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!

6 Perfumes Similar to Jimmy Choo Fever

by

Jimmy Choo Fever is a poplar fragrance for women. It came out back in 2018 and has garnered many ardent fans ever since. However, you can get tired of smelling the same exact thing or want something cheaper, that can fit the same bill. In this post, I want to put forth 6 perfume options that can provide a similar smell to Fever by Jimmy Choo.

What Fragrances Smell Similar to Fever by Jimmy Choo?

I have yet to come across an exact match for Fever. However, there are plenty out there that have a similar style and/or an overlap in notes, to produce something that smells quite alike.

Similar Smelling Scent

Black Opıum By YvŠµs SĪ±Ä±nt LĪ±urent for Women Eau De Parfum Spray 3 OZ. / 90 ml.– Again, Fever and Black Opium aren’t going to be the same note for note, but they do have a ton of overlap.

The notes they share? Coffee, vanilla, orange blossom, and jasmine. The YSL fragrance has almond instead of hazelnut.

The main differences are going to be between the top fruit notes and the warmer heart/base. Black Opium has plenty of patchouli, a nice pink pepper, and benzoin.

You’ve probably smelled this before, as it is a popular perfume. Warm, sweet, with a bit of a powdery quality and overall good performance. Read my full Black Opium Review

Discontinued, but a Close Parallel

Amor Amor Forbidden Kiss– This one is a bit harder to find nowadays, but it would be a nice alternative fragrance to our Jimmy Choo target.

Amor Amor Forbidden Kiss was a nice sweet blend, a bit fruitier than Fever, but still had that solid coffee and pink pepper warmth. Somewhat different but a close style to what we’re looking for, this had a solid amount of peony as part of the floral accord.

Best Cheapie Alternative

Sofia Vergara Love Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce, multi color– If you want a cheaper Fever, it might not actually exist, but Love by Sofia Vergara can step into a similar role.

It’s actually quite a bit like Black Opium, but not exactly that either. Sort of in between the YSL and Jimmy Choo. The opening act features a sweeter and fruitier profile, with passionfruit and apple notes peaking through.

Orange blossom, floral notes, and coffee with a dose of vanilla are the similarities. Performance isn’t amazing and it is definitely the sweetest of the bunch, but it’s an option.

Caramel Sweetness

Bon Bon by Viktor & Rolf Eau De Parfum Spray 3.04 oz– Bonbon by Viktor & Rolf is an interesting alternative, because you do get some overlap, but it is a distinct experience.

Bonbon features a prominent caramel note, with a nice squeeze of citrus, and warm amber permeating. It’s not the same with the coffee and vanilla. This one is warm and slightly salty with a creaminess at the base. The start is juicy with orange and peach.

Structurally and style wise, this is a close relative to Jimmy Choo Fever, just not the same.

Another Inexpensive Choice

Britney Spears Prerogative by Britney Spears Eau De Parfum Spray (Tester) 3.4 oz (Women)– This is another inexpensive option and I will say that it lands closer to being like Black Opium.

Though, it is warm and sweet with the coffee and floral notes. Though, it is a spicier take with a more pronounced woody base.

The opening act is fruitier than Black Opium and strikes closer to Fever than that other scent. However, this one doesn’t have the creamy vanilla or powdery aroma that you’ll find in the Jimmy Choo. The dry down is all about the woods and spice.

Not an amazing fragrance, but can be solid, at this price point.

One from Dior

Dior Poison Girl Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 1.6 Fl. Oz-Ā  A similar structure and style, not a one for one match. Poison Girl kicks things off with a Damascus rose, bitter orange, tonka bean, and vanilla.

Then, the almond note comes in to give this fragrance a nice nuttiness, instead of the hazelnut and coffee in Fever. As it moves along, Poison Girl becomes a drier and smoother type of wear, and a very good experience.

Performance here is great, lasting 8-11 hours, on my skin. Those who enjoy Fever, might consider giving this one a go. Poison Girl Review.

Prada L’Homme vs. Luna Rossa Cologne Comparison

by

For this edition of my running cologne comparisons, we have a contest between two popular Prada scents for men, L’Homme vs. Luna Rossa. Which of these fragrances smells the best? Which has more versatility? Better sillage? Overall, which is the better buy? Scroll down for my full breakdown and links to my original reviews of each.

Tale of the Tape: L’Homme vs. Luna Rossa

Luna Rossa

Notes include:Ā  lavender, sage, spearmint, ambrette, ambroxan, and bitter orange

Click here to try: Prada Luna Rossa Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

My Review: Luna Rossa Review

Prada L’Homme

Notes include: iris, amber, geranium, patchouli, neroli, violet, pepper, cedar

Click here to try: Prada L’Homme Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My review: Prada L’Homme

Opening

Luna Rossa opens up with a nice bitter orange citrus note, lavender, and a refreshing spearmint. It’s very simple, bright, and up beat. The spearmint note is key to the composition and how it plays off of the orange, to keep it interesting.

L’Homme, opens up with a fresh iris note, and other powdery floral ingredients. It’s got violet and neroli, which are surrounded by a warm amber. It’s slightly sweet and has a solid base of cedar, pepper, and patchouli.

Which is better? Both are pretty straightforward fragrances, and as much as I like the citrus top from Luna Rossa, I think that L’Homme just smells better. It’s cleaner and more refined.

Edge: L’Homme

Projection

Luna Rossa is a light to moderate fragrance, but it does feel quite airy, and definitely not a beast or heavy type of cologne. Meanwhile, L’Homme is more solidly in the moderate camp than is its competitor. It will be moderate for about 2/3 of the wear and then is a much lighter scent.

Edge: L’Homme

Longevity

Both scents fit in the 6-7 hour range of wear. L’Homme is stronger and has better sillage, but doesn’t last any longer than Luna Rossa.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Again, this category is a draw. Both of these fragrances is very versatile and can be worn year round in pretty much any scenario. Really a strength of both.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I really like both of these Prada scents and the performance is so close to one another, it really becomes a simple preference of which smell you prefer. Luna Rossa is a great simple blend of citrus, lavender, and mint.

You do get a little bit of amber, beyond that, but it’s a fairly linear experience from start to finish. Super clean and a nice light daily wear sort of cologne.

L’Homme, smells better to my nose. Yes, it is one of those floral based colognes, and could honestly be unisex.

However, the underlying pepper, patchouli, and cedar lend some masculinity to the aroma and blend really well with the prominent iris note. If you don’t like iris, you probably won’t like this. If you want citrus, go with Luna Rossa.

For me, I’d rather wear L’Homme over the original Luna Rossa in most scenarios. For that and the slightly better sillage, it gets the nod.

Winner: L’Homme

Voyage Sport vs Nautica Blue Comparison

by

Nautica is one of the more popular brands for guys to score cheaper colognes that do offer a good smell and performance. Not all of there offerings actually achieve this outcome, but they are still worth a try usually.

Nautica Blue is one of the most popular options, behind Nautica Voyage, which has spawned yet another flanker fragrance: Voyage Sport. So, the question begs, which cologne smells better, Blue vs. Voyage Sport?

Tale of the Tape: Blue vs. Voyage Sport

Nautica Blue

Notes include: Musk, cedar, bergamot, sandalwood, peach, pineapple, water lily, jasmine

Click here to try: Nautica Blue Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 fluid ounce

Read my review: Nautica BlueĀ 

Voyage Sport

Notes include: sea spray accord, citrus zest, coriander, palm leaves, green peppercorn, apple, Brazil wood, vetiver

Click here to try: NAUTICA Voyage Sport Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

Read my review: Voyage Sport

Opening

Nautica Blue opens up with a very sharp and sort of detergent-like aroma of bergamot and pineapple. These fruity notes are flanked by cedar and musk, which only lends itself to that laundry sort of scent. After that initial sharp wave, the cedar and sandalwood become more of a factor, and the initial intensity backs off a bit.

Voyage Sport, is a mess for the first few minutes, and it becomes quite difficult to tell exactly what is happening in the composition. Then, it sorts itself out, and I get a nice citrus zest and some coriander. These notes are surrounded by a sea spray accord, which provides a slight oceanic vibe.

Which of these has the better opening? Honestly, I don’t particularly enjoy how either kicks things off, but Voyage Sport seems better after those first two minutes and the new bottles of Blue seem really sharp.

Edge: Voyage Sport

Projection

Blue starts out as a moderate and the sillage stays at that level for 2-3 hours before becoming much lighter. Voyage Sport doesn’t really project at all, it’s slightly above a skin scent, and doesn’t have any real power.

Edge: Blue

Longevity

Blue projects itself better and can last up to 5 hours on my skin. Voyage sport will go anywhere from 2-4 and doesn’t seem very consistent in which it does.

Edge: Blue

Versatility

Both of these colognes, fulfill the same niche. They are inexpensive, geared toward younger guys, work best in warm weather, and are casual. Inexpensive starter colognes or quick ways to freshen up.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I can freely admit, that neither of these fragrances is a favorite of mine, nor are they all that great. However, in this price range neither is wholly terrible.

Voyage Sport has moments, where it is a nice wear, but it falls flat overall. I’m not crazy about how it starts and that initial spiciness, but when it dries down, there is more of a fruity/oceanic aroma that I like.

The problem is, this part is so short lived as to be near worthless. If it could muster anything, it’d probably be my pick.

Blue can be harsh at times, but it at least has passable performance. After the opening, it does feel much cleaner, soapy, and aquatic. After that it is linear, with bits of jasmine joining the pineapple and bergamot.

Yes, it smell synthetic, but it isn’t bad. Between these two? I’d go with Nautica Blue, as Voyage Sport just feels like a lazy effort from the brand.

Winner: Nautica Blue

Bvlgari Pour Femme EDP

by

For this entry, I have another sample fragrance vial from Bvlgari, and this one is Bvlgari Pour Femme eau de parfum. The have released and re-released this scent under the same title with different formulations at least once and possibly more times. How does it smell? What’s inside? Is it worth a buy?

What does Bvlgari Pour Femme Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, violet, iris, sandalwood, musk, orris, orange blossom, peach, raspberry, other floral notesĀ 

Click here to try: Bvlgari By Bvlgari For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 Ounces

My Full Review

The opening of Bvlgari Pour Femme doesn’t strike me as pleasing. Honestly, it is pretty harsh, and smells like astringent to my nose. It does calm down, but, I’m really not into those first few minutes. This is a floral scent, so, going into it you’re going to have to love floral perfumes to dig this one.

It opens up with a iris and violet leaf leading the way, a noticeable powdery orris, and a hint of fruits. The fruity notes aren’t really that noticeable to me, but I can tell that they’re there, if I focus in.

Most of what you’re going to get throughout the wear, is orris and a whole host of flowers, including mimosa and carnation which make appearances.

From what I can detect, the two main flowers are violet and rose, and boy are they noticeable. The perfume itself isn’t super heavy, but it does seem lopsided with how the composition is put together.

It has a more mature disposition and is a subtle and sophisticated sort of perfume. It does get quite powdery with the floral notes and orris combining, which can feel overwhelming at times.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of Bvlgari Pour Femme is soft to moderate. It’s never huge, but it was noticeable on my skin throughout the wear. The longevity, however, is fantastic. This one lasted all day long without any trouble.

Now, I did eventually scrub it off of my skin, but 8 hours in and it was still going strong. So, performance isn’t an issue.

Seasonally, it is quite versatile. It wouldn’t perform badly in any sort of climate, but probably fits in best during spring/summer. It is more mature, so Pour Femme, isn’t going to be a great choice for teen to college age but can be for professionals.

More of an office or elegant dressed up perfume. Not a romantic wear or even something sexy.

Overall Impressions of Bvlgari Pour Femme

Overall, do I like Bvlgari Pour Femme? Personally? Not very much. But as a guy, I don’t have to wear this, but during testing I really didn’t enjoy the smell that much. Very floral and powdered, which was somewhat headache inducing.

It’s not a bad perfume, just not the type for me. You need to be into floral perfumes, to be into Pour Femme, because that’s what you’re going to get and you’re going to get a lot of it.

However, if that’s what you’re into, expect lots of violet, rose, and iris with very good performance. This fragrance has been discontinued, so, you’ll have to buy it online.

Delina by Parfums de Marly

by

It’s been a little while since I’ve posted a new Parfums de Marly review, even though, I think I have four more to do after this one. So, I figured that I might as well jump in and get to work. Today, we have Delina, from their women’s line of perfumes.

How does this fragrance smell? What’s it sillage and longevity like? Is it versatile? Is Delina even worth a buy? Please continue below for my full take, after wearing this scent around.

What does Delina by PdM Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, rhubarb, litchee, musk, vanilla, peony, and vetiver

Click here to try: PARFUMS de MARLY Delina, 2.5 fl. oz.

My Full Review

Before I get into my own review of Delina, let’s see how Parfums de Marly describes it:

This fragrance is an ode to femininity and sensuality. The blooming top notes of Delina hold fruity scents of lychee and rhubarb. Then the fragrance expresses its personality through a delicate and velvety Rose Essence of Turkey. Its caressing petals unveil delicious and warm musky and vanilla base notes.

So, from the opening, wow! Delina is gorgeous and a very pleasant aroma. The rose note here is prominent but soft at the same time and its a fruity powdered fragrance.

I don’t mean to suggest that this Parfums de Marly fragrance is a baby powder-like scent, it isn’t, because there is a juicy fruit elements that keeps the whole thing interesting.

The lychee is the main fruit here and it is joined by the sharpness of bergamot that sits in the background during the wear. Add to that, the rhubarb is tart, and I think gives this scent its distinct personality.

It is sweet but not overly so, as the fruit notes aren’t too strong, and there’s not much of a ‘sugary’ element within Delina. As it dries down, get much more of the peony note than I do the rose, and this is when I become even more intrigued by this scent.

Vanilla and musk emerge well into the wear and provide a base for this perfume. It’s all very well done and a pleasure.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Delina doesn’t have a huge sillage. This is more of a moderate fragrance, that can be worn everyday without causing a huge fuss. It’ll project itself in the 4-6 foot range or thereabouts.

However, it’s longevity is great, and I believe I got right around 9 hours of wear out of it on my skin.

Update: Testing it out again, 9.5-10 hours seems like what it is fully capable of on my skin.

Seasonally, Delina works best in the warm weather. This would be enchanting in the spring and summer months. It’s a daily wear, that’s pretty enough to be worn on formal occasions, as well as casually.

I enjoy how it smells, but it doesn’t strike me as being super ‘sexy’ or seductive, it is very appealing. It’s more of a pleasant and enjoyable sort of perfume to be around. Can really fit in well, in a wide variety of situations.

Delina will continue to be signature scent worthy for a lot of people.

Overall Impressions of Delina

Overall, do I like Delina? Yes. This is a great fragrance by Parfums de Marly. It is a fruity floral with interesting depth and character.

The performance is exactly what you would expect from a luxury brand like this and you get something that smells wonderful.

This has become one of the most popular, if not the best selling fragrance from the women’s PdM line. While it has also spawned the Delina Exclusif flanker.

The opening fruitiness is great, with the bit of a powdery finish early on, Delina develops nicely into a sweetish rose and peony perfume that is really versatile, fun, and does everything well.

This is a Parfums de Marly scent that you should try out, if you’re interested in it. At least get a sample of it, even if you cannot afford it. There are also lots of similar perfumes to this one.