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!

11 Best Smelling Chocolate Scented Colognes for Men

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I’ve had this post in the queue for a few years, at this point, and never got around to finishing writing up my selections. So, I figured now was a good time to jump into the best smelling chocolate fragrances for men. I ended up picking eleven colognes or unisex perfumes, which feature either raw cacao or a more refined chocolate note as a main ingredient.

Note: I’ll come back and updated as needed. Some on the list might be older and now discontinued, but I’ve added newer releases that are still widely available and not insanely expensive.

What are the Best Chocolate Scented Fragrances for Men?

Unique Designer Cocoa

Jean Paul Gaultier Kokorico Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce– Cocoa mixed with an earthy and spicy patchouli note.

It calms down later, in the wear, but the opening can hit quite hard with an abundance of fig.

Some folks don’t care for fig at all. Personally, I love it, and think it fits in very well with the rest of the blend.

Kokorico then turns into a cacao and woody scent, smooth, and really quite distinct. There was a sweeter flanker version of this called Kokrico by Night, but it is really tough to find a bottle, after it was discontinued.

Update: This one can be difficult to find now, also.

Not Pure Chocolate, But Fantastic Fragrance

Christian Dior Dior Homme Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce– To me, the cacao is more noticeable in Dior Homme Intense rather than, the original. It takes on a powdered chocolate aroma, with dry cedar, vetiver, and of course iris surrounding the cacao note.

This isn’t a pure chocolate scent, by itself, but it does play a major role in this fragrance which is one of the best on the market. The opening act of this fragrance, is one of my favorites of all-time, and it also provides good performance. My Full Review

A Valentino Blend

Valentino Uomo FOR MEN by Valentino – 3.4 oz EDT Spray– Uomo isn’t a totally chocolate-led fragrance, but the note is there. However, it is going to be paired with bergamot, hazelnut and coffee notes, which further its gourmand stylings.

It does share a lot of similarities with Dior Intense and the old Dior Homme. Yet, it also does its own thing, and was enjoyable enough for me to grab a full bottle of.

The sweet creaminess and the juicy bergamot citrus is most apparent in the opening act. The later dry down will reveal more leather, coffee, and that nice chocolate facet. Don’t expect a complete chocolate takeover, but you will get plenty of it with this one, just blended.

Extreme Sweet

Bad Boy Extreme– I’ll put Bad Boy Extreme on the list, as I think that this is the best of the series. It does have a significant cacao note, but apparently Bad Boy Dazzling Garden, is more focused on that from what I understand. Haven’t yet tried that flanker, however.

This one is a blend of notes like cacao, plum, tonka bean, and ginger. It’s sweet, spicy, and fresh early on. But, once it hits the dry down I personally get a lot of the cacao and tonka bean working together.

Not a straight up chocolate fragrance, but one that should work well, if that’s what you’re looking for. Great performance and a cologne that could pretty easily find a spot in one’s scent rotation.

Nutty, Spiced, Cacao

Chelsea Nights by Bond No. 9– This perfume starts out with cacao and hazelnut coming on powerfully. 

The cacao note is the more noticeable of the two but the hazelnut is also present and adds a great nuttiness to the mix.

Chelsea Nights isn’t a a sweet and sugary fragrance. It’s got saffron, oud, a light rose, and myrrh. Yes, it’s sweet but it has a cinnamon sort of kick that comes through, warmth, a bit of smokiness floating underneath.

The end has a good deal of rich suede and vanilla. But, this comes across a leathery with the saffron note still being in the mix. It has settled down in terms of both spiciness and sweetness.

Smoother and creamy. Chelsea Nights hits so many different levels with its depth and is well worth checking out. Not a stand alone chocolate scent, but one with a good mix of other notes, to what we’re looking for.

Woods and Cocoa Bean

Giorgio Armani Emporio Armani Diamonds Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 1 Ounce– Cocoa bean, bergamot, and amber lead Emporio Armani Diamonds out of the gate. It is a brilliant trio, that isn’t to heavy but has a nice dynamic sweetness.

This then dries down with a woody base, but the chocolate remains freshly sweet. Nice performance and just a great scent. The citrus and cocoa bean opening is an amazing start, the warm amber note fills the heart of this scent.

Dry with a nice base of vetiver and guiac wood. Though, not too heavy and gives off a stylish and smooth aroma.

Cheapie Chocolate

Masaki Matsushima Chocolat Mat Eau de Parfum Spray, 2.7 Ounce– A really nice and inexpensive unisex chocolate perfume, which adds coconut, musk, and some creamy sandalwood to the dominant chocolate top note.

What’s great is that there is a bit of watermelon hidden in its depths, which emerges ever so gently, before folding back into the composition. Not great staying power, but one cheap enough to reapply.

High End Gourmand

Bond No. 9 So New York by Bond No. 9 Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3-Ounces– A pricier unisex fragrance from Bond No. 9, So New York, utilizes cocoa powder and espresso (with the former being dominant), to create a delicious and somewhat spicy scent.

It opens with a tart plum flanking those two notes and dries down with that role being played by patchouli. Rather simple, but quite nice.

Spiced Chocolate, but Discontinued

Polo Big Pony 2 By Ralph Lauren Edt .5 Oz- The whole Big Pony line from Ralph Lauren, were quite simple and straightforward colognes, and this is no different. Big Pony 2 takes cocoa and a spicy pepper/musk combo.

It’s quite a warm scent and the dry down is more of a chocolate and musk, with less of the initial pepper kick. You can still find some bottles around, but it is getting tougher.

Sweet Coffee and Chocolate

(Boticario Coffee (Man) Collection – Paradiso Eau De Toillete 3.38 Fl Oz)– A fresh and tropical blend of coffee and cacao, with amber and coconut. This one is sweet, with a cardamom spice, that isn’t too heavy but does give it a distinction away from being just a coffee cup smelling fragrance.

A great and masculine gourmand with a solid blend of chocolate aroma mixed with coffee beans.

Greed is Chocolate

MONTALE Chocolate Greedy Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 fl. oz.– Chocolate Greedy gives you a lovely chocolate aroma, that is supported by vanilla, and a hint of coffee.

The coffee is mostly around, at the start, but gets overtaken by a bitter orange.

Honestly, not personally a fan of the bitter orange note, but it ultimately isn’t too much of a distraction. As it dries down, it takes on more of a scent of chocolate baked goods, with its warmth.

Earlier it can smell more like a drier powdered dark chocolate. Which, this is a cacao note, but the vanilla and other notes add the creaminess.

Very good performance here. The aroma goes from baked goods to a creamier feel during the middle act. Not super sweet or sugary.

10 Best Almond Scented Perfumes

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Almond is a great note to add to a perfume. It’s one that we can almost all pick out, but it doesn’t get overused, and one who’s bittersweet aroma is easy to appreciate. In this post, I wanted to explore some options for ladies, who are looking for a great almond scented perfume. I have selected 10 potential options, which all bring a different use of this note, to the table.

Favorite Almond Perfumes for Women

Popular Almond Fragrance

GIRL OF NOW EDP 90ML– Elie Saab’s Girl of Now gives us a great popular designer option, for those wanting an almond based fragrance. The almond here is joined by tonka bean and pistachio.

It’s a solidly performing wear that is sweet and still retains the underlying femininity. The opening is quite fruity and nutty, with highlights of pistachio and the pear.

Now, the almond is present throughout, but it will grow in strength as the wear moves forward. Early on, it shares the stage more with the pistachio before fully taking over.

Girl of Now becomes very smooth and retains its sweetness. The fruity notes, loses strength during the duration of its life, but becomes replaced by a great tonka bean and the light floral touch of orange blossom.

Sweet Wintery Almond Blend

BURBERRY Brit for Women Eau de Toilette, 3.3 fl. oz
Another popular choice, Burberry Brit is a sweet, modern fragrance for ladies. It is best used during the colder months of the year, where it’s vanilla, almond, and rich tonka bean notes can really perform.

The lime top note, draws you in, before fading into the warm embrace of the rest of this comforting perfume. As it dries down, Brit’s sugary side really comes through with that beautiful almond note, being almost coated in it.

Later, its wood notes really solidify and take the fragrance, the rest of the way home.

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Milky Almonds

Whipped Almond by Mixbar– This is a very nice almond perfume, at a good price. Whipped Almond uses our target note in a lactonic blend paired with iris and milk.

It’s going to lead with the almond, but it will also be quite sweet in the opening act, before drying down into something woodier and creamy.

That initial burst, might scare some people off this perfume, it does get better.

Soft yet enveloping, you will get periods of powder from the iris note, but it’s honestly nothing too major. Not too complicated or loud, just a comforting vibe, with the ingredient presented in a great way.

Milky and Floral

Michael Kors Wonderlust Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Wonderlust is super smooth with a sweet almond milk note and light resin. Heliotrope is going to be the main floral attraction here, and while there is musk, it isn’t a heavy note within the perfume.

It is sweet, but not overly so, with a very light spice at times during the wear. An attractive perfume with good sillage and performance. The sandalwood and almond milk combination, definitely give off a creamy deliciousness.

This is probably a bit more powdery than Whipped Almond, listed above.

Heliotrope is great here, with additional jasmine.  Wonderlust is a gentle and warm fragrance, that is going to create a nice scent bubble around the wearer, and not choke out a room.

The Popular Dior

Hypnotic Poison by Christian Dior for Women 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
Warm, complex. seductive. This is one sexy fragrance and includes notes of sandalwood, vanilla, musk, almonds, moss, and many more.

There are many flankers from the Poison line of perfumes and this is the best of the bunch, in my opinion. You could also go for Poison Girl.

Yes, the others are also very nice too, and should be considered if you don’t want a warm gourmand-like fragrance such as Hypnotic Poison.

The vanilla and almond lead the way and offer a sweet, creamy, and nutty aroma. Sandalwood provides the main support, along with another sweet creamy note, in coconut.

Hypnotic Poison is quite bold and will last all day on one’s skin, without any issue. This is a warm and enveloping scent, so, be careful with over-spraying at the office or such places.

Juicy Pear and Almond

Valentino Donna Acqua for Women Eau De Toilette Spray 100 ml/3.4 Ounce– Valentino Donna Acqua is a more recent release, but is a really great almond based perfume. It kicks off, as a sweet scent with pear and our almond note.

You get that watery sort of pear juice smell, with the lovely bitterness of almond, to offset things.

The next phase, the floral notes come in. It’s the usual jasmine, but with frangipani, which is among my favorite floral notes.

Donna Acqua is sweet, while being tolerable, and not venturing completely into sugar high territory. It’s lightness and the juicy pear, give it the ‘aqua’ sense, without the sea notes. Much like the men’s version, which is also fantastic.

Smoky and Fiery

Le Baiser Du Dragon By Cartier For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 Ounces– It’s name translates to Kiss of the Dragon, so expect some intensity. La Baiser Du Dragon is a powerful scent, from the start, but a really attractive one.

It starts off as a blend of sweet, smoky, patchouli, and boozy. It’s very warm, fiery, The sweeter notes, neroli and orange, go together well with the smokiness and almond. All of this sits on top of a clean and dry vetiver note.

This Cartier perfume is a mix of oriental spice and gourmand sweetness. Kind of a modern version, of a classic perfume, yet it smells wholly unique. Le Baiser du Dragon Review

By the Silvery Moon

Silver Moon by Pacifica–  This one has similarities to Hypnotic Poison by Dior, as the main notes are: vanilla, spice, and almond.

But, this is a simpler scent when compared with the pricier designer fragrance.

It has a sugary sort of sweetness to open things up, along with that main vanilla note, and a slightly spicy kick. This doesn’t have the floral heart and depth of Hypnotic Poison, which may be something some of you might want.

Very warm scent, the almond is soft and not as bitter, with more of an approachable baked goods quality. Marzipan is closest to what it’s like. The dry down is creamier and smoother than that opening sugar rush, with a touch of musk.

Candied Almond Mix

Acqua Di Parma Blue Mediterraneo Mandorlo Di Sicilia Eau de Toilette Spray, 2.5 Ounce– One of the unisex entries on the list and while it does sit slightly more toward the feminine side, it is still a very nice scent for the cold weather.

Almond and vanilla are paired to create a warm and lightly enveloping aroma, that has a sweet candy-like quality.

This one reminds me of these little root beer candies, that I ate sometimes, as a child. Orange, almond, and the vanilla come together to give it a sweet, somewhat nutty, fizziness. Akin to carbonation.

Mandorlo is fresh and dries down, mostly as vanilla, with a powdered sugar quality. The sillage is fairly light, but it can last for 6-7 hours, on my skin.  My Full Review is Here

Cherry and Almond Liqueur 

Tom Ford LOST CHERRY Eau De Parfum – 1.7 oz (50 ml)–  Lost Cherry by Tom Ford is a unique perfume, where cherry is the highlight, but almond plays a big role.

The cherry note is sour, gets paired with a sweet liqueur, and almond. Frankly, it’s a delicious combination, that really seems to get better.

The sourness, gets sweeter and creamier, with the introduction of the vanilla and tonka bean. With cedar and sandalwood, giving it a dry and fresh base.

The almond here, will probably come across differently from the others on the list. It is a part of the liqueur and comes across as a nice bitter additive to a drink. Still great, even in this form.

10 Best Givenchy Colognes for Men

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Givenchy is a French design house with plenty of history behind it and of course a great legacy of producing some fantastic scents for both men and women.

For this list, I have selected 10 of what I feel are the top smelling colognes by Givenchy, that they have produced. I have updated things to provide more options, as some have been discontinued, since I originally published this page.

Favorite Men’s Fragrances by Givenchy

Most Popular/Best Seller

Pi By Givenchy For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces
A sweet blend of vanilla and almond with underlying notes of cedar, rosemary, and mandarin to give it a dash of woodsy and citrus flavor.

Pi is another very good option for those who enjoy vanilla (along with Le Male and Opium) and is best served for use in winter. Longevity is pretty hit or miss.

The newer bottles do feel quite a bit different, than the older ones, that I remember. It does still have that great vanilla and almond combination with some boozy flourishes. Though, it feels like its lost a step.

pi

Privee Entry

Gentleman Reserve Privee- Other people seem to love this one much more than I do. I think it’s a good fragrance with an astonishingly good opening act. After that, it’s nice, but still worth checking out.

Reserve Privee kicks things off with bergamot citrus, whiskey, and chestnut. The iris note is also present, giving this Givenchy fragrance a classy floral touch. But, the whiskey with the nuttiness and the bergamot is so freaking good.

As it dries down, it becomes more about the iris, amber, and wood notes. The chestnut seems more like a chocolatey aroma than nutty. It’s all dry, warm, and that dynamic booziness that I liked it gone.

Nonetheless, this is a good cologne at the very least and might be some guys favorite signature fragrance. The performance is solid and this is one you should try. Reserve Privee full review

The Other Gentleman

Gentleman EDP– I’m kind of late to this one, but it’s definitely deserving of a spot on the list. Personally, I wasn’t too excited about trying EDP, since the EDT version wasn’t super impressive. This one is.

Gentleman EDP is thoroughly great and might be better for some guys versus Reserve Privee. The iris note gets it compared to Dior Homme Intense and Valentino Intense, but it is a distinct fragrance from both of them. Better than the Valentino, I think.

That iris note is joined by some spiciness, benzoin, woody notes in the dry down, and the creaminess of vanilla (with a nice helping of tonka bean, also). Not super heavy, with its light citrus top note, but one that’s going to be an autumn and winter wear.

The performance is good, doesn’t disappoint me, in that regard. Gentleman EDP is a crowd pleaser, that’s sure to get complements and is super easy to wear in most cold weather scenarios.

Extremely Good

Gentleman Society Extreme– This has quickly become a favorite for me in 2024. I wasn’t too enthralled with original Society issuance, but this Extreme version is awesome.

Peppermint, nutmeg, and iced coffee really help to separate this one and give it a better balance than the EDP.

It’s cold and fresh, joined by the sage note and vanilla. It’s for sure got an iced coffee vibe to it, but one that’s got some extra flavor mixed in.

More iris and less of the sage and daffodil, found in the original Society. Obviously, there are overlaps, but this is a better formula with even better performance. Society Extreme is a winner. Society Extreme review

Boisee 

Gentleman EDP Boisee– Coriander and black pepper give Boisee a fresher start than might be expected from an iris based cologne. This flanker is a really great entry from Givenchy and is an option for those who want a woodier edition.

Cocoa bean and patchouli as further depth do Gentleman Boisee, but really this one is going to be about the iris, sandalwood, and cedar in the latter stages of the wear.

It has plenty of similarities with the original EDP listed above. However, I think that I prefer this one and the earlier freshness and later woods.

Performance is adequate, but Boisee smells great and is an easy one to wear in a variety of situations. Gentleman Boisee review

Sweet, Smooth, and Masculine (Discontinued)

Gentlemen Only Intense– Gentlemen Only Intense, is to me, the best release from the Gentlemen Only line that Givenchy released over the past 5-6 years. This one opens up with a smooth, warm, and sweet aroma.

Tonka bean, leather, and amber lead the way. This is an opening act which definitely draws me in, as these are some of my favorite notes, used in men’s fragrances. It is noticeably sweeter than the original Gentlemen Only, with less of the fresh spiciness, at least initially.

Though, you will get mint, pink pepper, and some mandarin orange like the original.

As it dries down, you will get more woody/smoky aromas coming through. But, the entire thing remains smooth with a masculine sweetness. The main downside here, is the longevity and overall sillage. It’s actually a moderate scent and not really ‘intense’.

This has been discontinued, but it is one that is worthwhile, if you can find a cheap bottle online. Gentlemen Only Intense Review

gentlemen only intense

Classic Givenchy

Givenchy Gentlemen Only Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 100ml, 3.3 Ounce
A classic fragrance which dates back to the 1970s, Gentleman, is a spicy/woodsy scent with notes of patchouli and leather as its highlights.

It is mature and refined with a citrus note that adds some sweetness to the mix.

Gentlemen opens up with a big and bold punch. Spice with citrus and that underlying earthy woodiness, that will come to dominate later on. Oh, along with the usual leather note.

This is probably best served by being worn by a mature man or just a guy who’s style can compliment a blast from the past. Still a powerhouse.

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Most Unique Givenchy Cologne

Xeryus Rouge for Men by Givenchy 3.3oz 100ml EDT Spray
Xeryus Rouge seems to be a different beast all together. To start with the notes include things like cactus, geranium, and pimento to go along with staples such as cedar and sandalwood.

Secondly, it has that exotic and oriental type of quality to it…it’s spicy yet fresh and slightly aquatic. Xeryus Rouge is just unique and is the type of special cologne that can set a man apart from the crowd.

It has sweetness, spice, and a total freshness. This has been around for decades now and is completely underrated, in my opinion. The red bottle really does fit the character of this one. It’s hot and smooth, with herbal highlights. Great stuff.

Balanced Daily Wear

Givenchy Pour Homme by Givenchy For Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.3 Ounce
Notes include cedar, tangerine, coriander, and grapefruit. A light citrus/woodsy smell that is very clean and crisp.

The cedar note leads things here and is paired mainly with the tangerine, with a bit of grapefruit.

Beyond that you get the dry woodsy aroma, with some spicy coriander, to give Givenchy Pour Homme an edge. Good daily wear option.

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Fresh Summer Spice

Givenchy Pour Homme Cologne, Blue Label, 3.4 Ounce
Another citrus and woodsy effort, though, done better than the scent above. This is a scent built for the summertime with notes of grapefruit, bergamot, tangerine, pepper, cedar, and vetiver.

Obviously, these two have plenty of overlap between them, go with this one if you prefer more of the citrus air versus being led by cedar. That’s not to say, that Blue Label smells like Pour Homme, it doesn’t really.

Blue label has a sweet fruity top and then transitions into woodsy, with a pepper and cardamom blend, to give it some spiciness.

givenchyblue

xeryus rouge review

11 Best Smelling Burberry Perfumes for Women

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Burberry is an English design house which is known for its distinctive check pattern and is now becoming very well known  for its line of fantastic fragrances for both men and women.

Burberry perfumes are fashionable and usually best suited for everyday wear, the sensuality is subtle in these fragrances but it is definitely there.

For this list, I have chosen the 11 best Burberry perfumes for women, in my opinion. I will present them as my favorite picks and then add some honorable mentions.

Each one of them, brings something different to the table and will fit well with a particular woman’s style and chemistry.

Favorite Women’s Fragrances by Burberry

her edp vs edt

Best Overall Burberry Perfume

BURBERRY London for Women Eau de Parfum, 3.3 fl. oz
The men’s version of London is a deep, woodsy, spicy, and highly masculine fragrance. The women’s version of London is something quite different but equally attractive. Rose and honeysuckle really dominate at the start of the wear.

However, it is a very well-blended, floral arrangement. Then, these notes are joined by a juicy tangerine, that gives Burberry London a citrus zest.

Even with the tangerine note having its moment to shine within the composition, this is still more of a floral perfume. Peony and especially jasmine add to the bouquet effect as the fragrance dries down, along with some slight musky spice/sandalwood.

London is a great performer, which will give one an all day, 8+ hour longevity and nice sillage.  Burberry London full Review

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Top Burberry Her Scent

Burberry Her Intense– Burberry Her Intense is one for the lovers of sweet fruity fragrances. This one has a lovely blackberry leading the way, flanked by other berry scents. What gives it some distinction is the benzoin note, in the base, which creates a syrupy kind of finish to the fruits.

The original Burberry Her, is more of a BR 540 sort of aroma, in comparison. However, I like Her Intense better as a perfume. While the berries aren’t photorealistic in how they smell, I do enjoy the dynamism from the start and the performance overall.

The dry down is going to consist of the jasmine and benzoin notes, with the berry sweetness still lingering, just with less punch.

To me, none of the Burberry Her releases have been really great, but Intense can claim a spot on this list for sure.

Another Her

Her EDT by Burberry– The EDT version is my next favorite perfume from the Her lineup thus far. Though, it’s not too far ahead of the next in line.

Pear, black currant, and strawberry start things off. It’s mostly going to be about that pear note and this has more of the black currant than does the EDP.

Lily of the valley and peony will quickly emerge as the floral heart. I don’t like the opening act as much as the EDP, but the rest of the way is more interesting to me.

Plus, the performance isn’t too far behind the longevity and power of the eau de parfum edition.

Most Popular Fragrance

BURBERRY Brit for Women Eau de Toilette, 3.3 fl. oz
Another popular choice, Burberry Brit is a sweet, modern fragrance for ladies. It is best used during the colder months of the year, where it’s vanilla, almond, and rich tonka bean notes can really perform.

The lime top note, draws you in, before fading into the warm embrace of the rest of this comforting perfume.

As it dries down, Brit’s sugary side really comes through with that beautiful almond note, being almost coated in it.

Later, its wood notes really solidify and take the fragrance, the rest of the way home.

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Another Mainstream Hit

Goddess EDP by Burberry– Goddess EDP isn’t a super unique perfume, but it is a very good one, that has plenty of appeal.

Gourmand and fresh led by an opening of vanilla and ginger. Not too heavy, but sweet, and some cacao will also move into the picture rather early.

To me, this isn’t a warm or enveloping gourmand fragrance. It feels kind of cold and the lighter aspects stick around well. Lavender and vanilla are the main notes. Jasmine, tonka bean, and patchouli round things out.

Just know that Goddess is mostly a vanilla-centric perfume. So, if that’s not your style, you can probably avoid it. This should be a popular scent for a long time, just based on the public reaction to it thus far. Goddess EDP review

The My Burberry Pick

My Burberry Black– Now, I’m not a huge fan of the My Burberry line, but Black is the best of the bunch and worth a shot (Blush, is also pretty good).

My Burberry Black gives you a nice mix of jasmine, candied sweetness, and a lovely peachy top to open things up. As it dries down, there is a well-behaved patchouli note swimming in a pool of rich amber.

The rose and jasmine notes are present, but they actually take a backseat to the rest of the bunch. Early on, I get more jasmine. Then, more rose in the latter stages.

It’s not a super massive bomb of a perfume, but you get plenty of strength and a long lasting wear.

Best Burberry for Summer

BURBERRY The Beat for Women Eau de Parfum, 1.7 fl. oz
The Beat is a change of pace from the rest of the scents on this list. It doesn’t have that usual fruit or floral dominance and is instead highlighted by a tea note.

This along with the other ingredients, gives this particular Burberry fragrance a fresh and spicy quality.

The pink pepper isn’t a heavy spice, but it helps to shape The Beat into an herbal green and woody aroma, at times.

Also, it has added depth from cardamom, orange, and a solid iris note. What a unique personality this one has and works extremely well during the summertime.

burberry the beat

Best Unique and Classy Scent

BURBERRY Touch for Women Eau de Parfum, 1.0 fl.oz– The Beat is a different scent from Burberry, but Touch for Women, is kind of in its own zone entirely. One of its main notes is red pepper, which you don’t see often, in a ladies fragrance.

However, it is still soft and has fruity highlights with berries and the ubiquitous Burberry peach.

Touch is light and feminine but has woodsy/earthy moments that include cedar, among other notes. This is nice and a safe bet for school, work, or casual occasions.

Touch isn’t going to overpower, but it delivers an experience that stands alone while being somewhat familiar.

burberry touch

Other Great Options (Honorable Mentions)

BURBERRY for Women Eau de Parfum, 3.3 fl oz
The original and formerly most popular of the Burberry scents for women since being released in the mid 1990s.

Burberry for Women is a softer fragrance, with a lovely opening of peach and vanilla notes, that is later followed by a woody base.

It’s mostly a fruity type of scent but it doesn’t have a super candy-like sweetness, as some other fruity perfumes do. The peach is flanked by pear and apricot notes that subtly come out during wear.

The vanilla and fruit combo gives off an overall creamy/powdery type of aroma, that’s quite beautiful, and suitable for everyday wear. Its clean profile allows Burberry for Women to shine in a versatile amount of occasions from casual to dressed up.

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BURBERRY Body for Women Eau de Parfum, 2.0 oz
Burberry Body hits right off the bat, with a wonderful peach note, that is flanked by rose and musk. Initially, that creamy fruit scent is what it’s all about, until about ten minutes in and a shift takes place.

From that point, Body becomes much more floral with the rose note, and iris. It’s kept together with additional vanilla and sandalwood notes, but the overall composition is warm and floral.

This is an ideal casual or office wear scent, as it gives great performance, and works well in moderate temperatures.  Burberry Body Full Review

burberry body

BURBERRY Weekend for Women Eau de Parfum, 1.0 fl.oz
Burberry Weekend is a feminine and energetic perfume, that’s also been around since the late 90s, and still manages to have a loyal following.

Weekend has a nice developing character, throughout the wear, and starts off with that unique hyacinth floral paired with citrus. This is a very fresh and clean scent with a bit of a watery/aquatic element hiding underneath. Weekend Review

burberry weekend

8 Best Smelling Gucci Colognes

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Beyond the other fashion products Gucci creates, it has a very popular line of fragrances for men and women. Its colognes offer a blend of unique scents that remain masculine and versatile to fit a consumer’s lifestyle.

While there are plenty of options for a man to choose from among the Gucci line of colognes, I wanted to focus on what I feel are the best perfumes pour homme from this Italian design house.

As of now, I have narrowed things down to eight scents for him, which are Gucci’s current greatest.

This list is not in order, as it is of course personal preference which scent smells the best, however, this is what I consider to be the cream of the crop. I have updated this list in 2024, to add to the original post from 2013, and change up the picks slightly.

Favorite Fragrances for Men by Gucci

Best Guilty Fragrance (Tie) and Top Summer Pick

1. Gucci Guilty Black Pour Homme Fragrance Collection 3.0-oz. Eau de Toilette– One of the many flanker fragrances to stem from the Guilty namesake, Guilty Black is possibly my favorite (it’s a toss of with this and Intense).

Note: They’ve renamed this one, Guilty Essence.

Back in 2014-2015, I would wear this one all of the time, as I found it to be quite captivating and refreshing on my skin.

Guilty Black Pour Homme doesn’t have the same distinct citrus opening, as the main versions of Guilty, but it shares a sensibility. It is very well blended with the familiar scent of coriander and lavender being rather distinct.

It does have floral heart and a woody base. Orange blossom and neroli, are very present after the initial opening. I get a ton of orange blossom on my skin, some nice lavender, and greenish ingredients.

Guilty Black always had great staying power on me and also a very good ability to project without being overpowering at all. Still a very attractive scent and one that exceeded the others using this name. Guilty Black Review

Best Daily Wear Gucci Fragrance

2. Gucci Guilty Intense Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3 Ounce– Guilty Intense is a fresh and clean scent, which delivers a unique scent for guys who demand a signature fragrance. Mandarin, pink pepper, lilac, amber, and other ingredients in the notes blend well to produce a memorable experience.

Note: This has now been discontinued.

This one is better than the original Guilty, in my opinion. It doesn’t have as much of the lemon note from the start, but instead goes heavier on the lavender and amber. Again, I go back and forth between this and Black, but Intense gives me a nice amber finish to its citrus start.

It’s warm and bright with just hints of spice from light coriander and patchouli poking through the aroma. It is quite a linear scent, the dry down essentially adds some floral notes to the mix (orange blossom and neroli) that helps to further develop that citrus feel.

The sillage is on the upper end of moderate and I can get 7-8 hours of solid wear out of Guilty Intense. One of its strengths, is that, this fragrance can pretty much be worn year round and can go from office to date night without issue. It’s an all around solid scent. Guilty Intense Review

Best Winter Perfume for Men

3. Gucci for Men Eau de Toilette Spray, 3 Ounce– This namesake fragrance delivers a woodsy aroma, which is both highly masculine and sensual. Bergamot, Cyprus and violet notes open the scent followed by tobacco leaves and jasmine before the final note which includes amber settles in.

A gorgeous fragrance that would be a welcome addition to any man’s cologne collection. The tobacco is the main draw here, not a heavy scent, but light and exudes confidence.

Gucci for Men is very dry and green, cypress and violet, flanker the tobacco note and you have several other outdoorsy ingredients supporting the structure.

From what I understand, this one might have been reformulated, so I cannot speak to its current performance. The older bottles were never beasts in terms of sillage (more light to moderate), but always had good longevity.

Top Versatile Pick

4. Gucci Pour Homme Ii By Gucci For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz.– This Gucci fragrance is clean and never overpowering. There is a bit of spice to it but people will be wondering what exactly it is you’re wearing.

Pour Homme II opens up with that familiar citrus note, bergamot, but one quickly realizes that you are going to get a unique experience with notes of cinnamon, violet leaf, black tea, and pimento.

At times, it is smooth, others spicy, quite floral, and then feels green and herbal. Gucci II is a very subtle wear, not weak, but it’s never one that is going to choke out the room. You will catch it wafting up to your nose throughout the day and get that feeling of, “Damn, I smell good.”

You’ll probably have to find this Gucci scent online, as I haven’t seen it in a physical store, in quite some time. Still plenty of bottles, though, and it’s a damn good fragrance.

Best Unique Cologne and Longest Lasting Gucci

5. Gucci Guilty Absolute Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3 Ounce– The flankers to Guilty that have been coming out as of late, have been quite different from the original scents.

Guilty Absolute is definitely a new experience for the brand, but what I think is the best of the newer flankers.

Now, this is really powerful, masculine, and intense. So, it isn’t a cologne which will work for everybody. It opens with a nice leather and very earthy patchouli note, packing a punch right from the start.

However, as it dries down it really does actually get drier with notes of cypress and golden wood, taking over much of the composition.

The finale is a blend of the leather and cypress note, with a strong sillage, and double digit hour wear time. Guilty Absolute, isn’t going to be one that appeals to everybody.

In fact, some guys will find it overwhelming at times. Nonetheless, it offers something different and niche, that some men will swear by it. Read my Guilty Absolute Review

Interesting Guilty Flanker

6. Gucci Guilty Love Edition by Gucci Eau De Toilette Spray 3 oz Men– So, I tried this and the newer EDP version of Guilty, and I actually prefer this one. I do really like the opening act of EDP, but it pretty much just dries down to a flatter version of the original with rose on top.

Meanwhile, Love Edtion opens up with a delicious mix of kumquat and orange, making this a nice zesty option for the spring and summer months.

It actually reminds me of having a similar style to Chanel Allure Blanc, with its pink pepper, vetiver, and other dry elements. The difference being, the Chanel has a vanilla finish and lemon, while Guilty Love Edition is soapier and floral.

I really dig the combination of ginger and pink pepper. The lavender is nice and, this does have some overlap with Guilty Black, yet retains its own style. The performance isn’t amazing, but I really enjoyed this one. Guilty Love Edition review

Replacement for Guilty Intense

7. Guilty Pour Homme Parfum by Gucci (Macy’s)– This is a new release for 2022, has a lot in common with Guilty Intense, but is a more refined and better version. I bought a full bottle upon release and have been really enjoying this Gucci perfume.

To me, it is already one of the best Guilty colognes from the series. It opens up with, a lemon peel-like zest, nutmeg, and juniper notes. It is less of a pure citrus play versus others in the series, but has a delightful aromatic quality to it.

Guilty Pour Homme Parfum is a balance of all the signature Guilty aromas; from floral to citrus to fresh, but with more woodsy influence. 7-8 hours of performance, but pretty darn solid all around. Read my full review (or video below).

Eighth Elixir

Guilty Elixir– Personally, I think Elixir Pour Homme is overrated. That being said, it’s mostly a fine cologne, that other people like way more than me.

Pimento and nutmeg lead things off with a spiciness, but the vanilla and iris notes are really going to shine in this one. It’s got a bit of a kick, but the fuzziness of the benzoin note prevents it from going too far into that direction.

Floral, powdery, a bit sweet, warm with an amber. That’s about what you get from Gucci Guilty Elixir.

I really like the opening act, but it’s somewhat bland to me after that. I will say that the performance here is good. So, even though this is an expensive one, it does a solid job at sticking around.

It’s different from the rest of the series and kind of unisex. Enjoyable enough, but not something I’m crazy for. Guilty Elixir review

Other Discontinued Gucci Colognes that were great:

Gucci Rush

Gucci Envy

There you have it the short list of the best men’s colognes by Gucci. This design house has had many winners over the years, Rush, Envy, and Pour Homme, are all wonderful choices if you can still find a bottle of them.

However, the ones that are still in production should add some luxury to any man’s toilette and keep him smelling great.