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 test out and 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!

Voyage Sport vs Nautica Blue Comparison

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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 Blue 

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

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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 notes 

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

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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.

Miss Dior Le Parfum EDP by Christian Dior

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I’m sort of working my way through the Miss Dior line of fragrances that Christian Dior has been releasing over the years. I’ve already done one on Blooming Bouquet and have another one in the works.

However, today I want to focus my attention of Miss Dior Le Parfum. The EDP flanker was released in 2012. How does it smell? Does it actually perform? When can it be worn? Is it worth a try? Please continue below for my full wear take on Le Parfum.

What does Miss Dior Le Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: amber, vanilla, mandarin, Turkish rose, and patchouli

Click here to try: Christian Dior Miss Dior Le Parfum Spray for Women, 1.35 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Miss Dior Le Parfum is just about the only time during the wear in which the mandarin orange note is truly prominent. You get that familiar citrus aroma sitting on top of a warm amber and a spicy patchouli note.

There is a beautiful almost sparkling quality to this fragrance. The sample card that came with the spray vial calls this scent, “Oriental Chypre Elegance”.

As it moves on, what you smell is pretty much what you get. The mandarin note gets toned down and the vanilla note emerges in it’s place. There is a rose note that you can detect if you try, but it has been subdued in the composition.

Le Parfum is very well blended and has a semi-sweet aroma thanks to the vanilla and citrus but ultimately it is a deep amber fragrance with smooth floral vanilla and that kick from the patchouli. The whole thing has a rich and enveloping sensation while wearing it.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I never felt like Miss Dior Le Parfum was a heavy fragrance. Sure, it has a ‘thick’ aroma, but the sillage wasn’t super overpowering. It’s more moderate to strong and quiets down into a creamier scent during the dry down period.

It’s longevity was actually good on my skin, about 7-9 hours of total wear, with maybe six of a full punch to it.  Certainly not an elite performer, but still gives you plenty to work with.

Seasonally, this Dior eau de parfum, is all about the autumn and winter. It’s got way too much warmth, creaminess, and spice to be built for the high heat of summertime.

One advantage it does have within that seasonal limitedness, is how versatile it is. Le Parfum could be worn at work or school. It can be worn casually.

Plus, it has enough appeal and attractiveness to be utilized during the night. Actually, I’d prefer it at night.  I find it to be pretty sexy and would love smelling it on a woman, that I was dating.

Overall Impressions of Miss Dior Le Parfum

Overall, do I like Miss Dior Le Parfum? Yes, it’s simple but potent. The mixture of vanilla, patchouli, and amber is satisfying and has a dark richness. On the performance end, it projects well and lasts for a solid amount of time after application.

Le Parfum not only smells good but has a versatile quality, which could make it someone’s go to scent during the colder months of the year.

Update: I don’t see this for sale anymore on Dior’s website, so, I don’t know if it has been discontinued or not at this point. But, a lot of these Miss Dior scents and other lines by Dior get reformulated into something new, under the same name. So, if it comes back around, it might be different from these notes.

Man Amber by Halston

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I’m winding down my reviews from the latest batch of fragrance samples I’ve received recently (although, I hope to buy some more scent to try out soon). One of the most interesting scents that I ordered seemed to be Man Amber by Halston.

I had no idea really what to expect from this cologne and reading the list of notes that were included grabbed my attention, since the looked different from many other scents. In this post, I want to give an overview on how it smells, performs, when it should be used, and if I think that Man Amber is worth a buy.

What does Halston Man Amber Smell Like?

halston man amber

Notes include: amber, geranium, bergamot, oud, musk, myrrh, oud, thyme

Click here to try: Halston Man Amber By Halston For Men Edt Spray 4.2 Oz & Eau De Toilette .25 Oz Mini

My Full Review

Update: I wrote this review many years ago and am updating it to fit the newer layout of the site. I’m pretty positive that this got discontinued a while ago.

Upon opening, it becomes very clear that Halston’s Man Amber is quite a unique scent. Just by taking a look at the notes, one can see that there is going to be something different about this cologne.

First, let me state that this fragrance has very limited use and isn’t going to appeal to everyone. The opening is a dry warmth with woody and smokey undertones. The myrrh note is quite distinct and prominent, even if it has ‘amber’ in its name.

I do enjoy scents that have amber as a note, so I was looking forward to seeing what this one was all about.

I’m not a big fan of oud scents. However, I think that it fits well in Man Amber and doesn’t distract me from the overall fragrance. To me, the wood notes give it a similar aroma to a cask, with the same smoke laden scent and added warmth and sweetness.

This is a fairly linear scent and most of what you get is myrrh, amber, and oud.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it does well, but Man Amber is on the softer side of colognes. So, a pretty moderate start, before it settles into something light.

It actually has good longevity and I got 6-8 hours out of it. That’s fairly good, but many of these types of fragrances will hit the 9+ hour range without question. This one is pretty moderate based on that metric.

To me, this is built for casual to semi formal wear in the winter. I wouldn’t wear it on a warm day and it doesn’t feel like much of a nightlife scent, in my opinion.

Overall Impressions of Man Amber

Is Halston’s Man Amber worth a buy? That depends. I think that it smells good, but it doesn’t totally fit my style or tastes. I can appreciate this fragrance for what it is, but it really doesn’t appeal to me.

However, I know that there are plenty of people who would probably love this cologne. If you’re a big fan of oud or amber, this might be a good bet for you to try out. Also, if you just want something outside the norm.

The myrrh is a wildcard, as to whether or not someone will enjoy this scent, as it is the main attraction here. Overall, it is a good performer at a really affordable price point.