Cologne Reviews

Luna Rossa Eau Sport by Prada

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Luna Rossa has been an absolutely great lineup of fragrances from Prada. I haven’t come across one, that I haven’t at least liked a little, and some which I enjoy a lot.

That being the case, I was excited to try one that I have overlooked to this point in time: Luna Rossa Eau Sport.

It was released in 2016 and in many ways has flown under the radar. Please continue below for my full take on this Prada scent.

What does Luna Rossa Eau Sport Smell Like?

Notes include: ginger, citron, bergamot, lavender, cedar, amber

Click here to try: Prada Luna Rossa Eau Sport Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 2.5 Ounce

My Full Review

While Eau Sport, shares the sport name, it isn’t at all like Luna Rossa Sport. Out of the collection, it is much closer to the original Luna Rossa. Though, it is even closer to Dior Homme Sport (2012).

For me, this is fantastic news, as I’ve been wanting a replacement for that now discontinued version of Dior. Eau Sport opens up with its blast of citrus notes, ginger, and that great Luna Rossa lavender note, that is pretty ubiquitous throughout the lineup.

It feels so fresh and lively from the start. The ginger note with the citrus is really what gives this one its close resemblance to Dior Sport, but that one uses iris instead of lavender. It doesn’t come across as sharp or heavy, just a clean and upbeat wear, with that nice edge of spice.

This initial phase lasts for an hour or so on my skin, before it begins to shift somewhat. The ginger note fades, lavender grows stronger, and the base notes begin to emerge. Mostly, I pick up amber, but there is a fresh little bit of cedar peaking through.

That’s about what you’ll get from Luna Rossa Eau Sport, a very simple yet very well put together presentation. Extremely pleasant and attractive.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

On my skin, this comes across as a lighter moderate. I’ve read that some people have said it is super weak, but that’s not the case for me. Not a powerhouse, but I catch whiffs of it throughout its entirety. 

It’s really not a problem because that is what this fragrance is supposed to be. Lighter and captivating.

The longevity is also pretty good for me. It has hung around for 6-7 hours, during my tests of this cologne. Again, not spectacular, but fairly well done for what this is used for.

Seasonally, spring and summertime. I think this is absolutely going to be a go to summertime fragrance for me. I might track down a smaller bottle of the old Dior Sport and get a full bottle of this, to switch between that iris and the lavender.

Is it versatile? Yes, while it seems best in spring or summer, I have really enjoyed it here in January. Beyond that, it can be worn casually, at work, on a date, etc. It is a very likeable fragrance and most people would certainly like it. 

Eau Sport isn’t a club banger. So, if you want a loud and bold nightlife fragrance, this isn’t the one.

Overall Impressions of Luna Rossa Eau Sport

Do I like this one? I love it. Out of the recent samples that I’ve gotten over the past few months, this is my favorite. When I haven’t been testing out new scents, I’ve been either wearing this or Y EDP, 90% of the time.

If you want an elegant and great smelling summertime scent, this is a fantastic option from Prada, and has quickly moved among my top picks from the brand.

The performance is pretty good for me, just don’t expect an elite level of wear or some super heavy cologne. 

Maritime Journey by Tommy Bahama

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Maritime Journey is a part of the recent Maritime collection of fragrances by Tommy Bahama. It was released in 2019. I actually got to try this once a few months ago and recently grabbed a sample sprayer, in order to give it a thorough chance. In this post, I’ll cover how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if it’s worth a try.

What does Maritime Journey Smell Like?

Notes include: cardamom, apple, lavender, moss, coriander, orchid, cedar, violet

Click here to try: Tommy Bahama Maritime Journey for Him, 4.2 Fl Oz 

My Full Wear Review

I’ve got a bunch of samples that I’m working my way through and oftentimes these scents can smell quite a bit similar. When I sprayed Maritime Journey, I noticed that it has some similarities to Eternity Air by Calvin Klein, that I had tried out the previous day.

Checking the notes: apple, violet, and lavender are present in both. What’s funny is that, this Tommy Bahama isn’t the oceanic scent (despite the name), but Eternity Air features sea water and seaweed as notes.

The initial spray nets me a big dose of crisp and juicy apple, violet, coriander, and lavender. As the fragrance’s tagline suggests, it’s: A fresh aromatic scent for every adventure.

Yes, it does indeed come across as very fresh, with a distinct coolness to the aroma.

As Maritime Journey, moves along its development, I start to get way less of the coriander note and get way more: moss, cardamom, and cedar.

It feels less juicy and aromatic, turning drier and quite woodsy/earthy. The violet note is also fading, but it hangs around enough to further that outdoorsy vibe. Still, that dose of apple and lavender keeps it feeling fresh with some sweet highlights.

The last few hours of wear are more about the moss and woods, with the remaining cardamom, giving it a bit of a light spice.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, Maritime Journey isn’t very strong. For much of the wear it is noticeable, but moderate, and then it becomes fairly light. It’s not a complete skin scent on me, though, it is pretty subtle.

The longevity is okay. Much like the rest of the Tommy Bahama collection, this one won’t blow the doors off with its performance. 5-6.5 hours it seems to hang around. Not terrible, depending on how much you paid for it, but not great.

 

This light freshy cologne would work best in springtime, in my opinion. However, it is January now when I’m testing it out, and it feels fine.

The woods and moss make it work perfectly fine in the cooler weather, but it is light enough to venture into the heat. Though, it’s not a traditional summer scent.

I would mostly wear this one as a casual daily wear sort of fragrance. You could wear it to work or semi-formal occasions. Maritime Journey isn’t a nightlife or romantic wear, however. It’s fresh and clean, but not really sexy. 

Overall Impressions of Maritime Journey

Do I like Martime Journey? I do. I think it’s among the best that Tommy Bahama has to offer, it’s just not amazing to me. This is a cologne that I can spray on, smell relatively good, but not necessarily grab any attention. Very low key, but gives a nice enough wear.

The sillage is light and the longevity is just okay. I wouldn’t pay full price for a bottle, but when this gets discounted it could be a nice pickup for a guy who enjoys this style of cologne.

This is a like, but not a love for me. I will probably finish out the sample over time, even if it’s not a must have for me personally. 

Scuderia Black by Ferrari

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As a part of the samples that I’ve gotten a hold of recently, I picked up a sample of an officially licensed Ferrari fragrance. I’ve never done a review on this site of this line of colognes as of yet and so I was interested in seeing what was up with Ferrari Scuderia Black. Does this automotive brand actually deliver a decent scent or is it just a ploy to make a quick buck off of the famous Italian brand?

What does Ferrari Scuderia Black Cologne Smell Like?

Notes include: lime, bergamot, red apple, plum, jasmine, rose, cinnamon, cardamom, cedar, amyris wood, vanilla, amber, and musk

Click here to try: Ferrari Scuderia Black Eau De Toilette Spray For Men, 4.2 Ounce

Full Scuderia Black Review

The opening few minutes of Scuderia Black are where the fruit top notes shine the most, obviously. The red apple and plum make an interesting pair along with bergamot. The lime note must not be very strong because I don’t really get any of it from this cologne.

It is a warm and sweet fragrance in the vein of Le Male, but of course, this is much more of a dead ringer for Boss Bottled. The Ferrari fragrance has more spiciness to it, provided by the cinnamon and cardamom than does the Hugo Boss, but they are quite similar.

So, if you’re looking for a cheapie alternative to the Hugo Boss best seller, this is a perfect option. Again, not exact, but you’re coming close.

As it dries down, I start to smell more of the woody notes, the vanilla, and amber. The plum and apple become background players and the spice of the cinnamon is less intense than it had been previously.

This is about what you’re going to get from this fragrance: warmth, sweetness, slightly spicy, wood. Scuderia Black is a fairly simple and linear cologne, but that doesn’t mean it is bad.

The latter stages of the wear, it can be difficult to parse out the individual ingredients. It’s a warm and fresh scent, with a fruity/creamy sweet aroma. Not groundbreaking, but it provides what you’ll need.

Sillage, How Long does It Last, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts off pretty strong but quickly settles into a moderate fragrance. The good thing is that it is so inexpensive, that you can spray it additional times in order to bring out the best performance, and not break the bank in the process.

Longevity is meh. I get 4-5 hours of decent wear with it and a few hours more if I double up the sprays (which I recommend doing). After all, the price allows you to not have to conserve the bottle.

With most cheapie colognes, you’re not going to get outstanding performance, but this one is actually in the upper band of average. There are plenty of others, which won’t even make it a full 2 hours. Just bring your bottle with you, if you need to reapply.

I was wearing this Ferrari cologne here in the summer, but it really doesn’t work in the heat of the daytime. At night it was fine, but I’d usually want to wear this during the cooler months of the year.

It’s a nice versatile fragrance that can be worn casually, but will still garner complements. You can wear it at work, school, or at for an evening. Solid versatility in the cold to moderate climates. So maybe a little more than half the year, it should give you plenty of opportunity to use.

Overall Impressions of Scuderia Black

Overall, do I like Ferrari Scuderia Black? Yes, I think that it is a nice bargain cologne. You can pick up a bottle for around $20 and it smells enough like Boss Bottled to be considered a cheaper alternative to that scent.

It’s sweet, slightly spicy, and smells good enough. It’s not a scent that’ll blow you away, but is something you can grab while on a budget, and get plenty of use out of.

Apple and some light plum, give it a juicy tartness, while the cinnamon spice blended with amber and vanilla warm things up. If you’re on a tight budget, Ferrari is a brand that can offer good value, on many of its fragrance options.

Galloway by Parfums De Marly

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Still making my way through the lineup of Parfums de Marly scents that I received recently. Check out the fragrance review page for all of those posts and well as hundreds of other colognes. Anyway, today’s entry is entitled, Galloway.

How does this fragrance stack up? What does it smell like? How do the notes of iris, hesperides, musk, and pepper interact with one another? Continue below for my full take.

What does Galloway by PdM Smell Like?

Notes include: hesperides, orange blossom, musk, amber, pepper, and iris

Click here to try: Parfums de Marly Galloway Men’s Edp Spray, 4.2 Ounce

My Full Galloway Review

The opening of Galloway struck me as a unique yet somewhat familiar experience. It took me a while to figure out which cologne I was being reminded of and finally came to the conclusion that it was Set Sail Martinique.

Why the reminder? The musk, citrus, and floral combinations in both fragrances. Though, Martinique has a muskier and saltier aroma, than this one does.

Now, I am not getting a direct comparison between the two. Martinique is heavier on the musk, feels watered down, and without spice. It is like a dulled down and cheaper version of Galloway in some regards.

In Galloway, I get that grapefruit aroma of the hesperides blended with that great orange blossom note, that I have been liking a lot lately. The musk is there but is well balanced by the pepper note which gives this Parfums de Marly scent a nice sharp kick.

As it dries down, Galloway reveals much more of the iris and warmth of the amber. It feels less spicy to my nose at this point, but still retains the musk.

At the end, it is quite fresh floral notes with just a dash of citrus lingering around, added to a peppery musk. You get some hints of powder, due to the iris, but it isn’t ever a main feature for this fragrance.

It’s fairly unique, for a men’s fragrance, but still retains plenty of elements that I have come across before. Pretty nice, though.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I’d say the sillage is pretty strong here. It didn’t overpower in my opinion, but I knew that it was there. One could over spray, but I found that two or three sprays was sufficient for great performance.

It also will give you a full day’s worth of wear. This isn’t a citrus scent that just quits a few hours in, which I think is a credit to the other notes because the grapefruit note as an individual component does weaken with time.

Coming  back to wearing Galloway again, and it seems to have no issue hitting the double digit hour count. Parfums de Marly, while not always fantastic with the scents, never does disappoint me with the performance.

Galloway works well in the warm weather, but honestly you could wear it pretty much year round and it wouldn’t be weird. It is also quite versatile. Safe enough to wear to work and appealing enough to be worn on a date or out on the town.

It is a classy and refined kind of sexiness, like a tailored suit. I like it more as a daytime fragrance for spring or summer. Personally, that’s where I’d stick with it, but it can venture beyond that if you so choose.

Overall Impressions of Galloway

Overall, do I recommend Galloway? I like it quite a lot. It’s not my favorite from Parfums de Marly but I was really surprised how much I ended up enjoying wearing this cologne.

I’m not sure how most people would react to this scent, but it’s extremely fresh, spicy, and gives really nice performance. Will many guys like the floral and musk aspect of this scent?

Hmm, I should say they would, given a fair shot. I don’t ever think this would become a best seller, but it is a good perfume. I think the price, prohibits any real discovery by the bulk of the population.

Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger

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Tommy Hilfiger was a major force in 1990s fashion and his line of fragrances for men and women have enjoyed great popularity even since that time. Hilfiger is a lifestyle brand which tries to celebrate the American spirit and caters to the tastes of classic Americana.

Tommy Hilfiger cologne is a perfect example of this brand association with the United States and as we will see in the notes of this fragrance one that brings together familiar elements to produce a nice casual scent.

What does Tommy Cologne Smell Like?

tommy

Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger notes: citrus, cranberry, mint, lavender, cactus, amber and cinnamon apple pie

Click here to try: Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger for Men – 3.4 oz EDC Spray

My Full Wear Review

I first got a bottle of Tommy Hilfiger cologne as a Christmas gift from a relative, many years back. From there it found its way into my rotation as a daytime fragrance for going to school and work.

I think that is probably the best use for this fragrance, not necessarily one designed for the nightlife but is a good choice for days during the spring and summer.

Tommy opens up with an intense blast of the fruit notes: grapefruit, apple, and cranberry with a healthy dose of mint popping through. At first, it is really fresh and crisp, but later it will turn more into an apple pie accord with warm cinnamon and amber.

It is a really interesting blend of tart cranberry, cool mint, and that crisp watery apple note. Tommy is an upbeat and very positive feeling fragrance, everything about it brings back memories of the late 1990s, when this scent was everywhere.

Being that it is comprised of fruity notes, Tommy does have a really sweet smell to it, one that is more citrusy than candy sweet. Before it gets more to the apple pie stage, Tommy is really green and smooth with lavender and what I assume to be the cactus note.

I think that this fragrance has always had balance with the bright citrus to not going too far in the warmth of the pie accord, because it is a completely chilled scent at times, too.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection always started out pretty heavy, but it just feels like a solid moderate wear, after an hour or so. People will be able to smell it, but I never choked out a room even with the vintage bottles.

Tommy Hilfiger cologne lasted a full work day in my experience and never overpowers the people around you. It is a rather ambient fragrance that is youthful and warming in its presentation. Hours 6-8 aren’t very strong, but it does stick around.

The price has come down a lot, but at one time this was a sought after designer scent, and it actually does give good performance.

Tommy was always a pretty versatile fragrance. Mostly for guys in their teens or twenties, but could be worn to work or school or casually or even on a date. Not a nightlife scent, but wearable during the daytime, seemingly year round.

Overall Impressions of Tommy

Is Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger worth a buy? I’d say, yes. If you aren’t looking to spend a lot of money on a fragrance and are looking for a casual or everyday wearer than I would recommend giving Tommy Hilfiger a shot.

It’s not much of a mature fragrance, but it isn’t completely childish, by any means. This stuff has been a best seller for over 20 years, at this point, and there is good reason for that.

I don’t know how often I’d wear this nowadays, but I do get that feeling of nostalgia smelling it, and I used to wear this very often in my late teens.

If you’re older or want a more mature cologne, go elsewhere. But, if this sounds like it fits your current age range or style, it is worthwhile. Good smell, nice performance, and well-liked.