Cologne Reviews

Bois du Portugal by Creed

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Another one of the fragrances that I revisited upon my excursions to the Creed boutique in Las Vegas was Bois du Portugal. This men’s cologne takes a different turn than other scents in the Creed family and offers a much more woodsy scent.

It can also feel much more formal than even the other luxury fragrances offered by this boutique brand. In this post, I want to give my thoughts on this cologne, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a buy.

Check out: Creed Tabarome Review and List of All Reviews from this Site

What does Bois du Portugal Smell Like?

bois du portugal

Notes include: cedar, sandalwood, bergamot, ambergris, lavender, vetiver

Click here to try: CREED BOIS DU PORTUGAL by Creed EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 2.5 OZ

My Full Review

I retested Bois du Portugal for one day with a few sprays on my arm. The opening is a familiar bergamot note from Creed which is similar to the one found in Green Irish Tweed as well as Silver Mountain Water.

This opening blast of citrus blended with the sandalwood, is just a phase for perhaps the first 20-30 minutes or so; before it begins to transition away from something familiar to a more refined and mature cologne.

There is this interesting, but very slight spice, during the opening act. Not very overt, but it is there.

As it wears on a bit more, Bois du Portugal takes on more of the cedar and lavender notes and the bergamot begins to take a back seat. This is where this cologne begins to shine, in my opinion.

At this stage, its a smooth, woodsy, and warm aroma that somewhat recalls the spiciness of Tabarome. Sitting underneath, is that famous Creed ambergris, which isn’t all that prominent in this perfume.

This scent is so wholly classic and doesn’t feel the same as many more modern fragrances for men. At the same time, the sandalwood and lavender provide a touch of sweetness, that doesn’t allow Bois du Portugal to stray too far in either direction.

Like most other Creeds, this one is blended superbly. I do enjoy getting bursts of aroma, from individual notes. A sharper cedar here and there.

Then, you get a nice vetiver, emerging from the creamy sandalwood. It’s got enough depth to be interesting, but never feels overly complicated, just refined.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, it feels pretty moderate. It isn’t a complete sillage beast, but it isn’t weak either, which allows it to be a completely safe bet. Decent amount of power, up top, but that fades into something much more middle of the road.

Longevity is also really good on this as well, I think I got 8-9 solid hours out of Portugal and a couple more when it was in a much more weakened state.

So, the performance is very good as a whole, just not an extreme or ‘in your face’ sort of fragrance.

The woodsy scent, lends itself well to the cooler months of the year. Luckily, it isn’t too heavy, that it cannot venture into slightly warmer weather. However, I probably wouldn’t wear it during the summertime.

Also, it fits for office, casual, and dressed up events. Though, not so much for clubbing or going to school. I don’t know that there’d be a large percentage of younger guys, who’d be into this scent. It is mature, professional, but never feels dated to my nose.

Overall Impressions of Bois du Portugal

Overall, would I rate this a buy? Yes, it is one of the best options for Creed. However, one needs to understand that, it comes off as a mature and more serious type of cologne.

Younger guys should probably stay away, unless you have a very refined style or go to lots of upscale events.

Bois du Portugal is a classic and should be treated as such. It is a really great scent for those who enjoy woodsy and elegant fragrances.

The bergamot opening is fine, but this scent really comes into its own, during the dry down. The wood notes are the stars here.

Each of them brings something to the table, for a really great cologne.

The performance is solid, just not extremely bold. If you want a refined woody fragrance, Bois du Portugal should be on your list to try out.

Bleecker Street by Bond No. 9

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This is a review that I’ve been meaning to get around to doing for a long while. In fact, I grabbed another sample vial just for this very purpose, and promptly forgot about it for months. But, Bleecker Street, is a scent that needed a write up on this site and I wasn’t going to let the sample Bond No. 9 perfume, lie unused for too long.

So, in this post, I am going to cover the usual ingredients, how it smells, develops, performs, when it should be worn, and if it’s actually worth a purchase.

What does Bleecker Street Smell Like?

Notes include: violet leaf, vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, jasmine, cassis, patchouli, oakmoss

Click here to try: Bond No.9 Bleecker Street Women Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Bond No. 9 describes, Bleecker Street: Art, fashion, seduction, and dessert in liquid form. A warm and sensual aphrodisiac that glides from day into evening. 

The opening of Bleecker Street gives you that initial blast of violet leaf. Violet leaf always reminds me of Fahrenheit by Christian Dior, and yep, that’s a what I experience with this Bond No. 9 fragrance. That outdoorsy almost gasoline kind of aroma, just toned way down, in Bleecker Street and not nearly as aggressive as the Dior.

Nonetheless, it quickly moves off of that beginning and is joined by other notes like cinnamon, patchouli, and oakmoss. It’s a green ‘natural’ kind of scent, sort of sporty, but always clean and fresh.

Looking at the notes, which include vanilla and caramel, I would expect this to be sweeter than it actually is.

However, Bleecker Street never reaches that expected sweetness, as it is controlled by the stronger notes like cassis, which while derived from black currant doesn’t have that sugary quality. It is the same type of thing you find in Aventus.

So, it’s not sugary and the fruit isn’t ‘juicy’, as it is surrounded by dry ingredients.

The whole profile and experience of wearing Bleecker Street brings me to the outdoors, out in the wilderness, and taking in the landscape. At times, it’s completely woody with the overlying natural sharpness of the cassis. Then, a layer of faint sweetness of caramel.

The violet leaf is always present and a bit of warm spice from the cinnamon and patchouli. To my nose, it gets sweeter as it dries down, and moves away from the woodiness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, its of pretty moderate sillage. People will notice it, but there’s no need to go heavy on the sprays, nor is it going to be crazy intense with a normal application. There’s really no need to coat yourself in it, though.

The performance with Bleecker Street’s longevity is very good and while around 8 hours is the norm, it can hit double digits on occasion. It’s not one to die out in the middle of the day and will be just right for almost any time one wears it.

Now, this is listed as a unisex fragrance by Bond No. 9 and I tend to agree. Though, it does lean more towards the masculine side of things.

I’ve said that it has elements of both Fahrenheit and Aventus for men, but this Bond scent, never has that same intensity or overt masculinity.

So, yes, it is safe for women but it does have more of what would usually be considered masculine elements.

Seasonally, I would like to wear this best in the autumn or spring. It just feels right with more moderate temperatures and there’s all of the usual changes in nature taking place. Just the whole clean outdoorsy profile fits these time periods to a tee.

Bleecker is a versatile scent, it can be worn casually, as well as on more formal occasions. It smells really good, but isn’t what I’d call sexy, and isn’t a nightclub beast.

Overall Impressions of Bleecker Street

Overall, do I like Bleecker Street? Yes, this is one of the better fragrances by Bond No. 9. It’s got a pretty unique style and aroma. It is interesting throughout and the notes aren’t what you’d find in a lot of the more common fragrances on the market.

The performance is also great. Is this a fragrance for everybody? Almost certainly not. Some women will find it too masculine and some guys won’t find it bold enough. Though, it is a quality perfume, and one which has found a niche in a lot of people’s rotations.

It’s definitely one of my favorite fragrances from this expensive brand, which can honestly be pretty hit or miss. This one is among the best that they’ve ever put out.

Tobacco Oud Intense by Tom Ford

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Here’s a sample that I’ve had for probably over six months, at this point, and never got around to giving a proper review. Even though, I’ve worn it in the months it’s been in my possession. Tobacco Oud Intense is the flanker fragrance to the popular Tobacco Oud.

It was released in 2017, as a follow up. So, in this post, I will cover my experiences with Tobacco Oud Intense by Tom Ford. How does it smell? What are the notes? How does it perform? Is it worth a purchase?

What does Tobacco Oud Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: oud, tobacco, amber, cedar, coriander, tonka bean, patchouli, sandalwood, labdanum

Click here to try: Tom Ford Tobacco Oud Intense by Tom Ford, 3.4 oz EDP Spray Unisex

My Full Review

The opening of this fragrance, definitely goes hard with the tobacco and oud note. It has a dark and smokey aroma, with a slight spice, which I take is from the coriander. It’s not an intense smell, in my opinion, but there is just a large abundance of those ingredients.

There is a dirty and outdoorsy undertone, throughout the whole wear. I guess, I should just call it earthy, but it is quite noticeable up top before Tobacco Oud Intense transitions to its next stage.

Underneath this initial layer, and what emerges more and more afterward, is an amber/tonka bean combination. This is when, the perfume starts to get good for me, the sweet smooth notes settling things down. Those two notes really makes the smokiness of the Tobacco Oud Intense, much more tolerable, and it sort of has a leathery quality to it.

Also, during the dry down, I find that the oud isn’t as present. Of course, it’s still there, but I get way more tobacco in the last 3/4’s of this fragrance. The other wood notes (cedar and sandalwood) do sit at the base and create a woodier scent, as it moves along, it’s just not that signature oud scent overpowering everything.

Ultimately, I get a smooth ambery tobacco, with a mix of sweet/smokey and a woodsy base. It’s a warm and very smooth aroma, with a definite masculine edge.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it is fairly intense, but it’s not a crazy monster perfume. For the first few hours, you can definitely choke out a room, if you over-sprayed Tobacco Oud Intense. However, after that, this Tom Ford is more of a strong moderate.

While it’s not super powerful, this one does have a thick, almost enveloping aroma. Fairly complex with a density, common in winter fragrances.

The longevity seems to fall within the 7-9 hour range, again, not crazy but still very good. My skin doesn’t ‘eat up’ perfume, so, this probably about what one should expect. It was kind of surprising, as I would have thought that an intense Oud scent, would have gone on for ages.

Then again, the oud isn’t completely dominant here. Nonetheless, it is no slouch. On clothing, it does indeed last longer, than 9 hours.

Seasonally, it’s strictly for the cooler months of the year. This would be a mess in the heat of the summer. It’s a unisex scent, but it leans much more masculine, than other offerings from this brand.

It feels like something that should be worn at least in a semi-formal situation or business attire. Tobacco Oud Intense isn’t a Tom Ford fragrance for casual wear. Nor is it going to be something for the bar/nightlife scene.

It’s fairly niche and going to mostly appeal to oud fans and those who like these sorts of heavy scents.

Overall Impressions of Tobacco Oud Intense

Overall, do I like Tobacco Oud Intense. I like it for what it is, even if it’s not really my style of fragrance. It smells good, even though, I’m not personally a big oud fan. It does have a smoother and slightly sweeter smell versus the original Tobacco Oud.

If you’re a fan of these notes, this is probably one you’d want to consider. If you already have the original, this is close enough, that you probably don’t need it. Go with Intense, if you enjoy more amber and tonka bean, with a bigger dose of the tobacco note.

It’s not much more powerful or longer lasting. So, it really comes down to the level of sweetness, you enjoy.

10 Long Lasting Colognes for Men 2019

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There are plenty of great smelling colognes for men out there on the market. However, some of those fantastic perfumes don’t seem to last very long at all and evaporate from one’s skin within a few hours.

I mean, it’s great to have a really sexy or fresh fragrance, but what’s ultimately the point if it’s completely gone or simply a skin scent by the time you’re out of the house?

So, with that in mind I have put together an updated list for 2019 of colognes that last all day and can also have great sillage. These colognes are longevity champs and will include a those also with versatile uses; from the office to a night out at the bars.

 

Best Smelling Men’s Perfumes that are Long Lasting

 

1 Million FOR MEN by Paco Rabanne – 3.4 oz EDT Spray– The original 1 Million is now utterly legendary and a constant best seller, after what, 20+ years? One of the main reasons, this sweet club beast has garnered so much attention, is how long it lasts. When you talk about all day wears, 1 Million is one that immediately comes to mind in the world of men’s perfumes.

It’s loud, it’s in your face with a sweet, smooth, and often imitated profile with notes ranging from cinnamon to rose to leather to citrus. It’s layered and has a great vibe about it. One of its flankers, 1 Million Prive, smells better in my opinion but doesn’t have the same extreme longevity…it does have great performance also, just not to the same level. So, if you want something a bit more refined check out Prive. My 1 Million Review

 

Sauvage by Dior Eau de Parfum Spray 60ml– The EDP version of Sauvage, is much better than the original EDT release, in my opinion. Not only does it smell better, it’s sexier, and lasts longer than its predecessor. This one starts out with a strong ambroxan note which tones down the bergamot and pepper, which were so harsh in the EDT.

Sauvage EDP is super smooth thereafter, with lavender and vanilla, notes giving it a calm and sweeter demeanor. Then, there is the layer of spice which adds nutmeg and star anise to the Sichuan pepper. It’s got that juicy bergamot lurking in there, with some sharp moments, but ultimately very clean. The sillage in this fragrance is huge on my skin and the wear lasts for over 10 hours. This version really made me appreciate the Sauvage name, a lot more. Sauvage EDP Review

 

212 Vip by Carolina Herrera Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– A boozy club scent, that lasts all night? Yep, that’s 212 VIP from Carolina Herrera. Vodka is a main ingredient, especially towards the top of the wear, with tonka bean, vanilla, and pepper kicking in. It also has frozen mint and lime, bringing spice and citrus juiciness. It’s smooth and very boozy at first, but dries down with an alluring spice and sexiness. This stuff is an absolute beast with the sillage and longevity. I have a full bottle and I only break it out on certain occasions and keep the sprays limited. Is 212 VIP for everyone? No way, but for certain guys, this stuff is just plain awesome. 212 VIP Review

Prada L’homme Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– This flanker to the original Prada L’Homme opens up with that powdery iris note, amber, and rich leather. Intense is a mature and clean fragrance with a smooth warmth provided from the main players, as well as, notes like the tonka bean. The solid woody outdoorsy base, adds another dimension to this cologne, with the emergence of sandalwood and patchouli. The sillage on this one is moderate to strong, but the longevity is great, and Intense is a classy fragrance for work or the night life. Prada L’Homme Intense Review

 

Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male Eau de Toilette Intense 40ml Spray– The original Le Male had really good performance and is still very popular. However, with the release of its flanker fragrance Ultra Male, Jean Paul Gaultier kicked up the intensity even further. Ultra Male is sexy and has a spicy and candy-like sweet aroma, that not only projects well, but also goes far into those cold weather evenings of wintertime. It opens up with pear, vanilla, cinnamon, and mint notes, which of course add to the spicy sweetness of this cologne. It has a bold start with the projection, but becomes more moderate. Ultra Male performs best in cooler weather and really isn’t suitable for warmer days. Ultra Male Review

 

Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce– Versace Eros is one of the most popular scents on the market and has been so since its introduction in 2012. Sure, it a monster in terms of its sillage, but that’s just a part of the experience that is this cologne. It’s sweet, crisp, masculine, and bold. With notes like mint, apple, vanilla, and tonka bean…it’s no wonder why this stuff lures so many folks in. It can keep going and going, throughout an entire evening, or daytime depending on one’s application.

Eros opens with the apple note and some citrus assistance provided by Italian lemon. The driving force in the composition is the mint note, which gives it that familiar cooled spice edge, to help offset some of the overwhelming sweetness. This is a autumn/wintertime fragrance with insanely good projection and longevity in the double digit hours sphere. Look, simply put, Eros is popular for a reason. Yes, it’s sexy. Yes, it gets complements. Versace Eros Review

Christian Dior Dior Homme Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce– The opening minutes of Dior Homme Intense, are probably my favorite ever from any cologne. While I do, very slightly prefer wearing the original Dior Homme, I think this one has a bit more sex appeal. Note: Dior Homme and Intense are pretty much a 1A and 1B ranking, that depends on my mood. Plus, I’ll often wear both at the same time.

Cedar and vetiver notes lead the way to be paired with a powdery iris floral. Then, a cacao note comes along to give Dior Intense, a gourmand sensibility. It’s almost like powdered chocolate, in my mind, at one point during the wear. The name suggests it will be loud but it’s not overly so and the longevity of this fragrance is absolutely great.

With this Dior cologne, I can pretty easily hit double digit hours in wear and still maintain solid sillage throughout. Dior Intense is classy, refined, while still maintaining its attractiveness. Versatile enough for office or date night wear.  Dior Intense Full Review

 

 

 

PARFUMS de MARLY Herod, 4.2 fl. oz.– A great luxury fragrance from the French brand, Parfums de Marly. Herod is a sweet and spicy blend of tobacco, cinnamon, black pepper, and vanilla among other notes. This is a super rich and attract men’s cologne with a captivating resinous aroma with a somewhat smoky air. Herod is a gentlemen’s fragrance that can be worn in the office, at a formal event, or out on the town for the evening. The sillage isn’t super loud, like 1 Million, but you’ll know that it’s there and still chugging along without fail.

Prada Luna Rossa CARBON for Men Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 ounce– Luna Rossa Carbon starts off with a pretty strong opening but then becomes much more of a moderate fragrance. However, while it’s sillage isn’t extreme, Carbon’s longevity is. This Prada flanker scent will hit 10+ hours of wear without much trouble. It is good as an everyday scent, with a very similar profile to Sauvage, and features lavender as its main note. Also, here are: ambroxan, pepper, bergamot, and patchouli. Luna Rossa Carbon Full Review

 

 

 

 

 

Giorgio Armani Code Absolu for Men Eau De Parfum Spray, 2 Oz– Finally, rounding out the list is a newer release. Not only is this a follow up flanker to the classic best-seller Armani Code, it is also one of the best colognes on the market currently. Code Absolu is a beautiful blend, which opens up with notes of: rum, nutmeg, suede, and tonka bean. Also, very light fruit notes in the background.

As it moves along, the composition becomes smoother and sweeter, after its freshly spiced opening act. Add to the fact, that Code Absolu is by no means weak, and lasts for well over 10 hours on my skin…and you’ve got a winner. Best in the cooler months of the year, but it’s a stud, during this time. Code Absolu Review

 

CH Men by Carolina Herrera

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In this post, I would like to delve into a name, that I never got around to doing a review on. Well, apparently, this old name has a new formula and is basically a new cologne: CH Men by Carolina Herrera.

In this post, I want to explore what the notes are, how it smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a purchase?

CH Men Overview

Notes include: violet leaves, grapefruit, cyclamen, saffron, cashmere, leather

Click here to try: Carolina Herrera CH Eau De Toilette Spray – 100ml/3.4oz

My Full Review

So, right off of the bat, CH Men has been reformulated and isn’t the same scent as it was before. The ingredients have changed significantly and I will be reviewing this newer version.

The opening of CH Men I get plenty of saffron, violet, and grapefruit. It is fresh with a bright fruity sweetness and grassy notes, that sit underneath it all. It’s clean and has a pretty unique aroma, yet feels familiar, like the structure is similar to other colognes but the individual notes are different.

As it moves along, CH Men becomes more of a green floral with woody notes emerging from the base. I get  mostly cashmere and I think some sandalwood is in there, as well.

Violet leaf and saffron are still the two main notes that hit my nose, with the secondary layer consisting of green grassy notes and spice.

The floral note here is cyclamen, which I’m not too familiar with how that smells, but perhaps is what is providing that green aroma.

Finally, there is a leather and woody base. It is smooth and masculine and provides a nice balance with the saffron and violet leaf. The grapefruit, at this stage, is pretty much gone completely.

So, what you’re left with is a green freshness led by saffron and violet leaf, with leathery woods, and with floral notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage is pretty light with CH Men. This is definitely a candidate for over-spraying the hell out of it.

I would double up each side of the neck and possibly once more. That way, you might get a better performance from it.

The longevity isn’t great either, about 4-5 hours, of light sillage. Maybe you could squeeze out and extra hour or two with heavy spraying, but I wouldn’t expect much more than that.

Seasonally, it’s one that seemingly can be worn year round, and fit in just fine. It is attractive and office safe, with the ability to venture into the nightlife, just won’t be a bold beast performer.

CH Men is the type of scent that will get complements, if you can get it to perform up to par.

Overall Impressions of CH Men

Overall, do I like CH Men? The smell of it is really good. I’m already a fan of saffron and leather, but Carolina Herrera takes it in a new, and appealing direction with this new formulation.

The only issue that I have, is the performance. I wish that it was stronger and would last on my skin, but it doesn’t seem to want to.

If you can get a good price for a bottle, it might be worth just doubling or tripling the sprays, as the scent itself is quite enjoyable.