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!

Bleu de Chanel vs La Nuit Comparison

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Over the past decade or so, La Nuit de L’Homme and Bleu de Chanel, have been two best sellers from two powerhouse French brands. YSL and Chanel are legendary. They have a ton of amazing creations, under their belts. But which of these colognes, smells the best? Bleu vs. La Nuit? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: La Nuit vs BdC

La Nuit

Notes include: cardamom, bergamot, vetiver, lavender, cedar

Try it out: Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3-Ounce

Read my review: La Nuit de l’Homme

Bleu de Chanel EDT

Notes include: lemon, grapefruit, ginger, mint, pink pepper, incense, cedar, vetiver, patchouli, jasmine, and more

Click here to try: Bleu De_Chanel for Men Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4oz NEW in BOX 

Opening

Bleu de Chanel EDT starts off with lemon and grapefruit, providing the citrus blast that it is well known for. With that you get a fresh ginger spice, that is flanked by incense, pink pepper, and mint. The spices are stronger than any smokiness, at first.

La Nuit de L’Homme also starts off with a rather spicy citrus blend. This time, it’s a sharp bergamot note, paired with a spicy cardamom. It is warm and fresh, more so than spicy, and this is especially true once the lavender really begins to emerge.

I really do like how each of these fragrances begins. In the past, I think that I would have fluctuated between which one I believe to have the better start. Now? I’m pretty firmly in the Bleu de Chanel camp. It is more interesting and the aroma is slightly better.

Edge: Bleu

Projection

La Nuit by YSL starts off as a fairly moderate fragrance, with its sillage. It won’t take over a room, by any means, but it’s decent up top. After a few hours, it sits close to the skin.

Bleu de Chanel opens up stronger than La Nuit and stays close to that strength for most of the wear. Definitely has better sillage than, La Nuit.

Edge: Bleu

Longevity

La Nuit will go for 6-8 hours, on my skin. Generally, closer to six. Though, I have read, newer bottles may not have the same power as before. I cannot really comment on that. Bleu will go for 5-7 hours. Overall, it’s kind of a push.

Edge: Push

Versatility

La Nuit is a very versatile fragrance, just outside of the hottest temperatures. It can go from office, to night out, to casual daily wear. Best in the autumn and winter, however.

Bleu de Chanel, can also hit all of those same functions. What it can also do, is be worn in the heat. It can pretty much be worn year round. That gives Bleu, the edge.

Edge: Bleu

Overall Scent

La Nuit is pretty much a classic. The lavender and cardamom pairing, is simple yet delightful. It has such a fresh and sensuous smell, with a great cedar and vetiver base. I would have no problem wearing this scent, as it is a very good wear.

That being said, I think Bleu de Chanel EDT, is better. I like the citrus notes, the smoky incense, and the light spices from ginger and mint.

It’s fresh and insanely versatile. Neither of these are crazy good performers, but Bleu has the better power.

Again, I could wear either of these, but I think Bleu is just a cut above La Nuit in this match. You could grab something like each now, since there are a ton of colognes inspired by Bleu de Chanel.

Winner: Bleu de Chanel

Weekend for Women by Burberry

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I never really liked the men’s version of Weekend by Burberry, as it was pretty bad all around. However, the women’s version was always much more pleasant and attractive, in my opinion. I recently grabbed a sample, with my latest batch, and wanted to finally give this one a full review. How does Weekend perform? How does it smell? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Weekend for Women Smell Like?

Notes include: nectarine, mandarin, iris, sandalwood, peach blossom, hyacinth, rose hip, musk, cyclamen

Click here to try: Burberry Weekend Eau De Parfum for Women, 1 Fl Oz

My Full Wear Review

Burberry Weekend opens up with a light, sweet nectarine and peach blossom. Right away, however, I notice that this is going to be much more of a floral fragrance than a fruity one.

The hyacinth is quite present immediately and will hang around for the duration of the wear. The composition smells very clean and has a powdery/musk blend to it, as well. I’m thinking clean, like fresh laundry, sort of smell.

Hyacinth, iris, and peach blossom are the main flower petals that I get from this. The rest of them, don’t seem very distinct to my nose, but really well-blended together in this Burberry fragrance.

As it moves on further, it is less like a soapy fresh smell, and feels like being in a flower garden. Sitting outdoors, eating nectarines, with the flowers in full bloom. I like this part of the wear, much more, as it feels closer to a natural aroma. 

Finally, what I’m left with is: nectarine, peach blossom, musk, florals, and wood. Sandalwood with a touch of cedar, give it added freshness and balance. Relaxing flower garden, with nectarine, and wood. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This projects itself moderately. I’d say, somewhere in the 4-6 feet range, around the wearer. Not a complete bomb, by any means, but decent. It does have a lighter airy kind of aroma, not a heavier imposing one.

The longevity is great, not elite, but it’ll go for a long while. I got about 9 hours, from Burberry Weekend, before it disappeared. Definitely good enough for the standard workday.

Weekend, as the name suggests, has a casual and chill vibe. It is best worn during the spring or summertime, when the weather is warm, and sun is shining. It could absolutely be a daily wear to the office, also, as it isn’t going to be one that offends. 

It is a pretty and clean fragrance, rather than, a sexy one. It’s attractive enough to get complements, though. An easy perfume to have in the rotation for the warmer months of the year, that can cover a lot of bases.

 

 

Overall Impression of Burberry Weekend for Women

Do I like this Burberry scent? I do like Weekend for Women. If it didn’t have the nectarine, it’d probably be too much of a flower garden scent for my taste, but it’s great here.

The middle act and the dry down are lovely. The peach blossom and nectarine pair well with the other notes to give this perfume a naturalistic and pleasant aroma.

The performance is very good, it has a sunny personality, and gives you a clean wear. Is it super exciting? No. Not completely original, either, but it does deliver a versatile and rather beautiful smell. 

This is a nice option for those who want a low-key daily wear, or something to put on, when just hanging out. 

Update: This does seem to be the same scent as before, but the current bottle has been changed from the original. As of now, Burberry is still selling Weekend.

Cheap & Chic I Love Love by Moschino

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Beyond just having a long and rather odd name, Cheap & Chic I Love Love, has gained a reputation as an affordable option for the warmer months of the year. It actually came out back in 2004, so, this Moschino perfume has stuck around for a long time in this role.

It’s not a super inexpensive scent, but for usually around $30 or so, it has become a name to know when looking for a bargain. Is it actually worth it? How does it smell? How long does it last?

What does Cheap & Chic I Love Love Smell Like?

Notes include: orange, lemon, grapefruit, redcurrant, rush, lily of the valley, tea rose, cinnamon leaves, tanaka wood, musk, cedar

Click here to try: I Love Love Cheap and Chic by Moschino for Women 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray 

My Full Review

I Love Love opens up with a bright and juicy citrus mix. Up top, it’s mostly about the orange, with lemon and grapefruit flanking. This Cheap and Chic perfume is super fresh and completely upbeat. There is also the redcurrant which has a red berry aroma, against the citrus.

Obviously, this one gets compared to Light Blue by D&G, and the similarities are very obvious.  The main difference is the additional citrus notes in this one, no apple, and less of the cedar than in the Dolce perfume. 

I Love Love is also sweeter, with a tinge of sugar, lurking in the background. 

 

As it moves along, some of the middle notes, start to come out. I will say, the Lily of the Valley and tea rose, aren’t all that strong nor detectable on my skin. I can pick up some cinnamon, but it almost gets lost in the citrus.

At this stage, the orange is no longer dominant, and actually falls behind the lemon and grapefruit in strength.

On a shirt, the floral notes do have more of a presence. More lily and cinnamon. Nevertheless, musk and cedar are stronger than either of those ingredients, and serve as the base notes.

What you’re left with is a lemon heavy citrus mix, with hints of musk, and a woody base headed up by the cedar. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage of I Love Love is pretty good, but not overly powerful. It’ll project on the skin in about a 4-6 foot radius around you. The citrus notes can be sharp, but the perfume isn’t going to choke out a room.

The longevity is also solid, somewhere in the 6-8 hour range, for me. For a daily wear or casual summertime fragrance, that’s more than enough, for most occasions.

Seasonally, as I said, this is a spring and summertime perfume. It’s good for wearing around town during the daytime, can be an office scent, or just casually.

It’s not really a nightlife perfume or something that will come across as ‘sexy’.

Though, it can be worn by all ages and is one with a definite mass appeal, as expected with something so much like the Dolce perfume.

Overall Impression of I Love Love

Do I like this perfume? I do. I actually prefer this mix of citrus versus the lemon and apple of Light Blue. It’s a pretty simple fragrance, but one that does a good job, for a cheap price.

The sweetness here is better and it doesn’t come across as hyper fresh or harsh as the Dolce & Gabbana perfume can. Though, you do still get plenty of freshness from this one. I do like that red currant and lemon combination up top.

The cedar and apple in that one, can turn away some people. This Moschino has a better balance.

You get good performance and a freshly attractive smell. This Moschino offering is a great option for those who want a summertime fragrance or are looking to replace Light Blue with something else. 

Uomo Born in Roma by Valentino

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Uomo Born in Roma was a fragrance that I’ve overlooked since its release in 2019. I really didn’t know anything about the way it smelled going in and I liked the Uomo series from this brand. As such, I was intrigued to finally give it a try. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it even worth a try?

What does Uomo Born in Roma Smell Like?

Notes include: ginger, salt, mineral notes, sage, vetiver, violet leaf 

Click here to try: Valentino Uomo Born In Roma EDT 3.4 oz / 100 ml Men’s Spray 

My Full Review

Upon first spraying Born in Roma, I am amazed at how much this mimics the Invictus line of scents. Mainly, the original Invictus and Invictus Aqua. Roma has that same artificial candy-like sweetness.

The difference is, it is toned down in the Valentino and there aren’t any citrus notes, as in Invictus. Instead, this one gives me a very prominent mineral accord (like mineral oil’s smell) and violet leaf (which is also in Invictus Aqua).

Beyond that, some light ginger, salt, and some sage also come through. It’s not an aquatic, but all the notes do come together for that very similar Paco Rabanne-like fragrance. The mineral accord is the equivalent of the Invictus ambergris.

As it dries down further, Born in Roma begins to take on its own personality. Less of that candy-like sweetness and more of a soapy/fresh clean scent. The main notes that I get throughout are: violet leaf, mineral accord, vetiver, and wood. 

It is an interesting transformation, but it doesn’t really develop beyond that. Up top is the mass appeal of an Invictus sort of cologne. Then, the really fresh and outdoorsy clean of notes like violet leaf and vetiver.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Born in Roma opens up pretty strong. It’ll project probably 5-8 feet from the skin, at first, before moving in to the 3-4 foot range. Overall, above average but fairly moderate. 

The longevity seems to fall in the 7-8.5 hour range. That’s what I got the first time I wore it. The second time, I started to get a headache and nausea, a few minutes after I sprayed it on. Maybe this stuff was the trigger?

Either way, I scrubbed it off. But, I will say, based on how difficult it was to scrub off my skin the performance should be quite good. 

Mainly, this would be a spring or summer fragrance. It could venture into more moderate temperatures, but would feel out of place in the wintertime.

Born in Roma skews younger. It is more of a casual fragrance, nightlife, and the like. I wouldn’t wear this to the office or a formal occasion. More maturity than Invictus, but not that much more.

 

Overall Impressions of Born in Roma

Overall, do I like this scent? It’s not terrible, but it’s not one that I’d want to wear. It’s not an Invictus clone, but there is so much overlap with the aroma. I’m pretty sick of smelling these same sorts of colognes over and over again.

That being said, if it’s your type of fragrance, you might really enjoy this one. The dry down is much better in my opinion, than that opening act. I’m not a huge violet leaf fan, but I like the vetiver and woods in the base.

Violet leaf and mineral notes together, generally isn’t going to be something I want to spray on myself. There are some exceptions, and this one is pretty good, just not good enough.

The performance is solid and it will certainly have some appeal for the public. I’d probably try to find a bottle at a discount, because it’s overpriced at Valentino retail costs.

Update: Yeah, this one became pretty popular since its release and the Born in Roma line keeps on going. Other people seem to enjoy this much more than I ever have. This Valentino line doesn’t have much appeal for me, personally.

Born in Roma Coral Fantasy and Intense are two other options that I’ve reviewed, as of this update. I think that Intense is the best one that I’ve come across.

Polo Red EDP by Ralph Lauren

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Polo Red is a formula that keeps getting used by Ralph Lauren. The initial EDT has sold so well, that every form of flanker seems to be getting put out by the designer. The latest is 2020’s Polo Red Eau de Parfum. I recently received a sample of this cologne and was really interested in trying it out. How does it smell? Perform? When can it be worn? Is it even worth a try?

What does Polo Red Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: red grapefruit, ginger, cranberry, lavender, sage, cedar, benzoin, oud, resin, musk

My Full Wear Review

Polo Red EDP is obviously going to have a lot of overlap with the Red EDT version (review). The start of EDP has the same cranberry note, but paired with grapefruit, instead of lemon. Also, there is a prominent ginger also hanging around.

It’s less sharp, less sweet, but much more tolerable than the original Polo Red. I liked that one a lot, upon its initial release. However, the lemon could get annoying.

A bit further along, sage comes in and takes a bit of shine from the cranberry note. Ginger and sage, is a nice combination. Red Eau de Parfum has a definite balance between sweet and spicy during the early stages of the wear.

Other notes that I pick up on before it dries down completely are the lavender and benzoin. That’s one way that EDP, really separates itself from the other fragrances in this line. Smoother, slightly medicinal from the benzoin, and then the woody blend in the base of the scent.

The final dry down to me, is just woods and lavender mostly. There is still the impression of sweetness from the cranberry, but it no longer smells like a distinct ingredient.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Red EDP isn’t a powerhouse. It will project itself just fine from the skin for the first few hours, before becoming more intimate. It’s not weak, on my skin, but it is pretty middle of the road. Maybe, only slightly better than the EDT.

It’s not really long lasting either, but quite passable. The times that I’ve worn it so far, I have gotten 6-7.5 hours each time. Not terrible, but it might be disappointing if you paid full price for a bottle.

Seasonally, any time other than summer. Probably better in the autumn and into winter, but it doesn’t have the same overwhelming sweetness as some of the others in the Polo Red line.

The smoothness of lavender and woods allows Red EDP to venture a bit further into the warmer months of spring.

I think that the other Red colognes skew toward a younger audience. Eau de Parfum does have a more mature vibe than them, but still feels younger, just well put together.

It could be worn casually, out on a date, to work, school and many other scenarios. It isn’t an ‘in your face’ fragrance, so, it probably isn’t going to offend anyone. I’d lean more casual to semi-formal wearing this one, but it’s not too bad elsewhere.

Overall Impressions of Polo Red Eau de Parfum

Do I like this Polo release? I do. I don’t like it as much as Extreme, but I think it might be the second best release. I like the EDT and Intense, but this feels more wearable than either.

Intense can be too much, with the sweetness and feels cloying, at times. Red EDT can be too sharp with the citrus. EDP is a good balance between them.

If you liked either of those Polo Red’s, you’ll probably enjoy this. If you didn’t like any Polo Red scent, you almost certainly won’t like EDP.

I like the cranberry and ginger mix, up top, as it’s a common ginger ale blend that already works as a beverage…so why not a scent? It has a nice use of sage and a woods/lavender dry down, which tones down the level of sweetness.

Performance is pretty good, but not outstanding. Probably the biggest weakness here. I don’t know that this is going to win any new converts to Polo Red, but EDP is a solid release from Polo.

Not a must have for me, I like wearing it well enough, but it doesn’t completely grab me. Again, I’d still rather wear Extreme,