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!

Omnia Indian Garnet by Bvlgari

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Still making my way through a bunch of sample fragrances that I have stashed around my house. For this entry, I’m going to take a closer look at a Bvlgari perfume, Omnia Indian Garnet. This was released in 2014.

Note: I have updated this page, a few times over the years.

Now, this is of course, another flanker scent from the Omnia lineup that has been so popular for this brand. How does it smell? How does it perform? Is it worth a purchase?

What does Omnia Indian Garnet Smell Like?

Notes include: tuberose, osmanthus, orange, amber, and saffron

Click here to try: Bvlgari Omnia Indian Garnet EDT Spray for Women, 2.2 Ounce

First, let’s begin with how Bvlgari describes this perfume in the sample card’s text:

Inspired by one of the world’s most magnificent gems: the Indian Mandarin Garnet. The new Omnia eau de toilette captures the magic and the sensuality of tuberose and osmanthus flowers.

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Indian Garnet is led by the osmanthus flower with support from the familiar tuberose note. I feel that this perfume is the most flower at the start and then it becomes more infused by the orange and amber.

However, before those two notes come in there is a strong saffron, which I don’t particularly enjoy in this perfume, but it is subdued after ten minutes or so of wear. It’s sort of strange because I do usually like saffron, but the mix seems off to my nose.

This Omnia scent is quite light on the skin, airy, and just sort of floats like vapor when it is worn. The dry down adds more of that citrus aroma, but it never gets super sugary or fruity sweet.

Instead, the amber and osmanthus combination keeps it interesting and unique, while feeling completely familiar. It is a pretty neat experience.

The amber and saffron keep it warm and super clean with the orange influence. If left to it’s own devices, I think that the orange note would evaporate completely, but with the amber the citrus is kept grounded.

The citrus isn’t super juicy or sweet, just that clean and bright feeling, with a really good amber note. Orange is the main attraction throughout, but the pairings with other notes sort of rotate, as it moves itself along.

Omnia Indian Garnet isn’t the typical citrus fragrance. You get a distinct warmth, periods of soapiness, creaminess, and some woodsy spice. It isn’t an overly complicated or deep scent, but it does have enough personality to be rather distinct.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this is a very soft fragrance. I don’t think that it’s weak per se, rather, just not heavy and as I wrote above, airy.

It’s got a soapy quality to it. You’ll notice that it is still on the skin, but it isn’t going to fill up a room, or be a consistent powerhouse.

The longevity is by no means amazing but it is solid, in the 5-7 hour range, on my skin. Good, but not great. Still, if you’re looking for a beast, this isn’t going to be the one.

A lot of Bvlgari scents seem to fall into this category, with their performances. This doesn’t change that trend.

Seasonally, I’d say that Omnia Indian Garnet is best used in the warmer months of the year. Not that it’d be bad in the cold weather, but it would really shine when the temperatures rise.

Which is odd, because it does have that warm feeling to it, but its lightness, doesn’t let it get bogged down in the heat. It’s a decent change of pace from many other aquatic or super fruity perfumes that get brought out in the summer.

I’d call this a casual or everyday fragrance. It smells nice but isn’t particularly sexy to me. It’s something to be worn at work or just around town on a sunny day. Casual to semi-formal.

Overall Impressions of Indian Garnet

Overall, do I like Indian Garnet? It’s nice, but I’m not blown away by it. This is one for those who love orange based perfumes with florals. This is a very clean fragrance, non-offensive, and has some nice daily versatility.

Omnia Indian Garnet is a good addition to the Bvlgari lineup and has a pleasant and sort of soapy aroma, that is a solid choice for plenty of women. There are definitely better options from Bvlgari and from the Omnia line, as well.

The citrus and amber is usually a nice combination and it does work here. I don’t know what the deal with the saffron is, but it’s not too distracting.

However, just for what it is, this is a solid wear. If it sounds appealing to you and you can get a good price, Indian Garnet, would be a fine buy. Not a total mass appeal scent, though, it doesn’t offend either.

Update: I’m pretty sure that this perfume is discontinued. It’s even not widely available at the moment, on the secondary market. So, I don’t think most people will be getting an amazing deal, if they want to try Indian Garnet.

Toy Boy by Moschino

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Toy Boy has been gaining popularity since its release back in 2019, as such it’s time for a full testing and review by me. Honestly, I was kind of put off by the dumb name, and the fragrance contained in the little bear bottle.

Nevertheless, it was time to give it a go. As usual, I will cover how it smells, performs, when it can be worn, and if this Moschino fragrance is worth a purchase.

What does Moschino Toy Boy Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, nutmeg, bergamot, rose, clove, magnolia, pink pepper, vetiver, sandalwood, musk, and more

Click here to try: MOSCHINO Toy Boy Eau De Parfume Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

After the initial spray, I was struck by how different this fragrance felt versus the typical men’s cologne. I pick up on a light bergamot note and very nice pear. It feels juicy and has that citrus touch, which gives Toy Boy a bit of vibrance.

All of this is contained within, the embrace of the rose, magnolia, and pink pepper notes. I’m not a big fan of rose, so I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this all that much, but I do.

The rose here is very different than what is found in something like Dunhill Desire, it’s got a ‘green’ aroma, is flanked by magnolia and the growing presence of vetiver.

The rose is closer to that found in Burberry Brit, though, that’s where the comparisons between these two fragrances ends.

The spice in the Burberry is more pronounced than in this Moschino.

It’s got a light spiciness lurking in the background throughout the wear, but never really hits you over the head with it. Pink pepper and some nutmeg. I don’t personally detect the supposed clove note, that’s in here.

There’s not too much change on my skin from this Moschino cologne. It really blends together well. I’d say, that I get more musk and vetiver, as it dries down. Those are joined by pear and this greenish wild rose. A bit of wood sprinkled in there, with the other notes seeming like one mass.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Toy Boy doesn’t have massive sillage. Though, I think that it sneaks up on you. Initially, I thought this was a lighter fragrance, but I kept getting strong whiffs from it throughout the day. It’s not a monster, but you could potentially overspray it.

Update: The more that I wear Toy Boy and also applying it to clothes/fabrics, the strong that I think the sillage is. I’ve bumped it up a few points on my scoring.

On my skin, it lasts right around 8 hours. Not elite, but for the price, this stuff delivers some great value. No real complaints with how this scent performs.

Update: I can sometimes get this EDP to stretch out to 9 hours of wear, but it’s pretty consistent with that 8 hour mark. 

Seasonally, I think that I’d like to wear it more in the springtime. However, I wore it outside on a chilly winter day, and it was actually extremely pleasant. I probably wouldn’t go with this during the summer, but any other time is fine.

 

I know the bottle and the name scares some people off from trying this, but it really isn’t a teenager’s sort of fragrance. Yes, younger guys can absolutely wear this, but it would fit well with any age group.

It does have a unisex and floral aroma, so, it’s not going to be for everyone. To me, the floral notes are great and don’t distract at all. Toy Boy is an attractive aroma that will probably draw plenty of complements. It’s safe for work, casual, dates, semi-formal occasions, etc. 

Really, it’ll come down to how you feel about the smell, as this one has plenty of performance and versatility. It does stand out from the crowd and I’ve been loving using this one as a change of pace versus my other fragrances.

Overall Impressions of Toy Boy by Moschino

Do I like this scent? Yes, I do. The more that I wear it, the more that my esteem for it grows. I’m not that impressed with it, if I press my nose closer to my skin. It’s just the aroma cloud that surrounds me, smells really good. 

The performance is solid, the price is right, and it brings something different to the table in a world of Sauvage knock-offs.

Again, not everyone is going to like this nor will it fit with the style of every man. Toy Boy is a scent that you’ve got to try out before you commit. 

I was skeptical going in, but I thoroughly enjoyed wearing this fragrance. I’m for sure going to finish out this mini bottle and decide whether or not I want a full one.  

I’m not sure that I’d call this one a safe blind buy, as it such a floral scent. But, it does certainly seem to have a mass appeal and isn’t all that pricey, so I can’t imagine being super bummed out by it. This is a great release from Moschino, after so many that were just ‘decent’. 

Curve Crush for Men by Liz Claiborne

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In this review, I want to take a closer look at Curve Crush for Men by Liz Claiborne. I recently picked up a mini bottle with an order, to give it a fair shot, and see how it stacked up versus the other Curve fragrances.

I didn’t know that there was also a women’s version available also. But, this men’s cologne was released by the brand in 2004.

Note: I’ve updated this page since the initial posting.

I’ve worn it around, for a few days, and collected my thoughts about this scent. How does is smell? What’re the notes? How does it perform? Is it actually worth a purchase?

What does Curve Crush Smell Like?

Notes include: apple, mandarin, cedar, geranium, and amber

Click here to try: Curve Crush for Men Cologne Spray, 4.2 Fl. Oz.

My Full Review

Curve Crush opens up with a fruity presentation of orange and apple notes at the top. These two are given the shine for about 10 minutes or so before the cedar really starts to come on strong and assert itself.

That opening ten minutes brings to mind the style of Nautica Blue, with a detergent/shower gel clean, but that fragrance is much sharper and harsh than is Crush. It clear early on, that this isn’t a higher end cologne, but it does a better job than many others at this price.

The wood note is what brings this cologne together and kind of dominates. It’s pretty unusual to have cedar be this dominant of a note, in most fragrances, particularly those designed for young men. But, it isn’t that uncommon in freshie body washes and the like.

Beyond that, Crush stays fairly linear and simple. However, there is a sweet and warm amber note, that surrounds the main ingredients. There is also a earthy and spicy geranium, that really makes itself apparent for the first hour or so, and kind of fades thereafter.

Again, very simple scent. What you get is cedar with mandarin orange and a lighter apple. Plus, the amber. Very clean, with a shower gel vibe. This one is woody with citrus undertones, when these will usually be flipped the other way.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage is moderate for a bit, then quite airy and light. This one only projects itself a few feet from the skin, it’s very low key. I didn’t expect this to be a powerhouse based on the notes and the other offerings by Liz Claiborne.

The power that it does have, will fall of usually in 30 minutes or so after application. After that, it’s a pretty intimate scent bubble.

The longevity, however, is pretty darn good for how inexpensive Crush is. I can get it to last 6-7 hours on my skin, at times. Others, it’ll go for about 5. Not bad. There are plenty of higher end designer scents that don’t last as long as this one.

Seasonally, Curve Crush seems to fit in the mild to warmer temperatures. It doesn’t feel at all like a wintertime scent, but it’d still perform just fine. This is a fragrance for teenage boys.

I liked the smell well enough, but it doesn’t fit me at all, in my early 30s. It’s one of those inexpensive starter colognes, that young guys can wear on a daily basis. Maybe up to college age, if you need something super affordable, but you can do better than this.

Not professional or a nightlife wear, pretty much just casual or something to wear to class, and skews to the younger crowd.

Overall Impressions of Curve Crush

Overall, do I like Curve Crush? It’s okay. I mean, barely okay, but I can tolerate it for a while.

I still like the original Curve, much better than this one. It’s a clean and inoffensive scent, that has good performance for cheap. The cedar and fruit mix is pretty good, but not amazing.

There’s nothing really that stands out about Crush. It’ll give you a very workmanlike performance and a decent, though mostly forgettable aroma.

However, this Liz Claiborne scent, wouldn’t be a bad choice for middle or high school aged young men. It’s wearable and not going to dominate a room.

There’s plenty of colognes worse than this, but also others that are much better at the same time. It’s not one of the best inexpensive men’s fragrances. The most positive thing about it, is the price level. But, all Claiborne offerings are like this, and many are better.

Eros Pour Femme EDT by Versace

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Going through the samples of many different fragrance to do a review on, I have today, another entry from Versace. This is one for women, named, Eros Pour Femme Eau de Toilette. It was released in 2016.

As usual, I will cover how it smells, what’s inside, how it performs, when it should be worn, and even if it’s worth a purchase. Please continue below for my full wear take on this edition of Eros.

What does Eros Pour Femme EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, mandarin, raspberry sorbet, white currant, freesia, magnolia, jasmine, orange blossom, ambrox, wood, patchouli, and musk

Click here to try: Versace Eros Pour Femme Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounce

Full Wear Review

This is a review of the eau de toilette version of Eros which was released after the popular EDP and so it’s quite a different composition. This Eros Pour Femme opens with a sharp lemon and orange which pairs with a cold raspberry sorbet.

The iciness of the sorbet reminds me of the cold lemon note in the men’s Versace cologne, Eau Fraiche. It is a very fresh and crisp aroma that has an underlying floral accord playing a support role to those three fruits.

After about 10 minutes, the citrus tartness drops significantly, and the perfume is solely headed by the raspberry sorbet. It’s sweet and sugary and the floral notes that I pick up are mainly the freesia and jasmine.

Musk and patchouli are there but along with the wood, serve merely as a base to hold things together.

Later, magnolia makes a stronger appearance and I can also get the impression of orange blossom, but it’s kind of hidden underneath the raspberry and lemon aroma.

In the end, you’re going to be left with a raspberry-centered perfume with citrus flanking it while sitting on a bed of flowers. It’s cheerful and uplifting.

It can be an experience like a cold lemonade blend at times, with a sugar rush, but then the layers of floral, ambroxan, and wood notes hold the hold thing together.

The base notes give Eros EDT some actual substance. That icy raspberry is definitely my favorite part. Definitely a pleasant experience and one that really works well, within this sort of sweet summertime scent context.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it can be strong in the right climate, more so when the humidity is low. To me, it’s not a sillage bomb, but it could easily be over-sprayed. It really doesn’t take that much to be effective. This is true for the first couple of hours with Eros EDT.

While it has a rather strong sillage, I didn’t find the longevity to be all that great. Not that it was poor, but I think I got about 5-6 solid hours out of it, and maybe a little bit longer as a weakened skin scent.

It was kind of strange to start with that kind of power, and then peter out, but it could’ve just been my chemistry with it. ( update: I’ve tried it out again, after this initial review posted, and same results).

The men’s Eros releases have been such beasts when they were brought to market, that I would’ve thought you would’ve gotten the same with Pour Femme. But, nope.

Seasonally, Eros Pour Femme just screams sunny days and warm weather. Late spring into the summertime, is when this feels most at home. It is also a versatile fragrance that can be worn casually, at the office (if lightly sprayed), and even for more formal occasions.

Mostly, it’s a daily wear with a bit more personality than the usual fare, that gets sprayed on.

Is it sexy? As a man, I find it really attractive, not in a seductive way…but I think it’s really ‘pretty’ and would definitely love smelling this on a lady. Because of that, Eros could venture into the nightlife, and garner plenty of complements.

The freshness and sweetness of the fruity notes, really do draw you in, and are a joy to be around. It’s a very upbeat and just generally lovely perfume to smell in the air.

Overall Impressions of Eros Pour Femme

Overall, do I like Eros Pour Femme Eau de Toilette? Yes, I like it a lot. The raspberry and lemon combo is great, like, I cannot get enough of that aroma. The floral notes are great as supporting elements, but never take over the composition as a whole.

I’ve also reviewed Eros EDP, but I like this one a lot more.

It is versatile and gives a good enough performance to make it a decent value. Eros is balanced, has a sunny presentation, and just puts out a positive vibe.

It’s a very nice fragrance. Eros gives you a candy-like scent, without going overboard with a sugary heaviness/stickiness feeling.

This is a really good choice for women, who live in a tropical climate, or just want something seasonally that will smell fantastic.

The longevity could be better, but isn’t terrible, especially for a fruity summer wear. If you’re not into fruity/citrus fragrances with a big dose of sweetness, this one won’t be for you.

Sole di Positano by Tom Ford

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I have come to realize that, I still have so many Tom Ford fragrance reviews to post up on the site, even months after beginning the task. Well, better late than never, I suppose. In this edition, I want to take a closer look at the unisex fragrance, Sole di Positano.

This one was released in 2017. What does it smell like? How does it perform? Is it even worth a purchase? Note: I’ve updated since the original posting.

What does Sole di Positano Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, lemon, bergamot, bitter orange, orange blossom, jasmine, neroli, ylang-ylang, moss, lily of the valley, shisho leaf

Click here to try: Tom Ford Sole di Positano Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 oz

My Full Review

Sole di Positano opens with a beautiful blend of citrus notes, but mainly consists of the orange ones. It immediately brings to mind Mandarino di Amalfi by Tom Ford, which is near identical to this fragrance, at the start.

However, Mandarino has much more of an herbal spicy profile, than does Sole di Positano which goes with a white floral blend later on.

I think that I prefer this one to Mandarino, as well as some of the Acqua di Parma line and other Tom Ford citrus/floral fragrances, like the Portofinos.

Sole di Positano has such a brilliant zesty aroma at the top, with only a slight herbal/spicy flavor, from the shisho leaf and neroli notes. The whole thing is super fresh and bright, like a summer’s day, and really does capture that Mediterranean coastal vibe.

After the initial citrus wave, the floral notes begin to emerge. For me, they never fully overtake the citrus, but do support those notes (particularly the orange blossom and neroli). What I really like about this blend, is that the dry down doesn’t go completely ‘soapy’ with the smell.

You get the jasmine and ylang-ylang, but that beautiful citrus stays around, even if it becomes greener and more floral.

In its final stages, what I mainly get from Sole di Positano is: the mandarin/bergamot blend, jasmine, neroli, some oak moss (love this added touch), and the other floral notes battling it out. It is a very clean and attractive scent, which sits very well when out and about, in the sunshine.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage isn’t too strong, but it was more than a skin scent for me. It starts in the 4-5 foot range from the wearer and moves progressively in from there. Decent, but by no means a sillage bomb.

The longevity is actually fairly good, for a citrus based scent like this. I’ve gotten 6 hours from it, and maybe, closer to 7 during a few wears. Again, not amazing, but very solid for this style. There are plenty of summer citrus perfumes that are lucky to last half of this.

Sole di Positano is a unisex fragrance and I had no problems wearing it, as a man. Yes, it is a citrus/floral, but doesn’t feel hyper feminine at all. Not to say, everyone would want to wear this, but you could. This Tom Ford is a spring/summer wear, all the way.

It is solid for office wear or casual or perhaps a formal summertime event. It is pleasing and is light enough, to fit in for nearly any occasion. Very middle of the road, with a near universal appeal and application.

Overall Impressions of Sole di Positano

Overall, do I like Sole di Positano? I do. It does have plenty of similarities with other fragrances of this ilk, from both Tom Ford, and other designers. However, the overall composition, performance, and smell is such that I have to give it a high grade.

Is it an amazing must have? Probably not a ‘must have’, but it is a very good perfume across the board. It is worth the high price of admission.

I love the citrus opening, along with the orange blossom. The performance is actually quite good for this sort of summertime wear.

There are so many other examples of this style of scent, that only bring it for 2-3 hours, that Sole di Positano kind of seems like a beast in comparison.

It comes across as a clean citrus, but with those underlying base notes of oak moss and what I take to be, shiso leaves; Sole di Positano does take on a distinct character of its own. Yes, similar to others, but it does its own thing quite well.

This is an easy pickup for almost anyone looking for a great summer fragrance. It’s not one that’s going to cover all of your bases, as a year round perfume, but it’s one that’s an awesome add-on for when the temperatures heat up.