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!

YSL Libre Intense vs. Le Parfum

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Libre has been such a hit for YSL, the flankers will keep right on coming. Intense was an improvement to me, versus the original. Now, I want to compare it to the more recent 2022 release, Libre Le Parfum. Which of these Libre’s will take the crown? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy?

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

Libre Le Parfum wins on opening, longevity, and overall scent, while Libre Intense wins on projection and slightly better versatility.

Buy Le Parfum if you want the richer, smoother, honeyed vanilla version with the better dry down and stronger full-wear experience.

Buy Libre Intense if you prefer a brighter orange blossom opening with stronger projection and a slightly easier everyday wear profile, but overall Le Parfum is the better fragrance. You might also want to try a cheaper alternative: Intensely Liberated by Dua

Category Libre Intense Libre Le Parfum Winner
Opening Orange blossom, lavender, vanilla, amber, and brighter floral sweetness Honey, saffron, ginger, vanilla, orange blossom, and richer warm sweetness Le Parfum
Projection Stronger projection and a louder first few hours Strong, but smoother and less sharp off the skin Libre Intense
Longevity Around 7–8 hours Usually 8–9+ hours with a stronger dry down Le Parfum
Versatility Slightly easier for daytime and cooler-weather daily wear Best for evenings, cooler weather, and dressed-up wear Libre Intense
Overall Scent Beautiful floral-vanilla scent with stronger brightness and projection Richer, deeper, smoother honeyed vanilla with the better full wear Le Parfum
Best For Those who want stronger projection and easier daily wear Those who want the richer, smoother, better overall Libre —

Tale of the Tape Libre Intense vs. Le Parfum

Libre Intense

Notes include: lavender, orange blossom, orchid, vanilla

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent for Women Libre 1.6 oz Eau de Parfum Intense Spray

Libre Le Parfum

Notes include: ginger, saffron, mandarin orange, bergamot, orange blossom, lavender, vanilla, honey, tonka bean, vetiver

Click here to try: Libre Le Parfum

Opening

Libre Intense starts fairly sweet for me, but still not super sugary or anything. Less lavender/musk soapiness than the original, a lot more orchid, and the orange blossom is about the same. Vanilla is a bigger player for the entire duration of the wear.

Le Parfum goes more in a citrusy direction, but not completely so. The orange blossom, honey, spice, and vanilla are all very present early. Parfum is warm and cozy.

Way less lavender here (at least early, later it shows up quite a bit on my skin) than either the original or Intense, for that matter. It also feels much thicker and syrupy like than the others in the series.

Which do I like better?

There’s obviously plenty of overlap between them. However, I like the direction that Le Parfum takes it. Sweet, citrus, warm, with enough spice from ginger/saffron to not be boring. It’s familiar yet unique.

Edge: Le Parfum

Projection

Intense is a powerful perfume. I don’t think it’s elite in this regard, but it is certainly well above average with its reach, and has some heavy qualities to it.

Le Parfum feels thicker, but I don’t think that it leaves the same sort of scent trail in its wake as does Intense. It is also a strong perfume, but it seems to be a slightly less powerful one than its competitor.

Not too much of a difference, just what I noticed.

Edge: Intense

Longevity

Libre Intense is fantastic with its longevity. For me, it’ll easily hit 12 hours worth of wear. Maybe a little bit beyond that, also. It’s no slouch.

With Le Parfum, I got close to the same. Maybe a tad less than 12 hours. It seems to hit 10-11 hours for me. Not at all bad, just a step behind what I get with Intense. Now, that may not be the case for everyone, but I have to give Intense the edge.

Edge: Intense

Versatility

I don’t see much difference here in this category. They are both autumn and winter wears that will break down in the heat. Both are powerful, both lean more towards nighttime wear.

The similarities here, don’t give it much space to pick a winner. Maybe, I’d say that the sweeter qualities may make Le Parfum the more attractive/sexier fragrance of the two, and that could be enough to push it over the top.

Le Parfum is sweet, without being girlish, and maintaining a maturity.

Edge: Le Parfum

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these perfumes do I like more?

Well, Intense was my favorite of the bunch coming into trying out Le Parfum. But, I think Parfum has surpassed it. Le Parfum is slightly better than Intense and much better than Platine, which was released in close proximity to Parfum.

Intense, was one that I liked because of the greater performance versus the original, it had more depth and better balance. I liked that the lavender isn’t as heavy, as the original. The orchid was improved and the vanilla gets ramped up.

Again, here’s a similar alternative to Intense for $33 currently: Intensely Liberated

Here, we get an interesting shift towards less lavender at the start, with Le Parfum. But, it does still come through past that opening act, much to the same level as Intense. I like the added citrus, a similar vanilla, plus the spiciness.

To me, the orange blossom has a lot of similarities in terms of strength to the Intense version. It’s less soapy, but the honey and gourmand notes give Le Parfum a stand alone identity, while remaining true to the series.

It’s not a big win for Parfum, but if I had to pick one, I’d go with it. The complexity is more interesting. It’s smoother and I like the delicious honey and vanilla combo.  I do think the competition is closer in the latter stages, since I think that Le Parfum has a very nice opening and good enough back end.

Winner: Le Parfum

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Libre Intense if:

You want the stronger projection between the two
You prefer orange blossom, lavender, vanilla, amber, and brighter floral warmth
You want something slightly easier for daytime wear
You like fragrances that feel bold but still a bit more flexible
You prefer stronger opening projection over the smoother dry down

Choose Libre Le Parfum if:

You want the better overall fragrance
You prefer honey, saffron, ginger, vanilla, orange blossom, and richer sweetness
You want better longevity and a stronger dry down
You mainly wear fragrance for evenings, dates, or cooler weather
You want the smoother, deeper, more luxurious take on Libre

YSL Libre FAQ

Which YSL Libre should I buy first?

Out of the ones in the series that I’ve personally tried, Libre Le Parfum is the best. They have released other newer scents in this lineup, so you may want to check those out also.

Are Libre Intense and Libre Le Parfum very similar?

I don’t think so. Obviously, there are going to be similarities. I do like how they toned down the lavender in Le Parfum, it feels more balanced that way. Here’s my review for Le Parfum for more information on that perfume.

Does Libre Intense project more than Le Parfum?

I think it has a farther reach than Le Parfum. While Le Parfum feels denser. Libre Intense is one that I can spray something and easily detect it from across a good-sized room. That being said, both of these perfumes perform very well.

Stronger With You Intensely vs. Absolutely

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Stronger With You is a series that keeps marching on for Emporio Armani. Among the two highly rated and sought after versions of this formulation are: Intensely and Absolutely. Each has some memorable aromas and comes with great performance.

However, the question is, which of these colognes is better? Which lasts longer? Which one should you buy? I’ve tested and reviewed each of these scents and will break down the competition below.

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

Stronger With You Intensely wins on opening, projection, and overall scent, while longevity and versatility are basically tied.

Buy Intensely if you want the sweeter, smoother toffee-vanilla-sueded scent with slightly better sillage and the stronger full-wear experience.

Buy Absolutely if you prefer the glazed chestnut middle act, rum, elemi, and a more resinous nutty profile.

Category Stronger With You Intensely Stronger With You Absolutely Winner
Opening Pink pepper, cinnamon, sage, toffee, caramel sweetness, and spice Bergamot, sweet fruity notes, rum, cinnamon, elemi, glazed chestnut, and resinous warmth Intensely
Projection A bit more powerful with slightly better reach and sillage Very good projection with room-crossing reach, then a 4–5 foot scent bubble Intensely
Longevity Excellent, around 11–12 hours Excellent, around 11–12 hours Push
Versatility Autumn/winter, nightlife, casual wear, and date nights Autumn/winter, nightlife, casual wear, and date nights Push
Overall Scent Sweeter, smoother toffee, vanilla, suede, spice, and lavender with the better full wear Great glazed chestnut middle act with cinnamon, rum, elemi, and later lavender Intensely
Best For Those who want the sweeter, smoother, better overall pick Those who want glazed chestnut, rum, and a nuttier profile —

Tale of the Tape: Stronger with You Absolutely vs. Intensely

Stronger With You Intensely

Notes include: pink pepper, cinnamon, toffee, lavender, sage, suede, amber, violet, vetiver

Click here to try: Intensely

My Full Review: Stronger with You Intensely

Stronger With You Absolutely

Notes include: glazed chestnut, rum, lavender, cedar, vanilla, elemi

My Full Review: Stronger with You Absolutely

Opening

The opening spray of Absolutely provides the short-lived citrus burst of bergamot and some other sweetish and fruity background notes, that I believe are apart of the initial lavender accord.

This is met with some spice and warmth. Not overly so, however. Arman’s description mentioned  pink pepper being here, I think that may be a part of this initial mix, since that is in Stronger Intensely as a note also.

But, this one also strikes me as being quite resinous from the get go. Elemi or the ‘glaze’ of the chestnut note is something that really sticks out after that top blast.

Notably, there is cinnamon in addition to the rum accord. Yes, there is some warm spiciness and booziness , but this is a lot smoother composition than a heavily spiced boozy rum note. It never really hits that level.

With Intensely, starts with its spiciness. Here, it is warmer and doesn’t last long (like the bergamot in Absolutely). The pink pepper is now the stronger note, joined by cinnamon and sage.

I get a sweet influence earlier with Intensely. The toffee accord with the cinnamon and caramel notes really gives Intensely a more dynamic feel. It is much less resinous and doesn’t have the same ‘glazed’ aroma as Absolutely.

Which do I prefer? I consistently have favored the opening of Intensely. Absolutely is nice, but I think once its chestnut note gets fully going, that’s when it is at its best. However, that’s not entirely in the opening act.

Intensely, gives me a better blend of sweetness and spice initially, and that’s what gives it the win in this category.

Edge: Intensely

Projection

The projection of Absolutely really good, able to reach well across a room. Then, it’ll become a 4-5 foot scent bubble, and finally a skin scent. Not the heaviest or most beast mode projection out there, but I wasn’t disappointed.

Intensely, is a bit more powerful than that. Now, it isn’t completely overwhelming either.

However, I do notice it further away from Absolutely, when I tested each on clothing and walked to the other side of the living room.

Not a convincing win, but Intensely does have the edge. It’s not going to be the reason I’d buy one versus the other, however.

Edge: Intensely

Longevity

The longevity of both of these scents are really great, on my skin. But, there’s also no distinction between them, and they perform equally.

Both Intensely and Absolutely, outperform the original EDT. Total longevity is 11-12 hours, which is great for this sort of mainstream fragrance.

No winner here, just awesome performers.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Another category in which they are equals. Autumn and winter wears. A bit more mature than the original EDT, but still suitable for younger men as well.

Each is great for the nightlife, casual, or date night. Neither is something that’s completely formal or going to be an office scent for most folks.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, this is a pretty evenly matched competition. I enjoy both of these fragrances and they are among my favorites from the Stronger with You lineup.

But, which is the cologne that I actually prefer to wear?

With Absolutely, the opening is enjoyable, but I really like the glazed chestnut middle act that it provides. It’s one of the nuttier versions in this line and that core ingredient is really done well with Absolutely.

The cinnamon, rum, and elemi all give it further depth but is mostly limited to the opening. The dry down, though, comes on stronger with lavender.

It’s not terrible, but Absolutely really starts to lose a lot of its distinction from the rest of the series and the lavender doesn’t do much to boost it.

Even at that early stage, which with the heart of the fragrance is my favorite part of SWY Absolutely; it doesn’t hit the same level for me, as does Intensely.

With Intensely, I love the toffee, vanilla, and suede with periods of spice and lavender. Great, just without the same chestnut note, but also the vanilla reminds me of the EDT (just blended way better)

It’s sweeter, smoother, and gives me slightly more sillage than Absolutely. So, it’s my pick in this contest. I enjoy it from start to finish, even with Absolutely’s enjoyable middle act.

I would select it over Absolutely, unless you can find Absolutely for significantly cheaper for some reason. Maybe if you’re a bigger lavender fan, you might also want to go with Stronger With You Absolutely.

Winner: Intensely

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Stronger With You Intensely if:

You want the better overall fragrance in this comparison
You prefer toffee, vanilla, suede, cinnamon, pink pepper, and amber
You want the stronger opening blend of sweetness and spice
You care about slightly better sillage and projection
You want the version that stays enjoyable from start to finish

Choose Stronger With You Absolutely if:

You prefer glazed chestnut, rum, elemi, cedar, vanilla, and lavender
You like a nuttier, more resinous Stronger With You style
You want excellent 11–12 hour longevity
You enjoy the middle act more than the opening
You can find it significantly cheaper or prefer lavender-heavy dry downs

Stronger with You FAQ

What is the best Stronger with You fragrance?

What I consider to be the ‘best’ of this line or maybe just my favorites are: Intensely, Leather, Absolutely, and the original EDT. I haven’t tried every single edition as of yet, but here’s my list and rankings: Best SWY Colognes.

Does Stronger With You Absolutely project more than Intensely?

No, not in my testing of it. There isn’t a huge gap between them, but Intensely does have the edge in terms of its strength.

Are Intensely and Absolutely very similar?

They are quite similar, but still different enough. To me, the main difference is the stronger use of the chestnut note in Absolutely. The rum note also distinguishes it, though that isn’t super strong in the mix.

9 Best Smelling Axe Body Spray Fragrances

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Axe has been a popular brand of cheaply priced fragrances for decades now. I used to wear different body spray scents in high school, will still use the body washes and the deodorants, to this day. They’ve come out with seemingly endless scents under different names, but what are the best smelling Axe Body Spray scents for guys?

Quick Overview

🏆 Quick Overview: Top Picks

Best Overall — Kilo

Kilo is the best overall Axe pick because it has the most balanced profile of these scents and smells great. It is fresh, slightly spicy, sweet, smooth, calming, and masculine without becoming overly fruity or too sweet.

It also has the strongest nostalgia factor, since it was one of the standout Axe scents from the brand’s earlier era.

Best Newer Release — Golden Mango

Golden Mango is the best newish Axe release from the Fine Fragrance Collection. It blends mango, mandarin orange, and vetiver for a juicy tropical scent that still has a fresh woodsy backbone.

It feels more polished than a typical sweet body spray and has the best balance among the newer Axe scents that I’ve tried.

Best Sweet Scent — Dark Temptation

Dark Temptation is the best sweet/gourmand option if you want something warm, creamy, and compliment-friendly. The chocolate note gives it a delicious sweetness, while the vanilla undertone keeps it smooth.

It is one of the most memorable Axe scents because it feels more dessert-like and attention-grabbing than the cleaner fresh options.

Fragrance Best For Scent Profile Key Notes Vibe
Kilo Best overall Axe fragrance Fresh, slightly spicy, sweet, smooth Vanilla, light citrus, mint, possibly lavender Classic, masculine, balanced
Golden Mango Best new Axe release Juicy tropical fruit with fresh woods Mango, mandarin orange, vetiver Fresh, tropical, modern
Dark Temptation Top sweet/gourmand scent Warm creamy chocolate with vanilla sweetness Chocolate, vanilla undertone Sweet, delicious, compliment-friendly
Black Vanilla Alternative to Dark Temptation Smooth citrus-vanilla with sandalwood Black vanilla, sandalwood, orange essential oil Sweet, smooth, powerful
Aqua Bergamot Fresh aquatic body wash style Fresh aquatic citrus with herbal-green freshness Bergamot, sage, juniper Clean, energetic, blue-ish
Anarchy Best fruity warm-weather spray Masculine tropical fruit with amber and woods Amber, sandalwood, coconut, bergamot, fruit notes Youthful, smooth, tropical
Gold Fresh Iced Mint & Leather Top fresh Axe deodorant Crisp cold mint with smooth leather Iced mint, leather Clean, understated, cool-weather fresh
Excite Energetic cold-weather scent Sweet gourmand with nutty caramel warmth Coconut, hazelnut, caramel, woody base Warm, easy, cocoa-butter sweet
Gold Citron Great citron release Bright citrus with clean white woods Citrus blend, white woods Zesty, low-key, clean

Favorite Axe Body Sprays or Deodorant Scents

Best Overall Axe Fragrance

AXE Body Spray for Men, Kilo 4 oz (Pack of 6)– This is what I wore back in 10-11th grade. Kilo was utterly great, and got me complimented like crazy, from girls when I wore it.

Axe was popular back then, but there didn’t seem to be many guys around, that were wearing this particular scent…but it was my favorite, at the time. It was fresh, slightly spicy, and sweet.

As I recall, Kilo had a vanilla, light citrus, mint, and possibly lavender lineup of ingredients. It had an aromatic sort of freshness, with enough spice to give the spray and edge. I never see this one in stores locally anymore, but you can get it online still.

Kilo was like the perfect balance, out of the Axe collection of fragrances. Very smooth and calming, while still being masculine. Not overly fruity or sweet. Classic and still one of the best body sprays ever.

Best New Axe Release

Golden Mango– Axe has released some newer scents recently, under their ‘Fine Fragrances Collection’ banner. Golden Mango is my favorite of them, so far.

Mango, mandarin orange, and vetiver adding some fresh woodsy aroma to the mix. It’s actually got a good balance between the orange and mango notes, more of a juicy/tropical kind of aroma, than just generic sweetness.

The Fine Fragrance releases are supposed to last longer than the regular Axe scents. It seems to be the case, at least with the body wash. Body washes aren’t going to be perfume level performance, but it’s very good for the price.

Also, these higher-end and improved Axe scents use natural essential oils. So, here it is mandarin orange and vetiver oils.

top axe body wash

Top Sweet/Gourmand Scent

Axe Body Spray Dark Temptation– Warm and sweet, creamy chocolate with a vanilla undertone. Dark Temptation is delicious and this was one of the anti-perspirants that I wore, once I grew out of the body sprays.

Girls have always seemed to respond really well to this, the chocolate note just breeds complements. I used this deodorant a lot a number of years ago. I think that the body spray or the gel deodorant is better than the white stick deodorant.

Interestingly, if you want a cologne The Dua Brand now has their ‘inspired by’ take, available as a fragrance called: Temptation of the Dark.

The latter, seems to have more of a sweet powdery aroma, versus the other options.

I haven’t been seeing the gel deodorant around, but that was my favorite option. The white stick, could feel too sweet, at times. The body spray was on point, however. A potential alternative, could be Gold Temptation.

An Alternative to Dark Temptation

Black Vanilla– Black Vanilla is another newer one that I like from Axe. This one gives you a different type of sweet gourmand than that of the chocolatey Dark Temptation.

Here, it is less of the sweetness but the vanilla is surprisingly good, and the scent itself is pretty powerful for a body spray. The black vanilla is joined by sandalwood and orange essential oil.

A good mix of citrus and vanilla, giving it a smoother profile than the fragrance listed above. It’s still not my favorite of the newer releases, but it’s easy to see why Black Vanilla has become popular for an Axe spray.

Fresh Aquatic

Aqua Bergamot– This is another entry from the Fine Fragrance Collection. Aqua Bergamot is the second one that I enjoy, behind Golden Mango.

Aqua is a fresh, energetic, and somewhat aquatic blend. The citrus note here is bergamot and is not nearly as potent as those fruits in Mango.

This gets is freshness from a blend of sage and juniper. A bit of that sour bergamot, more juniper coming through for me versus the sage.

The style is a very classic ‘blue-ish’ sort of body wash. Basically, what most people think of with body wash. I don’t think I’d use the body spray, as my main go to, but I like the scent for taking showers.

Best Fruity/Warm Weather Spray

AXE Deodorant Body Spray Anarchy 150 Ml / 5.07 Oz (Pack of 6)– With notes of amber, sandalwood, and fruits (I pick up coconut and bergamot), Anarchy has a rich and smooth profile, much like Dark Temptation. It smells great while maintaining a fresh, youthful vibe.

Anarchy is a masculine tropical fragrance. It is youthful and does have the sharper bergamot note, at the start, but settles down into a delightful aroma. The amber is a great addition.

The fruit notes, give the top and opening creaminess, and light sharpness from citrus. There might actually be some other types of fruit in there, that’s too difficult to discern.

Nonetheless, the amber warmth, and woody base really does a great job at tying it all together. My Review of Anarchy

Top Fresh Axe Deodorant

Axe Gold Fresh Iced Mint & Leather– This is actually my current anti-perspirant deodorant, that I use each day (Update: was back in 2018 or so, don’t see it for sale much anymore).

A lot of people don’t seem to like the body sprays from Axe (or at least its associations with high school kids) and while I don’t wear those anymore, the deodorant sticks are great. They last all day and don’t quit.

Axe Gold Fresh is a crisp and cold mint with a smooth and rich leather aroma. I love it. It’s a relatively simple pairing, but one that doesn’t seem to happen often. Gold Fresh is an understated and clean option, that really shines, when the temperature drops.

There’s also another Gold Fresh option which pairs oud and leather. It’s more of a dry woodsy take, on this formula. I wore that one, for a while also, and prefer it in some ways.

 

Energetic Cold Weather Scent

Axe EXCITE Body Spray & Deodorant. 48 HOUR ODOR PROTECTION! Energized & Fresh! (6 Cans, 5oz each Can)– Axe Excite relies on coconut, hazelnut, and caramel to create a sweet gourmand fragrance with a woody base.

It’s sweetness has a cocoa butter vibe, in my mind. I like it and will use this body wash, when I can grab a bottle on sale.

Excite and Anarchy share that coconut ingredient. However, Anarchy is the fruitier fragrance of the two, with a lighter aroma. Anarchy feels more suited towards warmer weather, than Excite.

This one seems more appropriate in the colder months of the year. The coconut doesn’t make it too tropical versus the nutty and caramel notes. This one is really easy to wear,  as it isn’t too in your face or spicy. Axe Excite Review

Great Citron Release

Axe Gold Citron– This one isn’t super complicated, but it’s a very nice new release from the brand.

A citrus blend with white woods that is fresh and quite bright. Gold Citron does what so many popular men’s fragrances do, by pairing that chilled citrus aroma along with a woody base.

It’s a nice wear for the summer months and isn’t as ‘in your face’ as many others from the Axe line of scents.

Attractive, low-key, but one that is a great experience for those who want a zesty and clean fragrance throughout the day.

Axe Body Spray and Wash FAQ

Is Axe Dark Temptation a good scent?

Is a sweet and warm scent. The chocolate aroma does have a thickness to it and that sort of sugary appeal, without going too far into that territory. Nice powdery finish to it. I enjoyed wearing this when I was younger. Do you want to smell like chocolate? It’s a good scent for those who enjoy that.

Which Axe scent is best for teenagers?

All of them. That’s the main demographic of this brand. My picks for the best are all listed above.

How many sprays of Axe body spray should you use?

You probably don’t need more than 2-3, in most situations. Especially, if you’re inside in an enclosed area with other people all day. Axe projects more than you think it does and you don’t really have to overdo it.

Can Axe body spray replace cologne?

For teenagers, sure. There is a big difference in quality between most fragrances and a can of Axe Body Spray. Not just in terms of how each smells, the depth, how it develops, and the performance that you get from each. Axe is a very inexpensive solution to smelling better, but at some point, you’ll want to graduate to something of higher quality.

Cool Water vs. Drakkar Noir Cologne Comparison

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In today’s cologne comparison, I’m going to take things back to the 1980s for a face off between two scents, which were powerhouses then and continue to be best sellers into the present time. In one corner, we have Cool Water by Davidoff. In the other, Guy Laroche’s Drakkar Noir. Which one of these colognes smells better? Which has the better performance?

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

Cool Water wins on opening, versatility, and overall scent, while Drakkar Noir wins on projection and longevity.

Buy Cool Water if you want the fresher, cleaner, more versatile aquatic fragrance that works easily for daily wear and warm weather. You might also try the ‘inspired by’ the vintage formula alternative from Dua, called: His Dua Water

Buy Drakkar Noir if you prefer a darker, sharper fougère with stronger projection, longer wear, and more of that classic 80s masculine edge. You might also try an alternative: Black Viking Ship

Category Cool Water Drakkar Noir Winner
Opening Fresh mint, lavender, green notes, seawater freshness, and clean citrus energy Lavender, rosemary, bergamot, lemon, spice, and a darker fougère sharpness Cool Water
Projection Moderate and cleaner off the skin Stronger projection with a heavier masculine presence Drakkar Noir
Longevity Around 5–6 hours Usually 6–8 hours depending on skin Drakkar Noir
Versatility Excellent for spring/summer, office, gym, and casual daily wear Better for cooler weather, evenings, and stronger masculine styling Cool Water
Overall Scent Cleaner aquatic freshness with easier modern wearability Sharper classic fougère with darker old-school masculine character Cool Water
Best For Those who want fresher daily versatility Those who want stronger classic masculine performance —

Tale of the Tape: Drakkar vs. Cool Water

Drakkar Noir

Notes included: sandalwood, lavender, citrus, cinnamon, leather, vetiver, oakmoss, cedar, fir

Click here to try: Drakkar Noir By Guy Laroche For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 6.7 Ounces

My original review: Drakkar Noir Review

Cool Water

Notes include: lavender, mint, tobacco, amber, musk, jasmine, sandalwood, neroli, coriander, rosemary, and more

Click here to try: Davidoff Cool Water Edt Spray for Men, 6.7 oz

My Original Review: Cool Water

Opening

With Drakkar Noir, the opening part of the wear gives me a very dry and smooth aroma. I particularly get the oak moss and lavender notes, which bring about that creamy/soapy vibe, and then there is the slight warm spice of cinnamon.

Cool Water is more oceanic. It also has a soapy lavender feel but with a crisp and cool mint note. It’s quite sharp to my nose at the start, but gradually settles into a fragrance with more amber smoothness.

Underneath is the greenish qualities, a good deal of uncured tobacco.

The opening of Cool Water is the most interesting part of the fragrance, to me. Plenty of tobacco and mint, with that underlying aquatic feel. Yes, it can seem somewhat sharp, but it comes across a different from many more modern fragrances.

Between the two, I think I enjoy the opening of Cool Water better. Yes, it’s more in your face than is Drakkar but the oceanic touch to the lavender, just seems more interesting to me.

Edge: Cool Water

Projection

Cool Water starts off with stronger sillage. However, as things move along Drakkar is more consistent over the course of the wear.

Neither of these scents is an absolute beast in terms of sillage. Both more towards the upper moderate end of the spectrum. There’s not really a clear winner.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Drakkar is good but not great. I’ve usually gotten 6-7 hours out of it. Meanwhile, Cool Water will deliver 8+ hours.

This is one of those aspects of these fragrances that can be effected by the reformulations. So, just judging by the bottles, I’ve recently sprayed from this is the conclusion I’ve drawn. The vintage bottles may be a different story.

I’m sure that the vintage formulas of each, had better performance. I do know that Drakkar had some natural ingredients in the past, that aren’t allowed to be used anymore. So, that effects the entire structure and performance of a scent.

Edge: Cool Water

Versatility

Drakkar is dry and for the colder months of the year. While Cool Water, performs great during the summertime.

Both have the same applications basically. They can be worn casually, at work, or for a night on the town. Neither is a club type of cologne.

Drakkar Noir strikes me as more mature as a scent. Cool Water seems more youthful and closer to an inexpensive version of Green Irish Tweed. I’m tempted to give Cool Water the edge, as it seems more universally like, but there’s not too much difference here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Man, this is tougher than I thought that it would be to decide a winner. I’m not a huge fan of either one of these fragrances for my own personal style and tastes, but I do think that they’re both solid choices.

I like to dark and dry spice that Drakkar Noir offers and I think that it gets better during the dry down, when more leather begins to emerge.

With Cool Water, it’s like a more oceanic/summery Green Irish Tweed. I like the crispness of the mint and how it shifts into a more amber-laden cologne after an hour or so. Plus, Cool Water has the better longevity on my skin, and I enjoy the upbeat summery vibe.

With that in mind, I’m going to give the nod to Cool Water. I also think that it has more of a universal application than does Drakkar Noir. More guys will probably like the Davidoff scent and it will cover a wider range of styles than the Drakkar.

Maybe the original vintage bottles would have yielded a different result, but I think Cool Water checks more boxes currently. Note: here are alternative options to each, that are cheaper and should give better performance: His Dua Water and Black Viking Ship

Winner: Cool Water

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Cool Water if:

You want the better overall everyday fragrance
You prefer fresh aquatic scents with mint, lavender, green notes, and seawater freshness
You need something easy for office wear, gym use, or warm-weather daily wear
You want the more versatile and modern-smelling option
You prefer freshness over darker fougère sharpness

Choose Drakkar Noir if:

You want stronger projection and better longevity
You prefer lavender, rosemary, bergamot, spice, woods, and a classic fougère profile
You like darker, sharper, old-school masculine fragrances
You mainly wear fragrance in cooler weather or evenings
You want more boldness and vintage masculine character

Burberry Goddess vs Her Comparison

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Burberry Her has been a very successful line of fragrances for the brand. But, they more recently brought to market their perfume called, Goddess. Being that, these are two of the hottest Burberry fragrances out nowadays, they are obviously going to be compared. Which smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

Burberry Goddess wins on opening, versatility, and overall scent, while Burberry Her wins on projection and longevity.

Buy Goddess if you want the smoother, lighter vanilla fragrance with better versatility, more maturity, and a scent that works for both daytime and nightlife.

Buy Burberry Her if you prefer stronger fruity projection, better lasting power, and a sharper strawberry-forward scent. Overall, Goddess is the better-smelling fragrance, while Her is the better performer.

Category Burberry Goddess Burberry Her Winner
Opening Vanilla, cacao, ginger, and lavender with a lighter, cooler sweetness Strong citrus and berry opening led by strawberry and raspberry with a sharper fruity edge Goddess
Projection Moderate throughout, more intimate scent bubble Starts quite strong with a far reach, then settles to moderate Her
Longevity Around 6.5 hours Usually 7–8 hours Her
Versatility More mature, sexier, works for daytime and nightlife from autumn through early spring More limited, mostly daytime fruity wear from autumn through early spring Goddess
Overall Scent Pleasant vanilla-lavender scent with a smooth, light, easy-to-wear character Fruity fragrance with a BR540-style dry down and stronger berry focus Goddess
Best For Those who want the better-smelling, more versatile option Those who want stronger projection and longer wear —

Tale of the Tape: Burberry Her vs. Goddess

Burberry Her

Notes include: strawberry, citrus, raspberry, cherry, blueberry, wood, musk, amber, jasmine

Click here to try: Burberry Her Eau De Parfum Spray

Read my review: Burberry Her EDP

Burberry Goddess

Notes include: lavender, vanilla, cacao, ginger, vanilla absolute, vanilla caviar

Click here to try: Goddess by Burberry

Read my review: Goddess

Opening

Burberry Her EDP starts off with a strong use of its citrus and berry notes. The fruitiness is powerful in the early stages. Strawberry is the strongest note of the lot, with some additional raspberry and brightness of the citrus notes.

It can be sharp and sour versus being sugary sweet or anything. The floral notes aren’t all that strong, but there is a decent amount of jasmine at times.

Goddess goes sweet, not sour, and away from the fruitiness. Here you get the vanilla coming through early, along with cacao. But, there is also a ginger note which provides a wonderful freshness, at the start.

It’s a lot lighter and cooler than you might expect from a vanilla-dominant perfume.

Which is better?

I don’t mind the opening fruitiness of Burberry Her, but I do prefer Goddess a bit more in comparison. The ginger is great here, like the vanilla, and there’s enough cacao to keep it balanced.

Edge: Goddess

Projection

Burberry Her starts off actually quite strong. It has a far reach off of the skin and will leave a scent trail in your wake. The next phase, is much more moderate, but this one is no slouch.

Goddess, never hits the same peak as Her. I thought that this might be a stronger perfume than it is, coming into it, but it’s actually pretty moderate throughout.

In fact, much of the wear is a lighter moderate aroma. Not weak, just not screaming for attention.

Edge: Her

Longevity

With Burberry Her, I can get up to 8 hours of wear. Though, it will generally fall in the 7-8 hour range, and sometimes a little less than that.

With Goddess, it’s more like 6.5 hours tops. It doesn’t fall too far below that on the lower end, but it doesn’t have the same level of staying power as does Her.

Edge: Her

Versatility

Seasonally, I don’t think either of these is going to be one to reach for in the summer months. More autumn through early spring, for each of them. Equal on that metric.

Neither is a formal fragrance either. Though, I do think Goddess is a bit more mature, sexier, and can fit into the nightlife as well as daytime. Her, is much more limited in those respects.

Edge: Goddess

Overall Scent

Thus far it’s a pretty even split between these two perfumes. But, which do I ultimately prefer?

It actually is a close race, as I think that both scents are likeable.

With Burberry Her, I do like the fruitiness and it gets its comparisons to Baccarat Rouge 540, for pretty obvious reasons in the dry down. Even though, it is a different enough fragrance in totality.

It’s a slightly better performer than is Goddess. However, I like the way Goddess smells versus what you get with Her.

If you wanted to get both, you might opt for an alternative to Goddess by The Dua Brand, called: The Goddess within Her. It’s more affordable than the designer scent.

The opening act is wonderful. The middle with the vanilla and lavender is also nice. Never overbearing and keeps things light. Sure, the dry down is pretty basic with a whole lot of vanilla and some amber, but Goddess is still pleasant.

It’s not a wide margin, but I’d rather come back to wearing Goddess again, than more rounds with Her EDP.

Winner: Goddess

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Burberry Goddess if:

You want the better overall scent
You prefer vanilla, cacao, ginger, and lavender over berry-heavy fragrances
You want something more mature and versatile
You need a fragrance that works for both daytime and nightlife
You like lighter, smoother sweetness instead of sharper fruity openings

Choose Burberry Her if:

You want stronger projection and better longevity
You prefer strawberry, raspberry, citrus, and fruity sweetness
You like fragrances with a stronger opening and bigger scent trail
You enjoy that BR540-style dry down comparison
You care more about performance than overall scent quality

Burberry Goddess vs Her FAQ

What does Burberry Goddess smell like?

It a mix of sweet and fresh, especially early on. The vanilla and cacao notes really come into their own, but they do get lightened up by the lavender and that initial ginger kick.

Is Burberry Goddess worth the hype?

I’m not sure how much hype there is behind the fragrance. Is it the best perfume ever? No, but it might be your personal favorite. For me, I think that it’s a very good designer release with performance that’s kind of middle of the pack. I do enjoy the fragrance a lot, overall.

Why is Burberry Her so popular?

Well, this initial release I think got a lot of traction due to its similarities to BR 540, which is a best-selling fragrance. Though, Her is enjoyable in its own right. Plus, Burberry has released a bunch of flanker fragrances from this line which are also good. Thus, the popularity builds.