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!

Mont Blanc Legend vs. Versace Eros Comparison

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For this entry into the series of head to head men’s fragrance match ups, we have two best selling scents, from the past decade: Versace Eros vs. Mont Blanc Legend. Which one of these well known colognes, smells the best? Which has the better performance? Which is the top buy? I will break down each by category and have linked my original reviews below.

Tale of the Tape: Legend vs. Eros

Mont Blanc Legend

Notes include: Bergamot, Pineapple Leaf, Sandalwood, Apple, rose, oak moss, lemon verbena, geranium, lavender,  And Tonka Bean

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Eau de Toilette 3.3 fl.oz.

Read my review: Mont Blanc Legend

Versace Eros

Notes of Eros: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver, Italian lemon

Shop Amazon for: Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My review: Versace Eros

Opening

Eros opens up with that familiar lemon, crisp green apple, and the spicy coolness of mint. It is bright, sharp, juicy, and then begins to develop a sweetness.

Legend opens with a blend of pineapple, bergamot, and apple. It is clean, but doesn’t have the same type of sharpness, as it is calmed by lavender and tonka bean. It also has a drier and more floral aroma than Eros.

Which is better? I prefer how Eros kicks off, much more than I do the Mont Blanc. It has not only a better aroma, but more depth, and complexity. I’m immediately drawn into the fragrance, rather than, just thinking it is pleasant.

Edge: Eros

Projection

Eros has always has a large sillage. It is the type of fragrance that you can spray and detect from across the room. It stays pretty strong throughout the wear, but especially on the front end.

Legend has good sillage, but it is much more in the moderate camp, and never challenges the strength of the Versace.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

Legend has never lasted a great deal of time on my skin. It isn’t terrible, but is just okay, clocking in at 5-6 hours. Meanwhile, Eros will go all day, and get into the 10+ hour range. Easy win here.

Update: Newer bottles of Eros, don’t seem to have the same power. It’s still better, but closer to the 8-9 hour range, on my skin.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

Versace Eros is great in the cold weather and can venture into springtime, but doesn’t hold up all that well in the heat. It is much more of a romantic or nightlife wear, you can venture into the office wear with it, but you must tread lightly with the sprays.

Mont Blanc Legend is a very versatile scent and that’s definitely one of its strengths. It can be worn year round and fits in, within all environments.

It is attractive enough for dates, can go out for an evening, but doesn’t have that massive club beast persona.

Edge: Legend

Overall Scent

For me, this isn’t a close call. I know others really like Legend, but I think that it is just pretty good. When compared to Versace Eros, it doesn’t stand a chance, in my opinion. I do like it’s clean citrus and lavender blend with some smooth tonka bean and a fresh woody base.

The performance is just decent, but you can usually pick up a bottle for a good price.

Eros, while it is a very popular and heavy fragrance, is still a favorite of mine. I don’t wear it daily, but I do come back to it time and time again.

It is sweet, seductive, and very bold. Women seem to like it, heck, even other guys seem to appreciate it. It’s still a great experience to wear it and it gets the nod here.

Winner: Versace Eros

Herod by Parfums De Marly

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So, I’ve got a ton of Parfums de Marly reviews that I need to write up, and post on the site. I received a good 10+ sample vials of this design house’s fragrances and have been testing them out. The first one, and the subject of this post, is Herod. Herod is perhaps their most popular cologne but does it actually live up to the lofty reputation?

Herod by PdM Overview

Notes include: tobacco leaf, musk, cinnamon, vanilla, vetiver, cedar, patchouli, pepper, incense, and labdanum 

Click here to try: Parfums de Marly Herod Men’s EDP Spray, 4.2 oz.

My Full Review

From the opening, Herod is an absolutely captivating fragrance, and one that is right in my wheelhouse. The tobacco note in this one is superb and reminds me of Pure Havane, in that respect.

Although, this Parfums de Marly scent has a slightly different type of tobacco and better smelling (and no honey note).

Herod really seems like an amalgamation of other scents that I’ve enjoyed. Other than Pure Havane, it has elements of Man in Black, Burberry London, as well as B Men.

Man in Black has an especially similar profile, with the spices and tobacco notes playing off of sweet ingredients. Are they exactly the same? No, but I’ve worn them both enough to recognize them as close cousins.

Herod is a warm fragrance, the vanilla note envelops you, and the cinnamon/pepper combination gives you that heated spice. It opens with those two notes being on prominent display.

Yet, it is never harsh. The smooth smokiness of the incense makes sure that the spice isn’t like a punch in the face and simply adds a relaxing texture to the aroma.

Tobacco, labdanum, and vanilla create a smooth and somewhat sweet trio which grows in strength during the wear. Another way the spices get brought under control and don’t become overwhelming.

In the dry down, it is a dark and resinous scent with a sweet heart. I really love it at this stage, as it lingers softly in the air, and I can catch whiffs of Herod throughout the day. This is where I think that the incense note shines through and earns its spot.

Ultimately, I get a mix of spicy/sweet tobacco, with smoky and resinous undertones. It’s warm, cozy, and very attractive.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection wise, it can be strong, but I think that it dries down into more of a moderate cologne. However, it is noticeable throughout the day. Also, the longevity is really great.

This is easily a 10+ hour wear and a scent who’s performance actually lives up to its price. Using my sample vial over the course of months, I never got a bad performance from Herod. It works extremely well with my skin and sticks around for as long as I would want.

Seasonally, Herod is one for the cold weather. I’ve been mostly testing this at night here in the summer, as it just doesn’t fit during the sweltering heat of the daytime. Update: I’ve worn this in the colder weather, or even the lighter days of autumn, and it fits perfectly.

It also has great versatility. It is a mature and refined type of fragrance that can fit well in the office but also has a level of sexiness that would work during a night out or date.

Overall Impressions of Herod by PdM

Overall, do I think Herod is worth it? Yes! This Parfums de Marly scent is a total winner in my book. I don’t personally need to buy a full bottle at the moment, due to the season, but it could definitely be a play for me during the autumn. Smooth, spicy, and tobacco laden.

Herod is one of the best PdM releases, in my opinion. Definitely a top 2 or 3 pick for me, from this designer. It smells great, has an interesting blend of familiar notes, and performs extraordinarily well for me.

Coco Mademoiselle EDP Intense by Chanel

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Coco Mademoiselle’s success allowed Chanel to release a whole host of flanker fragrances to capitalize further on that perfume formulation. The most popular of these newer releases, is Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Intense. So, what’s this one all about? How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Coco Mademoiselle Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: patchouli, amber, tonka bean, vanilla, orange, jasmine, rose, musk

Click here to try: Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Intense Eau De Parfum Spray, 1.7 Oz 

My Full Review

Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Intense opens up with less of the orange and other citrus notes, than the citrus had, but with an even stronger initial punch. While this is the intense version, to me, it isn’t that much more powerful than the original Coco Mademoiselle.

What I do get more of in the opening act is patchouli and amber. The citrus is there, but that bold and juicy orange is tamped down, and seems to share duties with other citrus notes much more so.

Intense is pretty heavy on the patchouli note, which I don’t usually love, but it works very well within this composition. The perfume has plenty of sweetness and smoothness from the vanilla, amber, and tonka bean notes.

Moving deeper into the wear, the jasmine and rose begin to come through more. In this edition, the jasmine still has predominance over the rose, but the rose is present and noticeable.

Again, the original is not only more citrus dominant, but also has a greater use of the floral notes.

Mademoiselle Intense finally finishes its development with an amber, patchouli, and vanilla blend. I do still get jasmine on my skin, at this point, but it’s basically just supporting those three notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Is this a strong perfume? Yes. Is the sillage that much greater than the original? Not really. Again, you’re going to notice that this is there and you can indeed overspray Coco Mademoiselle Intense.

However, it really doesn’t strike me as a super heavy or thick kind of perfume.

The longevity is also great. Like the original, it will last for over 10 hours on me. No issues with the performance, in my experience.

Seasonally, I would just not wear this out in the heat. Autumn through mid-spring is fine, but you should probably find a summertime option. What I do like about Intense, is that it doesn’t get relegated to the cold weather only.

You will get plenty of use from this as a daily wear or even one that can be used out at night. Go easy with the sprays and it can fit in at the office. Good for casual or even more dressed up events. Versatile just like the EDP.

Overall Impressions of Coco Mademoiselle Intense

Overall, do I like this release from Chanel? Yes, it’s a great flanker of the now classic Coco Mademoiselle EDP. I don’t think that it is quite as good, but it comes pretty close in my book.

This perfume isn’t as heavy nor does it have the insane projection that you might think. Yes, it is strong and performs extremely well, it’s just not an unbearable mess.

If you are someone who prefers patchouli and vanilla, this actually might be the Coco Mademoiselle fragrance for you. In totality, you’re not going to get the same level of citrus that you do with the EDP. Depending on your style, that might be a good thing.

I can absolutely recommend giving this one a try. It does everything well and gives you another versatile staple in a perfume rotation.

Contre Moi by Louis Vuitton

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Contre Moi is one of the fragrances released by Louis Vuitton back in 2016. It is also one of the many decants that I picked up from this designer, a while back in order to try out and review. I didn’t have any expectations about what this scent was like, when I first tried it, and no real preconceptions to influence me. What does it smell like? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Contre Moi Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, orange flower, rose, magnolia, and cocoa

My Full Review

Contre Moi opens up with its blend of vanilla notes, light citrus, and orange flower. The vanilla is smooth, creamy, and a bit smoky. While you’ll notice that there is both vanilla and cocoa in this Louis Vuitton perfume, it isn’t a sugary or refined version of either.

After a few minutes, I don’t pick up on any citrus any more. From here, it is mostly a warm vanilla floral blend, where the different floral notes get their own time to shine. 

Really, the rose is the weakest of the bunch. At first, it’s more orange flower, then the magnolia. For the dry down it’s a bouquet effect without much differentiation. 

That’s basically what I get for the rest of the wear: vanilla, cocoa, bouquet, and some ambrette in the base of the composition. Not a super complicated perfume, but it does develop somewhat, within that simple framework. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

In terms of the sillage, this is a light fragrance without much projection, after the first 30 minutes or so. It stays pretty darn close to the skin, unless you overspray. Even then, it isn’t going to get you much more.

However, the result does stick around for 6-6.5 hours, on my skin. Again, that’s not great, but it isn’t absolutely dreadful. At the price point, I would want much more from Contre Moi’s performance, especially since I enjoy the smell so much.

 

Seasonally, I’d just avoid the hottest days of summer with this one. Nighttime, might work then, but Contre Moi is fine pretty much anytime outside of that. It’s warm, but not a heavy or enveloping perfume, that would get stuck in the winter.

It’s got enough style to fit into more formal occasions, but isn’t so stuffy, that you couldn’t wear it casually. Not really a ‘sexy’ perfume, but it feels like it’d be appropriate in the nightlife. 

Overall Impressions of Contre Moi

Overall, do I like Contre Moi by Louis Vuitton? I do really like how this one smells. It’s a great vanilla floral blend, with its own unique take on the genre. I like the different types of vanilla in this one, the nice unprocessed cocoa, and the orange flower.

The downside? The performance is lacking. That may or may not be a problem for you, just know that you’re not going to get a workhorse fragrance.

It is a very pretty and attractive scent, that could have been absolutely great with better longevity and power. As it is, it’s an enjoyable perfume, but not necessarily a must have.

J’adore EDP by Christian Dior

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I still have a handful of samples that I need to review and they’re all ladies’ perfumes. Two of them are Dior scents from the J’adore line and today, I am starting with the original eau de parfum. J’adore eau de parfum was released in 1999 and has enjoyed wild success ever since then. I will cover what’s in it, how it smells, performs, and whether or not I think it is worth a buy.

What does J’adore EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: jasmine, orchid, plum, rose, mandarin, musk, ylang-ylang, blackberry

Click here to try: Christian Dior J’Adore Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of J’adore is a very clean and refined blend of floral notes. Mostly, I pick up on jasmine, ylang-ylang, freesia, and orchid.  Rose is also apparently in there, but it isn’t a strong rose scent, to me at least.

The florals have a juicy/watery aroma to them, this isn’t a ‘dry’ smelling perfume. Nice green undertones. Lily and melon, give it that juicy almost aquatic sensibility.

J’adore has a light fruitiness to it. It is mostly a floral dominated composition, but the melon/plum/mandarin trio do come through. and add to the juiciness of the fragrance.

It is very bright and uplifting but with a sophisticated air to the aroma. Sharp and pretty. During the latter stages, pear and melon are the main fruit notes that remain, and really don’t have intense aromas associated with either.

Finally, I’m left with lots of jasmine, some light musk, fruits, and a bouquet effect of various floral notes coming together. To my nose, it becomes rather difficult to distinguish between each.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection on J’adore is pretty good. It isn’t a loud fragrance, it’s actually quite soft. However, that doesn’t mean that it is weak, you’ll know that J’adore is still there.

I also got a full day of wear out of this one. 8+ hours of solid performance, so there won’t be any problems on that end. Coming back to J’adore and trying it out a few more times, has produced very similar results. Not a perfume that will disappoint with its longevity.

Seasonally, I guess I would say that it is more of a springtime smell. Though, it really wouldn’t feel out of place in any season. It’s pretty solid year round, but performs best in warmer weather. During the summer months, J’adore can handle the humidity without completely falling apart.

It’s a good choice for office or casual daytime wear. Fits an age range of 20s+, as it retains a mature sensibility without being too ‘grandma’. J’adore doesn’t particularly strike me as sexy, I’d say that it’s attractive and pleasant.

This is a daily wear scent, if you’re looking for something more specific, J’adore isn’t going to fit a mold. Clean, floral, with greenish hints throughout.

Overall Impression of J’adore

Overall, would I recommend J’adore? It pretty much is a classic perfume from Christian Dior at this point. I like it and find it to be a well put together floral. If floral fragrances aren’t your thing, you would probably do well by looking elsewhere.

J’adore isn’t flashy and might not be a go-to perfume for all occasions but it does just about everything, extremely well.