Cologne Reviews

Uomo By Ermenegildo Zegna

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In this installment of my ever-running series of fragrance reviews on this site, I would like to take a closer look at Uomo by Ermenegildo Zegna. This is a cologne with a distinct citrus based aroma, which is something that any man could add to his collection for those warm summer days.

The question remains, however, is Uomo the right cologne to perform in this particular niche? Well, follow below, as I relate my experience and impressions of this popular scent. Note: I am updating this post again years after the original, to add more thoughts about how this one performs.

What does Uomo by Zegna Smell Like?

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Notes include: Citruses, violet leaves, cedar, bergamot, vetiver

Click here to try: Zegna Uomo By Ermenegildo Zegna 3.4 Oz/100ml Eau De Toilette Spray

My Full Wear Review

My initial impression of Uomo is how noticeable the citruses are upon opening. It’s not the same kind of strong citrus vibe that I get from something like Aventus, rather, Uomo has more of an aquatic character to it. It is a very clean scent and doesn’t have the same underlying spice of another scent in this sort of category, Acqua Di Gio.

Uomo has a very smooth and bright opening scent, which really grabs one’s attention and provides a pleasant experience. The initial opening does have a freshness, sitting underneath, which is coming mostly from the violet leaf note, as it begins to take over the composition.

This Zegna has an aquatic sort of background, without the oceanic notes. Meaning, it’s watery but not like being along the seashore. Pretty much the citrus, vetiver, and violet leaf combining to create that effect.

One scent that this actually does smell pretty close to is L’Homme Libre by YSL, which I think has been discontinued. As I am updating this review of Uomo, it is now available for really cheap, compared to what it used to be. 2023 Update: Seems to be back in the $50-70 range now.

So, if you wanted a Libre replacement or cheapie for the summer, this has become quite the value proposition.

As time passes, the cedar note begins to emerge and gives Uomo a slightly woodsy scent which adds some character and doesn’t allow it to settle into just another boring aquatic. I also start to detect the violet note more and more as the scent matures on my skin.

I really do like the scent more when it settles and has had some time to reveal itself, I wish I could say that about more fragrances. Though, Uomo definitely passes that test.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This cologne has the additional benefit of being a good performer. I tried to wear it on warmer days, in these days, where the weather gets a bit wacky and jumps and drops 25 degrees in the span of a few days.

Honestly, this one is really good in the heat. Uomo is best served as a spring and summertime cologne (though you can get away with some of the Fall, if you live in the right climate, like I do) but it stands up in temperatures where other fragrances wilt.

This Zegna scent is moderate to heavy in it’s sillage and projection. I guess I should say it’s not a ‘heavy’ feeling scent, it is one that really projects well for what it is.

Personally, I would only go with 2 sprays and feel that is more than enough. It isn’t overbearing but I could see it could quickly be overused.

I did get really nice longevity out of it, 7-8 hours and it was still immediately noticeable. After that, it starts to fade but I can detect it at 9+ hours on some days.

Uomo has above average versatility. I can wear this casually during the day, it is fine for an office, but can also be used for dates/nightlife. It’s not the ‘sexiest’ fragrance ever, but it is attractive, and is generally well-liked by others.

This could absolutely be a daily wear for someone. It can be used in a variety or situations and climates.

Overall Impressions of Uomo by Zegna

Would I recommend this scent, overall? Yes. I think it is a fairly inexpensive and well-performing choice for a summertime semi-aquatic. It both smells good and performs really well.

I’m not even much of a violet leaf fan. However, I like it in this mix. The bergamot and other citruses are really fresh and how everything comes together gives it that somewhat aquatic feel.

Drier woods and vetiver in the dry down, but this stays fresh throughout.

Is it the most incredible scent ever? No, but it is really good at what it does and as such wouldn’t be a bad buy.

I could definitely see it as a spring/summer choice for me on certain days to go along with something like Creed’s Millesime Imperial or of course my Guerlain on others.

It has similarities to other popular colognes, which takes away from its uniqueness, but provides an opportunity for a relatively cheap scent.

Chrome by Azzaro

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Chrome is a fragrance by Loris Azzaro, which is quite often a best seller and has been for years. I mean, rally since its release in 1996. Like other Azzaro scents, Chrome is an inexpensive option for men, who want something fresh yet masculine. Update: The pricing can be more affordable and it seems to have stretches when it’s on sale, then expensive again. In this post, I am going to share my experience with this cologne and whether or not I think it is worth a try.

Note: I am continually updating this post, several years after the original, to expand upon my review and talk about my latest testing of Chrome.

What does Azzaro Chrome Smell Like?

Click here to try: Men’s Chrome by Azzaro Eau de Toilette Spray – 3.4 oz.

Notes include: neroli, lemon, bergamot, rosemary, pineapple, musk, woods, and jasmine

My Full Wear Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Azzaro describes it: Fresh, vibrant, aquatic, woody. “A harmony as pure as metal, a blend of strength and complicity.”

The first thing you notice about Chrome is the citrus notes, mainly a blend of lemon and pineapple. It is interesting how refreshing and bright this fragrance smells, it feels quite sharp and fresh. A big player in the beginning is neroli.

Obviously, this flower plays perfectly off of the citrus top, and is joined by a light jasmine note. The top is very similar to CK One, that citrus/floral aroma, has lots of overlap with that 1990s showstopper.

Chrome always induces thoughts are bright and sunny days, in the summer. It has an aquatic-like smell at times, without having any oceanic notes, which is a nice little trick of the mind.

After the first few minutes, where neroli is powerful, the rosemary begins to come through with that herbal spiciness. It’s similar to that note in Acqua di Gio, but these are ultimately pretty different fragrances.

The first hour or so, is really all about being a citrus/floral fragrance, with a light aquatic and soapy character. Thankfully, they didn’t overload the neroli and jasmine, to make it a bath soap-like scent, those notes are empowered just enough to make Chrome smell great.

I like the dry down period quite a bit, and it does have a metallic vibe to it as the name suggests, but I don’t think it distracts from the overall presentation. The notes that emerge during this time, are the various woods, and the musk.

The musk isn’t heavy, but it is noticeable. Chrome becomes a clean woody scent, with citrus sitting on top of it, and the floral notes don’t seem as relevant anymore.

Chrome is just really vibrant and reminds me of a sunny summer day. It isn’t a complex fragrance at all really, just one that is straightforward with a clean, soapy, citrus, masculine aroma.

How Long Does Chrome Last? How Strong is the Sillage?

It does seem to be pretty strong right out of the bottle, so there’s no need for more than a couple sprays. Chrome does settle down a bit, but it can be overwhelming if too much is used, in the wrong climate.

I’d say that the sillage overall, is pretty middle of the pack, once it settles. However, the initial burst, will provide plenty of power.

Updating this review here in 2020, I still find the longevity to be really good. It’ll go 7-8 hours, off of 2-3 sprays, before become a complete skin scent. I’m not sure how long it continues after that, but sprayed on a t-shirt, Chrome just kept on going. Still a great performance value, for the price.

When Should Azzaro Chrome be Worn?

Chrome can easily be worn year round. I think it’s awesome in the summertime, but it isn’t limited by season at all, unlike some other scents. It has great versatility for both younger and older men. You can wear this one casually, to school, to work, etc.

For me, I have enjoyed wearing this when it’s warmer outside and I’m just moving about town.

It doesn’t strike me as a nighttime scent, but it’s so fresh, that it’ll get complements. It’s just not a ‘sexy’ sort of cologne. Not a nightclub monster, by any means. Also, I wouldn’t call this formal and isn’t really a luxury kind of fragrance. So, if you want something high end, it’s not this.

Is Chrome Worth a Try?

Is Chrome worth a purchase? I say it is. It is a very inexpensive cologne (usually) and one that smells good and performs well. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think it is pretty versatile and pleasant, as long as it’s not overused.

It can sell for a higher price at retail stores, but on the online secondary market, you can find really cheap bottles. Go for those. 2023 Update: I’m seeing bottles in the $35-50 range, right now. Again, that seems to change every so often, and the super affordable bottles gets bought up.

This original Chrome release is still nice, after all of these years. The other flankers can be hit or miss and not have much to do with the original formula.

Even though, not everyone will like it, Chrome is still extremely popular with the masses. If you’re in the market for a cheap everyday wear, it is definitely worth a consideration.

The citrus and floral opening is great, like CK One. It can have a sharpness to it that might be off-putting for some. I’m not too bothered by it and Chrome gets better.

But, I think when the woods start to come on strong, is when this Azzaro fragrance really begins to shine. Well done.

Forever for Men by Moschino

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Forever for Men is a cologne that I’ve been meaning to do a review on for a while. It came out back in 2011, didn’t get a lot of attention, but I was always interested in trying this fragrance. I got a mini bottle to put through its paces and see how it goes. How does it smell? How does it perform? When should it be worn? Is it even worth a try?

What does Forever by Moschino Smell Like?

Notes include: star anise, kumquat, sage, pepper, bergamot, tonka bean, musk, sandalwood, vetiver

Click here to try: MOSCHINO Forever for Men Eau De Toilette Spray 100ml/3.3oz, light

My Full Wear Review

Forever kicks things off with a blend of fruit and spice. Initially, bergamot is the strongest note to my nose, along with the star anise. After a few minutes, the kumquat takes over for the bergamot citrus opening.

From the jump it is a fresh spiciness with soapy underpinnings. Vetiver, musk, and sandalwood are all present and will take on a larger roll as things progress.

The anise spice is the strongest, but the second wave brings a fairly large dose of pepper along. That can be a good or bad thing, depending on your tastes. I think that it actually works well within this composition.

As it dries down, Forever isn’t nearly as spicy, and just becomes more of a fresh soap-like scent. A bit of tonka bean creaminess and the base notes. Clean with a bit of a greenish sort of aroma. I’m not all that into the latter stages of this one.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Does this one project like a beast? No, it’s more of a subtle scent. Not a skin scent, mind you, just a fragrance that is understated. Overall, it’s a pretty moderate sillage.

That opening hour is borderline strong, but reaches as far as above average before settling down into something more middling. 

The longevity seems to hit the 5-7 hour range, on my skin. During testing, I got 7 hours a few times, and other times it disappeared at 5. Not terrible. Moschino Forever isn’t going to blow the doors off with its performance. 

Seasonally, I could wear this anytime other than the extremes of winter or summer. Probably too sharp and fresh for the coldest days.  Outside of that, you’ve got a lot of room to run with it.

 

More of a casual or daily wear sort of cologne. It does have an attractive enough scent. You could honestly wear this on a date and get compliments, but it’s not the sexiest thing ever. Nor is it a nightlife powerhouse.

The versatility is its greatest strength. Guys from young to old could wear Forever and it would work.

Overall Impressions of Moschino Forever

Do I like this fragrance? Well, I like the start more than the dry down. As a whole, it isn’t a cologne that I’m in love with, but I don’t hate it either. It has some highlights from the anise, kumquat, and bergamot. 

That’s what had intrigued me in the first place. I like anise and kumquat as notes, both don’t get used enough for my tastes, and Forever does a good job with them for a while.

The dry down is kind of greenish, with spots of creaminess, and plenty of vetiver and musk. Soapy and more traditional. Not bad, just kind of boring after the spicier start. 

Also, the scent has plenty of versatility and enough power to be a satisfactory wear. At least it is something different from the usual mass market colognes.

Forever is usually pretty affordable, so, it may be worth a try. Not a must have, but a solid wear all around.

Guess Night by Guess

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I’ve already reviewed a few Guess brand fragrances for men on this site. Two of which were from the Seductive line of colognes that they put out. Both of those scents smell really good and are cheap to purchase (even if Seductive Blue is pretty performance poor, though, has a great aroma).

As such, I get eager to try out other offerings from this brand to see if there are other inexpensive gems that can be added to my cologne rotation. I recently tried out Guess Night which came out in 2013 and want to do a review on this fragrance to see what’s what with it. What are it’s notes? How does it smell? How does it perform? Is it worth a buy?

What does Guess Night Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, pepper, cedar, elemi, geranium, vanilla

Click here to try: Guess Night Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Guess Night is highlighted by the pepper note. It definitely has a spice to it but it isn’t all that extreme and seems to be subdued a bit by the woody cedar note and the smooth vanilla.

It is a warm kind of fragrance and I honestly don’t pick up much of the grapefruit note on my skin at all. I do, however, detect the elemi which has an amber-like aroma that I really like in a cologne.

Night is actually quite pleasant from the start but it is pretty generic and doesn’t stand out in quite the same way that the two scents from the Guess Seductive line do.

After the peppery opening, Night settles down into something more vanilla/woodsy. The cedar note gives it a dry aroma but doesn’t push this fragrance into the really ‘masculine’ category.

It is definitely for men but I wouldn’t have trouble imagining Guess Night being a unisex scent. Also, this isn’t something for mature audiences, this is a young man’s cologne for those who want something warm and inoffensive.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Guess Night is a very soft type of fragrance. It doesn’t project all that well at the start and quickly settles into a skin scent. I’d double up on the sprays for this one, and I’m someone who doesn’t like to be too loud with my colognes.

I’m not even sure I’d put that opening act at even an average level of power.

Longevity, like in Guess Seductive Homme Blue, is quite poor. You might be able to squeeze out 4 hours of solid wear, if it works with your skin and you double up. I was pretty lucky to get two hours or so with it.

That can be a downside to some of these inexpensive fragrances, even if the rest of the presentation is great. Although, they have released solid performers in the past.

This could be a fairly versatile scent, if you can get to last on your skin. It’s still one for younger guys, but it has a well put together and not a super sweet vibe, like many teenage type of colognes. Probably best for casual or daily wear at school or that sort of thing.

Overall Impressions of Guess Night

Overall, is Guess Night worth a buy? I don’t see why you would want it. I mean, it is really cheap and doesn’t smell bad. Though, it isn’t all that unique or amazing smelling either. What’s interesting is that this was in part a Francis Kurkdjian designed scent. Not his best cologne, however.

In a lot of ways, this one is like the later release, The One Gentleman. Pepper and vanilla are big players in that fragrance too.

I do like the elemi and pepper pairing up top, with the vanilla influence lurking beneath those two notes. To me, that’s the highlight of the wear.

If you want a Guess cologne that smells better and still has crappy longevity go with Seductive Homme Blue.

If you want a Guess cologne that actually performs well, go with the original Guess Seductive or 1981. Night isn’t another underrated gem, which is disappointing. I like what they were trying to go for, the execution was just poor.

I guess you can still take a chance on Guess Night, if the price is cheap enough, but I wouldn’t bother.

K EDT by Dolce & Gabbana

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K (King) is the newer series of fragrances from the Dolce & Gabbana lineup. K EDT, the subject of today’s review was released back in 2019. This is one that I’ve tried a few times previously in-store, but finally grabbed a sample of in order to do a proper review. How does it smell? Does K EDT last long? Is it worth a try?

What does K EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: juniper, blood orange, citrus, sage, pimento, cedar, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Dolce and Gabbana K Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3 Fl Oz for Men

My Full Wear Review

Here’s how D&G describes it: Masculine, authentic, charismatic. K by Dolce & Gabbana Eau de Toilette is a perfume which captures the essence of the contemporary man: a king of everyday life.

K begins with its citrus freshness front and center. I’ll get to the spices in a second, but the opening is full of the blood orange and lemon notes. Personally, I get more blood orange, on my skin and the rest is more of a mass of citrus notes.

Underneath the citrus is the warmth and spice of pimento and the fresh/fizzy aroma of the juniper note. The latter when paired with the citrus, gives K EDT a bit of a gin drink scent.

This one is noticeably less warm and spicy than K EDP, without the fig too, but pimento is still playing a big role here. That’s probably the note that provides the distinct qualities of this cologne.

The third layer of the opening and one that emerges more so 15-20 minutes in, features some light sage and geranium. Not heavy, but it is there. Further freshness and noticeable when that citrus blast has toned down

K EDT will really begin to turn into a drier, woodier, aromatic. The middle phase features lots of the juniper, lavender, vetiver, and some remaining pimento.

Really, that’s the biggest shift for me the rest of the way, the absence of the citrus and pimento notes. It’s like a woodsy lavender cologne, clean, while being kind of generic. Not nearly as unique as you get with the opening.

In the end, it’s lavender and a mass of wood notes. Maybe some cedar, not much of the juniper left, and I guess a touch of the vetiver.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

K starts off with a rather bold kick. Not massive sillage, but the scent trail it leaves behind will be above average. While it settles and will move closer to the skin, I think that it remains above average for the first half and then is gradually into skin scent territory.

The longevity here is pretty good. I get just over 7 hours with K EDT, usually. Maybe it can hit 8, on the right day, but I don’t expect it to. For an eau de toilette, King is solid.

Compared to the EDP version, K EDT is better when its warmer outside. Lighter and more of that citrus influence. However, it’s also not exclusively a summer scent and works fine in autumn or spring as well.

K EDT is a casual to semi-formal daily wear, mostly for younger guys. But, it isn’t juvenile and the age range isn’t too settled. There aren’t any notes in the mix that are going to make this one feel too cheap or cloying.

K EDT is attractive and should be able to draw complements while wearing. Not a complex or entirely novel fragrance, but it has enough going for it in its simplicity to be appreciated.

Overall Impressions of K EDT

Overall, do I like K EDT? I do like it somewhat. The EDP is slightly better than this one overall, but this version certainly has its merits. I’m not totally in love with it or going to buy a full bottle, but it is easy to wear and a very solid entry on the whole.

The opening with the citrus is a highlight, I actually do like the brightness, slight fizziness, and the use of the pimento note. It’s not amazing, but still comes across as pleasant.

After that, it’s woody and clean, but not with a whole lot of development. It’s fine, smells nice enough, and you do get a good enough performance for this Dolce & Gabbana scent to be worthwhile.

If you need an easy go to for daily wear, you could do a lot worse than this. I’ve seen K priced pretty reasonably at different places, so, one can even get a good deal nowadays.

For me, it’s worth trying out. Not necessarily one you need to run out and buy immediately. Though, a likeable enough cologne.