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!

Noir EDP by Tom Ford

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I have been doing a lot of different reviews of other companies’ fragrances as of late, but I am indeed still working my way through a bunch of Tom Ford scents, and today will cover the popular Noir eau de parfum.

This one was released in 2012 for the men’s lineup. How does it smell? What are the notes involved? Please continue below for my full take after wearing Tom Ford Noir for Men.

What does Noir Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: iris, patchouli, amber, pink pepper, nutmeg, black pepper, civet, vanilla, vetiver, bergamot, rose, violet, and more

Click here to try: Tom Ford Noir for Men Eau de Parfum Spray 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Tom Ford Noir is known to be a scent that can be hit or miss for a lot of people. I think a lot of that has to do with the opening of this fragrance and how polarizing it can be. It opens with a lot of patchouli and a good deal of pepper.

As such, that can turn off a lot of people, and honestly it’s my least favorite part of this one. It’s pretty strong and has a certain dirty quality to the aroma, plus, an animalistic aspect provided by the civet.

So, with patchouli, pepper, and civet being prominent in the opening; it is no wonder why this can scare a lot of folks off from wanting to wear it. Beyond those notes however, Noir also gets quite floral, the more it wears on the skin.

The most noticeable is definitely the violet at first, although, there is also rose and iris lurking around as well (iris later takes over). Noir becomes quite powdery and has a tinge of sweetness from bergamot and vanilla.

With a name like Noir, is this a ‘dark’ sort of fragrance? Yes, for something this floral, it does have plenty of warmth, spice, and a resinous ‘thickness’ throughout its life cycle.

So, while it is floral, it still has an earthiness that many of the modern clean colognes just don’t. Noir is pretty old school in that way.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Noir really bombs out a room at first. One or two sprays is huge and the sillage can make it across the room without issue. Now, it does calm down, and turn into something that is on the upper end of the moderate spectrum.

It just hits really hard at first. It’s not one that I’d go crazy with the sprays. The longevity is also very good and seems to be able to hit double digit hours fairly easily.

When testing it, Noir seemed to hang around for 11-12 hours. Though, I tend to lose track of fragrances, once they get past that point. So, it could’ve kept going.

Seasonally, this is for the autumn and winter months. I wouldn’t want to wear this in heat, so, if you’re in a warm and humid climate it might not be the best bet. Even if it is pretty popular, Noir always strikes me as something that is more niche.

It’s not going to be a crowd pleaser. It is best served to be worn in a more formal setting or at least in finer clothing.

Is it sexy? It could be considered that, but not really overall. It is mature, powdery, resinous, with spices. So, even if it does have good performance, I wouldn’t be using it as a nightclub scent. Also, probably not the best for younger guys.

Overall Impressions of Noir by Tom Ford

Overall, do I like Noir? Personally, it’s not my favorite, but I appreciate it. This is one that just doesn’t fit my style but I can understand why some people love it so much. Then again, I also understand the hate some people have for it.

Not a universally beloved cologne by any stretch. However, it is an interesting throwback fragrance, that hits the beats that it is aiming for perfectly. Strong, long lasting, and develops a barbershop clean with its own twist. Best to give it a whirl, before buying a full bottle.

These aren’t really all the same fragrances or even quite similar variations. But: Noir de Noir, Noir Extreme, and Noir Extreme Parfum are better than this one.

Luna Rossa Eau Sport by Prada

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Luna Rossa has been an absolutely great lineup of fragrances from Prada. I haven’t come across one, that I haven’t at least liked a little, and some which I enjoy a lot.

That being the case, I was excited to try one that I have overlooked to this point in time: Luna Rossa Eau Sport.

It was released in 2016 and in many ways has flown under the radar. Please continue below for my full take on this Prada scent.

What does Luna Rossa Eau Sport Smell Like?

Notes include: ginger, citron, bergamot, lavender, cedar, amber

Click here to try: Prada Luna Rossa Eau Sport Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 2.5 Ounce

My Full Review

While Eau Sport, shares the sport name, it isn’t at all like Luna Rossa Sport. Out of the collection, it is much closer to the original Luna Rossa. Though, it is even closer to Dior Homme Sport (2012).

For me, this is fantastic news, as I’ve been wanting a replacement for that now discontinued version of Dior. Eau Sport opens up with its blast of citrus notes, ginger, and that great Luna Rossa lavender note, that is pretty ubiquitous throughout the lineup.

It feels so fresh and lively from the start. The ginger note with the citrus is really what gives this one its close resemblance to Dior Sport, but that one uses iris instead of lavender. It doesn’t come across as sharp or heavy, just a clean and upbeat wear, with that nice edge of spice.

This initial phase lasts for an hour or so on my skin, before it begins to shift somewhat. The ginger note fades, lavender grows stronger, and the base notes begin to emerge. Mostly, I pick up amber, but there is a fresh little bit of cedar peaking through.

That’s about what you’ll get from Luna Rossa Eau Sport, a very simple yet very well put together presentation. Extremely pleasant and attractive.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

On my skin, this comes across as a lighter moderate. I’ve read that some people have said it is super weak, but that’s not the case for me. Not a powerhouse, but I catch whiffs of it throughout its entirety. 

It’s really not a problem because that is what this fragrance is supposed to be. Lighter and captivating.

The longevity is also pretty good for me. It has hung around for 6-7 hours, during my tests of this cologne. Again, not spectacular, but fairly well done for what this is used for.

Seasonally, spring and summertime. I think this is absolutely going to be a go to summertime fragrance for me. I might track down a smaller bottle of the old Dior Sport and get a full bottle of this, to switch between that iris and the lavender.

Is it versatile? Yes, while it seems best in spring or summer, I have really enjoyed it here in January. Beyond that, it can be worn casually, at work, on a date, etc. It is a very likeable fragrance and most people would certainly like it. 

Eau Sport isn’t a club banger. So, if you want a loud and bold nightlife fragrance, this isn’t the one.

Overall Impressions of Luna Rossa Eau Sport

Do I like this one? I love it. Out of the recent samples that I’ve gotten over the past few months, this is my favorite. When I haven’t been testing out new scents, I’ve been either wearing this or Y EDP, 90% of the time.

If you want an elegant and great smelling summertime scent, this is a fantastic option from Prada, and has quickly moved among my top picks from the brand.

The performance is pretty good for me, just don’t expect an elite level of wear or some super heavy cologne. 

Maritime Journey by Tommy Bahama

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Maritime Journey is a part of the recent Maritime collection of fragrances by Tommy Bahama. It was released in 2019. I actually got to try this once a few months ago and recently grabbed a sample sprayer, in order to give it a thorough chance. In this post, I’ll cover how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if it’s worth a try.

What does Maritime Journey Smell Like?

Notes include: cardamom, apple, lavender, moss, coriander, orchid, cedar, violet

Click here to try: Tommy Bahama Maritime Journey for Him, 4.2 Fl Oz 

My Full Wear Review

I’ve got a bunch of samples that I’m working my way through and oftentimes these scents can smell quite a bit similar. When I sprayed Maritime Journey, I noticed that it has some similarities to Eternity Air by Calvin Klein, that I had tried out the previous day.

Checking the notes: apple, violet, and lavender are present in both. What’s funny is that, this Tommy Bahama isn’t the oceanic scent (despite the name), but Eternity Air features sea water and seaweed as notes.

The initial spray nets me a big dose of crisp and juicy apple, violet, coriander, and lavender. As the fragrance’s tagline suggests, it’s: A fresh aromatic scent for every adventure.

Yes, it does indeed come across as very fresh, with a distinct coolness to the aroma.

As Maritime Journey, moves along its development, I start to get way less of the coriander note and get way more: moss, cardamom, and cedar.

It feels less juicy and aromatic, turning drier and quite woodsy/earthy. The violet note is also fading, but it hangs around enough to further that outdoorsy vibe. Still, that dose of apple and lavender keeps it feeling fresh with some sweet highlights.

The last few hours of wear are more about the moss and woods, with the remaining cardamom, giving it a bit of a light spice.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, Maritime Journey isn’t very strong. For much of the wear it is noticeable, but moderate, and then it becomes fairly light. It’s not a complete skin scent on me, though, it is pretty subtle.

The longevity is okay. Much like the rest of the Tommy Bahama collection, this one won’t blow the doors off with its performance. 5-6.5 hours it seems to hang around. Not terrible, depending on how much you paid for it, but not great.

 

This light freshy cologne would work best in springtime, in my opinion. However, it is January now when I’m testing it out, and it feels fine.

The woods and moss make it work perfectly fine in the cooler weather, but it is light enough to venture into the heat. Though, it’s not a traditional summer scent.

I would mostly wear this one as a casual daily wear sort of fragrance. You could wear it to work or semi-formal occasions. Maritime Journey isn’t a nightlife or romantic wear, however. It’s fresh and clean, but not really sexy. 

Overall Impressions of Maritime Journey

Do I like Martime Journey? I do. I think it’s among the best that Tommy Bahama has to offer, it’s just not amazing to me. This is a cologne that I can spray on, smell relatively good, but not necessarily grab any attention. Very low key, but gives a nice enough wear.

The sillage is light and the longevity is just okay. I wouldn’t pay full price for a bottle, but when this gets discounted it could be a nice pickup for a guy who enjoys this style of cologne.

This is a like, but not a love for me. I will probably finish out the sample over time, even if it’s not a must have for me personally. 

Dolce Floral Drops by D&G

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In today’s review, we have another fragrance from Dolce & Gabbana, from their Dolce line: Floral Drops. This one was released in 2015 as a flanker to the original Dolce perfume. So, how does this one smell? What are the ingredients? How does it perform? Is it actually worth a purchase?

What does Floral Drops by D&G Smell Like?

Notes include: peach, apple, daffodil, water lily, neroli, papaya flower, musk, sandalwood, cashmere

Click here to try: DOLCE GABBANA Floral Drops Eau de Toilette Spray for Women, 2.5 Fluid Ounce

Full Review

Floral Drops opens with a very crisp and watery aroma. It’s certainly the green apple in the top note, but the peach is also present. The peach is light but adds that sweet familiar smell. The fruit here, is a nice mix of floral and the actual fruit.

So, you get apple but also neroli and papaya flower, as well. It’s all sort of citrus and vaguely tropical. It’s sweet, summery, but not a sickening candy-like scent.

After the initial top notes, the white flowers move in to the dominant position. I can definitely smell the water lily in here and what I suppose is the daffodil, though, that isn’t a scent that I have a distinct memory of.

It’s all sort of blended together into more of a singular floral scent, rather than stand alone and distinct floral notes.

At its base, Dolce Floral Drops has a very small amount of musk and some woodiness provided by cashmere and sandalwood.

None of these notes come through all that strongly. In the end, it is juicy/watery, floral, and greenish. I do enjoy the almost aquatic aroma, that this one develops, as it moves along. Very nice.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, Versatility

Projection wise, Floral Drops has a light sillage. It’s an airy sort of perfume and isn’t going to overpower a room. That being said, I did notice it plenty while wearing. Not extreme in the slightest, though.

The longevity is an area in which this perfume does under-perform. It lasted about 4-5 hours on my skin, which isn’t horrific, but definitely not where I’d want it to be.

Trying it a few times, Floral Drops does tend to stay in the 5 hour range, on the skin. On clothing, it’ll give a few more hours. Nonetheless, this perfume doesn’t have great longevity.

Seasonally, I’d call this D&G fragrance, one for the spring/summer months. It’s light, clean, and cheerful. Floral Drops can be worn at work or casually during the day.

I wouldn’t call it a sexy fragrance, but I certainly think that it is pretty enough to wear on a date or on a night wear one wants to be low key. Mostly, it’ll serve as a daily wear when you want something simple and pretty.

Overall Impressions of Floral Drops

Overall, do I like Dolce Floral Drops? I actually do. It’s not super amazing or anything but is a nice take on the usual white floral perfume.

The fruit notes, while light, add a different dimension and make Floral Drops quite an attractive scent.

The only real issue is that this perfume isn’t all that great at lasting for very long. However, if you only need something light and pretty for freshening up, this would be a solid choice.

Floral Drops is a good fragrance for the warmer months, very clean, and pleasant to have on throughout its cycle. My favorite part has to be the initial apple and peach, which gives it more personality than the usual white floral fare.

Scuderia Black by Ferrari

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As a part of the samples that I’ve gotten a hold of recently, I picked up a sample of an officially licensed Ferrari fragrance. I’ve never done a review on this site of this line of colognes as of yet and so I was interested in seeing what was up with Ferrari Scuderia Black. Does this automotive brand actually deliver a decent scent or is it just a ploy to make a quick buck off of the famous Italian brand?

What does Ferrari Scuderia Black Cologne Smell Like?

Notes include: lime, bergamot, red apple, plum, jasmine, rose, cinnamon, cardamom, cedar, amyris wood, vanilla, amber, and musk

Click here to try: Ferrari Scuderia Black Eau De Toilette Spray For Men, 4.2 Ounce

Full Scuderia Black Review

The opening few minutes of Scuderia Black are where the fruit top notes shine the most, obviously. The red apple and plum make an interesting pair along with bergamot. The lime note must not be very strong because I don’t really get any of it from this cologne.

It is a warm and sweet fragrance in the vein of Le Male, but of course, this is much more of a dead ringer for Boss Bottled. The Ferrari fragrance has more spiciness to it, provided by the cinnamon and cardamom than does the Hugo Boss, but they are quite similar.

So, if you’re looking for a cheapie alternative to the Hugo Boss best seller, this is a perfect option. Again, not exact, but you’re coming close.

As it dries down, I start to smell more of the woody notes, the vanilla, and amber. The plum and apple become background players and the spice of the cinnamon is less intense than it had been previously.

This is about what you’re going to get from this fragrance: warmth, sweetness, slightly spicy, wood. Scuderia Black is a fairly simple and linear cologne, but that doesn’t mean it is bad.

The latter stages of the wear, it can be difficult to parse out the individual ingredients. It’s a warm and fresh scent, with a fruity/creamy sweet aroma. Not groundbreaking, but it provides what you’ll need.

Sillage, How Long does It Last, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts off pretty strong but quickly settles into a moderate fragrance. The good thing is that it is so inexpensive, that you can spray it additional times in order to bring out the best performance, and not break the bank in the process.

Longevity is meh. I get 4-5 hours of decent wear with it and a few hours more if I double up the sprays (which I recommend doing). After all, the price allows you to not have to conserve the bottle.

With most cheapie colognes, you’re not going to get outstanding performance, but this one is actually in the upper band of average. There are plenty of others, which won’t even make it a full 2 hours. Just bring your bottle with you, if you need to reapply.

I was wearing this Ferrari cologne here in the summer, but it really doesn’t work in the heat of the daytime. At night it was fine, but I’d usually want to wear this during the cooler months of the year.

It’s a nice versatile fragrance that can be worn casually, but will still garner complements. You can wear it at work, school, or at for an evening. Solid versatility in the cold to moderate climates. So maybe a little more than half the year, it should give you plenty of opportunity to use.

Overall Impressions of Scuderia Black

Overall, do I like Ferrari Scuderia Black? Yes, I think that it is a nice bargain cologne. You can pick up a bottle for around $20 and it smells enough like Boss Bottled to be considered a cheaper alternative to that scent.

It’s sweet, slightly spicy, and smells good enough. It’s not a scent that’ll blow you away, but is something you can grab while on a budget, and get plenty of use out of.

Apple and some light plum, give it a juicy tartness, while the cinnamon spice blended with amber and vanilla warm things up. If you’re on a tight budget, Ferrari is a brand that can offer good value, on many of its fragrance options.