Cologne Reviews

Silver Mountain Water by Creed

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As a part of my ongoing fragrance reviews on this site, I have been gradually tackling the Creed line of colognes for men.

Creed is a luxury fragrance design house with a long history and has created scents for the rich, famous, and leaders of the world during this time period.

In this post, I want to take a closer look at what I consider to be one of their best colognes, Silver Mountain Water. How does SMW perform? What notes does it contain? Is it worth a buy?

What does Creed Silver Mountain Water Smell Like?

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Notes include: mandarin, green tea, bergamot, black currant, musk, and sandalwood

Click here to try: Creed Silver Mountain Water, 3.3 Fl Oz

My Full Review

The opening of Silver Mountain Water reminds me of Imperial Millesime, in a lot of ways, as both fragrances contain mandarin and bergamot notes.

The main difference between the two is Imperial develops into a melon scented cologne with a sea salt note that brings about images of the summertime, while Silver Mountain Water, is cooler in crisper in its presentation and evokes mountainous terrain.

The citrus notes are most noticeable during the first 20 minutes of wear and after that, the green tea emerges along with the black currant, to really become the highlights. The black currant and citrus notes together can be fairly sharp, but the tea note settles it down quite a lot.

SMW is a very clean type of scent and isn’t overbearing at all. The musk note gives this fragrance it’s heart in my opinion and keeps it from becoming a completely light and airy affair. Once the green tea takes over, it starts to have a more green/herbal type of vibe to it.

It’s almost as if it goes from being a summertime type of fragrance towards a springtime wear. It’s like the melting of the last snow of winter and life starts to come out in full bloom again.

Another good springtime Creed fragrance is Green Irish Tweed.

Silver Mountain Water is super fresh at this point, with a green herbal chill, running through the heart of the fragrance.

Finally, the ultimate dry down, is the tea, musk, black currant/citrus mix, on top of a sandalwood base. Together, it’s a pretty simple and fairly linear scent, but does everything it needs to. Clean, sharp, and refreshing.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I’d say it’s moderate. I can definitely tell I’m wearing it, but it isn’t going to choke out the rest of the room.

I mean, it can if you overapply, but with a few sprays the sillage doesn’t stray too far.

It’s longevity is decent in my opinion, even though it gets a reputation for being short-lived.

I can tell you from my experience, I get six hours from this more or less. I have applied it before in the morning, and went on a long running work out, and could still smell it on me afterwards. Sometimes, it’ll go up to 8 hours but that’s not usual for me.

Seasonally, it’s actually good year round. The coldness of the fragrance is interesting in the warm weather. However, that bright citrus/icy quality, hangs around well in the wintertime. SMW is a unisex fragrance.

It’s good for daily wear, not really a ‘sexy’ scent, but can go casual or formal. Personally, I’d wear it casually or in some kind of semi-formal fashion during spring or summer.

Overall Impressions of Silver Mountain Water

Is Silver Mountain Water worth a try? I’d say yes. I honestly like it a lot, though, it definitely isn’t my favorite cologne ever.

I think it is a great idea for spring wear and it does develop this interesting herbal and almost metallic scent (the silver in the name), that is pretty unique and enjoyable.

I like the cold sensation that I get from the opening act, I do like a good black currant, and the tea is also a nice touch. It’s not a must have for me, but I have emptied the sample vials of this stuff over the years, and it didn’t just sit on the shelf forever.

I’d put it near the top of my Creed list and would choose it to wear out of the group depending on the weather and my mood (I have also been warming more and more to Original Santal, even if it is still a weak performer). Silver Mountain Water is a winner in my book.

L’Instant de Guerlain Pour Homme EDT

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I’ve had this post in the queue on L’Instant for seemingly ever, though, never got around to writing it up for some reason. Well, it dawned on me that I haven’t written a review of one of my frequently worn colognes, and I must now correct that mistake.

How does L’Instant de Guerlain perform? What does it smell like? When should it be worn? Continue below for my full take.

What does L’Instant de Guerlain EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: star anise, cacao, hibiscus, citrus, patchouli, musk, lavender, sandalwood, pepper, jasmine

Click here to try: Guerlain L’instant Pour Homme Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3 Ounce 

instant guerlain pour homme

My Full Wear Review

The opening sprays of L’Instant EDT are a blend of citrus and spice. The main notes are lemon and star anise. The secondary ingredients are a bit of lime and pepper. The lemon note is deep and pairs wonderfully with the warm though not too intense spice of the star anise.

Sitting behind this is a light herbal tea note, that fades rather quickly to my nose. I love the start of this cologne, it has a dry and powdered warmth, with spice, and a sharp juicy lemon note. It’s unique and definitely takes a different path from most other men’s fragrances.

The jasmine and sandalwood, peak through the composition fairly early, and give this its dry powdery aspect. The opening act, as I said, is unique. It can be off putting at times, but this one needs to develop further on the skin, to really reach its zenith.

As it moves along, L’Instant de Guerlain, starts to be less spicy. The cocoa note strengthens and the anise fades, a good deal. It’s sweet and dry, like a cocoa mix, and the patchouli gives it an earthy companion.

What I get for the rest of the wear is: cocoa, lemon, patchouli, sandalwood, musk, with a touch of florals. It’s got an herbal quality, wrapped up in a dry wamth, with sweetness, and a lingering spice sitting underneath. It all comes together as very smooth, somewhat smoky, and subtle.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage on L’Instant, is pretty moderate. On my skin, it starts off as a strong cologne, but heads closer to the skin after 30 minutes or so. Again, this is a subtle fragrance, but don’t mistake it for being weak.

Even when you cannot necessarily smell it on yourself, others still can. I’ve worn this at times, and barely noticed it myself, when women have commented positively towards the scent. This does its job, it’s just not all up in your face about it.

The longevity is pretty good, but not outstanding. I think most of the time, it hits the 6-7 hour range on my skin, sometimes longer. Not amazing, but definitely solid.

Seasonally, it’s better in colder weather. In the humidity, L’Instant isn’t terrible, it just feels heavier. The spices seem particularly bothersome, when the climate is warmer.

However, during the autumn and winter months, this is a very versatile scent. It’s light enough to wear to work, while having enough style and sexiness, for a night out. This gets complemented pretty consistently. It’s a scent which women seem to find appealing, in all my experience with it.

Overall Impressions of L’Instant de Guerlain EDT

This has been one of my favorite fragrances in the past. I don’t wear it all of the time, but when the mood strikes me, I absolutely love it.

Compared to so many other colognes on the market, it stands out, as its own thing. The notes are blended perfectly and somehow manage to just work, even when the don’t seem like they should.

Is it for everyone? Probably not. It’s been around for a long time now, but has never been a best seller. I don’t want to act as if, this is a niche fragrance, because it generally does get a good reaction from people out in public.

This is a good scent for guys, who want to get away from the usual popular offerrings, but not go off into some weird extreme fragrance. It’s not that expensive, has a nice performance, and just smells good.

For me, it’s a definite for the autumn months. I just grabbed a new bottle and am enjoying it thoroughly.

Polo Red Extreme by Ralph Lauren

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So, here we are for yet another cologne review from the Polo line of scents. While, I enjoy a lot of the fragrances from this brand, my biggest complaint is how many of them have mediocre longevity…including a favorite of mine, Polo Red.

Now for this third incarnation of the ‘Red’ line of scents, Polo introduces us to Red Extreme here in 2017. In this review, I’m going to cover how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not I think it is worth a purchase. Update: This one is now discontinued.

What Does Polo Red Extreme Smell Like?

Notes include: blood orange, coffee, ebony wood

Click here to try: Polo Red Extreme Eau de Parfum Spray 4.2 Ounce, Ralph Lauren Men

My Full Review

I was excited that a new Polo Red fragrance had come out and jumped at the chance to try it. I enjoyed both the original Red and Red Intense, even though they could both be lacking in the longevity department.

Now, there is overlap between all three of these fragrances but I’d say that Extreme is the most unique of the bunch. It also shares more qualities with Red Intense, than it does the original, due to the coffee note being prominent.

I have only been able to find out three of the notes in this cologne and they are of course the most noticeable. Coffee leads the way and it is tempered by a smooth and creamy feeling blood orange.

Red Extreme is like an amalgamation of other scents, I get, Polo Red Intense plus Rochas Man, and something else (Luna Rossa Sport? Maybe? It’s been so long, since I’ve smelled that). That being said Extreme seems familiar enough while being its own independent experience.

Side by side with the original Polo Red, I do think that this also might have a hint of the cranberry note, because there is a definite similarity.

Red Extreme does have that same fruity vibe but it is much darker, smokier, and bolder than the previous two colognes. Extreme is very energetic and sporty in a completely masculine way.

At times, the interactions between the ingredients can give Red Extreme, a sort of chocolate-like scent. The roasted coffee with the citrus juiciness of the orange, does give this one a gourmand chocolate candy aroma. I like it for still being sweet, but not nearly as tart, or spicy (versus Intense) as the other options from this Red lineup.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Longevity wise, finalllyyyyyy…they made a Red cologne with some really good longevity. Red Intense wasn’t bad, in this regard, but Red Extreme is bordering on excellent. This is an all day kind of wear but doesn’t hit the same length as something such as One Million.

In terms of projection, this stuff is fairly strong, and can be too much if you over spray but one or two spritzes should be enough.

The sillage is pretty potent in the early stages, though, it moderates much more as it wears on. Not a complete bomb, but it can be too invasive, at times.

I think Polo Red Extreme is quite a versatile cologne. I can imagine wearing this anywhere, as it wouldn’t feel too out of place at work or out on a date. I

want to say its geared more towards spring or winter but I do get a definite summer appeal with this one. Now, I cannot say if it will hold up well in the heat, but it seems like it could.

Update: As far as wearing Red Extreme in the heat, I’d probably skip it. Maybe on a summer’s evening or if only in an air conditioned building. Outside of that, I don’t really like its development in the humidity and high temperatures. It’s not the worst, but humidity is a killer.

Overall Impressions of Polo Red Extreme

Overall, would I say Red Extreme is a buy? Yes, I am digging it. If you were a fan of the previous Polo Red scents, you’ll probably be into this one as well. If you don’t like sweet or coffee scents, then, probably avoid this cologne.

I think that Ralph Lauren finally nailed this concept and produced a versatile cologne with good performance. It’s not the most amazing scent ever created, but I think it is very appealing.

The structure is all very simple. However, it shines within the confines of that simplicity. It gives you enough development, a really nice scent, and pretty high end performance. For guys in their 20-30s, who want a sweeter wear for the winter months, this is a very good pickup.

Update: Since it’s been discontinued, this one is getting increasingly expensive on the secondary market. I wouldn’t reach too high in price for a bottle, but Extreme is worth getting.

Guerlain Homme L’eau Boisee

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I grabbed a few Guerlain fragrances as a part of my latest batch of samples that I am testing out for cologne reviews on the site. One of them, is Guerlain Homme L’eau Boisee, which is a flanker fragrance of Guerlain Homme. In this post, I am going to cover what’s in it, what this scent smells like, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth buying a full bottle of.

What does Guerlain Homme L’Eau Boisee Smell Like?

Notes include: Indian vetiver, mint, lime, musk, rum, and grass

Click here: Guerlain Homme L’eau Boisee Eau De Toillete Spray, 2.7 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

I’m a fan of Guerlain Homme, I have a full bottle of the stuff, so I was interested in seeing how Homme L’Eau Boisee would compare with the original. The opening of Boisee is actually horrendous for about 5 seconds before it starts to settle.

At first, I was having trouble pinning down what that odor was that smelled like burning tires, and then I saw that this fragrance has grass as a note. Bingo! The grass note initially smells like a mowed lawn mixed with burning tires. Luckily, that smell is only very temporary.

Nevertheless, that aroma fades and  the Indian vetiver emerges to claim its supremacy within the scent. This is a contrast to the original Guerlain Homme, which led off with the minty rum of the mojito accord.

L’eau Boisee takes a different approach, the alcoholic aspect of the notes takes a back seat to the vetiver but it is still supported by the lime and a toned down mint note.

So, Boisee is much woodier and earthy than is Guerlain Homme, I suppose it depends on what kind of style you’re going for as to which mixture of the notes that you prefer. The original lacks the vetiver to the extent of this flanker, however.

L’Eau Boisee’s mint note, never fully takes over like it does in the original. The dry down for this fragrance is a fresh woody scent. The dry grass note comes back, a few hours in, but isn’t joined by that burning rubber smell which plagues the opening act.

It ends with a light lime, with cedar, vetiver, other woods, and grass. It’s a fresh yet quite dry aroma and not a complete booze-fest, like its predecessor. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Perhaps, it is just the sample that I received, but Boisee is weaker than Guerlain Homme in both its projection and longevity. The projection is just okay but it is more of a subtle fragrance, so I don’t have too much of a problem with that.

However, the longevity seems to be stuck in the 4-5 hour range on my skin, which isn’t great.

L’eau Boisee fits well into the current summer weather, which I totally attribute the the lime note, which plays extremely well off of the vetiver.

Update: I have also, worn this one in the cooler months, mainly autumn. I like the way it hangs in the crisp air. Vetiver and a juicy lime, but the woods really give it that fall feeling.

I’d say this is more of an office/casual wear scent but I wouldn’t be opposed to wearing this on a date either, since it isn’t really loud or overbearing.

This is a good alternative for people who liked the original Guerlain Homme but didn’t like the mojito accord being the main attraction the entire time. It’s a tough sell to want to smell like an alcoholic drink, while at work. The rum note in this one is so light, that it’s a non-issue. 

 

 

Overall Impression of L’eau Boisee

Overall, is this one worth a buy? Yes, but I personally enjoy the original more, so I won’t be purchasing a full bottle. I don’t like the longevity issues that L’eau Boisee has and I actually prefer that mojito, as I think that it is fun to wear at certain times.

However, aside from all of that, this is a very good cologne that is a great take on the original. I like how it sort of inverts the notes to create a familiar and yet unique fragrance. It just depends on what you personally like, when deciding between the two.

Update: This is now discontinued.

Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme by D&G

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Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme was released in 1994 and is the original of the now extensive line up of fragrance for this brand. It was re-released, in 2012, with a slightly different take (which I’m reviewing here).

I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t done a review yet on the site, so, I bought a sample in order to do a full review. Not trying to just rely on memory. In this post, I want to cover how it smell. How does Pour Homme perform? Is this fragrance even worth a try?

What does Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, lavender, sage, neroli,  pepper, cedar, tobacco, musk, tonka bean, bergamot, tangerine, and more

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Dolce & Gabbana By Dolce & Gabbana for Men 6.7 Oz Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.7 Oz

My Full Wear Review

Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme opens up with a lot of lavender, that is flanked by spices (sage and pepper), citrus fruit, and neroli. The lavender and neroli, give this a soapy and almost powdery quality. The citrus notes are subtle, sitting underneath that.

However, up top the spices are at their most noticeable. Mostly, I get sage, with a light pepper note thrown in. It comes across as very fresh rather than a bold or heavy sort of spiciness. For the first 30 minutes or so, the sage is the second strongest note to my nose.

Once the sage lightens up, most of the citrus top, is gone too (lemon remains). The neroli is still there, but the tobacco begins to come through. Here, the tobacco isn’t playing a giant role within the composition. It’s there, I can definitely smell it, but it gets overshadowed by the lavender.

A little further along, the balance does get better, but lavender is still in charge. There isn’t too much development, with D&G Pour Homme. There is a cedar base and some sweetness from tonka bean, but they are bit players.

What I’m ultimately left with is: lavender, tobacco, and neroli as the strongest part. Then, sage, lemon, and the rest of the notes combined together.

Sillage, Versatility, and Longevity

Quite frankly, the sillage on this isn’t all that powerful. You get pretty good projection for a few hours, and then, it sits closer to the skin. Not completely weak, but this Dolce fragrance isn’t a powerhouse.

The longevity is actually pretty good, but again, not great. It’ll go for 6-8 hours, on my skin, depending on the climate that day. It’s a very competent performer, overall.

Seasonally, it doesn’t strike me as being set for one type of climate. It’s citrus and soapy, so it’s fine with the warmer weather. On the flip side, the tobacco and spice, fits well into the colder months.

Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme is a good daily wear. It’s attractive, clean, and fresh. Though, I wouldn’t call it all that ‘sexy’ It’s the type of cologne that can pretty much fit in anywhere.

Overall Impression of D&G Pour Homme

Do I like this scent? I like it, but I don’t love it. It’s a lot of lavender and neroli. Which is good, if you want a clean and soapy scent, but that’s usually not my style.

That being said, I enjoyed it for what it is. I like the citrus notes, up top. Personally, I like the smell of sage, but others aren’t too fond. Finally, when the tobacco gets to come in more, is when this fragrance is at its best.

It certainly has its strengths, enough to be worthwhile of a try, particularly the fact of its great versatility. All in all, this is a good cologne, but doesn’t cross into great for me.