Cologne Reviews

Wildblue by Banana Republic

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Among the recent batch of samples that I recently acquired, was an entry from Banana Republic, that I had never heard of. This fragrance is named Wildblue and the information of the notes on the sample card, appeared to be rather vague, with ingredients such as ‘desert air accord’. Ok, then. Anyway, I gave it a try and as always a full review of my thoughts are below.

What does Wildblue Cologne Smell Like?

Notes include: sage, musk, driftwood, tea, cedar, vetiver, desert air accord

Click here to try: Banana Republic Wild Blue for Men 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette Spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Wildblue is a very aquatic mix of some kind of citrus note (lime?) and a musky wood. Right away, I am comparing this scent to Adidas Moves. Even though the notes composition isn’t the same, they have a very similar aroma, in my mind.

It’s as if they took the concept of Adidas Moves and added some kind of body wash fragrance from something such as Old Spice. It really is a familiar scent.

As it dries down some, that’s when the woodiness emerges for me. The driftwood and cedar notes are definitely noticeable to me, as well as the herbal quality of the sage and tea.

I don’t get the vetiver at all and I’m not entirely sure what desert air is supposed to smell like, but I’ll take Banana Republic’s word that it’s in there.

After the wood develops, Wildblue is basically a linear scent without any noticeable change. It’s aquatic wood mixed with herbs, citrus, and musk. Overall, it’s a simple and straightforward type of cologne.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I actually think that Wildblue gives a good performance. It leans toward the stronger side of things but isn’t cloying. The sillage is noticeable enough, will probably hit that 4-6 foot area surrounding the wearer.

Longevity is where it separates from its close Adidas relative, as I got a solid 7-8 hours from Wildblue, and I found this impressive. With a lot of these kinds of scents, the performance seems to be lacking, but Banana Republic got it right.

Seasonally, this is a warm weather scent all the way. I would also call it casual, as it doesn’t strike me as serious or romantic in the least. However, I would say that it is more mature than Adidas Moves, and is acceptable to wear for older guys.

Overall Impressions of Wildblue

Overall, do I recommend Wildblue? Eh, I’m on the fence about it. If you can get it for a good price, I won’t call it a terrible buy. It’s pleasant, light, but ultimately generic. Though, I did get great performance out of this fragrance.

For the right price and for guys who like this kind of scent, it could be a solid deal. It’s not groundbreaking but Wildblue is decent. The smell is nice enough, but not really something that I’d look forward to wearing.

Azzaro Pour Homme Elixir

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Azzaro Pour Homme has been a very popular fragrance for about four decades at this point. As such, one would expect the brand to create flanker fragrances to create further sales based on that cologne’s popularity.

Well, they did that, and today I am going to do a full review on one of them: Azzaro Pour Homme Elixir. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is buying Elixir worth it?

What does Azzaro Pour Homme Elixir Smell Like?

Notes include: benzoin, vanilla, tonka bean, black currant, cistus, oak moss, lavender, and more

Click here to try: Azzaro Pour Homme Elixir 3.4 fl. oz Eau De Toilette Spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Elixir is a blend of black currant, pear, oak moss, and lavender. It’s at this point, that it smells the most similar to the original Azzaro Pour Homme but with another layer on top of it.

This is also the part of the cologne that I don’t like. It gets better, but the opening, just feels too messy and has a weird aroma that I can’t really describe.

There are the fruit notes with that familiar dry and smooth woodsy scent. I think it’s the sweetness of the pear mixing with the rather tart black currant and other notes that I don’t enjoy.

As it dries down, this is where Elixir really begins to shine as a cologne. It separates itself from the original and the vanilla and tonka bean take much more of a center stage. It was pretty funny going from not liking a fragrance to an hour or so later, really liking what it had turned into.

Elixir has retained that classic masculine aroma that so many people find enjoyable about the original Azzaro Pour Homme and modernized it a bit.

You still have the dry base notes and the woodsy disposition, just now it has a more pleasing layer and depth to it.

It is dark, smooth, with a warm creaminess supplied by that tonka bean note. It is a sweeter version of the dry Azzaro smell, with the vanilla and pear notes, contributing to that.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Elixir is solid but not super loud or heavy, by any means. You’ll know that you’re wearing it and it’s not going to choke out the room. I’d say that it falls somewhere in the 4-6 foot range with its radius, when I’ve sprayed it on an old t-shirt.

It also has good longevity, I have gotten up to 9 hours with it on, but it usually falls in more of the 7 hour range on my skin. Not the best of the best, just good enough for a standard workday.

It is a versatile scent that can be worn casually or dressed up. It has enough maturity to be worn at the office, while being sexy enough for a night out. Elixir is a fragrance with a good balance.

I just wouldn’t wear it during the height of summer or anytime that it is very warm, the fragrance would tend to melt. Best in autumn through early spring.

Overall Impressions of Azzaro Elixir

Overall, do I like Elixir? I like what it eventually turns into. The opening isn’t my cup of tea, but the dry down is pretty darn good. This Azzaro fragrance isn’t going to get a spot in my rotation, though, it is good for what it is.

If you like the original Azzaro Pour Homme want want a sweeter/modern take on the scent, Elixir does a really nice job.

The black currant and pear aren’t a highlight, but the tonka bean and vanilla combination, really makes Azzaro Elixir start to shine. Performance isn’t a disappointment and it has some nice style to it.

This one doesn’t seem to be around much anymore, so, you might have to search around in order to acquire it.

Invictus Legend EDP by Paco Rabanne

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Popular fragrances today, get a seemingly endless line of flanker fragrances released, in their wake. Invictus by Paco Rabanne, is one such scent, that has spawned a bunch of follow-ups to the original formula.

Here in 2019, the brand has released, Invictus Legend eau de parfum. This is the latest entry into the Invictus lineup, but how does it actually fare? What does Legend smell like? How does it perform? Is it even worth a buy?

What Does Invictus Legend Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, amber, geranium, metal, mead accord, guaiac wood, laurel, sea salt, bay leaf

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Invictus Legend eau de parfum for men 3.4 Fl Oz

My Full Wear Review

Before we get into my thoughts on this fragrance, let’s see how Paco Rabanne describes it: The ultimate hero, made for glory. Burning like desert heat, Invictus triumphs effortlessly and speeds towards glory. Invictus Legend: A blazing duel, two forces clash. Fresh adrenaline rides a whirlwind of hot woods: a fragrance with power. Thrilling like victory.

The fact that there are so many Invictus flankers, immediately made me want to compare Legend, to one of the others in this line. Yes, they all have commonalities, but Legend immediately brought to mind Invictus Intense.

I have a mini bottle of Intense and wear it on a fairly regular basis. Both of them really share the amber note, but Legend ultimately is both, more aquatic and fruity than Intense. Your personal taste, will determine, which one you should get.

Invictus Legend opens up with a fresh and sweet blend of grapefruit, marine notes, and amber. It’s a sweet citrus vibe, with a salty/warm oceanic aroma. It is quite bold, at the top, and has a solid dose of that famous Invictus citrus candy/bubblegum sort of smell.

A bit further into the wear, some spiciness is brought into the picture, but all of the notes have a fresh edge.

For a little while, I pick up a good deal of geranium, and a very light metallic note. It’s sort of like that metallic scent found in Azzaro Chrome, though, these are two very different fragrances.

Next, there is the bay leaf, which seems to gain in strength as the grapefruit subsides some. At this point, Legend is an ambery aquatic with spicy/woody undertones.

Finally, we get to the base, and the amber has fully taken over. It is joined by guaiac wood and it starts to feel more like the original Invictus. Not the same, mind you, but they are similar in the latter stage. Invictus Legend, is more of a salty aquatic, but the rest is strikingly similar.

Sillage, How Long Does Legend Last, and When Should it Be Worn?

Invictus Legend is a very strong cologne, especially, at the start. The sillage is huge and can easily fill a room. That can be a good thing, as you will only need a few sprays. However, it does calm down a bit, and isn’t as ‘in your face’ later on.

The longevity is great, as well, seems to hit that 8-10 range pretty consistently. It doesn’t seem to go beyond that, but it really doesn’t need to. Performance is definitely not an issue, with Legend.

I really liked this one in the summer heat. To me, this is a better summer option for Invictus fans, even more so than Aqua (which is decent), as it really highlights both the sweet and oceanic notes.

Though, this would be fine to wear, during the rest of the year, as well. I would say that this skews toward the under-30 demographic and it should become quite popular with that set.

I like Legend, more as a nightlife scent, as it is bold and very attractive. If you’re going to wear it during the day, just go easy on the sprays, because it can be a beast.

Overall Impressions

Do I enjoy Invictus Legend, overall? I do. As I said, Invictus Intense, is my favorite of the lineup and this one has a lot of similarities. Legend isn’t as spicy, but features a grapefruit and oceanic element, that mixes with that shared red amber note.

It’s like Invictus Intense for the summer months. Legend might be better, but I’m not sure yet, as I still need more time with it.

If you like the Invictus line already, you should definitely check this one out. If you also like Intense, you might not need this, depending on how much of a beach-vibe you want with your fragrance.

Also, if you’re a guy who wants a very versatile scent with a sweet/fresh profile, Legend could do the trick.

I’m not sure people who don’t like any of the Invictus’ colognes will enjoy this, as it shares plenty of similar DNA. I like it a lot and I think that this one is going to be a fragrance, with a pretty broad base of support.

Wanted by Night Azzaro

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While I liked the original Wanted by Azzaro, it was never a total must have for me. I could enjoy wearing it, but was never quite drawn to do so outside of testing for this site. So, trying its flanker Wanted by Night has never been a major priority. Nonetheless, I recently grabbed a smaller size in order to give it a go, and post my full review here.

What does Wanted by Night Smell Like?

Notes include: cumin, cinnamon, lavender, tobacco, lemon, orange, cedar, cypress, patchouli, fruits

Click here to try: Azzaro Wanted by Night Eau de Parfum for Men – Mens Cologne

My Full Review

With my initial spraying of Wanted by Night, I immediately get the similarities with the original Wanted. However, I also get a major reminder of Ultra Male by JPG. Like, if you stripped Ultra Male of the prominent pear and mint notes and combined it with Wanted. Then, you heightened certain notes.

Here are the overlapping notes between Ultra Male and Wanted by Night: lemon, lavender, vanilla, cedar, cinnamon, and patchouli. The early use of lemon and cinnamon are most noticeable to me. Not as sweet or vanilla based as Ultra Male, but, plenty of similarity.

The opening here, while it still has fruity elements, is played way down when compared to the original Wanted. With that, I get a much bigger dose of that lemon note. Here, it is more about the cinnamon and cumin spice, with the added tobacco note making itself known early on. 

That spice is paired with a moderate benzoin note. Benzoin can come across a somewhat medicinal, which is present here for a short time period. 

Wanted by Night opens with the fruity notes and cinnamon being the main factors and the other aforementioned ingredients playing a support role. As it moves along, the fruits fade more, and the woods and tobacco come out in a greater significance. 

Once it hits this stage, this cologne has pretty much revealed itself fully. Cinnamon, cedar, tobacco, incense, and benzoin. All wrapped together with a hint of sweetness and a closer resemblance to the original versus how it begins. 

Wanted by Night is spicier and has a darker profile when compared to the original. Which, is either a plus or minus, depending on your own tastes. The lavender here is also a lot less noticeable for me.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

For me, Wanted by Night starts off strong but not overwhelming. Then, I would say it remains above average with its sillage for most of the wear, before it fades away. Good ability to project but not an absolute monster, on my skin.

Longevity is also good, just not elite. It seems to stay in the 7-9 hour range, every time that I have worn it thus far. That’s enough for almost every situation, that I’d want to wear this one in, so no real complaints.

 

 

Seasonally, it is best for the cold of autumn or winter. Though, it isn’t terrible in more moderate temperatures, just avoid for the summertime. 

The name is Wanted by Night, and yes, it is much more of a nightlife wear. Does it feel less youthful than Wanted? Yep, but it isn’t a ‘mature’ scent, and not really one to wear to the office.

Mainly, casual or nighttime social situations. Best worn by younger guys, maybe through early 30s, as it really doesn’t come across as super high quality. 

Overall Impressions of Wanted by Night

Do I like this scent? Yes, I think that it’s a nice wear. I enjoy it more than Wanted, but it’s still not a love for me. Out of the 8 to 10 recent sample fragrances that I’ve picked up, this would probably occupy the 4th or 5th spot.

If you like Ultra Male, Wanted, Stronger with You, or Spicebomb Extreme…this should be one you’d probably like. However, it could also be completely redundant if you have any of those. Personally, I’d go with the Spicebomb or Ultra Male before this.

Overall, this is a very good effort by Azzaro. Not amazing by any stretch, though, it’s a fragrance that is very wearable. Good performance and usually not too expensive. 

Bvlgari Aqua Pour Homme

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I’ve had this review idea sitting in my drafts folder for a couple of years now. I entirely forgot to review Bvlgari Aqva, way back then, and have overlooked it ever since. So, here I am to remedy that oversight, armed with another mini bottle of this Bvlgari aquatic fragrance.

This one was released in 2005.

How does it stack up? What does it smell like? Does it last long? Please continue reading below for my full take of Aqva. Note: I have updated this post, a few years later, to add some further depth and experience with it.

What does Bvlgari Aqua Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, seaweed, cedar, orange, lavender, petitgrain

Click here to try Aqva: Aqua By Bvlgari Eau De Toilette Spray For Men 3.4 oz

My Full Wear Review

It doesn’t get much more ‘aquatic’ than a scent whose main note is seaweed. Yes, that green stuff at the bottom of the ocean, gives Bvlgari Aqua a very interesting aroma which helps sets it apart from the crowd.

The opening blends this seaweed note with cedar and both types of orange to create something that is familiar with its citrus content while still remaining fresh and unique.

I like the citrus notes in the opening, but their strength is short-lived. They do still stick around, just not with the same intensity. 

This opening lasts about 10 minutes or so and then Aqva changes course. It becomes more oceanic and salty, with a bit of smoothness from the lavender note. This is when this fragrance really shines as an aquatic, as you will pick up on that watery sea vibe.

Also, Aqva begins to hang much closer to the skin, and you won’t detect it for a few minutes and then it’ll hit your nose again. It’s kind of a weird experience.

It is interesting, how Aqva goes from being a clean and upbeat citrus blend, to something darker and deeper. Closely emulating the sea itself. Is it a naturalistic sea blend of notes? Not really, you can tell that it’s manufactured. However, it is a very good simulation. 

 

What I’m finally left with is seaweed, soaking in the ocean, with hints of lavender and cedar that has become driftwood. Salty and a bit of fresh spice from the latent sage note. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts off pretty strong and as I wrote, it turns more into a skin scent that can be sneaky strong. I guess I could say that it’s fairly moderate, when you don’t notice it but other’s in your general vicinity will.

Longevity wise, it’s okay, and not something that lasts more than 5 hours or so.

I’ve had a mini bottle of this for ages, now. On my skin, that 4-5 hour range, is a hard limit. It does have that light watery sillage, but this one isn’t ever going to be an all day wear. More like, something you throw on during a warm day, knowing it will fade into the evening.

When to wear? Summertime, of course. This is a casual scent that is built for the summer months. I wouldn’t be wearing it to the office or while dressed up but at the beach or at a laid back bar at night, this would be good stuff to have on.

This is straight coastal and island life in a bottle.

Keep it casual. Aqva isn’t going to be a date night scent and the sea notes, really don’t put out a formal vibe, in the slightest. For a fairly popular fragrance, it uses are pretty limited.

This shouldn’t be the only cologne on your list of potential buys, if you don’t have anything else to use, for the rest of the time. 

Overall Impression of Bvlgari Aqva Pour Homme

Overall, do I like Aqua? Yes, it’s kind of a niche fragrance in terms of its use, but has a wide appeal in terms of its smell.

This is a unique scent by Bvlgari (before they released all of the flanker versions), the seaweed and oceanic aroma give it a defined spot to wear on the calendar, and it is a great wear from the aquatic category.

It doesn’t have amazing longevity but it is decent for what it is. If aquatics/oceanic scents aren’t your thing, skip this one. Otherwise, you might do well to check Bvlgari Aqva out. I’m still not a huge fan of the sea weed note, but it’s not horribly offensive, in this version.

Some of the other Aqva scents, go seriously heavy into the oceanic side of things, but this is more moderate.

Bvlgari Aqva gives you a nice citrus fruitiness with the refreshing notes of the sea, along with woody undertones. It’s not the most outstanding thing on the market, but it can have it uses for the right kind of guy.