Cologne Reviews

L’Homme Eau de Parfum by YSL

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L’Homme is a now long-running series of releases from the YSL house. The Yves Saint Laurent brand has put out some of my favorites over the years and was the first real designer I got into back in the day.

Here in 2022, they are coming out with an eau de parfum version of L’homme. How does it smell? Is it worth a try?

Note: I continually update reviews of fragrances over the years, if they stick around. So, this now includes L’homme eau de parfum too. 

L’Homme Eau de Parfum Overview

Notes include: bitter orange, oak, cognac, cedar, and more

Click here to try: L’Homme EDP

My Full Review

Let’s see how YSL describes this fragrance: L’Homme, the new Eau de Parfum, encapsulates the heart of the L’Homme franchise, the woody accord, in a more powerful, deliciously intoxicating variation. Like a liqueur, the fruity essence of Bitter Orange goes perfectly with the Infusion de Bois de Chêne. This new ingredient, distilled from oak shavings from barrels made in Cognac, brings roundness and power to the captivating trail of this new Eau de Parfum.

L’Homme eau de parfum opens up with the original’s bergamot note enhanced and amplified by the bitter orange note. It’s really reminiscent of the Parfum Intense version, at this early stage, just without the same amount of amber an note and orange blossom.

I haven’t seen amber listed here, but there seems like there is some in the mix…at least initially.

It’s sweet and does have some of that boozy aroma from the cognac soaked oak note, but that isn’t terribly strong within the composition.

I do notice, that this actually has plenty of that L’homme EDT inspiration. Bergamot, vetiver, and cedar. The spice is limited and that violet leaf note, which I like the geranium and lavender here which replaces it.

The initial citrus burst fades, this one becomes more woody and earthy. It’s starts to be more influenced by the geranium. It has a stronger aroma than the lavender to my nose. Slightly herbal, green, and supports that citrus top.

The lavender adds a clean softness to the background, but the main thrust of the scent is geared towards the wood. Oak has a bigger role early, then it’s cedar.

Fresh, with a hint of booze. That citrus sweetness lingers, as geranium and vetiver really come through.

So, early stages of L’Homme EDP are like a citrus cocktail that settles down into a gentle woody fragrance. Not a huge amount of development, but very enjoyable.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this is a step up from the modern L’Homme EDT, but really not too much so. This isn’t a loud fragrance or one that’ll leave a massive scent trail, especially after the citrus stage has faded.

That initial bit is pretty moderate with its projection and it is light but noticeable thereafter. I wish it was better on this front, but this L’Homme style formulation never seems conducive to that.

The longevity is decent. 6-6.5 hours, on my skin. Not terribly impressive and not terribly performing either. With the EDT, I only get a few hours with my bottle. This is better than that, at least.

Seasonally, this is less of a warmer weather wear than L’Homme. EDP is better in autumn and winter. It can venture into the middle of spring probably, but won’t really be great after that. I’d avoid the heat and humidity.

I’ve worn it indoors during testing, since it’s already super hot here in the summer months.

This is an attractive scent. Good for nightlife and has an ability to venture into the daytime hours, also.  It is somewhat sweet, boozy, but not overpowering. It’s not overly formal, but is well put together

Overall Impressions of L’Homme EDP

Overall, do I like this latest L’Homme flanker? Yes, it is one of their better releases from this line. Though, it isn’t perfect, and I don’t think it surpasses the classic formulation of the EDT.

The opening is really great with the bitter orange and cognac ingredients. It takes the nicer aspects of Parfum Intense and EDT and remixes them with a boozy woody finish. It’s not too sweet or too thick, retaining that same light freshness of the EDT.

The geranium and oak really help bring this one together and keep it distinct from the rest of the L’Homme lineup.

Update: Coming back to this one three years later, L’Homme EDP has become an extremely popular fragrance. It really is one of the L’Homme flankers that should be around for quite a while. I am still annoyed with the performance and wish that opening act was around for longer. Still, this is a really good release by Yves Saint Laurent.

The performance is just okay. I was really hoping that this would be a huge improvement from what I get with the EDT. Sure, it’s better, but not great at all. That’s the biggest weakness of this YSL offering.

The smell itself? Is really something that I like. If it had the performance aspect, it’d be a super replacement for the EDT.

As it is? It’s a very good release that is worth getting a hold of. Just expect that you won’t have the boldest or best performing new colognes. Even if, it is one of the better smelling of them.

Cool Water Parfum by Davidoff

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Cool Water Parfum is one of the many flankers that Davidoff has brought out over the years, using the name of it’s insanely best-selling cologne from the 1980s.

This Parfum version of the scent was released in 2021, but I recently received a sample of this stuff to test it out and see how it compares to the original and rest of the series? How does it smell? Does it last long? Is Cool Water Parfum worth a shot?

Cool Water Parfum Review

Notes include: lemon, pink pepper, vetiver, and sandalwood

Click here to try: Cool Water Parfum by Davidoff

My Take

The opening here is heavy on the pink pepper. Right away, this would be called a ‘blue’ fragrance with its clean and fresh vibe, and you’ve smelled fragrances like this one before.

It isn’t going to be like the original Cool Water, however. So, don’t expect that at all.

Sauvage EDT comes to mind, but only somewhat in style, not exact smell. Also, it’s a better and more substantial version of Light Blue Living Stromboli in the opening, without the calone (blue instead of aquatic) and the Haitian vetiver note ramped way up in the Davidoff.

Citrus, pink pepper, vetiver are the major commonalities. Bits of those two colognes are here, but I am liking Cool Water Parfum more.

Spicy, fresh, and blue early on from the pink pepper note with a light lemon backing it. As it dries down it will feel woodier and soapier. Still has that kick to it, but the pink pepper begins to take a back seat to the vetiver and sandalwood.

It’s not always a smooth transition and the mix can feel slightly harsh at times, but for this price range I think Parfum does a very nice job.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Cool Water Parfum does have some body to it and it can also project itself quite well. Not a complete monster with its reach nor does it feel like a heavy cloud surrounding you all day. However, it is completely noticeable to have on and substantial.

For me, the longevity on this one can hit around the nine hour mark before it fades completely. I’d expect for most it’d be in the 8-10 hour range potentially. A very solid performer and I wasn’t disappointed at all.

Seasonally, it might be too fresh for the coldest days on winter, but outside of that I think Parfum works just fine. It might waver somewhat in extreme heat too. I think it’ll be just fine, if you’re not spending the day outside or something like that.

Within that frame, this Davidoff cologne is quite versatile. It has a fresh and cleanish aroma that will fit in pretty much anywhere. It’s not necessarily a nightlife fragrance, if you want to really go bold with your fragrance, but this one will do just fine.

Mostly, it’s going to be a daily wear and sort of ‘do it all’ utility cologne in your rotation.

Overall Impressions of Cool Water Parfum

Overall, do I like Cool Water Parfum? Yes, it is an enjoyable wear. Not too complicated, not perfect, but a scent that can cover a lot of bases.

Pink pepper and Haitian Vetiver are two notes that really dominate the composition. So, if you’re not into those, this might be one to avoid. To me, the peppercorn can be somewhat annoying at times, but not too bothersome.

It’s got a blue-ish presentation like so many other of the mainstream designer fragrances of the past decade. As such, you’ve smelled plenty of other fragrance that are like this before. Though, this does somewhat separate itself, despite being a bit simple.

The performance is also good. Not quite elite, but if you can get this for a discounted price, you’re usually not going to get better than this. Davidoff is one of those brands that can get heavily discounted from its retail price, but those savings aren’t always available.

So, you may have to pay $98 or thereabouts for a full bottle of the stuff. At that price, I’d probably pass, but this could also be a very good pick up if you can get it for relatively cheap.

Lipstick Rose by Frederic Malle

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Lipstick Rose is one of the Frederic Malle fragrances that I had yet to try throughout all of the years that I’ve been running this site.

It’s a perfume that was released back in 2000, so it’s no new by any means, but we might as well get into what makes this one so well-loved. Lipstick Rose was designed by Ralf Schwieger.

What does it smell like? How long does it last? Is it really worth a try?

Lipstick Rose Review

Notes include: litchi, raspberry, galbanum, grapefruit, lemon, iris, rose, heliotrope, clove, amber, leather, musk, cedar, and more

Click here to try: Lipstick Rose by Frederic Malle

My Take

Right away, you can tell that this Schwieger creation is going to live up to its name. The lipstick like aroma of the perfume is apparent, as is the well-blended rose note.

What I wasn’t expecting here was the lightness of this scent, especially early. I didn’t check the notes until later, but the fruitiness while subdued, is doing a lot of the work of helping to bring out the greenish and slightly dewy smell at the start.

Litchi is the strongest of the lot to my nose. However, it’s not ever dominating. The fruit here are just part of the mix and aren’t making themselves known with a sugary sweetness or tart presentation. Even the citrus, is just a faint hint, but it makes the opening sparkle.

Underneath that, galbanum is very prominent on my skin for a while. Greenish, woodsy, earthy, and slightly bitter. It’s playing off that somewhat dirty red rose, the iris, and lily of the valley. The latter, will gradually be replaced by heliotrope in the middle of the wear.

Galbanum does bring out the musk note more here. But, we will begin to shift away from the sparkling greenish opening further into the lipstick scent that we were promised. I’m also getting violet in the mix.

The powder really increases, while this Frederic Malle scent retains that lightness and freshness. It sort of reminds me of L’Homme L’eau by Prada, in that respect, but this is a more complicated fragrance.

The dry down is a powdery lipstick with vanilla, some amber, and a vague woody and green finish to it. The rose and iris are more distinct, as the other floral notes aside from some remaining heliotrope have fallen away.

It’s sweeter to me, still not majorly, and slightly warm and waxy in the finish. It does so while keeping that clean brightness to some degree.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This fragrance is pretty moderate with how it projects and the scent trail that it leaves in your wake. Lipstick Rose isn’t a heavy scent, but it’s not airy with how it presents either.

I always notice that I had it on and never had to press my nose up against the skin in order to detect it. Closer to the upper range of moderate than anything and not a complete beast with it either.

The longevity is actually really solid. I get somewhere around 8.5 hours on my skin from this fragrance. Again not elite, but you’ll get a full workday’s use out of it.

Seasonally, this is one that can fit in almost year round. It’s light enough for the spring and more mild days of summer, while also being substantial enough for when it gets cooler.

I would probably avoid it at the extremes of winter and summer, but you’re good outside of that.

It’s a very versatile perfume to wear too. While not inherently ‘sexy’ or a night club beast, Lipstick Rose can fit in just about anywhere else. It’s dressed up, attractive, without coming off as overly serious.

Casual, daily wear, or potential signature scent for the right person.

Overall Impressions of Lipstick Rose

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, I think that it is a really great perfume of this type. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if it sounds like you’d enjoy it, Lipstick Rose is one you should definitely check out.

I think the opening act is great. The mix of fruits playing off of the floral notes gives this one balance. It doesn’t have to stray too far into green stem territory or have a singular tone with the lipstick and rose theme.

That is there, but this Malle perfume develops quite a bit from that initial spray. It doesn’t ever lose me and I enjoyed the ride, even if this is a very feminine fragrance. Sure, I won’t buy a bottle for myself, though I can enjoy this sample for what it is.

The performance is good, not extreme or elite, but Lipstick Rose does its job well.

I don’t think that this is too challenging to wear or anything like that, but some people really don’t vibe with lipstick perfumes, even if they like the idea of it. That and the price itself, will probably prevent this from being a blind buy for most people.

However, this is actually is a great offering from this line for those interested.

Uomo Born in Roma Green Stravaganza by Valentino

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Valentino’s Born in Roma series continues to roll along on both the men’s and women’s side of their fragrances. Uomo Born in Roma Green Stravaganza was released by the designer in 2024, but I recently bought some more perfume samples and received this one as a part of the lot.

So, after testing this Green scent out, how does it smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a try? Below is my complete and updated review of this cologne.

Born in Roma Green Stravaganza Review

Notes include: bergamot, coffee, vetiver

Click here to try: Green Stravaganza

My Take

Here’s how Valentino describes it: A fougere ambery fragrance, uplifting your extravagance with the bright Calabria bergamot heart, a fresh aromatic complex, and an addictive coffee accord.

So, Born in Roma Green Stravaganza is a fairly simple fragrance. It’s paired down so that it can be the line’s go to option for the spring and summer months.

The opening is mostly about the bergamot note. It actually sort of reminds me a bit of YSL’s Myslf up top. Same use of citrus. However, here it doesn’t take on the same level of juiciness and intensity.

The bergamot is smoothed out by the inclusion of coffee. The coffee accord isn’t heavy or dominant, but it’s used to beef up the scent a bit while maintaining its freshness. It darkens the feeling of the wear compared to the usual bright and citrus-laden summer colognes.

As we move along, the bergamot will lose a good deal of its power, and Born in Roma Green Stravaganza will be much more of a balanced bled.

It’s fresh, somewhat earthy and greenish at times thanks to the inclusion of the vetiver note. The dry down has a soapy/amber finish to it. I think there is a light ‘amber’ note that isn’t listed and the greenish finish is pretty vetiver heavy on my skin.

Not much obvious coffee aroma left and I can still detect the citrus that prevents a complete domination by the vetiver.

That’s about it with this cologne.

Projection, Longevity, and Versatility

The opening here actually does have some weight to it and reach, as far as the projection goes. It will leave a fairly substantial scent trail in one’s wake for the first 30-60 minutes, with a decent amount of sprays.

But, that will tone down into something that could be considered a lighter moderate scent for most of the wear. It’s noticeable for a majority of the wear, but isn’t going to be in your face about it, before it turns completely into a skin scent.

For me, I get somewhere in the 6-6.5 hour range of use out of Green Stravaganza. It’s about what I was expecting, something simple and for the warmer weather, and not a dense long-lasting powerhouse.

Seasonally, again, this one is spring and summer for most places. If you live in a warmer climate, I guess that will be more year round for your area. It’s fine in more moderate temperatures.

I don’t think that it would smell bad in colder weather, but maybe feel out of place with it’s livelier ‘greenish’ aroma.

This Born in Roma isn’t a serious fragrance or a nightlife scent. It’s not completely juvenile or informal. I’ve been wearing it around as a casual daytime fragrance when I’m running errands around town or just lounging around the house. Something along those lines.

Overall Impressions of Uomo Born in Roma Green Stravaganza

Overall, do I like this cologne? I do, even if I ultimately think that it falls short of being something that is truly great. In the end, I think it’s a pretty good scent that wouldn’t be a bad pickup at the right price.

The opening act with the bergamot at its peak, blended with the coffee accord giving the fragrance some more depth is really quite attractive. It works well on a warmer day and is my favorite part of the wear.

After that, it’s fine. The general woodsy aroma with some soapy touches in the dry down is fine. I’m not enthralled with the back half of Green Stravaganza and it really doesn’t hold much interest for me.

The performance is middle of the road, but still better than a lot of fragrances that are spring and summer wears.

I have finished out my samples of this scent for this review. I won’t personally be grabbing a bottle of this Valentino, but I do think that it’s a solid enough effort from this line.

Eilish No. 2 by Billie Eilish

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Eilish No. 2 is the follow up fragrance to the first Billie Eilish perfume release. It was then followed by a third entry into the series, each of which has nothing to do with the other in terms of how they smell. It was released in 2022.

Anyway, I finally got some samples of this woody perfume and have been testing it out recently. How does this Eilish scent smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a buy?

Eilish 2 by Billie Eilish Overview

Notes include: bergamot, apple blossom, wild poppy flower, black pepper, papyrus, palo santo, ebony wood

Click here to try: Eilish No. 2

My Full Review

Eilish 2 opens with a sharp hit of black pepper that’s brightened by bergamot’s subtle citrus scent. Apple blossom brings a bit of sweetness to the initial burst.

The florals stay pretty understated throughout, you’ll pick up traces here and there, but they never take center stage in this blend. You just get different facets of them at different times.

What really drives this fragrance is the palo santo wood running through from start to finish. Early on, papyrus kicks in with extra dryness and spice. The whole thing feels warm, grounded, and carries this gentle smoky quality.

What’s interesting is how Eilish 2 develops this slightly humid, almost dewy character as it moves into the heart and dry down phases. That’s from the poppy flower note, which is described as being ‘wet poppy flower’ by the brand.

The latter stages of the wear are much more woody and warm, versus floral and spicy. The sap and resinous qualities really come through and the composition will dry out versus what it was earlier.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Eilish 2 isn’t a heavy fragrance. It’s substantial and noticeable, but more airy than the first one and not as dense. It’s a moderate in terms of how it projects, it will leave a nice scent trail, but never really hits some insane level.

Longevity wise, this one is also pretty decent, just not great. I’ve been getting around 7 hours of wear from this perfume. Maybe an extra half an hour beyond that.

Eilish 2 is mainly for the autumn and winter months. It can venture into the spring, but I wouldn’t wear it out, when it gets too warm.

This Billie Eilish perfume is also much more unisex than the first one, which was a sweeter gourmand. This one can be worn by anyone and some would consider this to be much more traditionally masculine.

While it’s not a formal fragrance or one that is particularly sexy, it does have a wide use case to wear around. Eilish 2 could be a signature fragrance for the right person and it will fit in pretty much anywhere outside of a few exceptions.

Overall Impressions of Eilish No. 2

Overall, do I like this distinct sequel fragrance? I do enjoy it somewhat. The dry down is my favorite part, but it does have some interesting facets along the way.

Now, this second Eilish release isn’t going to be everyone’s favorite and the reaction to it seems pretty split. A spicy, smoky, and dry woody blend isn’t going to appeal to everyone…even if it is technically more unisex compared to the first release.

Still, even with its fairly unique presentation, I still think that this one falls short of being anything truly special. If it fits your style, it is an inexpensive pickup that should work rather well.

The performance is also a bit above average, but not by much.

The peppery start can be somewhat off-putting, but I do like the palo santo and ebony wood notes, particularly in the second half of this scent. It’s not too powerful, but it sits nicely on the skin.