Cologne Reviews

Luna Rossa Ocean EDP by Prada

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The Luna Rossa series from Prada continues with the recent additions of the Ocean flankers of this line. For 2023, the brand released Ocean Eau de Parfum, a follow-up to the fairly popular EDT entry. I recently purchased a travel sprayer size of this fragrance to test out. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it better than the original?

What does Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, wood, incense, vanilla bean accord, amber extreme

Click here to try: Ocean EDP

My Full Review

Here’s how Prada describes it: Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum combines intense sophistication and sensuality through pioneering technology and nature’s finest ingredients. Opening with an invigorating burst of grapefruit essence, contrasted with the woody vibrancy of incense and a rich Vanilla Bean accord.

The opening of Ocean EDP gave me high hopes that this version would take the highs of the original and flesh things out more. It opens up somewhat like that initial release.

However, we get a grapefruit note to start things off, as our citrus ingredient. Not the same as the original, still, there is a closely related blue-ish sort of aroma here.

Not as sweet, lacking the caramel and suede influence, but I like the way it kicks things off. Still smooth and a bit powdery. Tonka bean and iris aren’t listed as notes officially, but there’s enough of that Ocean EDT influence to make me believe those notes are present.

But, that opening is short-lived, after a few minutes it really shifts into a slightly smoky vanilla and amber fragrance.

Initially, this will be a sweet, smoky, and spicy blend with some woody freshness. The spice will fall first, then the smoke, and you’re left with what this one is really all about.

That being, an amber and vanilla blend with woods and a general sweetness about it. Warm and it gets smoother as you go deeper into the dry down.

There does seem to be a phase where Luna Rossa Ocean EDP is sort of screechy with its sweet/amber mix, but seems to resolve itself.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The ability to project and leave a scent trail, in your wake, is pretty much the same as with the original EDT. Now, that first initial 20-30 minutes might be a tad stronger, and the first hour might be a bit more steady. Outside of that, not much of a difference.

Though, EDP does have a slightly heavier feeling due to the amber extreme and vanilla notes, versus the iris dry down of the EDT.

The longevity here is also about the same. On my skin, it sticks around for 5-6 hours of total wear. Like its predecessor, Ocean Eau de Parfum isn’t a great performer. It’s about average and nothing more.

I tried again and again, in different conditions with this one, and still only hit around that six hour mark.

This one is still very versatile with its use cases. I’d say, it’s not as good as the original in warmer weather. I like this more in the chilly temperatures or something more temperate.

It’s good for daily wear, casual situations, or going out at night. Ocean EDP doesn’t strike me as being all that formal, but it’s fine pretty much anywhere else.

Overall Impressions of Ocean EDP

Overall, do I like Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum? I do to some extent. I’m not enthralled by it, it smells fine, and I don’t want a full bottle.

The Ocean lineup thus far is annoying with its performance woes. Plus, I’m tired of getting lured in by that opening act, just to be unimpressed by the rest of it.

Seriously, every time that I’ve worn this or the EDT, I enjoy how they start and think I may want to wear it more often. Then, the back half comes in and it’s completely middling.

I also think the ‘oceanic’ theme could have been done differently with these to make the name fit. Though, the EDT’s blue-ish opening is better suited to that name.

The amber and vanilla thing has been done a million times before…and much better. Coach Platinum, Invictus Victory, probably some of the Armani Code’s are all sort of like Ocean EDP’s dry down. Luna Rossa Black has a similar style, but way better.

It’s fine, a nice enough fragrance, that is overpriced at retail level. With a substantial discount, I wouldn’t be opposed. But, I do think this is one of the weaker Luna Rossa scents, that Prada has put out.

Explorer for Men by Mont Blanc

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Explorer by Mont Blanc quickly became one of the brand’s most popular fragrances, after its release in 2019. It drew many comparisons to the legendary Creed Aventus, which only heightened its appeal. In this post, I want to share my thoughts on Explorer after having tested it out for a while now. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it really worth a try?

What does Explorer Smell Like?

Notes include: sage, bergamot, pink pepper, cocoa, vetiver, ambroxan, leather

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Explorer Eau de Parfum, 3.3 fl. oz.

My Full Wear Review

The opening act of Explorer is where the overlap with Aventus is going to be the most noticeable. Do the two smell alike? Yes, but let’s get the differences out of the way, and focus on Explorer in this post.

That pineapple note from Aventus is absent. Along with, the birch wood. Explorer isn’t nearly as sharp, deep, or smoky as the Creed fragrance. Also, no vanilla undertones. But, as a woody citrus cologne? Quite similar in terms of aroma.

Explorer starts off with its bergamot citrus note and it’s fresh spices. I mainly get the sage, but there is also a prominent pink pepper.

Underneath this, sits leather, ambroxan, wood, and vetiver. It comes across as bright and fresh with the a level of smoothness. 

To me, the leather and cacao notes in the base, also give Explorer a resemblance to Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme. The D&G has tonka bean and tobacco, instead, but shares the citrus, sage, and it also has a pepper note.

It’s not too complex. The final dry down has less of the citrus and pepper and more woods and a somewhat chocolatey finish from the cacao note. Definitely doesn’t have the same depth or development as Aventus.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Is this one a beast with its projection? Nope. I’d say that Explorer is above average and quite good for the first few hours, but pretty much decent thereafter. It can probably project 5-7 feet at first, before working its way back in, and being much closer to the skin.

The longevity was also solid during testing. 6-8 hours, on my skin usually. Most of the time, it would hit the 7-8 hour mark, but never seemed to go beyond that. Not bad, just not an elite wear.

Update: Yep, 6-8 hours, is all that Explorer was ever capable of for me. Frankly, it’s not really a problem for most use cases.

Seasonally, I would like to wear this in moderate to warmer temperatures. Not too cold, above freezing, as it can come across as pretty sharp when I wore it outside here in winter.

Really, I stay away from the extremes at either end with Explorer. But, you will have plenty of opportunity to wear it in most climates.

It can be worn casually, on dates, at work, or anywhere really. Explorer is a very versatile fragrance, that enjoys a mass appeal. Younger guys or grown men can wear this Montblanc without issue.

Overall Impressions of Explorer

Do I like this cologne? I do. If you want a cheaper version of Aventus (update: better yet, here’s a list of similar scents ‘inspired by’ the Creed. There are others that smell much more like Aventus than Explorer, if that’s what you want), this is going to be a great bet for you. Not 100% overlap, as I stated, but it strikes close enough.

I do like the opening of Explorer better. The pineapple and birch always got on my nerves in the Creed fragrance. Explorer is smooth, fresh, and has plenty of style.  

Again, it does also have some of that D&G Pour Homme style, as well. Part Aventus, part D&G, and part its own thing.

Update: I went through my mini bottle of this, after I initially posted this review. The cocoa, leather, and ambroxan really do set this apart from Aventus more and more. I did enjoy wearing this a lot sometimes, but other times it was less inspiring. Explorer is one that I need to be in the mood to enjoy.

That being said, this is still a fragrance that is worth picking up, even at full retail (if that’s your only option).

It won’t be the most unique scent out there. However, the versatility and the aroma can easily make this one a daily wear for the right guy. Not the best fragrance out there, but a super easy to wear cologne, that’ll cover a lot of bases.

Himalaya by Creed

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Creed is a highly respected and world-renown fragrance designer. Personally, I like a lot of what they do and Millesime Imperial is one of my favorites for the summer months. However, I am not wild about all of this brand’s fragrances.

For instance, Himalaya wasn’t one that I was too enthusiastic about when I first tried it, many years ago and reviewed it for the site. Now, I am coming back to this page, trying it again to see if my opinion has changed. How does Himalaya smell? Is it any better this time around?

What does Creed Himalaya Smell Like?

creed himalaya

Notes include: sandalwood, musk, bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, pepper, nutmeg, vetiver, tonka bean

My Full Wear Review

Just to be upfront from the start, I don’t like this scent at all. Some guys might, however, I think it’s quite poor. The opening is a bitter citric accord  (grapefruit, lemon, bergamot) mixed with sandalwood and ambergris.

I’ve tried this one multiple times, over the years, and still really don’t enjoy the opening act. Which is strange, because I usually love citrus. It must be the inclusion of musk and ambergris notes, which is bothering me. The musk, is particularly noticeable.

Update: I don’t hate the opening anymore, not pleasing to me, but it’s okay.

I had a hard time deciphering this scent, until I read the ingredients, and got a better sense of what I was smelling. There is this strange aroma of soft and bitter citrus with this almost metallic scent that hangs around.

Update: Once that grapefruit wears off, I get a brighter lemon note, with some of the nutmeg/pepper peaking through early. The musk feels substantial and it’s giving the citrus accord a very clean feeling.

While there are plenty of scents who’s opening I do not care that much for (see: Creed Aventus), these colognes tend to settle down into something more palatable or beautiful. Himalaya never does, in my opinion.

It’s a clean fragrance with soapy qualities to it but it really isn’t pleasant to me nor is it interesting. The woodsy and musk notes do emerge more in the dry down, though, it never quite takes off into something special.

Sandalwood with a dash of pepper, join the citrus top notes about 20-30 minutes in, and then really take over. I think the middle of the wear, is the best part, and still not too impressive. Yes, its clean and soapy, and the sandalwood note is very good.

The pepper and a slight nutmeg, give Himalaya a bit of a spice, for a period of time. However, that Creed ambergris and musk come in, and take the dry down a notch below of what it achieved in the middle.

Update: Nowadays, it strikes me as an old school cold/fresh/clean sort of scent. The sandalwood and musk give it the clean sort of barbershop vibe, but it never fully goes in that direction (at least by the more shaving cream lavender cologne standards).

Still has that soapiness and some spice among the wood and musk. The citrus hangs around, but I’m still definitely not in love with the top notes here and how they integrate in the composition.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

It’s sillage and longevity are both moderate to very good in my opinion. That is one bright spot, however, if you actually enjoy the scent itself, then I suppose that this would be a selling point for you.

I can get around 7-8 hours from this fragrance. While the sillage isn’t super powerful, it is quite noticeable, especially during the first 2-3 hours of the wear.

In terms of its versatility, Himalaya is best in the springtime and it can venture into the summer months, as well. For me, it felt too sharp wearing around in the cold of winter. I mean, it wasn’t terrible but it stood out too much.

This can be worn casually, at work, or more formal occasions. It is a well put together scent, like most of the other releases from this designer.

Overall Impressions of Himalaya

Overall, I cannot personally recommend this scent. It’s not completely offensive to me like something such as Oud Noir or Issey Nuit but it just isn’t a great cologne. Especially, at the price point Himalaya is sold at, I expect something better.

I know that I could buy 3 bottles of cheaper colognes, and make out much better, in the deal. In the end, it strikes me as a sandalwood/musk soapy, with a bitter semi-metallic opening act.

Creed has much better options than this, but some people still dig Himalaya. I’m just not one of them.

Update: I’m still not a massive fan, but I have come to enjoy this Creed a bit more. I don’t want a full bottle and it’s still one of their ‘mid-tier’ offerings, to me. The citrus is meh. The rest of it past the opening 30 minutes or so is fairly enjoyable.

Nothing amazing, a classic clean cologne with some soapy vibes. It’s worth checking out, as others will appreciate this style much more than me. Too expensive for what you’re getting in return, unless you really love it.

1 Million Elixir by Paco Rabanne

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1 Million is still a powerhouse name from Paco Rabanne. The brand has been releasing newer flankers these past handful of years, with 2022’s Elixir being the latest. I recently got a sample of 1 Million Elixir to review and have been testing it out. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does 1 Million Elixir Smell Like?

Notes include: osmanthus, Damascena rose, tonka bean, cedar, apple, davana, patchouli, vanilla absolute

Click here to buy: 1 Million Elixir

million elixir review

My Full Review

Here’s how Paco Rabanne describes it: 1 Million Elixir, richer than ever before, for thrilling sensations.  The hand-picked ingredients, Turkish Damascena rose, osmanthus and wild grown tonka beans, undoubtedly make this masterpiece composition stand out by the extreme quality of its raw materials. Deeply sensual, liquorous davana vibrates with the power of smooth woods and black vanilla seeds. Supreme sensuality meets absolute long-lasting power.

Elixir opens up with a crisp apple note up top. It’s not massively strong or candy-like, but that note will help lend this one some fruitiness. Beyond the apple, you get contributions of ‘fruitiness’ from the davana, osmanthus, and the Damascena rose.

Each of those notes adds something akin to a fruit smell, without actually being fruits themselves. They also seem to give Elixir almost an amber-like aroma underneath. Not sure which note or combination is doing that here.

Davana up top gives this one a drier woodsy/herbal/fruity smell, that will fade away rather quickly.

What I do notice from the start and throughout is the vanilla note. Well, really vanilla and tonka bean, but the latter will get stronger later on in the development of this scent. Up top, you’re getting much more vanilla.

The Damask rose is more floral than sweet, but even that adds something to the top. After the apple settles and the davana passes, the rose will come out along with some smoky fresh cedar.

Now, this isn’t a traditional red rose aroma. It’s lighter and sweeter than that, more pinkish or white than what you might otherwise expect. This is going to be one of the main notes throughout.

Though it’s not listed and doesn’t feel to intense here, I do get something that smells like cinnamon here. Cinnamal is listed in the actual chemical ingredients and it was a note in the original 1 Million, so, I’m not crazy in picking it up.

As it dries down, this becomes less fruity sweet and more of a vanilla and tonka bean dominant scent. For the rest of the way, the other notes will just jockey for position underneath those two notes.

Rose, patchouli/cedar, some remaining apple. Warm and fresh.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

1 Million Elixir is a strong fragrance, especially at the start. I don’t think that it is a complete monster, with how it projects and the scent trail that it leaves.

However, it is well above average, and is more importantly consistent. This isn’t a fragrance that starts out big and quickly fades. No, the projection will taper off slowly and you’ll be good to go for a long time. Just, the peak isn’t a total bomb.

With the longevity, it lasts on my skin for up to 10 hours. It seems to fall in the 8.5-10 hour range, but doesn’t go beyond that for me. The performance here is well worth the price of admission.

Seasonally, more of an autumn and winter scent. I wouldn’t go much too much above room temperature with this. So, that eliminates summer and much of springtime.

1 Million Elixir really gives you another option, as a nightlife scent. It’s nice to see that this line has headed back to being about that aspect of wear, like the original was. Lucky and Parfum didn’t have that same feel.

This one is going to skew younger, but isn’t completely childish. Just don’t expect a cologne that is built for formal occasions or office wear. This is one to draw complements and go out with.

It can probably fit better into more daily wear situations that the original and many others in the series, especially because of the easier and fresher dry down period.

Overall Impressions of 1 Million Elixir

Overall, do I like 1 Million Elixir? Yes, this is one of the better 1 Million releases. I think it’s about on par with the original, but not as good as 1 Million Prive. Though, it’s better than the others in this line.

The opening and first quarter of the wear is really the best part. After that, the vanilla and tonka bean take things over fully, and it’s not as dynamic.

Not that it’s bad, but I wasn’t all that enthusiastic about the later parts of this cologne. The davana was a bit too short-lived, while the osmanthus and apple pairing is great while it’s got the center stage.

But, that first bit is definitely strong enough to warrant a try or buy of 1 Million Elixir. This scent is for sure in the same vein as the Stronger With You line or Ultra Male. Though, the latter is much sweeter and has a spicier cinnamon note.

Either way, it’s not exactly the same as either of them and stands separate enough to be a distinct fragrance.

The smell is quite attractive and the performance absolutely delivers what you’d want from a 1 Million scent. They went a bit of a different direction with 2023’s 1 Million Royal, which I also like a lot.

Terre d’Hermes EDT by Hermes

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Alright, I am revisiting this fragrance a handful of years. Also,10 years after my initial review. I know how popular and well loved this Hermes release is since its 2006 release. However, I pretty much hated it the multiple times, I wore it back then.

Now, I have hundreds upon hundreds of other fragrance reference points since then, and my nose has become much more adept at picking up details. I started to wonder, if I would still not like Terre D’Hermes? Wearing it today, would I change my tune and begin to love it? Below is my updated thoughts on this fragrance (over multiple years).

What does Terre d’Hermes Smell Like?

IMG_0260

Notes include: mineral note, Grapefruit, bay rose, pepper, geranium, Atlas cedar, benzoin, patchouli, vetiver, orange.

Click here to try: Terre D’ Hermes By Hermes For Men. Parfum Spray 2.5 Oz / 75 Ml

My Full Review

When I first tried Terre D’Hermes, I had pretty high expectations as to what this fragrance would be, and afterwards, I was really disappointed.

The opening act featured a strong orange note, which is sharp, and joined by an equally sharp and very bitter grapefruit note. On my skin, the opening smells like this old citrus scented cleaner/polisher, that I used to use on my furniture.

That’s exactly what I though of back ten years ago, with the initial review.

Update: Today, I don’t really feel that way, and I can definitely detect some more nuance here.

It’s not as sharp, as I once found it. I’m much more used to these sorts of smells, than I was back in the day. The citrus actually feels balanced here, sweeter with the orange than the bitterness of grapefruit.

Plus, you get a spicy black pepper note, bay leaf, and a mineral aroma. I actually have begun to enjoy that spice. Particularly, the lighter bay leaf note. It gives it a kick without dominating the composition.

I still don’t really enjoy most ‘mineral’ accords. In AdG Profumo, it works. Here, it’s not too distracting, either. When I first tried it, that’s a big part of what I could smell and why I hated this Hermes fragrance. But, this time around it doesn’t play a major role. Great!

There is also a certain level of smokiness here from the vetiver and perhaps the benzoin. I think that’s what it is, because I get a similar feeling from Kouros Body. Sort of fuzzy, smoky, but that YSL scent also had incense too.

I still get a lot of the pepper, but with more patchouli (decent), and a really fresh cedar and vetiver blend (I like this part). On top of all of that, is the orange note, still adding a sweetness.

The scent has less of that vetiver smoke, but I dig the touch. It’s a sweet orange and wood with an earthy quality and the remaining notes dancing in the background.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of Terre d’Hermes is strong. Not super powerful projection, but still very good. I’d say that it settles into something noticeable, slightly above average, but not going to blow the doors off. Unless you really go heavy with the sprays.

The performance of this fragrance is great and the longevity hit 8 hours on my skin, during this latest trial run. Update: Here in 2023, still getting 8-ish hours from it. So, if you dig this scent, you do get your money’s worth.

The other strength of this fragrance is its versatility. It’s got an almost unisex quality to it, but it definitely leans more masculine. It’s clean, citrus/woodsy aroma, is safe for work, casual wear, formal situations, etc.

Terre d’Hermes is one that can be worn daily and works well in just about all climates, excepting the high heat of a summer’s day. It’s works in warm weather, but wearing it on a hot day, was an even worse experience for me.

Overall Impression of Terre d’Hermes

Overall, I’m still not a massive fan of Terre d’Hermes. However, it has gone from a complete dislike, to something that I can enjoy from time to time.

I still don’t really want a full bottle or to wear it all of the time, but I appreciate it more.

Eau Intense Vetiver, is another flanker of this that I like. Eau Tres Fraiche is one is still really don’t like.

This time around, I’m getting less of the mineral note, less sharpness/bitterness from the citrus, and highlights of the aspects of Terre d’Hermes that I like.

The orange seems to have more control in this batch, versus the grapefruit.  I prefer the orange, playing off of the other notes. The vetiver is great, as is the bay leaf, and benzoin.

Now that I get a better opening act with this one, the entire lifecycle of the cologne feels much smoother and something likeable. I’m never going to completely be one to love this fragrance, but it’s worth checking out for sure.

Others, have always been into it more than me. These days, Terre d’Hermes is something that has sort of won me over, just not entirely.