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!

Joop! vs. Cool Water

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For this edition of the head to head men’s fragrance match ups, we are going to be breaking down and comparing, two of the most popular colognes from the 1980s: Cool Water vs. Joop! Homme. Which of these classic scents, smells the best? I am going to be comparing each, in a number of categories, before declaring an ultimate winner. I have linked my original review of each scent below, for further details on these colognes.

Tale of the Tape: Cool Water vs. Joop!

Cool Water

Notes include: lavender, mint, tobacco, amber, musk, jasmine, sandalwood, neroli, coriander, rosemary, and more

Click here to try: Davidoff Cool Water Edt Spray for Men, 6.7 oz

Read my Review: Cool Water

Joop! Homme

Notes include: orange blossom, vanilla, cinnamon, mandarin, amber, cedar, jasmine, bergamot, lily, heliotrope, tonka bean, patchouli, and sandalwood

Click here to try:  Joop Pour Homme Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Fluid Ounce

Read my review: Joop!

Opening

Cool Water obviously starts off with its aquatic accord front and center. However, the top is also composed of prominent mint and tobacco notes. It all comes together as green with a spicy freshness, that is later joined by floral notes, to create a soapy sort of effect.

Joop on the other hand, opens up spicy with patchouli and cinnamon, creating a bold tandem at the top. These notes are joined by an enveloping and warm amber with some light citrus coming through. It has a mix of spicy and syrupy honeyed sweetness, with floral undertones.

I like how Cool Water starts initially, with a very clean and green freshness. However, I do prefer that initial punch from Joop!, that just hits and dominates. Yes, it’s spicy, but there is a lot else to enjoy in there.

Edge: Joop!

Projection

Joop! is still a sillage monster. Perhaps, the modern version doesn’t have the same peak as the vintage bottles, but it still has a lot of power. Cool Water is probably in the same boat as to reformulations, but it never had that same projecting power, as Joop did. It’s more of a moderate fragrance, not weak, but doesn’t touch its competitor.

Edge: Joop!

Longevity

Cool Water will get me 6-7 hours on my skin. Joop is good for 7-9 hours of wear for me, depending on the climate and other factors. However, it still consistently equals or outperforms the Davidoff scent.

Edge: Joop! 

Versatility

This is the category where Cool Water has an advantage. It is great in the warmer months of the year, but can go year round.

Meanwhile, Joop is pretty much a cold weather scent. It doesn’t do well in the heat. Joop is better for nightlife, but Cool Water can fit in many situations, as it is much more moderate and less in your face than Joop can be.

Edge: Cool Water

 

 

Overall Scent

So, when it comes down to it, which one of these men’s fragrances is better? I like either one of these scents and both definitely have their positives.

Cool Water is a classic and a solid choice for everyday wear. It blend of green and aquatic notes at the top is great, before it moves into a classic soapy clean. The performance is still quite good, even if it doesn’t reach the levels of Joop Homme. 30 years after its release, the fragrance still sells a ton of bottles, and might be the better choice for most guys.

However, I think Joop! smells better, and is the more interesting fragrance. The spicy beginning is bold, when paired with that honey-like sweetness, it is a real attention grabber.

Then, the dry down comes along with the floral notes and the vanilla/sandalwood blend. This was always a fun cologne to wear, even if it was sometimes limited in its uses.

The versatility of Cool Water might be a selling point in a lot of cases, but if I have to go with one of these, I am wearing Joop! Homme most of the time. It’s the winner, in this match up.

Winner: Joop!

Rochas Man by Rochas

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Rochas Man cologne for men has been around for well over 15 years now and during this time has served countless men well in the pursuit of the opposite sex. Simply put, Rochas Man is well-loved by the ladies.

The really good news for guys is that they can get a hold of this seductive scent for under $30 and start grabbing attention upon first wear. In this post, I want to take a closer look a Rochas Man and give my opinion on this fragrance.

Update: I am adding further thoughts to this one in 2019, to expand upon this review, and share my more recent experiences with this Rochas fragrance.

What does Rochas Man Smell Like?

Notes include: coffee and lavender, with low notes of amber and sandalwood.

Try Rochas Man from Amazon:  Rochas Man Eau de Toilette, Woody Gourmand, 3.3 fl. oz.

My Full Review

The first things one notices about Rochas is that it is a rather sweet fragrance, with hints of cocoa and vanilla. This doesn’t mean that it is a feminine scent by any means but one that has a seductive charm to it.

Rochas Man is titled that for a reason, it is a masculine fragrance but with a mysterious undercurrent that I think is the key to drawing women closer and closer.

Rochas Man opens with that coffee/cappuccino note, some fruity hints of raspberry, and a calming lavender.

Additionally, there is the familiar smell of vanilla, which comes in and grows stronger as the wear moves on. It feels warm, with only a light amber note, giving Rochas that enveloping feeling.

As it settles down, this one does become drier, to my nose. There’s a light woody base to this fragrance and only adds to the smoothness, as the lavender and vanilla notes, pull it through.

It’s got a great blend of powder and creamy vanilla lurking throughout. Ultimately, I get: coffee, lavender, vanilla, and a bit of amber.

One major selling point of this cologne is its pricing point. It is available for significantly less than most other men’s colognes but delivers as much value as most of the expensive designer brands as well.

Rochas Man is versatile enough to be worn every day at places such as work or school but can also be applied at night for evenings spent out with friends or especially on a date.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of Rochas is quite good, but not too heavy. It will project itself a decent distance from the wearer, but it doesn’t choke out a room, unless you go crazy with the sprays.

It is a warm gourmand fragrance, that sort of creates an enveloping cloud around you, but not overpowering.

The longevity is also solid and seems to fall into that 6-8 hour range of wear. Not a beast, but still very useful for most occasions.

I like Rochas as a fragrance mainly in the winter and fall months, as I feel that the sweetness projects well in the colder air around this time. Also, it has that projection of warmth and confidence which contrasts well with the harsh winter landscape.

This one is light enough to be a daily wear to school or even the office. However, it can definitely pull double duty and be a nighttime wear for the coldest months. A lot of women, find this one attractive, and will draw closer when you have it on.

It’s ‘sexy’ to some extent, but just a really pleasant fragrance, that is highly enjoyable to smell.

Overall Impressions of Rochas Man

If you’re looking for an inexpensive scent with just the right amount of sweetness and spice, have a look at Rochas Man, because it’s a winner. For about 20 years now, it’s been a great option for guys who want a sweet, and well-blended cologne.

This one is attractive, performs well enough, and can usually be found at a great price point. Yes, it is more limited to the times when its cold outside, but it’s actually pretty amazing and well worth having despite its limitations.

Daisy by Marc Jacobs

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I thought that it was time to give Daisy by Marc Jacobs a proper review and so with the last batch of samples that I ordered, I got a vial of this fragrance sent to me as well. It has been a very popular perfume for women for probably over a decade at this point and is always among the best sellers.

In this post, I am going to cover how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not I think it is worthy of a purchase.

What does Daisy by Marc Jacobs Smell Like?

daisy marc jacobs perfume

Notes include: grapefruit, gardenia, jasmine, violet, musk, and vanilla

Click here to try: Marc Jacobs Daisy, EDT Spray, 3.4oz 100ml

My Full Review

The opening of Daisy gives me the same kind of watery floral aroma, that Alien Aqua Chic did when I reviewed it. The floral notes are different, but there is a similar effect, and I think that Daisy happens to do it better.

Daisy is heavily weighted towards violet and there is also some interplay between the jasmine and gardenia notes. However, the latter two seem to be background players to the main attraction of violet.

Up top, there is the grapefruit note and a light strawberry, as well. To my nose, the strawberry note, doesn’t come through particularly hard. Again, Daisy comes across a watery and the fruit notes, are lightly added, to the overall composition.

The grapefruit note gives Daisy a bit more energy, and there is also definitely a musky warmth, to this perfume. This whole scent strikes me as very light and slightly aquatic, like if the flowers were sitting in a vase full of water. As it wears on, Daisy takes on more of a powdery scent but that never completely takes over the composition but it does feel noticeable about an hour or so in.

Finally, what I am left with is: plenty of violet, some grapefruit, gardenia, and musky undertones. Yes, all still swimming in that vaguely aquatic aroma. This isn’t all that complex of a perfume.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, Daisy is light, but it isn’t weak. It isn’t a beast that is going to envelop you (unless you spray like crazy) but it is quite noticeable.

Longevity is pretty darn good but not spectacular, I’d say it can hit 7 hours on a regular basis, depending on the conditions it’s worn in.

This Marc Jacobs fragrance is best worn casually, for a day at the office or running around town. I wouldn’t call it a date night perfume or really sexy at all. It’s something that is light and fresh and inoffensive.

I’d also say it’s probably best worn in the springtime as that’s where the notes seem most at home but you could also where it in the other months of the year and be perfectly fine.

Overall Impressions of Daisy

Overall, is Daisy worth a buy? Yes, provided that you like floral scents. It’s a really good casual/everyday wear perfume that seems to enjoy a pretty universal popularity. If you want something that is a little more bold or sexy, then you should probably look elsewhere.

Daisy does what it does very well, and if you’re in the market for something along those lines, it’s a winner. The violet note here is very nice and the gardenia peaking through the background is also quite pleasant.

To me, this Marc Jacobs perfume isn’t amazing, but is a solid choice for a daily wear floral fragrance.

Chez Bond by Bond No. 9

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Getting further into my Bond No. 9 fragrance reviews, I’m going to take a closer look at Chez Bond, one of the more popular men’s scents from the brand. It came out in 2003 and has been sticking around ever since. In this post, I will present what it contains, what it smells like, how it performs, and whether or not I think it is worth a purchase.

What does Chez Bond Smell Like?

Notes include: sandalwood, tea, citrus, cedar, leafy greens, violet leaf, vetiver

Click here to try: Chez Bond by Bond No.9 Eau De Parfum 3.3 oz Spray

My Full Review

All right, I’m first going to address the similarities that this fragrance has with others. Notably, Green Irish Tweed. Yes, these two are quite a bit alike, and share many of the same notes.

Also, Riverside Drive by Bond No. 9 is quite similar to GIT and L’Homme Libre. So much overlap.

Between the two, I think that Chez Bond has a much smoother aroma, and more of the tea element. Yes, it is quite a bit like a lemon herbal tea with greens and violet leaf.

I don’t know, GIT always came across as having a more earthy quality to it, while Chez Bond is more airy and warm.

The citrus up top is quite bright and really a great smell. From there, the greener notes come through. It’s violet leaf, tea, and some light grassy notes.

I’m not usually a huge fan of a strong violet leaf note, but it works well within this composition, as it gets balanced out.

As it dries down, I still get the tea but less of the citrus notes, and its ups the content of the sandalwood, vetiver, and cedar.  It is a lush green forest  just a way’s away while your standing outside with a cup of hot herbal tea. Is that odd? Maybe. However, it is also quite nice.

The sandalwood and cedar can be pretty strong, during the latter stages of the wear. To me, it has more of the fresh woody smell, and less of the creamy sandalwood aroma. It starts to get dry, as a fragrance, and more of a woods than the herbal tea smell. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Chez Bond is pretty soft to moderate. It isn’t an overwhelming projection beast, by any means. It’ll venture out about 4-6 feet from your skin and a shorter distance, once it settles down.

But, it does have good longevity, it pops up and reminds you that it is still there for 8-9+ hours depending on the day. Very nice performance.

It’s a bit surprising, given how soft it can be at times, but Chez isn’t one that quits early.

This stuff doesn’t remind me of a crisp fall or winter day. More like a cloudy/rainy one. Yes, I would say that it’s best during that time of the year and into the springtime.

Summer, I’d go with something else. On those temperate days, this stuff is really great to put on, and reaches a higher level than it is usually capable of.

Chez Bond is a good casual cologne and beyond. It is refined and stylish, probably best for men in their mid-20s and up. I wouldn’t call this a romantic or sexy scent, it is just pleasant, and definitely not a club beast.

You could also wear it to work, since it is none to offensive. While not super formal, Chez Bond also doesn’t come across as being juvenile. As such, you can get plenty of use out of it, and the versatility is one of this fragrance’s strengths.

Overall Impression of Chez Bond

Overall, would I recommend Chez Bond? Yes, provided that it fits your style. If you’re a fan of Green Irish Tweed, this one will be a scent that you enjoy.

I personally like it, but it really doesn’t go along with my tastes, there is a lot that I’d rather wear instead. That’s not to say it’s bad, it isn’t, and it’s a well blended fragrance. Just not my thing, per se.

I do like the citrus notes, herbal tea elements, and the forest smell. As I said, on the right day, Chez Bond is an excellent wear. Still not my favorite, but it can be very wearable. 

There’s no real weak points with this scent, unless you demand it be super heavy or project like crazy. It’s well above average in every other aspect and I do consider it to be one of the best from Bond No. 9 New York.

7 Best Smelling Violet Scented Perfumes

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There are a lot of floral notes which get plenty of attention in fragrances. The usual suspects, get their just dues, but violet can often be overshadowed. It plays a support role in many perfumes, but it can be challenging to find a good violet scented one. One, with this flower being the star, at its base. In this post, I want to present seven perfumes which utilize violet to the best of its ability.

What are the Top Smelling Violet Scented Fragrances for Her?

Floral Fruity Option

Insolence By Guerlain For Women, Eau De Toilette Spray, 1.6-Ounce Bottle– A sweet blend of juicy berries and floral notes like violet, iris, and orange blossom. Insolence is long lasting and has a pronounced powdery finish, as is to be expected, when violet and iris get together.

Nonetheless, Insolence isn’t a stuffy or overly-heavy fragrance, the raspberry and other berry notes keep things dynamic. Towards the end, there is a light musk, and a great sandalwood note at the base. This is a great floral fruity wear, rather simple, but delightful.

The violet does rest control of the fragrance, from the other flowers, later on. Insolence is a good example of an option for those who want a mixed kind of blend, headed up by violet.

Fresh Cedar and Pure Violet

Bois de Violette by Serge Lutens– A fairly simple and more of a pure violet offering than some of the others on the list. Bois de Violette a sweet and very lightly powdered violet aroma, that is quickly joined by cedar.

That’s pretty much the perfume. The cedar note, actually balances things out, and gives it a dry freshness which I feel boosts the violet’s effect. It all smells very naturalistic and great. This is a must try for those who love our target floral note.

Bold Bouquet and Vanilla

Bond No. 9 Broadway Nite Eau De Parfum Spray 100ml/3.3oz–  This is a very floral scent that starts out with the heliotrope, rose, and violet notes. That trio is joined by an undercurrent of vanilla and musk.

Vanilla, musk, and iris are of course going to create a pretty powdery aroma. That’s on their own, and when you added violet you’re going to get it in spades.

Broadway Night can be a bit of a bold fragrance, and yes, the violet does have a bit of a greenish smell. A different option from the rest, but has its fans. Notes include: Rose, Honeysuckle, Iris, Aldehyde, Green Violet, Cedarwood, Musk, Sweet Amber, Heliotrope, Vanilla Beans. My Full Review

broadway nite review

Blended Spiced Violet 

Paco Rabanne Ultraviolet Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 2.7 Ounce– A floral/exotic fragrance that is highlighted by, as the name suggests, violet. It’s a soft to moderate blend with a unique sweet/spicy profile that lasts for a long time. Ultraviolet really gets to the star of the show, once it has had time to settle in.

The opening can be a bit intense with the spice, as you get a few different peppers and coriander, coming through. Definitely interesting, though not for everyone.

However, it’s not all spice in the beginning, as there is a nice apricot and some vanilla to help calm things. Obviously, the star of the show comes more apparent in the dry down. You get a fresh, fairly sweet, and powdery violet with some dry undertones.

Clean Garden Bouquet

CREED FLEURISSIMO by Creed for WOMEN: EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 2.5 OZ– Classy and elegant. Fleurissimo is a bouquet of florals with iris, violet, and tuberose. Fleurissimo has a vintage style and a very garden rich profile.

As it dries down, this Creed scent has more warmth and a soapy/powdery clean quality. This is an all day wear, with excellent longevity. A springtime fragrance. An expensive choice, but a good one for fans of violet and tuberose, in particular. Not for those who want a lone violet ingredient. Notes include: Bulgarian rose, violet, tuberose, Florentine iris.

creed fleurissimo

Violet and Iris

Love in Black by Creed– Another great violet based fragrance by Creed, though, this one is definitely distinct from the one above. This one pairs violet and iris together, with a dark berry sweetness, and a dry mix of spices and musk.

Love in Black is naturally quite a powdery scent, as it is dominated by the two floral notes, but it’s got enough black currant sweetness in the opening to give it added depth. Later, it dries down to be more focused on the violet with musky touches and a woody base.

Natural Violet and Rose

La Violette by Annick Goutal– A fresh violet, which utilizes the flower and leaf. The leaf, has that somewhat greenish watery aroma, which some people may not enjoy. However, this is another one with a very naturalistic sort of violet note.

It’s a strictly floral perfume with some added rose, which adds some extra powder, in the latter stages of the wear.

La Violette is not too heavy, has some sweetness, but is mostly just a clean and low key floral fragrance.