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!

8 Best Smelling Lacoste Colognes for Men

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Lacoste is a sporty brand which has its roots in the tennis world from its very foundation. It is famous for its alligator logo which is often emblazoned onto polo shirts.

Today, I’d like to take a closer look at their men’s fragrance line and present the best cologne options for guys by Lacoste. Also see: Best Lacoste Perfumes for Women

What are the Best Perfumes for Men by Lacoste?

Top Lacoste for Summer

Lacoste Essential Eau de Toilette for Men, 4.2 fl. oz.
A fresh and fun scent that is a great casual wear during the warmer months of the year. Essential blends citrus and more woodsy/earthy notes to create a real memorable fragrance for men.

The citrus notes are most noticeable at the top, but the notes are none too sharp. Bergamot and tangerine give it that sparkling personality.

As it moves forward, Lacoste Essential takes on its super fresh and sort of soapy aroma. It features green leafy notes with a hint of peppery spice and patchouli. This is a lighter wear with a zesty citrus and an interesting tomato leaf.

The whole thing is pretty blended, so it can be difficult to distinguish notes at times. The projection is just okay, but the smell is great. Spring and summertime wear for casual or work days.  Lacoste Essential Review

lacoste essential

Great New Lacoste Cologne

L.12.12 Blanc Eau Fraiche– While this does have the Blanc name, Eau Fraiche is pretty different from the original. They share the grapefruit note, but this one also has lemon, ginger, apple, and lavender rounding things out.

It’s a very fresh citrus scent with some additional spice and dry woods in the base. Much less floral than Blanc. This is a great under the radar fragrance for the spring and summer months..

The dry down is mostly made up of the remaining citrus, cedar, vetiver, and the juniper note that still hangs around. Oh and the ambroxan, that isn’t too massive in this composition. Pretty good performance for this sort of grapefruit/lemon based cologne.

Fresh Citrus and Woods

Lacoste L’homme Intense Eau De Toilette, 3.3 oz– Citrus and rhubarb open up L’Homme Intense by Lacoste, which sort of reminds me of Hugo Red, but this one is much sweeter than that Boss cologne.

I liked this one upon first trying, but it eventually grew into a fragrance that I enjoyed quite a lot. Lacoste calls it a woody spicy fragrance, but to me, it’s sweet/fresh spice/woods. Ginger and black pepper come through early on, but the spice isn’t overly loud.

As it dries down, it does become woodier, but the orange and rhubarb add a unique vibe to this one. Performance is better than L’Homme Lacoste, but still not amazing, and it’s sillage isn’t super ‘intense’. But for an all around wear for spring and summer Intense does a lot very well.

Match Point

Match Point EDT– This one has the same rhubarb as Intense (above), but the note is much more toned down in this mix, in favor of orange.

Though, it’s not a complete citrus bomb either. It’s somewhat sweet at times, floral at others, balanced, and fresh.

Good for the warmer months of the year, Match Point EDT will become woodier as you mover further along into the wear. Just some ambroxan, but again nothing dominates. It’s not as punchy as Intense and leans sweeter.

The sage and vetiver really keep this one feeling clean when paired with the floral notes in the heart.

Best Pick for Winter

Lacoste Pour Homme Eau de Toilette for Men, 3.3 fl. oz.
A wonderful masculine blend of fruity and woodsy notes by Lacoste. It’s a light scent that will work great for guys in the springtime. Notes include: cinnamom, apple, juniper, rum, vanilla and plum. 

Lacoste Pour Homme kicks off with an awesome plum note, which is paired with citrus and crisp apple. The latter notes, aren’t particularly strong, but do complement the tartness of the plum very nicely.

It becomes warmer and sweeter, with rum and vanilla, peaking through a few minutes in. No worries about the rum note, it’s not powerful enough to turn this one into a boozy cologne.

The sillage is a lighter moderate, which makes it safe for office wear, and does have a fresher profile. Plum and vanilla, with some light spices, and a nice woody base.

lacoste

Most Unique Fragrance

Lacoste Style in Play Eau de Toilette for Men, 2.5 fl. oz.
A light, long-lasting, and refreshing smell that is a real crowd pleaser. It is inviting and and can strike a chord in a variety of situations. Notes include: patchouli, jasmine, green apple, cedar leaves, white musk, vetiver, and woods. 

Style in Play changes things up, from the rest of the pack, with its woodsy aroma blended with a similar apple note to Lacoste Pour Homme. However, that apple is amped up to give Style in Play a fruity balance to the greenish and fresh woods found in its heart.

The dry down, becomes muskier, but the pine and cedar notes remain to keep this one clean and attractive. This is actually a pretty unique cologne, for a mainstream brand, but doesn’t ever become unlikable.

in play red

Most Popular Lacoste

Lacoste Eau De Lacoste Blanc for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.3 Ounce
Blanc is not an overpowering scent by any means but one with a great deal of mystery and seductive allure to it. Blanc is a fantastic mixture of citrus and woodsy notes, that is wholly masculine.

The grapefruit note leads the opening and does so with a lot of energy. I love how positive and upbeat, wearing this one, makes me feel. It is joined by a cedar/suede combination and some light floral aroma, provided by tuberose and ylang-ylang.

Those florals aren’t too heavy, but it is nice to see them being used in a men’s fragrance.

I think that this is my favorite cologne from the L.12.12. line of scents. It has a bright grapefruit note, enough sweetness, and some earthy qualities to give it more substance.

It really utilizes ylang-ylang and tuberose well, but keeps its smooth masculine bonafides, with leather and suede.  Lacoste Blanc Review

eau blanc

Best Spicy/Herbal Fragrance

Lacoste Eau de Lacoste L.12.12 Rouge Eau de Toilette for Men, 3.3 fl. oz.
Rouge is a really great cologne for men that has a spicier profile than the other Lacoste fragrances on this list. It has notes from across the spectrum from citrus to woodsy to that spice. Not overpowering.

Update: This has been discontinued it seems. There are still bottles as of now, but Dua has their release, called: Rouge Croc. If you need an alternative.

L.12.12. Rouge, opens up with a very unique use of fruity notes, that is paired with tea. Mango is a delicious note, it is joined by a syrupy orange liqueur, and an herbal tea note. This one feels quite clean and warm, cardamom is very present at times, with a spiciness from pepper and a bit of ginger.

My favorite part of this fragrance is the dry down. It becomes woodsy, earthy, and spicy. Still, the fruit notes hang around, but it all just works much better.

I wish this one had a bit more power, because it would be an excellent wear for the summertime. Though, if you can get it cheap, Rouge is worth a try.

It is interesting in that is uses mango along with orange liqueur and tea. This creates a unique vibe and summery opening, before being joined by spicy pepper and cardamom.  Notes include: Rooibos Tea, Mandarin Orange, Mango, Pepper, Cardamom, And Woodsy Notes. Lacoste Rouge Full Review

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11 Best Smelling Creed Colognes for Men

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Creed is a boutique fragrance designer that caters to the luxury crowd. Since it’s inception in the 18th century, Creed has been a renowned designer for those who seek unique and painstakingly crafted scents.

Much of it’s clientele throughout its history has been European royalty and other families residing on the upper crust of society. At least, that’s the story they tell.

Maybe much of that is marketing or legend, but the brand does provide some amazing colognes. I am going to list 11 Creed fragrances for men, which I feel are the best, after testing them out over the years.

Favorite Creed Fragrances for Him

I have now updated this page for 2024. In this iteration, I have added another cologne to the list, after spending more time with it, and really beginning to appreciate the aroma.

Secondly, I have added more info on each Creed scent, and linked to my personal review of these individual fragrances.

Since I wrote the original version of this page about 6 years ago, I have also reviewed many other fragrances by Creed, which can be found on this page: Best Men’s Cologne Reviews Page  Also, check out: Top Creed Scents for Ladies

Most Popular Creed Scent

Creed Aventus by Creed Eau De Parfum Spray for Men, 2.50-Ounce– I never really liked the opening act of Aventus, as it comes across as too harsh on my skin. The bergamot and citrus, really hits hard, but when it begins to dry down Aventus develops into something great.

The pineapple is sharp, it has a dry woody/smokiness provided by birch, and ambergris/vanilla bringing up the rear in the latter stages.  The pineapple tones down after the opening, and the dry birch and oak moss, really come into their own here.

Creed Aventus is at times sweet with vanilla undertones, then, dry and smoky. This one has a complexity, that you can fully appreciate, the more times that you wear it. All in all, Aventus is one the most balanced and enjoyed scents out on the market.

Maybe it’s over hyped, at this point, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great cologne. It had to become a best-seller for a reason, it wasn’t all ‘just hype’. Here is my review on Aventus

aventus

For Men and Women

Delphinus by Creed– This is a newer release to make the list. It’s better than Absolu Aventus and edges out Centarus for me. Even though, I like both of them.

I have to say, if you want a masculine fragrance, don’t go for this one. It’s powdery, floral, and definitely falls in the unisex category.

That being said, this isn’t a complete iris bomb to me. This heliotrope sticks out more, Delphinus has an initial sweetness/spice, with a warm vanilla and slight amber in the dry down.

Rich orris with a nuttiness from the almond note, gives it similarities to some other scents out there, but Delphinus is a fairly unique one from Creed. Powdery with an underlying waxy sort of aroma for stretches.

I would try to sample this Creed fragrance, if possible. At least before you commit to a full bottle. Note: Alternatively, you could go with Dua’s ‘inspired by’ perfume: Cosmic Sky of Amber.

Best Pure Vanilla Fragrance

Sublime Vanille by Creed– This fragrance is very expensive, even by Creed standards. Also, its performance isn’t the best. However, Sublime Vanille might have the best vanilla note that I’ve ever come across. It’s delicious.

It is a pretty simple fragrance. Vanilla, is joined by lemon and orange, to give it a sweet citrus creamsicle vibe. Very syrupy with a light hint of musk coming through towards the end. Not much development, but the aroma is great.

Sublime Vanille is more of a niche pick from this brand. Though, if you love vanilla, this could be a great pick for men or women.

Top Fresh Fragrance by Creed

Creed Silver Mountain Eau De Parfum Spray for Men by Creed, 4 Ounce– Silver Mountain Water is a fragrance for those guys who want something super clean, with a cold and crisp bite. It opens up with a lush citrus accord of bergamot and mandarin orange. Sort of close to Imperial Millesime, in the beginning.

Later, it can become a bit more herbal, especially when the green tea note emerges fully. SMW is a great choice for the springtime, features the same black currant note found in Aventus, while going in its own direction.

This is a very refreshing wear, in my experience, but with fairly average longevity and moderate sillage. However, its aroma alone, gets Silver Mountain Water a spot on the list. Silver Mountain Water Review

silver mountain

Popular Clean Scent

Green Irish Tweed By Creed For Men- Green Irish Tweed is right up there with Aventus, as one of the most popular colognes by Creed. It starts off with lemon verbena, but dries down as a fresh woody scent.

Though, the wood is present throughout. Sandalwood, is the most noticeable of the woods.

Once past the opening stages, I think that this really comes into its own, and the citrus/wood balance becomes really nice.

GIT often gets compared with Cool Water by Davidoff, but to me, that similar smell is only for part of the wear. Cool Water is much more aquatic, also.  Plus, the Creed does it better.

Green Irish Tweed has a bit of a blend between soapy and powdery, during its dry down. This is probably my favorite part of the wear. The performance is really quite nice.

The sillage is strong enough to be noticeable, but not overwhelming. Plus, it will last long enough for a full work day.  Review of Green Irish Tweed

green irish tweed

The Oud Option

Royal Oud by Creed– Oud, as a note, can be hit or miss for people. This is a nice blended example of the note, where it isn’t too heavy or too dominant in the mix.

Royal Oud actually starts off with a burst of bergamot and lime, which is joined by a light and warm pink pepper note, to keep things interesting. Early on, it is citrusy and has that nice spicy kick too it, but not overwhelming.

As it dries down, it becomes woodier. The oud is the main attraction, but there is also a nice cedar freshness in there. Musk and sandalwood round things out. Though, the latter isn’t too heavy in the mix.

To me, it kind of splits between the oud, musk, and cedar during the late stages. The sillage itself isn’t too heavy, but Royal Oud does have a good performance, while not blowing out the room. 

Very nice classy fragrance, that is more suited for formal or special occasions. I like this one, but for a lot of people, they consider Royal Oud to be Creed’s best.

Great Vetiver Fragrance

Creed Original Vetiver Men Millesime Spray, 4 Ounce – Creed Original Vetiver is a scent I overlooked on the first iteration of this list…my mistake. This is a hyper clean and masculine use of vetiver and citrus with a classic soapy quality.

I always feel energized after applying Original Vetiver, as the fragrance just seems to strike an upbeat and positive chord.

It’s not a complex sort of cologne, rather, it is linear but everything that it needs to be. This vetiver is a modern style with an older soul. Solid choice for business or casual wear. It all comes together as very clean, with good performance that will last a full work day.

The opening citrus is bright and really a highlight of this fragrance. There is some iris and sandalwood, in here as well, but they definitely don’t hit the same heights as the citrus and vetiver. Original Vetiver Review

Top Woody Fragrance

CREED BOIS DU PORTUGAL by Creed EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 4 OZ – Bois du Portugal gets lost in the shuffle of Creed offerings, I feel. It does air on the side of being mature, somewhat old school, with a spicy masculine finish.

It opens up with bergamot and sandalwood, feels like a usual Creed fragrance, before it shifts into its own thing.

Bois du portugal is woody and warm, I love when the cedar and lavender come in to join the sandalwood. It’s clean while having an outdoorsy quality, to its aroma.

During the middle part of the wear, it can become difficult to distinguish between notes, as it has such a superior blend. Simple yet elegant.

Bois du Portugal goes from a citrus and sandalwood opening, to losing much of the citrus, and becoming a clean somewhat spicy woody fragrance. It definitely gives you something different, from most other popular scents, on the market. Bois du Portugal Full Review

bois du portugal

Best Classic Style Fragrance

Tabarome By Creed For Men. Millesime Spray 4.0 Oz.– Tabarome is another one that sort of sits under the radar. It opens up with ginger, which is one of my favorite light spices. Then, Tabarome further develops with jasmine, musk, and a greenish tobacco plant note.

The tobacco note actually is more like a growing tobacco plant, and less of what you would pack into a pipe before smoking. It’s a green note that is joined by the bergamot citrus, the ambergris, and a bit of sensuous leather.

The leather and tobacco finish is smooth, with a blend of spicy/sweet notes flanking everything. Ginger with tobacco and leather? Absolutely great. 

Ultimately, it’s all of that, some ambergris, on top of a sandalwood base. Read my full Tabarome Review

tabarome

Top Creed Cologne for Summer

Millesime Imperial By Creed For Men. Millesime Spray 4.0-Ounce Bottle– One of the more popular fragrances by Creed. Millesime Imperial is a blend of sea salt and melon-smelling (actually citrus) notes.

It’s an aquatic cologne that shines to life in the spring and summer months of the year.

It is juicy and luxurious. The melon aroma is produced by a lemon and mandarin orange combination and how they interact with the other notes within the composition.

It is very light and clean but grounded by the hint of musk and salty sea notes it unveils. If you enjoy a more oceanic type of fragrance, Imperial may be a great choice for your collection. This is one that I really like to wear on certain warmer days.

Imperial is a fruity marine fragrance, with a light musk, and some powdery undertones from an iris not. It’s not a sillage beast, but it will last for 7 or so hours, in the heat. That’s pretty impressive, when so many others, simply wilt.  My Review

imperial

Favorite Viking

Creed Viking Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Ounce– Viking is the newest addition to this list. Why? I’ve always enjoyed the smell. However, it has grown on me more and more, since the first time that I tried it out in the Creed Boutique in Las Vegas.

It opens up, super crisp, with peppermint and sandalwood providing a cold woody infusion. There’s a very light bergamot note, briefly.

Creed Viking balances the warm and cold notes, as it introduces pink pepper, and then also vetiver. It’s woodsy and refreshing, with some earthiness and spice added in.

Lots of sandalwood, pink pepper, and peppermint. Blended well and the other notes, can be difficult to distinguish at times.

The longevity is good, I keep getting closer to 8 hours of wear from it. Again, this one is a cologne that I enjoyed, but didn’t love at first. It’s still not my favorite, but it has become much more favorable in my eyes, since I first tested it. Creed Viking Review

7 Best Smelling Issey Miyake Fragrances

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Issey Miyake is a Japanese designer, who has managed to achieve a lot of success in the world of fragrance, which is usually heavily dominated by giant European and American firms.

In this post, I want to take a closer look at his line of men’s colognes, and pick out what I feel are the best of the bunch. In the end, I selected seven fragrances, that I feel deserve more attention and a potential spot within a man’s perfume collection.

What are the Best Issey Miyake Perfumes for Him?

Most Popular Issey Miyake Cologne

L’eau De Issey By Issey Miyake For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 6.7 Oz– Let’s start it off with the original. This was one of the first designer fragrances that I bought for myself, when I first started working a job. It’s a classic at this point and has been popular since the 1990s.

It’s a fresh citrus fragrance with woody notes and spicy elements. L’eau D’Issey is led by the yuzu, lemon, and bergamot trio with dry elements such as vetiver and wood. Plus, add some spiced herbal notes and you have a great daily wear fragrance for men.

L’eau D’Issey absolutely shines in the warmer weather. So, if you live in a tropical climate or at least where you have hot summers, this can be an absolute go to cologne for a great price.

Nutmeg, vetiver, and floral notes really help to separate this from the usual citrus fare. L’eau D’Issey Review

Top New Release

Issey Miyake Fusion Dissey Eau De Toilette Spray by for Men 3.4 Ounces, clear– If you want a spicier or woodier version of this, go with the Extreme edition that they just released.

However, if you want a delightful fig, coconut, and citrus blend to bring on memories of the tropics, try out Fusion.

Fusion came out in 2020 and has a pretty unique profile versus many other colognes on the market. You get that creamy tropical top, some light rosemary spice, and a dry woody base that mixes well with the coconut, that comes to dominate.

Fusion d’Issey gives you a nice blue impression, with a lighter sillage, but a very engaging freshness for the warmer months. It’ll probably be one that you can pick up cheaply, in the coming years.

Best Woody Issey Miyake Perfume

Issey Miyake L’eau Bleue D’issey Pour Homme Eau De Toilette Spray, 4.2 Ounce– The name would suggest that this might be an aquatic version of the above fragrance on the list.

However, that’s not the case. It’s a pretty unique cologne, in terms of its composition, so don’t expect some super citrus marine juice.

It does open with citrus notes, but dries down into something that is much more woody, with herbal notes sprinkled in.

Bleue d’Issey is super fresh with notes such as rosemary, cedar, and cypress. Very green and herbal, kind of reminds me of Guilty Cologne, as they share many of the same notes.

This is probably the best Issey Miyake for guys who want a very woodsy aroma. Can be sharp at first, but it settles down into a delightful freshie fragrance.

If this one is harder to find, Dua has an inspired take on this called, His Blue Spirit.

Easy to Wear Fresh Fragrance

Nuit D’issey Bleu Astral By Issey Miyake For Men Edt Spray Vial– I found Bleu Astral to be a much more tolerable fragrance than its predecessor, Nuit. It starts off with a fresh and juicy bergamot, spicy coriander, all on top of a woody base.

The citrus bergamot aroma, is the lead note for much of the opening. Then, the leather and amber come in, to create a super smooth profile. Leathery wood, with warm amber, and coriander. Very nice. Becomes quite dry.

The sillage on this one is pretty moderate, lasts a nice amount of time, and is very versatile. Not the most amazing fragrance ever, but very solid all around. A simple cologne to spray on and go about your day. Bleu Astral Review

Woods, Citrus, Fresh

L’eau d’Issey Vetiver– This is a newer entry from this line, but it deserves a spot on the list. Vetiver, obviously is going to be a highlight here, but the opening hits with a great use of ginger.

Beyond that, there’s citrus here especially early, that feels more like a squeeze into a glass of water, to me. That’s because Vetiver is somewhat of an aquatic fragrance. Not entirely, but the vibe is there.

Later, you’ll get more of the vetiver as the main attraction. Yet, it’s balanced, even at its strongest. You still have the freshness and some remaining citrus.

A really nice entry from this line of colognes.

Best Sporty Issey Scent

Issey Miyake Eau de Toilette Spray, L’eau D’issey Pour Homme Sport, 3.3 Ounce– A refreshing and indeed sporty scent that really works well in the summertime.

L’eau d’Issey Sport, is led by different citrus notes than the original (grapefruit, mainly), but puts out a somewhat similar vibe to its predecessor.

Like, many sport colognes, this one is pretty straightforward. Citrus with dry vetiver and cedar. Then, some slight spice from notes like nutmeg with undertones of leather. Really good at what it does.

This could be a summertime alternative, to L’Eau D’Issey for guys who want something with less of a spicy kick. Obviously, nutmeg provides it but has more of a clean profile overall.

Top Fragrance for Winter

L’eau d’Issey Pour Homme Intense by Miyake 4.2oz 125ml EDT Spray– The intense version to the original L’eau D’Issey. It of course shares a lot of the same elements, however, this is a warmer and dark composition.

It’s wonderful and has added spice with less of the bright citrus, though, that is still present.

There is the smoky aroma of incense, plus, spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom creating a smooth enveloping warmth. It all comes together as very dry and very wearable for men in a wide number of potential occasions.

Warmer, the citrus is toned down, and you get a great smoky spice. Cinnamon is light but adds a delicious little aroma. Papyrus is a unique note, in fragrance, sort of rough and dry. This one is distinct from the original, with some overlap.

Ariana Grande Cloud vs Sweet Like Candy

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Cloud and Sweet Like Candy are two of the most popular perfumes from Ariana Grande’s line of scents. Cloud, I think, often gets way more attention. Not to mention, it spawned it’s own flankers Intense and Cloud Pink.

Though, if we’re going beyond the popularity, which of these two perfumes actually smells better? Which lasts longer? On this page, I am going to compare these Ariana fragrances, bring attention to their differences, and pick which one I think is better.

Tale of the Tape: Cloud vs. Sweet Like Candy 

Cloud

Notes include: pear, lavender, bergamot, praline, whipped cream, vanilla orchid, coconut, musk, wood

Click here to try: Ariana Grande Cloud Eau de Parfum Spray, clear, 3.4 oz

Read my review: Cloud

Sweet Like Candy

Notes include:

Click here to try: Sweet Like Candy

Opening

Cloud begins with its brightness and sweetness front and center. The lead off is highlighted by the pear note with bergamot and the lavender also coming through early. The lavender never feels all that heavy to me throughout the wear.

I get a bit of the citrus, which adds a bit more sparkle to that pear juiciness. The lavender here, has a certain roughness which takes some of the softer and fluffier qualities of this fragrance away. Still, it does retain that softer style.

With Sweet, it’s also got a pear that is put alongside it’s berry notes. The black currant has some tart aspects here too. The fruitiness is there in the opening act, but it lives up to its sweet name, beyond just fruits.

Warm with whipped cream, vanilla, and marshmallow. Obviously, plenty of overlap with Cloud. The floral notes are a separation, even if they’re not super powerful. Frangipani and jasmine are noticeable.

Which is better? Between the two, I enjoy Sweet Like Candy. The fruitiness to lead things off is better to my nose. Plus, I like the transition it makes, and it smells a bit better versus Cloud, despite their similarities.

Edge: Sweet Like Candy

Projection

I don’t really notice a difference here. At least in terms of how far they project. The sillage of Cloud is a bit lighter, but both of these are essentially moderate with their projection.

Good for an hour or so, before moving into their lighter phases. Either way, both are solid, but no particular advantage here.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Cloud has never been an amazing performer, but it’s serviceable. In my experience, it will go 5-6 hours, on skin. About six hours is what you should expect from this Ariana fragrance.

With Sweet Like Candy, it seems to last in the 7-7.5 hour range, each time that I tested it out. Maybe some people can get a bit more out of the perfume, but I didn’t.

It’s not a massive difference between them, but Sweet has a somewhat stronger performance when compared to Cloud.

Edge: Sweet Like Candy

Versatility

I don’t see too much distinction here, if any.

Seasonally, both are really nice autumn through springtime. Neither is particularly a summer wear, but there might be times in which you could apply Cloud or Sweet Like Candy during that time of year. Neither of these are all that heavy.

Can be worn casually or out at night. Neither is super formal, probably not an office scent for most folks. They pretty much occupy the same space. No real winner here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these fragrances do I like more?

Cloud is a fine perfume. It’s never been my favorite. I’ve always thought it gets more attention because of its associations with being an alternative to BR 540.

I like it. There are parts in the dry down, where I think Cloud really shines as a scent. It becomes more distinct and a pleasure to wear. Coconut and praline, when those are front and center, tends to be my favorite stretch with this fragrance.

Though, with that said, I still like Cloud 2.0 and Pink slightly more as variations.

I still think that Sweet Like Candy is the best smelling Ariana Grande perfume. There are some others, which are close. But, this one takes the common themes from a lot of her scents and then just did a fantastic job at getting all of the elements correct.

It’s sweet without being completely cloying. Sweet gives you a playful and girly aroma, without being too juvenile, and works well in the colder weather. Not too heavy or loud and it has a good mix of sweetness, creaminess, and warmth.

For me, this is a pretty easy decision. Both are worth trying, but Sweet Like Candy just stands out more.

Winner: Sweet Like Candy

Y Elixir vs. Y Le Parfum by YSL

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The ‘Y’ line from YSL has been a big success for the brand. Each year they have been coming out with new flanker fragrances to the original formula. Some, better than others.

Y Elixir is the newest release (as of posting) in the series and one which has gotten a lot of interest. But, how does it compare with Y Le Parfum, which is a favorite for many people in this line of colognes.

I’ve tested each of these scents out and am ready to share my thoughts on each. How does Elixir smell? How long do each of them last? Which ultimately is the better one to try?

Tale of the Tape: Y Le Parfum vs. Elixir

Y Le Parfum

Notes include: apple, grapefruit, ginger, aldehydes, lavender, sage, geranium, patchouli, tonka bean, and cedar

Click here to try: Y Le Parfum on Amazon

Read my review: Y Le Parfum

Y Elixir

Notes include: lavender, geranium, oud, incense

Opening

Le Parfum starts off by using apple and ginger.

In this Y formula, we get grapefruit instead of bergamot, and it adds some sweet aldehydes to the mix. Le Parfum has a darker profile, but it is also sweet and smooth. 

Sage and geranium are pretty strong at the beginning in Le Parfum, as well.

With, Y Elixir it is similar up front with other Y fragrances of the past, but goes in another direction.

Lavender and geranium will take up the main focus, especially the second note. The lavender gives this one a clean and soapy scent. However, Y Elixir balances that out with the spicy, earthy, crisp, woodsy freshness of the geranium.

I enjoy just how cold and fresh in these early stages. It’s more subdued and doesn’t have that same punch as EDP, even with the overlap in style. Though, it’s a nice change of pace with how easy Elixir is to wear.

Oud adds to the base and the woodiness. However, it just isn’t all that massive of a note here in the early stages. Also, an incense note provides a smokiness which also isn’t too pervasive. Both are really nice in the support of the other two notes.

Which is better?

Actually, I like how Elixir starts off a lot. To me, the opening of Y Le Parfum is fine, but it gets better as it dries down. Elixir is really nice, in its simplicity.

Edge: Elixir

Projection

Y Le Parfum isn’t a massive fragrance. It hangs in the air with some substance, will leave a decent scent trail for a while, and doesn’t completely disappoint.

Though, this is a moderate cologne, overall. Don’t expect a beast or something that gets close to Y EDP or anything.

Elixir does have a strong projection while not feeling too heavy. At least that’s the case for the first hour or somewhat longer. After that, Elixir will be above average for a good chunk of the wear before tailing off.

Neither is a powerhouse, but Y Elixir has a more powerful reach.

Edge: Elixir

Longevity

Y Le Parfum is pretty middle of the road for me. I’ve only been able to pull 6-6.5 hours of wear from it. It’s not great, but not terrible either. Maybe other people get better performance, but I haven’t experienced it.

Elixir does a better job of staying around than does Le Parfum, at least for me. Y Elixir lasts about 9 hours before evaporating completely, on my skin.

Solid advantage here for Elixir.

Edge: Elixir

Versatility

Both Le Parfum and Y Elixir are very good in most climate conditions. I would probably avoid each in extreme heat, but beyond that, they should be good. Maybe too fresh for extreme cold, also.

Elixir is a super versatile fragrance.  It can be an office wear, or something you spray on for an evening out, or casual. It’s attractive enough to catch attention, without being overwhelming.

But, I don’t think either of them does anything that the other one cannot. I don’t see any real advantage here, as both will provide plenty of use cases.

Le Parfum was already a highly versatile scent and Elixir doesn’t surpass it. But, it does equal it.

Edge: Push

 

 

Overall Scent

Overall, which fragrance do I like more?

I’ve seen some people be really down on Elixir in reviews. I’m not sure why, I think it’s a very good offering from YSL. Is it super exciting? No, but it smells awesome to me, especially that first hour or so. 

I would say that the price is probably putting a lot of people off of it. The ‘elixir’ trend from all of these designers is really pushing the limits of pricing and the expectations of people higher. It’s not too much more than Le Parfum. 

Is it better than Le Parfum? Probably not. I had them neck and neck, but I sort of lean toward Le Parfum, after more testing.

Even if, Elixir has better performance. Le Parfum has a slightly better scent, on the whole.

The opening act isn’t my favorite, but I think it is more intriguing than Y Elixir for much of its shorter wear.

Once it settles, I get apple and tonka bean coming through a lot, and it’s wonderful. The lavender and tonka bean will close it out and you get a great mix of clean and sweet.

Personally, I have Y EDP as my number one still, followed by Le Parfum. I’d need to spend more time with Elixir, but it’s probably the third best from the Y line, for me.

Winner: Y Le Parfum