Cologne Reviews

Set Sail Martinique by Tommy Bahama

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I recently reviewed two of the scents I bought from Tommy Bahama. One scent that was left off the list was Set Sail Martinique, which was instead represented by the superior in my opinion, Set Sail St. Barts. It was released in 2010.

In this post, I want to take a closer look at Martinique and determine if it is worth a purchase or if it is a scent that is relegated to second tier status. As usual, I will cover what’s in it, how it smells, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a buy.

What does Set Sail Martinique Smell Like?

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Notes include: blue lavender, pepper, musk, bergamot, aquatic notes

Click here to try: Tommy Bahama Martinique Men Cologne, 3.4 Fl Oz 

My Full Wear Review

Set Sail Martinique is another scent that is a part of Tommy Bahama’s Set Sail line of fragrances. When I reviewed Set Sail St. Barts, I mentioned that it was like sipping an alcoholic drink on the shore and then transitioning with that drink into the water.

To me, Martinique is like being in the Caribbean Sea while wearing suntan lotion. Seriously, you get a smooth and creamy scent from the blue lavender note and some musk, which is dotted with a hint of citrus from the bergamot. That is what the opening of this cologne smells like to me.

The bergamot’s sharpness is really tempered by the aquatic type of notes, lavender, and musk. It still feels bright, but muted, and definitely doesn’t have a juiciness or zest. Still, it has that salty sea breeze and lotion smell to it.

After about 10 minutes, the pepper and musk began to play a bigger role, in Martinique. Neither really ever took over, but you do start to detect more of an aquatic and salty smell, that is totally reminiscent of being in the tropics at the beach.

I think that the Set Sail line of colognes, has done a great job of capturing that sort of mood, and reflects the style of all of these scents.

This dries down into a mostly lavender and musk affair, with bits of pepper, and soaked in a marine environment. Almost like the notes are wrapped in sea weed.

Kind of weird description, but if you’re familiar with Bvlgari Aqua and those flankers, you’ve got a close approximation.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection and longevity wise, Martinique is pretty moderate. The scent really isn’t overbearing and while it will probably last on one’s skin throughout the day, it won’t be working overtime.

The sillage isn’t overbearing and completely pull off being a casual daily wear.

Mostly, it’ll get around 6-7 hours of the time. Some percentage of the time, it’ll get around 8 hours. It’s actually one of the better performing Tommy Bahama fragrance.

I pretty much only spray this stuff before going to the gym, on an old workout t-shirt. Also, this is completely a summertime fragrance, so it holds up quite well in the heat.

Overall Impressions of Set Sail Martinique

Overall, I think that this is an okay cologne. I honestly like St. Barts much better between the two of these fragrances, and since they fulfill the same niche, I would go with that one over Martinique.

Set Sail Martinique is a simple and straightforward cologne which is more appropriate for summertime, beach, and wear in areas with warmth and humidity. It’s a specialized cologne for certain occasions, so if you’re in the market for that type of scent you might like this one.

It’s not bad, but it never blew me away with anything that it did. I think that they just tried to create a super simple fragrance with oceanic qualities and came up with this. The performance is good, but there’s nothing spectacular here.

L’Homme Libre by Yves Saint Laurent

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I recently got a hold of a sample sprayer of L’Homme Libre by YSL. Now, I really enjoy Yves Saint Laurent fragrances for the most part and especially some of the other scents in the line of L’Homme titled colognes that they have put out.

So, I was quite excited to try out Libre for myself and see if it would take a top spot among YSL’s catalog of colognes. In this post, I want to take a closer look at Libre and give my opinion on whether or not it is worth checking out.

What does L’Homme Libre Smell Like?

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Notes include: violet leaf, basil, leather, pink pepper, star anise

My Full Wear Review

Libre opens with a slightly sweet and mellowed spice aroma on top of a leather note.  Immediately, it is dominated by basil, violet leaf, and the aforementioned leather. I can also detect the pink pepper which adds to the spiciness of the fragrance.

It really is a rather unique cologne in a sense, as it is an earthy/woodsy scent with a spice such as Burberry London, but has a sweetness to it like Opium Pour Homme also by YSL.

Again, Libre is wholly different from those fragrances, since the spice isn’t very sharp and it is a very fresh cologne. It sort of reminds my of Uomo by Zegna, if you replaced the heavy citrus notes.

The opening 10-15 minutes of this can seem kind of strong and may turn people away but I think that the fragrance really begins to shine in the drydown period.

The sweetness of Libre begins to take on a more prominent role, it’s a great fruit influence into the main heart of the scent. I really liked Libre at this point, it feels really masculine yet clean and unique from many other scents.

Libre becomes super smooth, refreshing, and the violet leaf note sits perfectly on the woodsy base. This is a very different animal from the other L’Homme fragrances in the lineup. Really, it doesn’t resemble any of the others, in my opinion.

There’s lots of basil and star anise, among other things, to give Libre a refreshing, but herbal green sort of spice. The warmth of the pink pepper is still there and there is also a bit of pachouli thrown in to rough the composition up a little.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I’d say it’s moderate bordering on heavy at first and then lightens up a bit as it transitions into the drydown.

The sillage overall is good and much better than what I’ve ever gotten with YSL L’Homme.  It becomes this semi-sweet green fragrance highlighted by a pink pepper spice and leather.

Libre does also seem to last for a long time, as well. All work day in most situations shouldn’t be a problem. It is one of the better performing flankers from this Saint Laurent line of fragrances, somewhere in the 8-9 hour range

I would wear it on days with a moderate temperature, I think it would buckle in hot weather and might be somewhat out of place during the dead of winter.

Libre is sort of an odd duck in that way. I generally wore this stuff during the later spring months, but did throw it on at night, during the summer a few times.

Is it attractive? Yes, it is an attractive scent, with its own masculine sexiness. This is a good cologne for work and something non-intrusive to wear out at night. Would be a good date night fragrance or to a lounge type setting.

L’Homme Libre isn’t a night club monster or anything. It generally handles it business and fits in a lot of different scenarios without demanding anyone pay attention to it.

Overall Impressions of L’Homme Libre

Overall, is it a buy? I definitely like it a lot. Is it my favorite? No, but it is really enjoyable to me. I don’t think it’s an amazing cologne, rather, it is one that is very good overall.

It also might not be every guy’s cup of tea, especially if you don’t like earthy/green/woodsy scents with a spice to them.

Yves Saint Laurent makes some great colognes and I actually think some of the other scents in the L’Homme line are better than Libre. So, that fact may prevent me from purchasing a full bottle of Libre. But again, I do think it is a cologne worth wearing.

I know that it has been discontinued as of this 2021 update, so, if you want a bottle…better start grabbing them up. It’s gotten pretty expensive, but don’t overpay for this.

Guilty Pour Homme Platinum by Gucci

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So, I’ve had a small decant of Gucci Guilty Platinum Edition for many months now, and hadn’t ever tried it out. I wasn’t sure as to what it was, whether it was a new formulation, or what. So, I’ve been wearing it around, and will present my thoughts and experiences with Platinum in this review. As usual, I will cover what it smells like, how it performs, when it should be worn, or if it’s even worth a buy.

What does Gucci Guilty Platinum Smell Like?

Notes include: orange blossom, cedar, lemon, lavender, patchouli

Click here to try: Gucci Guilty Platinum Edition Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Upon smelling the opening notes of Guilty Platinum, it struck me as being the same as the original Gucci Guilty. Is this the same fragrance in a new bottle?

I was trying to find the answer online, and it does appear, that this was a limited edition version of Guilty Pour Homme. Interesting, guess I’ll be reviewing this for a second time, then.

So, the opening is that familiar lemon and lavender blend, along with the warm pink pepper note. For me, the lemon/lavender combination is better in Luna Rossa Sport, versus this Guilty line. Still, it’s hard to dislike the bright citrus note with calming lavender, and an overall warm mood.

As it moves along, the orange blossom and lavender begin to take over, more of the composition. The lemon note is still present, just not as strong as it was, at the top. The fragrance is quite floral, very smooth and clean, and pleasant to wear.

Further along, we get some additional outdoorsy aroma from a solid cedar base, and light patchouli which gives Guilty Platinum some more depth. That’s about it for this fragrance, as it’s pretty linear overall, in its presentation. You get a floral sweetness, with elements of warm spice, and cedar.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage is not that powerful from this one. It’ll project around the area immediately surrounding you, but doesn’t take over the room.

Again, what reaffirmed for me that this was indeed just a re-packaged Guilty Pour Homme, was not only the smell but the performance. I get that same 5-6 hours of wear, on my skin, that I did with it.

One thing that I appreciated about Guilty, is its versatility as a fragrance. I like it in the warmer months of the year, but it is honestly, a nice scent to wear year round. Plus, you can wear it in pretty much any situation, and it’ll be fine.

It’s got enough attractiveness to be worn on a date, it can go casual, a night out, or even to the office. It doesn’t overpower and has a subtle touch, that can simply fit in.

Overall Impressions of Guilty Platinum

Overall, do I like Gucci Guilty Platinum? I mean, yes, it’s just Gucci Guilty. I’ve always thought that it was a pleasant scent to wear, but wasn’t a spectacular must have, for me. Why would you want Guilty Platinum?

I guess, if you wanted the limited edition bottle? Who knows? It’s already had its run, so perhaps, you can pick up a cheap bottle and save some money on your Guilty Pour Homme needs.

Arancia Di Capri by Acqua Di Parma

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Arancia di Capri is another scent from the Blu Mediterraneo line of fragrances from Acqua di Parma. I’m going to post even more reviews from this lineup in the coming weeks, but I figured I would start here, with what I consider one of the best smelling colognes of the bunch. What does it smell like? How does it perform? When should it be worn? Continue below for my full thoughts on this scent.

What does Arancia di Capri Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin orange, caramel, petitgrain, musk, bergamot, grapefruit

Click here to try: Acqua Di Parma Blue Mediterraneo Arancia Di Capri Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 5 Ounce

The opening of Arancia di Capri is an immediate aromatic sensation of citrus fruits, mainly the mandarin orange and bergamot notes. Acqua Di Parma, really does a fantastic job with the citrus notes in their fragrances.

They are absolutely some of the best on the market. All very crisp, juicy, and don’t smell synthetic.

Arancia di Capri is a fresh scent that triggers memories of walking around in the open air on a warm summer day. There is a hint of musk in the composition, which gives the scent more depth than the citrus notes would otherwise provide.

About 20 minutes in, the caramel note emerges with it’s sugary sweetness, which provides an interesting partnership with the mandarin orange.

Cardamom and musk deliver a warm and nice bit of depth to the fragrance, but it is mostly a sweet citrus perfume.

Projection wise, the opening is strong but it settles extremely quickly into a skin scent. It is better that the performance I got while wearing Bergamotto di Calabria, but it still isn’t great.

I get about 4-5 hours out of it as a skin scent, with a normal spray. You can double up the sprays, apply a layer of unscented lotion to your skin prior to wear, or spray it directly on the fabric of a shirt that you don’t mind potentially damaging. For instance, I sprayed this on an old t-shirt and the performance was much better.

Seasonally, this is warm weather all the way. It’s really a fantastic aroma for this time of year and extremely well put together. I wish the intensity was scaled up and then it would be near perfection because the scent does smell wonderful.

If the cardamom and caramel were stronger, this would be a heavier winter fragrance. But, as constituted this is a citrus summer fragrance. 

Overall, do I recommend Arancia di Capri? Yes. It is one of the best scents from Acqua di Parma and a true highlight in the citrus fragrance space. Is the performance great? No. But if you can get it for a good price and use some techniques to stretch out the longevity, it can be an absolute winner in the summertime.

The orange note is fantastic and quite realistic. That’s really the highlight of this Acqua di Parma scent. I wish it could hold up better than it does, but outside of that, Arancia di Capri is great. 

Higher Energy by Christian Dior

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I have already done some posts on this site about the top Christian Dior fragrances, along with a review of the companies’ latest offering, Sauvage. So, when I getting together my latest haul of cologne samples, I thought that I would revisit another Dior fragrance, Higher Energy.

How does this scent stack up to Dior’s other men’s colognes? Is it worth a purchase? Find out more by reading below. Note: This has been discontinued for over a decade, which is about the time frame of my initial review.

What does Higher Energy by Dior Smell Like?

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Notes include:  Cypress, rosemary, musk, melon, juniper, mint, grapefruit, cedar

Click here to try Higher Energy!

My initial reaction to Higher Energy is one of familiarity. I cannot quite think of what this scent’s opening smells like but I think it is a fragrance by either Hilfiger or Lacoste. Maybe a bit of Dior Homme Sport?

I get a definite summertime and sporty vibe from the fruit notes which come out smelling very smooth and wonderful.

However, it doesn’t take on an overly sweet or candy-like aroma, as it seems to be grounded by the woodsy and mint notes.

At first, it’s a combination of mint and grapefruit to my nose. Some other fruity notes and juniper. There’s a slight clean spiciness, but nothing overpowering.

Higher Energy is a very clean and fresh cologne which isn’t too loud or overbearing. Like I said, I get a sport type of vibe from it and it projects decently when outdoors in the warmth of the sun.

I definitely get more emergence of the grapefruit note as the time went on and it took on a less sweet and more woodsy aroma. Cedar, juniper, grapefruit, and musk is what I’m left with, once Higher Energy has fully developed.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Now, while I think this scent smells good and I would have no problem wearing it during the late spring or summer, it does have some issues. It’s not a long-lasting scent, after about 3 hours of wear, I had to press my nose against my skin to smell it.

Maybe you can get 4-6 hours out of it but it didn’t seem to hold well on my skin.

The projection starts out moderate and obviously fades, people won’t smell you from across the room, which is great but after a certain period of time, they may not be able to detect it unless they’re right up on you.

Also, this is definitely a seasonal fragrance which limits its appeal even further. Again, spring or summer. It is attractive enough and would probably draw some complements, it’s performance is just such a hinderance.

Overall Impressions of Higher Energy

Overall, I like Higher Energy. It’s a really nice and fresh cologne. It’s just not a big time performer for the price, lacks some versatility, and isn’t all that unique.

It has been discontinued, so, even trying to find a bottle nowadays is getting more difficult. Update: The Dua Brand has their own inspired take on Higher Energy, called #Energetic

The smell itself, is actually quite nice. Though, the performance isn’t really good at all.

Also, they’re quite expensive and aren’t a real good value proposition. Unless you really need a bottle to round out your collection, it’s not particularly worth a try, for a full bottle. If you can still find a sample vial or mini, it may be a decent experience.

Not a bad fragrance, though, not one of Dior’s best. The Higher line didn’t hang around too long before Dior came out with the Dior Homme series, which is still going on to this day. I’ve also reviewed the original Higher, if you’re interested.