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!

Hamptons by Bond No. 9

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In today’s review, we have another entry from Bond No. 9. It is a unisex fragrance called Hamptons. I’ve been wearing this around for the past few days, out of the sample vial that I received. In this post, I’m going to cover what’s in it, what it smells like, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a buy.

What does Hampton by Bond No. 9 Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, lime blossom, jasmine, rose, sandalwood, magnolia, musk, sage, and cedar

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Hamptons by Bond No. 9 For Men And Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3-Ounces

My Full Review

The opening citrus notes of Hamptons are quite sharp. I think it’s the fact that it is blending with the floral notes, which gives it this kind of odd feeling versus the usual citrus fare.

For me, 10-15 minutes into wear, I start to get whiffs of the jasmine and sage notes, that reminds me of walking through a green garden during springtime.

The jasmine remains the strongest floral note for me, throughout the wear. Not much rose or magnolia, at all. Very light and they sit underneath the main accord.

Hamptons is a hyper clean smelling scent, due to the power of the lime/lemon aroma that it generates that sits on top of what could be considered soapy/body wash ingredients including jasmine and sandalwood.

The slight herbal tinge provided by the sage, is one of the reasons that I think this gets compared with Creed’s Silver Mountain Water. I totally get the comparison but I feel that the Creed is the better fragrance, even if neither of these are really my style. As I recall, the Creed has a metallic quality that this one lacks.

It only becomes more green, fresh, and woody as it dries down. The sharp citrus opening fades at about 30 minutes for me and the scent feels much more well blended. Hamptons is so light and clean, in a very fresh out of the shower, kind of way.

The trail end is a woody mix of sage and floral notes. It’s a really nice mix, and develops into something quite a bit different from the opening act of the perfume.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts out on the strong end but then morphs into a much more moderate fragrance. The sillage doesn’t require that much, in terms of sprays, because it can

The longevity is absolutely great. We’re talking double digit hours of wear with only two sprays, which should be how all fragrances at this price point perform.

For seasonality, I’d say spring, as a definite. Also, would work in the summertime. It wouldn’t perform badly in the cold, but I’d much rather wear something else that is more suited to the colder months of the year.

Hamptons is a casual scent. It’s pleasant but not really sexy. It is kind of ambiguous, as it is in reality a unisex scent. It would absolutely work on male or female.

Overall Impressions of Hamptons

Overall, would I recommend Hamptons? I like it. It just isn’t my own personal style. If you’re looking for a really clean citrus/floral, that is low key and gives good performance, it’s a solid buy.

Just understand what you’re getting with this one and don’t expect some super sexy ‘club’ cologne. For what it does, Hamptons does it well.

Again, it’s similar to Silver Mountain Water by Creed, but not exactly. I wouldn’t try to substitute one for the other. Hamptons isn’t one of my favorite Bond scents, but it can definitely be worthwhile for the right person.

Beyond by David Beckham

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I have already reviewed multiple David Beckham fragrances for men on this site. For a line that hasn’t been in existence very long, it has already released quite a number of scents. Beckham colognes sell at a very attractive and inexpensive price point, which allows a greater number of people to try them out and not have to invest so much money to smell good.

Today, I wanted to review one of the newer offerings from this line, called Beyond. In this post, I want to explore a bit on how it smells, how it performs, and whether or not it is worth consideration for purchase.

What does Beyond by David Beckham Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, cardamom, leather, mojito, vanilla, black pepper

Click here to try: David Beckham Beyond Men’s Eau de Toilette Spray, 3 Ounce

My Review

One of the main draws of Beyond is its mojito note. Now, this excited me, as one of my favorite colognes to wear is Guerlain Homme which features a mojito accord as its main notes as well. If Beckham Beyond could act as a cheaper substitute for Guerlain, I would be quite pleased.

Unfortunately, the mojito feel in Beyond is completely subdued and not even close to being as good as Guerlain. You do get a sense of the mint but none of the rum or sugar. The opening is a woodsy blend with mint/leather/grapefruit providing a smooth and slightly spicy aroma.

During the drydown period, the cardamom/vanilla/black pepper becomes more noticeable and the mint become less prominent. Beyond does smell quite nice, however, it never really blows me away as a scent. It feels completely generic and uninteresting.

It’s an enjoyable cologne but don’t expect anything unique or special.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Beyond, is light to moderate. It isn’t a heavy hitter at all and feels like it’d be an everyday wear for casual situations. I’ve now tried this out a few times and it never has great sillage on my skin. For the first little bit, it is noticeable but not heavy

Longevity isn’t great either. I got 1.5-2 hours of solid performance before it became strictly a skin scent. This was just further disappointment, as it really failed to live up to my hopes of a cheap Guerlain alternative. and it offers nothing much that makes it stand out on its own.

Again, it’s pretty consistent in that range. During one test, it lasted a little more than three hours, in an air conditioned environment.

When should this be worn? Assuming it lasts on your skin, I’d say anytime except in the extreme heat or humidity. That seems to really mess with the staying power of Beyond. It’d be at its peak, on a brisk day.

It smells attractive enough, for a date or and evening out. Meanwhile, it can also totally be used for a daily wear. Again, it’s really up to what kind of performance you get from Beyond.

Overall Impression of David Beckham Beyond

Overall, can I rate Beyond a buy? Not really. I just don’t see the point of owning this Beckham cologne. It is pretty generic, though, it smells nice. It doesn’t even last long, so it doesn’t make up for its completely average scent.

It is inexpensive but there are better Beckham options available and choices from other brands.

Beyond is just a wasted effort in my opinion, if it had a little bit more intensity, it could be a serviceable cologne to wear at school or work…but it failed to even accomplish that. Upon trying it a few more times, I do appreciate aspects of the scent itself.

I like the leather and mint, but I want a stronger impact from that mojito accord. Really not a ‘bad’ smell, just held back by mediocre performance.

YSL Libre vs. Coco Mademoiselle

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Coco Mademoiselle has been a best seller for a long long time and is still sticking around as a great perfume. Libre EDP from YSL, has become a very popular option since its release some years back.

This popularity and somewhat similar styles often leads to questioning as to which one is better to buy? Which lasts longer? Etc. In this post, I want to break down my experience with these fragrances and declare my winner, in this battle.

Tale of the Tape: Libre vs. Coco Mademoiselle

Libre EDP

Notes include: lavender, white musks, orange flower, vanilla, orchid

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum Spray for Women 90ml/3oz, clear

Read my review: Libre EDP

Coco Mademoiselle

Notes include: orange, neroli, may rose, patchouli, vetiver, jasmine

Click here to try: Coco Mademoiselle

Read my full review: Coco Mademoiselle EDP

Opening

Coco Mademoiselle opens up with a bold blend of orange and neroli, along with a solid amount of the patchouli note. That’s the very opening phase, that is joined in rapid succession by the other floral notes.

In this case, it’s mostly jasmine, but a bit of rose starts peaking through too.

Libre opts to go with the orange blossom and a lighter use of actual citrus fruits. This YSL starts out with a soapier aroma and a bit of creaminess. Lavender is the major player and there is more musk, as things move along.

Which do I like better? While Libre is pretty nice in the beginning, I still prefer the Chanel to the newer release. It stands out strong and brings a beautiful warmth that only develops further.

Edge: Mademoiselle

Projection

No worries, as either one of these fragrances will bring the power. So, unless you need an absolute bomb, it probably won’t be the deciding factor.

Libre is in the upper end of the moderate range, if not the lower end of the definitively strong end of the spectrum. It brings it.

However, Coco Mademoiselle has a better ability to project, in my experience. It’s not a massive difference, but it is noticeable.

Edge: Coco Mademoiselle

Longevity

Again, this is another category where Libre is no slouch, but comes up short in comparison. 8-9 hours is what it seems to go, on my skin. Very good and not much to complain about.

Coco Mademoiselle lasts at least 10 hours for me. It can tack on hours even beyond that.

Edge: Mademoiselle

Versatility

To me, they’re pretty evenly split. Both the Chanel and YSL scent can work in a variety of climates, if you’re avoiding the height of summer.

Also, they can fit into a casual daily wear, work, or even out on the town for an evening. Though, they’re not specifically nighttime scents.

Very versatile and great options for a perfume that can do almost anything.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I think that Libre is a nice perfume, that definitely has its strengths, and will be a good option for many women. It’s not too complex, mostly its going to be about the lavender and orange blossom, which may or not be a selling point for you personally.

If you’re a bigtime lavender fan, it might be the one to go with here.

For me, Coco Mademoiselle is a classic and still has its charm after two decades. Not only does it have better performance, I also think that it just smells better.

I enjoy the opening act more, the floral notes are more appealing to my nose, and I like the way that vanilla and musk is used in this composition versus Libre EDP.

Update: The Libre line has been expanded to include better entries like Libre Intense and Le Parfum. Le Parfum might be one that I might choose over Coco Mademoiselle, but I think that the Chanel is more versatile and it would be a closer contest.

So, go with Coco versus the original Libre, but I’d consider checking out Le Parfum as a potential alternative.

Winner: Coco Mademoiselle

Poison Girl Unexpected by Christian Dior

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For today’s review, we have a 2018 release from Christian Dior, Poison Girl Unexpected. This is of course, a new flanker fragrance of the original Poison Girl. In this post, I am going to talk about what’s in it, what Unexpected smells like, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is even worth trying out.

What does Poison Girl Unexpected Smell Like?

Notes include: ginger, salt, tonka bean, Damascus rose, lemon, blood orange, hazelnut, almond, vanilla, and cashmeran

Click here to try: Christian Dior POISON GIRL UNEXPECTED EDT Spray Sample Vial .03 oz / 1 ml Womens NEW

My Full Review

Before we get into my review let’s see how Dior describes it in the sample’s card: The sparkling freshness of ginger surprises in a game of hide-and-seek with a sensual Damascus Rose.

Unexpected opens up with the two citrus notes being prominent, blood orange and lemon. These create a bright and sunny disposition and are flanked by the ginger, vanilla, and tonka bean.

Now, I read on Dior’s website, that the perfume who created this wanted to go for a candied smell and it really shows. It’s very creamy, with a light lotion like quality from the jump, and the vanilla and citrus creating that candy vibe.

Also, adding to the effect is the ginger note that has been salted, and smells really damn good. I honestly found the opening extremely attractive and unique. I know that it shares some of the same structure as the original Poison Girl, but this one just has its own aroma that isn’t really like anything else I’ve come across. I like it a lot. Sweet and creamy, but not overly sugary.

As it moves along, Unexpected’s Damascus Rose note emerges more to be paired with the ginger. It’s a pinkish rose and not heavy at all, it’s done just right within the composition. The ginger adds an ever so light spice to Poison Girl Unexpected and really helps to set it apart from the other scents in this line.

Drying down, it becomes nuttier, with almond and hazelnut, which reminds me a bit of men’s fragrance 1 Million Lucky.  I get lots of ginger, the nuts, and rose note dipped in a orange creaminess of vanilla and tonka bean.

The two strongest ingredients in the dry down is the ginger and Damascus Rose, but everything is so well-blended that neither are overbearing.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage isn’t too intense. I don’t think that it is as powerful as the original, but it isn’t weak. It will give you a decent perimeter of scent around you, though, not a total envelopment. Unexpected is just a lighter kind of perfume.

However, it actually has very good performance with its longevity. It was lasting 9-10 hours on my skin, with about the same consistent sillage. So, it’s going to last a full work day without issue. Definitely get your money’s worth here.

Seasonally, it could honestly work in all seasons, I’d think. The citrus notes prevent it from being too much of an overwhelmingly heavy gourmand. Also,  the ginger freshness could be fine in warmer weather. This isn’t a Poison Girl flanker that is relegated to just the wintertime.

Maybe stay away from wearing it in the most extreme heat conditions. I think Unexpected would be best in the cooler months, through the springtime.

Add to that, it has great wear versatility, as well. This could be a daily wear at office or at school. Yes, it can be worn by either teens or adults.

Yet, it has plenty of attractive appeal to pull double duty and be a nightlife or date night perfume, too. It’s just not one that is going to dominate a room.

Overall Impressions of Poison Girl Unexpected

Overall, do I like this new Dior offering? Yes, I think it’s really great. It touches so many different aspects from sweet and spicy to warm and cool. It’s got a great citrus opening, fresh ginger, pinkish rose, and nutty undertones.

Seriously, I love the almond and hazelnut, with citrus, and ginger (another favorite of mind). Really delicious stuff and a rather unique gourmand perfume.

Unexpected should enjoy a pretty large appeal among the masses. It gives a solid performance and a delicious aroma throughout. It has it’s own unique qualities while remaining true to the Poison Girl lineage.

I don’t think that this got the respect that it deserves, upon release. Perhaps, too many folks wanted something much more like the original. Unexpected has elements of that, but does its own thing, and is still completely appealing.

My Burberry Blush by Burberry

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So, among the samples that I received, I did pick up some more ladies’ perfumes to review. Many of the others are already unisex, but I made sure to get at least a few feminine scents. Today’s entry is another one from Burberry. An Eau de Parfum, entitled, My Burberry Blush. How does this one stack up? How does it perform? Is it worth a purchase?

What does Burberry Blush Smell Like?

Notes include: pomegranate, green apple, rose petals, jasmine, lemon

Click here to try: Burberry Blush Eau De Parfum, 1 Fl Oz

My Review

The opening of My Burberry Blush gives you a blend of mostly the green apple and the rose petal notes. The pomegranate is there, but I think it becomes more of a factor about 10-15 minutes into the wear.

I’m not too excited by the opening as it has a bit of that Glade plug-in chemical air freshener smell. However, it does get better in my mind, as it dries down. The apple feels pretty synthetic and with the rose, does really take on that artificial sort of scent.

The second act is where you’re going to get the aroma, that pretty much lasts until it dies out. The pomegranate and the lemon notes, begin to overpower the apple and it is a fruity and bright sort of perfume.

It is these juicy fruit notes over the floral notes (rose and jasmine), My Burberry Blush, doesn’t stray into super ‘girly’ territory though. I think that this is an adult type of fragrance, more refined and juicy, rather than candy-like sweetness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it performs fairly well. It isn’t an absolute bomb, but you could overdo it if you tried. It doesn’t need many sprays to be effective. I’d keep it between 2-3, for most situations. It’s not really a nightlife scent, so, it’s tough to say when exactly you’d need more.

Longevity is also somewhere in the 6-8 hour range, from what I could tell, while wearing it. Again, not crazy longevity, but will last about a full work day. Coming back to Blush for a second time, I got about 7 hours of solid wear, while being indoors. Solid, not amazing.

My Burberry Blush is an upbeat semi-casual wear for the spring and summer months. I’m not sure as to its effectiveness on a date or some similar event, though. If a woman I were dating was wearing this, I would think that she smells good, but I wouldn’t be enthralled by it.

Mostly, keep it to work or casual or semi-formal events, when it is warmer outside. It’s clean and gives you a juicy fruit profile, with floral touches.

Overall Impressions of My Burberry Blush

Overall, do I like My Burberry Blush? It’s decent. It’s a nice juicy fruit/floral blend and seems pretty generic or non-descript. I’m not sure that I could pick it out of a lineup, as it smells similar to a lot of scents I’ve encountered before.

The opening 10 minutes aren’t the greatest, but it does settle down later on. It also gives good performance, so at the right price, this good be a solid casual option for ladies. Just not earth shattering.

My Burberry Blush is very clean and juicy up top. Later, it sort of dries off, and gives you an almost soapy blend of fruity ingredients and flowers like rose and wisteria.