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!

Versace Dylan Blue vs Eros Flame

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Versace has been releasing lots of popular fragrances over the past five or so years. Dylan Blue has been one such a release, that has gained traction with the younger set. Eros Flame is a newer release, which follows the huge popularity of the original Eros. It hasn’t enjoyed the same level of success, but seems to be growing. Which of these two colognes is better? Which one lasts longer? Which is the best buy?

Tale of the Tape

Eros Flame

Notes include: lemon, tangerine, chinotto accord, black pepper, wild mountain rosemary, pepperwood, geranium, rose, cedar, patchouli, vetiver, oak moss, sandalwood, tonka bean, and vanilla

Click here to try: Versace Eros Flame 100ml 3.4Oz Eau de Parfume For Men

My review: Eros Flame

Dylan Blue

Notes include: black pepper, violet leaf, grapefruit, bergamot, tonka bean, ambrox, fig leaf

Click here to try: VERSACE Pour Homme Sealed Dylan Blue Eau de Toilette, 3.4 Ounce

My review: Dylan Blue

Opening

Eros Flame opens up with familiar lemon of Eros, but this time it is paired with tangerine. Along with that, is: black pepper, chinotto accord, with some vanilla and tonka bean. The latter two, will be heavier later, but now take on a smaller role.

I like the added citrus vibe to Eros Flame, a lot, as it is my favorite part of the wear. I think the pairing is fresh, bright, and has enough earthiness/spice to make it interesting.

Meanwhile, Dylan Blue kicks off with its grapefruit note leading the way. This citrus ingredient is flanked by ambroxan and an aquatic accord, giving this cologne a slight watery feel.

What sets this fragrance apart, is its use of the fig note, and is what really made me like wearing this scent sometimes.

Which is better? It’s close in my mind, but I prefer the way Dylan Blue starts off. It’s smoother, has a unique quality while being familiar to other scents, and the fragrance just comes together quite well.

Edge: Dylan Blue

Projection

Dylan Blue starts off with a strong sillage, but later becomes much more moderate. You could over spray this scent, though, most normal applications will be just fine.

Eros Flame has a very strong sillage. Like monstrous. This can absolutely fill a room, if you spray too much. I’d say stick to 2-3 sprays, max, with Eros Flame. It’s without a doubt, stronger than Dylan Blue.

I will applaud Versace for really delivering with Flame, in performance terms. I did have a bottle of the original batch and I’m not sure if it has been weakened in the intervening years.

Edge: Eros Flame

Longevity

I’ve worn both of these scents, plenty of times, and it’s really the same results each time. Dylan Blue goes 6-7 hours, with extreme consistency, on my skin.

Eros Flame, just keeps going on and on. It always go for over 10 hours and I’ve detected on my skin, even 15-16 hours later.

Just from pure longevity and strength, Flame is among the best on the market. Again, I’m not sure if this has been changed, but Flame could out do the original Eros EDT formulation.

Edge: Eros Flame

Versatility

Eros Flame is best used in cooler to moderate climates and temperatures. It doesn’t work well in the heat and humidity. So, limited there. Dylan Blue can be worn year round, without issue pretty much.

Eros Flame is better used for the nightlife or casual situations. Dylan Blue, can be used in a wider range of scenarios. It can be worn during the day: school or office wear, though, it is better suited for younger guys.

Flame can be so overbearing at times, it’s not really one to wear to work or school or really a daily basis.

Between the two, I’d say Dylan Blue has better versatility.

Edge: Dylan Blue

Overall Scent

Eros Flame is an interesting take on the original Versace Eros and has amazing performance. When I first got my bottle of Flame, I liked this cologne a lot more than I do now.

Now, it doesn’t smell as good to me. The dry down becomes much more woodsy and has rosemary coming through.

Plus, the vanilla and tonka bean combo, feels a bit off with the citrus and herbal woods ingredients. It’s not a bad fragrance, I just don’t want to wear it that often.

It can actually be headache inducing. It’s greatest strength, is the fact that it is so strong and long lasting…but it does hinder its ability to be worn in a variety of situations.

Dylan Blue, has never been my favorite scent. Though, I have warmed up to it more. The opening is still the best part, while the dry down still feels generic to me.

The performance isn’t amazing, but it’s solid. I think that it smells better than Flame, overall. Also, it is much more versatile.

I think both of these are decent, but flawed fragrances overall. Lots of people seem to like Eros Flame, more than I ever have, so I guess take that into account. Dylan Blue isn’t a great cologne, but it does enough in comparison, to win this.

Winner: Dylan Blue

Anyway by Juliette Has a Gun

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As a part of my last batch of samples, I included a scent that I had never heard of at the time. This always interests me, since it can be quite a change of pace, and I can hopefully find a hidden gem. That fragrance is: Anyway by Juliette Has a Gun. Yeah, great name…In this post, I am going to go over what it contains, how it smells, performs, and whether or not this unisex fragrance is worth a purchase.

What does Anyway by Juliette Has a Gun Smell Like?

Notes include: neroli, lime, ambroxan, and musk

Click here to try: Juliette Has A Gun Anyway Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.3 fl. oz.

My Full Wear Review

Anyway starts out with the top notes of neroli and lime. It’s a nice citrus aroma that doesn’t have quite the same intense lime as something like, Set Sail St. Barts. It’s downplayed and actually quite lovely in its presentation. I have to say the opening is my favorite part of Anyway, it is fresh and smells great.

I love lime in a summer fragrance, but there are so few that can truly hold on for long periods of time.

That’s about as good as it gets. The initial top notes fade after about ten minutes and what you’re left with is a musky mix or floral notes and ambroxan.

It’s warm but almost completely without any personality, in my opinion. There is only a hint of that nice lime left and it all just smells very blasé. Anyway becomes as indifferent, as I become to wearing it.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s starts off moderate and quickly turns into a skin scent. Not really even an interesting skin scent. It’s sort of there but never wows you.

The sillage on this stuff comes out okay, but then just fades out almost entirely. That seems to happen with lots of these citrus based scents, just no staying power.

The longevity is poor and this fragrance only last for a few hours, tops. Lame. Seriously, I tested it out multiple times, with heavy spraying and still not much of anything here.

I guess this was designed to be a casual spring/summer scent. Though, it doesn’t perform well enough to really assign it a category. Other than, being unisex for the short time it does anything.

If it lasted on your skin, I guess it would have pretty good versatility in the warmer months of the year. I’d keep it to daytime wear, semi-formal, casual, or work.

Overall Impressions of Anyway

Overall, I’m obviously not going to recommend this scent. I mean, I like the lime note, but it is too short lived. Secondly, it’s extremely boring for the rest of the time it hangs around on your skin. I don’t think it ever smells bad, it’s just not interesting past 10 minutes.

If it had better longevity, it could be an okay choice for the summer months. But that’s also assuming that you could get it at a cheap price. I don’t see the point of owning this fragrance at all.

Creed Aventus vs Virgin Island Water Comparison

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In this edition of the cologne comparisons, I’m going to take a closer look at two Creed scents, that I’ve already reviewed on the site: Aventus and Virgin Island Water. How does VIW stand up against the ever popular, Creed Aventus? Which of these scents smells better? Gives better performance? Please continue below for my full take.

Tale of the Tape: Aventus vs. VIW

Virgin Island Water

Notes include: bergamot, lime, rum, sugar cane, coconut, ylang-ylang, and ginger

Click here to try: Creed Virgin Island Water by Creed for Unisex – 4 oz Millesime Spray

Read my Original VIW Review

Creed Aventus

Notes of Creed Aventus: 

Top: Blackcurrant,Italian bergamot, French apples and pineapple

Middle: Rose, dry birch, Moroccan jasmine, and patchouli

Base Notes: musk, oak moss, ambergris, and vanilla.

Click here to try Aventus: Aventus For Men 4.0 oz EDP Spray By Creed

Click here to read my original Aventus Review

Opening

Virgin Island Water strikes an early victory in how these two scents open. The initial blast of VIW is a blend of lime, bergamot, and the coconut note. I honestly think that this is a fantastic tropical aroma that really draws you in.

It is juicier and boozier than how it actually ends up. The rum and lime is a great combination that I love and brings on the summer feeling.

Aventus on the other hand, opens with a really harsh aroma, that I’ve always compared to Lemon Pine Sol (yes, the floor cleaner)…thankfully, it gets much better after that. In fact, after the initial bit, the bergamot note shared by the two scents is near identical and really great.

However, just comparing the opening act of each fragrance, I’ve got to go with VIW.

Edge: VIW

Projection

Virgin Island Water isn’t a strong scent, it’s pretty moderate all around. Don’t expect a monster.

It’s really not designed to have an overwhelming sillage, which would kind of be unbearable during the warmest days.

Aventus is strong and rather bold but isn’t insanely overpowering. It is, however, much stronger than Virgin Island Water and gets the edge here. It can be over-sprayed, but not an elite powerhouse, in my opinion.

Edge: Aventus

Longevity

VIW is completely borderline on having poor longevity and just okay. It depends on the day, but I’ve always gotten 4-6 of wear out of it.

Not great and one would expect more at the price point. I don’t mind the sillage being moderate, but I do have a problem with the mediocre performance.

Aventus, will get 7 hours as a minimum and usually in the 8-9 hour range. Solid performer. Occasionally, I can hit double digits with Aventus. That’s usually when in an air conditioned environment all day.

Some people can get Aventus to last longer on their skin than I do. Either way, Aventus outdoes Virgin Island Water pretty easily.

Edge: Aventus

Versatility

Aventus is more of a year round kind of scent, though, it isn’t great in the high heat, in my experience. It can be worn casually, on a date, at work, or for a night on the town.

Aventus is a very well-balanced cologne in this regard. It’s a signature fragrance for a lot of guys out there and will give you near endless opportunities to use it.

VIW has it’s versatility in the fact that it is a unisex scent. Aventus is much more of a masculine fragrance in comparison.

However, it’s almost strictly casual and actually shines in the summer heat. Sure, you could include spring, but unless you live in the tropics…it’s stuck in one season for wear.

Edge: Aventus

Overall Scent

I really like the opening of VIW, it’s nice, and reminds me of being at the beach. As it moves along, it becomes much more coconut dominant and takes on the suntan lotion aroma, which is still good but not as much as the opening.

It’s performance is also not amazing and it has a limited use. It’s more of a niche fragrance or one you’d use only at specific times of the year.

Aventus, I’ve never liked the opening BUT it does get much better. It gives good performance and the citrus-laden blend really starts to take off after that.

There’s a reason why it’s so highly regarded. I still enjoy Aventus, even if, I’m rather fatigued of smelling it. There’s just been such an influx of Aventus alternatives, that it becomes exhausting.

Between the two, the choice is Aventus, unless you’re looking for that specific summertime scent.

Winner: Aventus

Azzaro Wanted vs. 1 Million Comparison

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1 Million has been a best seller for over a decade and is basically a legend, at this point. It once ruled much of the nightlife, not as much anymore, but it’s a great scent. Wanted was released by Azzaro and quickly grew a following. Between the two, which is better? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: 1 Million vs. Wanted

1 Million

Notes include: grapefruit, blood orange, rose, mint, cinnamon, amber, leather, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

Read my original review: 1 Million Cologne Review

Wanted by Azzaro

Notes include: tonka bean, lemon, cardamom, vetiver, juniper, ginger, geranium, mint, amber wood

Click here to try: Azzaro Wanted Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my original Review: Wanted Review

Opening

1 Million has always been compared to grape bubblegum in the opening act, by a lot of people. The initial blood orange, grapefruit, leather, and mint combination does make it come across like that.

The latest batch that I tried, seems to have less of that overall. It’s still there, just the start now feels warmer with more spice.

Cinnamon, mainly. Along with an earlier emergence of amber and rose, than I remember. Sweetness, warmth, with a playful spice.

Meanwhile, Wanted kicks off with a lemon note in the lead. It’s actually not as sharp as one would expect and the opening resembles Invictus by Paco Rabanne, somewhat. It definitely differs from that fragrance, when the tonka bean and cardamom grow in strength. 

Which is better at the beginning? I’m going with 1 Million. I don’t think that either opens up amazingly well, but I prefer the aroma of 1 Million versus the pseudo-Invictus opening of Wanted.

Edge: 1 Million

Sillage

Older bottles of 1 Million were monstrous with how they projected. However, it doesn’t have that same punch. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still strong, just lost a step. 

For much of the wear, it will be stronger than average, but just not blowing the doors off with its projection or heaviness.

Wanted starts off about equal to newer bottles of 1 Million, but becomes much more moderate when it settles. While, 1 Million keeps up its power for longer on my skin.

Edge: 1 Million

Longevity

Vintage 1 Million would go for 12+ hours on me, without issue. Newer bottles? Around 8-9 hours of wear. Still very good, just not elite.

With Wanted it’s in the 7-9 hour range. All in all, I’d say they’re about equal to one another now. It used to be a pretty clear win for the Paco Rabanne, but no more.

 

Edge: Push

 

 

Versatility

Seasonally, I think that Wanted has the edge. Neither of these is good for the heat, but 1 Million is best in colder temperatures. Wanted can go warm weather, just avoid extreme heat.

Both skew towards younger guys. With Wanted being appropriate in a wider array of situations. While, 1 Million is geared toward nightlife or casual wear.

Edge: Wanted

Overall Scent

Wanted is a good fragrance, but really not one of my favorites. I like it more once it dries down and develops its own personality.  Tonka bean, apple, and juniper berry are really nice touches after the Invictus-like opening act. 

It does everything well, but nothing amazing.

I’ve always enjoyed wearing 1 Million. I know a lot of people never liked this scent, but it was always a fun and unique wear. If I were comparing Wanted to the older bottles of this Paco Rabanne scent, it’d be any easy win for 1 Million.

Now, it’s a tighter race. Though, I’m still going 1 Million. It just smells better to me, still has good performance, and more depth. 

I would go with either The Most Wanted or The Most Wanted Parfum before either of these. But, between these two, it’s the Paco Rabanne.

Winner: 1 Million

Black Opium vs Prada Candy Perfume Comparison

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So, here we are, back with another round of perfume comparisons. Today, we have two sweet and popular designers scents for women: Black Opium EDP by Yves Saint Laurent vs. Prada Candy. Now, both of these are the eau de parfum versions of each respective scents. Which of these two gourmand perfumes smells the best? Which gives a better performance? Please continue below for my full take of them head to head.

Tale of the Tape: Black Opium vs. Candy

Black Opium

black opium perfume review

Notes include: coffee, vanilla, patchouli, pink pepper, orange blossom, cedar

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, Black Opium, 3 Ounce

Read my original review: Black Opium

Prada Candy

Notes include: caramel, musk, and benzoin

Click here to try: Prada Prada Candy Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 2.7 Ounce

Read my original review: Prada Candy

Opening

The opening of Black Opium is probably when it’s at its worst. It’s messy and has a lot going on. Orange blossom, vanilla, and cedar among other notes are heavily present and intense. The YSL scent just takes about ten minutes to work itself out before the perfume really gets going.

After that, we get a still super sweet fragrance, but the vanilla and emergent coffee pair up to straighten out the composition.

Meanwhile, Prada Candy, is also sweet just darker. It doesn’t have the intensity and swaps in caramel to be paired with benzoin and some musk.

I love the benzoin note here and it strikes me as being sort of like a more feminine version of Body Kouros, which is actually a Yves Saint Laurent cologne.

Between the two? I prefer the start to Prada Candy. Black Opium gets better, just the opening struggles for a bit. It’s kind of messy and I think some of the later flankers to Black Opium got it better, in this regard.

Edge: Candy

Projection

Black Opium is very strong perfume. A couple sprays should do it for just about any occasion and any more than that just won’t be necessary. Prada Candy is much more of a light to moderate scent and cannot compete with the sillage of Black Opium.

It’s probably a good thing for Candy, as if it were strong, it’d start to get annoying. Nonetheless, the stronger of the two is the YSL fragrance.

Edge: Black Opium

Longevity

I get about 6-7 hours from Prada Candy, on my skin. That’s solid and could be useful in a variety of scenarios. Still, it’s nothing that’s amazing or of great value versus the Prada price point.

However, Black Opium is an all day wear. I got double digit hours out of that perfume with no trouble at all. Performance wise, the YSL is dominant. Some later Black Opium flankers didn’t seem to ever reach this same level.

As far as I’ve experienced with the original, it hasn’t gotten noticeably weaker over the years.

Prada is serviceable, but Black Opium gets you plenty of bang for your buck.

Edge: Black Opium

Versatility

Both of these perfumes are cold weather wears. Both can be worn casually or at work. Plus, have enough sexiness to be worn out at night. Perhaps, Prada Candy is a bit safer for work because it isn’t as loud, but that’s really the only edge I see.

Either is a nice and sweet selection that can be a easy reach when the temperatures start to drop.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

So, the both of these perfumes are of the sweet, gourmand, and cold weather variety. Prada Candy is fairly linear and moderate in its presentation and performance.

You get the sweet and salty caramel and then later, more of benzoin and musk. There is also a dash of powder in there for good measure.

Black Opium EDP is a bold fragrance that isn’t dark like the name would suggest. It’s really sweet with vanilla and coffee.

Add to that, a warm pink pepper note, and the ever present orange blossom note. It has more of a rich and cozy feeling than does Candy, while also being more complex and ultimately more interesting.

Which is better? I’d go with Black Opium. For most ladies, it will be the better bet. Now, if you want something subtler, Candy might be the way to go.

However, Black Opium gives a better performance and outside of the opening 10 minutes of confusion, it smells nicer than does Prada Candy.

Winner: Black Opium