sprayed, and it starts to smell more like a detergent.

I’m not sure which brand of laundry detergent, I used to use, but there is one the smells exactly like The Scent of Peace for Him. That smell isn’t bad, and especially not when, it’s become faint on clothing that’s been washed.

The thing is, The Scent of Peace at a distance, smells quite a bit like detergent in concentrate form. It’s that sharp pineapple, cedar dryness, and juniper which brings out that smell. But, while there are cheap colognes like Nautica Blue, which have this same issue; it isn’t too awful in this Bond No. 9.

Upon close inspection, I enjoy the musk/vetiver combo and the very nice use of the bergamot note. It just becomes difficult to enjoy when you have on the one hand a bright and lively fragrance and on the other hand, an in your face detergent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this stuff is really strong. Like, two sprays is enormous, and it clouds your surroundings. That’s not always a bad thing, but it can be too much here. So, it will get top marks from me in terms of its sillage. It lives up to the price tag, with the performance.

Also, the longevity is pretty incredible. I’ve taken soap and water, to where I sprayed it on my arm hours earlier, and I could still smell The Scent of Peace for Him…the next day. Crazy. After wearing this a few times, easily in the double digit hours club, without question. Outstanding.

As far as its seasonality, this just strikes me as a summertime cologne. It feels too strong to be suitable for enclosed spaces such as an office, but might work as a casual outdoorsy fragrance during the warmer months of the year.

It’s not particularly sexy or nightlife worthy, just a fresh and clean sort of scent. Again, I really don’t think that it has the same appeal or aroma as Aventus. It is versatile as a daytime fragrance, but that’s what I’d keep it as.

Overall Scent of The Scent of Peace

Overall, would I recommend The Scent of Peace for Him? It’s not for me, but it’s nice enough. I don’t hate it and the performance is pretty insane. However, it just strikes me in the same vein as Sauvage and Dylan Blue, these bright citrusy colognes with woody undertones.

They’re decent but aren’t impressive overall. Plus, I think I prefer those two colognes to this Bond No. 9 and they are both much cheaper. It’s okay, but that’s about it. The Aventus comparisons, are pretty overdone, as they really aren’t that similar.

Yes, they are somewhat alike, but not complete clones by any stretch.

Si by Giorgio Armani

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I’m still pouring through my Macy’s perfume samples and I’m about to order even more samples of other fragrances online soon. But until then, I am going to finish going through the 10+ perfumes and colognes that I have laying around the house, and do some reviews. Today’s entry is a popular women’s scent by Giorgio Armani, Si.

In this post, I want to explore how it smells, performs, and whether or not I think that it is worth a buy.

What does Armani Si EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, vanilla, freesia, black currant, patchouli, amber, woods

Click here to try: Giorgio Armani Si Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening blast of Si is a mix of the rose, black currant, and vanilla note. This creates a sweet and fruity aroma that is more akin to a synthetic or candy-like peach than anything else. The black currant does have some of its usual sharpness, however, it gets toned down a lot by the other notes.

The rose is the most noticeable of the three for my nose, and you can also detect the patchouli background, which intensifies as it wears on.

The fruity/patchouli vibe reminds me of the men’s fragrance, Black XS, except it’s a peach smell instead of a lemon. Which is great, because that cologne is super sharp, up top.

After a few minutes, the black currant becomes the main player, in my mind. The juicy berry fragrance is super sweet yet also beautiful and inviting. I kept wanting to smell this delicious aroma again and again.

Si is more of a soft fragrance, so even with three sprays, it never felt as if it was going to overwhelm and choke me out. However, it’s not so weak that you have to use a whole bottle for it to be effective.

After and hour or two, Si dries down into something that is more floral, woody, and powdery. It moves away from the complete sweetness but keeps the warm and slightly spicy scent of patchouli and amber.

Si is a green floral scent at this point and remains so with support of the vanilla and black currant. The berry smell, doesn’t hang around much, which may or may not be a good thing. I like the scent, so, I wanted it to stick throughout.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Si, isn’t that strong. However, that shouldn’t be mistaken for weakness because this one does actually perform quite well, it just isn’t an overpowering monster. This is a good thing for such a casual scent.

Longevity seems to be in the 6-7 hour range, which is really solid but not anything crazy. After trying it a few times, it seems to hit that amount of time consistently. So, pretty middling overall.

Si does have some versatility, it is safe enough to wear to work or school, but attractive enough to wear on a date. I would definitely enjoy smelling this scent on a woman. This Armani does basically fit the bill, as a ‘one size fits all’ kind of perfume. For most climates, it can be worn to a wide variety of different events.

It also feels like it would work best being worn in cold to moderate temperatures. In the heat? Not so much. But pretty much any other time of the year except the height of summer. I think the rose and vanilla, have a tendency to melt in the heat and humidity.

So, a tropical climate, probably wouldn’t be ideal outside of some limited weather conditions.

Overall Impression of Si

Overall, is Si worth a purchase? Yes. This is a really great perfume from Armani. It’s juicy sweet and floral and the patchouli serves the fragrance. That’s important as patchouli can often swoop in and dominate the other notes.

Si is also mature enough not to be confused with a teenager’s fragrance but chic enough not to move into grandma territory. This is an interesting and well-balanced scent which will appeal to a wide variety of women.

Central Park South by Bond No. 9

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Continuing along with my Bond No. 9 fragrance reviews, I am going to do another women’s perfume scent, from a sample vial that I received. This one is Central Park South. As usual, I am going to cover what’s in it, how it smells, how it performs, and if I think it’s worth a buy or not.

What does Central Park South Smell Like?

Notes include: jasmine, grapefruit blossom, black currant, wood notes, lily of the valley

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Central Park South Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.3 Fl Oz

My Full Review

So, Central Park South has been compared to Bond No. 9’s, I Love NY for Earth Day. Which, funny enough, I found a sample of mixed in with others that I have yet to do a review on. However, while these two fragrances share some ingredients, they really don’t smell the same.

From the start, Central Park South is loud. It’s actually kind of crazy, how much this perfume projects. I first sprayed it on an old shirt and then went to the kitchen in my apartment. I could smell it, a solid 15 feet away, with only a few sprays. It is a floral bouquet of jasmine and the two floral blossom notes.

It is a very clean and dominant jasmine scent. The other notes in the composition seem to give it a ‘green’ effect and it can feel like an uplifting walk through a garden. Maybe it’s just my nose, but it really struck me as a linear scent, there wasn’t much change during wear.

It’s a big burst of jasmine with black currant and grapefruit blossom, jockeying for position. Then, some lily kicks in underneath the main attraction, and the blossom notes fade somewhat.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, as I said, it’s a beast. Literal monster that projects even more than a men’s fragrance like 1 Million. One spray is probably enough, since two was way more than I wanted to smell.

Longevity is also no problem, I don’t have the exact time, since I washed it off. Though, it didn’t want to quit at all during the day. Coming back to Central Park South, I can say that it easily hits over 10 hours of wear without issue. Absolute beast of a scent.

When to wear? Spring or early summer. A casual fragrance. Be careful wearing it within an office, since it is so damn heavy. It’s a fine fragrance, if you’re going to be outdoors or in an environment, where you can be louder with your perfume.

Overall Impressions of Central Park South

Overall, would I recommend Central Park South? If you like floral notes, I mean, you really really like jasmine and lily of the valley. Just don’t wear it around me, as it gave me a headache.

It’s not super sweet but it is just so overwhelming, that it strikes me as being too much. I already don’t like heavy floral fragrances and this one is that to the extreme. Probably a pretty niche perfume.

You certainly get value for the higher end Bond No. 9 prices. It’s a jasmine lovers fragrance, not amazing, but can be a good choice for the right person.

Best Smelling Aquatic Colognes for Men: Top 9 Fragrances

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One of the most popular cologne segments is the aquatics. These men’s fragrances often include citrus notes to go along with sea or other marine ingredients, though, they can sometimes also be woodsy based instead of citrus. These are generally best used in spring and summer and can withstand the heat and humidity that accompanies that part of the year.

There are plenty of decent options within the frame of aquatics for men but I wanted to create a list of some of the best scents in my opinion. In the end, I chose 9 guys’ colognes that I consider to be the best smelling and top performing aquatics.

What are the Best Aquatic/Marine Colognes for Him?

In addition to this list, I have related ones for colognes that smell like the beach or ocean, if you want something a bit more specific. Also, the top tropical fragrances.

Dark, Herbal, Aquatic Cologne

Giorgio Armani Aqua di Gio Profumo, 4.2 Fluid Ounce– A flanker from the original and best-selling Acqua di Gio, AdG Profumo, exceeds the original in my opinion. It is a dark aquatic fragrance with an attractive spice and smoky undertones provided by the incense note.

Update: You also might go with the newer Profondo, which is awesome for summer.

Profumo starts out with bergamot and deep sea aquatic notes. The composition screams out summertime spent on the coast and is more refined and masculine than its predecessor. Great salty marine elements with sage and rosemary, giving it all extra heft. Awesome. Acqua di Gio Profumo Review

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Top Cheap Fragrance with Aquatic Elements

Nautica Voyage By Nautica For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 oz – This is a really great fragrance and is affordable for just about any budget. Nautica Voyage has an aquatic aroma with musky undertones. However, the main attraction is the fruit which is listed as apple, and has a cold crispness to it. Very fresh with additional floral notes.

This one has a cold aroma, with the crisp cucumber-like juiciness. It’s aquatic but not oceanic or marine, meaning, it doesn’t have that heavy sea salt note as others do. Floral and green undertones provided by oak moss, mimosa, and lotus. Voyage is one for daytime use and will usually go for about 7 hours on my skin, when wearing it.

Voyage is a constant best-seller because it delivers that bright and sunny aroma with nice performance. It has that usual Nautica marine/aquatic profile with a cedarwood base holding it all together. It’s light and built for the summertime. Casual or everyday wear.  My Full Review of Voyage Cologne

nautica voyage cologne review

Underrated Aquatic Men’s Fragrance

Fendi Fan Di Acqua Pour Homme EDT Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce– Fan di Fendi Acqua is another designer scent, that has been heavily discounted. I think this will be cheap, until the current overstock gets scarce, and then might go back up.

In the mean time, guys have a chance to pick a bottle of this summertime aquatic, for super cheap. I bought a full bottle for $20, back in the start of 2019, and wore it plenty during the summer months.

Acqua opens up with bergamot, cedar and aquatic notes which are surrounded by a warm spiciness of peppercorn and pink pepper. While it starts off fairly spicy, it settles down into a uniquely smooth aquatic, with a great leather note.

Is this the most amazing fragrance? No, but it is quite underrated. When compared with the usual scents at this price, the quality and overall experience is much better. Fan di Fendi Acqua Review

fan di fendi acqua homme

Simple Marine Scent

Bvlgari Aqua By Bvlgari For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces
Aqva is obviously an aquatic scent. From the start we get a strong blend of two types of orange, salty seaweed, and cedar driftwood. It has that really oceanic and water laden citrus fruit vibe, that strikes hard at first.

However, it doesn’t stay citrus laden throughout like most aquatics and ends up with quite a moderate sillage. As it wears on, it feels both darker and deeper, as a fragrance. Lavender comes in to lend a clean aroma to the salty driftwood.

Really good casual scent for the summer months and feels like being at the shore. Bvlgari Aqva has been a best seller, in this space for years now, and is an aquatic that folks seem to love. Full Bvlgari Aqva Review

Tropical Island Scent

Creed Virgin Island Water Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Fl Ounce– Virgin Island Water is some folks favorite summertime island life-smelling fragrance. Is it a pure aquatic? Probably not, but it fits the same sort of vibe.

I really like that opening blast, as it feels like sitting on a beach, with a tropical drink in hand. When the coconut comes in heavier, this one starts to take on more of a suntan lotion aroma.

Plenty of people enjoy that, I think that it is just okay. Consider this one to be a boozy/beachy aquatic and not an oceanic sort of scent. Virgin Island Water is built for the summertime, though, and for that it is an over nice choice for men or women. Virgin Island Water Review

Fresh Intense Aquatic for Summer

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce– I actually prefer the Intense version of Light Blue over the original. Like Light Blue, Eau Intense, starts out with a citrus opening; this time minus the bergamot note that is so prevalent in the original. Grapefruit and mandarin this time around, but the grapefruit is ‘frozen’ and produces a wonderful chilled feeling.

This has an amberwood note in it, that some people don’t really like. I generally enjoy wearing this one, but it did sometimes get annoying. As such, the original Light Blue should also be highly considered, as an alternative.

Also, this one doesn’t have the same spice or aquatic note. The pepper is replaced with a great juniper and the aquatic aroma, is much closer to fresh water, than a sea note.

I think that this one is much more refreshing and fun to wear, the whole chilled vibe is great on a warm day. The sillage is strong and I get around 9 hours of use, on my skin. Light Blue Eau Intense Review

Boozy Beach Aquatic

Tommy Bahama St Barts Cologne Eau de Cologne Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce –This Tommy Bahama scent is sort of like a poor man’s version of Virgin Island Water. It’s got a strong lime kick, which turns into a smooth and creamy finish with salty undertones as if you were sitting on the beach.

I like wearing this one from time to time. The performance isn’t amazing, so, I’d suggest trying to find a cheap bottle. Definitely avoid paying full price. It starts off strong with the lime, but later, the sillage is pretty light. Still, I enjoy this one as an island type of aquatic. Set Sail St. Barts Review

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Salt Water Oceanic Perfume for Him

Bvlgari Aqva Marine Pour Homme by Bvlgari 3.4oz 100ml EDT Spray– The flanker fragrance to Bvlgari Aqva and while it’s very similar this one feels lighter and has an added salt water note. This is built for summertime. Between the two Bvlgari options on this list, Aqva Marine is the one for those who want a purer oceanic experience.

This one has the same orange note, with additional grapefruit, and neroli to keep things light and fresh. Seaweed is a major player here, so, consider that before getting a bottle of this cologne.

Crisp, Easy to Wear Fragrance

Calvin Klein ETERNITY for Men AQUA Eau de Toilette, 3.4 Fl Oz– I am replacing Polo Blue EDT on the list, with an entry from Calvin Klein. Eternity Aqua is the closest thing you will get to a clone of Polo Blue EDT. Actually, it comes quite close to replicating it exactly, but there are a few differences.

Mainly, the opening act, is what is so similar to Blue. Eternity shares the cucumber note and that aquatic type of scent, but also features a plum note and citrus, to separate it from the Polo. It turns into a citrus spiciness with Sichuan pepper, with elements from the original Eternity for Men.

Is it better than Polo Blue? In terms of smell, they are really close, but I’m actually partial to Aqua. The longevity of Polo Blue is better, but I get 5-7 hours from this Calvin Klein. It would ultimately come down to price.

Right now, you can find full bottles of Eternity Aqua at some places for under $30, which is a saving versus Blue. If you can get one of the cheap bottles, go with this on over Ralph Lauren. Eternity Aqua Review

There you have it, 9 excellent options for guys who want to delve into the marine/aquatic space. Each of these scents provides something different while maintaining that underlying similarity which makes these types of colognes so interesting to wear.

Just Cavalli I Love Him by Roberto Cavalli

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Another sample that I’ve received recently is this Roberto Cavalli cologne from 2004, Just Cavalli I Love Him. The name is pretty bad, in my opinion. If someone asked what you were wearing and you had to answer, “I Love Him”, it’d probably be a bit awkward. That being said, I wanted to give my impression of this fragrance, see how it performed, and if it is even worth a buy.

What does Just Cavalli I Love Him Smell Like?

just cavalli i love him

Notes include: tangerine, ginger, green tea, saffron, nutmeg, sandalwood, pineapple, black pepper

Click here: Just Cavalli I Love Him By Roberto Cavalli for Men Eau-de-toillete Spray, 2 Ounce

My Full Review

Behind its stupid name, this fragrance actually isn’t all that bad. It is a blend of citrus/spice/powdery aromas tied together in a light and fresh cologne.

The opening is more of the tangerine and black pepper notes than anything with support coming from the ginger, nutmeg, and the green tea note which provides is bit of uniqueness in an otherwise rather seemingly generic fragrance.

Actually, it isn’t quite like anything else exactly, but it does feel like a million other summer colognes. Like, it has just enough to separate it from the pack.

The citrus is pretty bright and somewhat sharp at the beginning, with a fizzy drink like quality. However, it will become more of a sweet powdery and slightly spiced cologne during the dry down.

For me, I can’t really pick out too many of the notes toward the end of the wear. It’s just an overall blend of ingredients stirred up to create an impression.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I Love Him, is really soft but you will notice it there…it isn’t a skin scent. However, while it is a lighter scent it does have really good longevity, which adds to its case as a possible daily wear scent during the summertime.

It can go for 7-8 hours, at its best…sometimes just six, though.

This is a casual scent, I wouldn’t wear it on a date or brand it as a ‘sexy’ cologne, though it does smell quite nice. Another perk, is the aforementioned ability to stand up in the heat, it does a great job of that in fact.

Overall Impressions of Just Cavalli I Love Him

Overall, is this Roberto Cavalli fragrance a buy? I mean, not really. I don’t really find anything all that special about it, beyond the green tea and the tangerine, it isn’t all that unique.

It does have really good performance, which is especially important in a summer cologne, so if you can grab it at a good price (it’s not even in production anymore)…it could be a cheap casual wear scent.