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!

Armani Si vs La Vie Est Belle Perfume Comparison

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Getting back into the women’s perfume space, I wanted to do a comparison post about two of the more popular fragrances on the market: Si by Armani vs. La Vie Est Belle by Lancome. Which of these two best-sellers smells the best? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape

La Vie Est Belle

Notes include: patchouli, vanilla, blackberry, iris, pear, tonka bean, praline, and more

Click here to try: Lancome La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7 Ounce

Read my Review: La Vie Est Belle

Si by Armani

Notes include: rose, vanilla, freesia, black currant, patchouli, amber, woods

Click here to try: Giorgio Armani Si Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce

Read my Review: Si Perfume

Opening

La Vie est Belle starts things off with its fruity elements. You get pear and blueberry in combination with one another. It can have a bit of a tart profile at first, but it’s very nice, and is followed by patchouli and iris.

Meanwhile, Si, opens up with also brings some tart fruitiness with black currant, that gets smoothed out by vanilla and rose. Actually, it takes on a sweet quality which sort of smells like peach, rather than the individual parts of the perfume. Patchouli also comes into the picture.

Which is better? Well, they’re both a mix of fruity and patchouli. I think that I prefer Si, out of the two. It doesn’t have the same tart or sour qualities, as does La Vie, and smells juicier to me.

Edge: Si

Projection

La Vie est Belle is a pretty darn strong perfume. The sillage is fairly large and if over-sprayed, it can overpower a room. You definitely get the performance with this one.

The Armani perfume, isn’t all that heavy, but not weak. It seems to be strictly moderate during the entirety of the wear, never really touching the same heights as La Vie.

Edge: La Vie

Longevity

When testing out Si, I could get it to last for 6-7 hours, on my skin. Not amazing, but quite good, for most purposes. The Lancome scent will go for at least 8 hours, but can often exceed 10. It’s the clear performance winner.

Edge: La Vie

Versatility

To me, these are both extremely versatile fragrances, which is why they are so popular as daily wears. Each can go to the office, out for casual events, and even serve as romantic wears. Neither of them, are built for summer, however. 

Cold weather to more temperate climates, are their sweet spot. There’s no noticeable difference in this category.

Edge: Push

 

 

Overall Scent

These two perfumes often get compared because they do occupy the same space. Not only that, there is overlap in the composition of each. As such, the head to head comparison is quite close.

La Vie Est Belle is a really great performer. The opening can be too much for some people, but it really settles down into a nice gourmand fragrance. There is the later inclusion of vanilla and praline, which flank the patchouli, and fruit notes perfectly. Not to mention, the iris powdery note. 

I happen to like SI by Armani, a bit better. Not by a huge margin, and no, the performance isn’t as good. However, I think the smell is better. It starts off with the juicy berry/fruitiness and then moves into something more floral and woody. 

For me, the rose and freesia, with amber and woods really create the distinction between these perfumes. Those notes coming in later, separates Si, and gives it the low key quality to make it a winner.

Winner: Si

John Varvatos for Men

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John Varvatos EDT was released over 15 years ago and has enjoyed plenty of popularity since then. In fact, it’s still in production, which can’t be said about many of its contemporaries.  However, is it actually a worthwhile cologne for men? What does it smell like? What are the notes? Does it even last for a long time?

What does John Varvatos Cologne Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, vanilla, amber, malt, dates, tamarind tree leaf, balsam, and more

Click here to try: John Varvatos for Men

My Full Wear Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how the brand describes this cologne: A bold, modern and sophisticated scent with a refined, masculine intrigue. 

John Varvatos for Men opens up with its leather note coming out in full force.  The leather is the strongest part of this fragrance, and is going to be a mainstay throughout. So, if that’s not your thing, look elsewhere.

Now, in the opening, the leather is joined by its spicier/woody notes. I get a nice dose of fir, oud, and what I guess is tamarind. I’m not really familiar with the scent of that wood.

Actually, when I spray this cologne on a t-shirt, it comes across as much spicier than on my skin. On the skin, it feels warmer and sweeter. The sweetness initially is from the dates and amber, but then, vanilla and a touch of caramel come into play.

Vartvatos for Men feels very smooth, dry, and always has that sweet finish. The spicy feeling fades away on my skin, about 15 minutes into the wear, and then it moves completely into its sweet phase.

I don’t want to make like it seem as if its a gourmand type of scent, it is not. You are mostly going to get leather, woods, and amber. About after an hour, the smell is about what it’s going to be for the rest of the wear.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Sillage wise, John Varvatos is a light to moderate wear. It starts off really solid, but then, it will be detectable from about 3-4 feet away. That is, unless you go heavier on the sprays.

Which, I absolutely would go heavier than usual with this fragrance.

How long will Varvatos last? Well, somewhere in the 4-7 hour range. If I double or triple up the sprays, I can hit the upper limit. Under most conditions, I would expect it to be in the 4-5 hour range.

It’s kind of got a wide number of potential outcomes versus a lot of other scents. It’s not the most consistent performer.

Is the performance good? Not particularly. It’s not absolutely terrible, but fairly mediocre. Which is disappointing, because the aroma is very enjoyable.

It’s still useful, if you happen to have a bottle, just not going to be an elite level wear.

Seasonally, I’d say that you can wear it anytime outside of summer. It’s not a great cologne to have on in the heat, but it is when the temperature drops off.

Versatility wise, it delivers a great smelling and masculine smell, that can be worn in a wide variety of situations. It’s mature enough to have on at the office, but has that edge to it, to be called ‘sexy’. I can wear this out for an evening or dressed more formally.

Overall Impressions of John Varvatos Cologne

Do I enjoy this fragrance? I do. I think that it smells really nice. I like a good leather fragrance and this is one with mass appeal. Beyond that, it uses notes like dates or balsam fir, which give it a unique profile versus your standard cologne.

The only real problem that I have with it, is the performance. Which, again, isn’t completely awful. If you can get a discount on a full bottle, that’s when I would recommend picking it up.

Full price? Probably not, just based on the performance. This one can for over $100 per bottle at full retail. I’d be trying for a pretty substantial price break if I wanted a bottle of Vintage.

The amber and leather are great here. I also really like the transition from dates to more of a vanilla finish. John Varvatos is a good fragrance that could’ve been great.

Layton by Parfums De Marly

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As a part of the dozens upon dozens of reviews that I have to write up over the coming while, many of them will be from the Parfums de Marly line of fragrances. Today, I am going to tackle one of the most popular colognes from this brand, Layton. How does Layton smell? Is it a good value? Does it actually perform or is it a complete dud? Continue below for my full take.

What does PdM Layton Smell Like?

Notes include: green apple, vanilla, sandalwood, cardamom, lavender, pepper, orange, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Parfums de Marly Parfums de Marly Layton – 4.2 Ounce edp spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Layton is a crisp blend of apple and bergamot. It is a very green and tart apple aroma with just that touch of citrus provided by the bergamot.

I think that the apple note in here smells pretty darn realistic and not like some artificial Jolly Rancher candy, as it has the right amount of juiciness.

Underlying that is a smooth and fairly creamy combo of vanilla and sandalwood. This is of course a very familiar aroma for most folks and I think that it works well to offset the tart green apple.

As Layton dries down, the vanilla and apple, become more of a duo and the sandalwood plays a smaller role.

There is also the matter of the cardamom and pepper, which take the crisp fruit scent, and give it a lively spice. Now, the spice isn’t super powerful but it is quite dynamic and alluring.

It is a very well blended mix of fruit sweetness and spicy notes. Due to its composition it gets compared to Boss Bottled a lot.

I can see the similarities but Layton is much better, in my opinion. It has a richer smell and performs for ages. I don’t think that the two fragrances are really in competition as the green apple/vanilla combo is in plenty of colognes. Hell, even ultra inexpensive, Playboy New York has its own take (and no it’s not even close to Layton or Boss Bottled).

Sillage, How Long Does It Last?, Versatility

Performance wise, Layton definitely delivers. That’s one of the positives about Parfums de Marly, they usually aren’t weak scents. Can it be overpowering? Yes, over-spraying it. 2-3 seems to do the job, and keep it on the lighter side of things if wearing at work.

Also, this a longevity champ. Layton lasts 10+ hours on my skin. I’m not sure the exact number because I lose track after that. Update: Coming back to Layton, a few more time, and it seems to hit above 12 hours, pretty easily.

In the summer months, it might not hit the same level in the heat, but in the cold to moderate temperatures there’s no issue.

Layton is also kind of a ubiquitous cologne. It has a blend that could work well in just about any season or situation. Hot to cold or work to date…except the heat of a peak summer day. I could still wear it during summer evenings, but would hold off when the sun’s out.

Plus, while it does lean toward the masculine end of the spectrum, Layton is still a unisex type of fragrance. It is quite an attractive fragrance, with a classy and well put together feeling. I would wear it more casually or semi-formally, but it really isn’t limited.

Overall Impressions of Layton

Overall, would I recommend Layton? Yes, it’s a really great scent. It smells good, it performs well, and it is versatile. It is pricey but it outperforms many of its peers at this cost point.

Some people may not dig the green apple note, but I have found that it definitely has a draw for most folks.

It’s sweet and warm, but never seems cheap, or too candy-like.  The secondary layer of spice and sandalwood, really holds Layton together, and makes it a fantastic experience to wear. This scent is one of my favorites, if not my favorite, from the Parfums de Marly line.

Noir de Noir by Tom Ford

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For this edition of my fragrance reviews, I have another entry from the Tom Ford Private Blend lineup, Noir de Noir. The scent is one of the more popular perfumes offered by the brand, but does it actually smell any good? How does this black of black perform? Is it even worth a try? I’ve been testing it out for a while and here are my results.

What does Noir de Noir Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, oud, patchouli, black truffle, tree moss

Click here to try: Tom Ford Private Blend Noir De Noir Eau De Parfum Spray Edp 3.4 Fl / 100 Ml

My Full Wear Review

I’m not too much of a fan of rose, as a note in fragrances. Especially, rose dominated scents, they usually never really strike a chord with me; even if I don’t hate the way it smells. So, Noir de Noir shouldn’t be a perfume that I enjoy, but I actually do.

When I saw that oud and patchouli were added to rose, I had the preconception that it was going to smell exactly like, every other Middle Eastern inspired fragrance out there, with a huge rose and overpowering spice. What I got from this Tom Ford scent, was quite different.

Noir de Noir does indeed open up with a familiar aroma of rose, however, it seems sweeter, while at the same time dirtier than other rose scents. But this is what makes it such a good smell.

It is paired with patchouli at the start and this provides an earthy spice, that not super intense but allows the scent to be dark and not just another in your face rose.

The oud sits at the base, along with the slight mossy element in here. However, the key here in my opinion, is the black truffle and vanilla. I didn’t see vanilla listed as a note, but I get that sweet creaminess peaking through during the dry down.

This is when Noir de Noir is at its absolute best. I love the balance here, one minute it is rosy and floral, the next dirty and spicy, and then it is sweet. All wrapped up in a dark and enveloping warmth. The oud is the sturdy heart of the perfume, but it stays out of the way, and isn’t super overt.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection wise, I don’t find the sillage of Noir de Noir to be all that powerful. It isn’t weak, but it didn’t make me recoil when applying it. It’ll stay in a nice little 3-4 foot radius of you during the wear and you will catch nice whiffs of it throughout.

It also stayed on my skin for about 9 hours or so. Wasn’t insane, with the longevity, but it is certainly very good. On a colder day, the performance does stand out. The longevity is good, but what’s impressive is how it sticks around with a good amount of power.

This is a unisex scent, maybe leaning more towards a woman’s fragrance, but it doesn’t really seem as wholly feminine. Noir de Noir works fantastically on me, as a man, so I wouldn’t worry about seeming too girly with it.

Either way, I liked wearing it in the cold weather recently, and don’t think that it would be too successful for anyone in the summertime. It’s a bit too rich for any time with too much humidity or heat.

Noir de Noir is a sophisticated scent, as such, I probably wouldn’t wear it casually. This is more of something to wear on an evening out, whether that is in a suit or a dress. Anything with a bit of style to it. It is sexy in its own way, not super seductive, but inviting and intriguing.

Overall Impressions of Noir de Noir

Overall, do I like Noir de Noir by Tom Ford? Yes, if you couldn’t tell. I think that it is a highly enjoyable fragrance, that captures a lot of different moods, aromas, and skirts the line of masculine and feminine.

It successfully managed to take notes that aren’t usually my favorites and make me enjoy wearing it. This is a wonderful piece of the Private Blend collection.

The truffle is a fantastic addition, getting paired with the more commonplace vanilla note. They sweeten and calm, what would otherwise be quite an intensely earthy sort of perfume.

Nonetheless, it ultimately is an earthy experience. The rose note is surprisingly good, when paired with patchouli. It comes together as a very dark, warm, sweet, and powerful wear. Noir de Noir is a fragrance, I wouldn’t have expected to enjoy, but really did, in the end.

Luna Rossa Carbon by Prada

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In this review, I have one of the flanker fragrances from Prada’s Luna Rossa line, named: Carbon. In this post, I am going to relay my thoughts about this particular cologne after wearing around. How does it smell? How does it perform? When should it be worn? Is it even worth a purchase?

What does Luna Rossa Carbon Smell Like?

Notes include: lavender, ambroxan, metallic notes, pepper, patchouli, coal, bergamot

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

My Full Wear Review

All right, so, Luna Rossa Carbon gets compared a lot to Sauvage by Dior. While I get, the comparison, and there are a lot of similarities…the two are still distinct from one another. I’ll do a whole break down in another post, but for now, I just want to focus on Carbon. (Carbon vs. Sauvage)

The opening of Luna Rossa Carbon features that Sauvage-like ambroxan, pepper, bergamot, and lavender. I suppose there is a slight metallic note to the opening, but nothing like that found in something such as Hugo Red.

The bergamot strikes me as the strongest top note at first, but it fades into the background within 5 minutes. Though, it does provide a nice citrus support throughout.

I really do like the citrus and the way that it plays off of the pepper and the metallic. The mix is just better for me, than it is in Sauvage.

After the initial wave, I get the feeling of an earthy kind of soap or shaving cream. The lavender note is the main attraction here and it really starts to show up as the fragrance moves along in its life cycle.

If you’re someone who really enjoys the smells of lavender, this cologne is probably as good as it gets. At least, in a mainstream fragrance, that doesn’t extract that note in isolation.

Luna Rossa Carbon is pretty linear throughout the wear but not entirely. The lavender is a constant but different notes sort of dance around in the background of it.

At times, I get a breakthrough of patchouli. Then, more ambroxan. Then, the pepper. There is also times when it becomes difficult to distinguish between the ingredients and it does produce an aroma that brings to mind a metal…like carbon.

That coal/metallic note is kind of a weird addition, but it isn’t that heavy, and actually feels like it’s a solid fit within the composition.

Sillage, How Long Does it Last, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s not crazy loud, but it performs well. I’d say on the upper end of moderate. With a few sprays, you’ll be fine. It can be strong in the first 30 minutes or so, as such, you may need to give it a bit of time to settle if you’re really putting on the sprays.

While Luna Rossa Carbon, is not a projection beast, it does sit on my skin for a long, long time. I catch whiffs into the evening after an early morning application.

Depending on the circumstances, I’d say in the 7-11 hour range. That’s after I’ve been coming back to it, over the past few years. Very nice performance, not crazy, but solid all around.

What I really like about Carbon, is just how versatile it is. It is understated enough to be safe for work or casual wear. It’s mature enough for formal wear.

Plus, it is really damn attractive or even sexy enough to wear on nights out at the club. Also, it doesn’t feel restricted to any particular season for me. Personally, I have enjoyed wearing it in more moderate or warmer temperatures. That’s when Carbon feels like it is at its best.

Overall Impression of Luna Rossa Carbon

Overall, do I recommend Carbon? Yes, it’s quite nice. I’m not sure how much of a spot it’ll have in my personal rotation, as I’m not always in the mood to smell lavender. However, it does everything very well, and still manages to be an attractive cologne.

I’ve got a whole mini sprayer, so, I’ll probably be spending plenty of time with it, in the future. Update: Carbon has become one that I now wear sporadically, but I’ve come to enjoy it more and more.

It’s still not a favorite of mine, but it does have strengths that I appreciate. I like the metallic edge, the citrus opening, and the lavender now feels fresher to my nose. To me, it’s better than Sauvage EDT, and a great easy wear especially in spring or summertime.