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!

Mr. Burberry EDP by Burberry

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When I purchased my bottle of Versace Eros Flame, I received a dual sample pack of Mr. Burberry, both the EDT and EDP versions. I’ve already reviewed the eau de toilette edition on this site and was never too enthusiastic about wearing it. So, I was curious to see if the EDP would be any better or if it was another dud.

In this post, I want to cover how this version of Mr. Burberry smells, how it projects, how long it lasts, and whether or not it is actually worth a try.

What does Mr. Burberry EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: cinnamon, mint, patchouli, grapefruit, cardamom, nutmeg, amber, lavender, cedar, sandalwood, vetiver

Click here to try: BURBERRY Mr. Burberry Eau de Parfum

My Full Wear Review

The EDP version of Mr. Burberry starts off led by the group of spicy notes in there, mainly the mint. The cool and fresh mint note is the most prominent at the start, but is joined by the warmer spices in there.

There is cinnamon, patchouli, nutmeg, and cardamom…so this one is a whole lot of spice upfront. Honestly, I think the opening is the worst part, and sort of a mess of competing notes all demanding attention.

A few minutes in and things settle down a bit. At this point, it is mainly the mint, patchouli, and cardamom. The patchouli gives Mr. Burberry a dirty/earthy warmth and spice profile and the whole thing smells kind of familiar to my nose.

The first time I sprayed this fragrance on my skin, I was wholly unimpressed by it, at this point. However, it really began to turn itself around, and suddenly the aroma was absolutely great. I went from meh to loving the way it smelled, once it entered its dry down period.

What changes? The spice backs off and Mr. Burberry EDP becomes very fresh and woody to boot. Mint and cardamom are the top dogs, but grapefruit and amber, provide a bright cleanliness that the EDT had but better.

Plus, the cardamom has a little bit of a lemon tinge with the fresh spice. I really do start to enjoy the mint and grapefruit, with how they play off of the other notes in the mix.

There is lavender and woods with an herbal undertone, which is light and masculine, and plays nicely off of the top. Mr. Burberry EDP has much more personality and complexity than the original does. One problem remains with it.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage on this stuff is kind of moderate at first, and turns really light within a couple of hours. Like, skin scent level. This cologne will just not allow me to like it. It finally gets on a roll, in terms of the aroma, and then just weakness.

I don’t know. It seems that all of the Mr. Burberry fragrances have this issue to some extent. Indigo wasn’t as bad, but the EDT and EDP just aren’t good.

Also, the longevity at the skin scent level, is terrible. I’ve tried it multiple times, with heavy sprays, and can only muster 4 hours of wear total.

It just won’t go any further, which is terrible, because if the whole thing was like the dry down and powerful; then this would have a place on my shelf almost certainly.

I can’t believe the performance that I’ve gotten from this and the original.

Seasonally, the EDP would do best in the cold weather through the springtime. It’s not a super powerful smell, so it wouldn’t melt in a bit of heat. It would be good for casual or office wear, mostly.

It is attractive and has a really clean feel to it. You could wear it for evening wear or dates, but that wouldn’t be the main use. Honestly, any man in any age demographic could wear this. It is versatile in its applications, even if the performance cannot keep pace.

Overall Impressions of Mr. Burberry EDP

Overall, do I like Mr. Burberry EDP? I like half of it. The beginning isn’t great and the performance stinks. If it had any ability to perform, I would just ignore that spicy start, and wear it anyway. The problem of course is that it doesn’t perform nor have much sillage.

I encountered this same thing with the EDT, so, I figured that a more concentrate eau de parfum, might do better. It doesn’t, so I can’t really recommend Mr. Burberry EDP. After that start, the smell is really great. This one just can’t get its act together.

Maybe an hour or two of really enjoyable wear. To me, that’s just not worthwhile, even at this price point which isn’t insanely high.

10 Best Colognes of the 1970s

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The 1970s really saw the first expansion of offerings, in terms of men’s fragrances. In a lot of ways, Estee Lauder helped to pioneer the space, with popular cologne releases.

Now, the number of fragrances during this decade aren’t as numerous (then or having availability now) when compared to the subsequent years, but there are some great scents from this time period.

The style can be much earthier, herbal, and just plain different than what you may be used to today. So, many guys won’t vibe with these classic. Anyway, here is my list of the best colognes of the 1970s.

Classic Green Bottle

Polo by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau de Toilette Natural Spray, 4-Fluid Ounce– The original, the classic. Polo is a fantastic and woodsy aromatic for the gentleman who is bold and like to stand out.

It starts out quite dry with leather and pine notes and then transitions into a rich tobacco and patchouli blend that is smoky and intriguing.

An absolute monster in terms of sillage and performance. There’s a reason it has been so loved for over 40 years.

It such a great blend and starts to check off boxes throughout. Herbal. Woodsy. Spicy. A very thorough scent and one which completely goes against the grain of most of the most popular colognes of today’s era. You can also try the updated Cologne Intense version.

Again, not for everyone, but Polo is an absolute signature scent for the right man.  My Full Review

polo

70s Z

Z-14 by Halston– Z-14 is one that is still going strong today and is available at a massive discount to the modern designer options.

However, this Halston will always be special. It’s fresh, with a smoother finish, and a woody clean profile.

Cypress and cinnamon are pretty prominent early on. But, the spice never feels like it overwhelms anything. The smooth comes in from the leather and other resinous notes in the base.

Z-14 isn’t rough, it’s kind of soapy, and very well put together. Oakmoss in the middle to latter stages, gives it an earthier woodsy aroma to go along with that smoother leather.

Grey Energy

Eau de Grey Flannel- Eau de Grey Flannel is an energetic and soapy/body wash kind of cologne. It’s got a similar style to Chrome by Azzaro, which came out in the 1990s. To me, the citrus is what’s toned down the most. Though, it’s still plenty noticeable in the top.

To me, it turns woodsy fresh and a bit herbal green. Cedar, lavender, and cypress are the main notes I get in the dry down. But, eucalyptus and sage pair well with the lighter citrus notes early on.

What it does have going for it nowadays? Mainly, it’s the price. Less than $15 is pretty commonplace for a full bottle. It can be worth checking out, as a value play.

An Older Gentleman

Givenchy Gentleman Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 100ml, 3.3 Ounce– It can be quite confusing to pick out scents from Givenchy, as they keep on recycling ‘Gentleman’ and ‘Gentlemen’ titles in their colognes. But, this one from the 1970s is still among their best.

Gentleman, is a spicy/woodsy scent with notes of patchouli and leather as its highlights. It is mature and refined with a citrus note that adds some sweetness to the mix.

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

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

gent

My Favorite 70s Scent

Yves Saint Laurent Pour Homme- This is my absolute favorite of the 1970s decade. I have a bottle of the Haute Concentration version released in 1983, which is a simplified and more concentrated version of this 1971 release.

Unfortunately, this one is much more expensive and harder to come by, a still pristine bottle of.

Pour Homme became more well-known for younger people, as it was shown in the cabinet of the Patrick Bateman character in “American Psycho”.

YSL Pour Homme kicks off with it’s citrus notes lemon and bergamot. Flanked by a whole host of other ingredients including rosemary, lemon verbena, lavender, with other woods and herbal spices.

Citrus and lavender are going to be dominant here. Underneath that, it is woody, herbal, musky, and very well balanced.

A 70s Musk

Jovan Musk– Released in the 1970s, but I remember it from the 1990s. It used to come as a part of a gift set, that some relative would inevitably give someone in my family during Christmas.

Frankly, I’m not even sure if I like this one entirely. I certainly don’t hate it, but it is one of those enduring and popular releases from this time period. I go back and forth between liking it, with long stretches of indifference.

Fresh spice from mint and pepper are joined by some light citrus notes up top. The dry down gets muskier, with plenty of warmth, and a lavender note to temper things somewhat.

The formula now is ‘vegan friendly’, so, it’s going to have a synthetic musk note(s) in lieu of what you used to get.

Beast Mode

Yatagan– Yatagan is a scent from Caron, that is absolutely not for everyone. It’s unique and challenging to pull off at times.

The opening is gritty, with dry woodsy note, an animaliac musk, and general earthiness to it. This one can be weird, if you’re new to this type of fragrance. Most people, from any generation, are not.

But, Yatagan’s unique qualities make it one from the 70s that has to be on the list. At times, it’s very bitter and quite dirty. Then, it is like a fresh stroll through a damp forest. Loud and bold, a testament to perfumes that no longer get made.

Old School Azzaro

Azzaro By Azzaro For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 6.8 oz– Azzaro Pour Homme is another one from the decade, that is still going strong and still has its many fans.

It starts things off with moss, anise, and cedar notes. Very fresh, spicy, and woodsy. A light lemon note and a great coldness that permeates the start.

It will clean up with the inclusion of leather and lavender notes. The dry down is a pretty classic barbershop style of cologne.

Honestly, there are better options than this one. But, I still think this is a worthwhile fragrance from this time period. Azzaro Review

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Early Influence

Paco Rabanne– Paco Rabanne Pour Homme was released in 1973 and you can detect its style, coming through in many other designer releases that follow. It has an aroma that is somewhat like, Polo.

When I think 1970s colognes, I think: mossy, musk, lavender, and spice. That’s what this one has going for it.

This one goes for a very greenish start, with plenty of dry woods surrounding it. Later, it is cleaner with lavender, honey, and musk.

Paco Rabanne Pour Homme been out for 50 years, at this point, and still being sold. There must be something to it.

best 70s colognes

A Distant Hermes

Equipage By Hermes For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz.– Hermes’ fragrances are always quality, but not always something that I want to wear, even up to today’s releases.

Equipage is a very interesting and charming Hermes fragrance from the 1970s, that isn’t really like anything else released nowadays.

This one is for sure in my top 10 for the decade, which probably isn’t the case for the brand in any others.

It is masculine, but not overpowering, and features smooth woody notes such as: rosewood, oak moss, and pine needles.

Has that great woody, smoky, and autumn outdoorsy scent. Equipage is refined and well put together, with a nice spice from nutmeg, and a pretty distinct carnation note up top.

7 Best Smelling Orange Scented Perfumes

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Orange is one of the more common citrus fruits that are used in perfumery. It’s not always the star, though, and often will just be a supporting player. However, there are some great options out there for lovers of the orange scent and this is my page keeping track of them. Which are the best smelling of these perfumes?

What are the Best Perfumes that Smell Like Oranges?

Chanel Citrus

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau De Parfum spray For Women 3.4 OZ.– This Chanel is one of the more popular fragrances out there and it happens to utilize a very prominent orange note.

Coco Mademoiselle is sweeter blend of citrus and floral notes that has enjoyed immense popularity since its release. It has an aura of femininity with a strong heart of patchouli and musk.

Mademoiselle features some bright and clean citrus top notes and floral notes led by rose and jasmine. The patchouli is the main attraction in this one, however, it is tempered by the sweeter notes including vanilla.

It has extremely good sillage (a few sprays will do) and also provides all day longevity. Coco Mademoiselle has spawned a bunch of its own flanker fragrances, which are also great, but the original still takes the cake. Read my Full Review

Aqua Orange

Mandarine Basilic by Guerlain– Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria series has been generating a lot of great scents. One which utilizes our orange note, is Mandarine Basilic.

Mandarin orange is the main attraction, but this Guerlain also features a clementine note that is also of substance. Yet, this isn’t just a pure citrus fruit juice fragrance, it’s got a fresh spicy green and herbal blend that presents itself throughout the entire wear.

Basil, green tea, ivy, bitter orange, and some floral notes are in the mix, with varying strengths. Still, Mandarine is a sweet perfume full of energy, juiciness, just put together with a great green accord.

Mixed and Total Orange

Orange Sanguine by Atelier– Orange Sanguine is a delight of three types of orange, popping off, from the very start.

Blood orange, bitter orange, and mandarin are coming off fresh, juicy, and spicy right out of the gate. It can start more on the bitter end of things, but I’ve found that is sweetens up over time.

There is a pepper adding to the spice and geranium freshness. These notes are tempered by jasmine and tonka bean. What I like about this Atelier perfume, is how you get aspects of the rind, pulp, and juice all together.

Has some depth with a sandalwood base and a nice amber note in the latter stages.

Blue Capri

Acqua Di Parma Blue Mediterraneo Arancia Di Capri Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 5 Ounce– A super citrus blend of oranges, grapefruit, and bergamot. Arancia di Capri, is a breath of fresh air and energy when applied, and enjoys such a naturalistic feel.

Clean, upbeat, and vibrant. It opens up, with those juicy citrus notes at the top of the composition.

These are the dominant notes for the first 20 minutes and are paired with, a light musk. Then, a sweet caramel note begins to emerge and join the mandarin orange note, as the main attractions. The other citrus notes fade quite a bit.

The fragrance smells absolutely wonderful. However, while the sillage starts off pretty powerful, it becomes a skin scent shortly thereafter. Not the best performing (on my skin, anyway), but definitely one of the best smelling Acqua fragrances.   My full review of Arancia di Capri

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A Dip in the Orange

Afternoon Swim by Louis Vuitton– This fragrance is summertime the whole way. Not super complex, but attractive and has a very refreshing energy. This uses a mix of citrus notes and that’s going to be the main draw, with orange taking the lead out of the pack.

Afternoon Swim also has somewhat of an aquatic vibe, with a saltiness(ambergris), that isn’t too intense, but is noticeable. Ginger highlights the start with its fresh spice.

The orange note here is fantastic, along with its flanking citrus notes. Ginger doesn’t tend to last all that long in most fragrances and here it’ll be there for the opening act.

With these sorts of summer scents, you cannot really expect great performance. Though, Afternoon Swim from Louis V, holds up better than many.  Afternoon Swim Full Review

Tom Ford Zest

Sole di Positano– Tom Ford has a whole host of summery citrus fragrances, some utilize orange, while others do not. But, this is my favorite of the bunch and you get a great use of our target note in the process.

The opening is fresh and bright, with a slight spicy and herbal profile which sets it apart from some of the others. Zesty orange, lemon, bitter orange, neroli, orange blossom, etc. It’s all here and when blended together is fantastic.

The dry down is a blend of the mandarin and bergamot note with jasmine, neroli, and woodsy aroma from the oak moss note. Sole di Positano gives you a great performance along with the awesome scent and is one for sure to check out. Sole di Positano Review

Bitterly Fresh

Orange Bitters by Jo Malone London– This one from Jo Malone uses a bitter orange note, as its main draw. But, it flanks that with other orange, citrus, and a plum note to boot.

Yes, it does have a bitter quality with that juiciness, and an orange peel vibe. There is some smokiness in the mix, warmth, spice, and sandalwood. The dry down is pretty well balanced, with our target note still in control.

This is still fresh, but less of an option for the summer, and more of an orange for the colder and more moderate temperatures for the rest of the year.

top orange perfumes

11 Perfumes that Smell Similar to Santal 33

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Santal 33 really exploded in popularity about a decade ago. Since then, it has been endlessly praised, rehashed, and even copied to a large extent. Due to so many people talking about and wearing this Le Labo perfume, there is of course a ton of people who want something similar smelling or just plain cheaper.

This is my page tracking the alternative options which smell alike or have a very close style to what you get with Le Labo’s Santal 33. Many will be inexpensive choices, while others may be around the same price (with different smells).

Key Takeaways

Here’s a short list of some of the best options. I go into further detail about all of these and more perfumes, down further on the page.

What Perfumes Smell Like or have a Similar Style to Le Labo Santal 33?

So, the first part of the list is going to consist of those fragrances that are actively trying to match what you get with the Le Labo perfume. While the latter half, will be those that have a close to style. At least to whatever degree, that may be the case.

Shaded Woods

33 Shades of Santal by Dua– Our first entry is from the Dua Brand. Their ‘inspired by’ scent is called 33 Shades of Santal. Which, by name alone, I think that you can tell what they’re going for.

The thing is, 33 Shades does strike an extremely close chord with what you get from the Le Labo original. Dua says it’s based on the sandalwood they use in their formula, and I’ll take them at their word.

With that sandalwood, the usual papyrus, violet, iris, and leather coming through the base. All the same notes are there, the weighting is very much in line with what you’d want, and the price is very affordable ($55, as of update, without any discount codes).

Add to all of that, a great performance level from it being an extrait de parfum concentration. This is for sure a near dupe to check out.

Santal Similarities

Woody Sandalwood by Dossier– Woody Santal is the second of our ‘inspired’ takes of fragrances that try to duplicate the Santal 33 formula.

Now, I haven’t tried this one out from Dossier. I have tried other scents from them, they have been good at getting close to the designer fragrance they’re based on.

I cannot speak to this one personally, but the reviews are overwhelmingly positive and the general consensus is that Woody Sandalwood hits the mark.

If it can get the weighting of the notes mostly correct, you should be fine with this one. It’s slightly cheaper than the Dua (without discounts), but not by much.

Alexandria’s Kiss

Santal’s Kiss by Alexandria Fragrances– Another of the ‘inspirations’, that are based on the company’s idea of Santal 33.

Alexandria is a brand that is generally quite good at these sorts of creations. Plus, their scents also have great performance. So, while it’s pricier than some of the other inspired alternatives, it can be worthwhile.

Santal’s Kiss is an addition to this list, for those who want to try and find the perfect potential dupe.

Sandalwood-Cha

Ruhe by Oakcha– Ruhe from Oakcha is another option for those looking for an ‘inspired by’ version of Santal 33.

I haven’t tried anything from this brand as of yet, but they seem to have a good reputation and plenty of positive reviews.

Adding this to the list, to give yet another potential alternative. I’ll update, if and when I try this Oakcha scent out.

Simple 33

Simply Santal by ALT Fragrances- ALT Fragrances is a brand that I’m familiar with, and they usually do a good job at matching much of what you get with popular designer scents.

It’s an extrait de parfum, vegan, and matches all of the same notes as what we’re looking for. Yes, even a leather note (just not actual leather).

The pricing is right in line with the other inspired by perfumes, on the list. Simply Santal has a ton of reviews, to help you decide if this is one to try out.

Nothing Neon, but Santal-ish

Neon Moon by Pacifica– This one isn’t exactly like our Le Labo target, but Neon Moon, gives you a very similar style…but not really matching its own packaging and name. Plus, it’s extremely inexpensive.

Neon Moon is a streamlined perfume, when compared to Santal 33. You get the sandalwood, you get smokiness, and you get cardamom. The floral note here is jasmine, which comes across a bit differently than our target.

Yet, Neon Moon still has a violet-like aroma in there somewhere. I do think this is a sweeter fragrance in comparison. The cardamom, I suspect is based on a more ‘citrusy’ variety of that note.

The dry down is fresh, a bit smoky, and with a decent sandalwood note at this price point. Not as good as Santal, but for somewhere in the $20 range, I like this Pacifica.

Bookish Woods

Book Commodity– Book is a fragrance that has similarities to Santal 33, but is by no means an exact replica of what you get with the Le Labo. It’s more of a ‘if you like Santal 33, you’ll also like…” perfume.

I believe the concept here, is that it’s supposed to put off an aroma that is like reading a book or at least inspired by it.

What you get is a mix of dry woods, fresh eucalyptus, and some light powdery accents. It doesn’t have the violet, that the Le Labo does, but there are similarities it how it smells.

The rosewood and sandalwood are more balanced in the dry down. It’s not a pure sandalwood dominant fragrance. Early, you get lots of cypress and eucalyptus. I like the differences, that make this one distinct.

However, for some people they report getting more of a ‘dill’ aroma, like others get with Santal 33. I do pick up hints of it in both perfumes, but it’s not much of a factor on my own skin.

Maison Woods

No. 4 Bois de Balincourt– Another great alternative to our Le Labo scent. This time, from Maison Louis Marie.

No. 4 has a fresh crispness about it in the early stages. Slightly greenish, but with a similar powdery undertone to Santal 33.

Cinnamon and nutmeg, at the start with the freshness of the woody notes, can be punchy. However, Bois de Ballincourt ends up being quite soft, and loses some of the rougher edges that Santal can have.

This one has more vetiver and cedar, flanking the sandalwood note. Spicier and a different mix of the wood notes, which prevents it from being an exact match. But, it’s very close to 33.

santal 33 dupes

A Cheaper Woods

Palo Santo Cremo– Palo Santo is a great value play and alternative. This isn’t trying to be exactly the same, but it has plenty of similarities, while remaining distinct.

Cardamom gives this an opening freshness and some light citrus touches. This Cremo fragrance has less of that potential ‘pickle or dill’ aroma, that many people seem to get with the Le Labo.

Yet, Palo Santo is very much a fresher scent, less powdery, and is closer to a men’s cologne rather than unisex. Though, I don’t think it’s overwhelming ‘manly’. Papyrus is still a play in this scent, giving it a great dry aroma.

Tam Santal

Diptyque Tam Dao Eau De Parfum– Another option for a sandalwood scent. This one is definitely a woodsy/forest type of scent with other notes such as cedar and cypress. Has a very dry and soft aroma.

Tam Dao opens with more of the cypress note, before the dry down transitions to having the santal be the leader of the pack. Lots of wood notes with some amber and slight spices.

This isn’t the same as our target and is a good option for those who want a more balanced array of woody notes, but with a similar style.

The cypress and cedar, are also joined by rosewood. So, this one can get quite dry and forest-like.

Masculine Virtu

Virtu by Vince Camuto– A decidedly more masculine fragrance than the others on the list. This Vince Camuto cologne is listed for men and not unisex.

Yet, it has plenty in common with Santal 33, even as it remains a distinct fragrance.

Earthy and greenish moss, more leather, dry birch, and a pepper kick up top separate it from our target.

But, Virtu still has papyrus and sandalwood coming through loud and clear. Virtu is greener and smokier, at times than the Le Labo. It does still have a powdery accord underneath, just not to the same extent.

Noir Extreme by Tom Ford

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Still working my way through a box of samples, that I received 5-6 months ago, and only 40-something more fragrances to do write-ups on! For this entry, we have a very popular men’s fragrance by Tom Ford, Noir Extreme. This scent was released in 2015.

This is of course, the flanker fragrance to the original Noir, and one which has plenty of fans. I will cover what the notes are, how it smells, how it performs, and whether or not Noir Extreme is worth a purchase.

Note: I have updated this post several times since the initial review of the sample that I bought years ago.

What does Noir Extreme Smell Like?

Notes include: Cardamom, vanilla, saffron, amber, sandalwood, nutmeg, neroli, orange blossom, kulfi, rose

Click here to try: Tom Ford Noir Extreme Men Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Noir Extreme is to my nose, a floral spice. The nutmeg and cardamom notes add the warm spice, and I also pick up that familiar saffron smell, along with neroli and orange blossom. It’s warm, with a potent initial spice, and an underlying citrus sweetness.

Yes, the spice is fairly strong at first, but it quickly moves into something that is much sweeter. Vanilla is the main culprit for that, along with what I guess is kulfi (some sort of Indian dessert), but I have no frame of reference for what that should smell like.

However, there is a pistachio note as a part of this accord, and it really comes through with the vanilla about 10-15 minutes into the wear.

At this point in the wear, I really enjoy the vibe that I am getting from Noir Extreme. It is a great gourmand aroma, with ambery warmth, and a nice balance of floral notes. At this stage, a bit of rose and jasmine come out, but neither is all that distinct within the composition.

Though, it does smell more floral than it had been previously, more of a light bouquet effect versus any one standout.

Further along, a woody base emerges, with creamy sandalwood and maybe cedar? I’m not sure what the other wood note is, maybe a blend of some kind. Either way, it solidifies the fragrance, and adds some depth.

What I ultimately get from Noir Extreme is: a creamy/milky vanilla dessert aroma, with amber, saffron, cardamom, and a mix of floral notes. It is deliciously sweet, warm, and very appealing.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

noir extreme review

Projection wise, the sillage starts off strong for me. That power will last for a few hours, before it settles down, closer to the skin.

From there, it is light to moderate. I do enjoy the boldness of the start of Noir Extreme, the later whiffs that you get are nice too, but doesn’t have that same impact.

However, the longevity is still good, even after it loses some sillage strength and 8 hours of wear is not out of the question with this Tom Ford perfume.

Usually it will fall in the 6-8 hour range. It’s not a super beast with how long it lasts, but it is good enough for most purposes. Update: With my full bottle, I can sometimes get an extra hour from Extreme.

Seasonally, I would reserve this for autumn and winter, mostly. It is beautiful in the cooler temperatures and would be fine in more temperate ones. However, it isn’t really built for heat and humidity, so I’d skip on wearing it in summer.

For me, I’d say I really only have a 4-5 month window to wear Noir Extreme where I live. You may get a few more months out of it.

It is a men’s fragrance, but strikes me more as a unisex wear. It’s gourmand sweetness would work just fine for a lady. It also feels more natural to wear it dressed up. To the office, a formal or at least, semi-formal occasion.

It is an attractive fragrance, that people really seem to enjoy, catching a whiff of. The vanilla note sits perfectly on my skin and it’s really nice to wear.

Update: After a few years with Extreme, I can say that it is great for the nightlife. I’ve worn it on dates or at bars and lounges. With it, I have gotten overwhelmingly positive responses, commenting on how ‘sexy’ a fragrance it is.

Overall Impressions of Noir Extreme

Overall, do I like Noir Extreme? Absolutely. This is becoming one of my personal favorite Tom Ford scents, that I’ve worn thus far (and that’s most of them). The vanilla blend, the cardamom, amber, and spice notes at the top are all great.

I wish the sillage held its power for longer, but the overall performance is still very solid. It is an expensive fragrance, but is probably one that would be worth owning. Noir Extreme isn’t super ‘extreme’ but it is a very beautiful fragrance. Somewhat limited to cooler temperatures.

Coming back to this one a few more times, has really made me appreciate the intricate layers of this fragrance. I’m not one of the Tom Ford super fans, but when this label gets it right, the results are spectacular. This is one of those instances.

Noir Extreme and Noir de Noir are Ford scents that I can come back to time and time again. If it could get a few more hours of wear, it would be near perfect for certain times of the year. As it is, it’s still one of the best fragrances around.

Update: I’m probably half way through my full bottle of Noir Extreme. It’s absolutely one of my favorites for wintertime. Tom Ford also released a Parfum version of Noir Extreme, which some people prefer.

Personally, I like the original a bit more still. Though, I own and wear both (sometimes together). Try both and see how each works for you.

noir extreme parfum