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!

Versace Eros vs Creed Aventus Comparison

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Wow. I honestly can’t believe I haven’t done this comparison before. These are two of the most popular men’s fragrances on the market and have very loyal fan bases. Personally, I like both of them, but which one would I pick if pressed? Which smells better? Which scent has the best performance? Versatility? Continue below for my full take between Versace Eros vs Creed Aventus.

Tale of the Tape: Eros vs Aventus

Notes of Creed Aventus: 

Top: Blackcurrant, Italian bergamot, French apples and pineapple

Middle: Rose, dry birch, Moroccan jasmine, and patchouli

Base Notes: musk, oak moss, ambergris, and vanilla.

Click here to try Aventus: Aventus For Men 4.0 oz EDP Spray By Creed

Click here to read my original Aventus Review

Versace Eros

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

Click here to try: Versace Eros Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.7 Fluid Ounce

My original Versace Eros Review

Opening

While I think the overall head to head matchup is a tough choice, the opening for me, is a no brainer. I pretty much hate how Aventus starts off. I’ve worn it so many times, that I’ve become numb to the opening, but it’s always struck me as a really harsh citrus/wood mix. Luckily, it gets way better.

Eros, on the other hand, is a monster from the start. The mint, the tonka/vanilla mix, and the fruit notes all combine to make a wonderfully bold gourmand aroma. Versace Eros has an exceedingly rich warmth and delicious scent.

Update: Gahhhh, Eros has more lemon in the opening than it used to in the first bottles. I still like it more, but it doesn’t captivate me in the same way.

Edge: Eros

Projection

Aventus is a very good fragrance in terms of sillage. It’s strong and noticeable and doesn’t disappoint. However, Eros is a loud scent. On my skin, it is a complete bomb, and that’s one of the things I have liked about it. Head to head, Eros is stronger and has a bigger radius.

Update: Nowadays, I’d say Aventus has the edge. Eros doesn’t seem to have that same strength in the latest batches I’ve tried. Still good, but now Aventus is better.

Edge: Aventus

Longevity

Again, that loudness by Eros is sustained, as it easily pulls 10+ hours of work. Aventus is really consistent, I pretty much always get 7-8 hours from it, with an occasional 9. Both of these fragrances do a fantastic job of performing, just Eros goes a bit further.

Update: Eros is still a bit better for me, but not the same powerhouse. Closer to 8-9 hours.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

While I dig Eros, it isn’t the most versatile scent out there. It’s boldness isn’t always appreciated as an office or school wear.  Can be great for the nightlife, though. Also, it’s much more of a cold weather scent. I never really like how it would wear during the summer months.

Aventus, is pretty much an all-around safe bet. It can be worn dressed up, casually, at the office, out on the town. It really delivers some value, in how many ways it can be used.

Edge: Aventus

 

 

Overall Scent

Update: I used to prefer Eros. However, it isn’t the same to me, as it used to be. Aventus is still the same and I’ve taken enough of a break from it to appreciate it once again.

I really like Aventus, and I appreciate everything about it (outside of that opening). It’s so well crafted and definitely has a great appeal.

I’ve worn it a whole lot, to the point that I’m sick of it. So, I’m not as high on it as I once was. Plus, there are endless streams of fragrances trying to be an equivalent to Aventus, and the aroma has gotten played out to an extent.

Sure, Eros can be limited in its uses, but I love that vanilla/apple/mint/tonka bean blend. It’s bold and sexy and delicious. While it’s tough to go against Aventus, this loud ass cologne has enjoyed insane popularity for a reason over these past years.

Also, if I were given $200 to buy fragrances and had to buy one of the two, I’d choose Eros plus other colognes; rather than just a single bottle of Aventus.

Versace Eros is a much better value play, as you can pretty much find bottles for around $40.

Neither of these colognes is my favorite, at the moment, but with the newer bottles of each Aventus would now get the nod.

Winner: Aventus

A*Men Pure Havane Vs. Pure Malt Cologne Comparison

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Today’s installment of my ever-running series of cologne comparisons will be between two scents from the Angel Men line by Thierry Mugler, Pure Havane and Pure Malt. These are two popular and well respected fragrances, as A*Men flankers. In This post, I want to explore the openings of both, how each smells, how it performs, and which of these two colognes is a better buy overall?

Tale of the Tape: Pure Malt vs. Pure Havane

Pure Havane 

A*Men Pure Havane

Notes include: tobacco leaves, honeyed tobacco, patchouli, and bitter cocoa

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Eau de Toilette Spray, Angel Men Pure Havane, 3.4 Ounce

Read my original review: Pure Havane Review

Pure Malt 

angel men pure malt review

Notes include: bergamot, patchouli, vanilla, cedar, amber, fruits, coffee bean, musk

Click here to try: Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler Eau De Toilette Spray (Limited Edition) for Men, 3.40 Ounce

Read my original review: Pure Malt Cologne Review

Opening

The opening of both of these scents is really quite fantastic, in my opinion. This is going to be a tough comparison, as neither of these scents is bad or an under performer, and it will mostly come down to personal preference.

Pure Havane opens up as a brighter and sweeter fragrance than does Pure Malt. Havane is a warm and sensual tobacco note blended with sugar, honey, and a bit of vanilla.

Malt on the other hand gives you that darker and heavier malt aroma with smokey and fruity undertones. It’s a blend of the fruits, whiskey, vanilla, and some patchouli to roughen things up slightly. Later, it will get smoother and creamier with woody base notes, but up top its a delightful whiskey soaked scent.

Which is better? To be honest, I’m really digging the boozy scent of Pure Malt right now, and I’m going to give it a very slight nod. I really like the sugary tobacco of Havane, but Malt is above it. I’ve come back to wearing each, and each time, Malt seems to draw me in a bit more.

Edge: Pure Malt

Projection

I don’t really notice a difference in the projection strength between these two. They are both pretty powerful, in terms of sillage, but not obscenely so. Plenty strong starters, that moderate, as they dry down but never get weak until deep into the wear.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Both of these colognes are very solid performers, just not beast mode. However, Havane becomes more of a skin scent after 5-6 hours. I usually get an extra hour or two out of Pure Malt.

Update: with Pure Malt, it’s pretty much 7 hours of wear each time. That’s been consistent over the years.

Edge: Pure Malt

Versatility

These two are cold weather scents and work obviously well in casual situations. Havane, though, does have more of a use in romantic wear it seems. Neither is a ‘club’ scent but Pure Malt hasn’t gotten as warm of a reception from women in my experience as Havane does…it doesn’t effect me wearing it, but it’s something to consider.

Edge: Pure Havane

Overall Scent

To me, the real decision is between whether you prefer a tobacco note or a boozier type of scent. Havane is sweet in a sugary way, masculine, and rich. It really is a great cologne.

Pure Malt gets it sweetness from fruit notes, has a spicier/smoky profile, and is much more like a fine whiskey. It ends up with its malty aroma, vanilla, cedar, and tonka bean. Less boozy, towards the end, but very clean and woodsy.

I love both of these colognes and think that Mugler knocked it out of the park with them.

Pure Malt is just a bit better in terms of performance, and I really have enjoyed wearing, it over the past few days. Your results may vary, but I know which one I’m picking.

Update: A few years after this initial post, and I still will go with Pure Malt, most of the time. Pure Havane is a nice fragrance to put on, every so often, Malt has more depth and an interesting profile.

Winner: Pure Malt

Body by Burberry

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So, it’s time for me to post another women’s perfume review. I got a few more ladies’ fragrance samples in my latest batch and so I thought that I’d write up my impressions of these scents to impart it to my female audience.

Today’s review is going to cover, Burberry Body, a floral/fruity scent that was released in 2011.

In this post, I want to cover how it smells and develops, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a purchase. Also see: Body vs London Perfume Comparison

What does Burberry Body Smell Like?

burberry body

Notes include: peach, musk, rose, sandalwood, amber, iris, vanilla

Click here to try: BURBERRY Body for Women Eau de Parfum, 2.0 oz

My Full Review

The opening blast of Body is headed by the peach note, with rose and a warm musk providing supporting roles. Initially, it is creamy and fruity but after 10 minutes or so the rose and the iris bring on a very floral profile.

The peach definitely dominates the top of the order. However, it is joined by what is apparently wormwood. I’m not too familiar with the aroma, so, it can be pretty hard to describe it. Nonetheless, I don’t find it to be distracting or anything terrible.

Rose, musk, and woods do start to peak in after that opening. Again, the first phase after that is mostly floral to my nose. Then, it switches to being something woodier and somewhat musky. The sandalwood is the most apparent wood note, that my nose picks up in the composition.

Body is quite smooth and mellowed out by the sandalwood and vanilla notes that creep in the background. In the dry down phase, you get a rose/peach blend with a warm and slightly spicy musk.

In the end, it is the rose with some peach, woody notes, and a spiciness. Still, has a light and cleaner type of vibe. Not a heavy scent at all, but rather, one that will feel like a natural extension of your skin.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Burberry Body is pretty strong. The sillage won’t fill up an entire room (unless you overdo it) but you’ll definitely know it is there. In its entirety, I’d say that this one has above average power, just not elite.

It also has very good longevity, I sprayed it on my wrist for an initial test, and it was still chugging along during the evening. I finally just had to scrub it off with soap and water because I was tired of smelling like a girl haha.

Coming back to it on another day, it seemed to approach the double digit hour mark, without any issue.

Body is an everyday wear, that would be good for casual occasions. I wouldn’t classify it as a sexy or date night perfume, though, I do find it attractive and wouldn’t mind smelling it on a girl I was dating. So, office wear, casual, semi-formal, etc.

It seems like it would work best during fall or early spring when the weather isn’t too hot. The wood, vanilla, and musky base might very well melt in the high heat or humidity. Though, in the cooler weather it turns out quite nicely, and you get the full aromas of each note.

Overall Impression of Burberry Body

Overall, would I recommend Burberry Body? Yes, it is a very nice casual perfume for women. If you don’t like roses or peach in your fragrances, I’d probably skip this one if I were you.

It’s more floral/woody than fruity. So, if that isn’t you, go with another option. Body won’t blow you away but it gets the job done.

I like the peach top and the later creamy blend of sandalwood/vanilla. It is an interesting and well-rounded perfume, kind of dry later on, but the rose and peach stick around for the long run.

Update: Body has been discontinued for a long while.

Chinatown by Bond No. 9

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took about a week off from posting on the site, but during that time, I got to test out more fragrances for review. On of these, is among the Bond No. 9 samples that I recently got a hold of, and a scent that I’ve been meaning to review for a number of years now…Chinatown. Is this Bond No. 9 scent worth a purchase? What does it smell like? How does it perform?

What does Bond No. 9 Chinatown Smell Like?

Notes include: tuberose, peach blossom, bergamot, honey, cedar, cardamom, vanilla sandalwood, guiac wood, and gardenia.

Click here to try: Chinatown by Bond No. 9 for Women – 3.3 oz EDP Spray.

My Full Review

The opening gives you a blast of white floral aroma provided by tuberose and the gardenia notes. This isn’t like some of the other Bond No. 9 floral offerings, which get heavily into the green plant life scent.

Instead, Chinatown has a wonderful fruity/floral mix with the peach blossom and a brief appearance by the bergamot top note. It gives Chinatown a sweetness and light juiciness, that really comes across as pleasant and well put together.

That fruity/sweet aspect, is really around for the opening bit, and then it fades into the background. The peach blossom, gives you a floral/fruity blend of aromas.

I think that the note that sets this one apart from many other floral perfumes, is the inclusion of cardamom. It does give Chinatown that hint of spice and a sweetness that pairs with the vague thickness of honey. I really love a good cardamom in a fragrance, and Chinatown is one which delivers exactly that.

The next main stage of this fragrance, is the creamy/warm floral period. Lots of tuberose, gardenia, and some light vanilla highlights. Mixed with peach blossom and cardamom. The middle of this perfume, is really quite nice, with an easygoing naturalism.

As it dries down, there is more of a noticeable woody/smoky quality that just gives this fragrance an added depth. Part of that, is definitely the cardamom at work. I don’t want to make this out to be super complex, I don’t think that it really is. However, I believe this to be a very well balanced scent, in what ends up being a fairly straightforward life cycle.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I’d call it a moderate. A moderate that actually performs. It isn’t going to choke anyone out or really overpower a room but it does a good job of having staying power.

The longevity is great, which it should be at such a price point, but we all know that’s not always the case. It’s an all day wear and never really felt weak during testing.

Chinatown is a good casual or everyday wear. It certainly is a beautiful kind of perfume but doesn’t seem all that ‘sexy’, but it’s definitely attractive.

It was pretty cold outside during testing and it seemed to work well in that environment and I think it’d be safe through the springtime. Probably not the best bet for the height of summer, however.

Overall Impressions of Chinatown

Overall, would I recommend Chinatown? Yes, it a really lovely fragrance, and one of my favorite women’s scents from Bond No. 9. Sometimes, I have really mixed notions about this brand, and think they have some downright awful fragrances.

However, Chinatown isn’t one of those. This is a well balanced gem and a unique take on floral perfumes.

This is a scent for those who want a good tuberose or gardenia laden fragrance, but that also has enough sweetness to avoid going full ‘garden mode’. This is one of the best women’s releases from Bond and it shows from the popularity and number of sales it has generated since its release.

La Nuit de L’Homme vs. Versace Eros Comparison

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For this match up, I wanted to do one between two of the top selling fragrances of the past decade, and break down which one that I think is the better scent. On the one hand, we have the ever popular La Nuit de L’Homme by YSL.

Also, we have the upbeat youthful nighttime wear, Versace Eros. I’ve worn both many times and reviewed each for this site, but which one is the better smelling cologne? Which lasts longer?

Tale of the Tape: Eros vs. La Nuit

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

La Nuit

Notes include: cardamom, bergamot, vetiver, lavender, cedar

Try it out: Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3-Ounce

Read my review: La Nuit de l’Homme

Opening

La Nuit de L’Homme opens up with plenty of cardamom and a light but noticeable bergamot. The latter, gives the fragrance a light citrus touch, at the start.

Then, it is mostly replaced by lavender. The YSL opens as a fresh, warm, and slightly spicy fragrance.

Eros opens with a bold pop of Italian lemon, mint, and apple. It is sweet, warm, crisp, and with a cool spice flowing from the mint note.

In some of the more recent bottles, the lemon seems more prominent. However, in my newer travel sprayer that I purchased it feels more balanced with the mint and apple notes.

Which is better? It’s a close call, in my opinion, but I prefer the start of Eros. It’s power and aroma has always drawn me in from the first time, I ever smelled it.

Edge: Eros

Projection

La Nuit starts off as a moderate fragrance with its sillage, and then, settles down into something that is pretty light.

Meanwhile, Eros is loud from the start, and stays strong throughout. It’s the type of scent that you can easily go overboard with.

Update: Eros is still bold, but not to the same extent.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

La Nuit has always gotten me 6-8 hours of wear, I’ve heard reformulations may have taken a hit to that number, but I haven’t experienced that personally.

However, Eros still easily wins this category, as it will last for over 10 hours with no issue.

Update: So, La Nuit has gotten a few hours worse, as has Eros. But, Eros is still much better than the YSL.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

Neither of these scents is built for the warmer weather. They are both great in the cold and probably through most of springtime.

So, you can wear either when it is temperate or even slightly warm outside.

As an daily wear? I’d say that La Nuit has the edge and would fit in better in an office type environment, but it is also great for a night out.

It has a sexiness and is also well put together.

Eros is much more of a nighttime powerhouse or casual scent.

Edge: La Nuit

Overall Scent

La Nuit de L’Homme is a really fantastic fragrance. The cardamom and lavender blend is excellent and smells great. Then, when the vetiver and cedar kick in, it can be an absolute joy to wear. It’s really no wonder that it has been a best seller for Yves Saint Laurent.

If you want a daily wear, and you’re older, you would probably want to go with La Nuit between the two of these fragrances.

I do like the dry down a lot. It’s got a fresh and powdery scent to go along with the woodsy base.

However, if I have to choose between the two based on the smell and overall performance, I would reach for Eros a majority of the time. I

think that overall it is much more interesting, dynamic, and smells better throughout. Oh, and the fact, that it’ll last all night.

I don’t think you can really go wrong with either, but I give the Versace the win.

Winner: Eros