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!

Eros EDP vs Eros Parfum Comparison

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Eros has been a long-time best seller since its 2012 release. In 2020 and 2021, Versace decided to release and eau de parfum and parfum version of this popular cologne. Obviously, this creates questions about which one to get and how each of them compares in smell, longevity, and overall enjoyment.

On this page, I compare Eros EDP and Parfum to answer these questions. I have already tested and reviewed both of them, so, let’s break things down by category.

Tale of the Tape: Eros Eau de Parfum vs Parfum

Eros EDP

Notes include: candied apple, mint, mandarin, lemon oil, ambermax, cedar, clary sage, geranium flower, vetiver, patchouli, sandalwood, and vanilla

Click here to try: Eros by Versace, 6.7 oz EDP Spray for Men

My Review: Eros EDP

Eros Parfum

Notes include: lemon, mandarin, black pepper, elemi, tonka bean, Madagascar vanilla, litsea cubeba, pomarose, geranium, lavender, clary sage, benzoin, cashmeran, patchouli, vetiver

Click here to try: Eros Parfum

My Full Review: Eros Parfum

Opening

Eros EDP doesn’t have that same strong influence from the citrus notes as the EDT. They are still there, just softer. Instead, you get mint, geranium, and sage. This gives Eros EDP a cool freshness, which I find enjoyable.

Also, the green apple and vanilla notes have plenty of power and provide that delicious sweetness. The tonka bean isn’t there, but I actually prefer it that way, with this composition.

It reminded me of older bottles of the EDT, but with that colder and more herbal profile. After the opening, it kind of gets away from that and does its own thing.

Eros Parfum opens up quite fresh, with the citrus notes playing a sparkling role, while being quite muted in the mix.

Lemon, mandarin, and the litsea cubeba (sort of a lemon verbena) seem to run together without any of them really taking over. The amber and resinous notes are apparent from the start.

Not just the amber from the original, but also benzoin and elemi, as well. The resin or medicinal sort of smell isn’t huge in the opening, but there. Sort of a fuzzy type of smell. Black pepper and sage really come through to my nose.

One big difference is lack of mint and green apple here. The apple is the ‘pomarose’ note, it is present but not to the same extent as the EDT or EDP versions.

Mint, seems to have been replaced by a stronger geranium influence and the general freshness of notes like clary sage and pepper.

Which is better? Both have a colder freshness to open. Parfum will warm up, later in the wear. I actually like the way each starts out.

However, I think I enjoy the opening act of the EDP more so. I like the classic 2012 EDT batch vibes that it has. Nice freshness, less citrus, and that vanilla and apple accord in effect. Plus, less of the amber.

Edge: EDP

Sillage

Both are strong. Neither are super powerful. You’ll get a nice scent trail with either of these. The projection seems to reach a tiny bit further with the Parfum. I’m talking like 1-2 feet maybe, when I sprayed each on clothes.

I did that a few times with each and Parfum was a little bit stronger. Not a massive difference in terms of projection and neither of them feels particularly heavy versus the other cologne. 

Edge: Parfum

Longevity

With Eau de Parfum, I got 8-9.5 hours on my skin. Not as good as the old EDT formulations, but very nice.

Parfum can hit just over 10 hours. One time, it was more in line with the EDP. But, it did get that extra bit, that I’ve never gotten with EDP. That extra level of fragrance concentration seems to work out somewhat.

Edge: Parfum

Versatility

Eros EDP was a bit more refined than the EDT. While it wasn’t a warm weather scent, it could venture further than the original, while still working best in the cold.

With Parfum, even warmer temperatures seem to work well. I’d avoid the extreme heat or cold with it, but outside of that, it wouldn’t be bad.

It’s smoothness and toned down use of the amber, really help it to have a more mature profile than EDP.

Those are the main distinctions, giving Parfum an edge.

Edge: Parfum

 

 

Overall Scent

So, this is a pretty tough call, as neither of these fragrances seems to stand out above the other to any real extent in terms of smell. They both have their pluses.

With Eau de Parfum, I like the beginning. I think that Eros EDP starts out great and had me really excited the first time that I tried it out. I was hoping I’d get a return to the classic EDT formulation, with slight tweaks.

But, that changed during the dry down, as Eau de Parfum goes in a different direction. The mint, apple, vanilla, and cedar notes end up being the main focus for much of the wear.

It’s colder and sweeter than Parfum. The sage and other fresh notes also begin to subside. My main gripe is the Ambermax note in EDP.

It gets louder during the dry down and reminds me too much of the harshness of Eros Flame (just to a lesser extent). It’s woody, minty, with a giant and loud amount of that Ambermax. Ruins the vibe for me, in the back half of the wear.

Yes, Parfum uses a greater amount of amber and resinous notes in the mix. However, it is just a smoother experience than EDP’s use of it. Those elements sit better in the vanilla creaminess and don’t screech as much as in the eau de parfum.

The two finish quite similar. But, I think that this is where Parfum may have a slight edge. It’s got a nice creaminess from the vanilla, a mix of cashmeran and vetiver, and more of the freshness from early on. 

Add in, a bit more longevity and projection, and I will give the narrow victory to Eros Parfum. EDP had promise early on, but doesn’t sustain it to the same degree.

I compared EDP vs. the original EDT, also. Between the three, it’s actually a pretty tight race. I’d go with Eros Parfum first, then EDP, and finally the original.

I did pick up a bottle of Greatness by the Dua Brand, which is inspired by the original Eros EDT bottles. That was my personal compromise selection, since there isn’t a far and away major winner among the Versace colognes.

Winner: Eros Parfum

9 Perfumes Similar to Gucci Bloom

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Gucci Bloom has become a very popular fragrance since its release in 2017. Bloom has in a short period of time spawned a number of flanker perfumes bearing its name. When something achieves this sort of status in the fragrance world, people will no doubt be looking for similar smells, styles, or just cheaper alternatives to the best seller.

In this post, I want to present nine perfume options that can serve as alternative scents to Gucci Bloom.  Some will be inspired by Bloom, while others are just going to have similarities in style.

Fragrances Like Gucci Bloom

Inexpensive Option

Floral Honeysuckle by Dossier– So far this is the only ‘inspired’ aroma of Bloom that I’ve found (update: the one below, too) and it runs $39 per bottle (as of publishing). It is a cheaper cost versus a bottle of the real thing from Gucci.

Now, I haven’t tried this one in particular out yet. Dossier usually has some very good renditions of popular scents and it shouldn’t be too difficult to match the aroma of Gucci Bloom, since it’s not overly complicated. Plus, the reviews seem to be overwhelming positive. 

Second Inspiration

Jasmine Blossom by Oakcha– Here’s the second ‘inspired by’ perfume that I’ve found of Bloom. This one is by the brand Oakcha which describes it thusly, “It’s like a breath of fresh springtime. As you walk among the blooming flowers, you can’t help but feel uplifted.”

The notes are the same as the Gucci and the formula is an Extrait de Parfum strength, which hopefully gives it some extra staying power. Also, an affordable price, with sample sets available, if you’d want to try some of the other fragrances that they have.

Appears to be a good value and I’ve read positive things about the brand. So, maybe worth a try if you want an attempt at matching the Gucci formula, as close as possible.

Best Cheap Alternative

Kim Kardashian for Women By Kardashian Edp Spray, 3.4 Ounce– This is a fragrance for floral loves, as it is highlighted by gardenia and tuberose. Kim Kardashian for Women, is a very pretty, upbeat, and feminine fragrance. It mostly the white floral notes with a creamy and slightly woody undertone.

The main difference with between Kim Kardashian for Women and Gucci Bloom is the gardenia. In the KKW fragrance, it is the most prevalent ingredient. Nonetheless, you do get a full white floral array. 

At times, you will experience a creamy sandalwood or a bit of musk, but mostly you will get a great floral-based fragrance for really cheap. Beyond the gardenia and tuberose, there is orange blossom, and a good deal of jasmine.

This fragrance is very well done and super attractive. The end of the wear, has more of the wood note and musk, but the main draw of gardenia still reigns supreme. One of the better performing scents of the line, in terms of staying power.

Woodier and Earthy

Michael Kors By Michael Kors For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 Ounces
A fresh and somewhat heavier than usual, white floral fragrance, that features some musk/woodsy spice.

Tuberose, peony, musk, cashmere woods, and freesia are some of the featured notes. Daytime, casual wear. The tuberose dominates the composition, with light musk, and a noticeable freesia note.

It gives off a semi-sweet and creamy sort of aroma, that is none too complex, but quite well done. During the dry down, more lily emerges from the floral accord. Michael Kors for Women, is delightful, and a good daily wear for any age group.

This scent has a woodier and earthier presence, than does Bloom. It shares that same tuberose note, but with the woods, and musk creating a slight distinction. 

White Floral with Fruity Touches

TOCCA Eau de Parfum Florence 1.7 oz– Florence is an entry for those who love gardenia dominated perfumes. It’s got a clean, crisp, and watery background thanks to the fruity additions of apple and mostly pear.

Beyond that, you do get the usual gardenia pairing with tuberose, but the latter isn’t that strong. A very nice white floral perfume. The apple and pear notes, change up the feeling versus Bloom.

While this is in the same overall family, this Tocca scent is like a lighter fruitier version of the Michael Kors perfume above. 

Lighter on the Tuberose

Bond No. 9 Central Park South Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.3 Fl Oz– Central Park South is a very bold white floral fragrance. Jasmine, lily of the valley, and grapefruit blossom lead the way.

Seriously, the sillage here is huge, and it’s the type of fragrance that can fill up a room.

This one is dominated by jasmine throughout the wear and the rest of the notes in the composition, have a green garden-like aroma to it.

The projection is not only huge, Central Park South also lasts for a long tie. This doesn’t have the same tuberose strength, as Gucci Bloom, but has a greener aroma that our target scent lacks. 

 

 

More Tuberose and Muskier 

Diptyque Do Son Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 2.5 Ounce– A scent for the floral lovers out there. Do Son features notes such as tuberose, iris, rose, and orange flower. More of a fresh and natural kind of fragrance.

There are two versions of Do Son, the EDP (linked above) and the EDT. Slightly different from one another, however. The EDT has some powdery elements (iris), like Bloom, while the EDP doesn’t really. It is also less of a musk based scent than is the EDT.

Specifically, Do Son, is for those who are looking for a tuberose perfume. That is the most dominant of the floral notes inside of this one. It’s a very realistic rendition of tuberose, with some nice pink pepper, and greenish notes flanking this scent.

Later, it becomes creamier, and there is a healthy dose of musk in the base of this perfume.

A More Tropical Floral Take

Beyond Paradise By Estee Lauder For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 1.7 Ounces– Beyond Paradise isn’t a one to one comparison with the Bloom line. However, the floral notes, greenish aroma, and semi-aquatic feeling at times is very similar.

White floral notes with some fruity influence throughout and a bit of underlying spice. As it moves along, the flowers such as lily, honeysuckle, and gardenia dominate and the fruits fade to the background.

It has berry and citrus notes on top, which separates it from our target, but this is much more of a floral/fruit perfume first. It can be an interesting change of pace for the warmer weather, with its more exotic and tropical floral profile.

Similar to Bloom Gocce 

TOCCA Eau de Parfum Florence 1.7 oz– Tocca’s Florence is sort of a mix of a few Bloom scents and Crystal Gardenia by Kim Kardashian. Not a clone of any, but this hits in the same ballpark.

To me, it smells closest to Gocce di Fiori from the Bloom line. That one is a jasmine and tuberose blend, lighter and fresher than others from the Gucci line.

Florence is a fragrance for those who enjoy gardenia dominated perfumes. It’s got a clean, crisp, and watery background thanks to the fruity additions of apple and mostly pear.

The gardenia takes the role of the jasmine and it mixed with tuberose, giving you a very wearable white floral scent. The pear in the opening creates a sparkling aroma, but that will give way to more of a pure floral.

9 Fragrances that Smell Similar to 1 Million

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1 Million by Paco Rabanne has been a best-seller and dominant nightlife fragrance, for over a decade now. It’s success has bred plenty of imitators  to try and capture the lower end of the market.

With so many options out there, one could effectively recreate much of what 1 Million gives you, for a lower price. In this post, I want to provide eight options for guys looking for a cologne that smells similar to this famous scent.

Scents that are Close to 1 Million by Paco Rabanne

Apple Inspiration

Woody Green Apple by Dossier– Woody Green Apple is Dossier’s take on this type of aroma. Perhaps not the same level of spice as the Paco fragrance, but it matches most of what we want, for a cheaper price and with solid performance.

The apple, mint, and grapefruit come on nicely, early in the wear. Then, things will warm up with the cinnamon, tobacco, and floral notes.

This currently runs for $29 per bottle, as of this update. Super value proposition for what you get with Woody Green Apple.

Elixir Alternative

Error 419 by The Dua Brand– 1 Million Elixir is the popular flanker right now, of the original 1 Million. Error 419 is the ‘inspired by’ alternative to Elixir from The Dua Brand.

Elixir is a scent that starts out with a strong apple note, flanked by floral notes that have a fruity tinge to them. The opening is sweet, warm, rather unique versus the original while paying homage.

The dry down will be more about the vanilla note, rose, cedar, and tonka bean. Freshness and smokiness sit underneath.

This is a Dua that I have yet to try, but I have owned over ten from this brand and they do a great job. If you want something that smells like 1 Million Elixir, this is probably your best bet.

Another Inspiration

Santorini Sails by Oakcha– Here’s another option that is inspired by 1 Million. I don’t really get the name in relation to the Paco Rabanne, but the notes line up with what you’d expect.

I haven’t tried this or any scents from Oakcha yet. But, with all of the positive reviews and the inexpensive price point, I figured that I’d add it to the list for those that want to try it out. As of this update, it’s priced at $30 per bottle.

If they can get the weighting of the notes even somewhat correct, Santorini Sails should be a great deal.

Royal Flight

Le Male Airlines by JPG- This is a flanker from the Le Male series by Gaultier, that I picked up shortly before I purchased my bottle of 1 Million Royal. I was also probably $40-50 cheaper, at the time.

Though, limited supplies of this one may have changed, depending on when you’re reading this.

Note: this is different from the travel edition of the original Le Male EDT, I’ve also seen that labeled as airlines, but that’s just a different box. Check my picture below, Airlines is a different cologne in a darker blue bottle.

This is an alternative, that has a lot of close overlap with the newer Royal. Citrus, cedar, lavender, and cardamom (especially) are the notes that are shared between these two colognes.

Airlines is both sweeter and has a spicier cardamom note than the one found in Royal. The citrus note is less of an influence than what you get with the Paco Rabanne. Granted, the cardamom is also heavier.

The dry down isn’t the same, but as a 1 Million Royal alternative, this is really quite nice. I prefer Royal, but would take this if it were priced at a heavy discount versus Royal. Le Male Airlines Review

Sweet and Inexpensive

Lomani Ab Spirit Millionaire Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce– If you want a low cost close impression of 1 Million, Ab Spirit Millionaire, can fit the bill. I mean, it even takes the gold color scheme of the Paco Rabanne, and utilizes it.

This one is much more vanilla, than what you get with 1 Million, but you do get a warm, sweet, and somewhat spicy fragrance. As it dries down, the amber and spices become more pronounced.

You won’t get the beastly projection, Millionaire is more moderate, but the longevity is good. For the price, it’s worth a try.

The Super Cheapie

Cuba Royal By Cuba, 3.30-Ounce– Royal is a fragrance, which often gets compared to 1 Million by Paco Rabanne, and it is easy to smell why. Royal is warm, starts off quite sweet, and has plenty of tobacco/spice during the dry down.

Is it an exact match? No, but when talking about a $10-12 option, it is close enough. For instance, this doesn’t have the same leathery scent nor the distinct mint.

While this is fairly strong, it doesn’t have the same sillage or staying power as 1 Million. Nonetheless, Royal is a fantastic option, particularly as a nighttime wear for guys who want to save money.

A Subtle Secret

Antonio Banderas The Golden Secret for Men Eau de Toilette Spray, 6.75 Ounce– There is a distinct similarity between The Golden Secret and 1 Million by Paco Rabanne, beyond the bottles looking closely related, they also share many of the same notes.

The Golden Secret is like a more subdued version of 1 Million, with slight differences that become noticeable, once you have worn both colognes. Out of the options, this might be my favorite smelling one, just not the strongest of the bunch.

The Golden Secret has a nice leather note and some spices from ingredients like mint and nutmeg. Smooth and masculine.

Similar but Different

Armaf Club de Nuit Man Eau de Toilette Spray 3.6 Ounce– Club de Nuit is a really good value play. Compared to 1 Million, it isn’t as sweet, but has an amber-laden profile.

That being said, it isn’t a super heavy spiced cologne, but it is there. It has a soft powdery quality at times, during the dry down, with a nice touch of leather.

Armaf is probably the least like 1 Million, out of the bunch, but it is related and has its own lovely quality. Plus, the performance is really good.

Halloween Time

J. Del Pozo Halloween Man Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce– This one is kind of different from the rest, with its sweet fruity/boozy apple martini start, before it settles into something closer to 1 Million.

At that stage, it has the usual leather, amber, and cinnamon notes. It’s got that same sort of spice, with a similar sweet aroma to our subject. It actually sort of reminds me (at times), a bit of a 1 Million flanker called, ‘1 Million Cologne’. Interesting stuff.

There is a cumin note in here, that some people don’t really like, but it does get better further in the wear. Which, it’s understandable when it mixes with that apple martini. Still, this one can be a decent pick up for really cheap.  Halloween Man Review

9 Best Smelling Juicy Couture Perfumes

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Juicy Couture has a full line of highly popular fragrances for ladies. Many of them fit the brand name of being ‘juicy’ in their presentation and ingredients. This perfumes are often sweet, complex, and luxurious.

The Viva la Juicy line is the most famous and has spawned a ton of flankers for the brand, but they do have other options beyond that. I am keeping a curated list of what I think are the top perfumes from Juicy Couture and will update this page as necessary.

I’ve included new releases, as well as, some of the older one’s that may be more difficult to come by these days.

Favorite Juicy Couture Perfumes for Her

Update: Some of these have been discontinued since the last update. The brand hasn’t released too many new perfumes in the last few years. So, you’ll have to source a lot of these online nowadays, or they’re simply no longer available. I’m keeping them all up for now, until we get some new and better fragrance releases.

Most Popular Perfume

Viva La Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum Spray, 0.5 Ounce
A great fruity/floral perfume from Juicy Couture. This is also a sweet gourmand type of fragrance that has a sugary confectionery vibe to it.

Viva La Juicy opens up with a citrus mandarin orange top note to go along with that familiar creamy aroma of vanilla and delicious caramel. 

It opens with that sweet, upbeat, and girly vibe. However, Viva La Juicy starts to dry down and the floral notes begin to emerge, namely jasmine and honeysuckle.

It is much softer and less sweet, once you reach the base of the fragrance, where you’ll get a smooth sandalwood and musk to bolster the composition.

This one starts out rather strong, but will quickly turn into a perfume with essentially moderate sillage. The longevity is good, though, it doesn’t have some crazy 10+ hours of wear.

Viva La Juicy is best used as an everyday wear for the colder months of the year. It really shines in the bitter days of winter, but absolutely can melt in summer.

VIVALAJUICY

Grapefruit Summer

Viva La Juicy Neon– This is a newer fragrance from the Juicy Couture lineup. I almost went with Sweet Diva, but this one is more original and not just a Cloud re-creation.

Neon is led by its grapefruit note, which is surprisingly good and quite realistic in how it comes across. The top is also joined by raspberry and lemon.

This one is a citrus/fruity sort of perfume, but the notes aren’t super sharp (though, juicy).

The dry down is a bit more floral and woody, but the fruity notes keep things going. Orange blossom and a touch of jasmine, on top of a wood base. It’s sweet and fruity for the most part, great lighter sillage for the warmer months of the year.

best juicy couture

Flowers Please

Viva La Juicy Petals Please- This is another one that was released in 2022, that’s actually quite likeable. It takes the Viva La Juicy formula into a much more floral focused direction, that is very bouquet-like with how it comes across.

Petals Please opens up fruitier with its cloudberry note, which while being unique, has a light citrusy type of aroma. It’s interesting, not exactly citrus but kind of hits the same way. With that, you still get vanilla and some salty caramel popping up early.

The rose note is a ‘rose water’, which with the freesia gives Petals Please a very slight aquatic feel at times. Magnolia, gardenia, jasmine, and water lily also make appearances.

Though, overall, it’s more a general impression of floral notes without too much distinction between them.

So, sweet caramel and some amber underneath a bouquet of flowers. Not anything too groundbreaking, but a pretty and wearable release for floral perfume lovers from Juicy Couture.

Top Newer Juicy Release

Juicy Couture Glow 3 Piece Fragrance Gift Set, 3 Count.– Oui Glow is one of the flankers from Juicy’s original Oui perfume. Oui Splash was also a fun one for the summer months, as a pineapple laced aquatic.

Glow is described by the brand, “This illuminating fragrance adds an additional layer of addiction to her already provocative personality and amplifies her edgy yet playful appeal.”

The orange is the dominant fruit, but it is paired with a sweet and bright raspberry in the opening act. Very summery scent with jasmine playing the lead in the floral department. Oui Glow is a fruity/floral perfume that leans heavily towards the fruity end of the spectrum.

It dries down with some slightly woodsy aromas and fresh spice provided by cassis, moss, and pink pepper.  Not super complex or unique, but an easy one to wear and enjoy.

Kiwi and Citrus Floral

Viva La Juicy Soiree- Soiree is a fresh and fruity take on the Viva La Juicy formula. Pink kiwi is the unique main note here, it’s delicious, and supported by a great mandarin orange ingredient.

Soiree, as a perfume, isn’t all that complicated but it smells wonderful. The fruity top notes are joined by lily and jasmine, sitting underneath. Some light musk and wood notes, at the base.

The performance is solid, with 7 hours of moderate sillage, and a clean profile. This is a sweet fragrance, for those who want something lighter, and less ‘thick’ than the original Viva La Juicy. Yet, one which still very much fits that style. Nice spring/summer wear. Viva La Juicy Soiree Full Review

Best White Floral Perfume

Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 fl. oz.
Juicy Couture’s namesake fragrance is a celebration of white floral notes, with lily and tuberose. The opening is where you’ll get the blast of crisp fruit notes.

There’s watermelon and apple, this gets paired with vanilla and caramel. However, these notes get quickly pushed into the background in favor of the floral dominance.

Tuberose is the main attraction, with lily slightly less noticeable, but still totally there. The aroma is creamy and slightly sugary with vanilla and caramel in supporting roles. Juicy Couture can be somewhat brash at the beginning but it settles down somewhat later.

It’s important to note that, the white florals aren’t the usual old-lady flowers in many other floral-centric perfumes. The sweeter notes that surround it help to temper that tendency.

This EDP is a solid choice for someone who wants a modern smelling white floral perfume with good longevity and strength. It’s fresh and conjures up thoughts of a spring day.

juicy

Best Viva La Juicy for Summer

Juicy Couture Viva La Fleur Eau de Toilette Spray, 5 fl. oz.
A dynamic and flirty fragrance with notes such as mandarin, berries, caramel, and vanilla. It isn’t overpowering, however, La Fleur is a soft and warm perfume.

It starts out with those same sort of fruity notes that you find in the original Viva La Juicy, but there are red berries in this one, that are quite strong. However, after that initial run, Viva La Fleur takes on its own identity by shifting more into a floral fragrance.

Gardenia is the strongest of the floral notes and is paired with jasmine and honeysuckle. It is quite clean and has an upbeat personality. La Fleur isn’t an overpowering perfume and can be worn daily and is safe enough to be worn on many different occasions.

It does have a more youthful scent, but it isn’t a ‘teeny-bopper’, scent by any means. Though, someone that age could indeed wear it.

la fleur

Sparkling Champagne, Rose, and Jasmine

Viva La Juicy Rosé– This version opens up with a champagne-like bubbly aroma, as the name suggests. I really like that start, as I find it to be invigorating. It only lasts about 10 minutes, but it’s good.

Rose then move on to a more traditional floral/fruity perfume. You get rose, with that is brought together with fruit notes such as, mandarin and pear. It is a balanced scent, then, goes floral in the dry down.

Peony and jasmine share the most noticeable aspect of the latter stages with rose, amber, and some orris. Finally, it’s mostly rose. But, you do get good performance, and it smells attractive overall. Viva La Juicy Rose Review

Mature Dark Plum and Floral

Juicy Couture Couture Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 fl. oz.
Another sweet scent though this one is much darker and quite rich, but still a floral. Notes include: orange, grapefruit, honeysuckle, plum, vanilla, sandalwood, and jasmine.

The plum note along with the citrus ingredients really do the job of setting Couture apart from the rest of the Juicy perfumes on the list.

The citrus seems to be most present at the start and the plum is the fruit note that sticks around the most. Vanilla and amber flank the floral notes to give it a creamy warmth.

Jasmine takes the lead and has its own little blending experience with the plum note and that great honeysuckle found in these Juicy Couture fragrances is floating around in air.

Couture is skews a tad older than the others, but it doesn’t feel outdated by any means. It’s layered and has complexity, with a solid performance. It’s a nice change of pace, while sticking to the brand’s character.

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7 Fragrances that Smell Similar to Cool Water

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Davidoff’s Cool Water, was released in the late 1980s, and has been a very popular men’s cologne ever since. The current formulation, isn’t quite the same as those original bottles, but it is still a very nice scent.

With such popularity, there are going to be similar options or just straight up clones of such a fragrance. With Cool Water, I think there are fewer (probably zero, to my knowledge) exact matches of its aroma.

However, there are some select fragrances, which come very close while providing their own unique experience. In this post, I will present seven such options, of colognes which smell similar to this Davidoff classic.

Colognes That Smell Like Davidoff Cool Water

Vintage Inspiration

His Dua Water by The Dua Brand– As I said, the newer formulations of Cool Water aren’t exactly the same as the vintage bottle. However, the Dua Brand has released their take on this scent, based on older bottles of this Davidoff classic.

His Dua Water aims to recapture the magic of the late 1980s edition, all while still hitting that super affordable price point.

I haven’t personally tried this one out, but I have bought a bunch of other fragrances from the brand. The usually get very close to the designer perfume that they’re inspired by. It can take a few months for the cologne to reach its full potential, so, don’t panic if it’s not exact at first…it’ll get better and better.

The High End Alternative

Green Irish Tweed By Creed For Men. Millesime Spray 4.0 Oz (Packaging May Vary)–A masculine scent that dates from the 1980s yet still has amazing drawing power even today. It is categorized as a fresh woody smell featuring notes of lemon verbena and sandalwood.

The opening of Green Irish Tweed is a mossy woodsy sort of scent. Is this very similar to Cool Water? Yes, for part of the time, but not the whole wear. It also lacks the aquatic aspect of the Davidoff. Not exact, and GIT, is a better fragrance.

After it’s initial opening period, however, I feel like GIT really comes into its own with a smooth citrus vibe, which is refined and elegant. 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

The Super Cheap Option

Aspen by Coty for Men 4 Ounce Cologne Spray– A fresh, green, and woodsier version of Cool Water. Aspen has that great sandalwood note, that is flanked by a prominent fir tree aroma.

This isn’t an overbearing forest smell, but is fairly well-blended, for a fragrance that is so on the inexpensive side.

A full bottle only costs around $10, and provides a similar yet unique, take on our Davidoff scent. It is a drier cologne, Aspen comes across as a wooded version, of the aquatic Cool Water.

The performance for something at this price point, is actually pretty solid. It’s not amazing but it doesn’t completely crap out, a few hours in.

A Bit of Cool, a Bit of Tweed

Egra Men by Rasasi– This one is another inexpensive option that can mimic lots of what Cool Water brings to the table. Especially, in the dry down phase. Actually, Egra Men also has overlap with Green Irish Tweed, while also still doing its own thing.

A bit spicier than the Davidoff scent early on. Sweeter and lighter than either GIT or Cool Water. It’s more of a GIT-like fragrance in the opening, then, becomes fresher and more akin to Cool Water.

Fir, oakmoss, and spruce give this cologne a greener quality than what I experience with the modern Cool Water bottles. I’d say that the Davidoff also, has more of an aquatic feel. This still gives you a violet leaf for the ozonic aspect of the aroma.

Overall, this is a pretty good fragrance for the price. Something different, with some softer iris notes, juniper, and some different woodsy ingredients.

Herbal, Less Aquatic

Bond No.9 Chez Bond Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Ounce
Violet, sandalwood, and various citrus scents make this one a winner. One of the better scents from Bond No. 9’s collection.

Chez Bond is fresh and clean, plus, works well on both males and females. This also lacks the aquatic accord of Cool Water, but makes up for it, in other ways.

Chez Bond has an herbal tea-like opening with its actual tea note plus lemon and leafy greens, adding further depth to the arrangement. It feels airy and warm just like a cup of tea.

As it dries down, Chez Bond’s more substantial notes come into play. It’s a forest sort of smell with cedar and sandalwood elevating to the top to join the tea. This one is suited for everyday wear. Casual or at the office.  Read my Full Chez Bond Review

Smoother and Floral

ARMAF TRES NUIT 3.4 EAU DE TOILETTE SPRAY FOR MEN– Tres Nuit has a similar aroma to Cool Water, while taking a much more floral approach, to get there.

Iris, violet, and lemon verbena, are highlights of this fragrance which come together to create a fairly solid aroma close to that of our target scent.

This one has a more powdery finish and less of the soapy sandalwood. It is fresh and probably a smoother interpretation, of this sort of style.

A very nice lemon fragrance, with sandalwood, and the powdery floral notes. Another one, which lacks the aquatic element. Still, a very nice wear for the price.

A Distant Inland Cousin

Trefle Pur by Atelier– Ok, this isn’t going to be one to go with, if you want a near copy of Cool Water. However, Trefle Pur strikes me as a distant relation, with a similar structure.

Noticeably, you’re not getting the marine accord or the tobacco.

This one is however, quite green and fresh with its notes. For example, instead or mint, you get basil up top. Moss and musk are in the base. Neroli in the middle.

It’s a greenish floral fragrance for men, with enough spice and earthy/woodsy notes to keep it interesting.

Won’t be for everyone, and Trefle Pur is much more expensive.