Cologne Reviews

Scuderia Racing Red by Ferrari

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I’ve received so many samples from the Ferrari lineup of scents, that I’m pretty much closing in on having all of them. Now, I’ve already done plenty of reviews of these colognes, and today’s entry is: Scuderia Racing Red. It was released in 2013.

This is of course another entry from the Scuderia name, though, I’m not sure if it is a flanker fragrance to Scuderia Red.

As usual, I’m going to cover how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if it is actually worth a buy.

What does Scuderia Racing Red Smell Like?

Notes include: lime, leather, lavender, sage, grey pepper, artemesia, cedar, tonka bean, electrum accord

Click here to try: Ferrari Scuderia Racing Red FOR MEN by Ferrari – 4.2 oz EDT Spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Racing Red starts off with a tempered lime note that never really becomes too sharp, as it is moderated by the lavender, leather, and cedar.

Out of those three, the lavender is the most dominant while the other two play a much smaller supporting role, and aren’t too detectable unless you’re really paying attention.

With the lime and lavender, there is a slight spice from the pepper and an herbal sort of spice from the clary sage. Again, this isn’t intense, and too seems moderated like the lime note.

That is one thing about Scuderia Racing Red that is quite noticeable, how blended it is, and how none of the notes really take on too strong of a presence in the composition. Also, it is a very linear scent, in my opinion.

After a few minutes, what you smell is what you’re going to get: citrus, lavender, and a sort of metallic spice with leathery undertones.

Racing Red is clean and fresh but it is also low key and non-distinct. I do wish that the leather note was boosted somewhat and perhaps take down the lavender a notch or two. There is supposed to be a tonka bean note in here, but I really don’t pick it up.

The lime would be great, as a really juicy citrus, playing off of the leather. I don’t know, I think it could work out better that way, and just have that metallic note lurking in the background throughout.

As it is, this Ferrari cologne, becomes muddled and doesn’t really stand out as anything special. The aroma itself is fine, but it could’ve been much better.

Racing Red is clean with a nice citrus note and that metallic ingredient, but that’s about it. As far as citrus metallic scents go, I much prefer Hugo Red.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I’d call this one a light to moderate. While it lasts, you could notice it, if you sprayed it about 3 times on yourself. But, it’s not heavy and the sillage is nothing you’d call monstrous. I was spraying three or four times on my neck and it was decent.

Longevity is pretty weak, I have gotten in the 3-5 hour range, and it’s actually mostly towards the lower end of that. If these inexpensive fragrances, could just have more longevity, it would go a long way towards making them useful.

Ferrari scents can be hit or miss, in this regard, and Scuderia Racing Red is a miss. Not the worst ever, just don’t expect one that goes forever.

One positive is that this cologne doesn’t really fit into any one season and could thus be worn year round without any issue. It’s simple and inoffensive enough to be worn to work or school, but I’d say it’s more of a fresh casual scent, than anything.

Not particularly romantic nor one for the night clubs. Not really refined or formal, just something easy to spray on when you want to freshen up. So, seasonally versatile, but not all that much in terms of occasion.

Overall Impressions of Scuderia Racing Red

Overall, do I think Scuderia Racing Red is worth a buy? I mean, it doesn’t smell bad, but it doesn’t really stand out to me either. The performance leaves much to be desired, but it can usually be had for dirt cheap.

I think it would be good enough for an everyday wear, for someone who doesn’t want to spend very much, but it’s really nothing to write home about.

I enjoyed aspects of the fragrance, like the citrus and leather, but they weren’t as prominent as they probably should have been.

If the formula was worked around a bit, and it could hit the 6-7 hour range, this would be a great cheapie wear. Alas, it’s merely okay.

There are plenty of other options out there for the top inexpensive fragrances, that both smell better and last longer. Hell, Ferrari has other options that outdo this one, easily. Not worthless, just not a must have.

Mr. Burberry EDP by Burberry

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When I purchased my bottle of Versace Eros Flame, I received a dual sample pack of Mr. Burberry, both the EDT and EDP versions. I’ve already reviewed the eau de toilette edition on this site and was never too enthusiastic about wearing it. So, I was curious to see if the EDP would be any better or if it was another dud.

In this post, I want to cover how this version of Mr. Burberry smells, how it projects, how long it lasts, and whether or not it is actually worth a try.

What does Mr. Burberry EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: cinnamon, mint, patchouli, grapefruit, cardamom, nutmeg, amber, lavender, cedar, sandalwood, vetiver

Click here to try: BURBERRY Mr. Burberry Eau de Parfum

My Full Wear Review

The EDP version of Mr. Burberry starts off led by the group of spicy notes in there, mainly the mint. The cool and fresh mint note is the most prominent at the start, but is joined by the warmer spices in there.

There is cinnamon, patchouli, nutmeg, and cardamom…so this one is a whole lot of spice upfront. Honestly, I think the opening is the worst part, and sort of a mess of competing notes all demanding attention.

A few minutes in and things settle down a bit. At this point, it is mainly the mint, patchouli, and cardamom. The patchouli gives Mr. Burberry a dirty/earthy warmth and spice profile and the whole thing smells kind of familiar to my nose.

The first time I sprayed this fragrance on my skin, I was wholly unimpressed by it, at this point. However, it really began to turn itself around, and suddenly the aroma was absolutely great. I went from meh to loving the way it smelled, once it entered its dry down period.

What changes? The spice backs off and Mr. Burberry EDP becomes very fresh and woody to boot. Mint and cardamom are the top dogs, but grapefruit and amber, provide a bright cleanliness that the EDT had but better.

Plus, the cardamom has a little bit of a lemon tinge with the fresh spice. I really do start to enjoy the mint and grapefruit, with how they play off of the other notes in the mix.

There is lavender and woods with an herbal undertone, which is light and masculine, and plays nicely off of the top. Mr. Burberry EDP has much more personality and complexity than the original does. One problem remains with it.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage on this stuff is kind of moderate at first, and turns really light within a couple of hours. Like, skin scent level. This cologne will just not allow me to like it. It finally gets on a roll, in terms of the aroma, and then just weakness.

I don’t know. It seems that all of the Mr. Burberry fragrances have this issue to some extent. Indigo wasn’t as bad, but the EDT and EDP just aren’t good.

Also, the longevity at the skin scent level, is terrible. I’ve tried it multiple times, with heavy sprays, and can only muster 4 hours of wear total.

It just won’t go any further, which is terrible, because if the whole thing was like the dry down and powerful; then this would have a place on my shelf almost certainly.

I can’t believe the performance that I’ve gotten from this and the original.

Seasonally, the EDP would do best in the cold weather through the springtime. It’s not a super powerful smell, so it wouldn’t melt in a bit of heat. It would be good for casual or office wear, mostly.

It is attractive and has a really clean feel to it. You could wear it for evening wear or dates, but that wouldn’t be the main use. Honestly, any man in any age demographic could wear this. It is versatile in its applications, even if the performance cannot keep pace.

Overall Impressions of Mr. Burberry EDP

Overall, do I like Mr. Burberry EDP? I like half of it. The beginning isn’t great and the performance stinks. If it had any ability to perform, I would just ignore that spicy start, and wear it anyway. The problem of course is that it doesn’t perform nor have much sillage.

I encountered this same thing with the EDT, so, I figured that a more concentrate eau de parfum, might do better. It doesn’t, so I can’t really recommend Mr. Burberry EDP. After that start, the smell is really great. This one just can’t get its act together.

Maybe an hour or two of really enjoyable wear. To me, that’s just not worthwhile, even at this price point which isn’t insanely high.

Noir Extreme by Tom Ford

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Still working my way through a box of samples, that I received 5-6 months ago, and only 40-something more fragrances to do write-ups on! For this entry, we have a very popular men’s fragrance by Tom Ford, Noir Extreme. This scent was released in 2015.

This is of course, the flanker fragrance to the original Noir, and one which has plenty of fans. I will cover what the notes are, how it smells, how it performs, and whether or not Noir Extreme is worth a purchase.

Note: I have updated this post several times since the initial review of the sample that I bought years ago.

What does Noir Extreme Smell Like?

Notes include: Cardamom, vanilla, saffron, amber, sandalwood, nutmeg, neroli, orange blossom, kulfi, rose

Click here to try: Tom Ford Noir Extreme Men Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Noir Extreme is to my nose, a floral spice. The nutmeg and cardamom notes add the warm spice, and I also pick up that familiar saffron smell, along with neroli and orange blossom. It’s warm, with a potent initial spice, and an underlying citrus sweetness.

Yes, the spice is fairly strong at first, but it quickly moves into something that is much sweeter. Vanilla is the main culprit for that, along with what I guess is kulfi (some sort of Indian dessert), but I have no frame of reference for what that should smell like.

However, there is a pistachio note as a part of this accord, and it really comes through with the vanilla about 10-15 minutes into the wear.

At this point in the wear, I really enjoy the vibe that I am getting from Noir Extreme. It is a great gourmand aroma, with ambery warmth, and a nice balance of floral notes. At this stage, a bit of rose and jasmine come out, but neither is all that distinct within the composition.

Though, it does smell more floral than it had been previously, more of a light bouquet effect versus any one standout.

Further along, a woody base emerges, with creamy sandalwood and maybe cedar? I’m not sure what the other wood note is, maybe a blend of some kind. Either way, it solidifies the fragrance, and adds some depth.

What I ultimately get from Noir Extreme is: a creamy/milky vanilla dessert aroma, with amber, saffron, cardamom, and a mix of floral notes. It is deliciously sweet, warm, and very appealing.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

noir extreme review

Projection wise, the sillage starts off strong for me. That power will last for a few hours, before it settles down, closer to the skin.

From there, it is light to moderate. I do enjoy the boldness of the start of Noir Extreme, the later whiffs that you get are nice too, but doesn’t have that same impact.

However, the longevity is still good, even after it loses some sillage strength and 8 hours of wear is not out of the question with this Tom Ford perfume.

Usually it will fall in the 6-8 hour range. It’s not a super beast with how long it lasts, but it is good enough for most purposes. Update: With my full bottle, I can sometimes get an extra hour from Extreme.

Seasonally, I would reserve this for autumn and winter, mostly. It is beautiful in the cooler temperatures and would be fine in more temperate ones. However, it isn’t really built for heat and humidity, so I’d skip on wearing it in summer.

For me, I’d say I really only have a 4-5 month window to wear Noir Extreme where I live. You may get a few more months out of it.

It is a men’s fragrance, but strikes me more as a unisex wear. It’s gourmand sweetness would work just fine for a lady. It also feels more natural to wear it dressed up. To the office, a formal or at least, semi-formal occasion.

It is an attractive fragrance, that people really seem to enjoy, catching a whiff of. The vanilla note sits perfectly on my skin and it’s really nice to wear.

Update: After a few years with Extreme, I can say that it is great for the nightlife. I’ve worn it on dates or at bars and lounges. With it, I have gotten overwhelmingly positive responses, commenting on how ‘sexy’ a fragrance it is.

Overall Impressions of Noir Extreme

Overall, do I like Noir Extreme? Absolutely. This is becoming one of my personal favorite Tom Ford scents, that I’ve worn thus far (and that’s most of them). The vanilla blend, the cardamom, amber, and spice notes at the top are all great.

I wish the sillage held its power for longer, but the overall performance is still very solid. It is an expensive fragrance, but is probably one that would be worth owning. Noir Extreme isn’t super ‘extreme’ but it is a very beautiful fragrance. Somewhat limited to cooler temperatures.

Coming back to this one a few more times, has really made me appreciate the intricate layers of this fragrance. I’m not one of the Tom Ford super fans, but when this label gets it right, the results are spectacular. This is one of those instances.

Noir Extreme and Noir de Noir are Ford scents that I can come back to time and time again. If it could get a few more hours of wear, it would be near perfect for certain times of the year. As it is, it’s still one of the best fragrances around.

Update: I’m probably half way through my full bottle of Noir Extreme. It’s absolutely one of my favorites for wintertime. Tom Ford also released a Parfum version of Noir Extreme, which some people prefer.

Personally, I like the original a bit more still. Though, I own and wear both (sometimes together). Try both and see how each works for you.

noir extreme parfum

Habit Rouge Rouge Prive by Guerlain

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Habit Rouge Rouge Prive, is a 2023 flanker to the original Habit Rouge, which has been popular for decades. I bought a sample of Rouge, after seeing so many positive comments about the scent.

I have been testing this Guerlain out and putting it through its paces for review. I must note, that I am not going to be comparing it to the original, as it’s been years since I’ve even smelled Habit Rouge. So, I really don’t want to try to do it based off memory alone.

How does Rouge Prive smell? How long does it last? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Habit Rouge Rouge Prive Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, leather, ginger, iris, vanilla, patchouli, orange blossom

My Full Review

Here’s how Guerlain describes it: The legendary bergamot-leather accord of Habit Rouge intensified by the sensuality of patchouli and modernized by the spiciness of ginger.

The opening of Rouge Prive comes out with a very strong use of its bergamot note. Juicy, sour, and quite good.

Immediately alongside of that, you’re already going to get the leather note showing itself. It’s already powerful, but will grow to dominate this Guerlain fragrance.

What’s interesting to me, is the mix of warmth and spiciness from the ginger note, and the patchouli peaking through. It’s kind of presenting a roasted and crispy bergamot aroma up close.

However, pulling back my nose, this has a light powdery/soapy aroma from the iris and very light orange blossom. The orange blossom, what little there is, seems to be gone in 20 minutes or so.

The transition away from the warmer spiciness of the opening is the first major change. That ginger becomes much weaker, leather and patchouli rise further. Still, the bergamot is playing a major role at this point in time.

After about an hour in, the powdery aroma has faded a lot. You pretty much get the same thing the rest of the way: luxurious and smooth leather, bergamot and patchouli jockeying for position, and a bit of vanilla to soften out the edges.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Habit Rouge Rouge Prive absolutely packs a punch. That opening is loud, fairly heavy, and projects extremely well.

The thing is, the party keeps on going for a long long time. The projection hours into the wear, is still very noticeable, and outdoes a lot of mainstream designer colognes at their peak. 5+ feet off of the skin or clothing, seems about right, after 3-plus hours.

It also is one that lasts over 9 hours and got up to 11 for me. For some people, Rouge Prive might extend beyond that. That wasn’t true in my case, but it’s a scent with fantastic longevity.

Seasonally, this works anytime outside of the height of summer. Just avoid having it on in the heat and humidity. You should be fine any other time. Rouge Prive is at its best, when it’s at least slightly cold, however.

One that can be worn day or into the night. It’s got a refined style, that’s suitable for ‘dressier’ wear, but not so completely stuffy that it’s unwearable in a more chill scenario.

I might goes easy on the sprays, if you’re wearing it to the office or elsewhere in close quarters. Though, it should still fit in, for a wide variety of situations.

Skews older. Not an ‘old man’ scent, but probably not something that most high school aged guys are going to be wearing to class, either.

Overall Impressions of Rouge Prive

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I do. I received this sample along with a decant of Ideal Platine Prive, also by Guerlain, and I like that one more than Rouge Prive.

But, this is still a very nice fragrance, if you’re into this sort of style. The Habit Rouge series does come across as a masculine version of Shalimar. Rouge Prive, is a modernized version of that.

I do like the opening with the ginger, bergamot, and leather. It’s a great start to the wear. The powdery touch are also nice.

I must note, that the bergamot and leather combination, does kind of get old to me after a number of hours. Just starts to wear on my nerves. Not completely awful or anything, but not something that I want to personally have on all day.

The performance is fantastic too. Rouge Prive will stick around for a long time, without completely diminishing in its strength until very deep into the wear.

Rouge Prive is worth a try, if you like the original or are a fan of leathery scents. This Guerlain does have pretty limited availability both geographically and the number of stores it actually sells in.

That being the case, you might have to just blind buy it, if you’re really interested. If this sounds like something you’d be into, I don’t think you’d be disappointed with what you get.

Hugo Red by Hugo Boss

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I’ll be making my way through plenty of reviews over the next few weeks and today I thought that I’d go with one from Hugo Boss, Hugo Red. I’ve already included this cologne on my list of best by Hugo Boss, however, I want to give it a closer look that I feel it deserves.

In this post, I will explore what makes up Red, what it smells like, how it performs, and whether or not I think it is worth a buy. Note: This page has been updated a few times since its original posting.

What does Hugo Red Smell Like?

IMG_0766

Notes include: grapefruit, pink pepper, rhubarb, amber, pineapple, tonka bean, cedar

Click here to try: HUGO BOSS Red EDT Spray for Men, 6.8 Fluid Ounce

Hugo Red Full Review

Hugo Red is quite an interesting scent to me. At times, it reminds me of some other fragrance that I’ve once smelled and at other times it seems wholly unique.

The opening is the usual citrus affair of pineapple and grapefruit notes which give it a spring/summer fruity vibe to it. The pink pepper and amber feel, has a Guess Seductive quality to it.

But, this is a fresher and less heavy kind of cologne.

However, Hugo Red becomes interesting in that there is this almost metallic aroma to it, sort of like Creed Himalaya (which I don’t enjoy) but in Red it is enjoyable.

The spice to this really isn’t really heavy and it’s kind of tough to explain. Red has a warm and woodsy heart that is only slight spicy and provided by the amber, pink pepper, and cedar.

It’s sort of unique because the rhubarb note isn’t all that common in many fragrances and I think that this note is what is setting Hugo Red apart.

This fragrance is quite clean, crisp, and refreshing. People also seem to dig it while I have it on, even if it can seem synthetic/generic at times.

There’s a very slight tonka bean after a while, but it isn’t all that noticeable during most wears.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

It is a moderate projection and I could detect it without having to get close to my skin. It stays moderate for 2-4 hours, before having a lighter sillage, but sticking around for a long while.

This fragrance has a reputation of not lasting long but I got really good wear out of it. I put it on the night before and it was quite noticeable still when I woke up the next morning.

Update: Upon wearing this for a while, I actually can get 8+ hours easily, but it fits in the 8-10 hour range mostly.

This would be a great choice for the warmer months, but I think it’d perform pretty well in wintertime, also. I like to wear it casually or for a night out during the summertime.

Hugo Red isn’t really an office scent, can have more of a youthful vibe. Not just for teenagers, but can work great for guys in their mid-20s. It just works in its simplicity, and has a unique enough vibe, to make it worthwhile.

Overall Impressions of Hugo Red

Overall, is Hugo Red a buy? It does smell good and it’s completely safe to wear for any occasion. I’d say that this could be an everyday summer wear for guys in the 18-30 range. It’s not too expensive and was a solid performer for me.

If you like citrus based scents with a woodsy/spicy heart, then Hugo Red is worth a look. I actually really enjoy this as a summertime citrus fragrance.

It’s unique and has a great blend of tartness and sweetness. That metallic finish is a great addition to making this Hugo Boss scent, stand out on its own.

Is it amazing? No, but it is all around a very good cologne, that has flown under the radar.

Update: Red has been discontinued by Boss. It’s harder to get a hold of bottles, but they do still exist, and usually for a great price. But, that’ll change as soon as the fragrance gets scarce.

I wouldn’t pay too much for a bottle, as it’s basically a fun summertime fragrance. Though, I’d enjoy having it again, if it were still a value.