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!

Olympea Intense by Paco Rabanne

by

I’m still making my way through a ton of sample fragrance write ups and reviews over the next month or so. Mostly, I have women’s scents left in the box, so stay tuned. Today’s entry is one from Paco Rabanne, Olympea Intense. This is a flanker perfume to the original Olympea.

How does it smell? Perform? Is it worth a purchase? Read below for my full wear thoughts and review.

What does Olympea Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: amber, vanilla, salt, orange blossom, and white pepper

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Olympea Intense Eau De Parfum Spray 80ml/2.7oz

My Full Review

Before I begin my personal review of this fragrance, let’s see how they describe Olympea Intense in the sample vial’s card, A salty-vanilla amber accord. Carnal and charming. With a heart of orange blossom pulsating to white pepper. Flowers bloom and tumble into a salty-vanilla and white ethereal amber base. Unexpected. Illicit. Captivating.

So upon spraying, I immediately detect the salt and the vanilla notes. Olympea Intense really does have a saltwater toffee vibe to it, an aroma that hangs in the warm summer air. The orange blossom also comes out quite well from the start and indeed throughout the entire life cycle.

It’s a familiar floral and one of the floral notes that I enjoy most in fragrances. Orange blossom fits in perfectly to that salty vanilla mix and feels like it is soaked in the amber note.

The amber, of course, is the other highlight of this composition. It gives this Paco Rabanne perfume, a thick warmth, which envelopes the wearer and acts as the glue to keep everything together.

Olympea Intense is a fairly straightforward and simple fragrance. Vanilla is the main attraction and it is paired with the salt to create something that feels like it has a dash of sea air to it. All of this is coated with a very compelling amber note and an orange blossom to offset it from becoming strictly a vanilla perfume.

This one reminds me of some other fragrances such as BonBon and Black Opium and perhaps a few others (Prada Candy, maybe?).

It has that same vanilla, citrus sort of smell with a candy-like aroma (toffee in this case versus caramel in others). None are exactly the same, but they have a similar profile.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Olympea Intense actually lives up to the name and has a strong sillage. Trust me, you won’t have to spray very much of this stuff in order to get it to perform.

It is also an all-day wear and lasted over 10 hours on my skin, without any problem. So, you’re going to get your money’s worth. Paco Rabanne fragrances are usually great performers and this one is no exception.

Seasonally, it is built for colder weather and really shines there. However, it would be fine in moderate temperatures, as well. The high heat of summer? Maybe, but I have a feeling it’d fall apart.

Olympea Intense could be an everyday wear, but I think it’s best used casually, romantically, or for a night out. I think that it is quite attractive and sexy, it’s a perfume that draws people in. I probably wouldn’t go with this for more formal occasions.

Overall Impressions of Olympea Intense

Overall, do I like Olympea Intense by Paco Rabanne? Yes, I think that it is a great option for the colder months of the year. It isn’t a super complex perfume, but it has great performance, and bang for your buck.

If you’re a fan of vanilla and amber, this is definitely one to check out, and should be a crowd pleaser. It’s right along the same lines as several other popular fragrances, so, it’s not the most unique perfume out there.

Though, it separates itself enough to stand on its own merits. Olympea Intense can be a great little pick up, that not too many other people will have.

Azzaro Wanted vs Wanted by Night

by

Azzaro really struck upon a hit with its release of Wanted. It followed up in 2018, with its flanker scent, Wanted by Night. As such, a lot of people now have a dilemma about which of these fragrances they should buy, the original or the flanker? In this post, I’m going to break down each and compare them by category, before declaring an overall winner.

Tale of the Tape: Wanted vs. Wanted by Night

Wanted by Azzaro

Notes include: tonka bean, lemon, cardamom, vetiver, juniper, ginger, geranium, mint, amber wood

Click here to try: Azzaro Wanted Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my original Review: Wanted Review

Wanted by Night

Notes include: cumin, cinnamon, lavender, tobacco, lemon, orange, cedar, cypress, patchouli, fruits

Click here to try: Azzaro Wanted by Night Eau de Parfum for Men – Mens Cologne

Read my full review: Wanted by Night

Opening

The original Wanted starts things off with a prominent lemon note heading things up. It’s actually got a pretty similar smell to Invictus versus being a sharp and intense sort of lemon. Then, the next few minutes start to ramp up the warm and spicy cardamom, along with the creamy tonka bean note.

Meanwhile, Wanted by Night, plays down its own citrus and fruity notes. They are present, but take a back seat to the spices, particularly cinnamon and cumin. The start closely resembles Ultra Male by JPG, just stripped of the pear note, and the original Wanted.

Along with the cinnamon and cumin, is a nice tobacco note and some benzoin.

Which is better? I’ve always thought that Wanted was decent but not amazing at the start. Wanted by Night, is the better of the two in my opinion. It retains some sweetness, but the cinnamon spice and tobacco notes really set it apart.

Edge: Wanted by Night

Sillage

Which of these two is stronger? Both of these start out pretty powerful and can project themselves well. After that, each settles down to a more moderate scent, while still being above average when compared to other colognes.

I’ve worn both of these plenty and don’t really notice a clear cut winner, in this category, it’s about even.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Again, the performance for me is about the same. Both of these gives me 7-9 hours of wear, on my skin. Neither is elite, but they are quite good and can give you the full work day equivalent. They are similar scents, so, this is not to be unexpected.

Versatility

Seasonally, I think is where Wanted gets the edge. It can venture much more easily into the warmth of spring and when it’s not insanely hot out during the summer. Meanwhile, Wanted by Night is more confined to the autumn and winter months.

Both would be geared a bit more toward casual wear and nightlife. I don’t consider either to be formal or more of an office scent. Wanted by Night is a bit more mature, but still has a youthful vibe.

Edge: Wanted

Overall Scent

Wanted was always a pretty good cologne to me, but I never felt blown away by it. Its similarities to Invictus at the start, wasn’t a selling point to me. However, the dry down is much nicer with the apple and juniper notes.

However, Wanted by Night is just better to me. I like how it starts, I like the spiciness, and since it resembles much of what you get from Wanted in the latter stages…it makes more sense to pick up. I like the darker qualities while having enough sweetness to avoid being a spicy mess.

I like both, not in love with either, but I’d rather wear Wanted by Night. I mean, I have been wearing Night over the past few weeks, fairly regularly and that’s never been the case with Wanted.

Winner: Wanted by Night

Invictus Legend EDP by Paco Rabanne

by

Popular fragrances today, get a seemingly endless line of flanker fragrances released, in their wake. Invictus by Paco Rabanne, is one such scent, that has spawned a bunch of follow-ups to the original formula.

Here in 2019, the brand has released, Invictus Legend eau de parfum. This is the latest entry into the Invictus lineup, but how does it actually fare? What does Legend smell like? How does it perform? Is it even worth a buy?

What Does Invictus Legend Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, amber, geranium, metal, mead accord, guaiac wood, laurel, sea salt, bay leaf

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Invictus Legend eau de parfum for men 3.4 Fl Oz

My Full Wear Review

Before we get into my thoughts on this fragrance, let’s see how Paco Rabanne describes it: The ultimate hero, made for glory. Burning like desert heat, Invictus triumphs effortlessly and speeds towards glory. Invictus Legend: A blazing duel, two forces clash. Fresh adrenaline rides a whirlwind of hot woods: a fragrance with power. Thrilling like victory.

The fact that there are so many Invictus flankers, immediately made me want to compare Legend, to one of the others in this line. Yes, they all have commonalities, but Legend immediately brought to mind Invictus Intense.

I have a mini bottle of Intense and wear it on a fairly regular basis. Both of them really share the amber note, but Legend ultimately is both, more aquatic and fruity than Intense. Your personal taste, will determine, which one you should get.

Invictus Legend opens up with a fresh and sweet blend of grapefruit, marine notes, and amber. It’s a sweet citrus vibe, with a salty/warm oceanic aroma. It is quite bold, at the top, and has a solid dose of that famous Invictus citrus candy/bubblegum sort of smell.

A bit further into the wear, some spiciness is brought into the picture, but all of the notes have a fresh edge.

For a little while, I pick up a good deal of geranium, and a very light metallic note. It’s sort of like that metallic scent found in Azzaro Chrome, though, these are two very different fragrances.

Next, there is the bay leaf, which seems to gain in strength as the grapefruit subsides some. At this point, Legend is an ambery aquatic with spicy/woody undertones.

Finally, we get to the base, and the amber has fully taken over. It is joined by guaiac wood and it starts to feel more like the original Invictus. Not the same, mind you, but they are similar in the latter stage. Invictus Legend, is more of a salty aquatic, but the rest is strikingly similar.

Sillage, How Long Does Legend Last, and When Should it Be Worn?

Invictus Legend is a very strong cologne, especially, at the start. The sillage is huge and can easily fill a room. That can be a good thing, as you will only need a few sprays. However, it does calm down a bit, and isn’t as ‘in your face’ later on.

The longevity is great, as well, seems to hit that 8-10 range pretty consistently. It doesn’t seem to go beyond that, but it really doesn’t need to. Performance is definitely not an issue, with Legend.

I really liked this one in the summer heat. To me, this is a better summer option for Invictus fans, even more so than Aqua (which is decent), as it really highlights both the sweet and oceanic notes.

Though, this would be fine to wear, during the rest of the year, as well. I would say that this skews toward the under-30 demographic and it should become quite popular with that set.

I like Legend, more as a nightlife scent, as it is bold and very attractive. If you’re going to wear it during the day, just go easy on the sprays, because it can be a beast.

Overall Impressions

Do I enjoy Invictus Legend, overall? I do. As I said, Invictus Intense, is my favorite of the lineup and this one has a lot of similarities. Legend isn’t as spicy, but features a grapefruit and oceanic element, that mixes with that shared red amber note.

It’s like Invictus Intense for the summer months. Legend might be better, but I’m not sure yet, as I still need more time with it.

If you like the Invictus line already, you should definitely check this one out. If you also like Intense, you might not need this, depending on how much of a beach-vibe you want with your fragrance.

Also, if you’re a guy who wants a very versatile scent with a sweet/fresh profile, Legend could do the trick.

I’m not sure people who don’t like any of the Invictus’ colognes will enjoy this, as it shares plenty of similar DNA. I like it a lot and I think that this one is going to be a fragrance, with a pretty broad base of support.

Wanted by Night Azzaro

by

While I liked the original Wanted by Azzaro, it was never a total must have for me. I could enjoy wearing it, but was never quite drawn to do so outside of testing for this site. So, trying its flanker Wanted by Night has never been a major priority. Nonetheless, I recently grabbed a smaller size in order to give it a go, and post my full review here.

What does Wanted by Night Smell Like?

Notes include: cumin, cinnamon, lavender, tobacco, lemon, orange, cedar, cypress, patchouli, fruits

Click here to try: Azzaro Wanted by Night Eau de Parfum for Men – Mens Cologne

My Full Review

With my initial spraying of Wanted by Night, I immediately get the similarities with the original Wanted. However, I also get a major reminder of Ultra Male by JPG. Like, if you stripped Ultra Male of the prominent pear and mint notes and combined it with Wanted. Then, you heightened certain notes.

Here are the overlapping notes between Ultra Male and Wanted by Night: lemon, lavender, vanilla, cedar, cinnamon, and patchouli. The early use of lemon and cinnamon are most noticeable to me. Not as sweet or vanilla based as Ultra Male, but, plenty of similarity.

The opening here, while it still has fruity elements, is played way down when compared to the original Wanted. With that, I get a much bigger dose of that lemon note. Here, it is more about the cinnamon and cumin spice, with the added tobacco note making itself known early on. 

That spice is paired with a moderate benzoin note. Benzoin can come across a somewhat medicinal, which is present here for a short time period. 

Wanted by Night opens with the fruity notes and cinnamon being the main factors and the other aforementioned ingredients playing a support role. As it moves along, the fruits fade more, and the woods and tobacco come out in a greater significance. 

Once it hits this stage, this cologne has pretty much revealed itself fully. Cinnamon, cedar, tobacco, incense, and benzoin. All wrapped together with a hint of sweetness and a closer resemblance to the original versus how it begins. 

Wanted by Night is spicier and has a darker profile when compared to the original. Which, is either a plus or minus, depending on your own tastes. The lavender here is also a lot less noticeable for me.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

For me, Wanted by Night starts off strong but not overwhelming. Then, I would say it remains above average with its sillage for most of the wear, before it fades away. Good ability to project but not an absolute monster, on my skin.

Longevity is also good, just not elite. It seems to stay in the 7-9 hour range, every time that I have worn it thus far. That’s enough for almost every situation, that I’d want to wear this one in, so no real complaints.

 

 

Seasonally, it is best for the cold of autumn or winter. Though, it isn’t terrible in more moderate temperatures, just avoid for the summertime. 

The name is Wanted by Night, and yes, it is much more of a nightlife wear. Does it feel less youthful than Wanted? Yep, but it isn’t a ‘mature’ scent, and not really one to wear to the office.

Mainly, casual or nighttime social situations. Best worn by younger guys, maybe through early 30s, as it really doesn’t come across as super high quality. 

Overall Impressions of Wanted by Night

Do I like this scent? Yes, I think that it’s a nice wear. I enjoy it more than Wanted, but it’s still not a love for me. Out of the 8 to 10 recent sample fragrances that I’ve picked up, this would probably occupy the 4th or 5th spot.

If you like Ultra Male, Wanted, Stronger with You, or Spicebomb Extreme…this should be one you’d probably like. However, it could also be completely redundant if you have any of those. Personally, I’d go with the Spicebomb or Ultra Male before this.

Overall, this is a very good effort by Azzaro. Not amazing by any stretch, though, it’s a fragrance that is very wearable. Good performance and usually not too expensive. 

Bvlgari Aqua Pour Homme

by

I’ve had this review idea sitting in my drafts folder for a couple of years now. I entirely forgot to review Bvlgari Aqva, way back then, and have overlooked it ever since. So, here I am to remedy that oversight, armed with another mini bottle of this Bvlgari aquatic fragrance.

This one was released in 2005.

How does it stack up? What does it smell like? Does it last long? Please continue reading below for my full take of Aqva. Note: I have updated this post, a few years later, to add some further depth and experience with it.

What does Bvlgari Aqua Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, seaweed, cedar, orange, lavender, petitgrain

Click here to try Aqva: Aqua By Bvlgari Eau De Toilette Spray For Men 3.4 oz

My Full Wear Review

It doesn’t get much more ‘aquatic’ than a scent whose main note is seaweed. Yes, that green stuff at the bottom of the ocean, gives Bvlgari Aqua a very interesting aroma which helps sets it apart from the crowd.

The opening blends this seaweed note with cedar and both types of orange to create something that is familiar with its citrus content while still remaining fresh and unique.

I like the citrus notes in the opening, but their strength is short-lived. They do still stick around, just not with the same intensity. 

This opening lasts about 10 minutes or so and then Aqva changes course. It becomes more oceanic and salty, with a bit of smoothness from the lavender note. This is when this fragrance really shines as an aquatic, as you will pick up on that watery sea vibe.

Also, Aqva begins to hang much closer to the skin, and you won’t detect it for a few minutes and then it’ll hit your nose again. It’s kind of a weird experience.

It is interesting, how Aqva goes from being a clean and upbeat citrus blend, to something darker and deeper. Closely emulating the sea itself. Is it a naturalistic sea blend of notes? Not really, you can tell that it’s manufactured. However, it is a very good simulation. 

 

What I’m finally left with is seaweed, soaking in the ocean, with hints of lavender and cedar that has become driftwood. Salty and a bit of fresh spice from the latent sage note. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts off pretty strong and as I wrote, it turns more into a skin scent that can be sneaky strong. I guess I could say that it’s fairly moderate, when you don’t notice it but other’s in your general vicinity will.

Longevity wise, it’s okay, and not something that lasts more than 5 hours or so.

I’ve had a mini bottle of this for ages, now. On my skin, that 4-5 hour range, is a hard limit. It does have that light watery sillage, but this one isn’t ever going to be an all day wear. More like, something you throw on during a warm day, knowing it will fade into the evening.

When to wear? Summertime, of course. This is a casual scent that is built for the summer months. I wouldn’t be wearing it to the office or while dressed up but at the beach or at a laid back bar at night, this would be good stuff to have on.

This is straight coastal and island life in a bottle.

Keep it casual. Aqva isn’t going to be a date night scent and the sea notes, really don’t put out a formal vibe, in the slightest. For a fairly popular fragrance, it uses are pretty limited.

This shouldn’t be the only cologne on your list of potential buys, if you don’t have anything else to use, for the rest of the time. 

Overall Impression of Bvlgari Aqva Pour Homme

Overall, do I like Aqua? Yes, it’s kind of a niche fragrance in terms of its use, but has a wide appeal in terms of its smell.

This is a unique scent by Bvlgari (before they released all of the flanker versions), the seaweed and oceanic aroma give it a defined spot to wear on the calendar, and it is a great wear from the aquatic category.

It doesn’t have amazing longevity but it is decent for what it is. If aquatics/oceanic scents aren’t your thing, skip this one. Otherwise, you might do well to check Bvlgari Aqva out. I’m still not a huge fan of the sea weed note, but it’s not horribly offensive, in this version.

Some of the other Aqva scents, go seriously heavy into the oceanic side of things, but this is more moderate.

Bvlgari Aqva gives you a nice citrus fruitiness with the refreshing notes of the sea, along with woody undertones. It’s not the most outstanding thing on the market, but it can have it uses for the right kind of guy.