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!

Ultra Male vs Layton Cologne Comparison

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For this entry in the men’s fragrance competitions, we are going to be taking a closer look at two absolute powerhouse colognes from France: Ultra Male vs. Layton. Which smells better? The Jean Paul Gaultier or the Parfums de Marly? I have already reviewed each (linked below) and will break down each by different categories, before ultimately declaring a winner.

Tale of the Tape

Ultra Male

Notes include: vanilla, pear, amber, woods, cinnamon, cumin, sage, lavender, mint

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male for Men Intense Spray, Eau de Toilette, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original Review: Ultra Male

Layton

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 Review: Layton

Opening

Layton opens with a crisp fruit blend of bergamot citrus and green apple. Underneath of this is sandalwood and vanilla, which adds a creamy sweet layer, which offsets some of that tart fruitiness.

Ultra Male starts off with opens up with a candy-like sweetness with a warm spice. It is lead by notes of pear, mint, vanilla, and cinnamon. It doesn’t have the same powdery aroma of the original Le Male.

Which smells better? I really do like Ultra Male a lot, in fact, I have a giant bottle of it. However, I like the opening of Layton a bit more. The green apple note is pretty realistic and the way that it pairs with the vanilla is great.

Edge: Layton

Projection

For many colognes that go up against it, they cannot compete with the strong sillage of Ultra Male. However, Layton is one of the fragrances, which absolutely can.

Now, does either outdo, the other? Not really, at least to my nose. I can spray both on a shirt, across the room, and pick up each clearly. No real edge.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Ultra Male has always gotten me a consistent 8-9 hours of wear. Layton outdoes it and can go 10+ hours. I’m not sure how much over, as I never kept track, but this is an all day wear.

Edge: Layton

Versatility

Layton is the type of scent that can pretty much be worn year round without problem. It can go casual, more dressed up, or be used for romantic evenings. It’s a very versatile cologne. The Jean Paul Gaultier fragrance, is a cold weather wear.

It can venture into a moderate climate, but avoid the warmer days. If you go light with it, it can be worn around just fine, but it is more of a nightlife scent.

Edge: Layton

Overall Scent

I’m a pretty big fan of Ultra Male, it was what I wore during the winter a lot, back in 2018. It’s warm with a spicy freshness, and a big, bold attitude. It’s got a certain sexiness to it and is honestly a great wear for younger guys in the nightlife.

Layton, is just a bit better. I like the smell more and its performance is a cut above Ultra Male. It’s blend of sweet fruit notes is great, then, the light spicy of cardamom and pepper kicks in to give the fragrance more depth. It’s a scent that leans masculine, but it honestly fairly unisex. Also, the versatility is a selling point.

The only other consideration, would be the price. Layton is much more expensive than a bottle of Ultra Male, so consider that, when deciding between the two. All else being equal, Layton takes this competition for Parfums de Marly.

Winner: Layton

Versace Eros vs Pure XS Cologne Comparison

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Today, I want to take a closer look at two popular cold weather scents, that have carved out a spot in the nightlife: Versace Eros vs. Pure XS. Which of these men’s colognes smells the best? Versace or Paco Rabanne? Is the best selling Eros a better overall fragrance and buy, than the newer Pure XS? As usual, I will compare and contrast the two in a variety of categories, before declaring an ultimate winner.

Tale of the Tape

Versace Eros

Notes of Eros: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver, Italian lemon

Shop Amazon for: Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My review: Versace Eros

Pure XS

Notes: ginger, vanilla, myrrh, thyme, sugar, leather, musk, liquor, cinnamon, cedar, and grapefruit

Click here to try: PACO RABANNE Pure Xs Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My review: Pure XS

Opening

Pure XS opens up with a boozy and sugar-infused ginger note. It is super fresh, with cinnamon and citrus, adding varying depth to this cologne. It is a great blend of booze, spice, warmth, and sweetness.

Eros opens with a bright lemon, crisp green apple, and cool mint note. It is at times sharp, then juicy, and then has a sweetly warm undertone when the other notes kick in.

Which is better? It’s tough, as I really like how both of these fragrances start out. I think I’ll go with Eros, on this one, as it is a smell that I want to revisit often and more so than the Paco Rabanne.

Edge: Eros

Projection

Pure XS has a moderate sillage and it actually gets light through the wear. I was disappointed, when initially trying it.

However, I found it could get a boost by double spraying the same spot, which doesn’t always work with all colognes.

Luckily, it does for Pure XS, and you get to enjoy the benefits. Eros, is simply stronger. It’s always been known for its loud sillage and Pure XS doesn’t match it.

Edge: Eros 

Longevity

With normal sprays of Pure XS, I get 7 hours. Double spraying? Gets me about 9. It still falls short of the double digits of Versace Eros.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

These scents sort of occupy the same category. Both are mainly for cold weather, can venture into spring, but not great in the heat. They work casually and have a sexy vibe that can shine in the nightlife. Also, the both hit that 20-30s demographic of men.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Pure XS has really come on strong for me, since I’ve been over-spraying to get better performance. I really enjoy how this fragrance smells. It’s loaded with ginger, vanilla, and myrrh.

There’s spice and sugary sweetness, to go along with boozy warmth, which fits right in on a cold winter night. If you can get a bottle, at a good price, it is well worth checking out.

However, I don’t like it as much as Eros. The Versace fragrance is a best seller for a reason and it outperforms this challenger, in every respect.

Both smell great, but I have kept coming back to Eros over the years, and probably will do so for a long time. Pure XS is really nice, but it’s not Eros.

Winner: Eros

CH Men by Carolina Herrera

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In this post, I would like to delve into a name, that I never got around to doing a review on. Well, apparently, this old name has a new formula and is basically a new cologne: CH Men by Carolina Herrera.

In this post, I want to explore what the notes are, how it smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a purchase?

CH Men Overview

Notes include: violet leaves, grapefruit, cyclamen, saffron, cashmere, leather

Click here to try: Carolina Herrera CH Eau De Toilette Spray – 100ml/3.4oz

My Full Review

So, right off of the bat, CH Men has been reformulated and isn’t the same scent as it was before. The ingredients have changed significantly and I will be reviewing this newer version.

The opening of CH Men I get plenty of saffron, violet, and grapefruit. It is fresh with a bright fruity sweetness and grassy notes, that sit underneath it all. It’s clean and has a pretty unique aroma, yet feels familiar, like the structure is similar to other colognes but the individual notes are different.

As it moves along, CH Men becomes more of a green floral with woody notes emerging from the base. I get  mostly cashmere and I think some sandalwood is in there, as well.

Violet leaf and saffron are still the two main notes that hit my nose, with the secondary layer consisting of green grassy notes and spice.

The floral note here is cyclamen, which I’m not too familiar with how that smells, but perhaps is what is providing that green aroma.

Finally, there is a leather and woody base. It is smooth and masculine and provides a nice balance with the saffron and violet leaf. The grapefruit, at this stage, is pretty much gone completely.

So, what you’re left with is a green freshness led by saffron and violet leaf, with leathery woods, and with floral notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage is pretty light with CH Men. This is definitely a candidate for over-spraying the hell out of it.

I would double up each side of the neck and possibly once more. That way, you might get a better performance from it.

The longevity isn’t great either, about 4-5 hours, of light sillage. Maybe you could squeeze out and extra hour or two with heavy spraying, but I wouldn’t expect much more than that.

Seasonally, it’s one that seemingly can be worn year round, and fit in just fine. It is attractive and office safe, with the ability to venture into the nightlife, just won’t be a bold beast performer.

CH Men is the type of scent that will get complements, if you can get it to perform up to par.

Overall Impressions of CH Men

Overall, do I like CH Men? The smell of it is really good. I’m already a fan of saffron and leather, but Carolina Herrera takes it in a new, and appealing direction with this new formulation.

The only issue that I have, is the performance. I wish that it was stronger and would last on my skin, but it doesn’t seem to want to.

If you can get a good price for a bottle, it might be worth just doubling or tripling the sprays, as the scent itself is quite enjoyable.

Prada L’Homme vs. Dior Homme (2011) Comparison

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In today’s head to head fragrance comparison, I am going to take a closer look at to men’s fragrances that feature a leading iris note: Prada L’Homme vs. Dior Homme. Which of these popular designer scents, smells better? Which gives a better performance? Which is the better buy overall?

Tale of the Tape

Prada L’Homme

Notes include: iris, amber, geranium, patchouli, neroli, violet, pepper, cedar

Click here to try: Prada L’Homme Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My review: Prada L’Homme

Dior Homme

Notes include: vetiver, iris, cacao, bergamot, amber, leather, sage, and lavender

Click here to try: Dior Homme By Christian Dior For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

Read my Full Review: Dior Homme Review

Opening

Prada L’Homme opens up with that fresh powdery floral scent, that is led by the iris note. It also is flanked by neroli and violet. This is all surrounded by amber, dotted with pepper, and on top of a cedar base.

Dior Homme opens up with its own floral blend of iris and lavender. However, it teams that up with a sweet cacao, citrus bergamot, and dry vetiver. With a smooth leather note, coming through.

Which is better? I lean toward the Dior. The Prada is very nice, simple, but smells great. I just think that the Dior’s use of cacao and citrus, give it a more complex, and better aroma.

Edge: Dior

Projection

Both of these fragrances are pretty moderate, in their sillage. Dior Homme might be slightly stronger, but it’s not much, and no significant enough to give an edge here.

Edge: Push

Longevity

I get 5-7 hours with Dior Homme. It’s mostly towards the 7 hours end. However, I can double spray the Dior and get 8-9 hours, and this is what I usually do with my bottle. Prada gives me 6-7 hours of wear, but the double spray really doesn’t add any time…go figure.

Edge: Dior (slightly)

Versatility

Another category that they really overlap. Both are good year round, outside of high heat and humidity. Both are office friendly, can go casual if need be, and have a refined style.

I personally think that Dior can venture better into the night life, as the cacao sweetness and leather notes, fit in more than the fresh powdery scent that Prada is.

Edge: Dior (slightly)

Overall Scent

These are two extremely evenly matched fragrances, and since they both are masculine iris-based floral colognes, that is to be expected. Ultimately though, which is the better scent? I’m going to have to go with Dior Homme. It’s my personal choice, the one I went with when buying a full bottle, and is the closest thing that I have to a daily wear.

I really do like Prada L’Homme, it’s a very nice scent, but a pretty straightforward cleanly fresh cologne. Non-offensive with decent performance. I would personally go with, Prada Intense, over this one if I were in the market for a Prada fragrance.

I think Dior is a much more interesting and better fragrance to wear. I love how it has the powdery iris, but that’s not all that it is. It can be dry and woodsy. Sweet. Smoothed by rich leather. Even having a touch of citrus, to set it apart. It’s not way better, but it’s my pick.

Winner: Dior Homme

Ultra Male vs Invictus Comparison

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Today, we have a head to head match up between two popular colognes, which are geared toward younger men: Invictus by Paco Rabanne vs. Ultra Male by JPG. Which one of these fragrances smells the best? Which gives a better performance? Ultimately, which is the better buy? Please continue below for my full take and experiences with both of these scents.

Tale of the Tape

Ultra Male

Notes include: vanilla, pear, amber, woods, cinnamon, cumin, sage, lavender, mint

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male for Men Intense Spray, Eau de Toilette, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original Review: Ultra Male

Invictus

Notes include: grapefruit, sea notes, mandarin orange, bay leaf, jasmine

Read my review

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Invictus Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

Opening

Invictus has an upbeat and youthful opening full of citrus that is very sweet and leans more towards being candied rather than a juicy fruit. The citrus is matched up with sea notes to help give Invictus a marine vibe that screams summertime.

Meanwhile, Ultra Male, is also candy-like in its opening. An intense blast of pear, vanilla, mint, and cinnamon. It is spicy yet sugary. Bolder, smoother, and doesn’t have the same powdered quality of the original Le Male.

Which is better? I have to give the nod to Ultra Male. It has more going on and I much prefer the spiced elements to that of Invictus’ sea notes.

Edge: Ultra Male

Projection

Invictus actually has really good sillage for the first hour or so on my skin. It’s not weak sauce at all, but it does quiet down into more of a moderate after that. Really good, but not great.

Ultra Male has huge sillage, I can spray it on a shirt, and smell it across the room from me. It is bold and an intense version of Le Male, which makes it an ideal wear for nights out at the bar or club. The Paco Rabanne puts up a good challenge, but doesn’t touch Ultra Male’s projection.

Edge: Ultra Male

Longevity

Again, Invictus is no slouch here, either. It’s not great, but I can get 6-7 hours out of it on my skin, which is enough for most purposes. Ultra Male routinely gets me 8-9 hours and can go longer, depending on the circumstances.

Edge: Ultra Male

Versatility

This is the category in which Invictus has the edge. It is more of a warm weather scent but it can be worn easily year round, while Ultra Male is reserved for the colder parts of the year. Invictus can also be worn more as a daily wear, since it isn’t as loud and bold, as Ultra is.

Both can be worn as nightlife scents, but Invictus just has the ability to spray it on more occasions.

Edge: Invictus

Overall Scent

Invictus is a nice cologne, especially for the younger set. It has an attractive smell, nice sweetness, and aquatic notes which help make it a good all around scent. It’s really sweet and versatile, so I can see why so many guys enjoy wearing it.

However, Ultra Male is just a better fragrance to me, even with its limited wear. It is like a weapon in your arsenal that you break out on certain days or nights. It works extremely well in a nightclub and gives a great performance, plus, a unique vibe. It is my favorite Jean Paul Gaultier fragrance, without a doubt.

Now, this doesn’t mean that it is the right choice for everyone. It is warmer and heavier than Invictus. If you want more of an all around everyday fragrance, Invictus would be a better choice. For me, I have other daily wears, and keep a full bottle of Ultra Male for the right night. It’s just more appealing to me.

Winner: Ultra Male