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!

Black Opium Nuit Blanche by YSL

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Nuit Blanche was one of the flanker perfumes of Black Opium. It was released back in 2016, after the immediate success of the original. This one never got the same level of attention, but I was interested to see what it’s all about. How it smells, how long it lasts, and if it was an underrated gem?

 

What does Black Opium Nuit Blanche Smell Like?

Notes include: coffee, sandalwood, orange blossom, white musk, rice, caramel

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Nuit Blanche Eau De Parfum Spray, 3 oz.

My Full Review

Here’s how YSL, describes this fragrance: A luminous trail journeys to the end of the night. The energy of black coffee embraces a vibrant orange blossom, enlightened by white musk. An electrifying thrill of femininity.

Nuit Blanche opens up on my skin with some of the familiar Black Opium DNA, though a bit sweeter, and quite a bit muted.

I get a good amount of coffee here, but a vanilla and caramel blend that comes across as milky. However, what really comes across on my skin is sandalwood. It becomes more prominent, after a few minutes, but it really pops on my skin.

I don’t think many other people had the same experience with this one, but Nuit Blanche is all about coffee and sandalwood, with the other notes playing bit parts.

So, at first it’s more of a spiciness (with vanilla and caramel) on top of those two notes. Then, it’s the orange blossom (which isn’t a strong here as it is in Black Opium Neon). Finally, it is the remnants of caramel with sandalwood and coffee. Not much musk comes through on me.

Each phase is actually pretty short lived, as the performance isn’t all that amazing with Nuit Blanche. It’s a bit weird because, I can recognize these sweeter notes, but they just don’t come across as sugary…maybe being suppressed by the purported rice note.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This is the weakest of the Black Opium scents. I can get maybe up to an hour of it being a moderate scent and then it’s close to the skin. Seriously, not much projection or heaviness here. 

The longevity isn’t much better. It’s pretty much gone after four hours, on my skin. It’s not a bad journey, but it is a short one, and really lacks the performance of the others in the series (which aren’t all that elite).

Seasonally, it’s an autumn and winter wear, just like the original. Though, it wouldn’t be awful in warmer temperatures.

To me, this came across as more of a nightlife scent. But, it’s also really weak…soooo what’s the point? I suppose you could wear this during the daytime, since it’s not in your face. Maybe others will get better wear from Nuit Blanche.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Black Opium Nuit Blanche

Overall, do I like this scent? I mean, I like the smell well enough. I don’t think it’s amazing and I like the others from this line better, but it’s not a terrible smell.

I actually do like the fairly unique sandalwood and coffee that comes across on my skin. Throw in some caramel and vanilla, it’ll make for a good smelling latte. 

The performance is rather terrible, however. That may be a reason why this one never caught on and I’m pretty sure has been discontinued. It’s no longer available on the YSL website.

Really, I cannot recommend Nuit Blanche, unless you absolutely have to have every Black Opium perfume. Or maybe, if you find a dirt cheap bottle to try. 

My Burberry EDT by Burberry

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My Burberry EDT is sample that I apparently purchased a few years ago and never got around to trying out. I’m always misplacing samples. Anyway, I finally gave it a go, in order to review it for the site and share my thoughts on this fragrance. How does it smell? Is it even worth a try?

What does My Burberry EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: peach flower, peony, freesia, white moss, damask rose, and musk

Click here to try: Burberry My Burberry Eau de Toilette, 3.0 Fl Oz

My Full Review

My initial thoughts after spraying My Burberry EDT are just how cool, fresh, and slightly water the composition is. Up top, I get the slight fruitiness provided by the peach blossom, freesia, and the damask rose.

The rose note isn’t heavy or overpowering the other floral ingredients, but it is there throughout the wear. Actually, the entire thing comes together as very well blended and you cannot always distinguish the exact notes.

However, after that initial phase, the peach blossom moves along and the peony steps into its place. Also, at this point in time, I get more of the earthiness of the moss and the musk. It’s all very pleasant and familiar to other floral fragrances, but My Burberry still feels unique to some extent.

The final dry down is the peony and rose, with the moss and musk. There isn’t a ton of development with this one, but I do personally get these three separate stages.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage is on the lighter end of moderate, on my skin. This EDT isn’t going to blow the doors off and generally stays within a few feet of the wearer. Not a heavy and enveloping scent, rather, it is clean and light.

The longevity is pretty good, but not outstanding. It’ll hit the six or seven hour mark. Most of the time, closer to that 6 hour time frame. Again, useful, just not an outstanding performer.

Seasonally, My Burberry is great for spring and summer. However, it wouldn’t feel out of place for most of the rest of the year. Maybe just stay away from the absolute coldest depths of winter.

It is also and extremely versatile daily wear scent. It’s low key, smells nice, and isn’t going to offend almost anyone. It can be worn to work, school, casual, or even more formal occasions. Not really a nightlife or romantic wear, but it does have its own charming attractiveness.

Overall Impressions of My Burberry EDT

Overall, do I like this perfume? I do. The opening act with the peach blossom is my favorite part of the wear. After that, I still find it enjoyable, just not to the same extent. Though, I think that it’s well above average in how it smells in totality.

The performance is okay, nothing to write home about, but not a complete disappointment. If you want a fresh floral bouquet with some light peach touches, this is one worth considering.

My Burberry EDT can absolutely be an easy reach for daily wear. Not ground breaking, but not one that I have any serious complaints about either.

Black Opium Neon by YSL

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Black Opium Neon is one of the flankers from the best selling Saint Laurent line. I’m making my way through the perfumes from this line, in order to catch up on the reviews. Today’s entry was released by YSL in 2019. How does Neon Smell? Does it last long? What are the differences? Is it worth a buy?

What does Black Opium Neon Smell Like?

Notes include: coffee, dragon fruit, mandarin essence, orange blossom, jasmine

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Neon EDP 2.5 oz 75 ml Women NEW

My Full Review

Let’s see how YSL describes this perfume: When dark coffee meets the vivid & audacious dragon fruit. A vibrant & luminous addiction flashes through the new Eau de Parfum Neon.

Upon first spraying, Neon is noticeably different from the original Black Opium EDP, but you can still pick up the DNA of the original. After all, they still share coffee, orange blossom, and vanilla notes.

However, the weighting is completely different, as the coffee and especially vanilla are toned way down. The opening gives you a very citrusy smelling blend of dragon fruit and mandarin orange. I like it, as it gives Neon a nice burst of energy and a fairly tropical vibe.

That’s another aspect of this one that I like, Black Opium Neon is ultimately a lighter fragrance without the heavy embrace that the original could have.

To me, the opening act is mostly the fruit notes sitting on top of a prominent orange blossom with some jasmine thrown in. It feels sweet in more of a candy-like way for a gourmand. Like, more bubble gum and Starburst versus a baked goods gourmand.

During the dry down, is when I really start to get the original Black Opium vibes. I can pick up more of the coffee and vanilla notes, but really it becomes about the floral notes. Like a softer version of the original, with the fruit remnants still lingering.

Then, the very end of the road is a pretty faint by this point, coffee accord. A little orange blossom, still in the mix. It’s kind of surprising that the coffee is really the last one standing, but that’s just what it is.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This isn’t a heavy fragrance, nor does it have a crazy amount of projection. Actually, it’s pretty moderate as a whole. From the description, I was expecting more of a loud club banger, but Neon doesn’t fit that bill.

I mean, you could wear it out in the nightlife, it’s just not going to fill a room. Spraying it on a t-shirt, I could pick it up from about 6 feet away, at its max. On the skin, it seems to be around that same level.

This one has a bit better staying power than Illicit Green, but not too much. On me, it’ll go just over six hours, maybe getting close to seven. However, it’s not going to be a massive double digit hour perfume, on skin.

Seasonally, it isn’t limited to the autumn and winter like the original. But also, it isn’t one for the summer months. Depending on where you live, it’s probably good through late springtime.

Neon feels more well put together than the original, with a somewhat more mature vibe. Not to say it’s old lady-ish, but the heavier coffee and vanilla gourmand features aren’t popping out as much.

This can be worn in a variety of situations, day or into the nightlife. You’ll probably just have to reapply if you’re making that transition. Neon isn’t a formal fragrance.

Overall Impressions of Black Opium Neon

Overall, do I like Neon? I do. In terms of how it smells, I like it slightly better than the original. It has more balance, is lighter, and I enjoy the fruity top notes. Dragon fruit is a nice touch.

The performance and sillage isn’t as good. Not terribly bad wear, but it doesn’t hit the same level as its predecessor.

If you didn’t like the original Black Opium, I doubt that this would change your mind. If you already own Black Opium, you probably don’t need this, unless you want to round out your collection.

For those who are just in the market for a Black Opium fragrance…it’s worth a shot to see if you prefer this edition. It’s not way better, but I have a bit of a preference for how Neon comes across.

Neon is one of the better releases from this line, but not the best of them.

5 Colognes that Smell Like Mont Blanc Legend

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Mont Blanc Legend is seemingly always a best selling fragrance, with fans who swear by it. To me, it’s always been just fine, and I actually prefer Legend Night over it. Anyhow, due to its popularity, guys are always looking for similar scents or even cheaper alternatives to save some money. In this post, I wanted to give a list of five men’s fragrances, that smell similar Mont Blanc Legend. Now, there may be some others out there, but these are the closest options that I’ve come across.

What Men’s Fragrances Smell Similar to Mont Blanc Legend?

The Famous Comparison

Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce By Abercrombie & Fitch Cologne Spray 6.7 Oz– To me, the classic formulation of Fierce, was better than Legend. Now, it doesn’t have the same essence that it did back in the 2000s, but it can still be a good buy at the right price.

Fierce starts of with clean lemon and orange, that is paired with the dry woodsy notes. Next up, is a spicy sage, with a base of fir, vetiver, musk, and oak moss.

This is the closest approximation of Legend, out of the three options. It can also cost more than Legend, so, it might not be one for somebody looking for a ‘cheap’ alternative. Fierce Full Review

A More Aquatic Version

Kenneth Cole Mankind Ultimate, 3.4 Fl oz– Mankind Ultimate isn’t exactly the same as Legend, but it does share a lot of similarities. The opening of this fragrance, has an aquatic element with cucumber, and reminds me somewhat of Eternity Aqua.

This one does become more like Fierce and Legend, as it dries down, but it smells a bit sweeter than either of them. It has an aquatic citrus, vetiver, and sandalwood. It’s aroma has an underlying dryness to offset some of that initial aquatic aroma. Mankind Ultimate Review

Different, but Better

Mercedes-Benz Man–  Mercedes-Benz Man strikes me as a better fragrance than Legend. It’s different, for sure, but shares a lot of overlap with the Mont Blanc scent. Not only that, as of now, this one can be had in the $30-40 range.

You get the oakmoss and cedar freshness, along with a top note of a crisp and watery slice of pear. The spice comes across as quite light, with less of a bite, than some of the other listed colognes.

However, the performance is quite good, better than what I’ve gotten with the modern formulations of Fierce and probably a slight edge versus Legend.

A Similar Cheap Cologne

PLAYBOY New York Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce Playboy– If you want to go down market and find a cheapie, New York is the closest you’ll find. Is this a 1:1, comparison to  Legend?

No, it isn’t, but it does produce a similar smell for $10-12. The quality isn’t as good, but this is still one of the best Playboy colognes, that they’ve made.

It utilizes apple, vanilla, vetiver, and vinyl. That vinyl note is quite interesting and at least gives New York, something to distinguish itself.

The performance is good for the price and lasted 5-6 hours on my skin, when I’ve worn it. Playboy New York Review

The Better Cheapie

Frank Olivier Sunrise Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 2.5 Ounce– Sunrise is a better down market option than New York, even if it is closer to a Fierce style, but not even exactly that.

It’s less woody and not as dry as Fierce, but has a good lavender note, and a nice bergamot up front. Again, you’re not getting the same level of quality or the same aroma. However, it’s a good deal for the price and the performance is actually pretty solid.

There you have it, five similar men’s colognes to Legend. I will update this list, as needed, when I find other potential alternatives to this fragrance. For now though, this list will do and can definitely yield a solid comparable scent to the Mont Blanc.

Wonderlust by Michael Kors

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Wonderlust is probably the most popular Michael Kors fragrance with the public right now. I’ve had a sample sprayer sitting in a box for many months now, for me to revisit and finally post a full review. Well, that day has come to review this 2016 release. How does this one smell? Does it last long? Is Wonderlust worth a buy?

What does Wonderlust Smell Like?

Notes include: almond milk, sandalwood, dimanthus, bergamot, pink pepper, heliotrope

Click here to try: WONDERLUST by Michael Kors 3.4 Ounce / 100 ml Eau de Parfum (EDP) Women Perfume Spray

My Full Review

Discover a place filled with wonder, where endless adventure awaits. Almond milk dianthus sandalwood from Sri Lanka.

Up top with Wonderlust, I get the creamy almond milk, along with a nice citrus spritz. This gives Wonderlust a somewhat tropical feeling, with a bit of jasmine peaking through. However, the citrus moment is pretty short lived and that’s when this scent is at its sweetest.

The next phase, is the true introduction of the dianthus, which adds a slight spice to the mix, and the almond is still persisting for the duration. It’s not a floral note that I’m too familiar with, but it stands out for a time, and I enjoy how it works in the composition.

For a while, that sweet/spice of dianthus meets a might powdery heliotrope, and the sandalwood emerges from the base. This middle phase is probably my favorite part of the wear, since it’s actually sticking around for more than that opening semi-tropical act.

Finally, it moves into being mostly about almond and sandalwood alone. Though, there is some remaining powdery qualities. It’s warm, creamy, and has an attractive coziness to the aroma. That’s what it ends up being for the rest of the wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This Michael Kors perfume is fairly moderate in terms of sillage. It will project in the 4-6 range, for much of the wear. It’s not a beast, but it isn’t so light as to go unnoticed.

On my skin, I get right around 8 hours. Very good, just not elite. How long it lasts is the stronger portion of its performance, it just isn’t going to choke out a room with its presence.

Seasonally, Wonderlust is very balanced. It has elements of a summer perfume, but it’s creaminess lends itself well to colder weather, also. It’s not a heavy fragrance, so it has really great seasonal versatility.

I do kind of like it a bit more, when it is a bit below average temperatures. A slight chill, makes this one really pop.

Beyond that, it can be a completely appropriate daily wear fragrance. Go casual or even a bit more formal. I wouldn’t call Wonderlust a nightlife scent, but it does have enough attractiveness, to not be totally boring either.

It’s basically one that you can have in your rotation to handle the heavy lifting. Then, break out something else on special occasions or when you want to really grab attention.

Overall Impressions of Wonderlust

Overall, do I like this scent? I do. I think that it smells very good and does everything well. Wonderlust is a versatile fragrance, with some unique aspects and undergoes enough development to be interesting.

It’s already a popular perfume, thanks to its ease of wear, and ability to be a versatile go to on a daily basis. It might not be the highlight of your fragrance collection, but it can certainly be an anchor.

I do wish that there was a longer experience with the bergamot note, in the beginning, but other than that I don’t have any real complaints.

Since it’s release, this one has spawned a bunch more from the series. Though, I still think that this one is a really nice jumping off point, at the right price.