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!

Aqua Allegoria Pera Granita by Guerlain

by

Pera Granita is a release which is a part of the Aqua Allegoria series by Guerlain. It’s one that I’ve already tried and enjoyed before, but I decided to buy another sample, in order to write up a full review. It came out in 2016. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Pera Granita Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, grapefruit, apricot, lemon, bergamot, musk, orange blossom, osmanthus, hedione, cedar, moss

Click here to try: Pera Granita

My Full Review

Here’s how Guerlain describes it: Savour a granita in the shade of the pear trees in the garden of the Hesperides, then gather their fruity treasures.

Pera Granita starts off with an explosion of its citrus and other fruity notes. Early on, you’re going to get plenty of lemon, sour bergamot, and the grapefruit coming through. Yes, the pear will be there throughout, it’s just overshadowed in the beginning.

Add to all of that, some osmanthus, which gives off it’s own sweet fruity sort of aroma as a floral note. Lots of sweet, sour, and sharpness happening in these early stages.

The next phase is fresher rather than sweet and sour. Some of the citrus notes burn off, which gives more play to the pear note. However, it is also going to share the stage with an array of floral notes and musk.

Actually, the grapefruit stands out on my skin, as it seems most of the burn off is from the lemon and bergamot notes.

The jasmine (hedione) and musk create a clean and somewhat shampoo-like vibe in the middle act. Add the freshness of cedar, sparkling water effect of pear, and the citrusy aroma…and Pera Granita really starts to give off the cleanliness.

The back half of this one is a fruit/musk/floral mix. The jasmine, orange blossom, osmanthus aren’t really sticking out as individual notes. More of a generic floral aroma.

It’s fresh with musk and wood at the base, a bit green, some light spice, and the fruits still jockeying for position.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Pera Granita opens up with a moderate strength. It’s fruity notes, definitely have reach in the early stages, and will be noticed from more than 7 feet away from where you sprayed.

As it moves along, this Aqua Allegoria fragrance will be much more of a lighter moderate scent, until it begins to disappear.

On my skin, it’ll last for 6-7 hours, with those last few hours not being particularly powerful. However, Pera Granita is for sure still present.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summertime wear, all the way. A great one to wear outside, relaxing around, or other daily wear functions during this stretch of time.

It’s an upbeat and clean one to wear in the daytime. Not going to be a sexy nightlife wear or one that is super formal. Though, you’ll still get plenty of use out of Pera Granita, even without the nighttime functions.

Overall Impressions of Pera Granita

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I do.

The freshness, the mix of sweet, sour, pear, and floral notes. The energy of it and how it has some depth for a summertime wear. It’s an Aqua Allegoria perfume that I enjoy quite a bit.

The performance itself is pretty mid. It’s not awful on me, but I wouldn’t expect a marathon wear or super beastly performance out of Pera Granita. 7 hours, on the high end, with  the last few being skin scent territory. Fair enough.

Still, this is one of my favorite pear perfumes that I have tried. It’s not completely dominated by that note, but I like how it stands out within the mix.

Pera Granita is a very good warm weather option for those who enjoy this style of fragrance. Definitely worth trying out. But, with how pricey it can be, maybe not a perfume that you’d want to blind buy.

Also, if it doesn’t sound like something that’d fit your style, I don’t think it’d do anything to change that fact.

8 Fragrances that Smell Similar to Armani Code

by

Ahhh, Armani Code. It has been around for 15+ years or so now, had its time in the sun, and still remains pretty popular. Nowadays, there are better options, especially in the Armani Code lineup than the original. However, the classic does still manage to have its charms.

This is why so many fragrance companies have created comparable scents to this cologne. In this post, I want to present some options for men, who want a similar smell to Armani Code or an alternative for less money.

What Colognes Smell Similar to Armani Code?

An Inspired Code

Ambery Lavender by Dossier– As far as fragrances that are inspired by the DNA of the original Armani Code, this one from Dossier is probably your best bet.

It seeks to get as close as possible to Code, by using the same sort of notes, and Ambery Lavender accomplishes this well. For under $30 (as of writing).

Clean with the light citrus, lavender, and tonka bean keeping things smooth. Plus, just enough spice to make it interesting. Worth trying out, if you want a good take on the original Code EDT.

Sporty Code

Code of Dua– So, Dua, went in another direction and created an inspired take on the old Armani Code Sport flanker.

That one, was a very fresh take with a greater use of the citrus top notes and a fairly strong mint coming through. Sport was discontinued a long time ago, but if you want to try it out, without spending crazy amounts on unsold bottles…this is what you’ll want.

The mint is joined by ginger, vetiver, and some kind of aquatic accord to give it that slightly spice and cool sporty vibe.

Close but Distinct

Ermenegildo Zegna Intenso Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– Intenso is a quality and fairly close aroma to Armani Code. The opening act is quite similar, with citrus, and then the later tonka bean smoothness. This Zegna cologne is similiar to Armani Code, yet, different enough to be it’s own thing.

Intenso is smooth with a solid dark feel that is balanced by a citrus sweet undertone. Intenso is softer, with more of a powdered aroma than Code, thanks to the attractive iris note. Not the best sillage, but it can be double sprayed, as it isn’t very expensive.

Dirt Cheap Impression

Hollywood Playboy by Coty for Men Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 oz– Soft, powdery, and sweet like a very poor man’s Armani Code. But hey, for $5-10, you can go nuts with the sprays to make it last longer than the few hours it usually gives.

Hollywood is a mixed bag performance wise, though, it could serve a place in a teenager’s or younger man’s collection. The citrus in the beginning, isn’t of the same quality as the Armani, but the later vanilla, amber, and lavender are much better.

In the end, Hollywood overcomes its shaky start, and has a really nice aroma with a bit of floral and woods underneath.

Another Super Cheap Option

Cuba Brazil Copacabana Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce– One of the lesser known fragrance offerings from Cuba. Copacabana opens up with a great citrus blend and floral notes, which gives it a bit of a powdery edge.

There’s a noticeable lavender and at least some rose within the composition. It is a fresh sorts of fragrance, which dries down with some clove spice, and underlying woody notes. Pretty straightforward fragrance, but smells quite nice, and has good performance.

Copacabana shares the citrus and powdery qualities of Code. A bit spicier and the dry down doesn’t have the same leathery vibe. If you want the absolute cheapest options, go with this and/or Playboy Hollywood.

Similar Style and Inexpensive

Antoino Banderas Seduction In Black for Men Eau-de-Toilette Spray, 3.4-Ounce– This one is more of an inexpensive cousin of Armani Code, rather than, being a clone of our target scent. Seduction in Black, is however, a very nice scent for the price.

The main similarities are the use of citrus and the heavy tonka bean in this Antonio Banderas fragrance. However, the black currant note gives this one more of a juiciness and sharpness.

This shares spicy qualities, but nutmeg, in lieu of anise. Dries down with some amber and musk. Performance is pretty good for this price level, but nothing insane. Just another cheapie option.

Newer and Better Code Flanker

Giorgio Armani Code Absolu EDP Eau de Parfum For Men 3.7oz– Code Absolu is a similar yet stand alone flanker to Armani Code…and it is better. Code Absolu opens up with nutmeg, rum, suede, and tonka bean. There is also a hint of citrus and crisp apple, in the background.

The spice of the nutmeg is dominant for a few minutes, before the suede and tonka bean really take over. The fresh spice here is great, nutmeg and rum, are surprisingly great together. The fruit notes, are also just strong enough, to prevent it being a completely dark fragrance.

This one is fresh, warm, with a nice sweetness from vanilla and tonka bean. The projection is strong, but not absurdly so, and the longevity consistently hits 10+ hours, on my skin. Again, it shares a similar DNA to the original Code, but stands alone with its fragrance. Code Absolu Full Review

Update: It’s been discontinued.

Another one in the $10-15 Range

Password By La Rive for Men EDT 2.5 oz / 75 ML– Password isn’t an exact one to one of Code, just pretty darn similar. It’s powdery and there is citrus in the mix, but it’s different on that aspect than the early stages of the Armani.

What you’re really going to get here is violet. Once the bergamot has settled down, it is a fresh lightly spiced powdery floral blend. Violet and jasmine. Not the highest quality, but the performance isn’t awful.

Is La Rive Password better than Code? No, but it’ll get you a very inexpensive alternative that can cover most of your bases.

H24 EDT vs. EDP by Hermes

by

H24 is the newer fragrance series for men by Hermes. Thus far, we have gotten the first release, H24 EDT and the subsequent H24 eau de parfum. In this post, I want to compare the two colognes, and see what the differences are. Which smells better? How long do they last? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: H24 EDT vs EDP

H24

Notes includes: sage, narcissus, rosewood, sclarene

Click here to try: H24 by Hermes

Read my review: H24 EDT

h24 review

H24 EDP

Notes include: moss, sclarene, sage, rosewood, narcissus

Click here to try: H24 EDP

My Review: H24 eau de parfum

Opening

H24 EDT starts out like a sage bomb, on my skin. The sclarene note adds its metallic influence underneath that, but it feels warmer than the eau de parfum version. Like, the moss in that, has a cooling influence in comparison.

Narcissus is stronger in the early stages in EDT. There is also a lighter fruity touch to the blend, that doesn’t come through as much with the EDP.

H24 EDP opens up quite metallic and green with how it comes across. In this mix, the moss and sclarene are amped up from the jump. Not as much sage, as with EDT, but it is still there.

Oakmoss is also in the original, just a fairly negligible amount. In EDP, it’s massive.

Plus, the yellow floral aspect and underlying woods are detectable. A bit of sweetness under that, mossy metal aroma, and very cold fresh.

Which is better?

The greenish metal scent of EDP is interesting, but I like how H24 EDT kicks off somewhat more. The sage and the weighting of the other notes, is more likeable to me than the infusion of moss, with the eau de parfum.

Edge: H24

Projection

I don’t notice too much of a difference with how each projects or the sillage, overall. With the original H24, it would project 5-7 feet and come in closer from there.

Nothing massive, but I knew it was around pretty deep into the wear. With EDP, it might have an extra bump up top with the strength. But really, nothing super noticeable.

EDP does have a better ability to stay at it’s stronger levels than the EDT. For that, I’ll give it the edge.

Edge: EDP

Longevity

Again, there isn’t a huge difference in terms of how long each cologne lasts, either. With the original, I got 6-7.5 hours of wear from it, each time I tested the EDT.

Nothing amazing, but I found it to be solid.

With H24 eau de parfum, it was maybe a tad better. Up to 8.5 hours, mostly with the moss still hanging around. Though, about 7-ish hours, on average.

Edge: EDP

Versatility

There’s no difference in this category.

Both are more daytime oriented, work safe, and very easy to wear. Each is at its best in spring and summer. But, can extend into the autumn months too. Very versatile fragrances.

A slight age difference. Each can be worn by anyone, but EDP feels more geared towards an older audience, and EDT can work well for either.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these do I prefer?

H24 EDT and EDP aren’t completely different from one another, like some flankers can be. Add a much stronger oakmoss note to the original and fiddle some with the weightings of the other notes, and you have, EDP.

I’m probably in the minority opinion, but I like the original more than the stronger EDP. I’m not in love with either, I think they’re both likeable scents, but the EDT just smells better to me throughout the wear.

The dry down is pretty similar between them. EDT is more of the narcissus influence, both are much heavier with the rosewood, near the end.

Really, it comes down to whether you like moss and it’s fresher aspects. Hermes calls this a ‘high-tech moss’ and it doesn’t come across as naturalistic. There’s something slightly different about it.

H24 EDP feels better suited to older guys. It’s less sweet, less floral, and has a classic clean.

Personally, I’m going with the original EDT. I like the woody dry down with the narcissus. Nothing too complex, but a bit more enjoyable to me.

Winner: H24 EDT

Habit Rouge Rouge Prive by Guerlain

by

Habit Rouge Rouge Prive, is a 2023 flanker to the original Habit Rouge, which has been popular for decades. I bought a sample of Rouge, after seeing so many positive comments about the scent.

I have been testing this Guerlain out and putting it through its paces for review. I must note, that I am not going to be comparing it to the original, as it’s been years since I’ve even smelled Habit Rouge. So, I really don’t want to try to do it based off memory alone.

How does Rouge Prive smell? How long does it last? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Habit Rouge Rouge Prive Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, leather, ginger, iris, vanilla, patchouli, orange blossom

My Full Review

Here’s how Guerlain describes it: The legendary bergamot-leather accord of Habit Rouge intensified by the sensuality of patchouli and modernized by the spiciness of ginger.

The opening of Rouge Prive comes out with a very strong use of its bergamot note. Juicy, sour, and quite good.

Immediately alongside of that, you’re already going to get the leather note showing itself. It’s already powerful, but will grow to dominate this Guerlain fragrance.

What’s interesting to me, is the mix of warmth and spiciness from the ginger note, and the patchouli peaking through. It’s kind of presenting a roasted and crispy bergamot aroma up close.

However, pulling back my nose, this has a light powdery/soapy aroma from the iris and very light orange blossom. The orange blossom, what little there is, seems to be gone in 20 minutes or so.

The transition away from the warmer spiciness of the opening is the first major change. That ginger becomes much weaker, leather and patchouli rise further. Still, the bergamot is playing a major role at this point in time.

After about an hour in, the powdery aroma has faded a lot. You pretty much get the same thing the rest of the way: luxurious and smooth leather, bergamot and patchouli jockeying for position, and a bit of vanilla to soften out the edges.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Habit Rouge Rouge Prive absolutely packs a punch. That opening is loud, fairly heavy, and projects extremely well.

The thing is, the party keeps on going for a long long time. The projection hours into the wear, is still very noticeable, and outdoes a lot of mainstream designer colognes at their peak. 5+ feet off of the skin or clothing, seems about right, after 3-plus hours.

It also is one that lasts over 9 hours and got up to 11 for me. For some people, Rouge Prive might extend beyond that. That wasn’t true in my case, but it’s a scent with fantastic longevity.

Seasonally, this works anytime outside of the height of summer. Just avoid having it on in the heat and humidity. You should be fine any other time. Rouge Prive is at its best, when it’s at least slightly cold, however.

One that can be worn day or into the night. It’s got a refined style, that’s suitable for ‘dressier’ wear, but not so completely stuffy that it’s unwearable in a more chill scenario.

I might goes easy on the sprays, if you’re wearing it to the office or elsewhere in close quarters. Though, it should still fit in, for a wide variety of situations.

Skews older. Not an ‘old man’ scent, but probably not something that most high school aged guys are going to be wearing to class, either.

Overall Impressions of Rouge Prive

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I do. I received this sample along with a decant of Ideal Platine Prive, also by Guerlain, and I like that one more than Rouge Prive.

But, this is still a very nice fragrance, if you’re into this sort of style. The Habit Rouge series does come across as a masculine version of Shalimar. Rouge Prive, is a modernized version of that.

I do like the opening with the ginger, bergamot, and leather. It’s a great start to the wear. The powdery touch are also nice.

I must note, that the bergamot and leather combination, does kind of get old to me after a number of hours. Just starts to wear on my nerves. Not completely awful or anything, but not something that I want to personally have on all day.

The performance is fantastic too. Rouge Prive will stick around for a long time, without completely diminishing in its strength until very deep into the wear.

Rouge Prive is worth a try, if you like the original or are a fan of leathery scents. This Guerlain does have pretty limited availability both geographically and the number of stores it actually sells in.

That being the case, you might have to just blind buy it, if you’re really interested. If this sounds like something you’d be into, I don’t think you’d be disappointed with what you get.

Hugo Red by Hugo Boss

by

I’ll be making my way through plenty of reviews over the next few weeks and today I thought that I’d go with one from Hugo Boss, Hugo Red. I’ve already included this cologne on my list of best by Hugo Boss, however, I want to give it a closer look that I feel it deserves.

In this post, I will explore what makes up Red, what it smells like, how it performs, and whether or not I think it is worth a buy. Note: This page has been updated a few times since its original posting.

What does Hugo Red Smell Like?

IMG_0766

Notes include: grapefruit, pink pepper, rhubarb, amber, pineapple, tonka bean, cedar

Click here to try: HUGO BOSS Red EDT Spray for Men, 6.8 Fluid Ounce

Hugo Red Full Review

Hugo Red is quite an interesting scent to me. At times, it reminds me of some other fragrance that I’ve once smelled and at other times it seems wholly unique.

The opening is the usual citrus affair of pineapple and grapefruit notes which give it a spring/summer fruity vibe to it. The pink pepper and amber feel, has a Guess Seductive quality to it.

But, this is a fresher and less heavy kind of cologne.

However, Hugo Red becomes interesting in that there is this almost metallic aroma to it, sort of like Creed Himalaya (which I don’t enjoy) but in Red it is enjoyable.

The spice to this really isn’t really heavy and it’s kind of tough to explain. Red has a warm and woodsy heart that is only slight spicy and provided by the amber, pink pepper, and cedar.

It’s sort of unique because the rhubarb note isn’t all that common in many fragrances and I think that this note is what is setting Hugo Red apart.

This fragrance is quite clean, crisp, and refreshing. People also seem to dig it while I have it on, even if it can seem synthetic/generic at times.

There’s a very slight tonka bean after a while, but it isn’t all that noticeable during most wears.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

It is a moderate projection and I could detect it without having to get close to my skin. It stays moderate for 2-4 hours, before having a lighter sillage, but sticking around for a long while.

This fragrance has a reputation of not lasting long but I got really good wear out of it. I put it on the night before and it was quite noticeable still when I woke up the next morning.

Update: Upon wearing this for a while, I actually can get 8+ hours easily, but it fits in the 8-10 hour range mostly.

This would be a great choice for the warmer months, but I think it’d perform pretty well in wintertime, also. I like to wear it casually or for a night out during the summertime.

Hugo Red isn’t really an office scent, can have more of a youthful vibe. Not just for teenagers, but can work great for guys in their mid-20s. It just works in its simplicity, and has a unique enough vibe, to make it worthwhile.

Overall Impressions of Hugo Red

Overall, is Hugo Red a buy? It does smell good and it’s completely safe to wear for any occasion. I’d say that this could be an everyday summer wear for guys in the 18-30 range. It’s not too expensive and was a solid performer for me.

If you like citrus based scents with a woodsy/spicy heart, then Hugo Red is worth a look. I actually really enjoy this as a summertime citrus fragrance.

It’s unique and has a great blend of tartness and sweetness. That metallic finish is a great addition to making this Hugo Boss scent, stand out on its own.

Is it amazing? No, but it is all around a very good cologne, that has flown under the radar.

Update: Red has been discontinued by Boss. It’s harder to get a hold of bottles, but they do still exist, and usually for a great price. But, that’ll change as soon as the fragrance gets scarce.

I wouldn’t pay too much for a bottle, as it’s basically a fun summertime fragrance. Though, I’d enjoy having it again, if it were still a value.