Cologne Reviews

Sauvage EDP by Christian Dior

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For this review, I am going to be taking a closer look at another Christian Dior cologne, this one from the insanely popular Sauvage line: Sauvage Eau de parfum. I was interested to see if this would be an improvement or a complete dud.

How does this fragrance stack up versus its competitors and even the EDT original, that has been a best seller since its release. How does it smell? Does it perform? How’s the sillage? Is EDP worth a buy?

What does Sauvage Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: nutmeg, bergamot, ambroxan, vanilla absolute, lavender, Sichuan pepper, anise

Click here to try: Sauvage by Dior Eau de Parfum Spray 100ml

My Full Wear Review

I’ve never been a huge fan of the EDT release of Sauvage. One of my biggest complaints about it, was the sharp bergamot/pepper opening, and the amount of lavender that was in the composition. So, I really wasn’t too excited to try the eau de parfum version, and have held out up until now.

I have to say, the EDP’s opening gets it right. It leads off with the famous ambroxan note at full strength, which subdues the harshness of the citrus and Sichuan pepper. The opening isn’t really all that spicy and definitely way smoother than its predecessor.

The added vanilla and a lower amount of lavender, team up with that ambroxan, and give the scent a fresh warmth. The vanilla is quite dark and smoky, which makes for an interesting aroma.

After the opening, Sauvage EDP really begins with the spices. Again, it’s still not as sharp as the original EDT fragrance from Dior, but it does have a well rounded spice. The Sichuan pepper, is joined by nutmeg, and star anise.

Both of those additional spices are a lot less in your face. The bergamot note, comes into its own during this time for me, as it isn’t overshadowed completely by that amber-laden opening. Very clean, somewhat sharp, and juicy.

The citrus is there at the start. But, on my skin, it doesn’t seem to really emerge on its own until later. That could just be how it reacts to my body chemistry.

Ultimately, from this EDP, I get the ambroxan, a host of spices, bergamot, and some lavender. It’s super fresh and smooth. The dry down is great. I like how chill and confident this cologne comes across. My opinion of the original has gotten lower, over the years, and I hated having it on the last time I tried it.

This, I don’t get that feeling. It is an enjoyable wear throughout. Fresh, crisp, with periods of absolute smoothness and depth.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of Sauvage EDP is beastly. Seriously, this stuff can project itself like crazy, and doesn’t require you to spray it a lot in order to create that effect. This is what you’d expect from an eau de parfum, but I can tell you, that is definitely not always the case.

Sauvage EDP has the power that it should have, though.

How long does it last? Well, the longevity is also fantastic. It hit double digit hours on my skin, with any hint of slowing down. Awesome value. Somewhere around 12 hours, seems to be the norm for this cologne.

Seasonally, I can’t quite pin it down. I think that it would work well year round and in a variety of climates. It is a solid blend of different notes, which can operate in so many different types of situations.

Sauvage EDP has wonderful versatility, as it can be worn casually, dressed up, at the office, and especially out for the evening. It is more mature than the original, but still retains a high energy, about it.

Is Sauvage EDP sexy? Yes, this is one that is going to draw the complements, particularly from the ladies. Toning down the sharpness was an important step for Dior, toward making the eau de parfum, a real crowd pleaser.

Overall Impressions of Sauvage EDP

Overall, is Christian Dior’s Sauvage EDP version worth a buy? Yes. I like it a lot, and again, I am someone who is pretty indifferent with regards to the EDT. I still have a sample vial of that and never choose to wear it (and would rather wear, Luna Rossa Carbon).

This, I almost certainly will. It took what was right about the original and improved upon it. Then, more importantly, fixed its short comings. EDP performs extremely well and is one of those highly versatile year round colognes. Bravo, Dior.

I like how much better the citrus is in this blend. Also, the Sichuan pepper, having to share the stage with anise and nutmeg makes it work perfectly.

Updating this initial review, having also tried the Parfum version of Sauvage, I can definitely say that the EDP is the best. I like that newer release also and would rank it second.

Drakkar Noir by Guy Laroche

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Drakkar Noir has been a staple in the fragrance world for a long, long time. It’s been so widely used, that it’s been joked about in popular culture based on guys who douse themselves in it, but there are still plenty of people who swear by it.

In fact, this Guy Laroche fragrance is one of the absolute classic scents to come out of the 1980s, and you don’t make it for almost 40 years by being a ‘garbage’ cologne. It always been one with a complex blend and personality, that has many facets, which don’t always get appreciated.

In this post, I want to throw in my two cents about Drakkar Noir and finally give it a proper review on this site. How it smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a buy.

What Does Drakkar Noir Smell Like?

DRAKKAR-NOIR

Notes included: sandalwood, lavender, citrus, cinnamon, leather, vetiver, oakmoss, cedar, fir, jasmine, coriander, amber, juniper, and more

Click here to try: Drakkar Noir By Guy Laroche For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 6.7 Ounces

Drakkar Noir has been around for seemingly forever, it predates my existence, at least. That being said, what is the reason for its continued success over three decades after its release? Well, I think it’s because of how ‘classic’ of a scent it seems like.

It just feels old school like a fresh bar of soap or shaving cream for men. Drakkar Noir is dark and masculine from the start, yet still remains very clean throughout.

It has a certain attitude and style, that defines that decade of fragrance, which isn’t found in many modern releases in the slightest.

There are so many aquatics and Sauvage clones out there, that an older option like Drakkar starts to have a greater appeal.

Heck, even the latest Drakkar flanker release, Drakkar Essence, was pretty ho-hum and not much to write home about.

My Full Wear Review

The opening of the scent brings about an aroma of the oak moss and lavender notes. It’s a rather dry and smooth opening with assistance from leather, a cinnamon spice, and some citrus notes. It’s a really fresh and masculine clean scent that has a ‘showered’ like aroma on the skin.

The bergamot citrus has its moment to shine early on before it is relegated to the background. I rather like how the lemon and bergamot notes are featured here. They never dominate, but they are noticeable, almost fleeting in how they are presented.

Another note that shines in the beginning, is the super crisp mint note. It brings a definite cooled air to the composition, it’s that usual sharp spice, which contrasts extremely well versus the lavender, oak moss, and leather notes.

It all comes together as really green, herbal, and outdoorsy. This is the basic formula for about 30-45 minutes.

One important aspect about Drakkar Noir, is how complicated it can be. There are a ton of notes in this. Different types of woods, floral, herbs, etc.

Sometimes, your nose will pick up on an individual note above the rest.

Other times, you really won’t know what you’re smelling, beyond a pleasant scent. It becomes blurred and quite difficult to pick out individual ingredients versus how easy it can be with simpler colognes.

With all the woody notes, it has that green/herbal type of scent that you would expect it to. As Drakkar dries down, I get more leather and spice then I do at first, and the cologne maintains its masculinity. The dry down is the best part of this fragrance, in my opinion.

It’s darker, warmer, and has a different sort of spice than the cleaner/soapier beginning. It’s a perfect earthy scent, at this point, like the right balance of woods with herbs to create something quite attractive.

During the dry down, I get: lavender, pine, leather, some patchouli, moss, cinnamon, and some other herbs/woods.

How Strong is It? Does Drakkar Last Long?

Projection wise, Drakkar is still pretty damn good, in that regard. I know it has been reformulated over the years, and while I don’t have a vintage bottle to compare it to, it still projects itself nicely.

Due to government regulations, there are certain notes (like pure oak moss), that you cannot use anymore.

With that having been a main ingredient in Drakkar, it is of course going to have an effect. But that wasn’t the only one to fall or get watered down, it’s so hard to maintain the greatness of a vintage scent.

However, the latest incarnations of Drakkar that I’ve tried, weren’t too weak nor too powerful. They were moderate, but noticable.

Longevity, can be hit or miss but six hours seems to be average and sometimes it just lasts for a long time. It’s kind of a weird scent in how it performs and I wish it could still be that classic beast mode.

Drakkar is a solid casual or nighttime fragrance and I think that it works best in the late autumn or winter. Its dry and woodsy spice hangs really well in the crisp air.

This is one that can be a versatile everyday wear for many men and while it’s demographics skew older, a younger guy could definitely still wear this. In fact, many younger guys used to wear this, back in the day.

I will say, that I don’t think it’s all that great in the summer months. The heat isn’t so much the problem, as the humidity, which can wreak havoc on Drakkar’s performance.

Overall Impressions of Drakkar Noir

Overall, is Drakkar Noir worth a buy? Yes, but, it doesn’t blow me away. I think it’s pretty good. It doesn’t fit my personal style, but I can certainly appreciate it. Maybe, I would’ve enjoyed the vintage formulation a lot more than the current one.

It’s nice to put on from time to time, but I have so many other choices. For many guys, this will do extremely well as an every day, signature scent. It’s an interesting scent and one that was a landmark in the history of men’s fragrance.

You’re going to have to enjoy this sort of classic fougere aroma. The lavender, leather, the woods, and herbs. It definitely gets points for complexity. Give it a try, it’s very affordable.

Prada L’Homme EDT

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Prada has a ton of different fragrances on the market. They can often be confusing, as each release seems to get a bunch of different flankers with similar names. Today, I want to focus on one scent in particular, Prada L’Homme EDT. The original blend that started off the L’Homme line of perfumes. How does this men’s cologne smell? What are the notes? Does it perform? Is it versatile? Is this even worth a try?

What does Prada L’Homme EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: iris, amber, geranium, patchouli, neroli, violet, pepper, cedar

Click here to try: Prada L’Homme Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Prada L’Homme immediately hits my nose with an iris note, a super freshness, and other warm powdery floral ingredients. It seems to have plenty of similarities with Dior Homme Eau, but definitely isn’t exactly the same as that fragrance. For one, it lacks that cacao, leather, and bergamot top notes.

They just happen to share a dominant iris, which isn’t the most common of ingredients in men’s colognes. I think that the iris pairs very well with the neroli and violet notes, all of which is swimming in the usual Prada amber.

The composition is somewhat sweet, but there aren’t any fruity or candied elements in here, just a light floral sweetness.

L’Homme is a rather simple cologne, but has a solid base of cedar, light pepper, and a bit of patchouli to make things less feminized. Even though, this could absolutely pass as a unisex scent.

As I wrote, this cologne is pretty straightforward. You do get different stretches of time where the neroli, violet, or geranium is more intense but none of these ever overtake the beautiful iris or amber note.

The base is just the base and doesn’t interfere too much into the main soapy/powder clean attraction.

This isn’t as powdery as some of the flankers in this series, but it is a very good and balanced blend of notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Prada L’Homme is a moderate fragrance with an airiness. I don’t even notice that I’m wearing it at times, but it’s not weak. I’d say moderate for the first 2/3 of the wear and then it turns light. Don’t expect some bomb of a perfume, it’s about subtlety with this one.

Longevity wise, I get about 6-7 hours on my skin, not amazing but quite serviceable. I do wish that L’Homme had an extra bit of power.

That would make it truly elite in my book. At least, in terms of this style of fragrance.

What is great about this scent is its versatility. It can be worn year round pretty much. Can go casual, but it works completely in a business setting, and is non-offensive.

You can wear it on a date, but it is pretty low key, and not as much sexy as it is clean and elegant.

Definitely pleasant to be around, but might not have the power to draw people in. Teens and younger men, would probably want to opt for something else, maybe a bit more dynamic than this. If you want another Prada, try out the Luna Rossa line of colognes.

Overall Impressions of L’Homme EDT

Overall, do I like Prada L’Homme? Yes, I think that it’s an excellent fragrance. The longevity and projection isn’t amazing, but the smell is simple yet great. This Prada L’Homme line shares a lot of similarities with the Dior Homme lineup, but each has its own unique scent.

I like the aroma. I do with that there was more power behind it. The iris note is fantastic, as is the amber, that is so often used by the brand. Fresh and a bit sweet, with very minor development, but some good floral highlights coming through.

Personally, I don’t need a bottle of this, since a full bottle of Dior Homme already fills this role in my collection. However, for a guy that is looking for something understated for work or for more dressed up events, this is simply an awesome option.

Hugo by Hugo Boss

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I’ve already done a best of Hugo Boss cologne post, as well as reviews for Hugo Red and No.6. So, I thought that I should do a full review of Hugo. Per usual, I want to explore how this fragrance opens, how it performs, what it smells like, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a potential purchase. Please continue below to read my full rating and review of Hugo.

What does Hugo by Hugo Boss Smell Like?

Notes include: woods, mint, grapefruit, apple, lavender, basil, cedar

Click here to try: Hugo for Men by Hugo Boss Eau de Toilette Spray, 2.5 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

This is one of those fragrances that I remember from my childhood. Hugo dates back to the 1990s and I distinctly remember this scent, as I believe that my brother had a bottle. The opening of Hugo is a terrific blend of a green type of scent with hints of citrus.

This cologne is so damn fresh and clean and is a real pleasure to take in. Very much a product of the era. The top layer of this fragrance is the crisp notes of mint, apple, and grapefruit. Mint and apple add a cooling sensation to the aroma.

These notes reinforce the clean springtime aura that Hugo puts out with some extra masculine spice from the basil note.

Also, with the newer bottles the apple note seems to be stronger than in the older formulations than I recall. Sort of like as found in Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger, except this isn’t nearly as sweet.

The lavender note plays a big role here giving it a smoothness and slight floral aroma which presents itself as totally mellow and casual. That’s exactly how I view Hugo, mellow and casual.

Hugo is a pretty straightforward and linear cologne. Beyond this, you get a woodiness from the base and the overall smell becomes blended together more, and each note feels less distinct.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s not a beast but it is noticeable. Hugo isn’t a heavy fragrance, so it is unlikely to offend those around you.

Longevity, I can usually squeeze out 6 hours of this stuff, so pretty moderate on that end. Older bottles, could probably get a few more hours. However, this isn’t a fragrance that has gotten reformulated to death. It retains almost all of its originality and power.

It’s pretty versatile but I’d say it’s more suited for a casual, everyday type of cologne. Late spring and summer is where Hugo really shines, the fresh citrus just begs to be worn during the warmer months of the year.

If you just need something to wear around, that can cover most all of your bases, this Hugo Boss can do it.

Overall Impressions of Hugo

Overall, is Hugo worth a purchase? I’d say yes, if you’re in the market for a good summertime cologne. I like this offering from Hugo Boss but I lean more towards Bottled Boss No.6 or Hugo Red over this one most of the time.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a really good casual scent, though not wholly unique and can be sort of generic. However, Hugo does get the job done and if you can catch it in your price range, it’s worth a shot.

I have been seeing bottles for super cheap as of late. In that case, it’s well worth a shot in the $20-35 range. This is a 90s style fragrance, so, it’s not going to be what most younger guys are used to. Not a bad thing, just no longer a commonplace experience.

Invictus Intense by Paco Rabanne

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More samples have been acquired and thus more reviews will be on the way. One such entry, is a 2016 release from Paco Rabanne and a flanker to the original Invictus. Invictus Intense takes the original and attempts to ratchet the power up and give the cologne a new experience. How does it rate? Does it last? Continue reading below for my full review of Invictus Intense.

What does Invictus Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: orange blossom, black pepper, malt accord, wood, black amber, ambergris

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Invictus Intense Eau De Toilette Spray 100ml/3.4oz

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Invictus Intense seems less sweet than the original. There is an immediate sensation of a warm amber note with a salty marine element hanging around. It definitely takes the Invictus name in a new direction, it feels darker, and has a boozy quality provided by the malt accord (think whiskey).

After a few minutes of settling on my skin, the orange blossom emerges which provides a softer sweetness that is reminiscent of the original Invictus. On my skin, up to this point, the booziness retains the strongest spot in the composition. 

Intense maintains the freshness of the original (the bay leaf) but does away with the citrus notes (outside of the orange blossom aroma). I always find it interesting how these brand’s change notes around or eliminate them entire while still maintaining the overall essence of the original scent.

As it moves along, Intense becomes more of a darker floral (almost unisex) fragrance with woody notes plus black pepper and the ultimate takeover of the composition by the ambergris.

The sweetness in Intense is almost muted, with how restrained it is. when compared to the original Invictus. Much more spice here, within the context of an amber-laden fragrance. 

The final dry down consists of amber, marine notes (sea salt), and a woody base. The wood isn’t too noticeable, but it is there. Anything that remains from the other notes, just seems to blend together, on my skin. It all seems much deeper and richer than the original Invictus does. 

As a whole, Invictus Intense delivers a warm, slighty spicy, and fresh mix of mostly amber and floral notes. The malt, wood, and black pepper play a supporting role in balancing it out and preventing it from becoming a ‘women’s’ scent.  Though, at its heart, you can still sense the spirit of the original.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I’d say it’s somewhere between moderate and mildly strong. You can obviously overdo the sprays with it but it isn’t super pungent. It’s kind of funny how this ‘Intense’ version of Invictus is still weaker than the regular 1 Million also by Paco Rabanne.

The sillage will pretty much be in a 5-7 foot radius around the wearer, for the opening act, and then move towards the skin gradually. It’s not an absolute bomb, but again, it can be over-sprayed. 

Longevity is also really good but not great, think I’m getting about 7-8 hours with it, at a still solid projection. Plus, maybe a few more hours as a close skin scent. The longevity on my skin isn’t amazing, but this will go on forever, on clothes.

Don’t spray fragrances on anything that you actually care about keeping high quality, but with a t-shirt, Invictus Intense is very long-lasting.

One nice aspect about Invictus Intense is how versatile it is. It’s so balanced and can seemingly be worn in any season and not feel out of place.

While I cannot test it in the high heat of summer in the middle of October, I think it would hold up nicely. Though, that would be its worst performing climate.

In the colder weather, Intense works very well. The whiskey and amber combination are an ideal fit, in autumn/winter, and just seem to hang around beautifully in the crisp air. 

It also can be worn casually or out on the town or out on a date. Intense is quite pleasant and has a certain sexiness to it that girls should love. It still feels like a younger man’s cologne, but less so than the original. I’ve never worn it to an office environment, but I couldn’t see why a light application, wouldn’t work. 

Overall Impressions of Invictus Intense

Overall, is Invictus Intense worth a buy? I honestly like it. If you hated the original, I highly doubt you’ll like this one, so go ahead and skip over it. It’s not an amazing scent, in my opinion, BUT I think that it is quite good.

Update: this one is now discontinued.

It doesn’t do a bad job at anything, has a nice aroma, and has great versatility. For the price, one could do a lot worse, and I would lean towards wearing Intense over the original Invictus.

This is one that I have a mini bottle of. I put it on every once in a while, when I am in the mood to do so, and just enjoy. I love amber, orange blossom, and whiskey. Plus, I am not opposed to the Invictus DNA, that inhabits all of these colognes. 

Actually, after trying all of the Invictus scents including the newer Invictus Legend, Intense is my favorite. I have grown somewhat fonder of the original, but I still would rather wear this, over any of them.