Cologne Reviews

1 Million Prive by Paco Rabanne

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Today, I want to cover another entry from Paco Rabanne. This time it is a new take on the 1 Million name, entitled, Prive. Prive was released last year and as a flanker, retains some of the original elements of One Million, just taken in a slightly different direction.

As usual, I’ll cover how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not I think it is worth a purchase. Update: I have come back to this fragrance, to add to the review, after a few years of use. Also, Prive is now discontinued.

What Does 1 Million Prive Smell Like?

Notes include: tonka bean, apple, cinnamon, myrrh, mandarin orange, tobacco

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne 1 Million Prive Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Prive is a flanker fragrance to the wildly popular original, 1 Million cologne. I actually really like 1 Million, so I was excited to see how they changed things up with Prive. Immediately, I enjoyed the smell of this stuff.

The cinnamon note is stronger than the original, and blends with the apple, to give it a sweetness that isn’t as candy-like as 1 Million.

1 Million tends to have that grape bubble gum opening and Prive is cinnamon applesauce at the start, in my mind.

Prive is darker and feels more mature than the original, though. Then, there is that lingering bit of citrus provided by the Mandarin.

Prive feels like Paco Rabanne took elements of the original and then bolted on other ingredients from Armani Code Profumo and added some myrrh and tobacco to round things out.

The tonka, apple, and mandarin are all notes that Prive has in common with Code Profumo, which makes these two scents seem related.

I love Code Profumo and really enjoy 1 Million, so Prive was right up my alley. The tonka give it that similar ‘creamy vanilla’ aroma that is present with Code Profumo.

As it dries down, Prive becomes much more of a cinnamon spice and sweet tobacco blend that is really quite lovely. 1 Million Prive is the type of fragrance, which envelops you, as you wear it.

It is very cozy, at its base, with the cinnamon and patchouli spice giving the composition a greater edge. This is a pretty straightforward scent, for the most part.

The final dry down, gives me: tobacco, tonka bean, cinnamon, myrrh, and whatever is left of the fruit notes.

The myrrh is an unsung hero in this fragrance. It adds a layer of depth and just a hint of exotic smokiness, that really sets Prive apart, from the rest of the 1 Million lineup. It’s odd that they went from this, back to a super sweet composition with 1 Million Lucky.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, Prive does a great job. I will say, that it isn’t as heavy and intense as the original 1 Million, but it is well above average in this regard. It’s not a scent that requires much in the way of spraying to be effective.

Longevity, it is very long lasting, 9-10 hours appears to be the norm. Prive isn’t as good of a performer as the original, but it is damn good.

After using this cologne many times, I’d call its sillage strong for 3-4 hours, and then moderate thereafter. I consistently get that 9-10 hour range of wear from this cologne. Doesn’t seem to want to go beyond that on my skin, not that it’d need to in most scenarios.

I like this scent for colder weather, not sure how it’ll hold up in the heat, but I think it’d be out of place.

Update: Coming back to this fragrance, it’s not great in the heat. Stick to the cold to moderate temperatures.

I could see wearing this scent casually, at the office, or school…BUT I think it’s made mainly for the night life.

Prive is a excellent selection for dates or just hitting up the bar scene. I have worn it out on the town, a good number of times, and have gotten lots of complements from different people. It’ll get noticed, but won’t be overwhelming those around you.

Personally, I can spray it on almost anytime during the winter and be fine with it. The versatility is probably its weakest point, though.

Overall Impressions of Prive

Overall, would I recommend 1 Million Prive? Yes, I like it a whole lot. Code Profumo and 1 Million were two of my most used scents over the winter, along with Man in Black. Seeing how much similarities it shares with the first two, it’s hard for me not to like it.

If you don’t like warm, sweet, cold weather fragrances…then you might want to skip this cologne. However, I think this is another hit from Paco Rabanne, and might actually become my favorite from this designer.

Update: 1 Million Prive, is the best 1 Million fragrance, in my opinion. It beats out the original and even the newer release, Lucky.

Update (Again): It’s no longer available. None of the others in the series, is quite like it. However, Elixir and Royal are two of the better editions of the 1 Million line. I did grab another sample of this, that I found on eBay. The myrrh note isn’t as good as I remembered and can get on my nerves at times. Still, this is probably the top pick from this Rabanne series.

Actually, it’s among the best designer colognes, available right now. It takes what was great about the original and adds a level of maturity.

The sweetness is there, but it isn’t overwhelming, nor is the sillage. It’s delicious, comforting, spicy, and stylish.

Armani Code EDT for Men

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Continuing with our recent restarting of more fragrance reviews on this site,  I thought I should take a closer look at some of the more popular colognes out there, that I haven’t touched upon yet.

One such fragrance is the ever best selling, Armani Code by Giorgio Armani. Armani is a brand with some major hits in its catalog of men’s fragrances, how does Armani Code stack up with the rest?

 Armani Code EDT Overview

armani_code

Notes include: citrus, lavender, apple, leather, tobacco, star anise, woods, tonka bean

Click here to try: Armani Code By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 4.2 Oz.

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Armani Code is quite sweet, with the fruit notes taking center stage. during the first thirty minutes to an hour.

This isn’t some girly or candy-like sweetness mind you, rather, one which is soft and sort of creamy/powdery. It is highlighted by citrus, The leather and tobacco notes really begin to shine after that point and fully develop this fragrance’s identity.

The newer bottles of Code seem to have a stronger tonka bean influence, which would lend itself to the sweet semi-creaminess of the fragrance. It’s actually very nice when paired with tobacco and leather.

However, the initial opening is more about the spiced aspect of Code, which stems from the star anise. Anise, citrus, and leather. Followed by tonka bean and tobacco, which gain in strength to replace the anise and citrus on the hierarchy.

Code is a very dark and sensual sort of fragrance, but isn’t bombastic or heavy in any way. It is a subtle, versatile, and refined.

I like that I could wear this for any occasion and it wouldn’t seem out of place. Also, this is one of those scent that women seem to enjoy and want to get closer when you wear.

As it wears on it develops more into the dark and clean scent and moves away from the sweetness/spiciness that can be found in the opener.

I am a fan of leather in fragrances when it’s done well and it is done quite well in Armani Code. The woods come in to the picture, sitting at the base, with a freshness a slight smoky edge.

Ultimately, I am left with leather, tonka bean, and tobacco. These notes are flanked by some very light citrus and whatever spice is still there. All sits on a base of wood.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

The sillage is still fairly strong, upon first application. Not a super powerful projector or anything like that, but, it does a very nice job for the first few hours. After that, Code settles down, into something that is near the middle of the pack in terms of its strength.

The longevity on newer bottles, doesn’t seem to be as good. Older ones could go 8 or so hours, but the newer formulation, doesn’t seem to hit that same level. Maybe, somewhere around 6, now.

Is Code versatile? Yes, as a moderate to colder weather fragrance, you can pretty much wear it whenever. It is fine for the office or casually or during the nightlife. Not great in the hotter weather, but any other time, this Armani works out.

Again, it is well-liked by women, and will generally get positive comments from those around you consistently. While the performance is just decent now, Code still has a great degree of wear-ability. It’s also not worn by everyone to the same degree that it used to be, as guys seemed to have moved on to other scents.

Overall Impressions of Armani Code

Overall, Code is a great and versatile buy for almost any guy. It is safe and moderate and smells really nice. It has good longevity and the projection while not overpowering is quite good as well.

It is very popular, so it really won’t be unique but it is definitely worth a buy. That is, if it were the only option from this line.

Armani Code has spawned numerous flankers over the years, which have surpassed it in greatness, both Profumo and Absolu. Absolu is now my favorite and is the peak of the Code namesake.

Update: Add Code Parfum to the mix, if you want another great one. The above two are discontinued now.

So, if price isn’t the only factor, I would pick either of those before the original. Though, the original can usually be found for cheaper. In the end, Code is a once great cologne, that is still very good…but has mostly been surpassed since its release.

In most cases, you can’t go wrong with wearing Code. It’s a classic that has cemented its place in history.

Boss the Scent EDT by Hugo Boss

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With my latest fragrance order, I made sure to pick up many more samples to try out and review. Among them, is a scent that I never got around to giving a whirl: Hugo Boss The Scent. Wow. What a great name. Really though, I’ve been wanting to wear this one, because it sounded like it’d be my type of fragrance.

In this post, I’m going to share my experience with this Hugo Boss cologne, and whether or not I think it is worth a try. How does it smell? Does it last long? How’s the sillage?

What does Boss The Scent EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: ginger, leather, maninka, lavender, woods, mandarin, bergamot

Click here to try: Hugo Boss THE SCENT Eau de Toilette, 6.7 Fl Oz

My Full Review

Before we get into my personal review, let’s see what Hugo Boss has to say about The Scent: An irresistible fragrance, unforgettable like a savored seduction. Exquisite notes of ginger, exotic maninka, and leather unfold over time, seducing the senses.

Boss The Scent opens up with a nice amount of ginger and sweetness from the fruit notes. It’s a bit warm/spicy, but more fresh, and I can pick up on the light citrus underneath. Maninka is apparently a fruit, but I’ve never smelled it before, so I cannot really attest to its aroma.

However, the only thing in here that I don’t immediately recognize smells wonderful…so I assume that’s what it is.

A few minutes after the opening, I’m still getting plenty of ginger, but the citrus notes have faded some. The second wave of leather and lavender comes forward, and leather, is the strongest of those two. At least, to my nose. The composition is fresh, smooth, and semi-sweet.

This one doesn’t develop all that much. The last leg of the wear consists of: ginger, leather, lavender, some wood, and what I guess is the maninka. The fresh sweetness and warmth is very attractive. Boss The Scent is great in its simplicity and I keep coming back to smelling my wrists or catching a whiff off of my neck.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of The Scent, is weak. It starts off well enough, but quickly turns into a skin scent. That’s extremely disappointing. It didn’t need to be a complete beast, but this one is super soft.

The longevity, in this lighter state, is about 4-5 hours. Again, not great. I know there is an Intense version of this cologne, though, I haven’t tried it.

This version, has pretty dismal performance. It seems to happen a lot with ginger and citrus blended fragrances. So many of them start great, then fade quickly.

Seasonally, I’d wear this in the autumn through springtime. It’s probably best in a temperate climate, but wouldn’t be something I’d wear in the heat. Boss The Scent is good for casual, business, or more formal situations.

It is attractive, has a sexy vibe, but it doesn’t have the strength for nightlife wear. An enhancement in strength could’ve made this one a great little all around choice for many guys.

Overall Impressions of Boss the Scent

Overall, do I like Boss The Scent? I love the way that this smells. It just doesn’t have good performance. I was looking forward to wearing this one, was pleased at the start, but then it just dropped off big time.

I really hope the intense version, actually brings it, and doesn’t change the overall scent too much. I’ll have to get a hold of some to try out.

For this one? I’m not sure I can recommend it. Not unless, you get a super cheap bottle of the stuff. The smell is simple, but fresh and inviting. Great concept, just the execution didn’t live up to what it should’ve been.

Mankind Ultimate by Kenneth Cole

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It’s been a minute since I have posted a new cologne review, so I figured that I’d jump back into the routine by reviewing a new men’s fragrance. I got a hold of a sample of Kenneth Cole’s new scent, Mankind Ultimate and being that it feels like a good summer scent, I decided to test it out a bit and put up this post.

Edit: I am now updating this post some 4 years after its initial release, in order to add more thoughts and experiences with this fragrance.

What does Mankind Ultimate Smell Like?

mu

Notes include: citrus, vetiver, cucumber, sandalwood, oakmoss, cashmere wood

Click here to try: Kenneth Cole Mankind Ultimate, 3.4 Fl oz

My Full Wear Review

My first impressions of this cologne upon first sniff were that it had a very clean and crisp air to it. It’s a very pleasant fragrance right out of the gate and just seems like a scent that you couldn’t go wrong with in just about any situation.

I was also struck by its familiarity. While it was a very pleasant smell, it seemed like a rehash or very close relative to some other men’s colognes out on the market.

It has a similar smell to both Mont Blanc Legend and Abercrombie Fierce. Is it exact? No, but if you’re familiar with either of those colognes, it’s about what you should expect. Sort of like close cousins, of one another.

Similarities aren’t a bad thing necessarily. However, if you can get one scent over the other for cheaper, and the performance and experience is pretty damn close…

Mankind Ultimate opens up with an aquatic citrus blend with a bit of cucumber. The top notes sort of remind me of a less spicy Eternity Aqua, as it is bright, crisp, and watery. I like it, Ultimate is cool and refreshing to spray on, particularly on a warmer day when the humidity is up.

Another difference between this and the comparable colognes, is that Ultimate has a bit of a sweeter profile overall. The especially feels true at the top to middle part of the wear, as I do get some tonka bean.

As it dries down, Mankind Ultimate gets a fresher woodsy smell. It’s still mostly aquatic with the citrus notes lightening up, but sandalwood and vetiver really start to come through. These notes add a dry masculine base, to balance out the juicy aquatic notes from the top.

This is pretty much what you’re going to get from the entire rest of the wear. A sandalwood/vetiver aquatic with citrus notes surrounding this main core.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Performance wise, Mankind Ultimate is very solid across the board. The sillage is pretty good, solid at the beginning, but lightens up quite a bit a few hours into it.

It’s not a marathon fragrance but it isn’t one that peters out after fifteen minutes either. Seems to last in the 6+ hour range, on my skin.

I really do like this scent, and completely appreciated the fresh and energetic feeling that I got, while wearing it.

I think it’s a good choice for spring or summer months, not that it holds up brilliantly in searing heat (hardly anything does), but it seems to match the mood of those seasons.

It is an easy to wear, fairly aquatic cologne, which can fit right in to a variety of situations. It’s safe for work, to wear casually, and is attractive enough to wear out in the evening. Not a club beast or super sexy, but Mankind Ultimate, is very pleasant.

Overall Impressions of Mankind Ultimate

I really do like this scent and think that it smells wonderful. Then again, there are lots of other colognes that smell just as wonderful, so this isn’t one for someone looking for a unique or signature scent. It’s a really good cologne with lots of versatility and will garner complements.

Just understand that it might not stand out from the crowd. I will say, that I actually like it better than Mont Blanc Legend, because of the opening act.

If you can pull a bottle of this at a good price, it’s one that you’ll be able to get plenty of use out of.

Curve Appeal by Liz Claiborne

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In a recent order, I made sure to grab enough sample and mini sizes, to post up some new reviews and particularly those fragrances that won’t cost a lot. Since, a lot of what I’ve review recently has been more higher end stuff.

So, I decided to grab a few of the Curve flanker fragrances from Liz Claiborne including today’s review subject, Curve Appeal. This one came out back in 2011, but how doe it stack up? Is it actually worth a buy?

What does Curve Appeal Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, watermelon, marine notes, lavender, bergamot, musk, cedar, cardamom, amber, mandarin

Click here to try: Curve Appeal Cologne for Men, 0.5 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Curve Appeal opens with a strong dose of its aquatic elements, it’s not too salty, but more of just the watery aspect of that aroma. It is joined by a ever-present watermelon, which is flanked by other fruit notes like pear and citrus.

This definitely falls into a youthfully fresh aquatic, it’s clean, and doesn’t blow the doors off with a heavy sillage from the jump. I like the watermelon note here, it’s not one that gets used all of the time, but it does help to set an inexpensive fragrance like this one apart.

Between the watermelon and the pear note, they add even more of an aquatic feel to the composition, as those are both quite crisp and watery sorts of fruits.

They do a good job with this one, not presenting the watermelon as a sort of candied Jolly Rancher sort of aroma. Instead, it’s lighter, with way less of a sugary edge.

Underneath that initial layer, I do get a fairly prominent cardamom note. However, its spice is held in check, by the lavender and cedar wood combo. It does bolster the freshness of Appeal, especially after the opening act, when the marine notes lighten up even more.

At this point, Curve Appeal consists of the watermelon note, with a marine accord, and the cedar/lavender/cardamom solidifying things. There’s a bit of the pear left, but the citrus really isn’t detectable.

Moving into the final phase, Appeal hits its musky and amber scented base. The musk isn’t heavy, and the amber provides, a lightly sweet and warm structure for the other notes to inhabit. The rest of the fragrance, stays pretty much what it what previously, and it rides out the remainder of the wear like this.

You get a fresh aquatic watermelon with some nice lavender, woods, and a slight spice. However, it is more sweet than spice.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it doesn’t have too strong of a sillage, as I wrote before. It’s light to moderate, not weak, but not a heavy hitter by any means. You’ll be able to notice it, but it does behave like a typical aquatic cologne.

The longevity is decent, but pretty good considering its price point. Curve Appeal, gave me 5-6 hours of wear, before fading. Not amazing, but this is one you can re-apply, without really caring about the cost.

Most cheaper fragrances aren’t really going to give you 8 hours or more wear anyway. This at least brings it somewhat close.

Seasonally, it strikes me as a warm weather fragrance, that wouldn’t be a bad reach during the rest of the year. It’s mostly a casual fragrance, for guys in their teens and 20s. You can wear it to work or just to grab whenever you need to freshen up.

Appeal isn’t a club beast or even something you’d wear for dates, as it doesn’t really give off a ‘sexy’ vibe. For a cheapie, Appeal is a good one to just throw on, and not really need to worry about. It isn’t going to overpower or offend.

Overall Impressions of Curve Appeal

Overall, is Curve Appeal worth a look? It’s decent and smells pretty good. For the price, it would be a solid option for guys who want something super cheap, and also a light and clean fragrance to wear on a daily basis.

It’s scent isn’t amazing, but it is a nice aquatic, with enough appeal to be useful. You get a solid performance out of it, as well. Does it do as well as the original Curve? No, but certainly has its strengths.

Update: I’m not seeing Appeal around much anymore. It looks like it has been discontinued.